CHAPTER 525: CHAPTER 524 UNDERCOVER

Song Jie incessantly touted his various inventions to Gongyang Han and thoughtfully listed many catchy, easy-to-spread taglines.

Soon, the White Lotus Young Master’s mind was filled with catchy tunes. The lyrics went something like, "’Buy a new car, BAM BAM! Get some edamame, BAM BAM! Three thousand yuan~ Three thousand yuan~’"

"’Second-hand sunflower seed cars direct sales network! No middleman to take a cut! Sellers earn less, buyers pay more!’"

"’Heng Yuan Xiang, baa baa baa, baa baa baa, baa baa baa.’"

These taglines had a strange brainwashing Magic Power. Once heard, they could never be forgotten. It vaguely reminded the Young Master of the White Lotus Cult’s Secret Technique – Taoist Demon Seed.

Suddenly, a deafening explosion came from behind the tunnel.

White Lotus Sect Members, whether lying or sitting at rest, immediately stood up, silently gripped their weapons, and warily looked towards the rear.

The sound was starkly different from the howling wind heard before. It was dull and distant, as if a section of the tunnel far behind had exploded and collapsed.

One second... Two seconds...

The members of the White Lotus Cult stood tensely, their palms whitening from gripping their weapons too tightly.

The dirt and stones on the ground trembled slightly, scattering and bouncing about.

Tiny insects hidden in the soil and crevices scurried away in a panic, picking no particular direction.

WHOOSH—

A breeze came from deep within the tunnel, bringing with it traces of sand, dirt, and muddy water, splashing upon everyone.

Then, without any warning, the breeze suddenly intensified tenfold, a hundredfold. A roaring wind gushed forth. The sand hit their skin like iron filings. The icy mud felt like arrows shooting sideways, stabbing their faces so painfully that it was impossible to open their eyes.

The torches were instantly extinguished, leaving only the sound of the wind in their ears.

Deprived of light, the people could not warn their companions in time. They clutched onto the edges of the tunnel, trying to minimize the area of their bodies exposed to the fierce wind and using all their might to resist it.

Soon, the Gale subsided from its peak and gradually calmed down.

As the dust settled, the DRIP, DRIP of water echoed again in the tunnel.

The White Lotus Sect Members then released their grip from the tunnel, still shaken.

Torches were relit, and everyone exchanged puzzled looks. That Gale had been fierce. Fortunately, it hadn’t swept away any of their companions. After all, those present were the Elite of the White Lotus, skilled in internal martial arts, able to anchor their energy deep within their core and stand firm.

"Young Master, are you alright?"

The white-browed elder, covered in mud, coughed twice while covering his mouth. He scrutinized Gongyang Han with concern. After ensuring the latter was unharmed, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and said grimly, "What happened just now?"

"I don’t know."

Song Jie dusted off his clothes, keeping his voice low. "It might be that the tunnel collapsed naturally due to old age. Or it could be that the Wude Army or some other power was trapped somewhere and blasted their way out with gunpowder."

He paused, then slowly continued, "There’s also a chance that there’s some massive demon hidden within these underground tunnels, and that gust of wind was its upset stomach, burping. Although, that possibility is unlikely, since there wasn’t a foul smell in the wind."

The looks the White Lotus Sect Members gave Song Jie grew strange, and he hastily waved his hands to explain, "Actually, I have chronic gastrointestinal flatulence because of my love for stinky tofu, fermented bean curd, and lemons. This has led to chronic ailments, and I’ve become quite knowledgeable about medicine. In conversation, I can tell if someone has chronic gastritis with just a word.

"If any of you are feeling uncomfortable with your digestive tract, are bloated, and unable to eat, you can come to my herbal medicine shop and buy some medicine. After taking it, I assure you, you will feel refreshed and rejuvenated. Everything you eat will taste delicious. Why, even when you pass by a toilet, you won’t be able to resist licking your lips and picking your teeth!"

The members of the White Lotus Cult all expressed their thanks but declined the offer of medicine.

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP.

Sounds of chaotic footsteps approached from the distance; three figures ran towards them.

They were actually three White Lotus Sect Members who had been sent back along their original path to gather intelligence.

These three were trusted aides of Gongyang Han: shrewd, capable, and strong, deeply trusted by the White Lotus Young Master.

However, at this moment, their bodies were covered in numerous minor wounds and drenched in blood from head to toe, presenting a terrifying sight. The arrogant demeanor they once held had vanished into thin air. Their faces were etched with fear and disarray.

One of them stumbled forward, and before he even reached Gongyang Han, he began to shout in panic, "Young Master, Young Master, something terrible has happened!"

"Useless thing,"

The white-browed elder darted in front of Gongyang Han, kicked the White Lotus Sect Member in the stomach, sending him flying backward, and scolded in a low voice, "What has happened? Speak quickly!"

The White Lotus Sect Member, sent flying by the kick, rolled on the ground. One of the other cultists who had returned with him swallowed nervously, hastily bowed, and said, "We followed the markers you left and headed back the way we came. Before we returned to the initial tunnel, we heard the sound of people talking in the passageway. Upon listening carefully, we discovered that they were several units of Wude Army Guards. They were following the Young Master’s trail and had also come underground."

"Wude Army Guards?"

The white-browed elder frowned deeply. "What’s their equipment situation? How many are there? Are there any reinforcements? What are the conditions on the surface?"

"This... we don’t know,"

The White Lotus Sect Member honestly answered, "Since the tunnels carry sound, we and several fellow disciples did not dare to make any noise and could only press our ears to the tunnel wall to listen attentively. After a while, we realized that among the people talking, one of them was Xing Qianhu, Yu Qingqiu, currently in charge of the Xijishi Factory."

"Yu Qingqiu?"

The white-browed elder frowned. "Isn’t he supposed to be waiting at the Royal Mansion for someone to show up? How could he have come down here?"

"This..."

The White Lotus Sect Member opened his mouth, glanced at the serene Song Jie, and said softly, "From the fragments of conversation we overheard, Yu Qingqiu was explaining to the Wude Army Guards that he came underground in pursuit of Bai Yongyan, who kidnapped the Auspicious Beast from Annam. And Bai Yongyan himself is very likely to have defected from the White Lotus Cult."

"That’s impossible!"

Song Jie opened his eyes wide and bowed to Gongyang Han. "Young Master, I, Song Jie, can swear to heaven that Brother Bai Yongyan could never betray our sect.

"I’ve known him since we were fourteen until we turned forty; I understand him too well. The White Lotus Cult has given him a new lease on life. He has always been loyal to the White Lotus Cult, reciting the White Lotus Scriptures every morning and before bed. He even has the words ’White Lotus’ engraved on the soles of his feet, one on the left and one on the right. Even when he goes to the Happy Red Court to relax, he brings dozens of portraits of smiling past White Lotus Sect Leaders to hang on the room’s walls for reverence.

"How could someone like him defect?"

Finishing his point, Song Jie frowned deeply. He stared at the White Lotus Sect Member who brought the news, squinting his eyes suspiciously. "I feel that in saying this," he said, "you are fabricating things out of thin air, being sneaky and deceitful, conjuring things from your imagination, and spreading utter falsehoods. Tell me, are you an undercover agent planted by the Wude Army within our White Lotus Cult, specially here to defame my good brother Bai Yongyan?"