CHAPTER 62: CHAPTER 62 - THEFT_1

After returning to the sect, I’ll see if there’s a way to open it.

Thinking this, Shen Mo left without burying the old Daoist’s body.

He did not go back to the Shen Family.

After informing Gu Ming and asking him to bring Gu Zhao out with him, he planned to leave.

"You’ve committed many evil deeds. I initially wanted to kill you, but considering your cultivation is destroyed and you helped me kill Xuanzhi Superior Master, which can be considered atonement, I’ll spare your lives, both yours and your sister’s."

"Live well."

As Shen Mo spoke, Gu Ming looked perplexed, his mind a mix of emotions.

His life was spared. But... having lost his cultivation, his former glory had indeed vanished like smoke in thin air. Where should I go now?

"Fend for yourselves."

Without saying much more to the two, Shen Mo left these words and flew off on his sword.

A rainbow traversed the sky as Shen Mo journeyed through the sea of clouds.

On this return trip, he finally experienced the sensation of traveling a thousand miles in a single day.

The distance between Tianyou City and the Riverside Sect’s gate was over three thousand miles, yet he covered it in just one day.

"Flying with a sword is indeed much less laborious than running on foot."

Arriving at the sect gate, he stowed away the Dragon Sparrow Sword. He silently lamented, However, this Dragon Sparrow Sword is too narrow. During flight, I can only stand still, with no room to move around. I need to get a broader sword for traveling if I get the chance in the future.

"Outer disciple Shen Mo, returning to the sect."

Upon reaching the mountain gate and showing his identity jade tablet to the gatekeeping disciples, Shen Mo re-entered the sect and headed straight for his residence.

"SQUEAK! SQUEAK! SQUEAK!"

Upon the courtyard wall, the Spirit Storage Rat sat alone, gazing eagerly into the distance.

When it caught sight of Shen Mo, it immediately started squeaking excitedly.

WHOOSH!

Its form instantly blurred into a gust of wind, rushing to Shen Mo’s side and tugging at his trouser leg with a pitiful expression.

I’ve been gone for days; this little fellow must have been lonely.

Seeing the Spirit Storage Rat’s actions, Shen Mo couldn’t help but feel a warmth in his heart. Bending down, he patted its little head. "You missed me, huh? Sorry for coming back so late."

"SQUEAK!"

The Spirit Storage Rat whimpered softly, rubbing its head against Shen Mo’s neck as if acting coy.

Shen Mo placed the Spirit Storage Rat on his shoulder and pushed open the courtyard gate.

As they neared the house, it jumped down from Shen Mo’s shoulder again and led him inside, as if seeking praise.

What is this...?

Seeing its behavior, Shen Mo was a bit puzzled but followed its lead into the inner room.

He was completely taken aback when he saw the pile of miscellaneous materials, ores, and talismans crammed into the inner room.

"Did you find all of these?"

"SQUEAK!"

The Spirit Storage Rat’s small, dark eyes stared at Shen Mo, seemingly awaiting his praise and comfort.

"The Riverside Sect isn’t like the Outer Realm. You can’t just rummage around, find things, and bring them here. If you’re discovered, there will be trouble."

Shen Mo carefully examined the pile. Most of it consisted of items commonly used by outer disciples of the Riverside Sect, though there were also a few things only inner disciples would possess. He couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on.

Although the Spirit Storage Rat could find treasures, it couldn’t create them from nothing. Where it obtained an item, some place naturally lost one.

Out in the world, it might be excusable. But here in the Riverside Sect, everyone was a fellow disciple. They saw each other constantly; continuing like this would cause problems sooner or later.

"SQUEAK! SQUEAK!"

The Spirit Storage Rat’s face fell. It had thought Shen Mo would be happy upon his return. It hadn’t expected him to seem so taken aback, and it felt a little wronged.

"Forget it, forget it. You meant well." Seeing its crestfallen look, Shen Mo quickly comforted it. Come to think of it, the Spirit Storage Rat had only just agreed to return to the sect with him, and then he had left it all alone in his residence to go out. It was touching that the little creature remembered him and had even prepared a surprise. Even if it was a case of good intentions leading to trouble, Shen Mo couldn’t bring himself to scold it.

He kindled a fire and roasted some Red-browed Deer meat for the Spirit Storage Rat.

"Remember, don’t go treasure hunting within the Riverside Sect in the future, and don’t run around aimlessly."

Shen Mo placed the deer meat onto its plate, adding, "Not far from the foot of this mountain, there’s a town with a dedicated Market that sells all sorts of treasures. It would be much safer to get things from there. When I have free time, I’ll take you for a visit."

Jiyun Town’s Market was frequented by many rogue cultivators coming and going. Even if something was stolen there, the trail wouldn’t lead back to the Riverside Sect.

The Spirit Storage Rat, paying no mind to whether it had truly understood, just bobbed its head vigorously, then focused on munching the roasted meat.

"That smells so good!"

Outside, a voice rang out, and then someone pushed the door open and entered.

"You rascal, you’re finally back in the sect!"

The visitor was none other than Cao Ren, who had been in seclusion for many days.

At this moment, he wore a beaming smile and carried two jugs of fine wine, seemingly having just returned from buying them down the mountain.

"You’re out of seclusion!"

Seeing Cao Ren, a smile also appeared on Shen Mo’s face.

This fellow had been in closed-door cultivation for several months, and Shen Mo hadn’t been able to find him despite looking several times.

"I came out a couple of days ago."

Cao Ren placed the fine wine on the stone table, explaining, "After I came out, my father told me you’d looked for me a few times. I was planning to come see you, but you weren’t in the sect."

"I just went down the mountain to buy some wine. I was intending to have a good drink with my father, but he didn’t seem to be in a very good mood."

"Why is that?" Shen Mo asked, puzzled and curious.

"He’s been robbed." Cao Ren shrugged, a puzzled expression on his face. "I have no idea how, but he’s been mysteriously losing things for days now."

"Elixirs, talismans, materials... If I hadn’t been in seclusion this whole time, he might have suspected me."

"The lost items weren’t very valuable—just some common things. But he recently lost a key ingredient for an elixir he was refining, and that’s what made him anxious. Unfortunately, he can’t find the thief."

"Logically, this shouldn’t be happening. How could the Riverside Sect have thieves? Besides, his cave mansion is protected by a Prohibition; outsiders usually can’t get in."

Just as Cao Ren was expressing his bewilderment, Shen Mo felt his stomach clench.

So all these treasures were stolen from your dad!

"SQUEAK!"

Hearing this, the Spirit Storage Rat suddenly stopped eating and cried out at Cao Ren, as if trying to say something.

But Shen Mo reacted quickly, lightly tapping its head and prompting it to continue eating and not make a fuss.

If this gets exposed, it will be incredibly embarrassing.

Shen Mo’s face wore an awkward yet polite smile as he tried to shift the topic. "Since you’re out of seclusion, you must have successfully broken through, right?"

"Of course!"

Mentioning this, Cao Ren perked up, no longer dwelling on the theft at his father’s cave mansion. He proudly took out a jade tablet from his bosom.

This jade tablet, crafted from white suet jade, was delicately engraved with cloud patterns on the front, with the words "Inner Door" at its center.

On the back, Cao Ren’s name and background were recorded.