CHAPTER 40: CHAPTER 39: THE THREAT HIDDEN IN THE SHADOWS

Lu Yan’s steps halted, and he turned to look behind him.

He saw a young man dressed in a brown long robe, with a gaunt face, looking at Lu Yan with surprise and joy, as if he had encountered an old friend he hadn’t seen in years.

Lu Yan frowned slightly, searching his memory to confirm he did not know the person before him.

Unexpectedly, the gaunt young man walked up to Lu Yan with a self-assured familiarity, saying with delight:

"Fellow Daoist Lu, don’t you recognize me? I’m a friend of He Dongsheng, and when you bought the ’Tier One Magic Skill Collection’, I was the one selling Spirit Medicine at his side."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yan immediately recalled.

Back then, He Dongsheng attempted to trick Lu Yan into buying the ’Heavenly Dao Discussion’, aided by this young man who pretended to uncover the scheme, while actually assisting in the sales pitch.

In a way, he was considered part of He Dongsheng’s fake goods team.

"I am He Luyuan."

"So it’s Fellow Daoist He."

Lu Yan appropriately showed a slight smile and cupped his hands in greeting to the gaunt young man.

He had a slight acquaintance with He Dongsheng but had only met He Luyuan once.

The other person had targeted him from the moment he entered the marketplace and was now actively approaching to greet him, which made Lu Yan wary.

"Those seven loose cultivators had fixated on me early on, surely there was a source of information, perhaps provided by He Luyuan with whom I had a mere passing acquaintance."

At this moment, Lu Yan had linked He Luyuan with those seven pillaging loose cultivators.

Keeping a calm appearance, inwardly, Lu Yan began to be cautious around He Luyuan.

"Why haven’t I seen Fellow Daoist He?"

Lu Yan asked casually, as if making idle conversation.

He wanted to ascertain whether He Dongsheng was also involved in this matter.

"Didn’t you pass on some counterfeiting techniques to Fellow Daoist He earlier? Recently, he ran off to a Mortal City to experiment with these techniques, likely he won’t be back for a while."

When speaking, He Luyuan maintained a serene demeanor as if nothing was amiss.

However, Lu Yan keenly sensed something unusual. When discussing counterfeit antiques, Lu Yan had used a Sound Insulation Talisman to prevent outsiders from hearing. This affair should only be known to He Dongsheng and Lu Yan.

Even though He Luyuan was in collaboration with He Dongsheng, He Dongsheng should have been wary; more people knowing about the counterfeit poses greater risk.

With He Dongsheng’s character, it was impossible for him to reveal the truth to He Luyuan.

There must be something wrong here!

Even as his mind reeled, Lu Yan put on an expression of regret, saying:

"I didn’t expect Fellow Daoist He not to be here; I wanted to do a transaction with him."

After speaking, Lu Yan turned to leave.

He Luyuan’s expression changed slightly, hurriedly blocking Lu Yan’s path.

"Even though Fellow Daoist He is not here, I too can do transactions with Fellow Daoist Lu."

Lu Yan paused and scrutinized He Luyuan. Although being part of the counterfeit group, He Luyuan was at the fifth level of Qi Cultivation, a notch below He Dongsheng in cultivation.

Lu Yan shook his head: "It’s better to wait until Fellow Daoist He returns!"

Having said this, Lu Yan bypassed He Luyuan and continued towards the Cave Mansion District.

Being snubbed by Lu Yan made He Luyuan a bit annoyed, but he still hastily followed, anxiously speaking:

"Even though Fellow Daoist He is not here, I have all his connections."

"If Fellow Daoist Lu needs any scriptures, I can also help find them. In this Cyan Valley Marketplace, I, He Luyuan, do have a certain reputation."

Lu Yan made no response, the Cave Mansion District lay less than a hundred meters ahead.

Without renting a Cave Mansion, one was not allowed in the Cave Mansion District. He Luyuan, being just a mid-stage Qi Cultivator, lived in a wooden house outside the marketplace and had no qualification to enter the Cave Mansion District.

As the distance kept closing, in desperation, He Luyuan sidled up next to Lu Yan and whispered:

"Fellow Daoist Lu, I have a way to get scriptures from the Red Lotus Demon Sect!"

Lu Yan finally halted.

He fixed his intense gaze on He Luyuan, finally realizing where the problem lay.

If He Luyuan was indeed connected with those loose cultivators, upon seeing Lu Yan’s return, he’d know the seven loose cultivators were compromised, he wouldn’t be lingering around in front of Lu Yan.

Before this, Lu Yan only queried He Dongsheng about sects cultivating Karmic Force, without ever mentioning anything related to Red Lotus Demon Sect scriptures.

He Luyuan spoke in such a way, practically confirming Lu Yan’s desire for Red Lotus Demon Sect scriptures, which was absolutely abnormal.

Lu Yan instantly recalled the storage bag on his person.

The owner behind the storage bag seemed to have an extraordinary background, causing Shopkeeper Chu to refrain from touching it, instead keeping it hidden in a basement.

And Lu Yan’s current cultivation level largely depended on the Spirit Talismans, Spirit Stones, and Cultivation Technique Books within the storage bag.

"Could it be a force behind the owner of the storage bag has found me, yet fears the power behind the Cyan Simurgh Sect within the Cyan Valley Marketplace, thus wanting He Luyuan to entice me out of the Spirit Talisman Workshop to make a move?"

"But I’ve never revealed the storage bag in public, how then can they pinpoint me?"

Understanding most of He Luyuan’s intentions, Lu Yan was somewhat relieved.

Casually employing Magical Power to establish a Sound Insulation Barrier, Lu Yan suspiciously questioned:

"Red Lotus Demon Sect? That’s one of the major Demonic Sects; are you able to obtain their scriptures?"

He Luyuan regretted it a bit at this moment; in desperation to keep Lu Yan from leaving, he had brought up Red Lotus Demon Sect.

But with the issue now out in the open, He Luyuan could only brazenly continue:

"The Red Lotus Demon Sect, unlike other demonic sects, values worldly cultivation to accumulate Karmic Force and particularly enjoys traveling the Mortal Dynasty.

Over thousands of years, Red Lotus Demon Sect disciples have incited Mortal Dynasty conflicts more than once, allowing mortals to slaughter one another just to gather Karmic Force for cultivation enhancement.

Of course, there are successful individuals among them, but there are also numerous Red Lotus Demon Sect disciples who failed due to accidents.

After these disciples’ deaths, their Red Lotus Demon Sect scriptures get lost in the outside world.

In the Southern Frontier region, because of the distance from the Red Lotus Demon Sect, most cultivators remain ignorant, however, should one venture to the region of the Red Lotus Demon Sect, one will find that scriptures below the Golden Core level are not at all secretive.

Moreover, the Red Lotus Demon Sect intentionally circulates lower-tier scriptures to attract talented demonic cultivators rich in Karmic Force."

He Luyuan’s words made Lu Yan visibly intrigued.

"Where are the scriptures you mentioned?"

"In a cultivator’s possession at the Yingshan Marketplace, if Fellow Daoist Lu is willing to purchase them, we can set out now!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yan cast a skeptical glance at He Luyuan.

"Why is Fellow Daoist He so earnestly invested in this matter?"

"I’m just aiming to earn some brokerage fee; after all, it seems only Fellow Daoist Lu in the entire Cyan Valley Marketplace is interested in Red Lotus Demon Sect items."

Lu Yan pondered in silence, then ultimately shook his head, saying: "Though I am tempted by the scriptures, I have other pressing matters and must decline Fellow Daoist He’s kind offer."

He Luyuan became anxious immediately: "What is it? I can wait."

"I plan to return to my Cave Mansion to breakthrough to mid-stage Qi Cultivation, which will take at least a month."

Upon hearing this, He Luyuan breathed a sigh of relief, patting his chest: "No problem! I’ll have them hold onto the scriptures until Fellow Daoist Lu exits seclusion for the purchase."

The two agreed on a month’s time, and He Luyuan watched Lu Yan enter the Cave Mansion District.

Yet he failed to notice, as Lu Yan turned, the smile vanished from his face, his eyes seeming to fill with deep, swirling black mist.

"Suspected pursuer from the Red Lotus Demon Sect? Seeing as they don’t dare to act within Cyan Valley Marketplace, at most it’s a cultivator at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment.

A month down for preparation should be sufficient!"