Chapter 212 : Nine Nether Sect
Chapter 212: Nine Nether Sect
“Brother Gu, why don’t we become sworn brother and sister?”
Chen Ming was slightly startled when he heard this and turned to look at Xia Mudan.
Her eyes were slightly red, and within them carried a trace of pleading.
“Alright.”
He understood her meaning, and with a nod, saw tears burst from her eyes as she choked, “I’m sorry… I’m just too… happy…”
Xia Mudan turned her face away, her voice thick with nasal sound as she said, “Brother, I… I’m tired…”
“Then have a good rest.”
Seeing her shoulders trembling slightly, Chen Ming felt a pang of sympathy in his heart. He wanted to reach out to comfort her, but halfway, he pulled his hand back.
Hardening his heart, he rose and left.
Outside the room, he saw the maid named “Zhiqin” still leaning against the pillar, crying bitterly. Without disturbing her, he left directly.
…
Chen Ming returned to his small courtyard and was about to take out the Visualization Diagram to cultivate when Xia He came to report, “Young Master, a man named Deng Wei has come to the gate, saying he seeks an audience.”
Deng Wei?
That was one of the prison wardens under him.
Why was he here?
Though puzzled, Chen Ming still said, “Let him in.”
Soon, Xia He brought Deng Wei over. This man wore black clothes; if he covered his face, it would be night attire.
Deng Wei first bowed respectfully, “Subordinate greets My Lord.”
“No need for courtesy, sit. What matter brings you here?”
Chen Ming looked at this usually silent subordinate with some curiosity.
He had thought the man came bearing gifts, but he was empty-handed.
Without rising, Deng Wei lifted his head and said, “Subordinate comes to present a great gift to My Lord.”
“Oh?”
“Only, I do not know if My Lord dares to accept it.”
Chen Ming saw his gaze burning, utterly unlike his normally honest demeanor. Growing more interested, he said, “Speak. What kind of gift is it?”
“This matter is of great importance. I beg My Lord to dismiss all others first.”
He waved his hand, letting Xia He leave.
Once the maid had gone, he said, “Now, you can speak.”
Lowering his voice so that only the two of them could hear, Deng Wei said, “I have a way to lure out the fiends of the Nine Nether Sect. If My Lord makes prior arrangements, we can capture them all in one net. This would be a great merit. Does My Lord dare to take the gamble?”
The Nine Nether Sect?
Chen Ming was shocked, re-examining this usually inconspicuous subordinate. He had not expected him to be connected to the Eternal Life Cult’s Nine Nether Sect.
After a moment of thought, Chen Ming asked, “And your condition?”
Deng Wei answered decisively, “Subordinate seeks no merit, no reward. Only that My Lord protects my life.”
Chen Ming asked, “You are putting your very life in my hands. Why choose me?”
“Because I cannot trust anyone else!”
“Why?”
“I suspect others in the Six Doors Authority have already been bought by the Nine Nether Sect. I dare not gamble. Only My Lord came from the Capital, hails from a prestigious clan, and is a rare genius. You would never debase yourself by colluding with the Nine Nether Sect!”
“And you’re not afraid I might betray you, accuse you of colluding with the Demonic Cult after the fact?”
“These past few days of observing, I am certain My Lord is not such a petty villain.” Deng Wei gave a bitter smile. “If I have misjudged you, then I can only resign myself to fate.”
Chen Ming laughed. “That flattery was well-played. Rise.”
This time, Deng Wei obeyed and stood, sitting himself on the stool.
Chen Ming asked, “Tell me, how did you get entangled with the Nine Nether Sect?”
Deng Wei recounted a past incident.
Two years ago, his only son had been poisoned with a strange toxin, and only a rare medicine could cure it. He had searched in vain, helpless as his son was about to die. Then someone approached him, offering the antidote.
In that desperate moment, though he knew this person was of dubious origin, he could not refuse.
His son recovered quickly after taking the antidote. But that matter remained a thorn in his heart.
Not long after, the man returned, asking him to do things.
At first, trivial matters.
Later, the demands grew excessive.
Deng Wei smiled bitterly, “A month ago, he even wanted me to draw the detailed maps of the Six Doors Authority and the Great Prison. Only then did I realize their wolfish ambition, but I could only delay.
“Half a month ago, they brought me to a place and revealed themselves. They told me outright they were disciples of the Eternal Life Cult’s Nine Nether Sect. I had no choice. To live, I had to join them…”
After listening, Chen Ming asked, “You’ve already joined them, so why come to inform me?”
Deng Wei said helplessly, “To be honest, if it had been another branch of the Eternal Life Cult, even if I boarded their pirate ship, I would accept my fate. But the disciples of the Nine Nether Sect have no credibility. Once the deed is done, they will sacrifice my whole family to their demonic artifacts. Since I’m doomed either way, better to gamble for a sliver of life.”
Chen Ming found his words fairly credible and asked, “If not me, who would you have told?”
“Inspector Hong Yuze.”
This answer was unexpected.
“Why not Lord Ruan?”
Deng Wei replied solemnly, “Lord Ruan is unreliable. Once, a Nine Nether Sect disciple slipped, implying that Lord Ruan’s side harbors a Nine Nether Sect spy.”
Chen Ming was first startled, but then found it reasonable.
The third floor of the Great Prison could only be opened by Ruan Caihong and Lord Zhong. If the Nine Nether Sect could not get to Ruan Caihong, nothing could be done.
After a silence, he asked, “Do you know the true identities of the Nine Nether Sect disciples?”
Deng Wei shook his head. “Whenever we met, they were all disguised, wearing masks. Apart from the Demon Heir, no one knows the others’ identities.”
“And that Demon Heir’s cultivation?”
“At least First Grade.”
This did not surprise Chen Ming. Without sufficient strength, they would not dare target the Six Doors Great Prison.
He said, “For now, return and act normal. I will personally report this to Lord Zhong.”
Deng Wei was reassured. Such a matter had to be reported to that super-grade powerhouse.
His own rank was too low; trying to see Lord Zhong would cause too much noise, sure to alert the Nine Nether Sect’s agents. He could only report to someone of higher authority.
Old Zhang and Lord Li would not do.
Lord Ruan had spies around him—worse still.
As for the three First Grade Inspectors, two were ambitious and ruthless. The chance of betrayal afterward was too high.
Originally, his only choice was Inspector Hong Yuze.
Fortunately, now there was another option.
Deng Wei asked, “What of the map? Should I hand it over?”
Chen Ming replied, “Stall them for now. I will report to Lord Zhong tomorrow.”
“Yes, My Lord.”
Deng Wei then departed.
Chen Ming sat in his room, pondering the matter, and finally shook his head: once again, the Eternal Life Cult—it was truly cursed fate.
First the Blood Demon Sect, then the Undying Demon Sovereign, and now the Nine Nether Sect.
Of the Eternal Life Cult’s six factions, he had already dealt with three.
…
The next morning, Chen Ming went to the Six Doors Authority and immediately sought an audience with Lord Zhong, but was told he was busy with affairs and unavailable.
He quickly slipped the guard a banknote, urging, “I have an urgent matter. I must see Lord Zhong.”
The guard accepted it quietly, then whispered, “Lord Zhong is in seclusion, cultivating. He will not emerge for ten days to half a month. In this time, he will see no one. Return in half a month.”
“Half a month?”
Chen Ming’s heart sank. By then, it would be far too late.
He suddenly realized—the Nine Nether Sect must have timed their move to coincide with Lord Zhong’s seclusion.
Now, with the two First Grade Inspectors of the Six Doors absent, and Lord Zhong in seclusion, only Hong Yuze remained. It was the moment of greatest vulnerability.
He reacted in shock, “No good, the Nine Nether Sect must act within these days!”
What to do?
Returning to his office, Old Zhang asked curiously, “Why does My Lord look so troubled?”
Instead of answering, he asked back, “Lord Ruan didn’t come today?”
Just then, Zhang Dingce ran in from outside, “My Lord, Lord Ruan is looking for you.”
“Understood.”
Chen Ming straightened his spirit and went to see Ruan Caihong.
…
“My Lord, do you know where Miss Su is now?”
Upon meeting Ruan Caihong, Chen Ming asked directly.
In the present Xiazhou City, the only person he could trust was Su Zhi Ning. He just hoped she hadn’t come alone.
Ruan Caihong was surprised at his urgency and asked, “Why are you looking for her?”
“To tell the truth, Miss Su is an old acquaintance of mine.”
This was not a lie. Gu Xianyu indeed knew Su Zhi Ning. Though they had only met once, it was love at first sight, and he had been captivated since.
Ruan Caihong chuckled slyly, teasing, “Just an old acquaintance?”
“Brother Ruan, please don’t jest. I truly have urgent matters with her.”
“To find her is not difficult. She is currently in the Hall of Sentiments and Righteousness.”
“Many thanks, Brother Ruan.”
Ruan Caihong said, “No need for thanks. But, if I am not mistaken, Miss Su already has someone in her heart. For a woman like her, once she gives her heart, there is no room for another. Don’t waste your efforts.”
Chen Ming nodded, accepting the lesson, then changed the subject, “Yesterday, when you checked the demonic artifact, how was it?”
Ruan Caihong said, “Naturally, all was as usual. That sword has been suppressed here for five hundred years, completely isolated from the outside. At most another one or two centuries, and its demonic nature will be extinguished. The Heaven’s Path Alliance is simply worrying needlessly. With me here, who could possibly covet that demonic sword?”
Chen Ming thought, could it be that you yourself are the greatest flaw?
Of course, he did not voice that thought.
“By the way, come to my residence for lunch. My wife insists on personally cooking to host you.”
“Alright.”