Chapter 672 - 271: The Gu Family
The journey for Chen Qing and his group was much calmer after that.
「Several days later.」
They finally arrived at Dongji City.
This great city, which dominated the easternmost end of Qiu Long Path, was backed by continuous mountain ranges and faced a boundless, azure sea. Its towering walls were built from massive, blue-green sea rocks and had stood firm for a thousand years, unyielding against the erosion of the sea wind.
Even before they drew near, a salty, briny gust of sea wind rushed to greet them.
The city gate was bustling with traffic. Caravans from the inland and boat crews returning from overseas streamed in and out endlessly, creating a hubbub of voices.
Chen Qing and his group were travel-worn. After days of continuous travel and the recent battle, many of their faces showed exhaustion. But upon seeing Dongji City, a spark of curiosity still lit their eyes.
Just as the group arrived on the post road outside the city, they saw several figures already waiting for them.
The leader was a woman of about forty, dressed in the uniform of a Celestial Treasure Upper Sect Steward. It was none other than Huang Mei, the Steward permanently stationed in Dongji City.
Behind her stood several Guardian Disciples.
Seeing Deng Ziheng and Chen Qing, Huang Mei’s eyes lit up. She hurried forward, first bowing to Deng Ziheng and speaking respectfully, "Dongji City Steward Huang Mei welcomes Elder Deng! You’ve had a long journey, Elder!"
Deng Ziheng nodded slightly and said, "There’s no need for such formalities, Steward Huang."
Only then did Huang Mei turn to Chen Qing, her smile broadening as she bowed again. "Welcome, Chen Zhenchuan! The name of a True Disciple has long since spread throughout the Sect. Seeing you today, you truly have an extraordinary bearing!"
Her words were appropriate, and her tone held no hint of neglect or disdain.
A True Disciple held significant weight in the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect.
Chen Qing remained calm and returned the gesture with a slight bow of his cupped hands. "You’re too kind, Steward Huang. I was merely doing my duty. As I’ve just arrived, I will need your assistance in the days to come."
"You are too kind, Chen Zhenchuan. This is my duty. I will certainly do my utmost to cooperate with you and Elder Deng."
Huang Mei quickly replied, then turned to the side to lead the way. "Elder Deng, Chen Zhenchuan, and all you junior brothers and sisters, you must be tired from your journey. The lodgings and a welcoming banquet have been prepared. Please follow me into the city to get settled."
Chen Qing and the others followed Steward Huang Mei through the bustling port district and officially entered Dongji City.
Unlike the majestic, ancient, mountain-built Celestial Treasure City, Dongji City had a completely different feel.
The city did not strive for imposing heights, but instead spread out along the winding coastline, offering an incredibly open view.
The walls were mostly built from massive, blue-green sea rocks, covered with dark green algae and moss that gave off a faint, salty smell.
The buildings inside the city were packed closely together, displaying a variety of styles.
There were traditional Yan Country structures with flying eaves and upturned corners, as well as many low, sturdy stone houses with narrow windows.
Some buildings even had a distinct overseas flair. They were brightly colored and decorated with strange shells and corals. Some even used the entire, massive bones of unknown Exotic Beasts as beams and pillars, giving them a very rugged appearance.
The streets were a sea of people, packed shoulder to shoulder.
Shops lined both sides of the street. There were not only silk emporiums and apothecaries selling inland specialties, but even more sea-product stores, fishing tackle shops, and ship repair workshops. There were also trading houses with peculiar signs, buying and selling rare treasures from overseas. The dazzling array of goods was overwhelming.
Steward Huang Mei was clearly very familiar with the area. As she walked, she briefly introduced the important shops and faction strongholds along the way, pointing out which were Gu Family properties, which were closely related to the Cloud Water Upper Sect, and which were the permanent residences of the Seventy-Two Islands.
About the time it takes an incense stick to burn later, the group arrived in an area just north of the city center.
The guards here were noticeably stricter, and the patrolling disciples wore the uniform of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect.
A sprawling manor appeared before them. This was the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect’s core stronghold in Dongji City.
Inside, the manor was a world of its own, isolated from the noise and heat of the outside.
The courtyards were deep and the corridors winding. Running water had been diverted to create ponds and rockeries, giving the place a quiet and refined atmosphere.
Inside the main hall, cooling herbal teas and fresh fruits had already been prepared to ward off the heat.
Everyone took their seats, and Steward Huang Mei personally poured tea for Deng Ziheng and Chen Qing, her attitude respectful yet measured.
Chen Qing dispensed with the pleasantries and got straight to the point. "Steward Huang, what is the current situation in Dongji City? To what extent is the Demon Sect active?"
Huang Mei set down the teapot, her relaxed expression vanishing. She sighed and said, "The situation is not optimistic. About two months ago, it started with just a small group of Demon Sect villains robbing lone merchant ships. Although they caused some losses, it was still within a controllable range. But over the past month, their activities have become more rampant, and their methods more ruthless."
Her tone grew heavier. "Just ten days ago, they attacked a Treasure Ship belonging to our Celestial Treasure Upper Sect. At the time, the Treasure Ship was returning from Broken Star Island, transporting a precious shipment of Deep Sea Cold Iron and Moonlight Coral. Onboard were not only the goods, but also eight Outer and Inner Sect disciples responsible for escorting the shipment and patrolling the nearby sea region... Only two survived. The other six perished."
"According to the two disciples who were lucky enough to escape, there were a significant number of Demon Sect experts involved, and their strength was formidable."
’Moonlight Coral... one of the ingredients for refining High-quality Quenching Gang Pills.’
Chen Qing nodded slightly. "Do we know their current whereabouts?"
Huang Mei frowned and shook her head. "They’re very difficult to track. These people are extremely cunning and move like the wind. They use the vast, boundless Thousand Reefs Sea Region as their shield, hiding among its scattered islands and complex environment. We’ve organized several search parties, but all returned empty-handed. In fact, we were ambushed once and lost some of our people."