Crow Immortal: I Can Duplicate Infinite Resources

Chapter 234: Personal Supervision

Either the stationed disciples of Wanchun Valley were derelict in their duty, failing to monitor and report such a massive event…

Or the intelligence network in the Nanli Kingdom had been compromised.

Han Yu’s thoughts raced. Before descending the mountain, he had learned that a Foundation Establishment Demon Beast was wreaking havoc in Nanli, requiring a Deacon to pacify it. If that report was a fabrication, then the entire kingdom was a trap waiting to spring.

His mindset shifted instantly. This was no longer a leisurely journey to collect resources; it was an urgent reconnaissance mission.

Had the Nanli Kingdom been quietly turned into a killing field for Wanchun Valley disciples?

He had to investigate and report back. If possible, he would solve the problem himself.

Having made up his mind, Han Yu controlled his puppet, “Li Ya,” to express interest in the martial arts assembly. He told the Linshan Five Tigers he wanted to try his luck at obtaining an Ascension Token.

The bandits were delighted. Feigning camaraderie, they agreed to travel together to the Martial Manor outside Xinglong Prefecture.

Han Yu agreed. A guide was exactly what he needed.

Unfortunately, the Linshan Five Tigers were not decent people.

They had sworn friendship during the day, but that night at the inn, “Black Tiger” Jiang Cuiyu crept into Li Ya’s room. She claimed to admire “Hero Li Si” and offered herself to him.

If not for the dagger hidden in her bosom and the killing intent radiating from her, Han Yu might have dismissed her as merely promiscuous. But since she came with malice, she couldn’t blame him for being ruthless.

After “Hundred-Pace Archer Li Si” sternly rejected her, Jiang Cuiyu left in a huff.

In the dead of night, “White Tiger” Fei Shanjun poked a hole in the paper window and blew sleeping smoke into the room.

Moments later, the Linshan Five Tigers—or rather, the Linshan Five Bandits—burst in, weapons drawn. They hacked at the sleeping figure on the bed with a cacophony of clangs and sparks, like blacksmiths hammering iron.

The puppet Li Ya sat up slowly. He raised a hand.

Snap. Snap. Snap. Snap.

In the blink of an eye, four of the five bandits were dead.

Only Fei Shanjun remained. Terrified, he fell to his knees, kowtowing so hard his forehead bled.

“Hero Li! Spare me! I have an elderly mother to support—”

“Shut up. I ask, you answer.”

As the puppet spoke, Han Yu stood invisibly in the corner, observing. Even standing right in front of the bandit, his Foundation Establishment cultivation and the Thousand Illusions Secret Art rendered him completely undetectable.

Through the puppet, Han Yu interrogated Fei Shanjun thoroughly. He extracted everything: their history of robbery, their plans, and the details of the Ascension Tokens at the Martial Manor.

Whenever Fei Shanjun hesitated or lied, Han Yu sensed the subtle shift in his pulse and breathing. The puppet would deliver a shallow cut as a penalty.

After two cuts, Fei Shanjun spilled every secret he knew.

The interrogation complete, it was time to send this villain on his way.

Fei Shanjun sensed his end approaching. “Please! Hero Li! If I had known your external cultivation made you impervious to blades, I never would have—”

Puppet Li Ya silenced him with a quick twist of the neck.

The room fell silent.

A martial arts assembly. A Martial Manor. This reeks of conspiracy.

He was only 200 miles from Wanchun Valley. Han Yu retrieved the leaf-shaped communication artifact given by the Sect Leader and infused it with Qi.

Sect Leader Qi’s voice responded instantly. “Han Yu, are you in trouble?”

“Sect Leader, I am not in trouble, but something suspicious has arisen in the Nanli Kingdom. I suspect enemies have infiltrated and taken control of the territory.”

Han Yu detailed the situation regarding the martial arts assembly and the Ascension Tokens.

Sect Leader Qi was astonished. “If common martial artists know of this, it is no secret. A gathering outside the capital involving our sect’s tokens… The stationed disciples should have reported this immediately!”

“That is exactly what concerns me,” Han Yu said.

“Either they are negligent, or they have been controlled—or killed and replaced.”

“Regardless, the reports from Nanli are no longer trustworthy. The request for a Deacon to handle a Foundation Establishment Demon Beast… it might be a lure to draw out high-level disciples.”

“If it is mere negligence, we can handle it,” Sect Leader Qi said, his voice darkening. “But if this is a trap, then a group of hostile cultivators has infiltrated Nanli. Their leader is at least Foundation Establishment, possibly Golden Core.”

“Han Yu, return to the Sect immediately. We will investigate slowly.”

Han Yu considered this. “Sect Leader, I have already descended the mountain. I considered the dangers before leaving. To retreat at the first sign of trouble would be unbecoming.”

“I will not take unnecessary risks, but I will not flee without learning more.”

Sect Leader Qi was silent for a moment. “Stay where you are. Do not move.”

Han Yu was startled, then realized: the Sect Leader was coming personally.

Two quarters of an hour later, Sect Leader Qi arrived.

He did not reveal himself. Instead, his Divine Sense spoke directly into Han Yu’s mind.

“Everything within the Sect is arranged.”

“Proceed as you wish. I will watch over your safety.”

“Consider this a test. I want to see how you handle things. If your methods are crude or flawed, I will drag you back to the Sect for remedial lessons.”

Han Yu felt a warmth in his chest. He bowed to the empty room. “Thank you for your supervision, Sect Leader. I will not disappoint you.”

Qi’s voice returned. “Who are the five dead men in the room?”

Han Yu explained the situation with the Linshan Five Tigers.

Satisfied that Han Yu hadn’t killed innocents, Sect Leader Qi withdrew his presence into the shadows.

With a Golden Core powerhouse watching his back, Han Yu’s confidence soared. He could act freely now.

He decided to infiltrate the Martial Manor outside Xinglong Prefecture to investigate the assembly and the state of the kingdom from the ground level.

Before dawn—and before the innkeeper could report the murders—Han Yu sent puppet Li Ya riding out of town toward the next settlement.

“You are a cautious child,” Sect Leader Qi’s voice noted approvingly.

Han Yu glanced back but saw nothing.

By sunrise, the puppet had reached the next town. Han Yu spent the day traveling, observing the towns of Nanli Kingdom through the puppet’s eyes. On the surface, everything seemed normal.

Perhaps the stationed disciples really were just negligent, he mused. Maybe it isn’t as dire as I thought.

Another day passed. He was now within 300 miles of the capital, Xinglong Prefecture.

On the road, the puppet encountered two martial artists. They exchanged polite greetings but didn’t stop.

At the next town, however, they met again.

The pair—a husband and wife—looked at the puppet with unfriendly expressions. “Friend, are you also here for the Demon Beast bounty?”

Before the puppet could answer, a bright voice cut in from the side.

“That’s right! We are indeed here for the bounty.”

“What of it?”

The puppet turned. A short swordswoman in green martial attire stood nearby, smiling at him. She winked mischievously.

“No need to thank me. Just doing what should be done!”

She had a faint, slender green mark on her forehead, like an old scar. When she smiled, her teeth were snow-white, and her demeanor was radiantly cheerful.