27: Chapter 27 The Chu Family is Humiliated in Qing, Li Siwen Leads a Beast into the Cave

Inside the side hall of the Law Enforcement Hall in the Utility Area, the atmosphere was so heavy it felt like water could drip from it.

Yu Qing lay unconscious on a crude wooden bed, his face pale, his breathing weak. He was covered in bandages, through which faint traces of blood could still be seen.

His once robust body now appeared unusually thin and fragile.

Several Law Enforcement Team members, dressed in their uniforms, stood around the bed, their faces ashen, fists clenched, eyes burning with barely suppressed rage.

The air was filled with the scent of medicinal herbs and a cold anger.

"Zhao Lei and Sun Hao, those two scoundrels, have already been dealt with according to Sect rules!"

A tall, burly Law Enforcement Team member slammed his fist onto a nearby wooden table, which groaned under the impact. "Their cultivation has been crippled, and they've been imprisoned in the Cold Pool Cave in the back mountain. They'll never see the light of day again!"

"But what good is that?!" another member said hoarsely, pointing at Yu Qing. "Senior Brother Yu... his Meridians and Qi Sea... are almost completely destroyed! Even if he wakes up, he'll be... he'll be crippled for life!"

These words were like a sharp knife, piercing everyone's hearts.

Yu Qing was honest and good-natured, and very popular within the Law Enforcement Team. Everyone was willing to partner with him on missions.

Seeing him in such a state, everyone felt a surge of suppressed fury in their chests, with nowhere to vent it.

"The most hateful one is that bastard Chu Youcai!" the burly team member gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot. "Who doesn't know Zhao Lei and Sun Hao are his men? Who doesn't know he must have instigated this?! Yet he's still living it up, damn him!"

"Exactly! When the Law Enforcement Hall questioned him, he just said 'I don't know' and washed his hands of it! The Chu Family even sent a mere five hundred low-grade essence stones, calling it 'compensation'! Are they trying to pay off a beggar? Is Senior Brother Yu's life only worth five hundred essence stones?!" another member shouted agitatedly.

The immense sense of injustice and the tragic state of their comrade nearly drove this group of hot-blooded Law Enforcement Team members to lose their minds.

"We can't just let this go!"

"Right! If we can't touch the Chu Family, can't we touch Chu Youcai?!"

"Let's find an opportunity, mask our faces, and beat him until he can't take care of himself! Give Senior Brother Yu some revenge!"

The few of them grew emotional, even beginning to quietly discuss how to retaliate in private.

"Everyone, shut up!"

A low but authoritative shout came from the doorway.

Chen Mingtao strode in, his face as somber as water.

He swept his gaze over the agitated team members. "Taking matters into your own hands? Do you still want to wear these Law Enforcement uniforms? What's the first rule of the Sect? Private fights and vengeance are forbidden! Do you want to drag yourselves down too?"

The members were silenced by his reprimand. Though still indignant, they lowered their heads, not daring to argue.

Chen Mingtao held high prestige within the Law Enforcement Team.

Chen Mingtao walked to Yu Qing's bedside, checked his condition, and his brows furrowed even deeper, a flicker of pain in his eyes.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart, and said in a deep voice, "Chu Youcai's matter, for now... we can only put it aside. Behind him is Elder Chu, and the Chu Family! Without solid evidence, no one can touch him. The Sect has its rules, and also its helplessness."

He paused, then took out a small jade bottle and a small bag of essence stones from his Storage Pouch, placing them by Yu Qing's pillow.

"These are three 'Meridian Nourishing Pills' and a thousand low-grade essence stones I've saved up. While they might be a drop in the ocean for Yu Qing's injuries, they are... my small token of goodwill. For his subsequent healing, I will do my best to apply for resources from the Sect."

The members watched Chen Mingtao's actions, their anger slightly subsiding, replaced by a heavy sense of helplessness and admiration for Chen Mingtao.

Chen Mingtao patted the shoulder of the nearest member. "Look after Yu Qing, take good care of him. This matter will absolutely not be left unresolved, but revenge cannot be sought by sacrificing yourselves. Understand?"

"Yes, Senior Brother Chen!" The members nodded heavily.

Chen Mingtao sighed, his gaze drifting towards the outside of the hall, his heart secretly troubled.

Yu Qing's matter probably couldn't be kept from that girl Yaojia.

With her fiery temper and protectiveness towards fellow disciples, if she knew Chu Youcai was safe and sound, she'd probably go straight to him with a sword to settle accounts...

Alas, he hoped she wouldn't stir up too much trouble.

Meanwhile, deep within the dense forest.

Li Siwen (Li Shiwen) pushed his movement technique to its limit, his figure darting through the trees like an elusive white streak of light.

The Internal Energy of his Aperture Opening Realm surged within him, granting him speed and endurance far surpassing his Pulse Forging Realm days.

The bonus from being in his female disguise made his movement technique incredibly light and agile, often allowing him to narrowly avoid giant trees and vines blocking his path.

"Roar!"

"Awoo—!"

Behind him, beast roars shook the heavens and earth.

Black bears, demon wolves, and several startled Molten Fire Lizards formed a small beast pack, relentlessly giving chase.

Their scarlet eyes fixated only on the provoking figure ahead, their wild aura scattering low-level Yao Beasts throughout the forest.

Li Siwen dared not pause for a moment, pushing deeper in the opposite direction from the Sect.

He constantly changed direction, using the complex terrain and trees to obstruct the beast pack's collective charge, occasionally flicking a condensed Internal Energy blast from his fingertips to strike distant rocks or tree trunks, creating sounds to mislead his pursuers.

However, the beast pack was numerous, and several of the Yao Beasts had keen senses, always clinging tightly to his trail.

The chase continued for about half an hour. Li Siwen felt a significant drain on his Internal Energy, and his speed gradually slowed a fraction.

Just then, he suddenly noticed the terrain ahead began to slope downwards, the trees became sparse, and a faint, unsettling grey mist permeated the air.

This mist... seemed to subtly interfere with spiritual perception!

His heart tensed, realizing he might have entered an unusual area.

But the approaching roars of the beasts behind him left no room for hesitation.

"I'll risk it!"

He gritted his teeth, his speed increasing rather than decreasing, and plunged headfirst into the mist-shrouded area.

As soon as he entered the grey mist, the beast roars behind him seemed to be cut off, abruptly weakening significantly.

The pursuing Yao Beasts paced anxiously at the edge of the mist, roaring, seemingly wary of this area. They dared not venture deeper and eventually dispersed unwillingly.

Li Siwen breathed a small sigh of relief, but immediately raised his guard to the highest level.

He slowed his pace, proceeding cautiously.

The light here was dim, the grey mist swirled, visibility was very low, and it was eerily silent, with even the chirping of insects and birds disappearing.

The ground beneath his feet became soft and damp, and the unsettling aura in the air grew stronger.

He tried to discern his direction, but found that the grey mist indeed interfered with perception, even significantly affecting the enhanced spiritual sense he gained from his recent Breakthrough.

"I must leave this place as soon as possible!" he thought to himself, choosing each step even more carefully.

Suddenly, his foot found no purchase!

The seemingly solid ground suddenly collapsed, revealing a deep, dark cave entrance hidden by withered branches and rotten leaves!

A powerful suction force emanated from within the cave!

Li Siwen was greatly alarmed, circulating his Internal Energy with all his might to break free, but the suction was exceptionally strong. Coupled with his considerable exhaustion from the long chase, his body was involuntarily dragged downwards!

He tried to grab the cave wall, but it was incredibly slippery, offering no leverage.

The scene above him rushed past, and darkness swiftly swallowed him.

The last thing that caught his eye was a fleeting glimpse of some ancient and incomplete runic traces at the cave entrance...

He had, unexpectedly, stumbled into an unknown, mysterious place!