213: Chapter 213 Opportunity

Just like many other forces present, Patriarch Wu Shenglong had arrived early to wait after receiving the intelligence.

As the Wu Family was one of the strongest local forces in Liuhe Town, its leader, Patriarch Wu Shenglong, was naturally one of the most powerful people in town, as well as a Martial Artist at Divine Power Perfection.

Everyone present was a leader of various major forces in Liuhe Town, so they naturally recognized Patriarch Wu Shenglong's identity.

Even those who usually shone brilliantly appeared plain and unadorned today.

Even so, the crowd did not dare to treat Patriarch Wu Shenglong as an equal; instead, they tacitly maintained their distance, leaving the most prominent area to him.

Despite this, Patriarch Wu Shenglong still didn't receive a single extra glance from Pei Tianquan.

If this were any ordinary person in the spotlight, they would feel somewhat uncomfortable.

But Patriarch Wu Shenglong's expression remained unchanged from start to finish, the fervor and excitement in his eyes showing no trace of pretense.

It was only when Pei Tianquan's figure completely disappeared into the inn that Patriarch Wu Shenglong's expression shifted slightly.

"Patriarch, Pei Tianquan has arrived. Should we send a Visiting Card to request an audience?" a butler at his side whispered.

Patriarch Wu Shenglong did not answer immediately but instead asked, "What is the situation at Yulin Alley?"

The butler was stunned for only a moment before answering methodically, "The person has been captured, but their identity is still being verified."

Patriarch Wu Shenglong's gaze remained steady as he asked indifferently, "How much longer?"

"I have arranged for an urgent verification; there will be a result by tomorrow at the latest," the butler replied after a brief hesitation.

"Tomorrow?" Patriarch Wu Shenglong's expression changed slightly, his tone carrying a hint of non-committal sternness. "Too slow. It must be verified before the Hour of the Rooster today."

Hearing this, cold sweat broke out on the butler's forehead. He knew Patriarch Wu Shenglong would take this seriously, but he hadn't expected it to be to this extent.

It was currently noon, and the Hour of the Rooster was only two shichen away.

Two shichen wasn't a short time, but it was basically impossible to verify someone's identity through external methods within that timeframe.

Unless the person confessed personally...

At that thought, he composed himself and lowered his head, saying solemnly, "Yes, I will go and oversee it personally."

After saying this, the butler left without looking back.

Patriarch Wu Shenglong did not stay long either, his eyes fixed on the inn where Pei Tianquan was, emotions swirling within them.

He also wanted to meet Pei Tianquan.

But even if they met, what then? He had no bargaining chips to make the Pei Clan take him seriously.

Despite being able to summon the wind and rain in Liuhe Town...

...at the end of the day, he was merely the leader of an unranked force. Perhaps with the Wu Family's strength and his Divine Power Perfection Realm cultivation, they could attach themselves to an ordinary third-rate family.

But trying to cling to the Pei Clan with just that was undoubtedly a pipe dream.

Therefore, he had to find a suitable opportunity.

Without a doubt, Yin He was that suitable opportunity. Only by confirming Yin He's identity could he possibly board the great ship of the Pei Clan and lead his Family further.

As for the conflict and rivalry between the Pei Clan and the Qian Clan, it was the extent of what a Family at his level could understand.

...

In the guest room, not long after Pei Tianquan sat down, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in."

As the voice fell, a middle-aged man entered from outside and bowed respectfully.

The newcomer was the Innkeeper, who was also the intelligence officer in charge of tracking Yin He's whereabouts in Liuhe Town.

Pei Tianquan did not speak; he simply stared at the man before him as an invisible, oppressive aura spread out.

Feeling Pei Tianquan's gaze, the middle-aged man reported everything that had happened during this period one by one.

"Many forces outside have sent Visiting Cards. Would you like to see any of them?"

In fact, shortly after Pei Tianquan entered the inn, the leaders of the various major forces originally near the inn had also dispersed.

Of course, some people had sent Visiting Cards, hoping for an audience with Pei Tianquan.

How could Pei Tianquan not be aware of their little schemes?

During his time stationed at the Jinhuai Branch, he had seen too many such forces.

Any one of these forces, if taken individually, was at the level of a third-rate family.

In a single county, they would be dominant powers.

Let alone in this mere town.

In the past, he naturally wouldn't have met them; a refusal would have been certain.

But this time, he did not immediately refuse; instead, he fell into deep thought.

His purpose for this trip was to find Yin He's whereabouts. As long as there was a sliver of possibility, he would not give up.

As the saying goes, although a sparrow is small, it still possesses the Five Viscera; these forces might not necessarily lack information on Yin He's whereabouts.

Thus, Pei Tianquan decided to meet some of them to ensure nothing was overlooked.

After some screening, he selected a few of them.

Before long, the selected forces received word that Pei Tianquan was willing to meet them.

Once this news came out, the entire Liuhe Town was shaken.

The forces that had sent Visiting Cards hadn't actually held much hope.

But they had actually succeeded.

This made the forces that hadn't sent Visiting Cards turn green with regret.

Previously, they had mocked those who sent cards for their wishful thinking.

In the blink of an eye, they were slapped in the face.

In the Wu Family compound, Patriarch Wu Shenglong also received news immediately that Pei Tianquan was meeting other forces, causing waves to surge in his originally calm heart.

He would never believe that these forces were worth the Pei Clan treating them with courtesy.

Even the Wu Family was not worth mentioning.

But Pei Tianquan had done it anyway.

The reason behind this could be deduced with just a little careful consideration.

The Pei Clan's purpose in coming to Liuhe Town was for Yin He.

"Could it be that another force has found Yin He?" At this thought, Patriarch Wu Shenglong's expression changed drastically.

If another force really had Yin He's whereabouts, wouldn't that mean the person he captured was the wrong one?

In an instant, his inner confidence vanished.

All along, he hadn't believed that other forces were qualified to see Pei Tianquan.

Even if they did see Pei Tianquan, it would only be good luck; they would have no chance of boarding the Pei Clan's great ship.

But the premise of all this was that Yin He had not appeared.

If Yin He really had appeared, these forces might actually be able to latch onto the Pei Clan.

If these forces did latch onto the Pei Clan...

...it would definitely be a heavy blow to the Wu Family, and it might even become the fuse for the Wu Family's decline in the future.

After all, a town only has so many resources.

Even with an influx of external resources, the rise of one force would inevitably lead to the decline of another.

At this thought, Patriarch Wu Shenglong unconsciously stood up straight and strode toward the place where Yin He was being held.

In just an instant, he disappeared from the wing room.