Two Realms Shuttle Gate: Don't Call Me a Demon!

Chapter 73: Chapter 71: Tracking

The cold wind whistled sharply as several figures darted rapidly through the mountain forest, startling a flock of birds into flight.

It was a team of three men and one woman.

“Senior Brother Zhang, we’re almost at my home. Let’s go find my father and ask about the situation first,” said a tall man who spoke up. He was dressed in a robe adorned with patterns of purple mist and floating clouds, a garment that would be recognized by any Jianghu person as the attire of a Purple Mist Sect disciple.

His name was Chu Pu, the third son of Chu Xuntan. He had joined the Purple Mist Sect at the age of fifteen and had now been promoted to an Outer Disciple with cultivation at the Third Level of Yunling Realm.

The other three who traveled with him were entirely different.

These three were clad in iron clothes, wearing pointed iron hats, with double swords at their waists. They moved like dragons soaring and tigers leaping, their eyes filled with the resolute and bloodthirsty intent of seasoned warriors.

They were disciples of the Punishment Hall of the Purple Mist Sect, each with cultivation at or above the Fifth Level of Yunling Realm, and they were not in the same league as him.

In addition to capturing and punishing those who violated the sect’s laws, the Punishment Hall also dealt with matters related to the Demon Path.

The trio formed a standard reconnaissance team when investigating the Demon Path, deployed by the Purple Mist Sect when the enemy’s situation was uncertain.

Senior Brother Zhang, who Chu Pu referred to and also the team leader Zhang Changxin, turned his head to look toward a small town and said indifferently, “Be quick. If we can’t find the Demon Cultivator, I’ll hold you accountable.”

“I really wouldn’t bother with such a backwater place if it weren’t for your steadfast assurances.”

“Talk less, Chu Pu. I hope your intelligence is accurate. If there truly is a Demon Cultivator, you won’t be left out of the rewards from the sect.”

The other two disciples from the Punishment Hall, Qu Lingxuan and Hou Yongqing, also spoke, a couple they were.

“Are we really going to give it to him? He’s just a…” Qu Lingxuan expressed her dissatisfaction in a whisper to Hou Yongqing.

To suppress the re-emergence of Demon Cultivators, the major Righteous Sects often set corresponding bounty rewards for exterminating demons, based on the strength and number of the Demon Cultivators killed, including elixirs, Magic Artifacts, talismans, Cultivation Techniques, Spirit Stones, and more.

“Just soothe him for now. Whether we give it to him or not is still up to us,” Hou Yongqing whispered back, exchanging a glance with Zhang Changxin and instantly understanding each other’s thoughts.

Chu Pu chimed in with an awkward laugh, “Senior Brothers and Senior Sister, this news was personally transmitted to me by my father through a carrier pigeon. There can’t be any mistakes.”

Without further delay, Chu Pu hurriedly led the three seniors towards their family estate in Shaoshan Town.

…

Several minutes later.

Chu Pu knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly as he watched the Chu Family estate burn fiercely. The numerous corpses had been set ablaze by an enemy intent on destroying the evidence after a massacre.

The once-mighty Chu Family estate, which reigned supreme in Shaoshan Town for many years, was now erased by the raging fire.

“It really was the work of Demon Cultivators,” Zhang Changxin, who was initially somewhat skeptical, now utterly believed that Demon Cultivators had come to Shaoshan Town. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

“The methods of these Demon Cultivators are truly despicable,” said Qu Lingxuan, visibly moved, not out of sorrow for the deceased members of the Chu Family but out of the realization that the Cultivators’ trail would be difficult to trace due to their scorched earth tactics.

For Cultivators, whether from the Righteous sects or Demon Path, they are considered far above ordinary people, and it’s rare for the two to be conflated.

Hou Yongqing examined the scene, casually pocketing Spirit Stones and gold and silver among the ruins of the Chu Family estate.

“Senior brothers and sister, I beg you, help me; I’ll do anything,” pleaded Chu Pu.

Chu Pu clenched his teeth hard, knowing he was weak and alone, and the only way to seek revenge was to rely on the three Disciples from the Punishment Hall.

Zhang Changxin didn’t respond, as the dead were just ordinary folks, which meant little to him. He was more concerned about the strength of these Demon Cultivators and thought about finding more hands to ensure safety.

“Young master, Young Master Chu Pu, you’ve returned! You must avenge our family head, you must avenge the entire Chu Family! You must kill that Demon Cultivator.”

At that moment, a cry came from outside the Chu family estate.

Shortly after, Chu Pu saw the Sacrificial Elder hired by his family, who he hadn’t seen for a long time, stumble back from the outside, crying loudly as soon as he saw him.

“You are… called Lu something…”

Chu Pu hadn’t returned home for several years since he was at the Purple Mist Sect, making him somewhat unfamiliar with the clan’s personnel; he couldn’t recall the name for a moment.

“I am Lu Feng! Entrusted by your father, I came to preside over Shaoshan Town. Just today, I personally had dealings with that Devil named Su Jie. He had too many treasures on him, including a superior Flying Sword, as well as a large number of talismans and Magic Artifacts. We inadvertently discovered his secret, and as a result, he exterminated my entire Chu Family.”

Lu Feng sobbed continuously, yet before Chu Pu could react, Zhang Changxin and his two companions’ eyes lit up at the news.

“You’re saying that Demon Cultivator has a lot of resources?”

Zhang Changxin stepped up to Lu Feng and picked him up with one hand.

“It was I who witnessed it with my own eyes, and there is definitely no mistake. He also has a powerful Flying Sword, and his own strength isn’t strong; he relies on all kinds of Treasures. Otherwise, our entire Chu Family would not have been defeated by him.”

Lu Feng’s body trembled, showing a hint of fear.

“How strong is he?”

Hou Yongqing pointed at Lu Feng and asked Chu Pu.

“He should be at the Second Level of Yunling Realm,”

Chu Pu answered honestly, although not very certain.

But this answer was sufficient to put Zhang Changxin and his companions at ease. Even someone weak at the Second Level of Yunling Realm like Lu Feng was spared, indicating that that Demon Cultivator really wasn’t very strong and was likely just flexing his muscles with the aid of Treasures, not a real threat.

“Do you know where that Demon Cultivator went? If you want revenge, you’ll have to lead the way for us.”

Qu Lingxuan couldn’t wait to speak up, without the threat of an opponent, a Demon Cultivator carrying a large quantity of resources was definitely someone they needed to capture.

“I know. I’m very familiar with the terrain around here, and since they rode horses, they must have left traces, which I can find.”

Lu Feng nodded repeatedly, speaking with absolute certainty.

“Good! Such a vicious Demon Cultivator, we can’t let them get away no matter what.”

Zhang Changxin exchanged glances with Qu Lingxuan and Hou Yongqing, and the two of them understood, immediately speaking in unison.

“In that case, we mustn’t delay. Let’s set out immediately and arrest that brutal Demon Cultivator.”

At this moment, the three had no mention of their earlier hesitation, nor did they continue to suggest adding more people to their group.

More people meant more divisions of the spoils later, which was absolutely unacceptable.

“Thank you, Senior Brothers.”

Chu Pu wasn’t dim-witted either, though he had some doubts in his heart as to why everyone in his family was dead except for Lu Feng who survived.

But considering the revenge for the extermination of his family was now at hand, he felt only excitement.

The group quickly left Shaoshan Town, and under the guidance of Lu Feng, they pursued the trail at high speed.

Zhang Changxin and others found that while Lu Feng’s cultivation was not impressive, his tracking skills were exceptional. He could find clues even from traces that had been deliberately erased, following them closely.