Chapter 410: The Mouse and the Stench

"Senior Shou Ye, you are too kind. How could we possibly be scared? Your presence truly honors the Cheng Zhu Fu, bringing immense glory and the highest privilege!"

Fu Xing quickly took a couple of steps forward to greet the red-robed elder.

"If your Cheng Zhu Fu is still considered a 'humble abode,' then what should the others be called?" the elder scoffed.

He surveyed his surroundings, his gaze seemingly penetrating the thick walls, his expression tinged with nostalgia.

"It's been ages since I last came. What about your father? Has he vanished without a trace?"

Fu Xing replied with an awkward smile, "He is still in seclusion; otherwise, it wouldn't fall to a young person like me to welcome you."

The nearby guards all tensed up at his words.

Even though many of them had served at the Cheng Zhu Fu for years, they had never encountered this visitor before.

And here was this old man making Fu Xing, who usually looked down on the entire Tian Sang Jun, act so deferentially—what a terrifying background he must possess!

Tonight's guards were all the elite among the elite.

Earlier, they had been pushed back by the elder's aura, leaving many of them pale and unsettled. Now, mixed with their annoyance, a hint of fear crept in.

To avoid embarrassing the Cheng Zhu Fu, the thirty-six guards stood ramrod straight, their earlier deflated morale surging back.

"Heh, a bunch of youngsters—if you can't stand firm, then don't. I haven't even said anything, and you're already competing among yourselves."

The elder glanced at them, completely forgetting his earlier "apology," showing no politeness as he directly teased them.

The guards flushed with shame and anger but dared not retort.

Fu Xing felt no embarrassment and laughed it off, saying, "How could they compare? These guys are just guarding the Cheng Zhu Fu's gate—it's peaceful most days. How could they possibly match up to you, Senior Shou Ye..."

"The gate of Bai Ku—that is the real gate of slaughter!"

"Ah."

The elder waved his hand and strode forward. "Enough of that. You've probably been waiting for a while. The news I've brought this time is explosive—let's head inside and talk."

As he moved, Fu Xing followed suit, but before he could take a step, the elder suddenly stopped.

He sniffed the air twice, his brows furrowing.

"Something is off about this Tian Sang Cheng."

A shadow flickered in his eyes as he said gravely, "The moment I entered the city, I caught that stench—clearly, rats have scurried through the streets."

"I thought it was just passing through, but now that we are at the Cheng Zhu Fu, the smell is even stronger?"

Fu Xing was taken aback.

"Stench?"

His pupils contracted. "Senior Shou Ye, do you mean that rats have sneaked in?"

The scene fell silent.

Without the conversation, the atmosphere turned eerily mysterious and frightening.

Hiding behind the tree, Xin Gu Gu felt his heart leap into his throat.

He turned his head away, not daring to look at anything, his spiritual sense already shut down.

Even if he were completely blind at that moment, he would not risk a glance.

"Hong Yi!"

"It's really Hong Yi!"

"Why? Why would a Hong Yi show up at this damn banquet!"

"Xu Xiao Shou, ahh, you said this place couldn't possibly have a Hong Yi!"

Xin Gu Gu was cursing inwardly.

He could almost see the moment he and Jiao Tang Tang accepted the mission and stepped out of the palace, with the elders' grim warnings echoing in his mind.

"You can mess with anyone, kill anyone, but if you encounter a Hong Yi, turn tail immediately—don't even think about resisting."

"Remember, you can die, but if even a fragment of your soul is left and caught by a Hong Yi..."

"Then Xu Yue Hui Gong might never stay hidden again!"

Hong Yi, a special organization under the Sheng Shen Dian Tang.

Dedicated to handling all affairs related to ghost beasts.

Every member had personally destroyed countless other-dimensional spaces and taken countless ghost beast lives—impossible to count.

Their strength was at the pinnacle of the world!

Without passing the Sheng Shen Dian Tang's rigorous screenings in power and strategy, you could not earn that red robe!

Xin Gu Gu wiped away his sweat and glanced at the golden zen staff in his hand, forcing himself to calm down.

"It's up to you—hide us well!"

Before coming to Tian Sang Jun, he had already looked into the Hong Yi setup here.

This special organization never relied on numbers but on quality.

Each other-dimensional space had its top guardian—that was a Hong Yi.

Hong Yi had long forsaken their names, leaving only their titles.

"Shou Ye" was this old man's sole remaining designation.

Besides him, there were the original guardians of Bai Ku and a few others.

According to the latest message from Jiao Tang Tang, they were even increasing their forces there—it was no place for humans anymore.

He had thought this headache would only hit when they reached Bai Ku.

Who knew he would run into one right at the Cheng Zhu Fu's gate!

"It's okay, with the 'Zhi Xu Wu,' I can't fight back, but they shouldn't detect it that easily... right?"

Before Xin Gu Gu could finish his thoughts, his vision blurred, and an old face appeared right in front of him.

His heart stopped.

"Kid, sweating that much—are you sick?"

Shou Ye narrowed his eyes, shifting his gaze from Xin Gu Gu's golden zen staff, and smiled.

"I..."

Xin Gu Gu opened his mouth, panic flooding his eyes. "I just... overheard your conversation, Senior."

"It's not some big secret. You heard it, so what? What's there to fear?"

Shou Ye still smiled.

Xin Gu Gu looked at that smile and felt a chill run down his spine.

He swallowed hard, but before he could speak, the elder sniffed twice more, leaning in close to sniff him deeply.

"Damn it!"

Xin Gu Gu's mind exploded, and he nearly collapsed.

"You smell quite nice, don't you?"

Shou Ye savored it for a moment before opening his eyes and saying slowly.

He glanced at the golden zen staff. "That is a nice piece. Can this old man take a look?"

Like hell!

Xin Gu Gu almost swung the staff at him.

He forced a smile, though defiance flashed in his eyes. "No, it is a family heirloom... as long as the staff is here, I am alive; if it goes, I go with it."

"Oh."

Shou Ye chuckled. "So, if I just take it for a look, you would drop dead on the spot?"

The air grew heavy.

Fu Xing hurried over, looking at Xin Gu Gu in disbelief.

Senior Shou Ye could be straightforward and fiery, but he wouldn't pick on just anyone.

For him to target this person like this—could this be the "rat"?

Xin Gu Gu thought the elders' words were total nonsense. This golden zen staff might block a Hong Yi's nose, but if they spotted you, death was inevitable.

In that moment, he considered going down in mutual destruction.

If he burst out now and dragged this one down—even if just injuring him—it might save Jiao Tang Tang some trouble.

"Xu Xiao Shou..."

"You led me astray!"

Gripping the golden zen staff tightly, Xin Gu Gu's eyes widened in anger, ready to unseal it.

Suddenly, a puzzled voice from behind broke his action and shattered the tension.

"Fu Xing?"

"You little brat, why aren't you in the banquet hall? What are you doing out here—catching the northwest wind?"