Chapter 896: The Water Ghost Smiles, Life and Death Unpredictable

Dongtian Wangcheng.

Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.

The guards from Shengshen Diantang poured out in droves, completely disregarding all the usual rules within the Wangcheng. Squads of troops crossed the skies in a frantic rush, launching precise strikes against the highest powers in the city's various districts.

“What’s happening?”

Everyone was alarmed.

The Wangzuo led the charge with full force. Their overwhelming momentum showed no restraint, as vast waves of various Lingyuan swept over the major sects and factions. Even the Lianshi in secluded cultivation were startled out of their retreats.

The major organizations and factions, as the local powers in Wangcheng, had their own ways of gathering intelligence. It wasn’t long before some of them obtained the information.

“It’s madness!”

“Shengshen Diantang has gone completely berserk. They’re wielding search warrants and targeting the doors of the highest powers, showing no mercy whatsoever. Any resistance is met with immediate bloodshed!”

“Places like Daxuan Tianzong and Guiyin Ge… they barely managed to activate their protective sect arrays and tried to reason.”

“But Shengshen Diantang didn’t even waste time on words—Taixu experts struck directly, shattering the arrays!”

“I heard Leng Qi Zongzhu tried to fight back, only to end up being hung up and interrogated while being beaten…”

Panic spread through all the sects, big and small, within Wangcheng. People could sense that Shengshen Diantang was launching a major operation, seemingly intent on a massive purge. Yet, no one could uncover the underlying reason.

Rumors suggested that sects with guilty consciences had only tried to stall for time and probe Shengshen Diantang’s motives. In response, half of their leadership was killed as a warning, and the other half was taken into custody on the spot! People were dragged away, leaving their sects desolate and abandoned.

In the Nancheng District, an auction was in full swing inside a small tavern that had its signboard removed. This was the former site of the Lingque Trade Fair. The tavern hid a vast space within, making it a prime venue for attracting wealth. It wasn’t reserved solely for the periodic Lingque Trade Fair—it was used for various auctions on a regular basis.

As long as an auction met the standards, it could be held here. With Ye Mao overseeing operations in the background, the safety and reliability of these events were beyond question. At that moment, Ye Mao’s fourth leader, Yuan Haisheng, was still managing the auction from behind the scenes.

The venue was protected by the strongest Ling arrays. Once inside, everyone lost contact with the outside world. Naturally, those within remained unaware of the chaos unfolding outside.

At a certain point, in the secret room, the only communication bead still linked to the outside world began to buzz. Yuan Haisheng was surprised. This was the bead connected to Ye Mao’s headquarters, which never activated under normal circumstances. Any anomaly now meant something major had happened outside.

He answered the bead with a grave expression.

“One Four.”

“One Two!”

Nangong Yin’s voice came through, urgent and tense: “Yuan Haisheng! I order you to halt the auction immediately. Within ten breaths, secure everyone on site and hold position. Within thirty breaths, activate the teleportation array and return to headquarters. Remember to crush the communication bead and initiate the array’s self-destruct protocol.”

Yuan Haisheng’s mind went blank for a second. What was going on? They were even using his real name? He hesitated for just a moment, asked no questions, and stopped the auction amid protests from the crowd. He used the grand array to suppress everything, then activated it alone and teleported to headquarters.

It was still a dark room. In the pitch-black silence, with no light for illumination, he could vaguely make out a round table and seven high-backed chairs. Yuan Haisheng found the fourth chair and sat down, noticing that four others were already seated—these were the heads of various branches. Soon, the remaining teleportation arrays lit up one by one.

Before long, all six of Ye Mao’s leaders had gathered, except for the main seat. Everyone was confused but remained silent, clearly waiting for something. Yuan Haisheng’s heart raced. He had been with Ye Mao for a while, but compared to the veterans present, he was still a newcomer. This kind of full assembly at the round table was something he had only experienced once before—and that was when he first saw the big leader appear.

It was obvious that only the big leader could summon all six heads like this.

A soft bubbling sound followed. On the main seat, mist rose and converged into water, forming a human figure. The figure wore a black robe and a beast mask, enveloped in vapor that obscured their face and build, making them as elusive as a mirage.

“Big Leader!”

Ye Mao’s six leaders stood up in alarm, bowing in greeting—even Nangong Yin did the same. No one knew who the big leader was or their level of cultivation; they only knew the big leader’s code name was Shui Gui and that they held everyone’s files and lives in their hands.

In Ye Mao, betrayal was impossible. Those selected as leaders not only had their own lives controlled but also those of their families.

“Be at ease.”

Shui Gui tapped the table twice with their fingers, signaling everyone to sit, then spoke: “I’ve called you all here to share a few points. Just listen—no need to respond.”

Their voice was steady and powerful, slightly hoarse, carrying the unique charm of a mature man. But that was all anyone could discern. No one could deduce the big leader’s identity from it, as they didn’t even know if the voice was genuine.

Everyone sat up straight.

From the main seat, Shui Gui continued calmly: “First, the latest intelligence shows that the head of one of Shengshen Diantang’s six departments—the Yibu—has been killed in the Yunlun Mountains, cause unknown.”

“Currently, only the six department heads and the red-clothed enforcer, Rao Yaoyao, know about this.”

“This is also the root cause of Shengshen Diantang’s sudden actions tonight in Wangcheng.”

The words hit like a thunderbolt. The six leaders at the round table felt their hearts skip a beat.

The Yibu head was dead?

Everyone instantly realized that this would lead to massive bloodshed. But in the next second, they connected the dots: How did Shui Gui know intelligence that only the six heads and Rao Yaoyao were aware of? Ye Mao’s reach was limited to Dongtian Wangcheng. The Yunlun Mountains were quite remote from here, and gathering such information would take time. Moreover, Shengshen Diantang’s headquarters would surely be suppressing it.

How had Shui Gui learned all this so quickly—and with such certainty?

As intelligence experts, they were itching with curiosity. Someone shifted in their seat, about to speak…

Tap!

Shui Gui tapped the chair arm, and the sound of water droplets echoed in the dim environment. Everyone remembered the instruction: listen, don’t speak. No one dared move.

The figure wrapped in vapor on the main seat made no further gestures and continued: “Second, Shengshen Diantang is investigating all forces in Wangcheng, but this is only related to the Yibu’s death. They won’t waste much time on us ants.”

“So, stay sharp. When you’re questioned, say what needs to be said and hold back on the rest.”

“Prioritize survival, and under that condition, selectively share facts. I don’t need to teach you that.”

Yuan Haisheng, on his second encounter with Shui Gui, listened intently, not daring to lose focus. He nodded subconsciously and said, “Understood!”

The atmosphere turned awkward.

“Understood…”

“Stood…”

The enclosed space amplified the echo endlessly.

The other leaders quickly glanced over, then averted their eyes, pretending not to notice.

Yuan Haisheng’s face flushed, his scalp tingled, and sweat broke out all over. Even his toes curled involuntarily in his shoes, nearly cramping.

From the main seat, Shui Gui glanced sideways at him. Yuan Haisheng sensed it spiritually. Though he didn’t dare look back, his head turned involuntarily, meeting Shui Gui’s eyes.

His mind went blank.

What kind of gaze was that? Vast as the sea, profound and endless. Through the mist, Yuan Haisheng felt like a lone boat adrift in an boundless ocean, with relentless waves threatening to engulf him. In an instant, the tides reversed, pulling his soul into the depths—helpless, lonely, lost, and adrift.

Just a moment later, Shui Gui looked away. Yuan Haisheng snapped back like a drowning man rescued, gasping for air, drenched in cold sweat.

What immense power was this?

Yuan Haisheng was terrified. As a Wangzuo Daojing expert, he had encountered many Zhandao and even several Taixu due to his Ye Mao work. Yet, no one had ever oppressed him with just a glance like this.

“It has to be Taixu!”

“And among Taixu, the big leader is one of the elite—with the most terrifying combat prowess!”

Yuan Haisheng searched his memories but couldn’t recall any Taixu who exerted such pressure. This aura… it was intangible, hard to describe, and not easily cultivated. Only someone who had long held a position of absolute power, with complete confidence in themselves and the situation, could develop it—like an emperor’s presence.

Yuan Haisheng suddenly thought of Jianlao. That day, when he took Jianlao to Tian Shang First Tower for a deal with Xu Shao, Jianlao had mentioned a great figure there who nearly scared him to death with a single look.

Perhaps Shui Gui was such an existence? Someone with absolute aura suppression over lower realms or even peers?

The round table fell into a prolonged silence, though in reality, it was just the leaders’ fleeting thoughts. Shui Gui’s speech had been interrupted briefly by the glance at Yuan Haisheng, and now they continued tapping the chair.

“The Yibu’s death could be a big or small matter.”

“The fallout from a six-department head’s death—you all know it well.”

“So, once you return, say what needs to be said, do what needs to be done. Extract yourselves from this as quickly and thoroughly as possible, and focus on the intelligence network in Dongtian Wangcheng. Got it?”

Everyone nodded silently, their hearts uneasy. A six-department head’s death was rare—only one in decades. The former Lingbu head, Yumo, known as the Yumo Great Demon King and the strongest among the six, had been slain by the Eighth Sword Immortal. Shengshen Diantang’s fury had wiped out countless dark forces across the five domains back then, with heads rolling endlessly.

Shui Gui finished speaking, as if glancing upward, then murmured lowly: “The time is about right…”

They looked down at the group and said gravely: “They’re already at our doorstep. Go back and face the test.”

Everyone stood up at once.

“Yes!”

This time, they responded in unison before turning to leave.

“The fourth one, stay.”

Shui Gui’s voice stopped Yuan Haisheng in his tracks, making his heart skip a beat. As the fourth, that was him. Being singled out after a meeting was rarely good, especially after his earlier slip-up.

Yuan Haisheng felt anxious but had no choice as the others departed. Nangong Yin gave him a look that said “you’re on your own” and said nothing more.

In the quiet dark room, only he and Shui Gui remained.

“You’re… Yuan Haisheng?”

Unexpectedly, Shui Gui didn’t scold him but asked calmly.

Yuan Haisheng nodded uneasily: “Yes.”

“Haisheng…” The figure on the main seat murmured, a hint of amusement in their tone. “It’s a nice name.”

Yuan Haisheng’s heart pounded faster. What did that mean? Keeping him behind just to compliment his name, then perhaps end him? It couldn’t be…

While Yuan Haisheng’s mind raced, Shui Gui composed themselves and said evenly: “You’re handling the trading line for Tian Shang First Tower?”

“Yes.” Yuan Haisheng was startled but nodded quickly. “That semi-saint force’s branch is influential. The leader, Xu Shao, is incredibly capable. Right from the start, they connected with Duojin Merchant Guild, and now they’ve established a supply chain with Wangcheng’s Refining Pill Master Association headquarters… Tian Shang First Tower is involved in so much; I’ve been treating it as our top priority.”

Though unsure what Shui Gui wanted, Yuan Haisheng spilled everything relevant.

“Relax.” Shui Gui smiled slightly. “I’m not blaming you. I kept you back to give you one piece of advice.”

How could Yuan Haisheng relax? A smile from Shui Gui could mean life or death. He was petrified, wondering if he’d fallen short somewhere that required personal instructions.

“I’ll follow your orders!” Yuan Haisheng bowed.

Shui Gui tapped the chair arm, seemingly pondering, then said after a pause: “Keep the Tian Shang First Tower trading line running as before, following your previous methods. But when Shengshen Diantang questions you, no matter what, steer anything related to Tian Shang First Tower in another direction.”

Yuan Haisheng’s pupils dilated. Did that mean… Tian Shang First Tower was connected to Shui Gui?

“Do you understand?”

Yuan Haisheng felt the pressure and nodded vigorously: “Understood!”

“You don’t.” Shui Gui chuckled again. “I don’t need you to favor Tian Shang First Tower excessively—just guide the conversation subtly during interrogations.”

“Additionally…” Shui Gui paused before continuing: “Regarding the Yibu’s death, as a local in Dongtian Wangcheng, you know something about it.”

Yuan Haisheng’s knees nearly buckled: “I don’t know anything at all…”

“I said, you know something!” Shui Gui repeated.

Yuan Haisheng froze, then grasped the implication.

Shui Gui explained: “Yanwang, Xuyue Gray Palace, Shengnu… These are the major dark forces that have appeared in Dongtian Wangcheng recently, roughly speaking.”

“The powers capable of killing the Yibu head are probably just these few.”

“I want you not only to know about them but also to find a way to feed accurate intelligence on these forces in Wangcheng to Shengshen Diantang.”

“Of course, as I said, don’t overdo the bias—they’ll suspect it themselves.”

Waves of shock crashed through Yuan Haisheng’s mind. A bold idea emerged: Could the Yibu’s death be linked to Tian Shang First Tower? Why else would Shui Gui want him to protect it while undermining forces like Shengnu?

At this critical juncture, even a subtle trip could steer Shengshen Diantang toward other targets. If they pursued the wrong lead, he might be the one to suffer…

Yuan Haisheng’s head spun, blaming his earlier “understood,” but he couldn’t defy Shui Gui. Gritting his teeth, he vowed: “I’ll complete the task!”

There was no response. In the dim chamber, silence reigned, much like his abrupt “understood” earlier—just echoes.

Yuan Haisheng stayed bowed, sweat trickling from his forehead into his eyes, making them sting, but he didn’t dare move.

After what felt like an eternity, with no reply, he sensed something was off and cautiously looked up.

The main seat was empty.

“They’re gone?”

Yuan Haisheng relaxed slightly, but then he noticed the wall behind the chair. The dark room’s wall bore a carved cat head, fierce and menacing, blending with the shadows. Only the faint glow in its eyes emitted a deadly aura.

“Ye Mao is silent, but Ye Mao is always watching you!”

Yuan Haisheng recalled the organization’s first rule, and goosebumps covered his skin. He straightened up, thumped his chest in salute, and declared alone in the dim room: “Don’t worry, boss! Yuan Haisheng guarantees to complete the task!”