Time slowly passed by.
Gu Sheng silently hid in the shadows, waiting for the arrival of the Holy Sect cultists.
The night breeze of Qingping Lake carried a chill, and Gu Sheng silently pondered how to handle the situation later. He had already obtained the usual secret signals of the Holy Sect from Wang Chong, but acquiring the Bone Protecting Pill required a bit of cunning strategy.
An hour passed in the blink of an eye.
It was not yet 1 a.m.
Suddenly, the sound of strong winds rustling the reeds came from afar. Gu Sheng squinted to see two figures in black arriving one after another in the distance. The two spoke about something, then one of them quietly concealed themselves further into the reeds.
While the other stood with hands clasped behind, waiting by the lake.
Gu Sheng couldn’t help but show a strange expression in his eyes.
These Holy Sect cultists were indeed cautious, not only meeting in a pair, one in the open and one in the shadows, but also arriving early. If something went awry, they would surely catch others off guard.
He remained calm, not rushing to reveal himself.
He continued to observe, noticing that the two men didn’t make any move, just silently waiting.
As the hour neared 1 a.m., Gu Sheng stealthily moved towards the distance and then deliberately made some noise, speeding towards the lake side.
The man in black by the lakeside looked over sharply like a hawk, and Gu Sheng lowered his voice, saying:
"The Sacred Fire rages, burning my decayed body!"
The eyes of the man in black flashed with a sharp light, and he too whispered in reply:
"Without the Sacred Fire, there is no eternal life!"
Gu Sheng’s eyes showed a look of pleasant surprise, and he immediately said:
"Indeed, you’re a brother of the Holy Sect. I, Wang Daniu, finally managed to contact you!"
He rushed over and landed opposite the man in black. The man was tightly wrapped, showing only a pair of eyes, very alert, with a vague glimpse of a purple flame insignia on his chest, which contrasted sharply with the blue flame mark on Gu Sheng’s chest.
Seeing Gu Sheng’s enthusiasm, the man in black uncharacteristically replied coldly:
"Was it you who left the Sacred Fire mark in Canghe County last time?"
Gu Sheng’s gaze froze, and he said awkwardly:
"It was me..."
Last time it was Wang Chong who made the contact, but he had already been dealt with.
Before he could finish speaking, the man in black suddenly shouted:
"As a member of the Holy Sect, how can you not know that wanton contact is a taboo? Now that the Holy Sect is lying low, if we’re tracked down, do you know the consequences?"
Last time, he was also waiting at the meetup point, and nothing showed up at the appointed time, naturally frustrating him.
In reality, this anger was also feigned.
He knew that the Sacred Fire ceremony was a special ritual only core members of the Holy Sect could undergo.
The man in black finally helped Gu Sheng up, laughing heartily:
"You truly are a brother of the Holy Sect. I wonder, where did you come from to the Canghe County area?"
Gu Sheng respectfully replied:
"I drifted here after the civil unrest in Yun Province two years ago and have been lying low in Canghe County ever since. Now I’ve stumbled upon useful information beneficial for the Holy Sect’s grand cause, and that’s why I’m eager to connect with you, hoping you could report to the core lords for a decision."
The eyes of the man in black narrowed as he said:
"Speak on."
Gu Sheng didn’t hesitate, he already had a draft prepared in his mind.
"You have been in Canghe County for a while, so you must be aware of the current situation. The Black Sand Gang and Magistrate Liu Yuanhu are at odds with each other, and I’ve been infiltrating the Black Sand Gang as Zhao Honglie’s secret agent. He expressed intentions of seeking strong support."
"I’m convinced, if guided well, the entire Black Sand Gang could fall into the hands of our Holy Sect!"
His voice was fervent, much like a fanatic risking everything for the Holy Sect’s cause.
The man in black’s breath quickened, staring intently at Gu Sheng, he asked:
"You’re sure Zhao Honglie doesn’t view our Holy Sect hostilely like those ignorant fools?"
"I’m certain! Zhao Honglie has praised the chaos in Yun Province more than once. He is not an ordinary person, if someone introduces him to the Holy Sect, he could be a considerable ally in the future! The situation is urgent, which is why I contacted you, as this is a great merit for both you and me!"
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