Wait a minute, where is my master?

"Disappeared?"

Mr. Li didn't stop walking as he asked aloud.

"Yes, I was leading a group of cultivators from the Zhao family to patrol outside the city. You also know about those incidents involving evil cultivators who had completely assimilated the Transformation Fruit inside them, making it impossible to use for tracking."

So I changed my approach and got in touch with Officer Lin, the newly appointed official.

He provided me with the case files from the various township yamen under Gusu City.

To see where there might be miscarriages of justice or age-old enmities, I sent cultivators to check ahead of time.

We at Qingmu Academy have been battling the Demon Sect for so many years, and we know all too well their choice of targets when planting the Transformation Fruit; they love picking these types of people because they are so easily beguiled."

"So who has disappeared?"

Xia Yunzhao, seeing the other party about to stray off topic, couldn't help but interrupt.

"A Nascent Soul cultivator from the Zhao family, named Zhao Qian. Since there was only one Nascent Soul in the team, he and I each led a group of people to investigate the case files provided by Officer Lin.

First, I received a message from them about finding a Transformation Fruit. Right after that, I received a transmission about them being ambushed.

By the time I arrived at the scene, only one Golden Core cultivator was still breathing. He told me that Zhao Qian had been kidnapped and that he had hidden the Transformation Fruit in a secret formation.

Following his clues, I found this Transformation Fruit. After a thorough examination and confirming there were no traps, I brought it back.

I also attempted to track them, but alas, the opponent was professional and left no traces behind, so you'd better act quickly, or that Nascent Soul cultivator might be in danger."

Mei Shouyi recounted the situation with a slightly dejected expression.

"What about the Golden Core cultivator?"

Mr. Li had already reached the entrance of the hall with the others and asked as they walked in.

"Alas, his Golden Core was shattered. He passed away after delivering the message to me."

Mei Shouyi sighed, shook his head helplessly, feeling responsible as the one who had led the cultivators out.

By now, everyone had entered the hall, and Mr. Li moved next to the Thousand-mile Sky Patrol Device, examining the Transformation Fruit in his hand.

The abrupt clue regarding the Demon Sect had stirred his spirit, but now he had calmed down. He placed the Transformation Fruit on the tray.

He exchanged a glance with Jin Xu and Xia Yunzhao.

The three of them said in unison,

"It's a trap."

Mr. Mei was taken aback by this remark, and then he too realized it.

He had been leading patrols daily and suddenly having a clue presented, it never occurred to him there might be something fishy about it.

"But why would they deliberately reveal the Transformation Fruit to us and also kidnap a cultivator from the Zhao family? What are they plotting?"

Although he realized there was something amiss, Mei Shouyi still couldn't fathom their intentions.

"They must be targeting me."

Jin Xu frowned and remarked. He knew Zhao Dabao's attitude towards Zhao Qian.

Ever since Mr. Mei mentioned the disappearance of a cultivator from the Zhao family, Jin Xu had had a bad feeling. And when the name Zhao Qian was mentioned, it confirmed his suspicions.

"Regardless, since the enemy has delivered the bait right to our mouths, we can't refuse to take it. It remains to be seen whether their rod is sturdier or if we are the more ferocious fish."

Mr. Li spoke while his hands moved to activate the spell, and the Thousand-mile Sky Patrol Device started up.

The Xiezhi spat out the Spiritual Pearl from its mouth, placing it on the edge of the Yin Yang Eight Diagrams Plate.

Mr. Li stepped forward to examine it and then said with a furrowed brow, "It's near Five Dragon Mountain."

"What place is that?"

The little Taoist asked softly.

"It's a mountain range on the border of Gusu City, named after the legendary dragons that were said to have lived there. However, this place is too far from Gusu; the chances of the Demon Sect hiding the Transformation Pond there are slim."

Five Dragon Mountain was a thousand miles away from Gusu City, just on the edge of the Thousand-mile Sky Patrol Device's search radius.

...

On East Market Street,

Fatty Zhao's expression was hurried, his chubby face lacking his usual cheerful demeanor, as he sped on horseback toward the patrol's headquarters.

He had already learned from the returning Zhao family cultivators that Zhao Qian had been abducted by the Demon Sect.

Zhao Dabao immediately went to check Zhao Qian's Life Lamp and found that it hadn't gone out, so he rushed to seek Jin Xu for help.

...

Inside the patrol's headquarters.

After hearing Mr. Li's words, Jin Xu had a plan in mind. He decided to first visit the Zhao family to see Zhao Dabao.

He told everyone to wait there and then the young Taoist headed toward the gate of the patrol's headquarters.

Mr. Li, on the other hand, sent someone to invite the leader of the city guards and Officer Lin to discuss what to do with the clue that the Demon Sect had deliberately revealed to them.

Just as Jin Xu reached the gate, he happened to meet Zhao Dabao, who had arrived on horseback.

Upon seeing Jin Xu, Fatty Zhao dismounted, walked up to him, and gave a deep bow.

"Please, Jin Xu, save Grandpa Qian for me. As for the reward, just name your price, I, Fatty Zhao, will not haggle!"

With Elder Zhao out of the city for several days and not returned, the other Nascent Soul Realm member of the Zhao family, Zhao Yan's father, was certainly not someone he could ask. Moreover, since the banquet by the river, he had announced his retreat into seclusion.

So Zhao Dabao had sent Zhao Qian, who had always been by his side, instead.

In his mind, with someone like Jin Xu around, the Demon Sect wouldn't pose any danger. At the time, Uncle Qian had felt the same, having witnessed the young Taoist's capabilities.

If such power were on the side of the enemy, it would undoubtedly be terrifying, but as an ally, it was truly reassuring.

However, Zhao Qian was still worried, fearing that the young master might encounter danger without someone by his side.

But Fatty Zhao had assured that until Zhao Qian's return, he would stay in Gusu City and not go anywhere, ensuring there would be no danger.

Only then did Uncle Qian feel at ease to join the patrol organized by Gusu City.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Dabao was safe, but Zhao Qian encountered trouble first.

"Elder Zhao, please get up first,"

Jin Xu stepped forward and helped up Zhao Dabao, who couldn't quite bend his waist.

His stomach was simply too large.

"No need for a reward, I would have taken this trip for you regardless."

Upon hearing Jin Xu say no need for a reward, Zhao Dabao looked up, slightly astonished on his face, not understanding why the young Taoist had suddenly changed his ways.

What he didn't know was that since Jin Xu had obtained the Ancient Well Spirit Liquid, he no longer cared for that bit of money.

"Then... young Taoist, you..."

Fatty Zhao hesitated a bit, unsure of how to proceed.

When you think you have figured out a big shot's preferences, and they suddenly say they don't like that thing anymore, it's quite unexpected.

"You come inside with me,"

Jin Xu led him into the patrol's headquarters, sharing the clues they had so far on the way.

After learning that Zhao Qian had been taken to Five Dragon Mountain, thousands of miles away, and that it was clearly a trap aimed at them,

Fatty Zhao's chubby face showed an awkward expression.

"Alright, I know what you're thinking. Rest assured, as long as Zhao Qian is alive, I will definitely bring him back for you,"

The young Taoist saw through his concerns and spoke out.

In his view, the trap seemed to be just a ploy to lure him away from Gusu City and not likely to cause any real danger.

What's more, he now possessed strength that could burst through the Divinity Transformation Stage with a single punch, so ordinary methods should be useless against him.

And since he currently wore their treasure vault on his wrist, even though it was a reward from last time, he couldn't just take the benefit and turn his back on them immediately.

Trap or not, he had to go and see for himself.