Chapter 70: Something Wrong

“No matter if you’re from the Devouring Sea Gang or anyone else, committing such vile deeds defies the laws of heaven!”

At that moment on the shore of Willow Lake, facing Lao Chao’s heavy killing aura radiating from his entire being, the assembled Academy Disciples couldn’t help but feel intimidated. Under normal circumstances, encountering Devouring Sea Gang members, they’d mostly avoid confrontation. Likewise, Devouring Sea Gang members would keep their distance if meeting Academy Disciples. But now, seeing their leader emerge, draped in killing intent, they involuntarily tensed up.

However, the ever-stoic Meng Zhixue looked perfectly calm and unafraid. Her white jade Flying Sword swept around, hovering mid-air. With a light tap of her toes, she landed lightly upon the blade. She seemed like a celestial maiden descended to the mortal world, her skirt soaked in her gown as she gazed coldly at the lake. Her voice was flat and icy:

“Hand over the abducted commoners you kidnapped!”

“Vile deeds?”

A cold smirk spread across Lao Chao’s face. “Young brats,” he chuckled, “what nonsense are you speaking?”

“Having committed such evil, and you still try to deny it?”

On the other side, Nie Quan brandished his great saber, bellowing harshly: “Taking advantage of the rampant Plague Qi to kidnap people, refining ‘Human Elixirs’! We’ve uncovered it all! We tracked you all the way here! Dare you say this ship has no kidnapped civilians? The time has come! Hand those people over now! Resist even slightly, and we’ll unleash our Divine Talisman! Academy Teachers can arrive within moments!”

The other Academy Disciples recovered their nerve and stepped forward, shouting sternly.

Some had already used supernatural means to dash onto the lake’s surface. They stood on the water, barring the ship’s path. If the Devouring Sea Gang tried to break through, they would resist with their lives.

“Kidnapping commoners?”

Faced with this situation, Lao Chao showed not a shred of panic. Instead, he roared with harsh laughter. “Commoners? Oh, I have plenty aboard this ship! But refining ‘Human Elixirs’? That’s the Academy Disciples making baseless accusations!”

Suddenly, he bawled an order: “Bring them out!”

Obeying instantly, his gang members hauled a group of terrified commoners from the cabin. A closer look revealed they were all young women, dressed in tattered rags, faces pale and panicked. Some were barely clothed. Dragged by the gang members, they knelt sobbing in a row on the deck. Seeing the Divine Talismans and Flying Swords surrounding them, they were terrified out of their wits.

Wearing a casual smile, Lao Chao continued languidly, “Furthermore, these commoners weren’t kidnapped. They were sold to us, with contracts signed in black ink! Ha! The plague rages in the city, food is scarce. They cannot survive! What choice do they have but to sell themselves? Sent to brothels in the neighboring city, they at least get food to eat, saving their parents and brothers! As for refining ‘Human Elixirs’… what nonsense is this?”

“Since the plague began, we’ve transported many girls safely to other places! They’re all alive and well! Don’t believe me? Go see for yourselves!”

“…”

“This…”

The surrounding Academy Disciples heard his words and exchanged bewildered glances. This was entirely unexpected.

For a moment, the sheer awkwardness among them was palpable. Lao Chao genuinely didn’t look like he was lying; that smug confidence couldn’t be faked. But if this really was just a ship smuggling daughters of poor families… then what was their own loud, righteous pursuit all about?

They had come explicitly to capture the demonic cultivator refining Human Elixirs. How had they instead run into the Devouring Sea Gang kidnapping people for alchemy? If the Devouring Sea Gang were merely human traffickers, then where was the Human Elixir refining demonic cultivator?

They glanced around at each other. No one spoke. Staring at the terrified, ragged women trembling on the deck, they fell into an embarrassing silence.

They had arrived burning with righteous fury, hearts filled with heroism, determined to expose the monstrous Human Elixir refiner. Instead, they had stumbled upon this gang’s trafficking scheme. True, this wasn’t acceptable either. The Devouring Sea Gang trafficking honest women violated decrees. But these women were, by their own claims, willing. Besides, compared to refining Human Elixirs, this matter seemed utterly insignificant.

“Hahaha! Now I understand! The Academy Disciples made such a grand entrance… to steal women!”

“I never knew Academy Disciples meddled so broadly! Must they interfere even with others traveling for business?”

“Haha! It’s well-known Academy Disciples love slaying demons and monsters! But now they stoop to the disgraceful act of trying to stop women from seeking refuge?”

“…”

The Devouring Sea Gang members on the ship burst into loud laughter, throwing various taunts towards the shore.

Lao Chao on the deck slowly clasped his hands behind his back. A cold sneer touched his lips: “Honorable Academy Disciples! If you don’t believe me, come aboard! Inspect the ship! See if there’s any alchemical cauldron here for refining pellets! If not… perhaps you suspect we’ve already refined someone into pills? Just name a name! If the Devouring Sea Gang has had contact with them, whether they live or die, where they might be, I’ll tell you!”

His words drained the blood from the Academy Disciples’ faces, leaving them flushed with shame and anger. Instinctively, their gazes turned towards Meng Zhixue and the other Nanshan Alliance Five Disciples.

…

“Lao Chao is definitely hiding something!”

Back in the carriage behind the willow trees, Fang Cun’s brow was tightly furrowed.

From the moment Lao Chao appeared completely unfazed, calmly facing the Academy Disciples, Fang Cun knew something was very wrong. If the girls on that ship were truly destined for refining into Human Elixirs, why would Lao Chao dare show himself publicly? Why linger? Even as leader of the Devouring Sea Gang, even with formidable backing – any connection to Human Elixirs meant certain death. Forget the Academy or City Governor – the wandering warriors of the martial world alone wouldn’t let him live!

Fang Cun grasped this flaw in the blink of an eye. The initial clues were correct. After receiving Fang Cun’s warning, Meng Zhixue had immediately sent scouts. Because they’d discovered the numerous inexplicable disappearances of commoners in plague-scourged areas, they firmly believed this plague was linked to a demonic Human Elixir refiner. Thus, upon spotting this furtive group seemingly kidnapping people, they’d rushed in, expecting to seize ironclad evidence.

But who could have guessed? The Devouring Sea Gang crew weren’t kidnappers… they were merely trafficking women struggling to survive the plague?

Was it sheer coincidence?

Impossible!

Fang Cun knew: if the Devouring Sea Gang aimed only to traffic women, in these chaotic times, they wouldn’t need such underhanded, secretive operations. They could openly sign indentures, even post notices without fear – countless would flock to their doors of their desperate will! Yet they operated with such exaggerated care… as if handling something incredibly dangerous and illicit…

Only one answer remained: this was all to divert the Academy Disciples’ attention…

Adding the Devouring Sea Gang’s recent massive medicinal herb purchases and their exorbitant bids for precious ginseng, Fang Cun concluded with certainty:

The Devouring Sea Gang were inextricably linked to the Human Fiend!

Sitting serenely within the carriage, Fang Cun’s knuckles unconsciously tapped against the wood. His thoughts raced…

“Why is Lao Chao toying with the Academy Disciples at this moment?”

“Because they’ve sensed the students are investigating something… fearing they might ruin their plans?”

“What advantage does this mockery gain them?”

“One: Plant the seed that Academy students only meddle, making mountains out of molehills. If an Academy student later makes another discovery, will anyone believe them? Or two: Crush the students’ morale, hoping they abandon the hunt for plague-related foul play? Or three: Simply buying time?”

“Could it mean the Human Elixir is near completion, and they fear interruption?”

“If so… the Devouring Sea Gang is certain to provoke these students into attacking…”

…

Even as these thoughts flickered through Fang Cun’s mind, he saw it unfolding.

On the distant shore, students realizing they’d been fooled erupted in furious roars:

“Damn bastards! How dare you act so arrogant?!”

“Even if you aren’t refining Human Elixirs, profiting from plague misery to traffic innocent women… is that any righteous deed?!”

“Cut down these heartless scum!”

“Release those suffering women, now!”

…

Facing the barrage of furious shouts, Lao Chao’s expression grew more contemptuously amused, laced with undisguised mockery.

He lightly raised a hand, silencing his own men poised to shout back insults. A chilling smile played on his lips:

“They’re just a few worthless servant girls. The Devouring Sea Gang isn’t so stingy. Since the Academy’s gems desire them so much… consider them gifts to you…”

With those words, his expression hardened abruptly. His great hand swept violently downward!

His gang members understood instantly. Suddenly they surged forward as one. Lifting their legs, they kicked!

Whoosh-Whoomph-Rip!

An entire row of kneeling women tumbled head over heels into the churning lake water with shrieks and wails!

Filled with righteous fury moments ago, the Academy Disciples’ fury solidified instantly into cold shock and boiling rage! Blood surged to their heads!

…

“So the Devouring Sea Gang is deliberately stalling, transferring everyone’s attention…”

Watching this scene, Fang Cun’s eyes held nothing but pure frost.

“But… just where is the place refining the Human Elixir?”

“And… exactly how are they abducting people?”