Chapter 51

A solemn expression appeared on Lao Liu's face, "Ninth Miss, perhaps you should have a cup of tea before continuing."

Jiang Jiuyuan waved her hand, "After the Thieves' Gate gathered in Yunyin Village, members from all the sects started disappearing every thirty years or so."

"Those who vanished were not the sect leaders themselves, but elders, or the sect leaders' wives and children, in short, people crucial to the sect leader."

"In reality, they were taken away and beheaded. Their heads would then be placed on the Thieves' Gate leader's table within three days."

"Each Thieves' Gate leader was then forced to eat all the prepared food at a banquet while facing the head. Otherwise, the sect would be destroyed. That banquet is called 'Turning-Back Wine'."

Jiang Jiuyuan's face was deathly pale as she spoke, as though she recalled some terrifying scene. She must have witnessed the "Turning-Back Wine" firsthand.

Lao Liu muttered to himself, "No wonder so many experts from the Thieves' Gate disappeared after Wei Xuesong vanished; they were being executed."

"If that's the case, it explains why the Thieves' Gate confronted the Four Great Beams of the Northeast."

Thieves' Gate members generally avoid direct conflict with local powers. Even if they compete, they do so in secret.

Openly fighting to the death is not the Thieves' Gate's style, nor does it serve their interests.

Who would have thought that the Thieves' Gate was fighting to the death with Northeastern bandits simply to survive and establish themselves in Yunyin Village?

Jiang Jiuyuan said, "The sect leader said that this year is the deadline for the Thieves' Gate to retrieve the Blood Chess Piece. If we can't get it back, the sect leader and the others might not return."

Jiang Jiuyuan paused, "The sect leader told me to relay a message to Shiye (Grand Uncle-Master) and also to the hall master, that the Thieves' Gate still has its spirit."

Lao Liu nodded silently, "I understand."

The Thieves' Gate has no shortage of those who compromise and cling to life, but there are also fierce individuals who would rather die than submit.

The leader of the Dao Immortal Gate belongs to the latter. He is prepared to fight to the death if they can't retrieve the chess piece.

His bringing the Thieves' Gate members into Cao He might have been a plan to force them into a corner and then settle things with the mastermind behind the scenes. The Dao Immortal Gate leader initially said that "the Thieves' Gate will not leave Cao He," because he wanted to force the Thieves' Gate to make a life-or-death decision.

Lao Liu slowly waved his fan and said, "I have a few questions I want to ask you."

"First, did Panshan Ying actually divine for the Thieves' Gate back then, and did he say that a Yang Jian Jie Ming Ren could save the Thieves' Gate?"

Panshan Ying, the leader of the Four Great Beams, had a unique style of divination. Ordinary geomancers didn't dare to compete with him; only those at the level of Cang Tianji could confidently suppress him.

Jiang Jiuyuan said, "The sect leader said that the Thieves' Gate wanted to hire the Four Great Beams at a high price to attack Yunlin Mountain. However, the Four Great Beams were unwilling to get involved, and ultimately yielded the territory of Yunyin Village."

"However, the leader of the Dao Immortal Gate at the time developed some friendship with Panshan Ying, and the latter performed a divination for the Thieves' Gate. He said that the Yang Jian Jie Ming Ren would not appear, and the Blood Chess Piece would not manifest."

"He also said that the Yang Jian Jie Ming Ren was half in the underworld and half in the mortal realm. Therefore, the Thieves' Gate has been paying attention to the Jie Ming Ren entering the Yunyin Village area."

Lin Zhao retorted, "Since you knew that the Jie Ming Ren might be the Thieves' Gate's savior, why did you target us?"

Jiang Jiuyuan responded softly, "Because Huang Quan (Yellow Springs) smugglers also fit the description of being half in the underworld and half in the mortal realm. Moreover, you are from the Reincarnation Bureau. So..."

Lin Zhao rolled his eyes and stopped asking.

Believing in famous clans and sects is a common human failing.

Compared to the Liangjie Tang (Two Realms Hall), the Reincarnation Bureau is a prominent and respectable sect, while the Liangjie Tang is like a makeshift team.

It's not surprising that the Thieves' Gate chose to believe in the Reincarnation Bureau.

Lao Liu said dismissively, "Who created the Eight-and-a-Half Rooms?"

"It was Zuo Shan Hu (Sitting Tiger)!" Jiang Jiuyuan said, "Panshan Ying and Zuo Shan Hu didn't seem to get along. After Panshan Ying divined for the Thieves' Gate, Zuo Shan Hu built the Eight-and-a-Half Rooms. As for why there was only half a room in the middle of the Nine Palaces Formation, he didn't explain it clearly."

Jiang Jiuyuan added, "Zuo Shan Hu seemed to have said, 'If you can complete that half room, the Thieves' Gate's problems will be solved.'"

"At the time, the Thieves' Gate elders didn't really believe Zuo Shan Hu, so no one bothered with that half room."

Lao Liu shook his head, "Your Thieves' Gate missed an opportunity to turn things around!"

"If the Thieves' Gate had put some thought into dealing with the Four Great Beams back then and dragged them all into the mess, so many people wouldn't have had to die. Let's go! Let's take a look at the Eight-and-a-Half Rooms."

Jiang Jiuyuan followed behind Lao Liu and asked, "Master Liu, I don't quite understand what you mean?"

Lao Liu waved his fan, "The Thieves' Gate didn't take the Four Great Beams seriously back then, did you? The Thieves' Gate only compromised because the Four Great Beams brought too many men. In fact, you didn't really think much of the Dragon, Tiger, Eagle, and Wolf from the bottom of your hearts. Am I right?"

Jiang Jiuyuan stammered, "Maybe!"

"Not maybe, but definitely!" Lao Liu said, "Do you really think Zuo Shan Hu built the Eight-and-a-Half Rooms just to compete with Panshan Ying? Actually, both he and Panshan Ying were mocking you!"