Three Sins Against Heaven-Chapter 50 – Buying life

"We're both at the fifth level of Qi Refinement. Unless absolutely necessary, I don't want to tear our relationship apart. I still need to give him some face." Jiang He suddenly showed a playful smile and changed his tone, "But if I give him face, he has to be able to take it. In at most a year, I'll break through to the sixth level of Qi Refinement. By then, there will be no place for him on Dusk Mountain. What's one more year of patience?"

"Then I congratulate the Mountain Lord in advance." John Wei was overjoyed, bowing deeply. The arrogant and domineering man in front of Ghost Guest was as obedient as a dog in front of Jiang He.

Jiang He looked in the direction where Douglas Situ had left, smiled faintly, and turned back to the building.

...

After turning a corner on the mountain path, Douglas Situ stopped, patted Ghost Guest on the shoulder, and said earnestly, "I know you're upset, but cultivation is like this. If someone is stronger than you, you just have to endure."

"It's just some Spirit Stones, nothing much." Ghost Guest shook his head calmly, clasped his fists, and bowed, "Thank you for your help this time, Senior Brother. Rest assured, I will repay the Spirit Stones I owe you in a few days."

Douglas Situ shook his head with a smile, "We're brothers, no need to be so polite. You need the Spirit Stones more than I do right now. Just focus on your cultivation and don't worry about this."

Ghost Guest was silent for a moment, then transmitted his voice directly to Douglas Situ's ear, "There's one more thing I'd like to ask for your help with..."

After listening, Douglas Situ's smile grew even wider.

...

Half a month later, deep into the night, Douglas Situ brought Ghost Guest to the foot of a mountain. He took out a black pill and handed it to Ghost Guest, taking one himself as well.

Soon, black mist emanated from their bodies, enveloping them and blending them completely into the night.

Douglas Situ arrived outside a courtyard, broke through the light barrier with a single finger, and silently entered. With a light press of his palm, all the Spirit Slaves in the low huts died instantly. He then flashed into the main house and pointed a finger at Juan Zeng, who was sitting cross-legged inside.

Juan Zeng's eyes snapped open, but before he could say a word, he lost all ability to resist.

Sealing his acupoints, sealing his mouth.

Though he was at the third level of Qi Refinement, he was as helpless as a child before Douglas Situ.

Douglas Situ grabbed Juan Zeng by the collar and dragged him out of the main house, throwing him in front of Ghost Guest. His usually calm voice turned hoarse under the effect of the pill.

"Junior Brother, he's all yours."

Ghost Guest's gaze moved to a whip by the wall. He picked it up and looked at it, recalling the scars on Little Tiger's body. Infusing the whip with Spiritual Energy, he lashed it hard on Juan Zeng.

Little Tiger might be broad-minded and forgiving, but he was not!

Juan Zeng's skin split open immediately, and he rolled on the ground in pain. However, with his acupoints sealed, he couldn't even scream.

The whip, carrying a fierce wind, kept falling. Juan Zeng soon became a bloody mess and eventually died, lying in a pool of his own blood.

Douglas Situ leaned down, took the Storage Bag from Juan Zeng's waist, and tossed it to Ghost Guest. With a slight grasp of his palm, Juan Zeng's body exploded, turning into a pool of blood and flesh that soaked into the ground.

The two then turned and left, walking slowly without any urgency to escape, as Ghost Guest had already paid.

Ghost Guest didn't even know the name of this mountain, only that he had given Douglas Situ five hundred Spirit Stones, which Douglas Situ had then passed on to the Mountain Lord of this mountain through special channels.

As for these special channels, Douglas Situ hadn't said, and Ghost Guest hadn't asked.

Tomorrow, this Mountain Lord would report that Juan Zeng had died from a cultivation mishap.

As long as the Mountain Lord agreed, no one would investigate further. Moreover, the Mountain Lord only knew that someone had paid for Juan Zeng's death, not that the employer was Ghost Guest.

Everyone has a price.

Ghost Guest knew that asking Douglas Situ for help in killing someone was like handing him leverage, but since he had decided to side with Douglas Situ, he had to make Douglas Situ completely trust him.

The two found a hidden corner and waited for the black mist to dissipate before returning to their respective homes, as if nothing had happened.

Back at the courtyard, Ghost Guest saw that the lights in the pavilion were out. He sat on the steps outside, looking up at the light barrier above the courtyard.

He had thought this light barrier was very safe. But after tonight, he realized it was just a common Restriction. Not to mention high-level cultivators, even a second-level Qi Refinement cultivator could easily break through it.

Restrictions are an extension of formations, with functions like blocking and protection.

When Senior Brother first brought him here, he had mentioned this term. At the time, Ghost Guest hadn't thought much of it, assuming that all courtyards had the same Restrictions.

But after asking Douglas Situ tonight, he understood that the higher the cultivator's level, the more effort they put into the Restrictions protecting their abodes. Even if they couldn't set them up themselves, they would buy complex Restrictions to prevent anyone from barging in during their cultivation.

The Spirit Treasure Platform had jade slips for engraving Restrictions, but they were too expensive. He had initially thought it unnecessary to spend too many Spirit Stones on courtyard protection, but after tonight, he felt it was very necessary.

Douglas Situ could easily break through Juan Zeng's courtyard Restriction, and so could Mountain Lord Jiang He. Only with an unbreakable courtyard Restriction could he cultivate in peace.

And the Wood Spirit Technique—Senior Brother had mentioned last month that he wanted to see it. In a few days, he would have to meet Senior Brother again, and he had no choice but to learn it.

He had been refining ingredients for Spirit Stones these past two weeks, neglecting his cultivation. He needed to catch up quickly.

He always felt that time was insufficient, wishing he could use one day as two.

The idea of secluded cultivation with a clear mind and few desires was just a myth created by ignorant mortals. Only after becoming a cultivator did he realize how busy a cultivator's life truly was.

A slightly scorching gaze suddenly fell on his back. Ghost Guest sensed it and looked up to see Laura Jiang standing by the wooden railing on the top floor, wondering why she was still awake so late.

Laura Jiang smiled sweetly, bowed slightly, and then returned to her room to rest.