Big Data Cultivation
Chapter 972 - Chapter 972 Chapter 972 Pursuit (Third Update Seeking Monthly

Chapter 972: Chapter 972: Pursuit (Third Update, Seeking Monthly Votes for February) Chapter 972: Chapter 972: Pursuit (Third Update, Seeking Monthly Votes for February) Feng Jun didn’t chat much with Zhuang Haoyun, and after gaining a general understanding of the situation and knowing that Hua Hua had rushed over, he couldn’t help but sigh with regret, “Still, we arrived a bit late.”

As for asking Hua Hua to help send people down the mountain, Feng Jun video called Hua Hua and saw that it had a Spirit Beast Bag with it, so he made arrangements, “Take three injured people down the mountain, then send a healthy person over.”

Hua Hua flew to an injured person, flapped its wings, and the injured person disappeared, then another…

Upon seeing this, the Zhuang Family disciples were all terrified: Holy shit, what kind of Divine Skills are these?

Hua Hua put the three injured people into the Spirit Beast Bag, and also placed Uncle Six inside. It actually disliked this task–it was supposed to be my food bag, why fill it with these bloody people?

With the Spirit Beast Bag in tow, it flew straight to a village at the foot of the mountain, found a secluded spot, put the people down, then flew away with a flap of its wings.

Uncle Six and the three injured had just come out of the Spirit Beast Bag and were somewhat disoriented before realizing they were already in the village.

The one with the severed arm immediately shouted loudly, “Help! Quick, call a doctor!”

Even though Uncle Six was confused, he still managed to warn them, “Remember this, don’t speak of what you saw today, otherwise… never mind the Zhuang Family’s clan rules; think whether that great immortal would let you off?”

One of them, with an open gash across his belly, struggled to speak, “Uncle Six, you don’t have to say it, we understand. What shouldn’t be said won’t be said… But this time, we’ve really lost out, we must ask Hao Yun for at least three to five hundred thousand for recuperation.”

While they discussed the great immortal, Zhuang Haoyun was doing the same. His three cousins constantly questioned him, asking what exactly was this Butterfly, who was its leader, and if they were all Cultivation Path practitioners, what was their Cultivation Level.

But Zhuang Haoyun said, I really dare not disclose this, just know that I haven’t forgotten today’s aid from my brothers and sisters, and I will repay the favor in the future.

Hua Hua was quick to send the people away, and after returning, it called Feng Jun on Weixin again to let him talk to Zhuang Haoyun–after all, in the rush to rescue, many things were not clearly discussed.

Indeed, Zhuang Haoyun had been lured into a trap with a phone call he received in Bingzhou.

The caller directly asked him, “Director Zhuang, I heard you’re looking into the Stone Lamp in Professor Lian’s possession from the Huaxia Health Preservation Association. If I can provide you with some clues, how much would you be willing to pay?”

Zhuang Haoyun, a successful businessman, actually has high vigilance. However, he didn’t consider it a trap–at worst, it was a money scam; the other party couldn’t harm him.

Because the Zhuang Family was originally the owner of the Stone Lamp and the victim. Even if he conducted secret inquiries on his opponents, that was justifiable, right?

In any case, if it was a scam, as long as the other party’s story was convincing, he didn’t mind losing some money–after all, he never minded spending money, who doesn’t know the proverb about buying a good horse with gold?

But someone directly abducted him, and his mobile phone was confiscated, making it impossible for others to contact him.

The kidnapper’s purpose was simple: Since your family has the Stone Lamp, you must have other things… take us to have a look.

Zhuang Haoyun nearly burst with anger: Aren’t you done yet?

Although he was a businessman who was not lacking in smooth dealings, he had a sense of integrity deep down and firmly refused the other party–I’ve seen bullies before, but never to this extent like you all. This is a secret passed down by my Zhuang Family, how could I tell you?

The other party revealed they were from Kunlun, but Zhuang Haoyun didn’t dare to say that he had connections with Luohua, fearing that as soon as he said this, they would silence him.

In any case, he would rather die than reveal the location of the Zhuang Family’s stone cave. First, to protect the family’s secrets, and secondly… for fear that once they find nothing in the cave, his time would be up.

He was certain that there was nothing left inside, as Feng Jun had personally investigated it–how could there possibly be anything missed?

His persistence had won him some time–this point was crucial. Later, when the other party learned the location of the stone cave, they only arrived in Pingyang today, taking him up the mountain by night to the cave.

After his wife contacted Luohua Manor, she was finally able to ask the clan’s brothers to go to the stone cave to look for clues, and they bumped into each other just in time. More fortuitously… Luohua also sent over Hua Hua, who was in the Qi Refinement Realm, for support.

In the end, Zhuang Haoyun believed that the knifeman who was shot wouldn’t dare seek treatment at a major hospital–it would breach national regulations, and the Zhuang Family would make them understand the power of a local clan.

So, he thought that the three would likely flee across the mountains, and counting on the Zhuang Family to catch them seemed difficult. He hoped Feng Jun would ask Hua Hua to act–after all, it could fly.

This request, even if Zhuang Haoyun hadn’t made it, was something Feng Jun would have asked Hua Hua to handle anyway. He had already arrived in Beijing; how dare Kunlun stir trouble with the Zhuang Family–do they really not take Luohua Manor seriously?

Once Hua Hua received instructions from Feng Jun, it flew away without a second word.

Zhuang Haoyun, on the other hand, was with his three brothers, planning to guard their family’s stone cave to prevent the other party from launching a surprise counterattack–for which they even reloaded their hunting rifles.

But the three brothers thought a surprise counterattack was unlikely. They were more interested in discussing: Exactly where does Hua Hua come from, what is its Cultivation Level, perhaps our Zhuang Family ancestors–might be even more powerful than Hua Hua, right?

Hua Hua flying in the air really doesn’t attract much attention, especially on a rare, sunny day when a few white clouds drift by in the sky. Unless one looks up on purpose, it’s hard to spot its figure.

Moreover, as a Gu Insect, it is particularly sensitive to blood and Qi, not to mention its true form is a butterfly, which is keen on following the fragrance of flowers to gather nectar. Its sense of smell is extraordinarily sharp, so sharp that even Feng Jun himself would hardly match it.

Tracking the scattered scent of blood in the air, it hastens its pursuit.

In just a short while, it suddenly detects an irritating smell ahead–probably something like pepper powder. “Ah, the ingenuity of mortals… You have no idea what sort of existence is on your trail.”

Such measures might be sufficient to fool those clumsy police dogs, but to deceive a butterfly in the Qi Refinement Realm is utterly impossible!

It makes a wide detour around the area, then chooses the right direction to continue the chase.

In fact, the three fugitives are also quite unwilling to give up. After escaping some distance, they hastily bandage the knife man’s wounds then run another three or four miles before stopping to discuss their next step.

The one who used talismans asked aloud, “Mr. White, can your wound hold up for a bit longer?”

“There’s no problem,” the knife-wielder replied gravely. “Damn the buckshot, had it been a single bullet, just digging it out would have sufficed… I could have endured it.”

“Ah,” the talisman user sighed. “Actually, I have some secret, high-quality medicine for wounds, but it’s not suitable for use right now. If the wound heals too quickly, it would be harder to remove the bullet.”

“That’s not a problem,” the knife man answered with ease. “Later on, I can force it out with my Qi, there’s no rush… Daoist Hu, I’m really not willing to just leave like this.”

“What else can we do if not leave?” Daoist Hu sighed. “If we don’t hurry away now, we might not be able to escape at all. The Zhuang Family has quite an influence locally in Pingyang.”

They indeed harbored thoughts of turning back for another attack, but unfortunately, the reputation of the Zhuang Family in the area wasn’t just for show. Faced with the choice of acquiring more treasures or ensuring his own safety, Daoist Hu prioritized his safety.

Having made their decision, the trio rested briefly, then continued their desperate flight. Roaming the mountains consumed a lot of their time, and they couldn’t afford to waste any.

Nevertheless, Mr. White still couldn’t help looking back from time to time.

On one such glance back, he exclaimed in surprise, “What is that… A pigeon?”

There was still snow in many areas of the mountains, and he saw a flash of white streaking by in the air.

Hearing this, Daoist Hu also looked back, but the next moment, he was shocked. “How could it be that?”

He was a genuine Kunlun Disciple, a high-rank cultivator who had shed his mortal roots. He was well aware of the conflict between Kunlun and Luohua.

The fact that Luohua Manor possessed a butterfly in the Qi Refinement Realm was no secret among the inner circles of Kunlun. This butterfly had once withstood an attack from Kou Laozhong, which was one reason, but more importantly, Kunlun publicized this to emphasize that Luohua harbored Demon Cultivators!

Harboring Demon Cultivators could naturally push one towards the status of “public enemy of the Human Race.” Whether it was effective or not, such propaganda at least helped to strengthen the resolve of Kunlun Disciples to unite against a common foe.

Seeing his sudden change in expression, Mr. White and the unarmed combat expert both looked over. “What’s that?”

“It’s Luohua’s butterfly demon,” Daoist Hu said with a grave expression. “Quick, hide well, and prepare to strike it head-on… we must go all out! Xiao Qi, do you still have any poisoned darts?”

Xiao Qi, also from the Kunlun Outskirts, gave a wry smile upon hearing this. “Things are tight these days, how could I dare to carry such things? Last time I took some regular darts, the police nearly arrested me, insisting I explain their purpose… How could I dare to carry anything poisoned?”

Mr. White was somewhat puzzled. “This butterfly demon… is it really a demon? Is it very strong in combat?”

“In the Qi Refinement Realm, what do you think?” Daoist Hu glanced at him in annoyance. “Whether the three of us can escape depends on whether we can severely injure it. If we fail, we’ll have no choice but to flee separately.”

Mr. White looked at him carefully, and seeing that he seemed to be telling the truth, he nodded slightly. “Alright, I’ll follow Daoist Hu’s arrangement.”

He didn’t completely believe Daoist Hu’s words, but at a time like this, it was not a bad idea to be extra prepared.

However, it turned out that the three of them had been too cautious. Before Mr. White noticed Hua Hua, it had already spotted the trio.

Hua Hua hadn’t been flying particularly fast on its way, firstly because it feared that flying too quickly would cause it to miss the trail, and secondly to be on guard for a possible ambush.

Ordinary ambushes weren’t a concern for Hua Hua, but it was wary of lightning–a Thunder Talisman had given it a profoundly painful lesson. That is why it was so keen on making various Lightning Rods.

When it heard that one of the three fugitives was skilled with talismans, it immediately heightened its alertness.

(Three chapters done, the first day of February, calling for the minimum monthly votes.)