"The Sect Leader is absolutely right."
Yun Leng had initially intended to use this opportunity to make things difficult for Zhang Chuchen, but Yun Yun's reasoning was sound. Moreover, the Mo family had contributed the most to this success, so he decided to go with the flow. Clasping his hands respectfully, he added, "Mo Qing of the Mo family was the first to discover Ka Long's suspicious behavior, so he deserves the greatest credit."
"The Mo family followed the clues and uncovered evidence, exposing this Golden Goose Sect Dou Grand Master who had been hiding within the Cloud Mist Sect. Their contribution is also significant."
"Zhang Chuchen arrived promptly to provide support, captured the culprit, and saved our sect disciples. He too has earned merit."
"As for how exactly to reward them, I defer to the Sect Leader's judgment."
While Yun Leng secured the lion's share of credit for the Mo family, he refrained from interfering with the specifics of the rewards, as the Sect Leader was present.
"Rewards will be discussed upon our return to the sect," Yun Yun nodded slightly and stated, "Our immediate priority is to apprehend Ka Long."
"He has been within our Cloud Mist Sect for many years, and we don't know how much intelligence he has sent back to the Golden Goose Sect. Although it likely doesn't involve core secrets, we must interrogate him to find out."
All the elders agreed with Yun Yun's assessment.
At that moment, the Dou Spirit Elder responsible for guarding the main sect hall finally arrived belatedly.
Upon hearing the Sect Leader's command, he immediately ordered the sect disciples in the town to begin the search.
Throughout the entire process, Gu Han had only spoken that one sentence and had no further opportunity to say anything.
"Senior Brother Zhang, let's return to the sect."
After Yun Yun and the others had left, Gu Han approached Zhang Chuchen with a cold expression.
"Alright."
Given the spy incident, Zhang Chuchen didn't press for details about the mysterious expert.
The two set off together back to Cloud Mist Mountain, where they encountered Mo Feng leading a group of people.
"Junior Brother Gu, what exactly happened?" Mo Feng approached with feigned concern.
"What happened? Don't you know, Senior Brother Mo Feng?" Gu Han's face showed a trace of anger.
Seeing this, Mo Feng felt a surge of delight, knowing that Mo Qing's plan to snatch the credit had succeeded.
But outwardly, he maintained a look of confusion. "What should I know!?"
"Hmph!" Gu Han snorted coldly, clearly suppressing his frustration as he walked away.
"Junior Brother Gu, is there some misunderstanding? Junior Brother Gu?" Mo Feng called out a few times with feigned concern, his heart growing increasingly smug.
So what if he's a genius? Before the Mo family, even he has to submit obediently.
"Let's go."
Mo Feng led his men to Residence No. 74 to find Mo Qing.
"Junior Brother, are you on bad terms with the Mo family?" Zhang Chuchen asked curiously as they made their way to Cloud Mist Mountain.
"It's nothing." Gu Han waved his hand, indicating he didn't want to discuss it, and changed the subject. "Senior Brother, you don't need to visit that Dou Emperor senior anymore."
Zhang Chuchen tensed and asked, "Did I offend that senior by leaving the entrance earlier?"
"No." Gu Han shook his head. "We didn't leave in the middle of our visit, so it can't be considered offensive."
"The reason you don't need to go see him is that he has already departed."
He's gone?
A look of disappointment crossed Zhang Chuchen's face.
But the next moment, he heard Gu Han continue, "Before leaving, the senior informed me about the issues with your body and gave me a pill to resolve your problem."
"Junior Brother, is that true?!" Zhang Chuchen exclaimed excitedly, grabbing Gu Han's wrist.
The reason his cultivation couldn't break through to the Dou Spirit level and his energy circulation was problematic was something even Pill King Gu He himself couldn't identify after a personal examination.
"Of course I wouldn't joke about such matters with you, senior brother." A faint smile appeared on Gu Han's handsome face. "That senior expert said even a seventh-grade alchemist might not be able to identify your problem."
"You've been poisoned by something that isn't exactly poison - more precisely, you've been afflicted with a bloodline curse."
"Poison? Bloodline curse?!" Zhang Chuchen's face instantly turned pale as if remembering something, but he quickly composed himself and listened as Gu Han continued.
"It's a toxin created using the essence blood of a Snake-Person at the Dou Spirit level, combined with special techniques. It dissolves in water without color or scent."
"Experts below the Dou Spirit level cannot detect it through conventional methods."
"This poison doesn't affect the body directly, but targets the bloodline. When you attempt to break through, it restricts the circulation of your Dou Qi."
"However, with the right treatment, the solution is actually quite simple."
As he spoke, Gu Han retrieved a box from his Storage Ring and handed it to Zhang Chuchen.
"Take the pill inside, and it will neutralize the poison."
"With your accumulated foundation, senior brother might even break through to the Dou Spirit level in one go."
At this point, Gu Han paused before adding, "These were the exact words of that Dou Emperor senior."
"I've heard the valley master of Icy River Valley in the Central Plains is a Dou Venerable expert who also possesses an acquired Poison Body. He probably knows more about this than we do."
"Thank you, junior brother!" Zhang Chuchen accepted the pill from Gu Han without ceremony.
Only by improving his own strength could he better protect Gu Han and accomplish tasks for him - that would be the true repayment.
The two chatted as they returned to Cloud Mist Mountain, parting ways in front of the training hall in the outer sect.
"Steward, I need a training room."
This time, Gu Han deliberately chose to cultivate in a training room instead of returning to his private courtyard.
Taking the token, he entered room Jia-2, closed the door, and began cultivating his Profound Ice Art.
He waited until midnight before immediately accessing the intelligence report.
[After searching all night, Cloud Mist Sect failed to locate Ka Long, suspecting he escaped using some special method. Sect Leader Yun Yun visited Jia Xingtian at mid-morning to report this matter, ordering a nationwide manhunt. Upon returning to the sect, Yun Yun will order rewards: Mo Qing will receive an Earth-tier low-level Dou Skill and three thousand merit points, Mo Xuanqing... Zhang Chuchen... you are awarded one thousand merit points.]
Reading the first piece of intelligence, Gu Han remained completely unperturbed.
Had he directly reported Ka Long to the sect, he would have received primary credit, but the Sky Goose Six-Line Wings would have been beyond his reach.
The total rewards for primary credit couldn't compare to the value of the Sky Goose Six-Line Wings.
Moreover, he had taken this opportunity to eliminate both Ka Long and Mo Qing - two major threats.
The resources in Ka Long and Mo Qing's Storage Rings had also fallen into his hands.
[The Mo family discovered Mo Qing's disappearance. After thoroughly investigating you and learning from the sect about Ka Long's disappearance, they suspect Ka Long took Mo Qing away. The entire Mo family has mobilized to search for Ka Long. Tomorrow at dawn, the spirit-nurturing land in the back mountains where the Mo family secretly cultivates Jade Spirit Fruit trees will be unattended for half an hour.]
"This is good news indeed." A flicker of amusement passed through Gu Han's eyes.
It proved his elaborate scheme hadn't been in vain. The Mo family believed they had successfully trapped him while attributing Mo Qing's disappearance to Ka Long, temporarily not suspecting his involvement.
Given Mo Yu's cunning and current attitude of wanting to befriend him, she wouldn't make another move against him anytime soon.
Of course, the truly good news was that he would have the opportunity to take away the Jade Spirit Fruit Tree.
"Before that, I should master the Flight Fighting Skill to gain another advantage."
Gu Han took out a purple scroll, which was precisely the high-level Xuan rank Flight Fighting Skill "Sky Goose Six-Line Wings."
Fully unrolling the scroll, Gu Han carefully examined it, and the next moment his pupils suddenly contracted.
"It seems my connection with Central Plains' number one contractor runs deep."