Chapter Thirty-Two: Acting Sect Leader

Gou Zhen and Qi Hongshan still hadn't managed to leave the abandoned factory, and Li Changqing had already guessed the reason. It seemed that the evil entity within the factory was even more dangerous than he had imagined.

The bald man’s face showed anxiety; he glanced at his watch and said, “Let’s go inside and check on the Protector.” He and several of Gou Zhen’s subordinates moved together toward the factory. Seeing this, Qi Hongshan’s five followers quickly joined them. Ten people in all, they headed straight for the dormitory building.

They’d learned from their own Protectors that Li Changqing had hidden the object in the middle dormitory building, on the sixth floor.

A faint smile appeared on Li Changqing’s face as he pinched the brim of his soft felt hat. “What do you think happened? Could Gou Zhen and Qi Hongshan have perished together in there?”

Tang Xiaoyu’s gaze was fixed on the direction of the dormitory; from here, one could see the silent building in the night. But she said nothing, since Guan Wenyan was still nearby.

At that moment, Li Changqing picked up his phone and called Hu Xiong again. Since yesterday, Hu Xiong hadn’t answered any of his calls. This bastard had promised to protect him in secret, yet now he wouldn’t even pick up.

Still no answer.

Another twenty minutes passed.

Both groups emerged from the factory, carrying Gou Zhen’s corpse.

The bald man held the body, his face ashen. Behind him, Qi Hongshan’s subordinates wore smiles; with Gou Zhen dead, no one could contest Qi for the leadership.

“Li Changqing, please ask Protector Hu to come forward and uphold justice!” the bald man shouted loudly, holding Gou Zhen’s body. “It must have been Qi Hongshan! He killed Protector Gou! It was supposed to be a fair contest, but he struck with deadly force! We object—Qi Hongshan cannot be leader!”

Li Changqing hurried forward to mediate. “Let’s talk this through. Where is Qi Hongshan? Didn’t you see him?”

Had Qi Hongshan escaped?

“Most likely he killed Protector Gou and fled,” the bald man said, his gaze icy as he swept over Qi Hongshan’s five followers.

Qi Hongshan’s subordinates sneered. “In the Shadow Cult, competition for leadership has always been a deadly affair. Elder Gou was bested by our Protector Qi—he simply wasn’t skilled enough.”

They pinned the blame for Gou Zhen’s death squarely on Qi Hongshan. After all, both entered together; Gou Zhen was dead and Qi Hongshan missing. Who else could it be?

The bald man clearly held a high status among Gou Zhen’s followers. He understood that if things went on like this and Qi Hongshan became Protector, his group would be in deep trouble.

“I support Protector Hu as leader!” he declared loudly.

Ding Jiashi and Ke Linzhi had thought the power struggle was no longer their concern. But hearing the bald man’s stance, they immediately perked up. Ding Jiashi hurried forward, coughed, and feigned objectivity. “From my perspective, Qi’s killing of Gou was wrong. We should invite Protector Hu to take charge.”

With that, all eyes turned to Li Changqing, eager to see his response.

He coughed, picked up his phone. “I’ll consult my master.”

Taking his phone aside, he pretended to dial, but whispered, “What should we do now? That bastard Hu Xiong won’t answer.”

Tang Xiaoyu, her mind full of money-making schemes, had no advice. The main issue was the uncertainty over Qi Hongshan’s fate; judging by their demeanor, they hadn’t found his body. If Qi Hongshan was alive, he’d realize he’d been played, and Li Changqing would be in serious trouble.

He had to keep control of the situation.

Returning to the group, he announced, “My master says that Gou’s death might have been an accident—it’s not necessarily Qi’s doing. But, since Qi is missing and highly suspect, if everyone agrees, my master is willing to temporarily assume the leader’s role. If it later turns out Qi is innocent, the position will be returned to him.”

Qi Hongshan’s followers objected. “What if Qi really did kill Gou? Then the winner should have the leadership!”

“Then I will avenge Protector Gou,” the bald man growled. Gou Zhen had raised him as an orphan; to him, Gou was like a father.

Li Changqing smiled calmly. “Their contest was to see who could retrieve my master’s Protector Token first. Only then could they claim victory. So, Qi Hongshan hasn’t necessarily won yet.”

Both sides glared at each other, ready to fight.

“What advice does Protector Hu have?” Ding Jiashi asked with a respectful smile. If the interim leader position was established, that meant the leadership was all but secured.

Li Changqing pondered for a moment. “Everything will be decided when my master emerges from seclusion. He also said: As members of a cult, we shouldn’t let grudges fester. Bottling them up will only harm the unity of the Shadow Cult. If you truly wish to avenge Protector Gou, my master has no objection.”

Guan Wenyan and Ding Jiashi were both stunned. Wasn’t this statement just encouraging Gou and Qi’s factions to destroy each other?

Guan Wenyan felt that as acting leader, Hu Qideng should mediate the conflict. Ding Jiashi, however, saw the brilliance; he seemed to grasp Hu Qideng’s intent. Both Gou Zhen and Qi Hongshan’s followers were powerful—if Hu Qideng became leader, they might still resist him. By letting them fight and weaken each other, he could better control the Shadow Cult.

Such foresight! Truly worthy of Elder Hu!

The bald man, already filled with hatred from Gou Zhen’s death, glared fiercely at Qi Hongshan’s five subordinates. They were undaunted—their Protector was alive, probably just hiding to recover from his wounds.

“What are you staring at?”

“Watch yourselves,” the bald man said coldly, then left with Gou Zhen’s corpse.

Once their car departed, Qi Hongshan’s followers spat contemptuously. “Gou’s gone, and they dare threaten us?”

They got into their car and drove off.

Both sides were full of hostility; clearly, this matter would not end peacefully.

“Please give my regards to Elder Hu,” Ding Jiashi said with a broad smile. “We’ll find temporary lodging in Nanlin City. Should Elder Hu need anything, just let me know.”

Satisfied, Ding Jiashi and Ke Linzhi drove away.

Guan Wenyan’s gaze turned urgent as he looked at Li Changqing, especially since he held two envelopes. Evidently, with Gou Zhen dead, both factions had forgotten these two secret envelopes.

Now, only Guan Wenyan and Li Changqing remained on the street—plus the timid fellow with the felt hat.

If he could snatch the envelopes, his mission would finally be complete; the undercover life would be over.

Guan Wenyan edged closer to Li Changqing, secretly clenching his fists.