The Fourth Calamity: My Sect Has Countless Prodigies

Chapter 57 Su Yun in Danger

Liuye Town.

The sun was blazing, and the dirt road at the entrance of the town was covered in a layer of white smoke.

Several crooked willow trees drooped their branches, and even the cicadas' chirping sounded weak and listless.

The sword immortal and the great sword stood on a hillside outside the town, gazing at the dilapidated town in the distance.

"That's it?" Big Sword scratched his head, somewhat incredulous. "This is way too... shabby!"

The sword immortal remained silent. He had imagined what Liuye Town would look like on his way here, but he was still taken aback when he actually saw it.

The town is small, with dozens of low mud houses crammed together, looking like a piece of junk casually thrown at the foot of the mountain.

"Let's go." The sword immortal patted the great sword on the shoulder. "The sooner we finish our business, the sooner we can go back."

The two walked into the town along the dirt road. Most of the houses along the road had crooked doors and tattered window paper, and some even had only half a wall left.

Following the direction provided by Qianlong, the group headed to the market of rogue cultivators, only to find several rogue cultivators crouching in a corner, staring at them warily, much like startled mice.

Something's not right here.

Da Baojian lowered his voice and subconsciously reached for the Xuan Tie Heavy Sword at his waist.

The sword immortal nodded slightly.

He noticed a detail—the way the townspeople looked at them wasn't just ordinary curiosity or wariness, but something else entirely…

fear.

It seemed like they were afraid of something.

"First, find a place that sells building materials."

The sword immortal withdrew his gaze and, following the map drawn by Zhou Yi, headed west towards the town.

Although Liuye Town is dilapidated, it is close to the Lianyun Mountains, and many independent cultivators go into the mountains to collect herbs and mine, so there are a few shops that buy and sell ores and basic materials.

The two turned into an alley and came to a slightly open space.

There were several piles of stones and wood on the open ground, and a simple shed stood next to it, under which sat a thin old man.

"Grandpa, do you sell building materials here?"

The sword immortal stepped forward and asked politely.

The old man raised his head, his cloudy eyes scanning them up and down, and said in a hoarse voice:

"What should I buy?"

"Redwood, bluestone, thatch," the swordsman recited the list of supplies. "Ten thousand catties of redwood, ten thousand catties of bluestone, thatch... how much do you charge here?"

The old man paused for a moment, seemingly startled by the number.

He looked the swordsman up and down again, then suddenly laughed, revealing a few yellowed teeth:

"Young man, are you building a mountain gate? Ten thousand catties of redwood and ten thousand catties of bluestone—no shop in Liuye Town can produce so much material all at once."

The sword immortal frowned: "How much can we raise?"

"Two thousand catties of redwood and three thousand catties of bluestone, that's the most I can get," the old man said, holding up two withered fingers. "Any more, and we'll have to source them from elsewhere. But..."

He suddenly lowered his voice and said mysteriously:

"Things have been unsettled in town lately, and goods from outside can't get in."

"Not peaceful?" The sword immortal keenly grasped the word.

The old man looked around to make sure no one was paying attention before whispering:

"You know the Black Tiger Gang, right? They're the local thugs in town. They used to just collect protection money, and everyone was fine once they paid."

"Recently, I don't know what happened, they suddenly went crazy and took over several large shops, saying they wanted to manage them uniformly. All the purchasing and sales have to go through them."

"Even the market for independent cultivators that used to be held in Liuye Town is no longer allowed."

He pointed to a somewhat decent two-story building in the distance:

"See that? That used to be the Su family's shop. Manager Su Yun was imprisoned by the Black Tiger Gang, and the shop was taken over. Now, the Black Tiger Gang controls all the building materials, grain, and medicinal herbs in town. If you want to buy so many goods, you can't get around them."

The sword immortal's heart tightened; he knew the name Su Yun all too well.

He was none other than his own junior sister's biological father.

"Where is Su Yun being held?" the sword immortal asked.

The old man shook his head:

"I don't know about that. Who dares to inquire about the Black Tiger Gang's affairs? Young brother, I advise you to mind your own business. If you want to buy something, go to the Black Tiger Gang's shop and ask. Buy as much as you can, and leave as soon as you're done."

The sword immortal nodded, then left, pulling his great sword with him.

"Sword Immortal, isn't Su Yun...?"

The great sword had barely opened its mouth when it was stopped by a single glance from the sword immortal.

"Don't say that here."

The two walked quite a distance, making sure no one was around, before the sword immortal whispered:

"You're right, Su Yun is Junior Sister's father, and he seems to be of some help to the Sect Master as well."

Big Sword's eyes widened: "Then we have to save them!"

"Rescue them? Just the two of us, Qi Refining Level 3, going to go head-to-head with the local thugs?"

The sword immortal rolled his eyes at him. "Find out the situation first, then go back and report to the sect leader."

Although Da Baojian was reckless, he wasn't stupid. After thinking it over, he nodded in agreement.

Following the old man's directions, the two found the Black Tiger Gang's shop.

It was called a shop, but it was actually just a fairly intact two-story wooden building in the center of town. Two burly men stood at the entrance, with knives at their waists and menacing faces.

"Buying something?"

A man stopped them and looked them up and down.

The swordsman smiled ingratiatingly: "Yes, buy some building materials. Redwood and bluestone, the more the better."

The man grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth: "Alright, come in with me."

The two were led into the shop. The inside was neater than the outside, with some ores and timber on the shelves, but not many.

Behind the counter sat a fat, middle-aged man wearing a silk robe and several large rings on his fingers; he was clearly in charge.

"Master Liu, we have a guest." The man introduced him solicitously.

Master Liu raised his eyelids, glanced at the swordsman and the great sword, and slowly said, "What should I buy?"

"Redwood and bluestone, the more the better," the sword immortal repeated.

Old Liu laughed, but it was a forced laugh: "Alright. Rosewood, one hundred catties."

As soon as he finished speaking, he held up one finger.

The swordsman quickly calculated in his mind—it was three times the normal price. The price of the bluestone had also doubled. But he didn't show it on his face, only frowning slightly.

"Mr. Liu, isn't this price a bit too high?"

"high?"

Master Liu sneered, "This is the only shop in Liuye Town that has this product. Take it or leave it. If you weren't unfamiliar faces, I wouldn't be selling it to you at this price."

The swordsman was about to speak when the sword immortal grabbed him.

"Buy it." The sword immortal gritted his teeth. "Two thousand catties of redwood and three thousand catties of bluestone. This is the deposit." He took out fifty spirit stones from his pocket and placed them on the counter.

Master Liu's eyes lit up, and he reached out to take it, but the sword immortal stopped him.

"Master Liu, I heard that Manager Su Yun was 'invited' for tea by you?"

The sword immortal asked with a smile, his tone casual.

Master Liu's expression changed: "Hmph, what are you, an outsider, doing asking about this?"

"It's nothing."

The sword immortal released his grip, and Master Liu snatched the spirit stone away.

"I heard that Manager Su used to be in the medicinal herb business, and I'd like to buy some healing pills from him. Would you be so kind as to do me that?"

Master Liu put the spirit stones into his sleeve, his expression softening somewhat:

"That old bastard Su Yun is ungrateful and offended our gang leader. He's locked up in the back mountain now. You want to buy pills from him? Wait until he gets out."

"How long will you be locked up?" the sword immortal pressed.

Mr. Liu waved his hand impatiently:

"I don't know! The gang leader said that unless his precious daughter comes back to replace him, he can forget about leaving. Alright, alright, come back in three days to collect your things, no refunds on spirit stones."

The sword immortal didn't ask any more questions and pulled the big sword out of the shop.

As the two walked out of town, Da Baojian finally couldn't hold back any longer: "That Fatty Liu is too ruthless! And that Su Yun, isn't his daughter Su Qianyue? Why does the Black Tiger Gang want Su Qianyue back?"

The sword immortal continued walking, his expression grave.

"How would I know?"

"What should we do then?"

"Let's go back." The sword immortal quickened his pace. "Let the sect leader decide for himself."

Da Baojian nodded, and the two stopped talking and hurried towards Qingxuan Sect.

---

As the sun set, it dyed the horizon a dark red.

The sword immortal and the great sword ran back to the Qingxuan Sect, panting, and headed straight for Zhou Yi's room.

"Sect Master! Sect Master!"

The sword immortal called out from outside the door.

Zhou Yi pushed open the door and saw the two of them covered in sweat. He frowned slightly and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Something has happened in Liuye Town."

The sword immortal took a deep breath and recounted everything he had seen and heard in the town—the Black Tiger Gang monopolized supplies, prices skyrocketed, Su Yun was imprisoned, and the Black Tiger Gang wanted Su Qianyue to return…

He spoke faster and faster, but Zhou Yi's expression grew increasingly grim.

"Black Tiger Gang..."

Zhou Yi repeated it in a low voice, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Su Qianyue is his free employee, and Su Yun is his angel investor.

They dare to mess with even these two people; the Black Tiger Gang is really asking for trouble.

"You've done a good job." Zhou Yi nodded. "I have my own plans for this matter. Go and rest now."

The sword immortal and the great sword exchanged a glance, knowing that the sect leader already had a plan, so they said no more and took their leave.

Zhou Yi stood alone in front of the door, gazing in the direction of Liuye Town in the distance, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

In the past, because he was weaker, he had to tolerate many things.

But now, times have changed.

However, the Qingxuan Sect cannot be exposed to the sight of the three major families at the moment, and the matter of Liuye Town still needs to be carefully decided.