Record of a Demon's Cultivation Chapter 1262: Tailing

"Enter!" Song Wen commanded with a deep tone. "I have a few questions for you. I harbor no ulterior motives."

Apparently intimidated by Song Wen's stern voice, the maidservant trembled uncontrollably, relinquishing all thoughts of resistance as she entered the courtyard.

Song Wen lifted his hand, pointing towards the courtyard's entrance. The gate slammed shut, activating the inherent restrictive formation within the courtyard.

With a flip of his hand, he produced a hundred high-grade spirit stones, which then floated towards the maidservant.

As the spirit stones drew nearer, the maidservant's previous apprehension completely dissipated, replaced by a fervent avarice glinting in her eyes.

Could a mere cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage remain indifferent to a hundred high-grade spirit stones?

"Senior, this junior will serve you diligently," she proclaimed, fumbling to loosen the sash around her waist.

Song Wen's expression grew even more somber, darkening to a chilling depth akin to a sunless, abyssal pool.

"Stop!" he interjected sharply. "I told you, I have no ulterior motives. Answer my questions, and these spirit stones are yours."

The maidservant's hands halted their motion. She gazed up at Song Wen, a flicker of bewilderment on her face.

"Before I entered the shop, did three male cultivators arrive before me?" Song Wen inquired.

"Yes!" the maidservant affirmed with a nod.

"In which courtyard are they currently residing?" he pressed further.

"Courtyard No. 37," she responded.

"Have they been staying here for a considerable duration, or did they just check in today?" Song Wen inquired.

"They have been here for half a month," the maidservant replied.

Song Wen gestured with his hand, and the spirit stones descended.

The maidservant hastily spread her hands, catching each one individually.

"Thank you, Senior!" she exclaimed, gleefully tucking the spirit stones into her storage pouch.

"You may depart now. Remember, do not utter a word of this conversation to anyone," Song Wen cautioned.

As he finished speaking, the courtyard gate creaked open.

"This junior takes her leave," the maidservant said, offering a bow before turning to depart.

However, just as she stepped through the courtyard gate, she paused, glanced back, and asked, "Senior, do you truly require no service?"

"No!" Song Wen replied frigidly.

The maidservant shook her head in disappointment and continued on her way.

Once she had vanished from sight, Song Wen resealed the courtyard gate.

He harbored concerns that the maidservant might divulged his inquiries about Jing Bei and his companions, potentially reaching their ears and consequently exposing his true identity. This identity was now precarious, and he could no longer remain in this particular courtyard.

Song Wen donned a cloak and a steel mask.

Under this disguise, only cultivators at the Body Integration Stage or higher would possess the ability to see through the cloak and mask to ascertain his genuine appearance.

Cultivators at the Body Integration Stage were not commonplace; it was highly improbable that this inn would house any.

Song Wen unlatched the courtyard gate and strode out of the inn.

It is noteworthy that he had not formally checked out of the courtyard.

Consequently, no one at the inn was aware that the Nascent Soul Stage cultivator who had recently checked in had already quietly departed.

Song Wen ascended into the sky and rapidly exited Great Tan City.

After traversing a distance exceeding ten thousand miles, he alighted in a dense forest.

Casting aside his cloak and mask, he proceeded to alter his appearance once more.

Soon thereafter, a young cultivator in the mid-stage of the Divine Transformation Stage emerged from the forest, heading back towards Great Tan City.

Upon his return to Great Tan City, Song Wen checked back into the identical inn, specifically selecting Courtyard No. 36, which was separated from Jing Bei and his companions' Courtyard No. 37 by a mere ten-zhang expanse of open space.

Entering the courtyard, Song Wen opted not to enter the house. Instead, he settled himself at the stone table situated within the courtyard.

He remained in this position for the entirety of the night.

The following morning, stirrings of activity finally emanated from Courtyard No. 37.

Jing Bei emerged, opening the courtyard gate and stepping outside.

However, Fu Hongwen and Fu Kaiyu were conspicuously absent.

Jing Bei stood at the gate, casting furtive glances around before floating out of the inn.

Song Wen found this conduct peculiar. Jing Bei's guarded movements gave him the impression of someone burdened by a guilty conscience.

Nonetheless, it was understandable for a core disciple of the Divine Blood Gate to exhibit unease when appearing openly within Great Tan City.

Song Wen remained seated on the stone bench, refraining from immediately pursuing Jing Bei.

Fu Hongwen and Fu Kaiyu were still within the courtyard, and Jing Bei might soon return.

Furthermore, should Song Wen depart immediately after Jing Bei, it would readily trigger the suspicions of Fu Hongwen and Fu Kaiyu.

As Song Wen had anticipated, Jing Bei returned to Courtyard No. 37 as the sun began its descent.

Over the subsequent two days, Jing Bei departed each morning at an early hour and returned late in the evening.

Song Wen found himself pondering incessantly about Jing Bei's destinations and activities.

The next morning, Song Wen departed from the inn ahead of Jing Bei, crossing the thoroughfare to a nearby restaurant.

Responding to the waiter, Song Wen selected a window seat with a view of the street, ordered several dishes, and commenced his meal while keeping an eye on the inn’s entrance across the way.

Roughly fifteen minutes later, Jing Bei materialized from the inn, melting into the throng of people. He ambled along, embodying the image of an unburdened wanderer.

Song Wen beckoned a servant, settled the payment, and exited the restaurant, maintaining a careful distance behind Jing Bei.

Initially, he had been convinced that Jing Bei’s excursion would be for a matter of great urgency.

Nevertheless, Jing Bei behaved like a rogue cultivator encountering civilization for the first time, browsing every type of establishment—herb shops, mystic treasure emporiums, opulent dining halls, and even houses of ill repute. He even paused to inspect wares displayed at roadside stalls.

To elude detection, Song Wen continuously altered his appearance. Following the fifth transformation, his intrigue waned, and he decided to return to Courtyard No. 36 at the inn, abandoning the tail.

Having garnered no useful information that day, he couldn’t help but ponder if the various shops Jing Bei had patronized held some concealed significance.

In the ensuing days, Song Wen ceased his surveillance and remained dutifully within the confines of the courtyard.

Given that Jing Bei returned to Courtyard No. 37 each day, there had to be an underlying purpose. Fu Hongwen and Fu Kaiyu evidently possessed a certain value in his eyes.

By keeping these two under observation, Song Wen felt assured that Jing Bei would not find an opportunity to escape.

Time passed with agonizing slowness.

In what felt like the blink of an eye, Song Wen had resided at the inn for a fortnight.

One evening, Jing Bei had not yet returned, but Fu Kaiyu exited his courtyard and departed from the inn premises.

Song Wen abandoned his vigil and followed suit, leaving the inn himself.

Fu Hongwen remained within the inn; however, as a mere Nascent Soul cultivator, he would undoubtedly be disadvantaged if Jing Bei and Fu Kaiyu made any significant moves. Transporting him would only serve as a liability.

Observing Fu Kaiyu’s departing form ascending into the heavens, a sharp glint flickered within Song Wen’s eyes.

Gauging his trajectory, Fu Kaiyu appeared to be heading outside the city walls.

Song Wen ascended into the sky, selecting a route slightly divergent from Fu Kaiyu’s path, yet maintaining his focus steadfastly upon the latter.

Less than a thousand miles beyond the city’s perimeter, Jing Bei materialized as if from thin air and rejoined Fu Kaiyu.

Without any hesitation, the pair pressed onward, their escape lights accelerating in unison toward the same destination.

Song Wen suddenly apprehended that their intended destination was Cultivation Sun City, the ancestral seat of the Fu Clan.

Now cognizant of their objective, Song Wen relinquished his pursuit and instead increased his speed to its maximum, resolving to intercept them further along their route.

(End of the Chapter)

---------------------------------------------------------

Continue Reading (𝙍𝘿𝘾) on CinderTL• ⓒⓞⓜ

Read Ahead to Ch1536 • 𝕱𝖗𝖊𝖊 𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖘 • No Login

---------------------------------------------------------