PCJ – Chapter 561 Danger Approaches

Although he had received definite news that his parents were safe, Zhang Jiaohua still couldn’t feel at ease. Previously, Hua Shaobo had said he sent people to Xintian County. Zhang Jiaohua didn’t believe Hua Shaobo did that merely to investigate his background. It was undoubtedly an attempt to use his parents to threaten him.

The current calm in Meizi’ao didn’t mean everything was fine. The people Hua Shaobo sent could arrive in Meizi’ao at any moment and take action. Especially since Hua Shaobo had been killed by Zhang Jiaohua, Hua Zhaoyang would eventually find out. Even if he couldn’t locate Hua Shaobo, he would blame everything on Zhang Jiaohua. If Hua Zhaoyang gave those agents a new order, Zhang Jiaohua’s parents would be in grave danger. After all, they were just ordinary people.

Zhang Jiaohua was filled with anxiety, his mind frantically searching for a solution. Even by plane, flying from the capital to Meizi’ao would take several hours. Not to mention that you can’t just board a plane at will, and planes couldn’t land in Meizi’ao directly. But among modern transportation, was there anything faster than an airplane?

Suddenly, Zhang Jiaohua recalled a term he’d seen as a child — “Shrinking the Earth into Inches.” If he could perform that, couldn’t he return to Meizi’ao almost instantly? But in all the inheritance he had received and the Taoist arts he knew, he had never come across such a technique.

“Five-Ghost Transport Technique?” Another idea came to him. But it still wasn’t fast enough. Even at maximum capacity, that technique was only about as fast as a plane — not enough to return home quickly.

Zhang Jiaohua was pacing with anxiety. The more anxious he got, the harder it became to think clearly. In desperation, he entered his cultivation diagram.

Meanwhile, within the Xiyun Sect, Hua Zhaoyang was feeling uneasy, as if something bad had happened.

“Where’s the young master? I haven’t seen him all day,” Hua Zhaoyang suddenly asked his steward.

“The young master went to the city yesterday. He said he wanted to investigate that cultivator Zhang.”

Hua Zhaoyang was alarmed. “Why didn’t he tell me?”

“At the time, the sect leader was entertaining Young Master Liang from the Kunlun Sect, so the young master didn’t report it.”

“Quick, contact Shaobo immediately and tell him to come back at once. That Zhang may be young, but his abilities are no joke. Shaobo going up against him is dangerous.”

Soon after, the steward returned with bad news: “Young master’s phone won’t connect. Neither will any of his companions’.”

“Damn it!” Hua Zhaoyang’s heart turned cold.

Now he understood the source of his unease.

“Quick, start contacting everyone! I must know what the young master has been doing these past two days!” Hua Zhaoyang was becoming increasingly agitated. Though he had more than one son, Hua Shaobo was his favorite — the most talented and shrewd of them all, and the ideal successor.

“The young master sent people to Xintian County to dig into Zhang Jiaohua’s background. Then this afternoon, all contact was lost.” The steward soon returned with confirmation.

Hua Zhaoyang slumped into a chair. Now he understood why Zhang Jiaohua had lashed out so ruthlessly. His son had broken one of the greatest taboos in the cultivation world — he had tried to use a cultivator’s family against him.

But Hua Zhaoyang didn’t think Zhang Jiaohua’s response was justified. Shaobo was his most beloved son. Now that someone had killed him, Hua Zhaoyang would definitely take revenge!

“Have they found Zhang Jiaohua’s parents?” he asked.

“They’re still en route,” replied the steward.

“When they get there, have them kill Zhang Jiaohua’s parents immediately,” Hua Zhaoyang said viciously.

After a long bumpy ride on the long-distance bus from the provincial capital, the vehicle finally stopped at the Xintian County Bus Station. Two well-dressed young men stepped off — the ones sent by Hua Shaobo to investigate Zhang Jiaohua’s background.

“Uncle, we’ve arrived at Xintian County,” said a man named Hua Yukun, dialing the steward’s number.

The steward gave his orders in a low tone: “Find Zhang Jiaohua’s parents and eliminate them.”

Hua Yukun paused for a moment, then answered, “Understood.”

Seeing the change in his expression, fellow cultivator Hua Tianpeng asked, “What’s wrong?”

“I’m not sure. The sect leader himself has ordered us to kill Zhang Jiaohua’s family,” Hua Yukun replied.

“What happened?” Hua Tianpeng asked, puzzled.

“I don’t know. That’s just what the steward said,” Hua Yukun replied.

“Then there’s no need to ask. Killing a few people is nothing new for us cultivators,” said Hua Tianpeng indifferently.

They hailed a taxi. Hua Yukun handed the driver the address.

“Oh, that place? I can only drop you at the gate. The tea factory has really strict access. Who are you visiting?” the driver asked, glancing back at them.

“We have a friend who works at the tea factory — Zhang Jiaohua. He’s studying in the capital now. We’re old classmates. He asked us to bring something to his family,” Hua Yukun answered smoothly.

“The tea factory’s a great place. Your friend must be doing well. Their benefits are even better than the government’s,” the chatty driver said as they arrived. “We’re here.”

At the factory gate, Hua Yukun knocked on the guardroom door and entered.

“What are you doing? The tea factory isn’t open to visitors,” the old guard said, glancing outside.

“Our friend works here — Zhang Jiaohua. He’s studying in the capital. We’re quite close. We’re here on a business trip, and he asked us to bring something for his family,” said Hua Yukun.

“Really friends with Zhang Jiaohua? Did he tell you where to find his parents?” the guard asked.

“Not exactly. He just gave us a phone number, but we lost our phone on the way and can’t contact him now,” said Hua Yukun.

“Then there’s nothing I can do. Zhang rarely comes here, and I don’t have his number — I’m just a gatekeeper. You’d better call Beijing. Otherwise, there’s really no way to find him,” the old guard said calmly, clearly brushing them off.

So, Hua Yukun and Hua Tianpeng wandered around Xintian County, asking questions until they learned that Zhang Youping (Zhang Jiaohua’s father) usually stayed in his hometown, Meizi’ao. They immediately hired a private car and headed straight for Meizi’ao.