Li Wei and his team approached the outskirts of the village under the cover of night. The plan was clear: arrest Daoist Chen and Chu Li for questioning. The air was tense, and every sound of rustling leaves seemed louder in the quiet of the evening. They had to act quickly before the two villains made their escape.
As they approached the small house where Daoist Chen was staying, Li Wei's face was hidden behind a plain mask. His small crossbow was strapped to his side, ready. His heart beat steadily, his mind calm as always. He wasn't here for glory—just to get the job done.
Chen Wei's team had positioned themselves around the house, prepared for anything. When they entered, Daoist Chen greeted them with his usual calm demeanor, but Li Wei didn't miss the flicker of recognition in his eyes. Daoist Chen knew something was wrong.
"Daoist Chen," Li Wei said, stepping forward. "We're here to take you in for questioning."
For a moment, there was silence. Then, without warning, Daoist Chen moved. His hand shot forward, aiming a strike at Li Wei's chest. But Li Wei had been prepared. As the blow landed, it barely fazed him—the mask he wore was reinforced, and beneath his robes, his armor absorbed the impact.
Without hesitation, Li Wei drew his small crossbow and fired. The bolt flew straight, hitting Daoist Chen in the shoulder. The priest staggered back, his serene face now twisted in pain.
"Get him!" Zhao Jun shouted from the back of the room, but Daoist Chen was already running, disappearing into the thick woods surrounding the village.
Li Wei gave chase, reloading his crossbow as he darted through the trees. It wasn't easy. The dense jungle slowed him down, and every shot he fired missed as both he and Daoist Chen moved swiftly through the undergrowth. His eyes stayed focused, his breathing controlled, but four bolts missed their mark.
On the fifth try, the bolt finally struck true. Daoist Chen let out a cry of pain as he collapsed, falling into a clearing just ahead. Li Wei approached slowly, his crossbow still raised. Daoist Chen lay there, breathing heavily, blood pooling beneath him. The chase was over.
Around 1 km farther from where Daoist Chen fell, Li Wei noticed the entrance to a small cave as he explored the reason why Daoist Chen was running toward the cav . He paused, glancing at the cave's dark opening. It seemed as though the priest had been heading there for a reason. But Li Wei didn't enter. He had learned long ago not to rush into places unprepared. 'perhaps he wanted to kill me using traps laid there' he thought to himself.
Back in the village, Chen Wei's team had successfully captured Chu Li. They brought him back to the village center for questioning. Early the next morning, the truth behind their actions came to light.
"We just wanted to retire here," Chu Li confessed, his face pale but defiant. "We planned to break through to the 2nd-rate level by draining a few villagers' blood. We thought once we reached that level, we'd live the rest of our lives in power, hidden away in the mountains."
Li Wei stood quietly, listening as Chu Li spoke. His calm gaze never wavered. Chu Li continued, his tone bitter. "We didn't expect this. In villages like these, people usually blame spirits for the murders. We thought no one would investigate this deeply. We... miscalculated."
Li Wei said nothing, only watching as the words sank in for Chu Li. The man had clearly underestimated the situation, thinking they could hide their crimes behind superstition and fear.
Later, after Chu Li was taken into custody, Li Wei returned to the cave he had found earlier. This time, he explored it carefully. Inside, he found an old chest, covered in dust. Among the contents, Li Wei discovered a small, well-preserved manual.
He opened it briefly and read the title: 100 Poison Immunity Manual. Without a second thought, he pocketed it, keeping it for himself. It wasn't something that needed to be shared with others.
Upon returning to Longjiang, Li Wei received 10 merit points for capturing a member of the infamous 1000 Poison Sect. These points were valuable—equivalent to ten years of service in the town guard. It was a good reward, and Li Wei gladly accepted it.