Chapter 476: Chapter 463: Wang Daozhong Appears Again in Miao Region
ssengers from all sides had passed information all day long, finally confirming that the first Quintet Alliance eting would take place on Sea Heart Pavilion in the southern part of Erhai.
By noon of the second day, Lei Zhentang led his people around the lake, heading straight for Sea Heart Pavilion.
When the grand gathering of the hundred clans took place under keen watchful eyes, he still needed a guise of “righteous cause,” making it hard to engage in overtly disgraceful acts. Thinking about assassination afterwards, people would be nowhere to be found, and he wouldn’t dare to send troops to attack their strongholds openly. While on the other side, n and won engaged in Dual Cultivation of swords, murmuring sweet nothings to each other for two days; here, Lei Zhentang had been so frustrated that he hadn’t slept well for two days.
However, there was still so room for maneuver in the Quintet Alliance eting since it, ultimately, belonged to the era of Martial Arts. Not to ntion Dao Qingfeng, who shared a deep-generation feud with them, Pan Wan and Xiang Sing could be potentially subdued with power… For instance, that old Master, certainly the most relied-upon “Sea God Needle” by Xiang Sing, could be abruptly killed by a single slash, wouldn’t Xiang Sing’s small clan of just a few hundred people have to bow their heads in submission?
Maybe there could even be a romantic conquest… Having never interacted with her before, he hadn’t realized just how beautiful this woman was, no wonder Lei Ao fancied her… She would be his eventually.
Just as he was half-way through his journey, a person in a Confucian robe and wide belt stood at seafront with hands behind his back, looking at the sea with a dignified deanor, indifferent to the approaching soldiers and horses.
Lei Zhentang’s heart missed a beat, and soon after, the voice of Wuding sounded from behind, “Why is Brother Daozhong here?”
The man turned his head, his expression cold and proud; it indeed was Wang Daozhong.
“Wang Daozhong” lightly brushed his robe, speaking indifferently, “I specifically ca to revisit old discussions with Brother Shi. The sword technique of Brother Shi three days ago had given much to ponder over these days, and I ca to verify.”
Wuding was quite surprised. Wang Daozhong had vanished after fleeing from Xizhou Town a few days ago, and amidst the big changes over these days, he had had no ti to search for him; unexpectedly, here he was showing up on his own.
Didn’t he know that his challenge was actually ant to capture him? Did he really think it was a swordsmanship challenge? Or did he believe he could actually defeat him?
Was this so kind of death wish or was he just foolish?
Wuding grew cautious, feeling that the Langya Wang Family couldn’t be so superficial, “Brother Wang, if you still wish to spar with , perhaps we can schedule it for another day as we have other pressing matters now.”
Wang Daozhong… That’s actually Zhao Changhe, who snorted coldly upon hearing this, “How long does a sparring take? Regardless of what you all are up to, let them go first, and after we’re done, you can just catch up, can’t you? Or does Brother Shi fear that he’s no match for , that he will be slain under my sword, having to seek the protection of the Miao people, shivering behind others?”
Wuding’s expression darkened, and he bowed to Lei Zhentang, “Clan Leader Lei, please go ahead first. I’ll follow soon.”
Lei Zhentang stared at Zhao Changhe for a long mont, not saying much, only cautioning, “Be careful, sir.”
As Wuding floated away, Zhao Changhe rapidly climbed the surrounding mountains with Wuding closely following. Lei Zhentang frowned watching them, feeling sothing about this situation seed off … Wang Daozhong’s timing was just too convenient.
anwhile, Wuding chased Zhao Changhe through the mountains, and Zhao Changhe suddenly stopped.
Wuding coldly said, “It seems Brother Wang has gained much from his seclusion these past few days? I indeed look forward to experiencing it.”
Zhao Changhe held his fists together, “On that night, Lei Ao sent assassins against , did Brother Shi know?”
Wuding was taken aback, “Why would they feel so confident to bypass and assassinate Brother Wang?”
Zhao Changhe replied, “Previously, I was a guest at their place and had their tea and wine, perhaps planting the roots of a curse there. They sure had the confidence… Fortunately, my Langya Wang Family has its own unique thods, otherwise, I truly would have been done for.”
Wuding furrowed his brow deeply, “I genuinely did not know about this.”
Zhao Changhe continued, “I guessed you didn’t know, Brother Shi, or you would have shown up that night instead of those worthless scoundrels.”
Wuding’s expression was visibly unpleasant.
He had already allied with the Black Miao, the whole sect supporting the Black Miao, but knowing that they intended to deal with Wang Daozhong and still went behind his back to assassinate him without informing him implied…
Zhao Changhe calmly said, “I feel there’s a problem here, Brother Shi, if you’re unwilling to be manipulated like a fool, it might be better for us to lay it all out and talk.”
Wuding slowly said, “What are your thoughts?”
Zhao Changhe asked, “Brother Shi and I had no grievances in the past, right?”
Wuding replied, “Correct.”
“So Brother Shi’s sudden challenge to couldn’t really have been for the thrill of the hunt, could it?”
Wuding remained silent.
Zhao Changhe said, “After thinking it over from all angles, there’s only one reason: my Langya intends to purge the emperor’s side, a fact well-known across the realm. And Brother Shi does not wish to conform, hence the intent to capture ? Or perhaps soone else hired you to try to take ?”
Wuding sighed, “Pretty much.”
“So, Brother Shi’s actions against are unrelated to the affairs of Miao Region?”
“They are unrelated. If there is a connection, it’s only that I’d prefer not to see a powerful variable erge here, chasing it off would be optimal.” Wuding asked, “Brother Wang, appearing here, what exactly are your intentions?”
Zhao Changhe replied, “You know my Wang Family wants to purge the emperor’s side. The Black Miao and His Majesty share a deep hatred, is it odd for to connect with the Black Miao? Do you think I would directly contact Lei Ao?”
Wuding thought it over, finding it logical, and thus remained silent.
Zhao Changhe continued, “So this is what I can’t understand… The Black Miao clearly wants to rebel; you mixing with them apparently indicates the sa, but you trying to capture while acting like a loyal official… What does this an?”
Wuding was silent for a mont, then slowly said, “Although I am flowing with the Black Miao, it doesn’t an our interests are completely aligned.”
“Oh?” Zhao Changhe curiously asked, “Could you clarify?”
“Does it matter whether they rebel or not to ? We swordsn co only to seek the Sword Dao,” Wuding said. “I cannot disclose specifics to Brother Wang, but I unexpectedly made contact with the Black Miao and acquired a sword technique that could help break through my Sword Dao bottleneck. However, the technique is incomplete, and I still need to find a core thod. Our cooperation with the Black Miao was solely for this purpose…”
“Surely there’s more to it, right?” Zhao Changhe said. “Given the fragnted state of Miao Region, and their particularly unfriendly attitude towards Xia people, it must be incredibly difficult for you to find what you need. Might as well cooperate with the Black Miao to unify Miao Region—would that not make things much easier afterward?”
Wuding did not answer, tacitly agreeing to this point.
What sword technique—it was nothing but the Sword Slave Skill. This technique, ostensibly a type of Gu Technique, seed irrelevant to the cultivation of Sword Dao to Zhao Changhe. Each person has their own path; perhaps, for Wuding, it genuinely offered so aid. Anyway, the causes and effects were pretty much tied together, and the rationale behind the Black Miao possibly backstabbing Wuding to assassinate Wang Daozhong could also be roughly deduced…
“Brother Shi, if the Black Miao truly intend to rebel, seeing soone like arriving here, they should be happy to deal with rather than having reason to kill . What if it’s possible that they don’t actually want to rebel? Or perhaps, whatever they intend to do is more pivotal than initiating a rebellion, and they’d rather kill to avoid involving a major Central Plains power?”
“If that’s the case, why would they hide it from ?” Wuding pondered aloud.
“Then there’s only one possibility…” Zhao Changhe began, then suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
Considering all known clues, there was but one possibility: they felt that if Wuding got his hands on Wang Daozhong, there’d be no need for their cooperation.
In other words, the so-called Great Success of the Sword Slave Skill and the core thod weren’t actually necessary to find. By simply obtaining an Earth List-level Sword Slave, Wuding might achieve Great Success… They still needed Wuding’s cooperation to unify Miao Region and wouldn’t let him obtain Wang Daozhong and complete his Sword Slave cultivation too soon. So they simply opted for killing him.
Wuding also realized this layer of thought, his expression fluctuating uncertainly.
Firstly, this proved that the Black Miao did not genuinely want to cooperate with him. If they were obstructing his path of Sword Dao now, would they really help him once he succeeded?
Secondly, it also proved that if, at this mont, he really took down Wang Daozhong, perhaps it would all be over…
Zhao Changhe took a half step back, expressionless, thinking to himself, “Damn it…”
Seeing Zhao Changhe’s expression, Wuding, with a face like a dead man, suddenly revealed an ugly smile. “Why must you react like this, Brother Wang?”
Zhao Changhe, fully alert, blandly said, “Although Brother Shi is stronger than , and I am prepared, it might not be easy for you to capture … But Miao Region has another Earth List mber, perhaps less wary of you. Should you consider this option?”
Wuding squinted his eyes.
Here was a man who, for the sake of the Sword Dao, cared nothing for anything else. Zhao Changhe concluded in his mind.
Not just an ally—he might even kill his own father.
Was this the reason why Han Wubing and Sword Pavilion went their separate ways? Different paths.
Far away in Fengyi Town, Lei Zhentang suddenly shivered from an unknown cause.
At that mont, he was sitting cross-legged in the Sea Heart Pavilion, where soone in the center was grilling at and distributing wine. Five clans were sitting around the pavilion, each bringing only a few guards.
Lei Zhentang cursed his bad luck. Everyone had brought only a handful of people to the eting, and bringing along a person like Wuding added to the oppressive atmosphere, making it easy to launch a surprise attack to kill the elder and intimidate Xiang Sing. However, unexpectedly, Wuding was intercepted by Wang Daozhong halfway, leaving Lei Zhentang sowhat restless, not knowing what kind of spark would erupt between them.
Seeing the oppressive atmosphere significantly reduced here, he was relieved that Xiang Sing’s Left and Right Guardians were also one fewer, with the elder unexpectedly absent. It turned out that the inconspicuous ugly woman guardian was standing behind them.
You, a minor mber of the Spirit Clan, having one strong elder like Elder Shi is already remarkable. Want two?
Thinking this, Lei Zhentang said aloud, “This assembly’s first agenda is how to deal with the Xia people within our territories. Our clan’s stance is to eradicate them all. What are your thoughts?”
Before anyone else could speak, Sisi softly said, “The Spirit Clan does not…”
Lei Zhentang thought, “Good response,” as he glared with eyes that had been harboring anger for a long ti, and an overwhelming pressure from the Earth List bore down on Sisi, as if locking even her soul in place.
Under normal circumstances, this girl should panic, shaking like a sieve, unable to even speak.
However, Xiang Sing did not struggle as expected; though her face was sowhat stiff, a faint smile remained.
The ugly woman guardian silently stepped forward half a step, easing Sisi’s pressure and smoothly continuing, “…disagree.”
Lei Zhentang flew into a rage, “This is a clan leaders’ eting; what business do you maids have here? Get out!”
At his words, a thunderous palm strike aid at the ugly woman ahead of Sisi, intending to kill instantly and intimidate everyone present.
Yet, the ugly woman did not dodge. Turning her finger into a sword, she thrust it directly at the heart of Lei Zhentang’s palm.
At the contact of finger and palm, the ugly woman couldn’t withstand the attack, grunting and stumbling back into Sisi; but Lei Zhentang was hardly better off, his palm pierced as if by a sword, the Sword Qi stirring painfully almost causing him to cry out.
Sisi angrily rose, “Clan Leader Lei, venting your anger on our people, isn’t that misdirected?”
Dao Qingfeng, Pan Wan, and others stood up, faces livid. Lei Zhentang managed a forced smile, “Couldn’t control my temper… What’s the na of this Spirit Clan protector?”
Standing firmly, straight as a sword, the ugly woman introduced herself, “Spirit Clan protector Sifu Ren, at your service, Clan Leader Lei.”
Lei Zhentang’s face flooded with suspicion. What was going on with the Spirit Clan… An odd na was manageable—there were many with odd nas among the clans—but with Elder Shi gone, this Sifu Ren seed even stronger than Elder Shi. Were all those of the Spirit Clan with the surna Shi this powerful?
Unseen by Lei Zhentang, behind the ugly woman protector, Sisi gritted her teeth, almost kicking her protector to death.
One wants to play the lord; one the lady; am I supposed to be just the maid opening doors for you?
————
PS: Last few days, let’s get those monthly tickets~
Reviews
All reviews (0)