Chapter 432: Strike

The several hundred riders drew closer and gradually slowed. They stopped several dozen zhang from the city walls. The elite disciples of the three sects had finally arrived.

They could all see the closed city gates, the massed archers and crossbowmen on the walls, and the clusters of Tianyu Sect cultivators above them. Fei Changliu, Xia Hua, and Zheng Jiuxiao stood in a row at the front and exchanged glances. None showed any intention of forcing their way into the city. They could not possibly go to war with Tianyu Sect merely for the sake of meeting Shang Chaozong. If they had been capable of winning, perhaps it would have been another matter.

The problem was that even with all three sects combined, they were no match for Tianyu Sect. Their trip here was purely to answer to Niu Youdao. Niu Youdao had told them to come, so they had obediently come. If Tianyu Sect allowed them to meet Shang Chaozong, they would meet him. If Tianyu Sect refused, then they would not. They would absolutely not force the issue.

Later, if Niu Youdao asked, they could simply say Tianyu Sect had blocked them. Their strength was limited. They had wanted to see Shang Chaozong but could not. It was not that they had refused to obey. Niu Youdao told them to come, and they obediently came. Tianyu Sect told them not to meet Shang Chaozong, and they obediently refrained. To put it plainly, they wanted to offend neither side. That was the solution Fei Changliu, Xia Hua, and Zheng Jiuxiao had settled on together.

From the moment Niu Youdao suddenly sent word forcing them to come, the three realized he was about to make his move. He was going to wrestle with Tianyu Sect. Until the balance of victory and defeat became clearer, they would not easily throw themselves behind either side. It was not that they enjoyed being fence-sitters who turned whichever way the wind blew. The truth was that they did not want to offend either Tianyu Sect or Niu Youdao. They feared the former's strength and dreaded the latter's ability.

Caught between the two, they truly were in a difficult position. That was the sorrow of small sects dependent upon stronger powers. If they wanted to survive, there were times when dignity was a luxury they simply did not possess... Shounian entered the room, gave a brief report, then came back out.

He said to Feng Ruonan, who was waiting at the door, "Young Lady, Madam is waiting for you inside."

He extended a hand inviting her in, then withdrew first. Feng Ruonan crossed the threshold. Beyond a swaying bead curtain at one side of the room, she could see her mother standing in the inner chamber.

"Ruonan, come in," Peng Yulan called, her voice gentle and affectionate.

Feng Ruonan walked to the bead curtain and parted it with both hands. Mother and daughter met each other's eyes. Feng Ruonan looked noticeably more haggard than before. Peng Yulan's heart clenched fiercely. Was this still her heroic, valiant daughter? How had she become so lonely, so aggrieved, so worn down? For a moment, Peng Yulan felt a flash of self-reproach. But she quickly pushed the blame onto Shang Chaozong instead. They had already left Changping City peacefully.

Her side had been doing everything possible to preserve the young couple's lives. They could have stayed far from the struggle afterward, living peacefully without lacking food or clothing. Would that not have been good enough?

Why refuse to accept it?

Why come back to contend for power? Now Shang Chaozong was not only ruining his own life, he was ruining her daughter's entire future as well. Feng Ruonan stared quietly at her mother without saying a word.

"You don't look well. Haven't you been sleeping?" Peng Yulan stepped forward, cupped her daughter's face in both hands, and asked with affection.

Feng Ruonan raised a hand and pushed away her mother's caring hands.

"My own parents treat me like this, and my husband resents me because of it. How am I supposed to sleep?"

"Mother, do you know what it feels like when every day seems as long as a year?"

Peng Yulan forced a smile. "Ruonan, you're thinking too much."

"I'm not some sheltered young lady raised behind closed doors, knowing nothing about the outside world," Feng Ruonan replied.

"I know what is happening. You know perfectly well what all of you are doing."

"I understand what my parents and my husband are fighting over. In a chaotic age, power and circumstance drive people. I can understand that."

"But there is one thing I don't understand. You are my father and mother. Why are you doing this to me?"

Peng Yulan said, "Since you understand, then I won't explain further. Your husband used the Feng family to establish his footing. Afterward, he turned around and seized control of Guangyi Commandery from us. If he could make the first move, then we can answer him in kind. Neither side can blame the other."

Feng Ruonan shook her head sadly.

"He seized control of Guangyi Commandery, but did he harm a single member of the Feng family?"

"Whether because of the marriage between our families or because of Tianyu Sect, he never touched anyone in the Feng household, high or low."

"I thought that even if you won this time, you would treat him the way he treated the Feng family."

"He wronged the Feng family once. The Feng family wronged him once. At worst, the two sides would be even. That was why I said nothing. I accepted it."

"But why do you want to kill Meng Shanming?"

"Don't tell me you don't know the relationship and affection between Meng Shanming and those siblings."

"Don't tell me you kept Meng Shanming behind for any reason other than to kill him."

"If you kill Meng Shanming, then to those brother and sister, it will be no different from the hatred of having their own father murdered."

"What are you expecting me to do then? Have you ever thought about that?"

By the end, tears were sliding down her cheeks like pearls from a broken string.

"Don't cry. Mother knows we've made things difficult for you."

Peng Yulan's eyes reddened too. She took out a handkerchief and repeatedly wiped away her daughter's tears.

"You've misunderstood. Killing Meng Shanming was never our idea. It was Tianyu Sect's decision."

"Your father and I were powerless to stop it. You should understand that."

"Then what is happening now?" Feng Ruonan asked.

"Why were we brought back here and placed under house arrest again?"

"Has Tianyu Sect changed its mind and decided it won't spare Shang Chaozong either?"

She did not know how the situation outside had changed. Information had been sealed off from her as well. At that moment, a voice called from outside.

"Madam, my lord requests your presence!"

Peng Yulan's eyes flickered as she listened. Then she opened her arms and embraced her weeping daughter.

"It isn't what you think. Everything will be over soon."

"You won't have to be caught in the middle anymore. Very soon, it will all be over."

Her hand stroked Feng Ruonan's back, then slowly moved to the back of her neck. Without warning, Peng Yulan channeled spiritual power and pinched sharply. Feng Ruonan, still crying, rolled her eyes upward and collapsed unconscious into her mother's arms. Peng Yulan carried her to the couch and laid her down carefully. She straightened Feng Ruonan's body and wiped away the remaining tears from her face.

"Ruonan, this time the Feng family has wronged you."

"Once this is over, Mother promises I will never let you suffer another grievance."

"I promise you."

"It will all be over."

As she parted the bead curtain to leave, Peng Yulan looked back once more at Feng Ruonan lying peacefully on the couch. Then she let the curtain fall, lifted a sleeve to wipe the tears from her own eyes, straightened her clothes, restored her composure, and hurried away. When she reached the Government Affairs Hall, Feng Lingbo immediately strode over.

He lowered his voice. "Ruonan?"

Peng Yulan nodded. "I've settled her. She won't be dragged into the danger over there."

"Good." Feng Lingbo visibly relaxed, then continued without pause. "The people from the three sects have arrived. They're facing us outside the city. We act immediately. There's little time. Your side must move quickly."

"Good. The moment my signal reaches you, your people must move quickly as well."

"Don't worry. Everything on my side is ready. The instant your message arrives, we can finish this in one stroke."

After this brief exchange, husband and wife separated again. Feng Lingbo immediately summoned Feng Ruoyi, Feng Ruojie, Tao Yan, and Nong Changguang once more and made the final arrangements for the plot. After leaving the Government Affairs Hall, Peng Yulan headed straight for the neighboring residence and found Feng Entai.

Seeing her hurry toward him, Feng Entai stood inside a pavilion and asked, "Why such haste?"

Peng Yulan said, "Lingbo just received an urgent report from below. The three sects have other people secretly approaching the city. The activity around the south gate may only be meant to draw Tianyu Sect's attention. The three sects' intentions are unclear..."

Before long, Feng Entai led another large group of cultivators away in haste, heading toward the north and east gates to strengthen their defenses. Using the pretext of protecting Feng Lingbo's safety, Peng Yulan obtained Feng Entai's elder token, allowing her to direct Tianyu Sect's remaining disciples as one body. Feng Entai trusted that she would do everything possible to protect Feng Lingbo. He handed over the token without the slightest suspicion... At the nearby residence, Bai Yao flew onto a rooftop.

The movement from Feng Entai's side had alarmed them as well. After receiving a report from his fellow disciples, Bai Yao stood on the roof and watched Feng Entai and the others depart, doubt visible on his face. Before long, Peng Yulan arrived there too.

She deceived Bai Yao with the same story, describing the situation as urgent and even producing Feng Entai's elder token as proof of his command. Bai Yao had no room to refuse. He swiftly assembled his men and hurried toward the west gate to reinforce it. Afterward, Peng Yulan again used Feng Entai's token to gather the remaining cultivators from both residences. Under the pretext of conducting patrols, she personally led them away. That included Steward Shounian.

Peng Yulan knew perfectly well that the old steward was, in truth, one of her father's trusted men. Along the way, some people questioned the order. If they all left like this, would there not be a problem with Feng Lingbo's safety? Peng Yulan simply produced the token and suppressed every objection.

She told them not to ask unnecessary questions and personally kept watch over the Tianyu Sect disciples, refusing to allow anyone to go seek confirmation. And with that, every Tianyu Sect disciple stationed in the core guarded district of Changping City had been drawn away by Peng Yulan...

"Strike!"

At Feng Lingbo's order from the command center, part of the city garrison immediately began moving. Four separate forces rapidly closed on the residence where Shang Chaozong was being confined, approaching from four directions.

"Move aside!"

Leading one of the columns, Feng Ruoyi stopped at a street entrance blocked by anti-cavalry barricades and directly ordered the defending officer to clear the way. The officer stared in surprise.

"General, the Commander-in-Chief gave orders that no one is to enter this street without permission, so as not to disturb the cultivators' peace."

Even as he spoke, his eyes instinctively moved toward the soldiers behind Feng Ruoyi. They were well equipped. Every man carried a bow or crossbow.

Feng Ruoyi directly displayed Feng Lingbo's command arrow and shouted, "Do you intend to defy orders?"

The officer immediately broke into a nervous sweat and cupped his hands.

"Yes!"

He turned, waved sharply, and ordered his men to drag the barricades aside. Yuan Gang had climbed onto the courtyard wall again. He had personally watched cultivators leave the target residence in two successive groups, each heading in a different direction. He frowned, uncertain what exactly was happening. The courtyard gate opened. Yuan Feng hurried in carrying baskets on a shoulder pole.

"Boss, Feng Lingbo's garrison is moving strangely."

Yuan Gang had only just jumped down from the wall when the gate opened again. Niu Lin rushed inside carrying a shoulder pole as well.

"Abnormal troop movement!"

Before long, Yuan Huo and Niu Shan arrived one after another with the same report. Yuan Gang strode rapidly inside and spread the city map across the table. He questioned all four men about the directions in which the troops were moving. After sketching several routes, Yuan Gang finally took a charcoal stick and drew a circle around the residence where Shang Chaozong was confined. His expression turned exceptionally grave.

"Master Dao's concern was right. Feng Lingbo is about to move against His Highness."

"Even a cornered dog has to leap the wall."

[End of Chapter 432]