Chapter 1532: Can’t Drag It Out Any Longer

A great war was imminent and plainly could no longer be avoided. Visitors came to Qiyun Sect: Lan Daolin and Du Wuxu arrived together once again.

The two waited for quite some time before Wu Chang finally appeared at his leisure.

In truth, Wu Chang had no desire whatsoever to see them. They had sent messages earlier summoning him to a meeting, but he had found excuses to refuse. This time they had come to his door again, and he could no longer avoid them.

The moment they met, Lan Daolin spoke without the slightest courtesy. “Wu Chang, you haven’t been deliberately hiding from us, have you?”

Wu Chang turned his head and fixed him with a heavy stare. “Hiding? Why would I need to hide from you? If I truly wanted to hide, could you find me?”

Du Wuxu swept one large hand. None of them had come to waste time bickering. Signaling for the two to stop, he spoke directly. “Wu Chang, didn’t you say Shang Chaozong was your man?”

Wu Chang shifted his cold gaze to him. “What are you trying to do?”

“It isn’t what I’m trying to do. Jin’s eastern campaign is about to begin, and Shang Chaozong is gathering troops on a massive scale to resist it. Don’t you think you owe us an explanation?”

“You came here just for this?”

Lan Daolin said, “The way Shang Chaozong is gathering Yan’s forces does not look like an act.”

Wu Chang said, “Does this even need explaining? If he doesn’t respond actively, how is he supposed to answer to Yan’s Three Great Sects? I said Yan would lose, and naturally he will allow Yan to fall. But if he makes it too obvious, do you think Yan’s Three Great Sects will still let him command the war? Even defeat has to be handled with method and timing. Don’t tell me you can’t understand something this simple.”

Lan Daolin said, “It isn’t that we don’t understand. It’s that we can no longer understand you. You are the one making us uneasy. You had better not be playing tricks on us!”

Wu Chang immediately met him head-on, his voice ringing hard. “And what if I am?”

Lan Daolin’s face instantly turned murderous. Wu Chang yielded not an inch. For a moment, the two looked ready to come to blows on the spot.

Du Wuxu said nothing. He merely watched coldly from the side, as though perfectly willing to let the two fight.

In the end, however, the two were only trading threats. They had fought more than once before. If they truly attacked each other, neither could do anything to the other. There was no point.

With the conversation at an impasse, staying any longer would serve no purpose. Lan Daolin gave a cold snort, flung his sleeve, and left. His attitude could not have been clearer: try playing tricks and see what happens.

After sending the two away, Wu Chang turned and stared at Hei Shi standing nearby.

Hei Shi immediately approached in silence and waited for orders.

Wu Chang said indifferently, “It has been this long. Has that Zhao Ting still made no further move toward you?”

Hei Shi answered carefully, “No. Since that encounter, he has not contacted this subordinate again.”

Wu Chang’s voice sank. “When you dealt with him before, did you say something you shouldn’t have and startle the snake by beating the grass?”

Hei Shi hurriedly said, “Sacred Venerable sees clearly. This subordinate was cautious from beginning to end and absolutely said nothing improper. Maolu Villa’s contact with Zhao Ting is also under our control. The two sides have remained in communication, and we have not alerted them. Maolu Villa is simply extremely cautious and is clearly still observing this subordinate.”

“Observing for this long? Those people are being too cautious.”

“They don’t have certainty either. With a matter like this, it’s understandable that they would be careful.”

Wu Chang asked, “And there has been no change in the contact with Si Shaodong or Qing Jiu?”

“Same as with me. There has been no further reaction. They should both still be under Maolu Villa’s cautious observation. Judging by Maolu Villa’s behavior, there will probably be further tests. Without absolute confidence, I doubt they will act lightly.”

Wu Chang turned his gaze toward the distance, his long hair stirring in the wind. “But I can’t wait any longer. Those two old ghosts came to my door in person. Faced with Jin’s offensive, can I tell Shang Chaozong to resist passively? Nor can I tell Jin to stop attacking. The moment those two old ghosts become suspicious, all our work will have been for nothing... Make your move.”

Hei Shi was startled. He did not understand the final sentence. Tentatively, he asked, “Make my move?”

“We can’t drag this out any longer. Maolu Villa helped Shang Chaozong rise to power and thinks Yan and Han joining forces will be enough to resist Jin for a while, so they have all the patience in the world to proceed slowly. What they don’t know is what has happened between us and those two old ghosts. We can’t keep waiting. At the pace they’re moving, who knows how long it will take before they act against those two?”

He turned back and stared at Hei Shi. “Secretly take Zhao Ting under control.”

Hei Shi was slightly alarmed. “Sacred Venerable, acting against Zhao Ting probably won’t accomplish much.”

Wu Chang’s tone brooked no argument. “Do it. I have my own plan.”

Since he had put it that way, what else could Hei Shi say? He cupped his hands and accepted the order. “Yes!”

...

In the valley at night, Zhao Ting once again caught the scent of wine. Following it, just as expected, he saw Hei Shi sitting alone in the pine tree, drinking gloomily.

Zhao Ting merely approached and observed for a moment. He did not disturb him and quietly turned to leave.

Hei Shi cursed inwardly. Turning his head, he seemed to mumble drunkenly, “Come here.”

Zhao Ting froze and looked back. Seeing Hei Shi’s bleary eyes fixed on him, he confirmed that the words had indeed been directed at him. He immediately went over and saluted. “Elder.”

“Come with me.” Hei Shi spoke drunkenly, drifted down from the tree, and descended toward the bottom of the valley.

Zhao Ting hesitated, but he did not dare disobey. In the end, he too flew down and followed.

He landed at the bottom of the valley where the moonlight could not reach. There he saw Hei Shi—and another man who had appeared beside him. Long hair hung loose over the newcomer’s shoulders, his upper body bare, his presence oppressive. Who else could it be but Wu Chang?

Zhao Ting was badly startled. He hurried forward and saluted. “Greetings, Sacred Venerable!”

For a long while, no answer came. Zhao Ting furtively lifted his eyes, only to find the powerfully built Wu Chang staring at him coldly. Frightened, he immediately lowered his head again in panic. Countless fearful thoughts raced through his mind. He had no idea why Hei Shi had brought him to see Wu Chang.

Hei Shi himself was likewise full of questions. He could not understand why Wu Chang had personally come out to deal with Zhao Ting.

The scene remained silent for a while before Wu Chang finally spoke.

“Who sent you to probe Hei Shi?”

The moment those words fell, Zhao Ting felt his courage shatter. He jerked his head up, terror filling his face...

...

Evening clouds glowed over a wild mountain lake, the surface glittering with reflected light.

Disguised and dressed in ordinary clothes, Zhao Ting landed by the lakeshore. Looking left and right, he walked to a large boulder among the wild grass, casually plucked a weed, and inserted it into a crack in the stone. Then he remained beside the boulder and waited in silence. No one knew the fear in his heart.

After quite some time, ripples appeared along the lakeshore. Someone rose from the water and walked toward him step by step.

Facing the newcomer, Zhao Ting formed a hand sign. The other man crossed his fingers and returned a corresponding sign. Only then did the two relax enough to approach and meet.

“Weren’t you told that if something happened, you only needed to leave a secret letter at the designated place? What was so urgent that you had to meet in person?” The newcomer’s tone carried displeasure.

Zhao Ting suddenly looked behind him as though he had seen something.

The newcomer instantly grew alert and snapped his head around.

Zhao Ting took advantage of the moment to flash away and flee at full speed.

The newcomer reacted and turned back. Clearly realizing something was wrong, he ignored the escaping Zhao Ting and shot toward the lake, plunging swiftly into the water.

A figure tore out of the forest with a whoosh. It was Wu Chang himself. He followed directly into the lake.

Zhao Ting, meanwhile, landed beside Hei Shi, who had walked unhurriedly out of the forest. Zhao Ting staggered slightly, as though that desperate escape had exhausted the last of his strength. There was a pleading note in his voice. “Elder... the antidote.”

Hei Shi said calmly, “Once we confirm you didn’t play any tricks, you’ll naturally receive it.”

The words had only just left his mouth when a violent roar came from the lake. A vast expanse of water exploded upward.

Both men turned to look. Hei Shi was somewhat surprised. The fugitive could actually exchange blows with the Sacred Venerable?

The enormous lake churned as though rivers and seas had been overturned within it. Only after a prolonged burst of violent commotion did a figure finally shoot from the water.

Wu Chang flashed back and landed, carrying a man soaked like a drowned chicken in one hand.

Blood ran from the man’s mouth and nose. Wu Chang tore away the false face with one hand, revealing his true appearance. The captive was breathing heavily as he stared at Zhao Ting.

Zhao Ting’s eyes were full of bleakness. Things had already reached this point. He could no longer worry about anything else.

Wu Chang said, “A Nascent Soul cultivator. Who is he?” It was unclear whom he was asking.

The fact that the man had been able to exchange blows with Wu Chang had already made Hei Shi suspect he was at the Nascent Soul Realm. Now that Wu Chang had confirmed it and Hei Shi could see the face clearly, he blurted out, “Zhuge Chi? This subordinate has seen the portrait drawn from the villagers’ descriptions. There’s no mistake. It’s him.”

“So you are Zhuge Chi?” Wu Chang was somewhat surprised.

Indeed, the man in his grasp was Zhuge Chi. Breathing hard, he said nothing, neither admitting nor denying it.

Wu Chang suddenly struck Zhuge Chi’s shoulder with a palm and released him at the same time.

Zhuge Chi staggered back two steps and looked somewhat surprised. Wu Chang had actually removed the restraint on his body.

Wu Chang stared at him. “You dared infiltrate all the way to my side. You have courage. I know this wasn’t your work alone. There is a group behind you. I also know what you want to do. I won’t kill you. Take that as proof of my sincerity. Go back and discuss this with the others. Tell them I have a way to eliminate Lan Daolin and Du Wuxu, but I need your cooperation. Someone will remain here waiting for your reply. Once you’ve discussed it, send someone to negotiate with me.”

Hei Shi stared in surprise, unable to understand what Wu Chang intended.

Zhuge Chi backed away warily. Once he confirmed that Wu Chang truly meant to let him leave, he flashed away at once.

Only after Zhuge Chi had completely disappeared did Hei Shi ask suspiciously, “Sacred Venerable, after you do this, will they really send someone here?”

Wu Chang’s gaze was dark and cold. “They will. Those people are highly ambitious. Even if they don’t want to cooperate, they will still want to know what I intend. They’ll send someone.” With that, he flashed away first.

Only Hei Shi and Zhao Ting remained.

Suddenly Hei Shi swept one sleeve outward with a howl of force.

Bang!

Caught completely off guard, Zhao Ting was sent tumbling through the air and smashed to the ground. Half his face had been crushed away.

“People always cling to hopes that were never going to come true.” Hei Shi gave the twitching corpse on the ground a sidelong glance and muttered the words.

Then he looked toward the lake, which had turned turbid and was only slowly becoming calm again. Lingering fear remained in his heart. He had never imagined that the person sent to make direct contact with Zhao Ting would actually be a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Fortunately, Wu Chang had personally acted this time. If Hei Shi himself had been the one sent, he did not dare imagine what would have happened to him.

Who could have guessed it? He had no choice but to feel alarm at Maolu Villa’s caution. They probably had not expected Wu Chang to act personally either. Even if Zhao Ting were exposed, an ordinary pursuer would never have been able to capture the man sent to meet him.

[End of Chapter 1532]