“You all had plenty to say before, didn’t you? Why so silent now? Hmm? Senior Brother Tian? Senior Brother Guo?”
Wang Qian’s anger burned fiercely as he coldly glanced at Tian Han and Guo Ming En, who stood quietly to the side.
The two addressed exchanged glances, frustration evident in their eyes.
They hadn’t expected Yu Zhao’s firm stance against them—unyielding and without any pretense of politeness. Now, not only had their plan for revenge failed, but they’d thoroughly embarrassed themselves.
Guo Ming En braced himself and spoke. “Junior Brother Wang Qian, Yu Zhao is narrow-minded, harsh, and petty. Even with Master Qing Yan as her teacher, she’ll never amount to anything significant.”
“Exactly,” Tian Han chimed in. “Junior Brother Wang Qian, don’t let your anger boil over for someone so insignificant. She’s not worth it.”
“No!” Wang Qian snapped, glaring at them menacingly. His eyes gleamed with cold determination. “You may swallow this insult, but I cannot! Yu Zhao dared provoke me, so she must pay the price!”
The two were alarmed.
“Junior Brother Wang Qian! Yu Zhao is a Disciple of the Five Elements Dao Sect with a Nascent Soul cultivator as her teacher. Don’t act recklessly!”
Wang Qian sneered. “Do you think I’m foolish enough to act openly?”
Despite his anger, Wang Qian wasn’t arrogant enough to believe he could take on the Five Elements Dao Sect. He already had a plan, but it required Tian Han and Guo Ming En’s cooperation. Otherwise, he wouldn’t bother sharing it.
Both seniors sighed in relief, genuinely fearing Wang Qian might act impulsively and turn the conflict into a deadly feud.
Sensing an opportunity, Tian Han cautiously tested the waters. “Junior Brother Wang Qian seems to have a plan. If there’s anything I can do to help, I’ll do it without hesitation!”
Guo Ming En, realizing he was a step behind, also expressed his loyalty.
Wang Qian’s lips curled into a sly smile. “Since my senior brothers are so eager to help, I won’t refuse. I do have tasks that require your assistance…”
Their initial smiles froze as he laid out his plan. The more they heard, the worse it sounded. Wang Qian expected them to provide both money and manpower while he stayed behind the scenes. If anything went wrong, they would take the blame.
“This…”
Cunning by nature, Tian Han and Guo Ming En quickly recognized the risks. Their expressions turned reluctant as they realized how perilous Wang Qian’s scheme was.
Wang Qian’s face darkened. “What’s this? Are my senior brothers refusing to help? If it weren’t for you two, I wouldn’t be in this situation with Yu Zhao in the first place. Don’t forget, you owe me!”
The threat in his tone was unmistakable.
In their dynamic, Wang Qian always held the dominant position. And he wasn’t wrong—Tian Han and Guo Ming En had indeed dragged him into this mess. Thinking they could walk away unscathed was naive.
Left with no choice, the two offered wry smiles and eventually nodded.
“Excellent. Here’s what we’ll do. The Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion has a covert intelligence branch called the Dark Pavilion…”
Black Water City, Dark Pavilion.
The intelligence broker eyed the black-clad figure before him, covered so completely that only their eyes were visible. Suppressing his amusement, he glanced down at the task submitted.
The broker’s eyebrow twitched.
The other party’s clumsy disguise was laughable, but their audacity was astounding. At such a time, only someone from the Green Wood Sect would issue an assassination order against Yu Zhao.
Still, he had to admit they were bold. Challenging a disciple of the Five Elements Dao Sect by placing a bounty was unprecedented in his line of work.
Tian Han, who had been uneasy ever since entering the Dark Pavilion, grew even more nervous as the broker remained silent. Fidgeting, he edged toward the exit.
Just then, a wooden token slid out of a small opening, stopping him in his tracks.
Snatching it up eagerly, Tian Han’s eyes widened in disbelief as he read the three large characters engraved on it:
“More payment is required!”
Tian Han hesitated.
He could understand why the Dark Pavilion demanded additional payment. After all, only those with nothing to lose and no fear of death would dare pursue and kill a personal disciple of the Five Elements Dao Sect.
The problem was that Wang Qian had emptied his savings to purchase a Fourth-Grade Alchemy Recipe. The spirit stones used to post the mission were pooled together by Tian Han and Guo Ming En.
Now that the Dark Pavilion wanted more payment, the spirit stones would still have to come from Tian Han and Guo Ming En.
Although unwilling, Tian Han ultimately complied with the Dark Pavilion’s demand, remembering Wang Qian’s threatening words. As he left, his figure radiated resentment.
The Seeker of the Way, staring at the spirit stones on the tray, revealed a cryptic smile.
The Dark Pavilion, always well-informed, had thoroughly investigated Yu Zhao’s current status even before Tian Han’s arrival.
Yu Zhao’s position as a personal disciple was no longer valid. She was now merely an inner disciple of the Five Elements Dao Sect, without any master to support her.
Because of this, the Dark Pavilion dared to accept Tian Han’s mission. Otherwise, no one would risk offending the Number One in Cultivation over a few spirit stones—it simply wasn’t worth it.
As for whether this would provoke the Five Elements Dao Sect…
A dark gleam flashed in the Seeker of the Way’s eyes.
The Dark Pavilion only facilitated the posting of missions. If trouble arose, the Five Elements Dao Sect should target the Green Wood Sect, not them.
“Pant… pant…”
Fang Cheng Lang jolted awake, gasping for air. Sweat trickled slowly down his temple. He weakly raised a hand to cover his face.
Another nightmare.
Sitting on the bed for a moment, he eventually got up and stepped out into the inn’s backyard.
The night was as cool as water.
Under the moonlit sky, his expression was unreadable.
Suddenly, faint footsteps sounded behind him. He didn’t turn, his gaze remaining fixed on the void.
“Eldest Senior Brother.”
Cui Jue approached, noticing the emptiness in Fang Cheng Lang’s eyes, his concern growing.
Since they had left the Five Elements Dao Sect, Fang Cheng Lang’s condition had deteriorated daily. Cui Jue had been observing this with increasing worry.
Having caught a glimpse of Fang Cheng Lang’s figure through the window earlier, he decided to follow him.
Fang Cheng Lang nodded faintly in acknowledgment.
“Eldest Senior Brother, can you tell me what happened? Do you know what you’re doing to yourself?”
Cui Jue wasn’t one to meddle unnecessarily. But every member of Lone Moon Peak was deeply significant to him. He couldn’t just watch Fang Cheng Lang’s descent into despair without trying to help.
Fang Cheng Lang remained silent, his eyes growing even darker.
“Eldest Senior Brother.”
Cui Jue’s usually stoic face showed a trace of worry.
Finally, Fang Cheng Lang turned to look at him.
That single glance sent a shiver down Cui Jue’s spine, an inexplicable fear taking hold of him.