Chapter 130: 122 Hope (Below)

Zhang Rongfang and Qingsu were currently standing in a hidden spot near Pingya Temple.

“It seems Zhao Tianming has already been identified as a traitor. I just don’t know which power he’s serving?” Qingsu sighed, feeling somewhat apprehensive.

If Uncle Bai hadn’t intercepted her halfway, she might have already fallen into Zhao Tianming’s trap.

“At this point, we must always be prepared to retreat and abandon everything in Tan Yang.” Zhang Rongfang said seriously.

The exposure of Zhao Tianming is causing very bad consequences.

Because he holds a third of Bai Ying’s recent intelligence.

The main concern is that this person might guide the forces behind him against Zhang Ying’s identity.

For forces that follow rules, Zhang Ying’s official position is a good talisman.

But for those who don’t adhere to rules, strength is their only reliance.

And Mingjing Palace lacks any experts to stop an attack from high-grade masters.

Are we to rely on those aging Palace Master and Deputy Palace Masters who are close to losing their teeth?

“My lord, what should we do now?” Qingsu hadn’t expected the situation to be this severe and was momentarily at a loss.

After all, she’s still young. If it were just an assassination mission or intelligence gathering with a clear target, that would be fine.

But now, the situation…

Zhang Rongfang felt helpless; if he weren’t injured, he might attempt to probe the forces behind Zhao Tianming.

But his right hand wrist was injured, and his strength was at most seventy percent of before. If he were to fight… he’d struggle against even a strong grade-eight opponent.

This feeling of constraint was rare since he quickly ascended to the grades.

Yet unexpectedly, it has reappeared now.

“You head back first and keep yourself hidden. I need to go somewhere.” Zhang Rongfang said sternly.

“Understood!”

Qingsu said no more. Now all she could do was rely on Uncle Bai to come up with a solution. If even Bai Ying at grade eight couldn’t manage, then her mere grade-four self could only leave Tan Yang entirely and head elsewhere.

To avoid the limelight for now.

*

*

*

Cloud Mist Residence in Tan Yang is a three-story, luxuriously decorated crimson building.

In front of the building, there’s always a huge sign and two large red lanterns hanging.

Rows of counters inside display various calligraphy and paintings, antiques, toys, and collections.

What’s most peculiar is that although the place is vast, there isn’t much foot traffic.

Someone secretly counted the guests at the front, discovering that even if all the daily guests were to shop inside, it still wouldn’t cover the daily expenses of the entire Cloud Mist Residence.

Hence, the mystery surrounding Cloud Mist Residence had long been spread in the surrounding areas.

Zhang Rongfang changed his outfit and walked into the first floor like an ordinary customer, browsing between the counters.

This was his first time here.

Bai Ying and Black Eagle had differing intelligence functions.

Black Eagle seemed to have more connections with the higher-ups; he didn’t know if this was the case for all locations or just in Tan Yang.

However, under difficult circumstances, if there’s no solution here, Zhang Rongfang plans to completely hide himself and lay low for a while.

After all, he still has his Dao registration in the Great Dao Teaching, and his rank in the government won’t drop.

After going underground for some time and waiting for the storm to pass, he planned to use his attribute points to pile his strength to a level unimaginable to ordinary people.

By then, the current difficulties would no longer be challenges.

While browsing between the counters.

Soon, he reached a corner and showed a store clerk who was dozing the Bai Ying badge.

The clerk awoke with a start.

“Ah, it’s Uncle Bai! This way! This way!”

He quickly exited the counter and led Zhang Rongfang, nodding and bowing, to the second floor.

Following the clerk, the two of them proceeded single file through a stair entrance in the corner.

After some twists and turns, they quickly arrived at a spacious indoor courtyard.

The vast courtyard was over thirty meters in length and width, surrounded by lacquered wooden walls.

The middle of the ground was paved with thin stone slabs, and at the very center, there was a man-made rock waterfall, which gurgled as it flowed, making sounds.

Beside the man-made landscape.

A white-clad woman with a stiff expression silently knelt on a cushion, holding a brush and gently writing on a calligraphy practice sheet.

The woman’s robe appeared to be both a robe and a long dress, spreading on the ground like clouds, pure and flawless.

The robe’s whiteness contrasted with the calligraphy sheet’s emerging black ink marks.

The black-and-white contrast further invoked a sense of tranquility in people.

“Fan Qianyu.”

The woman didn’t pay attention to Zhang Rongfang, or rather, even though she saw him, she had no intention of speaking to him.

Instead, she spoke another name to herself.

“You owe me a favor, it’s time to repay.”

Zhang Rongfang felt puzzled, unaware of her identity and whom she was addressing.

Just as he was about to inquire, he suddenly noticed that beside the rockery in the courtyard, there stood another person.

That person slowly walked out from behind the rockery, moving soundlessly. Despite being only a dozen meters away, Zhang Rongfang hadn’t detected his presence at all.

He looked toward the individual.

The man possessed a lean figure and a gaunt face.

He wore a silver mask, concealing half of his face.

While the other half revealed a handsome yet delicate countenance.

This person exuded an odd sense of contradiction. Despite lacking much of a muscular presence.

Yet merely staring at him triggered an eerie sense of threat in Zhang Rongfang’s keen senses.

This person….

Was completely different from any of his prior experiences.

In Zhang Rongfang’s experience, anyone trained in martial arts would never lack muscle definition.

Even Qingsu would have muscle outlines hidden under her tight inner garments.

She just covers them up whenever she can, loving beauty as she does.

For martial artists, muscles are strength; without strength, no matter how fast the sword and knife, they will be weak and powerless.

In fact, strength and speed are directly proportional.

The greater the strength, the faster the speed.

But the person before us.

Zhang Rongfang’s muscles subconsciously tensed up.

He did not know why he was tense, but his body’s instincts… were causing him to shiver….

“You’re closer than me….” The silver-faced man murmured.

“Indeed.” The white-clothed woman softly finished writing a note.

It was a large character for ’Extreme.’

Black ink slowly spread and diffused at the end of the strokes.

“While I can still remember.” The woman lifted her head, a trace of blood-red emerged in her eyes.

“Go ahead.”

She set down the pen.

“This time, we clear things between us.” The silver-faced man whispered.

“Alright.”

The woman paused silently.

“But I won’t step forward, none of us will step forward. If you die, then you die.”

The silver-faced man said nothing more, turned around, and walked toward the door.

Zhang Rongfang stood at the door, subconsciously stepping aside for him.

He watched the man leave silently, saying nothing.

The youthful face contrasted sharply with the silver-white long hair.

Making one unsure whether he was young or old.

Not long after, the man’s figure disappeared down the corridor.

Zhang Rongfang could not even hear the sound of him descending the stairs, though the staircase had creaked just a moment ago when he himself came up.

Turning back, Zhang Rongfang’s gaze fell on the white-clothed woman.

“I am Tan Yang Bai Ying, may I ask who you are?”

He subconsciously used formal speech.

The man just now was extremely dangerous, and the woman who could direct him must be even more dangerous!

Being cautious first is wise, no matter the situation.

As the saying goes, a show of respect won’t offend; there’s no harm in being careful.

Only then did the woman seem to notice Zhang Rongfang’s presence.

Her pupils gradually focused, revealing his silhouette.

“I know… you are the one who handed over the Secret Scroll Silk….”

“Indeed it’s me.” Zhang Rongfang’s heart stirred, promptly lowering his demeanor.

The woman reached into her waist pouch but suddenly froze, noting there was nothing inside.

“Sorry, I forgot to bring something again…” She seemed to want to reward Zhang Rongfang but found awkwardly that she had nothing to give.

“My lord, this is what I should do. No need for a reward.” Zhang Rongfang quickly said, “But my lord, currently my Golden Wing Pavilion’s situation in Tan Yang is quite dire. Forces seeking the Secret Scroll Silk include the Black Ten Sect, the Secret Sect. These are not ones I can provoke.”

He quickly revealed his predicament.

“I understand…” The woman nodded gently, “You’re a good child… risking danger to hand over the secret scroll. Then you stayed to face the threats yourself.”

Her voice was soft and gentle as a girl’s when she said ’good child.’

Zhang Rongfang got goosebumps but couldn’t show it, he just endured.

“Alright.” The woman lightly clapped her hands, “Do you have any wishes? If I can do it, I can fulfill one for you.”

“Wish?” Zhang Rongfang was taken aback, the scope seemed wide.

“Yes, a wish.” The woman nodded, “For instance, is there an enemy you want dead? Or maybe some information you wish to know.”

Kill someone?

Information?

“I….”

Zhang Rongfang thought for a moment, wondering if he could ask about Snake King.

“Xue Jinghao injured you. Want me to eradicate his entire family?” The woman gently asked.

“…You… but that’s the Snake King! He’s the Black Ten Sect’s Super Grade envoy….!” Zhang Rongfang’s heart trembled.

“Doesn’t matter.” The woman chuckled softly, but her expression didn’t change at all. Only her eyes flashed.

“Doesn’t matter…” Her gaze became hazy. “While I can still remember…. remember….”

Outside the Cloud Mist Residence.

Centered here, within hundreds of meters.

Figures with golden Feather Talismans hanging from their waists continually appeared, converging toward the Cloud Mist Residence.

They seemed like ordinary people but held an indifference to life deep in their eyes.

*

*

*

Outside Tan Yang City, Qingding Mountain.

Facing the direction of the city gate, a squad of strong figures clad in grayish-white armor charged along the official road on horses.

Each of them wore inner armor under outer robes, with masks on their heads, and a wide double-edged sword on their back.

This was not all. Along the official roads of the other three city gates in Tan Yang, identical teams numbering in the hundreds also galloped toward this place.

All teams were dressed the same, with the same attire.

Most crucially, the leaders of these teams had concealed feather jade insignias representing Golden Wing Pavilion tied to their waists.

Despite wearing metal armor which the court forbade, not a single soldier dared stop them as they entered the city gates.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep