Chapter 303: 279 Deception Part 1

In the distance from Agarwood Mountain, in a five-story tavern.

Two customers from afar were watching the scene that had just unfolded.

The two exchanged glances, and one quickly stood up.

“Ah, I’ve eaten too much, need to visit the lavatory, be right back.”

With a cheerful grin, he left the table and headed towards the tavern’s restroom.

Soon after entering, he emerged shortly thereafter.

Upon reaching the restroom exit, he discreetly tossed a small roll of paper to the side.

Another person came by, crossing paths with him, and extended a hand to catch the paper roll and pocket it.

Half an hour later.

A large Thousand Teachings Alliance ship docked at Cituo Port.

By the ship’s railing, Zhu Wanguo, clad in a gray outfit, held a wine jug, occasionally tilting it back for a sip.

“We can take action tonight. Once we take down the Chris family, our predetermined goal of securing the shipping lanes will be complete, save for the situation with the Linlang Association.” He lazily adjusted his hair, which had been ruffled by the sea breeze.

“Young master’s calculations are superb, anticipating that the Chris family would quietly deploy their fleet yesterday. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have so easily seized control of so many family fleets.”

Among the several Thousand Teachings Alliance experts behind him, Han Jia and another woman in a red mask stood out the most.

They stood closest, apparently trusted the most.

Unlike Han Jia, the red-clad woman wore a silver mask, concealing her face, but her alluring figure drew frequent sidelong glances from nearby men.

Upon hearing Han Jia’s words, the red-clad woman was about to speak.

Suddenly, a woman approached and whispered in her ear for several breaths.

After the subordinate withdrew, the red-clad woman’s expression shifted slightly as she looked at Zhu Wanguo.

“Young master, there’s a change! Daoist Zhang Ying from Agarwood Palace suddenly appeared at the foot of Agarwood Mountain. He immediately captured one of our Chameleon members on site!”

“Oh?” Zhu Wanguo’s expression froze. “Return? So he wasn’t even on the mountain before?

Does this mean the person on the mountain before was an imposter? Or did he deliberately create a diversion? In addition, how did he manage to capture the Chameleon member? Did he find the person right after he returned?”

He seemed somewhat curious.

“He might have hidden himself beforehand, observing and waiting for an opportunity, watching for flaws.

In this way, with the Chameleon’s presence discovered, it might not be so easy to draw him out in the future.

As the rumors said, Zhang Ying is truly difficult to handle.” The red-clad woman responded.

“No matter.” Zhu Wanguo’s expression remained unchanged. “Whether or not he can find them doesn’t really matter. Everything is still under control, no need to rush.”

“Yes… It’s Ping’er who’s anxious.” The red-clad woman bowed her head respectfully.

“Zhang Ying is solely focused on cultivation and is not adept at other schemes and strategies. I’ve studied him; before he joined the Celestial Treasure Palace, he revered violence, disliked convolutions, and acted decisively.

He may appear shrewd and cautious, but he’s only slightly better than a straightforward fool.” Zhu Wanguo smiled as he spoke.

He patted non-existent dust off his robe.

“Rest assured, to quickly return to his serene cultivation life, he should urgently want to resolve the situation swiftly.

And how can he resolve it quickly? Only by tracing the source, so he will definitely investigate the Linlang Association.”

“To investigate the Linlang Association, there are only two methods: overt and covert. Most people will find nothing through overt means. Therefore, the most likely method for him is to secretly dispatch experts to the Linlang Association to uncover the truth.”

“The young master is wise.” The two women replied in unison.

“It’s not that I’m wise, but he lacks the ability to conceal himself. When a person is seen inside and out, everything laid bare, in a fight, they’re already in a precarious position.”

Zhu Wanguo gazed into the distant night sky, his lips curled slightly.

*

*

*

Agarwood Palace.

Chen Han entered the study, once again meeting the long-waiting Zhang Rongfang.

“Daoist, this is the item we found on that person.”

He placed a silver round badge with fish scale and sea wave patterns, along with some money bags and miscellaneous items, on a tray on the desk beside him.

“This is…?” Zhang Rongfang asked with a frown, reaching out to take a closer look at the silver badge.

He suddenly realized that these organizations seemed fond of using various badges as identity markers for their members.

Just like now, he already carried numerous tokens.

The Feather Talisman of the Golden Wing Pavilion from the Eastern Sect, the Daoist waist badge of the Great Dao Teaching, the token from the Dao Palace in Tan Yang, and the government office’s official token.

And now, yet another from the Thousand Stone Sect.

And now here comes another one.

“This silver badge was discovered under the skin of the person’s abdomen.

It was embedded deep in the flesh, well concealed.

If I hadn’t conducted one last check, I might not have found it at all!” Chen Han responded.

“Hidden so deeply, it seems this badge has a significant connection with whoever is behind the scenes.” Zhang Rongfang commented.

“That’s what I thought too, so I conducted a specialized investigation. According to local government archives, this badge originates from a small organization named the Sea Star Association.

But Sun Chaoyue’s steward just sent someone back with a report.

They said the Sea Star Association had already disbanded and disappeared half a year ago. And the force that compelled its disbandment was…” Chen Han paused.

“What is ’true’?” Zhang Rongfang looked at him.

“It is… Linlang Association,” Chen Han replied. “I fully don’t understand why they have step by step targeted us for such a reason. So I remain doubtful about it.”

“Linlang Association? Again, it’s Linlang Association.”

At first, Zhang Rongfang thought this Linlang Association must have been falsely accused, but now another clue has emerged, pointing back to Linlang Association.

He pondered for a moment, but the clues were too few to deduce who it might be.

“Forget it, since it’s Linlang Association, let’s target them first. Investigate and we’ll find out.

Also, did any experts from Snow Rainbow Pavilion come to guard after your previous report?” he asked again.

“Yes, a military officer named Shangguan Lianyue arrived, very strong. Upon arrival, he immediately drove out all the troublemakers,” Chen Han replied.

“I know Shangguan Lianyue, so continue to entrust him with protecting Agarwood Palace. Whether or not there’s trouble, if these people feel wronged, they should investigate the truth themselves; just a bunch of pirates and merchants can’t overturn the sky,” Zhang Rongfang replied.

“Yes,” Chen Han nodded.

“Furthermore, notify the people of Linlang Association to claim the body,” Zhang Rongfang added.

“This… previously one of Linlang Association’s hidden lords, Zhao Sunyi, was killed under Agarwood Mountain. Now… I’m afraid it’s not that easy to communicate,” Chen Han replied.

“Since people have infiltrated my Dao Palace, if communication is impossible, then there’s nothing more to say,” Zhang Rongfang’s expression became impatient.

Conspiracies and schemes, he currently has no energy to calculate and analyze; perfecting the Dissipating Soul Finger and cultivating Hard Skill every day doesn’t leave enough time.

If faced with trouble, just crush it with force.

Whether it’s Linlang Association or Hundred Merchants Association, if they don’t want to make a move, they should come forward to prove their innocence and find the evidence.

“First, ask the local government to dispatch troops to blockade the ships related to Linlang Association! Everything originated from them. When the investigation clears, then unseal!

If it can’t be investigated clearly, then confirm them as those who attacked and looted the sea ships’ medicinal materials!”

Given the Great Spirit official’s backing, Zhang Rongfang was not keen to beat around the bush.

“I understand,” Chen Han nodded solemnly.

In the following days, Zhang Rongfang met with Shangguan Lianyue, entrusting the safety of Agarwood Palace to him.

He himself continued to search for the main drug for the next layer of Golden Toad Skill.

The main drug for the second layer of Chasing the Sun is called Residual Fragrance Coral. It is an unusual herb that ordinary people have never heard of.

However, compared to the rarest Xuan Yang Meat Ganoderma, this herb has relatively lower rarity and collection difficulty.

At least, Isebas quickly replied with news, and he had clues again.

Immediately, Zhang Rongfang focused his energy on finding the medicine, often visiting Isebas’s residence to search through references and records, analyze feedback intelligence, and offer high rewards to find the drug.

And at this time, within Cituogang Port, rumors about Linlang Association and Hundred Merchants Association were increasingly spreading.

June 4th, night.

Inside Agarwood Palace, a figure suddenly dashed out, swiftly entering the forest under the dim moonlight, heading towards Huangjing Mountain.

Soon, at the foot of Huangjing Mountain, the figure suddenly paused, lunging to the left, disappearing into the woods.

The night was deep, misty fog pervaded, and the distant sound of waves rose and fell unpredictably.

Deep inside Huangjing Mountain.

The figure suddenly stopped, a token flashed in its hand.

“Young Master.”

On a nearby tree trunk, a figure called out in a somber tone.

“The lord is resting inside, recently Cituo’s situation is somewhat unusual, please be extremely cautious.”

“Hmm, you continue your patrol,” Zhang Rongfang slightly nodded and continued rushing towards the depths of the forest.

Compared to the naive Chen Han who knows little, regarding the current situation in Cituo, he still trusts Zhang Yunqi more.

Therefore, he had arranged to meet in advance tonight.

Not long into the forest, someone approached.

Zhang Rongfang quickly stopped, and in the faint moonlight, with clear night vision, he saw that it was Zhang Yunqi.

“Uncle Zhang,” he calmly spoke, “long time no see, how’s the situation in Cituo now? Please explain a bit.”

Previously, in Agarwood Palace, there were already people in disguise infiltrating.

Of course, he wouldn’t reveal his true intentions.

Though the people of Agarwood Palace were hard to trust, those from Rebel Sect were different.

At this time, Zhang Rongfang was calm and composed, a stark contrast to his irritable and cold demeanor during the day.

In the dim light, Zhang Yunqi moved slightly closer, barely hearing the voice, recognizing it was Zhang Rongfang.

A bit surprised.

But thinking perhaps it’s because young people have better vision, he didn’t mind.

Hearing the inquiry, he nodded slightly.

“Even if you hadn’t come to find me, I was planning to visit you personally. To be honest, ever since you went to Celestial Extreme Cave, there’s been quite a commotion in Cituogang Port.”

“What commotion?” Zhang Rongfang raised an eyebrow.

“Although our Rebel Sect members are spread far and wide, and the information isn’t detailed, we’ve still managed to gather a little.

Originally, many of the forces controlling long-distance fleets in Cituo now seem to be experiencing various disturbances.

I suspect someone is secretly targeting these forces, merging them,” Zhang Yunqi was indeed deeply rooted in Cituo for many years; his first words pointed out the main line amidst these chaos.

“Merging long-distance forces?” Zhang Rongfang’s eyes narrowed. “The composition of long-distance forces here is somewhat complex, right? Who has such great ability?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep