Chapter 304: 280 Deception Part 2

“This is unclear. However, these people act swiftly and ruthlessly, causing two exterminations in a short period. The authorities over there have replaced the chief twice. They are now requesting nearby troops to join the investigation,” Zhang Yunqi replied.

“And on my side? You know that I’m not here; the issues concerning Linlang Association and Hundred Merchants Association couldn’t have been my doing,” Zhang Rongfang frowned.

This feeling of being slandered left him somewhat displeased.

“Since the young master is impatient, I will personally make a trip. I’ll go to the Linlang Association and see exactly what’s going on,” Zhang Yunqi stroked his beard and said in a deep voice.

“Coincidentally, someone came to me, and I’ve lost two brothers in the process….” Actually, he was also furious. This hidden force even managed to track down their Rebel Sect, causing the deaths of two brothers for no reason!

If they didn’t exert effort soon, issues might be revealed in due time.

“In that case, shall we go together?” Zhang Rongfang responded.

“Alright,” Zhang Yunqi nodded emphatically. He wasn’t worried about Zhang Ying’s safety. Ever since Zhang Ying once killed an internal law Spiritual Veins user, Zhang Yunqi knew that Zhang Ying’s strength was no less than his own.

In a place like Citong, even though there might be a few Super Grade experts, as long as one isn’t ambushed and surrounded, or has terrible Body Technique, a Three Emptiness expert should easily escape any crisis.

Grandmasters like Taizhenzi are rare and can go years without encountering one.

Most Grandmasters are accustomed to a comfortable life and rarely handle killings personally.

Unless someone offers a substantial price.

“Together tomorrow night, let’s visit the Linlang Association base and find out who’s causing trouble behind the scenes.”

Previously, using his dim light vision, Zhang Rongfang caught a disguised person, indicating that if Linlang and Hundred Merchants Association also had such disguised individuals, it would be easy to sow discord.

Hence, he must act quickly while others are unaware of his ability to see through human skin masks, seize the opportunity, and resolve the matter.

Swift and decisive action.

Otherwise, if the hidden hand discovers this, it might cause unexpected changes.

Initially, he planned to set off visibly and lure out the enemy, using the dim light vision to find those in disguise and then follow them to uncover the mastermind.

But Shangguan Lianyue’s kill had irreversibly caused the Linlang Island and Agarwood Palace to break apart.

Currently, Linlang Island seems inactive, but it’s clear something is brewing.

At once, Zhang Rongfang and Zhang Yunqi discussed the concrete plan for their joint action, including the time and arrangements for the boat.

Afterward, he left Huangjing Mountain without directly returning to the Agarwood Palace. Instead, he veered sideways and quickly arrived at a desolate beach.

Standing on the beach, the surrounding seawater rose and fell.

Zhang Rongfang glanced around, confirmed no one’s presence, and walked to the back of a towering black reef, concealed.

Then, from his waist, he took out a gray-white stone-carved token.

The token’s carving was rough, with tree leaves, flowers, and rocks engraved on its rectangular edges, and a menacing mouth with sharp teeth in the center.

In the center of the mouth, a large “Stone” character was engraved.

This was the token given by the aggressive bald head who claimed to be Zuo Han.

Zhang Rongfang flipped the token, revealing a small note with fine writing.

’Should the Crown Prince have any needs, he may strike this token against the rock to produce a sound. If any sect members are nearby, they will come to assist.’

Gazing at the stone-carved token, Zhang Rongfang’s face was solemn.

He was unsure of Zuo Han’s intentions.

’Precisely, this matter can be used to test the truth and intention behind this person’s actions.’

An inexplicable supporter appears, and he’s a powerful Spiritual Veins expert, suspected to be a top-level Grandmaster.

This oddity demanded caution.

Immediately, Zhang Rongfang struck the token against the reef forcefully.

Ding!

Unexpectedly, the collision sound was clear, with strong penetration, akin to the clearest tone of a bell.

Even the layered sound of the waves couldn’t cover this penetrating resonance.

Zhang Rongfang waited quietly, fully alert.

Not long after, a similar sound came from afar.

Zhang Rongfang struck the token again, making a sound.

Receiving a response, the sound echoed once more. Shortly after, a person approached quickly with swift Body Technique.

Upon nearing, the person saw the token in Zhang Rongfang’s hand from a distance.

The moonlight revealed a faint blue light reflecting on the token.

“Chen Zhao from Thousand Stone Sect, greets the Crown Prince!”

The newcomer, dressed as a fisherman, wore tattered short clothes, held a fish spear, and was robust, well-proportioned, and dark-skinned, about forty years old.

“I ask you, Zuo Han of your Thousand Stone Sect, is the promise he made to me really valid?” Zhang Rongfang directly asked, not wasting words.

He hadn’t expected that a casual strike would truly summon a Thousand Stone Sect disciple.

And they spread information quickly. It’s his first meeting with them, yet any member of Thousand Stone Sect seems to recognize him as the Crown Prince?

Zhang Rongfang suppressed his doubts, waiting for the response.

“Zuo Han… Sect Leader’s words are steadfast! Rest assured, Crown Prince,” Chen Zhao bowed and replied.

“He’s the Sect Leader??… In that case, I will see how sincere your Thousand Stone Sect is,” Zhang Rongfang squinted his eyes, not too surprised. Zuo Han’s formidable strength, the strongest he’s ever seen, suits the position of Sect Leader.

“Regarding the Citong Agarwood Palace issue, I hope you will cooperate with me to eliminate the mastermind, uncover the truth, and resolve this matter.”

“Yes. I’ll immediately report this to the Sect Leader,” the man responded without hesitation, bowing his head.

Zhang Rongfang scrutinized the person, finding no anomalies.

He wanted to see what exactly this Thousand Stone Sect was planning.

No matter what, this is a good opportunity to use the Linlang Association and Hundred Merchants Association’s situation to probe a little.

“Alright, you can leave now.” he said in a deep voice.

“Yes.” Chen Zhao stood up, turned around, and quickly left.

Judging by the way he burst out, this person had clearly practiced Hard Skill and had considerable strength.

Zhang Rongfang watched him from behind until he completely disappeared from the horizon of the beach, then put away the stone-carved Token and withdrew.

*

*

*

Boom.

A firework shot into the sky, suddenly exploded, turning into a blurry red character.

The character was neither a Spiritual Text nor a Chain Script, but seemed to be from a completely independent script system.

Outside Citong, in a manor over a thousand square meters, bodies lay sprawled on the ground.

The few still standing occasionally flicked blood off their blades.

Towards two of them, silver Spiritual Lines slowly closed and healed the wounds on their bodies.

“The Chain Gang still wants to resist? They’re truly overestimating themselves.” Han Jia thrust her silver dagger back into the sheath at her thigh.

“Let’s not get careless, there’s still the final Linlang Association to deal with, everything is still undecided.” another woman in red said in a deep voice.

“Ping’Er’s cautious nature is a good thing.”

Zhu Wanguo walked out from the manor gate, wiping off the blood spots splattered on his face.

“Now we just wait for when they will confront each other. Linlang Association is already gathering experts, preparing to assault the Agarwood Palace as revenge for the previous killing of the Hidden Master.”

“This time… no matter how unwilling Zhou Xue Ming is, with his own son killed and his loyal minister beheaded, if he shows no response, he won’t be able to maintain his standing in the Linlang Association. With his loss of authority, those pirates along the sea routes won’t be so compliant.”

Zhu Wanguo carefully went through his thoughts, ensuring there were no oversights, and immediately raised his hand.

“Withdraw. Very soon the government will send people here.”

“Yes.”

Ping’Er and Han Jia quickly bowed in response and began to inform the followers to leave.

Zhu Wanguo smiled, everything in the plan was proceeding smoothly, just waiting for the Linlang Association to take action against the Agarwood Palace.

In doing so, they could weaken the Linlang Association’s strength, provoke the government navy to take action against them, and also see just what powers Zhang Ying of the Great Dao Teaching was hiding.

Previously, he continuously thwarted the major plans within the Sect.

If it was merely luck, then this incident could be used to eliminate him.

In that case, the Celestial Treasure Palace would surely be enraged, and by that time…..

*

*

*

The next day, night, at one in the morning.

A three-masted sea ship quickly sailed out, silently heading towards the temporary headquarters of the Linlang Association at Kuaiyi Island.

Apart from Linlang Island, the true headquarters of the Linlang Association is actually on a hidden island.

And Kuaiyi Island serves as their public temporary headquarters for exchanging goods with Cituogang Port.

This sea area is filled with reefs, making it hard for ordinary ships to even approach.

It is notoriously difficult to attack but easy to defend.

And the Linlang Association controls a secret exclusive access channel.

On the sea ship.

Zhang Rongfang and Zhang Yunqi stood side by side, with more than ten crew members of the Rebel Sect silently rowing the ship towards the designated direction.

“What does the young master plan to do?” Zhang Yunqi looked at the steady-looking Zhang Rongfang beside him, somewhat puzzled.

“Is Uncle Zhang worried about something?” Zhang Rongfang’s expression was calm. “Since I dare to go to the Linlang Association alone, I naturally have my own methods.”

“There are many experts in the Linlang Association. Relying solely on us to land on the island frontally might be…” Zhang Yunqi frowned.

This was not originally how he planned it, just the two of them coming over.

The skilled members of the Rebel Sect on the sea ship were only there to ensure the return of the ship, not to assist in landing on the island.

Seeing this, Zhang Rongfang smiled slightly.

“It’s just a branch office, besides, could Uncle Zhang have forgotten where I originated from? Simple disguises and transformations… the world does not only have one person who can do that.”

As he spoke, he carefully took out two extraordinary masks from a box he was holding, which looked as real as human skin.

The masks looked as if they had just been peeled off someone’s face, soft and delicate, even with fine skin textures.

“This….!?” Zhang Yunqi’s eyes lit up. Taking one of them, he held it in his hand, gently examining it.

“This method truly… blurs the line between reality and illusion!” he exclaimed in amazement.

“The Golden Wing Pavilion, which once belonged to the Eastern Sect, obtained countless intelligence gathering and self-concealment methods, and this is just one of them, chosen specifically by me for my own use.” Zhang Rongfang answered.

“Since it involves investigation, we need to hide our identities. Given that someone in the Agarwood Palace is skilled in disguise, then the Linlang Association, which initially caused the trouble, surely has even more!”

“Capture, interrogation, tracking, assault, we must move at the fastest speed, determining the situation before they can detect us.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep