Chapter 79: 77 Returns, Part 1

“Golden Wing Pavilion?”

Zhang Rongfang furrowed his brow, wanting to inquire further.

However, Xu Miaotong had already approached and brushed past him.

“Remember, within five days, return as soon as possible, or it will be too late.

Also, once you use the Feather Talisman, you automatically become one of us. By then, whether you like it or not, you must report to Thousand Visitors Lodge in Tan Yang.

Otherwise…..”

Before finishing her words, she quickly walked away.

Zhang Rongfang called after her several times but saw no sign of her stopping.

Soon, he could only see her silhouette disappearing at the end of the street.

He remained silent for a long while.

After Xu Miaotong left, Zhang Rongfang returned to the courtyard, standing under the solitary old locust tree, motionless for a long time.

He pondered over the meaning of what Xu Miaotong had just said.

He thought only his master, senior brother, and sister-in-law knew about his identity. Now, it extended to the Golden Wing Pavilion.

This organization seemed to be specifically meddling with intelligence, handling gray and black affairs.

So, why would they notify him now?

Not only did they notify, but they also gave him some Feather Talisman, claiming it could save his life?

Taking out the Feather Talisman again, Zhang Rongfang scrutinized it closely. It was just an ordinary object, showing no sign of being special.

He guessed it might serve as a token to seek help at the so-called Cloud Mist Residence.

’Golden Wing Pavilion warned me that Sea Dragon and Red Dog King went to Huaxin County to investigate. They might discover something about me, but what might they uncover?’

’Yet, she also said my identity won’t be exposed. Since the foundations of Zhang Ying’s identity are safe, what, then, would be exposed? What aspect of Zhang Rongfang’s identity?’

’What secrets do I, Zhang Rongfang, have that Sea Dragon and that Red Dog King might discover?’

Zhang Rongfang analyzed in his mind and quickly found the answer.

The secrets belonging to Zhang Rongfang to be wary of are only twofold.

First is his exaggerated martial arts advancement. In just two years, he progressed from someone newly practicing martial arts to reach grade three.

This speed is no big deal for Zhang Ying at twenty-five.

But for the eighteen-year-old Zhang Rongfang, it’s overly exaggerated.

The second secret is the deadliest.

It concerns the identity of Master Zhang Xuan….

Reflecting on the time when the master and senior brother instructed him to escort the sister-in-law away to Tan Yang, Zhang Rongfang could vaguely guess some things.

Then, halfway there, the Daoist from Qi Mountain of Qinghe Palace chased them, aiming to capture the sister-in-law, whom he turned around and killed.

Following the uprising of seven counties, incident after incident aligned.

If Zhang Rongfang still failed to connect his master with the insurgents by now, he’d truly be a fool.

’Furthermore, this Golden Wing Pavilion… gifting me a Feather Talisman without any apparent reason.’

’Perhaps there’s another possibility…’

Zhang Rongfang closed his eyes, breathing deeply.

’This Golden Wing Pavilion knows my identity, deliberately conveying ambiguous bad news about my master to urge my return.

Then, upon facing difficulties after returning and finding no help, I’d have no choice but to seek their assistance with the Feather Talisman. Under such circumstances, I’d be compelled to join this so-called Golden Wing Pavilion.’

After all, he didn’t believe the Golden Wing Pavilion was so capable of deciphering his truly hidden power.

Perhaps they guessed he was responsible for crippling Lin Qixiao, but so what?

Lin Qixiao at the time had no weapons, with one wrist broken, being only a grade three himself.

Given such a sudden attack, taking him down with apparent strength wasn’t much.

As long as the assassination of Basari remained undisclosed, everything would be fine.

This last possibility seemed increasingly plausible to Zhang Rongfang.

If he were in charge of Golden Wing Pavilion, upon discovering such a formidable martial arts genius, he would surely want him on his side.

Especially when this genius had the fatal flaw of dual identities, under his control….

He let out a soft sigh.

Zhang Rongfang knew deep down that something had likely happened at Qinghe Palace.

Golden Wing Pavilion wouldn’t lie about that. He could verify it once he returned.

This contradicted their purpose.

’That said… this is an open plot… If I’m emotionally attached, I inevitably return. If I return now, with only grade three abilities, there’s very little I can do, and upon reaching a dead end, I’d have to turn to Golden Wing Pavilion for help. By then, they’d have a justified reason to bring me in.’

Hiss….

Realizing this, Zhang Rongfang inhaled sharply.

In every direction lies scheming, making it truly difficult to live a carefree life in this world.

’And if I don’t go back, that would be heartless and ungrateful. Then, similarly, with Golden Wing Pavilion holding my identity’s secrets, threatening me would be effortless.

Once again, I’d have to join them.

However, being emotional and loyal or heartless and ungrateful might yield different treatments within this organization.’

Having concluded his analysis, Zhang Rongfang felt a heavy weight in his heart as if burdened by a mass of fire.

For the first time, he experienced the frustration of being controlled by others.

It was also the first time he understood that only by mastering true power and possessing various channels himself can one avoid being exploited.

If only, if only he had the ability to arrange various new identities himself, how would he have ended up like this?

Should his identity be revealed, everything he owns now would collapse like a mirage, disappearing instantly.

After a moment of silence, he slowly began to practice talismanic skill, trying to calm his mind.

First, the Primordial Talisman.

Unfortunately, at this moment, his mindset seemed completely out of sync with the requirements of the Primordial Talisman; not only did he make no progress, but he also felt vaguely disorganized and anxious.

Then he changed his approach to the Flame Emperor Talisman.

Strangely, the Flame Emperor Talisman, which had always progressed slowly, seemed to have suddenly become clear, as if many initially incomprehensible and awkward areas were being opened up like floodgates.

After a full ten minutes, Zhang Rongfang slowly reduced his speed.

Finally, he stood still, closed his eyes, and regulated his breathing.

The insights and experiences of the Flame Emperor Talisman converged at this moment, integrating seamlessly.

“I see now… The Flame Emperor Talisman is indeed the single most aggressive talismanic skill within the Great Dao Teaching. It’s like an enhanced version of the Mountain-shaped Talisman.”

At this moment, the name of the skill regarding the Flame Emperor Talisman finally began to slowly manifest on his attribute panel.

’Flame Emperor Talisman (Introductory)’

“Finally succeeded… However, it’s a pity that I’m still short on points.”

Zhang Rongfang glanced at his current attribute points.

Only two points.

If he wanted to break the limit of the Flame Emperor Talisman in one go, he would need to wait at least another twenty days.

“Such a pity… Time waits for no one, but still, having just begun, there are benefits to be had.”

He increasingly felt that the Rejuvenation Purification Talisman Manual, with its distinctive talismanic skills, each had unique effects.

Like the Flame Emperor Talisman, which enhances the explosive attack power of the Limit-Breaking Skill Overload.

Once the limit is broken, he had a premonition that Overload might transform into another form.

For the talismanic skills of the Great Dao Teaching to be listed as superior martial arts, they naturally held some unique qualities.

Calming down and with the introduction to the Flame Emperor Talisman, Zhang Rongfang felt much more emotionally stable.

He tidied up his belongings in the house, and then quickly left home, heading to taverns, teahouses, or security offices to gather information.

After all, he couldn’t simply rely on Golden Wing Pavilion’s one-sided words.

On the way, he first went to the tavern.

Once people drink, various matters are easily spilled out with a loose tongue.

Even usually quiet people would be loquacious after drinking. Regular braggarts might have their emotions and courage amplified after drinking, daring to say anything.

Soon, exiting the tavern, Zhang Rongfang’s expression looked somewhat dark.

Then, after inquiries at teahouses and restaurants, he basically confirmed that the roads between Huaxin County and Tan Yang were indeed blocked.

Within Huaxin County, nothing could be found about Qinghe Palace.

Now, with the official roads and several main routes being blocked, the only way back was to find a small path.

Currently, all major security offices were ordered not to escort goods to the Counties.

Nor were there any caravans heading to trade with the Counties.

Zhang Rongfang had now decided, after all, to go back and take a look.

No matter what, his current body technique was just enough for self-protection.

At this very moment, he was even more grateful that he initially chose to enhance his speed body technique. Otherwise, if ambushed by a large number of bandits on the road, it would be certain death.

Even if he was a combined grade seven, if surrounded and strangled by dozens of fearless mountain bandits equipped with weapons, a frontal fight was really out of the question.

Even if he could kill one person in a second.

In that second, if two people simultaneously slashed at him, he would get injured.

Even if he were fast enough to deflect the second attacker, what about the third knife, the fourth? The fifth?

Simultaneously dealing with a multi-person assault consumed mental and physical energy that couldn’t be compared to a duel.

If the bandits’ weapons were also poisoned… that would be even more…

At this point, Zhang Rongfang knew that to hurry back, the best method was still to conceal his identity and return secretly.

Moreover, since the official road couldn’t be traveled, and he didn’t know the way, he had to find someone to guide him!

In Tan Yang City, to find someone willing to guide in such circumstances, there was only one type of place.

*

*

*

Beside Tan Yang Station, there was a place without a signboard or plaque, known as the Great Dao Place.

The place was surrounded by a rough white wall, and ticket fees were collected at the entrance, ten coppers per person.

Locals around referred to this place as a route market.

The so-called route market was a place where many retired security escorts, caravan members, and restaurant waiters would specially seek jobs.

Not only were people here seeking employment, but it also attracted a lot of miscellaneous affairs.

For instance, some families who couldn’t get by would come out to sell their children. Because they disliked the low prices in the market, they would come here to sell people.

For example, there were juggling troupes and theater companies that would set up posts here year-round to get jobs.

Also, there were people who found ’treasures’ in the countryside or on city outskirts, posed as honest people, and came here to sell them.

“Here’s the money.”

At this time, in front of the route market gate, several gray-clothed, bamboo-hat-wearing individuals handed over money and entered in succession.

Following them was a tall and burly man.

This man had a somber expression, wearing a very ordinary blue-black cloth outfit, carrying a round object wrapped in cloth on his back. He also held a large bundle in his hand, the contents of which were unknown.

He paid the fee and entered the route market, looking around cautiously.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep