Chapter 82: 80 Choices, Part 2

Quickly rummaging through the money bags of the two corpses, Zhang Rongfang got up and looked around.

Now the only way is to return to Tan Yang, but….

“If you go back now, it will definitely be too late.” Suddenly, a voice floated from the side of the forest.

Zhang Rongfang’s heart tightened, and he immediately looked up.

Following the direction of the voice, he soon saw a woman in blue leather armor, walking steadily and slowly approaching.

The woman’s face was covered with a black mask, revealing only the narrow part of her eyes.

From a distance, there was a white vertical mark on the forehead of the mask, like a third eye.

“How about asking for help?” She raised her finger, pointing at the Feather Talisman hanging on Zhang Rongfang’s waist, “It only takes one of those.”

“Feather Talisman?” Zhang Rongfang immediately understood the other’s identity.

Someone from the Golden Wing Pavilion!?

“You guys really have perfect timing,” Zhang Rongfang’s expression quickly calmed down.

He knew that meaningless anger would only affect his critical judgment.

“To be precise, from the moment you got the Feather Talisman, we have had someone watching you at all times,” the woman in blue calmly said.

“May I know your name?” Zhang Rongfang asked in a deep voice.

“Qingsu,” the woman replied.

The name was clearly a codename.

She scrutinized Zhang Rongfang carefully. To be honest, she was extremely resistant to meeting this possible new member.

Within the Golden Wing Pavilion, she was about to be appointed to this Tan Yang area as an Eagle Level, which was a third level.

In the entire Tan Yang, there were only two Eagle Level spots.

This spot was supposed to be hers.

But according to orders, if Zhang Rongfang joined the Golden Wing Pavilion, this Eagle Level position had to be given to him.

Just because Zhang Rongfang is a genius?

Qingsu was dissatisfied. From the brief introduction, Zhang Rongfang was a genius. Wasn’t she a genius too??

She was now twenty and already at the fourth level of martial arts. Zhang Rongfang, at eighteen, was at the third level, only slightly better than her in talent.

Not to mention she had achieved so much for the organization, completing many missions!

Why?

Why should Zhang Rongfang, who has achieved nothing, take the position that should have been hers as soon as he arrived!?

“So, Miss Qingsu, if I ask for help, can you get us to Qinghe Palace in Huaxin County within three days?” Zhang Rongfang, unaware of the other’s thoughts, asked earnestly.

“Less than three days. Starting from here, at our speed, we can make it in just one day,” Qingsu replied indifferently.

Zhang Rongfang picked up the Feather Talisman, lost in thought.

Before long, he asked again.

“I’d also like to ask, if I join your organization, what would be expected of me? What benefits could I receive?”

“You will need to complete a task assigned by the organization within a year. As for the benefits?”

Qingsu smiled.

“You will gain access to intelligence corresponding to the level of your position. You have the privilege to ask for intelligence corresponding to your identity level once a month for free.

Additionally, you will receive training in the top lightweight skills of our Golden Wing Pavilion.”

“No constraints?”

“Our Golden Wing Pavilion has six levels: Penguin, Kestrel, Eagle, Owl, Dove, and Sparrow. If you are Owl Level or below, there will naturally be constraints.

But you are different. If you join, you will start as Eagle Level, so….” Qingsu paused, seeming slightly unwilling.

“So, apart from keeping the existence of the Golden Wing Pavilion confidential, there are no constraints.”

Zhang Rongfang understood in his heart, knowing this was the Golden Wing Pavilion’s way of valuing and investing in him.

They said there were no constraints, but this organization held the secrets of his two identities; how could there be no constraints?

However, at this moment, he had no choice.

If there was truly trouble with his master, then everything he was doing now was right.

If there was no trouble and it was all a deception, then he could always regret it later.

After all, there were no constraints.

If things went wrong, he could just abandon the Zhang Ying identity and confront them directly.

Additionally, by now, Zhang Rongfang realized that being alone with no intelligence or manpower support was extremely inconvenient.

If he could rapidly grow using the Golden Wing Pavilion’s vast intelligence, it would make things easier and safer in the future.

“Alright, I agree to use the Feather Talisman to ask for your help, take me to Huaxin County, and help me solve my master Zhang Xuan’s trouble this time.”

“Only one request,” Qingsu said coldly.

“…. Then I want to witness my master Zhang Xuan’s trouble being resolved!” Zhang Rongfang quickly responded.

Qingsu’s eyes under the mask slightly narrowed.

“Don’t play word games with me.”

“Is this not acceptable?” Zhang Rongfang retorted.

“Of course not!” Qingsu was suffocating inside, but suddenly a new thought popped into her head.

There was only her around here…. which means…

“However….”

She stared into Zhang Rongfang’s eyes, with a hint of mockery.

“If you kneel and beg me, maybe I’ll be happy and willing to lead the way.”

The only Eagle Level position in Tan Yang City was certainly hers.

In an instant, Zhang Rongfang’s gaze froze, staring at her, motionless.

“Are you… forcing me?”

“What do you think?” Qingsu’s voice was half-joking.

After a long time….

Zhang Rongfang spoke slowly.

“I understand… you are afraid. Afraid that if I really join, it will harm some of your interests. So you deliberately push me to make me refuse to join the Golden Wing Pavilion. Right?”

The expression beneath Qingsu’s mask subtly changed. She wanted to speak but was immediately interrupted by the person opposite her.

“Then, using the Feather Talisman as proof, I demand that you immediately take me to Huaxin County,” Zhang Rongfang said swiftly.

The less they wanted him to join, the better rewards he would get once he did join.

So he might as well join and take a look for himself first.

As for handling the trouble with his teacher Zhang Xuan?

Once he reached Huaxin County, with his real strength, would he still need help from the Golden Wing Pavilion people?

“Have you… thought it through?” Qingsu asked in a low voice.

“Of course.”

*

*

*

The next day.

Qinghe Palace.

God of Wealth Hall.

In the early hours of the morning, incense smoke rose in thin wisps, hazy like mist.

Zhang Xuan knelt on a prayer mat and respectfully offered three sticks of incense to the God of Wealth.

After kowtowing, he stood up and murmured a few words to the hall master, an old Daoist, who was chanting nearby.

The old Daoist nodded, stood up, and leisurely walked towards the back hall.

Soon, Zhang Xuan was the only one left in the entire God of Wealth Hall.

Dong, dong, dong…

The patrolling Daoist outside was striking the bell, the timing chimes slowly resonating, which only enhanced the serene and remote atmosphere.

Zhang Xuan sat cross-legged on another prayer mat nearby, quietly cultivating the Cultivation of Literature.

Before long, a square-faced man with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a character-shaped shadow between his brows, slowly entered the God of Wealth Hall.

The man’s build was sturdy and lanky, clad in a sleeveless black leather armor with a row of sharp silver darts tied across his chest.

“Brother Zhang,” he greeted Zhang Xuan with a wave.

“You’re here, Ah Qi.” Zhang Xuan nodded and gestured to the prayer mat in front of him.

Soon, the two of them sat facing each other cross-legged.

The man’s name was Fang Qi, one of the seven leaders of the rebel army this time.

The rebel army was publicly referred to as consisting of six leaders, but in truth, Zhang Xuan was secretly stationed in Qinghe Palace, managing logistics and coordination for everyone.

Whether it was provisions or arms and military supplies, they were all distributed from Zhang Xuan the old Daoist.

Among these seven, Zhang Xuan and Fang Qi had the best relationship.

Years ago, Zhang Xuan had saved Fang Qi’s life, and Fang Qi had helped Zhang Xuan several times in return.

Their relationship was like that of brothers, deeply affectionate.

After sitting down, Fang Qi spoke softly.

“Old Han, the second brother over there, has been causing more and more trouble recently. The three brothers of the Han family occupy two-thirds of the rebel army’s manpower and don’t listen to anyone. If this continues, in the future…”

“Brother Han invested money, effort, and people back then; he is respected and admired. There’s nothing to say about that. As for Han’s second brother’s issues, with Brother Han keeping him in check, nothing major will happen. But what about that batch of supplies from the north that I previously coordinated?” Zhang Xuan frowned.

“It’s still with Old Dai; he’s holding onto it,” Fang Qi shook his head.

“What is he thinking? Does he want to become king of the mountain?” Zhang Xuan said with dissatisfaction.

“Old Dai asked to have a good one-on-one talk with you the day after tomorrow,” Fang Qi shook his head. “He talked to me, saying you always favor his group. This has been accumulating for a long time, and it’s time to sort it out since the three of us used to be the closest.”

“Does he not think about why I’m specifically targeting him?” Zhang Xuan said angrily, “The last time I allocated resources to him, he secretly sold a third of them, lining his own pockets. Does he think I don’t know?”

“Old Dai was just too poor in the past. When the time comes, we’ll persuade him well; we can bring him back. Don’t worry,” Fang Qi comforted.

“Let’s hope so,” Zhang Xuan sighed. He changed the subject, “I heard you recently got a jar of thirty-year-old date wine?”

Fang Qi’s expression froze, and then he shook his head helplessly.

“Brother Zhang, your news really… Even Qinghe and Xintai don’t persuade you to drink less.”

He gently clapped his hands.

Immediately, a woman with a sword strapped to her back entered the room, carrying two porcelain bottles with intricate blue patterns.

She placed the two bottles in front of the two men and silently withdrew again.

“Here, I knew you liked this stuff. Come on, each of us gets one,” Fang Qi shook his head helplessly, picked up one bottle of wine, and took a gulp after opening it.

Zhang Xuan smiled, picked up the other bottle, pulled out the stopper, and took a sniff.

“Good wine!”

The aroma was rich and strong, without a hint of impurities, and not at all pungent; instead, it had an intoxicating scent that pleasantly lingered in the nose, truly top-quality.

“By the way, where did you find a place for your daughter-in-law’s apprentice? I also want to send my son there,” Fang Qi casually asked.

“These days, where else can one go?” Zhang Xuan took a sip from his bottle.

“Found a way, sent him to Tan…”

He hiccuped from the wine.

“Sent him to Tan’s Manor.”

“Tan’s Manor? That’s really far,” Fang Qi was stunned.

“Yes, it is far. If you want to send now, you can’t go anymore; the main roads are all blocked, you’ll have to find another way,” Zhang Xuan sighed.

“Ah, it’s troublesome,” Fang Qi nodded in agreement.

The two then shared the wine, drinking and chatting idly, quickly finishing the two bottles.

Over an hour later, the two slouched against the wall and drifted into sleep.

Shortly after dozing off, Fang Qi gently opened his eyes.

“Brother Zhang?” he called softly.

No response.

The wine mixed with a little sedative was effective.

Fang Qi sighed, silently drawing a plum blossom dart from his person.

Staring at the unconscious Zhang Xuan in front of him, he suddenly thrust forward.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep