Chapter 86: 84 Erasure, Part 2

Looking at Zhang Rongfang, Zhang Xuan was momentarily speechless.

Everything had been done, and he seemed… unsure of what to do next….

“Master, the Spirit Court will launch a major offensive today. You should immediately notify the other rebel leaders. Otherwise, the situation may change.”

Zhang Rongfang had anticipated his master’s state at the moment, continued without hesitation, immediately reminding him.

“Thanks!” Zhang Xuan heavily patted his disciple’s shoulder. He quickly left the back mountain.

When passing by Tang Sha, he paused, looking at this old guy who had spent his life calculating and scheming, yet inexplicably fell amid unimaginable variables.

For a moment, Zhang Xuan’s complex feelings and sighs were indescribable.

“Perhaps this is what they mean by, a man proposes, but heaven disposes….”

No matter how much Tang Sha planned, he couldn’t match the unexpected disruption caused by a newcomer.

Immediately, he hurried away, heading to the front part of Qinghe Palace.

Since Fang Qi has conspired with Tang Sha, then other places are likely also taking action.

He must quickly go check on Old Han’s side!

Next is the battle for gathering manpower for attack and defense. Even if Zhang Rongfang’s side is strong, it won’t make much difference amid rain of arrows and group attacks.

The bigger picture has to be well arranged.

“Oh right.” Zhang Xuan suddenly thought of something and turned to look at his disciple behind him.

“Since Zhao Yuetian from Sea Dragon is here, it means Red Dog King from Tan Yang might have also sent someone.

The two have been working together for years, inseparable. Rongfang, your identity on Tan Yang’s side…?”

“Don’t worry, on our Golden Wing Pavilion side, there won’t be any leaks. The only possibility could be from your side.”

Qingsu chimed in at that moment.

She now had adjusted her attitude.

After witnessing Zhang Rongfang’s martial prowess, she had realized that she, and even the entire Golden Wing Pavilion, had seriously underestimated Zhang Rongfang’s potential and strength.

Now she must quickly restore the relationship with Zhang Rongfang, otherwise….

Qingsu couldn’t help but shiver inside.

If it were ordinary people, they wouldn’t know the terror of martial artists as assassins.

But they in Golden Wing Pavilion are different…..

With Zhang Rongfang’s current potential and strength….he could very likely become one of the Nine Spirits in the future. The floor master would undeniably value him highly.

By then….

No. He doesn’t need to wait until then.

Even now, if this person had a thought and decided to kill her somewhere, no one would be able to trace it….

Thinking of this, and recalling Zhang Rongfang’s terrifying efficiency in killing just like slicing through grass.

Wave after wave of horror surged through Qingsu’s heart, causing her muscles to tense up.

No!

She must find a way to save herself! To mend the relationship just now!!

Numerous thoughts and ideas whirled rapidly in her mind.

“Red Dog King….?” From his colleagues, Zhang Rongfang had heard of this name. It’s a well-known intelligence trafficker in Tan Yang.

“There’s a loophole!” Suddenly Qingsu spoke up, drawing the attention of the other two.

She paused, explained: “With Sea Dragon and Red Dog King scheming this time, it indicates Red Dog King has fully sided with Spirit Court.

Yet if that’s the case, Red Dog King’s main force isn’t here. Which means, he’s very likely gone to assist elsewhere.”

She took out a short pipe from her waist pouch, placed it against her lips, and blew hard.

Whee~~~!

Suddenly a sharp and clear whistle sound echoed.

“Wait a moment,” Qingsu said.

Zhang Rongfang and Zhang Xuan suppressed their impatience, waited patiently for several minutes.

Quickly.

A red sparrow hastily flew from afar.

The sparrow gently landed on Qingsu’s extended hand, with a paper scroll tied to its leg.

Qingsu took off the paper scroll, unfolded it to take a look, immediately her expression slightly changed.

“Red Dog King has already taken people back to Tan Yang! They followed the Bai family’s caravan clue and found Yang Hongyan’s family there!”

“Does Yang Hongyan know Zhang Ying’s identity?” She looked at Zhang Rongfang.

“…..This is troublesome!”

Zhang Rongfang’s heart sank.

Sister-in-law certainly knows.

And once Red Dog King finds sister-in-law there, not only will sister-in-law’s family’s safety be at risk.

Everything he has in Tan Yang will also instantly be for naught.

Zhang Ying will also instantaneously be labeled as a rebel co-conspirator.

At that time, when he protected sister-in-law on her way to Tan Yang, joined the Bai family’s caravan, many people had seen him.

If one were really determined to find out, there’s no place to hide.

Just when the two were worrying.

Qingsu suddenly spoke up.

“I’ll lead the way! With Xiaohong’s help, we have people from Golden Wing Pavilion beside Red Dog King who can track them precisely!”

“You? Didn’t you say you could only fulfill one request?” Zhang Rongfang was surprised, looking at her, unsure of her intention.

“I….” Qingsu blushed, wanting to admit her mistake but found herself unable to speak as the words reached her mouth.

In the heat of the moment…..

“I’m moved by the sincere bond between you master and disciple. Traveling such a long way, dedicated solely to saving the master, it’s just too touching….”

She lowered her head, constantly wiping her eyes.

Zhang Rongfang and Zhang Xuan were speechless, looking at Qingsu’s masked face.

Indeed, she looked quite convincing while crying.

“Let’s go, lead the way.” Zhang Rongfang couldn’t be bothered to expose her pretense.

He’ll see the girl’s performance afterwards.

Zhang Rongfang didn’t meet with his senior brother, just glanced at them from afar, confirmed that Zhang Xintai and Zhao Dachong were fine, then quickly followed Qingsu down the mountain.

Qingsu applied her fourth-grade body technique to its fullest.

But unfortunately….

She was still easily followed by Zhang Rongfang behind her.

The two left Qinghe Palace, following the red sparrow straight towards Tan Yang.

This time was different from before. Knowing the situation was urgent, Qingsu had already sped up to her limit.

It must be said, her body technique far surpassed normal third-grade or fourth-grade martial cultivators in speed.

She must have specialized in body technique velocity.

But what shook her was, Zhang Rongfang behind her since climbing the mountain, killing, fierce battles, and now rushing down.

From start to finish, barely rested.

Even now still appeared vibrant and energetic.

This endurance made Qingsu continually renew his impression of the figure in his mind. He increasingly felt that he had to quickly make amends for his previous offense.

*

*

*

On the official road from Huaxin County to Tan Yang.

A group of people and horses proceeded at a steady pace along the road.

Among this group, two people were on horseback, while the rest traveled on foot.

Behind them, a yellow cow pulled a cart.

Red Dog King rode a brown horse, followed by two personal guards.

Looking at the winding mountain road ahead, he took out a water pouch and took a sip.

“How far are we from the checkpoint where the officials are stationed?”

“Old leader, just around the bend ahead, down the slope.” A skinny man with a pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks ran close and responded with a smile.

“Hmm, finally here. Prepare the documents, we’re here on official business for the court, for the imperial government.” Red Dog King smiled somewhat smugly.

“Once this is done, if successful, we might just nab ourselves a position in the yamen.”

From a young age, he had scraped by, begged, deceived, stolen, robbed, and at thirteen, he had already ambushed and killed someone.

At fifteen, he had assaulted a passing young girl.

To survive, to live better, hadn’t he done just about everything?

When he was younger, lying by the roadside, waiting for the officials’ carriage to pass by slowly, he then had a dream.

Someday, he too wanted to become an official!!

Sadly, he was of the Barbarian Race; his birth naturally restricted him from holding any positions.

Unless he achieved great merit.

Over the years, he had schemed and sought various paths, and now, he had finally connected with Sea Dragon.

Having helped Sea Dragon capture beauties for so long, he finally found an opportunity.

An opportunity to leap through the dragon gate and turn his life around!

Red Dog King grinned broadly, his yellow teeth uneven, and his severe halitosis strong enough to knock out a toad.

But he was utterly indifferent.

As long as he became an official, as long as he became an official!

He would be among the elite!

By then….

The caravan gradually rounded the bend.

Below, the vast military camp stationed at the foot of the mountain could already be seen from a distance.

Around the camp were several rudimentary watchtowers set up.

There were patrolling soldiers pacing back and forth.

“Everyone pick up the pace, once we pass this stretch, the surrounding area will be much safer. Stay alert!” Red Dog King’s lieutenant shouted loudly from behind.

“Oh!” The others replied one after another.

Among the group, a chestnut-haired woman dressed in tight black leather also rode a horse.

She was Sea Dragon Zhao Yuetian’s deputy, accompanying Red Dog King to investigate this time.

“Dog King, are you sure Zhang Rongfang, Zhang Xuan’s disciple, departed together with Yang Hongyan from the Bai family caravan?”

“Absolutely.” Red Dog King nodded, even though he had trained to the peak of the fourth rank, he still maintained a good demeanor facing this third-ranked woman.

After all, whether he could become an official depended on Sea Dragon’s people.

“The Bai family caravan arrived in Tan Yang a long time ago, how did you find clues about the Yang Hongyan family?”

The woman asked suspiciously.

“Yang deputy doesn’t handle intelligence, naturally wouldn’t know.” Red Dog King laughed.

“As long as we start from the caravan, find Yang Hongyan’s physical features, then trace the beautiful, appropriately aged girls newly residing in Tan Yang….haha, in this area, Sea Dragon surely has enough data, right?”

“There are countless people in Tan Yang, hard to manage them all.” The woman shook her head.

“Then limit the date to those who’ve moved in the past year?” Red Dog King chuckled, “People have to eat, drink, excrete, no matter how well they hide, they’ll eventually step outside for air.”

“Alright, enough talk, we’re almost there.” He rode his horse forward a step, taking the lead at the front of the group heading to the foot of the mountain.

Hiss!

Suddenly the horse raised its front hooves, seeming somewhat uneasy.

Red Dog King frowned, gently soothing his steed.

“What’s the matter?”

“Dog King.” Suddenly the black leather-clad woman called from behind.

“What?” Red Dog King turned to look.

“A question.” The woman asked solemnly, “Besides you and me, anyone else know about the Yang family clues?”

“Such an important affair, naturally wouldn’t be leaked before the operation. Just the two of us know the details.” Red Dog King replied matter-of-factly.

Then he seemed to realize something.

“You’re worried about someone prying out early? Rest assured, everyone in my team here are trusted confidants, none would willingly leak the secret.”

He held out his thumb, showing a proud smile.

Suddenly, he felt something and swiftly turned his head.

Pfft!!

Under the sunlight, while riding on horseback, his head flew high.

The smile on his face hadn’t dissipated; his eyes were filled with shock and bewilderment.

A silver light cut swiftly, slicing through his throat with blood.

The silver light skewed, landed, and plunged harshly into the mud, scattering a large chunk of dirt.

The horse, frightened, neighed long in terror, tossing Red Dog King off its back, galloping away.

Red Dog King’s entourage paused, then panicked in terror.

The two guards rushed forward hastily to check the situation, looking to inspect Red Dog King’s corpse.

But as they approached, they saw a black shadow flash.

Two streaks of blood burst forth, bodies fell to the ground.

The black shadow, with a tiptoe, pulled out the silver wheel from the ground, moving like a whiff of smoke among the group.

With each move, a body would collapse.

The leather-clad woman atop the horse sighed lightly, extending her hand to let a small red sparrow land on her wrist.

Shouts of pain, cries, mixed together, echoed behind her.

Once the black-clad woman dismounted, calmed the horses, and turned around.

Behind her lay a ground filled with corpses.

A burly figure slowly lowered the silver wheel from his hand, standing up from the last person.

He raised his head, revealing Zhang Rongfang who had just arrived.

Behind him, wielding a blood-stained short sword, was Qingsu.

“Subordinate Ye Ying greets Master.” The black-clad woman bowed to Qingsu.

She turned out to be from the Golden Wing Pavilion too!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep