Chapter 93

Shenma's Line (93)

"I once reported that the old Buddha statue at Shaolin Temple was destroyed by Fan Jie Wei."

"I remember."

"At that time, coincidentally, Han Xuehua and a young man named Dan Aoxian were visiting Shaolin."

After a moment, Zhuge Yan continued.

"Also, the doctors E Gong and E Ri were part of that group."

Staring into the wavering eyes of Nangong Bai, Zhuge Yan pressed on.

"Can this also be seen as a coincidence?"

"......"

Facing Nangong Bai's continued silence, Zhuge Yan began to report the content she had been holding back.

"They visited Huashan after Shaolin. However, while E Gong and E Ri traveled with them, they did not actually climb Huashan. Only Bing Yuexian and Dan Aoxian met the head of Huashan. Why didn't E Gong and E Ri climb Huashan?"

Zhuge Yan revealed her conclusion.

"Because no matter how they disguise themselves, they cannot deceive Zhenming Zhenren. Especially Chao Ailiang, who is associated with the Five Great Sects and has had several entanglements with Zhenming Zhenren in the past. They would have recognized each other immediately upon meeting."

As Zhuge Yan finished speaking, silence fell in the office.

How much time had passed?

"So, they are Chao Ailiang and Fan Jie Wei?"

Nangong Bai nodded in response to Zhuge Yan's question.

"You need to make a decision now."

"Decision?"

Nangong Bai frowned in response.

"What decision do you want me to make?"

"We must mobilize all our forces to eliminate them before it's too late."

Nangong Bai's face showed confusion.

Her proposal was unusually aggressive, unlike her usual self.

The Three Thoughts and One Action (三思一行) principle, which advocates thinking thrice before acting, was something she adhered to more than anyone else in the conservative Zhuge family.

The situation was sufficient, but there was still a lack of decisive evidence.

There was no clear connection that E Gong and E Ri were Chao Ailiang and Fan Jie Wei.

Suddenly, the part she mentioned last caught his attention.

"What do you mean by 'too late'?"

"If we leave them as they are, the very existence of our alliance will be greatly shaken."

"......?"

"The reason the Wu Lin Alliance has not completed the extermination of the Ten Great Evils is to maintain the alliance's existence. This is how it is perceived externally."

"......"

"At this point, we need to clearly demonstrate the strength of our alliance. If we eliminate Xue Shui Zunzhe and Wang Shan Chaozhe... through this, we can impress upon the Nine Great Sects that they will not dare to challenge our alliance any further."

Nangong Bai's eyes sank deeply.

If that happens, only the Ten Great Evils' leader, Aohu Jun of the Green Forest, will remain.

Given his leadership of the vast Green Forest, it would be impossible to complete the extermination overnight. Through this, the Wu Lin Alliance can once again take the lead in maintaining order in the martial world.

However, this should only proceed after the identities of Chao Ailiang and Fan Jie Wei are confirmed.

Reading Nangong Bai's mood, Zhuge Yan played her final card.

"We are the ones being chased, not them."

Nangong Bai's eyes showed confusion.

"Who is chasing our alliance?"

"Time."

Still puzzled, Nangong Bai asked.

"Aren't you curious about why they visited Shaolin and Huashan?"

Nodding, Nangong Bai encouraged her to continue.

"They have received invitations from influential figures in the Nine Great Sects, especially those with deep ties to Sheng Shu Xin. They are seeking agreement to turn Wuyi into a land for fugitives."

"Land for fugitives?"

"They plan to declare it a forbidden zone where righteous figures cannot enter."

"......!"

"Then our alliance will no longer be able to exterminate the Ten Great Evils. If they flee there, that's it. Moreover, Hui Gong of Shaolin and the head of Huashan have already signed the invitations."

Nangong Bai pondered in silence.

If this were true, it would be a rather troublesome situation.

However, everything has its order.

First, the truth must be verified.

"How did you obtain information about the invitations?"

Nangong Bai, who knew the characters of Hui Gong and Zhenming Zhenren well, knew they would not have provided the information first.

"Through an insider."

Zhuge Yan's answer, without a hint of hesitation, surprised Nangong Bai.

"Did you plant spies in Shaolin and Huashan?"

It was more than bewildering.

If they found out and confronted the Wu Lin Alliance, it would be speechless.

However, Zhuge Yan nodded calmly.

"Where are they the only ones? We have ears planted in all influential small and medium-sized sects, including the Nine Great Sects, for the sake of our alliance."

"Commander of the Heavenly Yi Division. Are you in your right mind?"

"All for the sake of our alliance. And that is the reason for the existence of the Heavenly Yi Division."

"......"

Nangong Bai was speechless.

There was nothing to say when she stated it so boldly.

Through just a few exchanges, her ability to identify weaknesses and use them to persuade and manipulate was well-known to Nangong Bai.

No wonder she was called Zinang Li in the Zhuge family, known for her sharp mind and often looked down upon.

Meeting Nangong Bai's complex gaze, Zhuge Yan spoke again.

"If it becomes known that the two are Xue Shui Zunzhe and Wang Shan Chaozhe, the person who will be most troubled is you, the leader of the alliance."

Nangong Bai's eyes wavered slightly.

It was true.

If E Gong and E Ri were indeed Chao Ailiang and Fan Jie Wei, he would be in the most difficult position.

As the leader of the Wu Lin Alliance, he would be seen as failing to recognize Xue Shui Zunzhe and Wang Shan Chaozhe when they were right in front of him.

Moreover, he had brought them into the main division of the Wu Lin Alliance and even entrusted them with his daughter's treatment. Other families would have grounds to hold him accountable.

"I am in a difficult position."

Muttering lowly and trying to sort out his complex thoughts, Nangong Bai faced Zhuge Yan, who bowed apologetically.

"I apologize. However, good advice is often painful and bitter. Please understand that all this is for the sake of our alliance..."

Tapping the armrest of his chair, Nangong Bai fell into thought.

After a long while, he spoke.

"I understand. You may leave."

Bowing respectfully, Zhuge Yan left.

"However, you..."

"......?"

"You have never once said you were doing this for me."

The weight of his words made Zhuge Yan's smile waver for the first time.

But she quickly regained her composure.

"Because you are the leader of the alliance."

Nangong Bai chuckled.

He had realized something.

"I am a very lucky person."

Hiding his burning anger behind a blank expression, Nangong Bai said.

"To have a subordinate who thinks of me so much."

Bowing again and leaving the office, Zhuge Yan's back was watched by Nangong Bai, whose eyes sank even deeper.

It was a day filled with much thought.

* * *

Leaving the leader's office, Zhuge Yan looked up at the sky.

Her eyes held a smile that was hard to interpret.

'Now the leader is in a bind.'

As the saying goes, a cunning rabbit has three dens.

Whether the leader kills E Gong and E Ri or not, it doesn't matter.

If they are indeed Chao Ailiang and Fan Jie Wei, the Wu Lin Alliance will have to invest considerable resources, leading to significant losses.

This will inevitably lead to the defection of those who support the leader.

If there is a call for the leader's resignation, all that is needed is to lend some support to that side.

If it fails, it will still yield a satisfactory result.

It will prove the leader's incompetence.

What if the leader refuses to exterminate E Gong and E Ri?

That would be the best outcome for her. Proving that E Gong and E Ri are Xue Shui Zunzhe and Wang Shan Chaozhe will achieve everything.

How many will follow a leader who protects the Ten Great Evils out of personal favor?

A leader swayed by mere familial ties is not fit to lead the Wu Lin Alliance.

'It's unfair.'

Having reached her current position through great sacrifice, she could not let his arrogance of wanting everything go unchecked.

* * *

"Next, are you going to Zhongnan Sect?"

Chao Ailiang asked, and Dan Aoxian nodded.

"Yes. After that, we plan to go to Qingcheng Sect in Sichuan."

Following the main road south, Zhongnan Sect is about three to four days away.

Dan Aoxian smiled and hugged the invitation in his chest.

"Fortunately, things are going well. With the invitations from Shaolin and Huashan, other sects will likely join without hesitation."

Dan Aoxian's expression and steps were unusually light.

Chao Ailiang nodded with a smile.

"Yes. Still, don't rush. Let's take our time. We need to practice as well."

"I feel like I'm on a journey, and it's so enjoyable."

The sight of Dan Aoxian's happiness brought a warm smile to the