Chapter 89

"How can you treat me like this!"

A loud voice was heard seeping out from the grand hall of the Nine Dragon Hall.

The one standing at the head of the table, with a flushed face and in a state of agitation, was none other than Du Zhong'e, the head of the Yellow Green Escort Agency.

Unlike his usual demeanor of keeping a low profile and not daring to raise his head in front of Yan Chianshi, today he was completely enraged.

His fearless attitude was naturally due to the fact that his son, Du Qichil, had died in the escort examination.

"What is it, then?"

Yan Chianshi, who had been looking at the furious Du Zhong'e with a cold gaze, finally spoke in a low voice.

Yan Chianshi's indifferent attitude towards the problem only made Du Zhong'e even more enraged as he continued.

"What else! The bastard beheaded my son! Yet you plan to leave the bastard and the White Cloud Escort Agency alone. How can this be justified when you know what I have done for the Nine Dragon Hall all these years!"

In response to Du Zhong'e's rebuke, Yan Chianshi instead showed a bitter smile at the corner of his mouth.

"The brat almost ruined the grand plan of the sect with his reckless actions, but he was stopped with just one head. How commendable. You should be rewarded, not punished."

The term "brat" Yan Chianshi used referred to Du Zhong'e's beheaded son, which filled Du Zhong'e with a surge of betrayal and anger, causing his body to tremble.

Yan Chianshi's subsequent words finally broke the last thread of Du Zhong'e's patience.

"Why should I cut down those who have offered to be our allies? In fact, our ties with the White Cloud Escort Agency are even older than with you."

'You bastard!'

The reason for Yan Chianshi's sudden change in attitude was simple.

Unlike the Nine Dragon Hall, which relied on mercenaries, the White Cloud Escort Agency had two top-notch martial artists and was about to take on the official escort, which would bring them substantial financial power.

In other words, Yan Chianshi judged that the future utility value of the White Cloud Escort Agency was far superior.

'How could I have been used and discarded like this... How could this be possible!'

Without a moment's hesitation, Yan Chianshi's actions filled Du Zhong'e with a murderous intent.

"Will the Huashan Sect just stand by? Are you not angry at losing your disciples and junior brothers!"

Unable to back down, Du Zhong'e provoked Qing Shui Daozhang, who was sitting beside him, to draw the Huashan Sect into the conflict.

If Qing Shui Daozhang sided with him, he believed he could change Yan Chianshi's mind.

However, contrary to his expectations,

"......"

For some reason, Qing Shui Daozhang remained silent, not uttering a single word.

'Why is he so quiet!'

Despite the death of his disciple and the crippling of his right-hand man, Qing Kun Daozhang, Qing Shui Daozhang remained silent.

Normally, Qing Shui Daozhang would have been more agitated than Du Zhong'e, but his unfamiliar behavior only added to Du Zhong'e's frustration.

In fact, Qing Shui Daozhang's hostility towards You Xinyun was not much different from Du Zhong'e's.

However, Qing Shui Daozhang's current silence was due to a conversation he had with Yan Chianshi before Du Zhong'e arrived.

-If the Huashan Sect rises up against this unavoidable accident, you will have to give up the new power you have gained.

Faced with Yan Chianshi's threat to take away the power of favor, Qing Shui Daozhang, who had been defiant, became mute.

'I cannot let this power be taken away. Disciples can be raised again.'

Through the power of favor, Qing Shui Daozhang had reached the realm of Transformation, and he had become a slave to power.

With his last option failing, Du Zhong'e gritted his teeth and crossed a line he should never have crossed.

"If you abandon me, do you think I will just stand by! The moment I leave here, I will reveal the true nature of the Nine Dragon Hall and the sect to everyone!"

The moment Du Zhong'e finished speaking,

Whoosh! Boom!

A terrifying aura exploded from Yan Chianshi's body.

In an instant, the overwhelming demonic aura filled the grand hall and began to penetrate Du Zhong'e's entire body, destroying his meridians like poison.

"Kuh!"

Before long, Du Zhong'e knelt on the ground, spitting out blood. His face, which had been filled with anger, quickly turned to fear.

"I, I spoke out of turn. Please, pretend you didn't hear what I said."

Du Zhong'e prostrated himself again, pleading.

However, Yan Chianshi's expression did not change in the slightest. Then, he calmly spoke to Qing Shui Daozhang.

"I will give you what was promised. Take it."

Confused by Yan Chianshi's sudden words, Du Zhong'e was taken aback.

However, the moment he saw Qing Shui Daozhang, he immediately understood what Yan Chianshi had promised.

Swoosh!

Qing Shui Daozhang drew his cold, gleaming sword. His eyes, filled with murderous intent and greed, were fixed on Du Zhong'e.

"The Yellow Green Escort Agency will play a significant role in silencing the internal unrest of the Huashan Sect."

A cruel smile appeared on Yan Chianshi's face.

As Qing Shui Daozhang approached, Du Zhong'e, his face drained of color, began to crawl backward.

"You can't do this to me! You can't do this to me!"

"Your insolence in speaking the name of the sect without restraint! You will pay with your life."

"Ugh, ugh!"

With a final scream,

Squish!

A chilling slicing sound echoed through the room.

Part 2

"Haha, we meet again."

At the greeting from behind, Xu Zhongguang, the leader of the Nine Dragon Hall, who was inspecting the escort team in front of the Inspector's Office, turned his head.

You Xinyun was smiling brightly. Behind him, the escort team was following.

"To meet again like this. Is the head of the state also leading an escort?"

"Yes. The first team has already set off for Antang Mountain, and I am about to lead the second team to Zhangxing."

As You Xinyun said, the White Cloud Escort Agency had two teams. As Xu Zhongguang mentioned, the Nine Dragon Hall had indeed given the White Cloud Escort Agency the third-class official escort.

The official escort to transport the miraculous herbs found in Antang Mountain to the imperial palace was led by Tao Jinwu and Luo Daixiong, while You Xinyun was about to leave for Zhangxing to receive the imperial gifts.

"What are the imperial gifts?"

"From what I heard, they are high-quality weapons."

"Weapons. As long as the carts are sturdy, there shouldn't be any problems."

"Haha, that's fortunate. If I had to carry the princess's legacy, I would have been so nervous that I couldn't manage the escort properly."

Seeing You Xinyun frown and shake his head as if the thought was terrifying, Xu Zhongguang inwardly sneered, finding him a coward who lacked substance despite his abilities.

"The legacy is just a letter to the emperor and some clothes. A leader of an organization should have the capacity to handle such things."

Despite the contempt in Xu Zhongguang's words, You Xinyun only smiled without showing any displeasure.

'What a fool.'

Seeing this, Xu Zhongguang completely looked down on You Xinyun.

However, at that moment, You Xinyun discreetly took something out of his sleeve and handed it to Xu Zhongguang.

Xu Zhongguang's eyes widened as he received it. It was a bill with a considerable amount written on it.

"......What is this?"

"It's a small gift I prepared for you, Chief Xu. Please treat your team to a drink before your long journey."

Xu Zhongguang hesitated for a moment but then put the bill in his sleeve, as if it were no big deal.

"Tsk, there was no need for this. I will accept it gratefully. The head of the state is very generous."

"Haha, thank you. Please continue to speak well of me to the leader. I will be on my way now."

You Xinyun bowed and led the escort team away.

Seeing this, Zhu Langchang, the deputy leader of the Nine Dragon Hall's escort team, who was standing beside Xu Zhongguang, looked at You Xinyun with disdain and said,

"To think that a spineless puppet like him was seen as a threat to the Nine Dragon Hall. It's laughable now."

"Let him be. He is destined to be devoured by us one day, but until then, let's enjoy his antics."

They laughed and chatted as they watched You Xinyun disappear into the distance.

However, what they didn't know was that

You Xinyun, walking away, also had a strange smile on his face.

The two teams of the Nine Dragon Hall's escort moved swiftly and unimpeded towards Xianling.

They had been worried that the Green Forest of Zhejiang, with whom they had conflicts during the escort examination, might cause trouble, but contrary to their concerns, the Green Forest allowed them to pass safely from all the mountains.

Puzzled, they soon realized the reason.

'Tsk, blood is thicker than water. The alliance with the White Cloud Escort Agency has its advantages. I should report this to the leader.'

You Xinyun had clearly given some hint to his sworn brother, Tao Nanjiang.

Arriving in Xianling without any issues, Xu Zhongguang successfully received the legacy of Princess Chao Hui.

The letter wrapped in silk and the clothes with the marks of time were carefully placed in a sturdy box, and he turned his steps towards the imperial palace.

Everything was going smoothly.

They reached Fuyang, where You Xinyun had previously bought all the barren lands, in a completely relaxed state.

Rushing! Rushing!

Rain poured down as if the sky had a hole in it. The deputy leader of the Nine Dragon Hall's team approached Xu Zhongguang and suggested,

"Chief, should we take a break?"

"Nonsense! There's no time to waste here."

Despite the dissatisfaction on the faces of his subordinates, who were being drenched by the rain, Xu Zhongguang, known for his strictness, did not allow the team to rest and pushed forward.

'Tsk, these young ones.'

Looking at his subordinates, who were complaining, with disdain, he moved further into the mountains.

Before they knew it, they had passed through the village and entered deep into the mountains.

Just as they were climbing a steep, winding mountain path,

Boom! Bang!

A thunderclap struck the ground nearby, causing the earth to tremble.

Only then did Xu Zhongguang realize something was amiss.

'This is strange.'

It wasn't just a heavy rain. For some reason, the aura around them was in turmoil.

Moreover, the martial sense that had kept him alive so far was going wild, warning him that this place was a death trap.

'What is this?'

But there was nothing around them.

They were surrounded only by mountains.

At that moment, something flashed in his mind.

'Mountains? Could it be!'

His eyes, which had been naturally scanning the surroundings, began to tremble.

He turned his head and looked up at the mountain.

Rumble! Bang!

At that moment, a wave of rocks and mud began to pour down from the mountain, covering his field of vision.

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