Chapter 317: Chapter 132: Gaining 2 Divine Power Realm Allies, an Ambush at Maple Valley
His voice was a repressed growl, filled with indignation and rage.
"It’s not time to despair yet."
Chu Fan’s voice remained calm, yet it held an undeniable power. "Join forces with me."
Lu Tao’s head snapped up. "Join forces?"
"You can deal with the Resentful Spirit?"
"I can’t," Chu Fan replied bluntly. "But I have a plan."
Lu Tao’s expression turned grave. He asked in a low voice, "What plan?"
Chu Fan no longer hesitated. He lowered his voice and concisely laid out the bold, even crazy, plan he had conceived.
After hearing the plan, Lu Tao’s eyes widened instantly. He sucked in a sharp breath and exclaimed, "You’re a madman... Are you not afraid to die?!"
"Who lives and who dies is not yet certain," Chu Fan said, his tone even but filled with a resilient confidence.
Lu Tao fell silent, staring intently at the eyes behind Chu Fan’s mask, as if trying to discern something from them.
A moment later, the murkiness and despair in his eyes gradually receded, replaced by a faint yet determined light.
"Fine!" Lu Tao gritted his teeth. "I’ll take you to see someone!"
Without another word, he led Chu Fan through a maze of alleyways, finally stopping before a house that looked ordinary, even somewhat dilapidated.
He pushed the door open. Inside, the furnishings were simple, lit by a single, dim oil lamp.
An old man with a white beard and hair and a wrinkled face sat at a table, polishing a well-maintained saber. Despite his age, his back was ramrod straight.
Chu Fan’s gaze swept over the room’s decor. Sensing the old man’s mountain-steady presence, he had already guessed his identity. ’This must be Lu Tao’s master, the former Old Constable of Cyan Yang Ancient City.’
But he hadn’t expected it. This old man, who looked to have one foot in the grave, was faintly emanating the fluctuations of Primordial Qi. He was actually at the Divine Power Realm!
And his Cultivation was clearly far more profound than Lu Tao’s.
Lu Tao hurried forward and bowed respectfully to the old man before relaying Chu Fan’s plan in full.
When he finished, the old man’s hand paused its polishing. He looked up, his face showing not a hint of fear, but rather a look of gratification, mixed with a nostalgic smile.
"Heh heh... To think these old bones of mine, almost in the grave, could still be of some use at the end."
The Old Constable’s voice was aged but full of vigor. "Fine by me... If I don’t move these old bones a bit, I’m afraid they’ll really rust over."
His gaze fell on Chu Fan, filled with approval and resolve. "If a young man like you can face death without fear and give the Moon Worship Sect this much trouble, it would be a true disgrace if this old man didn’t show a thing or two. People would really start to look down on the constables of Cyan Yang Ancient City!"
A sense of solemn respect filled Chu Fan. He said gravely, "By my calculations, time is short. They will arrive tomorrow, or the day after at the latest."
The Old Constable and Lu Tao exchanged a look, and both saw the same resolve in the other’s eyes.
"In that case, there’s no time to waste." The Old Constable stood up, fastening the saber securely to his waist. "We’ll leave the city with you now. To Maple Valley!"
"Not so fast." Chu Fan set down his bundle, took out two short-sleeved jackets, and handed one to the Old Constable and the other to Lu Tao.
"What are these?" The Old Constable and Lu Tao were both taken aback.
"These are jackets woven from Black Gold Silk," Chu Fan said. "They’re impervious to blades and immune to fire and water."
"I killed those Moon Worship Cultists, unraveled their gloves, and rewove the material into these."
"You should each wear one. They could save your lives in a crisis."
The Old Constable and Lu Tao exchanged a look, their eyes filled with curiosity as they gazed at the Ghost-faced Man.
...
Chu Fan, along with the Old Constable and Lu Tao, scaled the city walls. Just as they slipped into the darkness outside...
「Cyan Yang County Magistrate’s Office, the rear study.」
This place was a world apart from the chaos and ruin outside.
The intricately carved mahogany window lattices were shut tight, blocking out the clamor of the outside world and most of the light.
Expensive Calming Incense burned within, its blue smoke curling upwards. It should have been soothing, but the room was filled with a repressive, violent aura so thick it was almost tangible.
Zhang Yunpeng, the county magistrate who normally wore a warm and gentle demeanor, now stood in the shadows with his back to the door.
Though his official robes were immaculate, the hands behind his back were clenched into fists, trembling faintly.
The floor was littered with shards from a fine porcelain cup, tea spattered everywhere in a complete mess.
Behind him, three men in black knelt on one knee. Their auras were cold and sinister, and they kept their heads bowed low, not daring to even breathe.
They could clearly sense the terrifying rage radiating from the figure before them—
it was like a volcano on the verge of erupting, threatening to incinerate everything in its path.
Zhang Yunpeng turned, his gaze sweeping over the three men. He took a deep breath, trying to suppress his emotions.
This matter had nothing to do with these three. Normally, his temperament would never allow him to vent his anger on subordinates.
But now, his emotions were spiraling out of control.
’I, Zhang Yunpeng, am a key asset planted here by the Moon Worship Sect.’
’Although my power is less than Ghost Moon’s, my status is higher. I am responsible for the grand strategy, for laying out this great game targeting Cyan Yang Ancient City!’
’But now...’
’everything is ruined!’
’Ghost Moon... you fool! You utter, complete fool!’
Zhang Yunpeng roared inwardly.
’All of my plans, my entire strategy, ruined by that self-righteous Ghost Moon!’
’He refused to listen to reason, slaughtered the Blood Saber Sect on his own whim, and then rushed to annihilate the Seven Stars Gang. He alerted the enemy, drawing out that mysterious Ghost-faced Man, and ended up flipping the entire board, leaving everything in shambles!’
’Seven Stars Castle was slaughtered. Three core members at the Divine Power Realm and dozens of Moon Worship Cultists at the Spirit Awakening Realm were completely wiped out. Not a single survivor!’
’That was the core force I spent years building, the very power meant to activate the Grand Array!’
’The Moon Worship Cultists stationed in the two ruins in Cyan Yang Ancient City, responsible for monitoring and support, were also eliminated one after another, their deaths a complete mystery!’
’In all my years of scheming, I, Zhang Yunpeng, have made countless calculations. I never imagined I’d find myself in such an embarrassing, laughable predicament—I have no one left to command!’
’Now, aside from the few experts hidden by my side for protection and communication, I can no longer muster any decent forces.’
’The intelligence network that once covered all of Cyan Yang has been almost completely uprooted!’
