Chapter 235: Chapter 124: Deeper Chess Pieces
Central Island.
At the end of the grand central avenue extending from the Dragon Palace, in the back courtyard of an inn named ’Youlai,’ Wang Ping and Jiangcun were savoring grape wine from the East Continent Western Alliance, while Yu Lian chewed on a large, boiled shrimp.
"It’s so much more comfortable out here."
Jiangcun was like a child tired of being bossed around. He propped his left hand on the table, his body relaxed, and raised his wine glass with his right, toasting the sun in the sky.
Yu Lian swallowed her mouthful of shrimp and asked Jiangcun, "I’ve always been curious. Why does the Dragon Palace have so many rules? Do you guys enjoy being governed by them?"
"No one likes being controlled. The Dragon Monarch says we of the Dragon Race are naturally restless, free-spirited, and unrestrained, but also prone to debauchery. Only by binding ourselves with rules can we prevent our desires from suppressing our humanity." Jiangcun said with a shudder, "I was beaten into following the rules all through my childhood. I was nearly beaten to death once."
"Is that so? I’ve read in many stories that the Dragon Race is licentious. And that you like to stir up trouble everywhere, plunging the world into misery." Yu Lian scooted a little closer to Wang Ping and stared at Jiangcun. "A while ago, stories about slaying dragons were really popular. I stocked up on a bunch and still haven’t finished them all."
Jiangcun was taken aback by Yu Lian’s words. Wang Ping raised his glass and said, "Please don’t take offense, Fellow Daoist. Those stories are merely a pastime for the common folk."
"No!"
Jiangcun shook his head. "Ordinarily, I wouldn’t mind. But given the current situation, my Lishui Prefecture has already established a foothold in Zhongzhou, yet we’re being vilified in these storybooks. Tell me, if we were to appear in the Central Plains, what do you think the world’s first impression of us would be?"
Wang Ping hadn’t thought that far ahead, but upon reflection, he knew Jiangcun was right. So, he said, "That’s easy enough to handle. If you’re interested, Fellow Daoist, you can leave it to me."
"There’s no need to trouble you with such a trivial matter." Jiangcun politely declined Wang Ping’s help with a smile. He didn’t want to use up the favor between them on such a minor issue.
The two chatted for a while longer before Jiangcun took his leave.
「Three days passed.」
Zi Luan and Mingxin arrived at the inn—or rather, returned to the inn, as the Daoist Scripture Hall had originally rented the place for Zi Luan.
The three of them didn’t exchange many words in the small courtyard. After a brief greeting, they quietly left the city, then boarded a pre-arranged merchant ship and headed west along the shipping route.
As they neared Dongxu Island, Wang Ping disembarked. Before they parted, Zi Luan specifically instructed him, "You were lucky this time. When you get back to Nanlin Road, remember to find me right away. I have something good for you."
Wang Ping knew he was talking about the spoils from the siege on Si Ran, so he naturally expressed his thanks.
Back in the small courtyard he had rented in Dongxu City, Wang Ping had yet to even catch his breath when a Puppet Bird, the size of an adult’s thumb, descended toward him.
This was Yu Cheng Taoist’s most secret method of communication!
Wang Ping’s brow twitched. After habitually probing it with his Wood Spirit Qi, he immediately retrieved the intelligence from its abdomen.
"What is it?" Yu Lian perched on Wang Ping’s shoulder, reading the intelligence report with him.
The intelligence was indeed from Yu Cheng Taoist, but the information itself was provided by Wenyang Taoist. He had obtained a reliable report through the True Yang Sect’s channels: someone was planning to ambush and kill Zi Luan on his return journey!
When Wang Ping read this news, he felt a chill shoot up from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head, followed by a tremor that shook him from the inside out.
His first thought was of Guan Xi, who had left early, but he quickly dismissed the idea.
Even Lishui Prefecture had more reason to get rid of Zi Luan than Guan Xi did!
’Could it really be Lishui Prefecture?’
’But why would the intelligence come from the True Yang Sect?’
Wang Ping’s mind raced with possibilities, but his hands didn’t stop moving. He quickly wrote a letter and was about to send it via the communication method he and Zi Luan had agreed upon when he suddenly sensed a familiar aura at the gate.
It was Guan Xi, who had quietly left after they had dealt with Si Ran!
"His aura is very steady," Yu Lian reminded him softly.
Wang Ping thought for a moment, put the letter away, and then sent an instruction to Zi Hong, who was guarding the gate, to open it.
Guan Xi was still wearing the same clothes from when they had met a few days ago, and his condition seemed about the same as well.
"You certainly follow closely, Fellow Daoist. I had only just returned when you came knocking." Wang Ping said this with a smile, his etiquette impeccable.
"Forgive my impertinent intrusion, but I have something to report." Guan Xi clasped his hands in a salute. "I’ve received news that someone wants to make a move against Daoist Zi Luan."
After speaking, he stared at Wang Ping, a brilliant smile suddenly blooming on his face. He continued, "However, it seems Daoist Zi Luan was already prepared. Even Xiao Shan Lord might be aware of this matter."
"Oh?" Wang Ping’s eyelid twitched. He suddenly felt as if everything he had experienced up to this point had been like walking on a tightrope.
"To explain this matter clearly, we’d have to go back quite a ways."
"I have some fine wine and clear tea here. Perhaps Fellow Daoist would care to elaborate." Wang Ping made an inviting gesture.
「After an exchange of pleasantries.」
Once host and guest were seated, Yu Lian plopped back into the fish pond to tease the fish.
"Fellow Daoist must know that several hundred years ago, the Southern Daoist Lineage in Zhongzhou belonged to Ancestral Master Yuxiao, the founder of your Qianmu Temple. Before Yuxiao Taoist, Zhongzhou was jointly controlled by the Five Profound Sects, while the south belonged to the Taiyan Sect. At that time, there were three active Lords in the south: the first was Yuxiao Taoist, the second was Xiao Shan Lord, and the third was Wu Ma Daoist."
"After the fall of the Taiyan Sect, Yuxiao Taoist inherited the Southern Daoist Lineage of Zhongzhou. After Yuxiao Taoist perished, Xiao Shan Lord and Wu Ma Daoist fought a great battle over the Southern Daoist Lineage. The ultimate victor was, of course, Xiao Shan Lord. At that time, your Qianmu Temple sided with Xiao Shan Lord."
"This was common knowledge back then, but now only a few old fossils in Death Seclusion still know about it."
Wang Ping had once asked Tongyu Taoist about Ancestral Master Yuxiao, but unfortunately, his knowledge was very limited, and he later fell into a deep slumber.
"So, you’re saying that the ones ambushing Daoist Zi Luan this time are the disciples of Wu Ma Daoist?" Wang Ping asked.
"Correct!"
Guan Xi said with a smile, "The struggle between Xiao Shan Lord and Wu Ma Daoist is not over yet. As a bystander, I was getting a little anxious watching them, so I employed a few tricks."
"You employed tricks?"
"Having them both hiding in the shadows is disadvantageous for you and me, isn’t it? Only by dragging them into the light can things become clear." Guan Xi maintained his smile.
"Quite the impressive methods, Fellow Daoist!"
"No, it is because I have a Saint backing me that I was able to make these arrangements."
"So, does that mean their two groups are about to fight?" Yu Lian shot out of the water, spitting a goldfish she’d been holding in her mouth back into the pond.
"It’s highly unlikely they’ll actually fight. After all, both sides are fully prepared. A real fight would be a case of killing a thousand enemies at the cost of eight hundred of your own." Guan Xi flicked the sleeves of his Scholar’s robe. "A real fight wouldn’t benefit you or me, either. All I want is for everyone to place their pieces on the board together, not to flip the board over."
