Chapter 1333: Chapter 863: Bone Burning Taoist (Part 2)
"The woman’s skills were average, but her body was very strong. As for the man, I couldn’t quite make out his details. He was wearing a black robe and a mask, and the magic artifact on him was peculiar, able to conceal his aura. I feared it was a ploy to lure the tiger out of the mountain, so I didn’t join the fray."
After saying that, Ming Yue suddenly remembered something and quickly added, "Oh, right, when that man made a move, I noticed that on his exposed arm were tattoos resembling scale armor, moving, golden, like... like dragon scales."
"Dragon scales?!" Yang Xiao’s heart skipped a beat.
The woman of average strength had a robust build, which immediately reminded Yang Xiao of the leader of the Dark Army, who was also Xi Menxiu’s aunt.
And to be able to fight alongside this woman, the person should be a top expert on their Patrol Defense Office’s route.
Going along this line of thought, a very familiar face emerged in Yang Xiao’s mind.
"Director Nalan..." Yang Xiao was momentarily dazed, his heartbeat quickening because he vividly remembered, during their shared experience in the Fushou Manor Ghost Script, the ancestor nourished by century-long dragon energy was covered in golden dragon scales.
But after they successfully left, Director Nalan informed him that he didn’t receive the mission reward, and neither did Yang Xiao, which instinctively led Yang Xiao to believe that the remaining survivor, Jiang Qingluan, had acquired the Resentful Eye.
But now, it seems that’s not the case. If this person is indeed Director Nalan, then he has secrets he’s withholding from Yang Xiao, and he’s been hiding his true strength.
Regarding his suspicion, Yang Xiao did not share it with Sui or Brother Ming Yue, not that he didn’t trust them, but because it likely involved Director Nalan’s secret.
Always, Director Nalan seemed a mysterious figure to Yang Xiao, along with Lu Youdao, who was perpetually hiding in the shadows of the Patrol Defense Office. Lu Youdao was once the Sect Leader of the Gate of Shock among the Upper Three Gates in the Yu Yuan Sect, and his strength at his peak was undoubtedly a skilled hand at the Ghost Level.
After that mission, Yang Xiao investigated the archives on the evil magician Xiang Fengchen. This person was extraordinary, possessing Upper Ghost Level strength, with strange magic artifacts and a sinister, cautious nature. Many of his peers at the same level died at his hands, including quite a few experts from the Patrol Defense Office.
At that time, Yang Xiao had wondered why such a master was repeatedly driven to desperate situations by Director Nalan. But Director Nalan’s answer was that he had been backfired by a magic artifact, causing his strength to plummet, making him unable to use magic artifacts anymore.
However, he excelled in plotting and was a standard strategician. Before being demoted to Rongcheng, his captains were all top-notch experts.
Out of natural trust for Director Nalan, Yang Xiao didn’t delve into the truth of this matter. But it seems now that he might have lied.
"Junior Brother, Qiu Huai De is dead. I think this matter can be concluded. If there’s nothing else, I must return to report back to the master." Monk Ming Yue said frankly.
"Senior Brother, thank you very much."
"Yang, take care of yourself. Remember to visit the master if you have time."
Monk Ming Yue wasn’t the type to nag. After explaining and completing the task, he left on his own.
Yang Xiao trusted his senior brother’s strength. As long as he intended, almost no one in Rongcheng could stop him or cause him trouble.
Now the room was left with only Yang Xiao and Sui Chengguo. Though Yang Xiao was also injured, he could temporarily endure. He had more important matters to attend to.
First, he sent a message to Xi Menxiu, responsible for contact, informing him that the operation had concluded and Qiu Huai De had been killed, with no eyewitnesses at the scene.
Next, Yang Xiao headed alone to the hospital where Fu Qingzhu was located, and without much ado, he reached out and pulled the unconscious Fu Qingzhu into the Mirror World.
Taking out the Ghost Lantern, almost without thinking, he instinctively used the Hexagonal Cage to envelop Fu Qingzhu within.
It was like a subconscious action. As the illusory spirit body vanished, the unconscious Fu Qingzhu abruptly opened his eyes.
Yang Xiao removed the Hexagonal Cage, letting Fu Qingzhu see him.
"Good brother, thanks to you coming, I thought I would die at the hands of that old bastard!" Fu Qingzhu was moved to tears. The time spent imprisoned in the fan world was a living hell.
Yang Xiao used the pitch-black human skin to inspect Fu Qingzhu’s body and found that aside from some superficial injuries, he was almost unharmed, so he was relieved.
After some exchanges, Fu Qingzhu angrily gritted his teeth, "This time I was plotted against. Although Qiu Huai De was the mastermind, several other vice presidents were also involved. Once I recover, I’ll definitely settle accounts with these bastards!"
Hearing Fu Qingzhu say this, Yang Xiao couldn’t help but frown, and his tone subconsciously grew stern: "Brother, why do you keep suffering losses without learning? What you need to do now is lay a solid foundation, cultivate your power to grow in secrecy, and not get directly involved in power struggles!"
"You’re still young, with unsteady foundations, and the road ahead is long. Don’t be eager for quick success. Count it yourself, if I hadn’t arrived in time, what would have happened to you now?"
"Including this time, how many times have I saved you?"
Yang Xiao was willing to help him, but it wasn’t always possible for him to arrive in time. As a friend, he hoped Fu Qingzhu could live longer.
Director Nalan had early conclusions about Fu Qingzhu, considering him a notable person among the younger generation. He was ruthless, with sufficient cunning, and either did nothing or did things to the extreme. Those who offended him met bad ends. But he was too impatient, with his power thirst being his Achilles’ heel, which would eventually backfire on him.
