Chapter 241 - 168 Human Heart and Evil Spirits, Each with Their Own Schemes_2

"The official wanted to spare his life, but Chang Xuan acted too quickly," he insisted on taking the heads of our brothers to dye his official robes red."

"Do you understand the dangers involved?"

Feng Feiyan bowed and said, "This subordinate understands."

"Understand?"

Guo Yuhuai finally turned around, his eyes full of mockery. "No, you do not understand!"

"With Chang Xuan’s watertight nature, how could he let you continue to hold the position of the ’Listening Wind Ensign’?"

"You’re merely an unused chess piece to him. He’s just waiting for the right opportunity. When the time comes, he will use your head to pave the way for his subordinates, gradually devouring the power of the Captain Bureau in Shan State."

"This time, with the court’s firearms experiment, you are under his command. Have you ever heard him talk about this?"

Feng Feiyan’s face turned pale as she shook her head.

"That’s right,"

Guo Yuhuai said indifferently, "Chang Xuan lifted you into position with Yu Chen’s support. He never intended to keep you around, do you understand?"

"Please save me, my lord!"

Feng Feiyan quickly bowed.

Guo Yuhuai nodded subtly. "Therefore, you need to be more conscientious in your work. Understand what Chang Xuan is up to, and then we might stand a chance."

"I’ve received information that Chang Xuan takes people out every night to the Chaotic Burial Mound in South City. Investigate it tonight."

"Remember, be careful and try not to startle the snake."

"Yes, my lord!"

Feng Feiyan bowed earnestly and then turned to leave.

Half an hour after she left, the cold-faced young man came to the pond and said in a deep voice, "My lord, she hasn’t spoken recklessly. She’s disguised herself and left Chang’an City."

"There are two brothers following her, they will intercept and eliminate her midway."

"Hmm."

Guo Yuhuai continued feeding the fish calmly. "This chess piece, if Chang Xuan is reluctant to use it, then we might as well use it first with all diligence."

"Also, spread the word that the broker Bai Ruoxu is also a member of the Maitreya Sect. We haven’t touched him for many years, now is a good time to put him to use."

"Let the Maitreya Sect steal the firearms, and Chang Xuan’s men will collude with the thieves to escape. Let’s see how he plays this time!"

"Yes, my lord!"

The cold-faced young man immediately turned and entered a room in the rear house. He dressed up and turned into a disheveled wanderer from the pugilistic world. He exited the house, merged into the crowds on the streets, and disappeared...

...

Outside the Golden Treasure Gambling House in Pingkang Square.

Today is the fifth day of the month, and whether it’s brothels or gambling houses, all were open for business. From this time of year until the Lantern Festival, it was when the most affluent and idle people in the city were out and about, and business was booming.

Adding to the excitement was this year’s King of Drums competition.

It was nearing dusk, and the lights were just coming on, making the entire Pingkang Square bustling with a throng of people and a cacophony of accents from all over.

"So this is Pingkang Square?"

"Tsk, tsk, doesn’t look that impressive, does it? It pales in comparison to our Qinhuai River."

"That’s because you don’t know the place. During the Tang Dynasty, this place was unique. Haven’t you heard of the young nobles vying for attention here? Today, we’ll be the gentry..."

"Big brother, this place isn’t cheap, is it?"

"Why worry so much? Today, I’ll show you a good time..."

Due to the King of Drums competition, the city was filled with guests from different states and even members from Mystical Sect.

Having come all the way to Chang’an, how could they not visit Pingkang Square?

Among the flowing crowd, a sedan chair moved slowly.

Inside the sedan, Bai Ruoxu’s brows were tightly knit, his mind elsewhere.

Swish!

Suddenly, he heard the sound of the wind change. With a flick of his right hand and a rustling sound, an iron fan in his hand suddenly snapped open, guarding his side.

"An ambush!"

"Protect the Hall Master!"

There was chaos outside the sedan.

"Enough noise!" Bai Ruoxu lifted the curtain to look around and said in a stern voice, "It’s just some riffraff from the pugilistic world; pay them no mind. Keep moving."

With that, he let the curtain fall.

The broker’s followers looked at each other in confusion but continued.

Inside the sedan, however, Bai Ruoxu reached down to pick up a small pebble, smelled it first, and then unfolded the paper wrapped around it.

As he read the written message, Bai Ruoxu seemed deep in thought, muttering to himself, "It seems I was exposed early. They’ve already started fighting among themselves so quickly..."

During the conversation, his eyes were already filled with coldness.

Arriving at the Golden Treasure Gambling House, Bai Ruoxu, with his men, entered the gambling floor. As soon as he lifted the door curtain, a servant rushed forward to report,

"Hall Master, the manager from Xianyang requests an audience."

"Mm."

Bai Ruoxu had long been aware and strode to the second floor, instructing his men to wait outside before he pushed the door and entered.

Inside the room was the long-waited manager Wu.

"Greetings ..."

He bent his hands into the shape of a lotus flower seal, but before he could finish speaking, Bai Ruoxu’s fierce gaze made him choke back his words.

Bai Ruoxu paid him no heed. First, he rearranged several screens in the room and hung peach charms in succession before he said in a deep voice, "Recently, many from the Mystical Sect have arrived in the city, beware of eavesdroppers."

Manager Wu immediately broke out in cold sweat, "It is my negligence."

Bai Ruoxu did not continue to chastise him but said calmly, "I’m aware of the situation. What, do they suspect I have a double heart?"

"How could that be ..."

Manager Wu offered a strained smile, but seeing Bai Ruoxu’s gaze, he felt uneasy and shook his head, "You didn’t follow the Sect Leader’s wishes, and they indeed harbor suspicions, but they don’t understand how complex Chang’an City is now."

Bai Ruoxu’s expression remained indifferent as he continued, "We’ll talk about this matter later. What exactly happened in the mountains, have you found out?"

"I have found out."

Manager Wu gave a bitter smile, "It seems we’ve been duped."

"After the Sect Leader deciphered the treasure map, he joined forces with Long Sanjiu to subdue the bandits on the Niubei Ridge and entered the deep mountains to dig for treasure."

"Somehow the news leaked, and the Law Enforcement Hall set out in full force, along with the armed forces from Zhongnan and Taibai Mountains, to launch a manhunt."

"The Sect Leader, leading the brothers, contended with the Law Enforcement Hall. Though they had the advantage of the Qinling terrain, they were gradually cornered."

"In the end, the Sect Leader, being more skillful, led the pursuers away himself, allowing Long Sanjiu and the others to go to the treasure site to excavate."

"Did they find it?"

"Yes, they found it, but it was a trap!"

"That place had no treasure, it was a bizarre ancient palace full of coffins. As soon as they were opened, numerous Zombies emerged, and almost all of the bandits, except for the experts, were wiped out."

"Of course, the tide of corpses also alarmed the Law Enforcement Hall. They turned back to suppress it with the help of the armed forces."

"After meeting with us, the Sect Leader inquired about the situation. Only then did we understand that before the fall of the Great Xing Dynasty, someone with a grudge left behind this dark hand."

"They turned that place into a Corpse Nourishing Land, leveraging a long-ago suppressed Drought Demon to contaminate the Dragon Vein in Qinling and induce a natural disaster."

"The supposed treasure was merely meant to lure people into opening the ancient palace."

"To suppress the tide of corpses and the Drought Demon, the Law Enforcement Hall suffered heavy losses and spared no expense to subdue it, and the Sect Leader was caught while covering for everyone."

"A trap?"

Bai Ruoxu was first surprised, then let out a cold laugh, "Indeed, those nobles always think the world belongs to them."

"When in power, they made the people’s lives miserable, and when they lost control of the land, they turned into demons to haunt us. They deserve to die!"

"Indeed they deserve death!"

Manager Wu echoed, "The brothers in our sect, who isn’t driven to this path by those corrupt officials and greedy tyrants?"

"But Hall Master Bai, right now, rescuing the Sect Leader is the most urgent. Long Sanjiu and the rest are waiting outside the city, wanting to see you and discuss countermeasures. What do you think ..."

"See me?"

Bai Ruoxu laughed, his gaze icy, "They probably want to kill me!"

Manager Wu’s body stiffened, and he shook his head, "They too have their suspicions. If the Hall Master meets with them, the misunderstanding will naturally be resolved ..."

Before he could finish his words, seeing Bai Ruoxu’s indifferent face, Manager Wu also shut his mouth, sighing in sorrow, not knowing what to do.

In theory, he was closer to Bai Ruoxu, but he was more anxious to save Dugu Qian, not wanting internal strife between the two sides, his heart filled with impatience and irritation.

As Manager Wu wore a troubled expression, Bai Ruoxu spoke coldly, "That bunch of fools, merely thinking of jailbreaking, but the enemy has already set their net, how could they let them succeed?"

"You tell them, there is only one chance to rescue the Sect Leader now. Tonight, wait for me, be well-rested, and ready to take action!"

Manager Wu’s eyes lit up, and he nodded, "Good!"

Having said that, he hurriedly left the Golden Treasure Gambling House.

After his departure, Bai Ruoxu was silent for a long time before he stood up, looking around reluctantly, and murmured, "Dugu Qian, you make such a mess of things, where do you get the guts to call yourself the Sect Leader?"

"What a pity, my identity has been exposed, and I cannot stay in Chang’an any longer ..."

Having said that, Hidden Energy surged in his legs, and he leaped up, landing on the roof beams, and lifted a plank to reveal a hidden compartment.

Inside the compartment was a lacquered wooden box.

Upon opening the wooden box, it was neatly stacked with silver notes.

After stowing all the silver notes into his bosom, Bai Ruoxu then moved to the window, looking down at the bustling Gambling House below, sighed, and then disappeared through the secret passage behind the wardrobe ...

That night, outside Chang’an City, the killing intent was sky-high.