Chapter 103: The Five Disciples of Nanshan Alliance
Chapter 103: The Five Disciples of Nanshan Alliance
“Was Lao Chao coming to assassinate me genuinely out of vengeance for Master Lan Shuang, or was it for something else?”
Listening to the panic and chaos outside, Fang Cun was quietly thinking.
“Now, he was already unable to protect himself. Once he showed his face, both the righteous and the wicked sides would kill him, so his appearance around Willow Lake City meant he was doomed to die. Especially since he daringly rushed into the city to stab me on the street, which was almost like diving straight into a trap. Only a lunatic who had completely lost his mind, thinking of nothing else but to kill me, could do such a thing…”
“But if he were such a madman, he would have charged into Fang Manor the very next day after the incident, but he hadn’t…”
“So, he was actually sent by someone?”
“More accurately, he should have been controlled by some advanced Soul Captivation Art and forced to come kill me?”
“Then, who was it that wanted me dead?”
As things grew more chaotic outside, Fang Cun became calmer, thinking coolly, almost dispassionately: “The City Governor and the Academy Dean?”
“No, they wouldn’t be that bold. Though, they likely wanted me dead, that could very well be true!”
He looked at the empty street, with its alleys and the air above showing no sign of movement.
This was Willow Lake City, under the protection of both the Academy and the City Governor. Wherever trouble arose in the city, if they wished it, they could arrive at once. Yet, there was no activity now, and it wasn’t hard to guess the reason behind it. This wasn’t because they were unaware of what was happening here; instead, for certain reasons, they all chose to stay put temporarily…
“Because I was the only one who truly knew the relationship between Master Lan Shuang and the Former Academy Head, and I didn’t please them by helping pour all the filth onto Master Lan Shuang’s reputation, so they also wanted to silence me?”
“They lacked the courage to plan this assassination themselves, but since Lao Chao had come, they were happy to stand by and see it happen…”
“How amusing…”
Fang Cun sighed softly in his heart.
Lao Chao had rushed over, willing to risk his life to assassinate him and kill the bloodline of Fang Family.
And the reason was that they were repaying kindness with hatred!
Back in the day, his elder brother had slain a demon in the Southern Mountains, forced the Former Academy Head to resign, and scared off the minor villains. This drove the rampant Demon Core trade in Willow Lake City underground, but it also earned him the reputation among many as being “repaying kindness with hatred” and “ungrateful.” And now, he himself had painstakingly schemed to uncover the Human Fiend behind Human Elixir Refinement, only to end up facing assassination…
The most crucial thing was that both the Academy and the City Governor were staying put, watching this unfold…
None of the Qi Refiners in Willow Lake City showed a face, not a single one came to stop this crazy Lao Chao!
How many people truly wanted him dead?
Fang Cun pondered silently, feeling a surge of deeply hidden emotions swell and surge inside.
“Master, this is terrible! Second Young Master Fang was attacked in South City…”
At the chaos starting on South Street of Willow Lake, Old Steward Huang, upon getting the news, ran so hard he lost one shoe. He rushed straight into Fang Manor. Along the way, servants and maids heard the warning. First they were shocked, then they leapt up in panic. Some cried in fright immediately, while others grabbed brooms and batons. Together with the guards armed with crossbows, they were about to charge out of the manor.
“What!?”
Elder Fang and Madam Fang, who had been sitting and drinking tea in the hall while watching the Little Fox study, nearly collapsed in shock. Madam Fang stood up fiercely with a cry of “My son!” She turned pale and almost fainted in terror.
“Support her!”
Elder Fang yelled out, then lifted the hem of his robe and dashed inside the hall as he shouted: “What’s happened?”
“The front reports it was Lao Chao from the Devouring Sea Gang who attacked the young master…”
“What about the Academy? And the City Governor?”
“I don’t see them…”
By the time Elder Fang reached the main entrance, he’d grasped the whole affair and knew the situation. Whether through anger or something else, his face turned green and his teeth grated as he screamed: “You villains! Quick, saddle my horse! Quickly saddle my horse…”
By then, all the Fang servants and guards had gathered, holding batons and crossbows—even a few big-built maids clutched brooms among them. Hearing Elder Fang shout, some immediately brought a horse over. They surged forward, ready to dash to South City to save their young master. But when they pulled hard at the gate of Fang Residence, it refused to open no matter how they tried…
The two stone lions at the gate—one looked askew, the other grinned—no longer seemed absurd but rather like they carried a murderous aura.
“The gate won’t open…”
“Climb the wall, climb the wall!”
Elder Fang seemed to understand why it was stuck and kept yelling.
Quicker servants rushed to scale the wall. But each one who climbed the top was mysteriously affected by some force—slipping feet or losing control of their bodies—falling back down into the courtyard.
“You little bastard of a son, caring only for others but not for your own precious life!”
Already furious, Elder Fang suddenly lifted his robe and ran to part of the east wall. Pushing aside wild grass, he uncovered a hidden dog hole. Dressed in fine silks, he ducked his head through without hesitation. Ignoring the dirt he shook off, he sprinted ahead. After a few strides, he spotted a man holding a horse and yelled out: “Give me that horse…”
It was the coachman’s boss who gasped in shock: “Master Fang, what’s wrong?”
“My son is being chased to kill…”
Elder Fang shouted loudly, took the horse, climbed up in a flash, and spurred the horse into a gallop.
But he didn’t head south toward the city; instead, clenching his teeth, he raced north. Three streets away was the City Guard Office—stately and imposing, with a grave note that hushed passersby. Elder Fang galloped in, crying out loudly: “Help! City Governor, help!”
Normally, such noise would trigger an immediate reaction from the City Guard Office.
But on this day, Elder Fang’s shouts echoed hollowly in front of the building, sounding desolate and dead silent.
No one knew how many Qi Refiners were housed by the Willow Lake City Guard Office.
Yet now, it didn’t seem like a home for Qi Refiners, just a nest of corpses.
Elder Fang’s chubby face trembled. Drenched in sweat from rage or exhaustion, he shouted several more times before he fully grasped things. His gaze blazed with anger and hatred. With another yell, instead of calling for help, he burst into curses: “You damned Bai Huali! Get out here this instant!…”
“My son is attacked by assassins, yet you dare stand idly by?”
“If something happens to my son, trust me, I’ll use the entire Fang Family wealth to drag your Bai clan down with us!”
His furious curses echoed outside the City Guard Office.
None could recall when the City Governor’s clan had last been insulted this way.
Amid the stillness, the doors of the City Guard Office swung open. A Secretary with a long beard stepped out. Taking a closer look, he rushed over in shock: “It’s Master Fang. The City Governor is away on official business now. Why have you come…”
“You’re lying! My son is attacked by criminals in South City, and you play dumb right here?”
Elder Fang was panting heavily and still cursing angrily.
“Young Master Fang was attacked?”
The Secretary gasped in horror, then yelled loudly: “Quick, call out the Divine Generals! Go capture the culprit!”
A flurry erupted as personnel mounted and gathered, seeming frantic but not very swift. By the time a dozen Qi Refiners assembled on fast horses to follow Elder Fang to South City, an incense stick’s time had passed.
Well before that, wild Lao Chao had long crossed the streets. Moving like a dark cloud in flight, he reached behind a horse-drawn carriage in strides. With a big hand sweep, he hauled the cart to a stop, planting his feet so hard he cracked a hole in the ground. The pulling horse was pinned rigidly by him, unable to budge.
“Hahaha, the Fang Family’s eldest died in the Desolate Wasteland, the Second Son will die by my hand…”
Cackling wildly, Lao Chao swung the carriage aside. Horse and cart crashed together—the animal killed on impact. Though the carriage slid away, its sturdy frame showed no damage even after that hit.
“Pay a debt and repay a life! Give me back that life…”
Roaring in laughter, Lao Chao brandished his giant sword. Blade energy rolled like a silver dragon, slashing down fiercely at the carriage.
At that moment, Xiao Qingliu was limping after in haste with a wounded leg, still far behind. Elder Fang hadn’t reached the City Guard Office yet. Back at the Academy, there seemed no awareness of this scene. Commoners fled in all directions, fleeing in terror…
As that blade fell, it would crush both carriage and Second Young Master Fang inside to pulp.
“Swish!”
But at that very instant, a jade-white Flying Sword cut across the long street, striking Lao Chao’s raised blade. Traveling too far, its power faded, but it barely blocked the blow.
One sword led to a second, then a third.
Swords swooped in one after another, pushing Lao Chao back a step.
At the street’s end, the usually proper Meng Zhixue dashed barefoot through the air, hair loose. A white-jade sword case hung over her shoulder, launching Flying Sword after blade at Lao Chao. Just arriving from afar, each strike drained her energy many times more.
Farther in the void, dark figures soared swiftly—Nie Quan and He Zhenzhang flew over using their Cultivation Power.
The Five Disciples of Nanshan Alliance had arrived.