Chapter 138: Jianghu, Once Again
Wu Yincai sighed, “Indeed. We also hope for a true hero to emerge and lead us through these chaotic times. But the Hanyang Gang’s methods are terrifying.”
“The Nine Villages have decided we won’t join their so-called ‘Hanyang River Alliance.’ Knowing their style, once we join, they’ll devour everything we have, our businesses, our lands, everything.”
Shi Hao understood. In turbulent times, it was natural for wealthy families and merchants to seek the protection of powerful martial artists.
But the Hanyang Gang’s brutal expansion wasn’t about protection, but about conquering and controlling everything around them.
And with Huang Facai’s ruthlessness, who would dare trust him with their lives and fortunes?
After chatting with Wu Yincai for a while, as the rain subsided, he and his companions hurriedly left.
After they were gone, Xu Xiaoyan said, “That Huang Facai, his energy carries a poisonous aura, and his methods are brutal. Could he be from the Poisonous Sunflower Sect?”
Shi Hao said, “It’s possible. Perhaps the Poisonous Sunflower Sect is using the Hanyang Gang as a shell for their own expansion.”
Du Yuejiao approached, “Poisonous Sunflower Sect?”
Shi Hao explained, “It’s a secretive and dangerous demonic sect, known for their poisonous techniques. Their advancement rituals mostly involve poison.”
He analyzed the situation, “If the Hanyang Gang controls the Nine Villages of Ba Shan, they’ll control the upper Hanyang River and the entire Ba Mountain region. In these chaotic times, they could easily expand westward and conquer the entire West Shu Province.”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “It’s not that simple. Demonic sects, when they make a move, their methods are often illogical and unpredictable. The Hanyang Gang might just be a pawn. They’re using brutal tactics to gain power and influence, causing chaos and destruction, and then they’ll likely support some unknown ‘savior’ to ‘restore order’ and gain the people’s support. It’s a form of sacrifice.”
“And even worse, they might be doing all this to prepare for some kind of ritual, using the chaos and suffering for their own purposes.”
Shi Hao looked up, his eyes flickering.
Xu Xiaoyan tilted her head, “Are you thinking of helping the Nine Villages?”
Shi Hao looked down at her, “Why do you say that?”
Xu Xiaoyan smiled, “Because you… you can’t stand for injustice.”
Shi Hao said, “That’s not the only reason. At the end of every dynasty, the first to rebel are often the first to be crushed. But once the first arrow is fired, the chaos spreads uncontrollably.”
“Historically, those who initiate rebellions often meet tragic ends. But those who wait too long also achieve little. Although Hero Fu was defeated, the barbarian court paid a heavy price for their victory, and he escaped. They’re now too stretched thin to deal with the smaller uprisings effectively.”
“Everyone can see the barbarian army’s weakness now. Many factions are rising, vying for power. Although most will fail, the ones who will eventually contend for the throne will emerge from this chaos.”
“If we don’t act now, in a few months, the new power structure will solidify, and we’ll be forced to choose sides.”
Du Yuejiao’s eyes widened, “Brother Shi, are you planning to… conquer the world?”
Shi Hao, his hands clasped behind him, said calmly, “I don’t necessarily want to rule, but I want to bring peace and order to this land. Historically, whenever chaos erupts, if no one is able to unify the land within a few years, the conflict drags on for decades, even centuries.
“I want to be the one who brings peace and stability, the one who future generations will remember as the architect of a new era of prosperity.”
Du Yuejiao and Xu Xiaoyan stared at him.
As the rain stopped, and the clouds parted, sunlight streamed into the dilapidated temple, illuminating his face.
His serious expression and unwavering confidence transformed the forgotten temple into a sacred space.
As they left, the two girls looked at him with admiration.
Shi Hao was inwardly pleased with the effect of the Sacred Heart Clear Mirror Technique. Even inspiring words needed the right “aura” to be truly effective.
Of course, he had meant what he said.
He had simply… enhanced it with some special effects.
Du Yuejiao asked, “What should we do now, Brother Shi?”
Shi Hao said, “We’ll go to the Red Hill Gathering, and then to the Ba Mountains.”
He paused, then added, “But to attend the Red Hill Gathering, you either need something to sell or a piece of information unknown to the martial world.”
Du Yuejiao said, “Well…” Her master had given her plenty of silver before she left Dàxīng City, so she didn’t have to worry about money.
But she didn’t have any immortal ingredients and couldn’t think of any “secrets.”
This was practically her first time in the jianghu. What secrets could she possibly know?
Xu Xiaoyan giggled, “The fact that the three Evil Lotus factions have reunited under a male leader is a pretty big secret.”
Du Yuejiao snorted, “Are you planning to sell him out?”
Xu Xiaoyan chuckled, “I don’t need to. I have immortal ingredients to sell.”
Shi Hao looked at Xu Xiaoyan, “Why don’t you split the Blue Frost Moon Essence Shoot and the Blazing Sky Leaves? One of you can sell the shoot, the other the leaves. The profit is yours anyway.”
Xu Xiaoyan, like a petulant child, refused, “No!”
Du Yuejiao snorted, “Who cares?”
Then her eyes flickered, and she smiled, “I have a secret.”
Shi Hao asked, surprised, “What secret?”
Du Yuejiao chuckled, feigning mystery, “Do you know why Zhao Xian, the Peerless Sword, killed Lu Jin, the Azure Dragon Immortal Warrior, of our Chongxian Sect?”
Shi Hao and Xu Xiaoyan looked at her.
Du Yuejiao smirked, “You don’t know, do you? Hmph.”
Xu Xiaoyan smiled, “Everyone knows. He was avenging his new disciple.”
Du Yuejiao said, “Disciple?”
Xu Xiaoyan said sarcastically, “Don’t tell me you don’t know? Hero Zhao’s new disciple is the nephew of Zong Youbi, the Confucian Hero of Xun River, whose family was slaughtered by Lu Jin, one of your Chongxian Sect’s Eight Immortal Warriors. You didn’t know that?”
Du Yuejiao was stunned. Although she knew Zhao Xian had avenged the Zong family, she hadn’t known his disciple was Zong Youbi’s nephew. Her master hadn’t mentioned that.
Shi Hao remained silent. Zhuo Mulan had learned this from him, and Yuejiao had clearly heard it from her master… He decided it was best not to speak.
Du Yuejiao hadn’t realized this was already public knowledge… Of course, she didn’t know that Zhao Xian himself had only learned the truth at the last Red Hill Gathering, where Shi Hao and Xu Xiaoyan had both been present.
Du Yuejiao said, “Then I’ll sell my ingredients. I’ll find something.” She turned and walked away.
They reached the Wild Zen Forest, its trees shrouded in mist, small foxes leaping among them, ghostly flames flickering, the atmosphere eerie and unsettling.
They followed the foxes deeper into the forest, where masks and robes of various sizes and colors hung from the trees.
A pair of eyes appeared from behind a tree, staring at Du Yuejiao, making her uncomfortable.
Shi Hao looked at Xu Xiaoyan, who snorted and said, “She’s with me.”
The eyes disappeared back into the mist.
This time, Shi Hao chose a “Bì’àn” mask, one of the nine sons of the dragon, and a black robe.
Xu Xiaoyan chose the snake demon mask again and a pink robe, deliberately longer than before, its trailing hem accentuating her swaying hips as she walked.
Du Yuejiao, after some hesitation, chose a “dragon girl” mask with two small horns and a white robe.
They continued following the foxes, the mist swirling around them, the ghostly flames leading them deeper into the forest.
This time, they didn’t enter the underground cavern through the well but through a narrow crevice in the mountainside.
The passage wound downwards, leading them to a cavern, clearly different from the previous one.
Without the foxes, they would never have found it.
Shi Hao remembered Xu Xiaoyan’s slip of the tongue earlier… talking foxes.
Stalactites and stalagmites filled the cavern. A simple stone pavilion with a few benches and a tree stood in the center.
They seemed to be early. They were alone.
Xu Xiaoyan suddenly disappeared into the shadows.
Knowing she was familiar with the organizer of the Red Hill Gathering, Shi Hao didn’t think much of it.
After a while, a tall, thin man in a blue robe and a monkey mask emerged from the other side of the cavern.
Then, more and more people arrived.
Their gazes instinctively turned towards the young man in the black robe and the Bì’àn mask.
Shi Hao used the Sacred Heart Clear Mirror Technique, his sword intent radiating outwards, his presence commanding attention, unknowingly becoming the center of everyone’s gaze—
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