Chapter 106: The Tides of History, Eve of the Full Moon
Zhu Zheng looked incredulous, “The demonic sects? Beliefs?”
It was understandable. The demonic sects were known for their selfishness and ruthlessness, making it difficult to associate them with concepts like “beliefs.”
Shi Hao stood up, “It’s just a guess. There’s no evidence of collusion between the Ghost Extreme Sect and the Shark Dragon Gang yet. But please be vigilant, especially on the night of the full moon. Something is going to happen on Dragon Head Mountain.”
Zhu Zheng nodded, “We’ll keep an eye on it. If it threatens the safety of the people, Dark Thunder will not stand idly by.”
Shi Hao said, “Thank you.”
Zhu Zheng said, “We’re all fighting for the same cause, Brother Hao. There’s no need for formalities. If you need our help, just come here, or if it’s urgent, you can contact the old man in Calabash Alley directly.”
He personally escorted Shi Hao out.
The day before the full moon, Shi Hao went to “The Dregs.”
He bought a copy of the latest news bulletin and sat down in a corner, reading through it.
The bulletin was much thicker than the last one, indicating the increasing chaos in and around Dàxīng City.
The Ascending Heroes Gang had dealt a heavy blow to the Mystic Virtue Society and the White Sword Society, but they had also underestimated their opponents’ tenacity and suffered heavy losses themselves, losing at least three sixth-rank martial artists, a fifth-rank expert severely injured, and countless lower-ranking members.
Although on the verge of collapse, the Mystic Virtue Society and the White Sword Society refused to yield. However, even if they survived, they would likely lose their positions among the three gangs and six societies.
The Ascending Heroes Gang seemed to have reached a stalemate. If they didn’t continue their attack, their previous efforts would be wasted, but continuing the assault would be a protracted and costly battle, the remaining members of the Mystic Virtue Society and the White Sword Society fighting with the desperation of cornered beasts.
And some righteous martial artists, despite the danger, were joining the Mystic Virtue Society and the White Sword Society, further complicating the situation for the Ascending Heroes Gang.
The bulletin also listed numerous other conflicts and killings within the martial world, each entry a brief but bloody tale.
The Heaven and Earth Gang, however, remained unusually quiet, like a ghost, despite being one of the three gangs.
The Brocade Dragon Gate was relatively peaceful. Being more of a trade association than a martial arts gang, although there were occasional conflicts, they were minor incidents.
And the Divine Eagle Sect, which had only recently earned a place among the three gangs and six societies, had already been eliminated.
Shi Hao remembered Chen Yan’er had mentioned two of the six societies she couldn’t recall. The Divine Eagle Sect was one of them.
The bulletin focused on events in and around Dàxīng City. However, the main topic of discussion among those present was the situation in the Changbai Mountains… the outcome everyone had anticipated.
The rebel army had been crushed.
It had been a brutal battle. The rebel forces in the Changbai Mountains, under attack from the overwhelming might of the barbarian army, had suffered heavy casualties. Fu Shiyuan, severely injured, had barely escaped with a small group of followers, retreating towards Liaodong.
The rebellion had collapsed, the battlefield strewn with corpses, rivers of blood flowing.
Small groups of rebels had scattered, fleeing in all directions, spreading their influence as they went.
Although many had hoped for a different outcome, this result had been inevitable… A dying beast was still dangerous. The barbarian army, despite its decline, was still too powerful for a single rebel force to overcome.
And the first to rise up always faced the brunt of the enemy’s wrath. The barbarian court, determined to crush the rebellion, had sent their most powerful warriors.
But on the other hand, inspired by Fu Shiyuan’s defiance, uprisings had erupted across the land. Although none were as large or as powerful as the Changbai Mountain rebellion, easily suppressed by the barbarian army, they were numerous and persistent, like a rising tide, an unstoppable force of history.
The barbarian court would be forced to fight on multiple fronts, the flames of rebellion spreading, engulfing the land in chaos.
Shi Hao finished reading the bulletin and listened to the discussions around him.
Being “The Dregs,” a gathering place for lower-ranking martial artists, the conversations were unrestrained and often blunt.
Some were even openly discussing the barbarian court’s imminent collapse.
After listening for a while, he put down the bulletin and left.
Yue Ya’er paid Shi Hao for his services as her bodyguard.
Although they had initially agreed he would protect her until after the full moon, she was leaving the Jade Flower Courtyard tonight, moving to the palace at the foot of Dragon Head Mountain with her troops.
Grandmother Ba had apparently assigned her a new task.
She wasn’t even bringing the Thunderclap Eighteen Riders, who were technically her brother’s personal guards, loyal to the Yue Ke Tai family.
Her new bodyguard was the woman named Kelian, the one with the two-handed sword.
Although his service hadn’t ended yet, Yue Ya’er, true to her generous nature, paid him for sixteen days.
Eight hundred taels of silver… Shi Hao had never possessed such wealth.
For him, it was a fortune, but for Yue Ya’er, it was a trivial amount.
As expected of a wealthy young lady.
He hadn’t actually done much these past few days, just watched her bathe from behind a screen and slept on a bedroll beside her bed at night.
Although technically her bodyguard, after the assassination attempt, security at the Jade Flower Courtyard had been tightened, and the Ghost Extreme Sect, having targeted her because they feared her investigation into the Leopard Gate, no longer had a reason to kill her, with the Leopard Gate gone.
Shi Hao had never earned money so easily. Being close to a wealthy patron was indeed a lucrative career path.
“Dàxīng City might become dangerous tomorrow,” Yue Ya’er said to him before leaving, her expression serious. “For your own safety, it’s best you leave the city.”
Shi Hao nodded, “Take care, Miss.”
Yue Ya’er smiled, “Just call me Yue Ya’er.” She turned and waved, “Leave the city and come back in a few days.”
Outside the courtyard, a detachment of troops awaited her. Although only about a thousand men, Shi Hao noticed at least a dozen commanders and over two hundred lieutenants among them, the rest elite warriors.
These were the best of the best, chosen from tens of thousands.
Shi Hao left the Jade Flower Courtyard. It was almost evening.
He went to the Chongxian Sect’s main temple in Dàxīng City and entered through the open gates.
As evening approached, visitors were leaving the temple.
He entered the magnificent Daoist temple and was stopped as he tried to reach the inner compound through a side entrance.
“I’m looking for Recluse Zhuo,” he said.
A young acolyte went to inform her, and soon, Zhuo Mulan emerged and led him inside.
“Security seems tighter than last time, but there are fewer people,” Shi Hao observed as they walked.
Zhuo Mulan said, “The sect is abandoning this temple. They’ll only leave a small number of people here to maintain it as a… tourist attraction.”
Shi Hao asked, surprised, “The Chongxian Sect is abandoning Dàxīng City? Why?”
Zhuo Mulan whispered, “I’m not sure. It seems they’re consolidating their forces in the south. Many of their northern branches are being recalled.”
Shi Hao’s mind raced, and he began to understand the Chongxian Sect’s intentions.
Their decision to keep the God-Sealing Stone they had recovered a secret already indicated a rift between them and the barbarian court. The Chongxian Sect leadership wasn’t foolish. Although they had risen to prominence by aligning themselves with the barbarian court, they could see the court’s decline and were clearly preparing for the future.
Concentrating their forces in the south allowed them to avoid direct confrontation with the barbarian court and also positioned them to take advantage of the coming chaos.
They reached the pavilion with the phoenix statues. The beautiful Daoist nun threw herself into his arms, her breath catching in her throat.
Shi Hao used the Butterfly Flower Finger to bring her pleasure, then lifted her into his arms. This time, however, they didn’t go to Yuejiao’s room.
After their intimacy, the Daoist nun, nestled in the arms of her disciple’s lover, a man almost ten years younger than her, whispered, “Do you have any news about Yuejiao?”
Shi Hao held her close, his touch gentle, “Don’t worry, I have a lead. I’ll bring her back tomorrow night.”
“And here are the immortal ingredients you asked for.” Zhuo Mulan got up, reached into a cabinet by the bed, and handed him three items, then self-consciously pulled the covers over herself.
Shi Hao opened the three boxes.
A translucent green scale, about the size of his palm, its edges sharp as a blade.
A strange herb with red, blue, and purple leaves, radiating a faint light.
A lingzhi mushroom shaped like a child sitting in a carriage, which, after he opened the box, scurried around inside.
The Molting Snake Reverse Scale, the Tri-colored Qilin Grass, and the Carriage Horse Mushroom!
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