Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 125: Conspiracy

Su Si groggily opened his eyes and then, as if splashed with cold water, abruptly came to his senses.

A tingling numbness lingered in his limbs, clearly a reaction from being poisoned. Using all his strength, Su Si felt for the butcher knife at his waist. Perhaps due to its unappealing look, no one had taken it from him.

The place was dark and stifling. Instinctively, Su Si employed the skills he acquired during his training in the Red Scorpion Feet. He forcefully pressed several acupoints on his head to wake himself fully.

It felt as if he were waking up from a drunken stupor and his memories were slowly coming back together.

That night, Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci went to the Fallen God Tower for business. Su Si, uninterested in the affairs of Chigou, chose to stay at the Immortal Seeker’s Residence with Yan Qing.

A day had passed since Wu Huai escaped. The irrelevant merchants cleared out, and Taiheng officially set out. However, the Immortal Seeker’s Residence wasn’t empty. After taking power, Wu Huai was bloodthirsty and murderous, wreaking havoc in the village. Some followers of Chigou couldn’t bear to watch and therefore left Chigou. Once news broke out about Wu Huai’s escape, they joyfully returned.

It was rumored that Hua Jingchun spread the word that, under Wu Huai’s rule, defectors would not be punished. But defectors were still defectors. To prevent potential threats, they were placed in the remote Immortal Seeker’s Residence.

Compared to the ascension ceremony, the Immortal Seeker’s Residence was now even more lively.

With Wu Huai on the run, people were particularly delighted and didn’t miss a chance to drink and feast. Yan Qing was slightly resistant to alcohol, but Su Si took the opportunity to drink to his heart’s content. He saw the wine being brought out of storage and opened in front of everyone. His minor suspicion was blown away by the strong aroma of the wine.

Who would still work for a defeated dog like Wu Huai?

But this drink led to a total mess.

Unexpectedly, instead of drugging Wu Huai, they were the ones who got drugged. In the chaos and noise, Su Si didn’t notice anything.

Who was behind this? Was someone in the sect still supporting Wu Huai?

Su Si pressed his temples for a while, but the effects of the drug were still lingering. He cut open a small wound on his collarbone. With the combination of pain and bleeding, he finally felt better.

He was lying on top of several people, some of whom had already stopped breathing, their bodies cold and stiff. There was a smell of decaying plants in the air.

Su Si recognized the smell. They were in some underground cellar filled with a poisonous gas that could silently take lives. Combined with the sleeping drug, even the strongest martial artist could be killed without a trace.

Had it not been for Su Si’s resistance training against drugs at the Red Scorpion Feet, he wouldn’t have woken up and would’ve met his doom.

Cold sweat formed on Su Si’s back. He took out a torch, but it wouldn’t ignite. Just as he decided to escape in the dark, a faint glow caught his eye.

Drawing closer while holding his breath, he discovered a folded fan with a glowing pearl pendant. The handle of the fan was exquisite and obviously of high quality. An idea formed in Su Si’s mind, and he decided to use the fan’s owner as a potential source of money. The person had strong inner force but wasn’t a top master. Why not exchange kindness for gold?

With this lovely idea in mind, Su Si tried various ways to wake the man.

The man had a smell of alcohol on him and was terrified. His voice was hoarse as he said, “You… You—”

“You what, you? Call me your savior,” Su Si whispered. “We can’t stay here for long because of the gas. We need to escape quickly.”

The man seemed experienced and didn’t panic for long. After a brief hesitation, he got up with Su Si’s help. The luminous pearl wasn’t bright enough to light the way, so Su Si continued to grope in the dark, sometimes using the bodies around as steps. In less than half an hour, he found a door-like entrance.

As they approached the slightly ventilated door, the smell of kerosene became clearer. While Su Si tried to pry the lock with his knife, he listened carefully to the surroundings.

Near the entrance of the cellar, the man seemed to breathe more easily. With his hoarse voice, he finally said, “Who did this?”

“Who else? It’s Wu Huai’s people. To kidnap so many of us without Chigou noticing, seems like the traitors weren’t completely eradicated,” Su Si replied while working on the lock. “However, this method is too messy. It looks like we’re being held hostage.”

The man remained silent.

Su Si assumed he was scared and continued to ramble, “Don’t panic. With so many people around, we must still be near Chigou. When my brother notices I’m gone, he will surely come looking for me. He’s the naivest person in the world and would never easily compromise. You, young man, are wealthy; there will surely be many looking for you.”

“I…”

“Shh!”

Su Si broke the lock of the cellar but didn’t escape immediately. He listened closely to the outside, and indeed heard two sets of footsteps. One belonged to a young man with a limping stride, apparently severely injured. The other was a woman’s, with an uneven gait, clearly also limping.

“I came alone,” said the woman, and it was indeed Hua Jingchun. “Release my brothers and sisters, and for old times’ sake, I might spare your life.”

The other voice, weakly, responded, “Spare my life? That’s rich. Where are the beasts of the Kushan Sect?”

“The Sect Master and his disciples are resting at the Fallen God Tower, and they’re unaware of this. Wu Huai, I’m telling you again—”

“How ridiculous,” Wu Huai coughed. “You really don’t get it. If I hadn’t turned a blind eye, would that old servant have planted the trap for you? Since you survived, why come back?”

“You tarnish the name of Chigou, and I should thank you?”

“I fear that before the nest even collapses, there are cowards eager to jump ship. This time, the Chigou Sect has chosen a lively Patriarch, who surely will be more effective than you.” Hua Jingchun didn’t buy into his talk. “A sect that has lasted for more than a hundred years, and you say it’s doomed? Back then, I shouldn’t have…”

“Never supported me into the Immortal Assembly?”

“We had a deal. You would make connections and amass wealth. I stayed with Chigou, prospering the sect. Grave-digging opportunities were dwindling, so we adapted. In another hundred years, Chigou would’ve risen to prominence.”

Hua Jingchun was furious.

“After decades apart, I returned to a monster. Seeing you, the ‘Young Patriarch’, did you ever consider my—”

“Childhood promises are void. Adaptability is the key to survival.”

Wu Huai casually interrupted her.

“Plundering the villages, when Chigou is done, the followers will share some money. Why end up like the Ling Sect, achieving nothing? As for the common folk, they’d die sooner or later. I simply acted first. I thought you’d be sensible, but you’re just a fool.”

His voice grew weaker, but the mockery intensified.

“People’s lives are worthless, yet you’re here haggling over them. It’s laughable.”

Su Si’s heart sank, quickly calculating his next move. “Protector Hua, run! He never intended to negotiate!”

“I don’t need you to tell me!” Hua Jingchun snapped back.

As she roared, more footsteps approached. The sounds of those footsteps were soft, sounding like the footwork of the Red Scorpion Feet.

Feeling she had the upper hand, Hua Jingchun’s voice turned icy. “I thought you’d have a good excuse, but it’s all madness. Guards, seize him—What is this?!”

Hearing her scream, Su Si couldn’t restrain himself and tried pushing the cellar door. The door he had previously pried open was now immovable, as if a mountain lay atop it.

Screams continued outside.

Oil seeped in, and the heat intensified. Su Si, running out of air, slashed at the crevice. His blade met something resilient before being grabbed. Struggling, he retrieved the blade, covered in green liquid.

Above, fire raged; below, toxic gas. Without air, everyone would suffocate.

Desperate, Su Si slammed against the cellar door. The hilt’s Mountain Ghost coin glistened blood-red in the firelight. As the flames grew and the air thinned, his vision blurred—

Crash.

The cellar door shattered, and warm air rushed in. Su Si gasped for breath. He looked up to see a round, straw figure.

Su Si almost lashed out with his knife.

“A’Si, it’s me!” a familiar voice called out.

Yan Qing, with immense strength and a hint of the Jianchen Temple’s prowess, slashed through the green tendrils. He fended off the flames, grabbing a Chigou follower and pressing him against his Sword of Compassion. The stone sword, heavy as a mountain, instantly crushed the cellar door.

Su Si quickly grabbed Yan Qing’s hand, pulling himself out of the cellar.

Judging from the buildings alone, they obviously reflect the style of the Chigou Sect. Yet in the sky, there were numerous thin threads swaying, forming a net, blocking all the flames and thick smoke inside. Outside the threads, the starry sky twinkled, creating a scene of dim tranquility. Hua Jingchun was struggling to deal with those threads, and even the assassins of the Red Scorpion Feet were trapped in place.

Wu Huai stood on the grass-like threads with the corner of his mouth sporting a torn wound. The wound, illuminated by the firelight, resembled a sinister smile. He stood still, watching everyone, with a clear hint of pity in his eyes.

Flames licked the threads, filling the air with a rich scent of grass and wood. By the looks of things, they were meant to burn everyone here alive.

…For a minor act of revenge, Wu Huai was making quite a spectacle.

Su Si thought to himself, but his hands didn’t hesitate. He immediately wielded his blade, cutting off the threads entangling Yan Qing. As he turned around, intending to pick up the money pouch he had just found and pull it into the basement, a flash of fire caught their attention, and the three of them stood still.

Xu Jingming stood blankly at the entrance of the basement with a complicated expression.

‘So that’s how it is,’ Su Si thought, gripping the hilt of his butcher knife.

According to the Immortal Assembly’s methods, Wu Huai was here to “deal with” the Chigou Sect. Letting it decline was one way, and getting an imperial relative killed within the sect was another.

The Chigou members in the Immortal Seeker’s Residence—each one of them was a defiant “thorn”. Keeping them around would only cause endless trouble. Dealing with them and Xu Jingming and then attracting Hua Jingchun would be perfect. Once Hua Jingchun and this group died, the most fiery members of Chigou would disappear. With Xu Jingming gone, Chigou would certainly be targeted by the imperial court and face its end.

Knowing he was no match for the Kushan Sect, Wu Huai deliberately excluded them from his plans. ‘What a strategy,’ Su Si thought angrily. The sect leader of the Kushan Sect was far away at the Fallen God Tower. By the time he realized something was wrong, his two subordinates would probably be as cold as dead.

Seemingly sensing Su Si’s anger, Wu Huai glanced at him. By his expression, he clearly didn’t regard the two subordinates of the Kushan Sect highly.

“Protector Hua, considering our past relationship, I let you taste the flavor of ‘victory’ for a day.” Wu Huai sighed. “Unfortunately… among the remaining eight Protectors, most are old. With the example of Matron Wuxue, some still know what’s best for them.”

“You bastard…”

“Just remove one plank of wood, and the bucket can’t hold water anymore. Do you think the next ‘Patriarch’ will make Chigou prosperous again? Going against heaven’s will is in vain.”

Hua Jingchun collapsed amidst the threads, her chest heaving in anger. Threads drilled into her eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. Under the intense pain, she couldn’t speak much, only managing to spit out.

“Fuck the so-called heavenly will, and to hell with the Immortal Assembly.”

She took a deep breath, and a cluster of threads formed in front of her, resembling the “little jade figure” Wu Huai had vomited that day. It looked at her, its neck twisted at an unnatural angle.

This was a clear intention to kill.

With a cold laugh, Hua Jingchun seemed to activate something. A dazzling white light illuminated the area. Even though it was confined by the thread net, it still stunned the attacking threads.

“Members of the Kushan Sect, leave!” she shouted. “You don’t need to save anyone; just spread this shit out!”

Yan Qing didn’t think of escaping amidst the chaos. What surprised him was that Su Si was still there.

The anger on Su Si’s face gradually faded. He took a deep breath and shielded Yan Qing behind him. His facial features were naturally sharp and paired with a despondent expression, looking quite pitiable.

“Why involve us if you want to harm Chigou or resent Kushan?” he said mournfully. “We’re just servants. Even if we die a few times over, our sect leader won’t care. Please, let us go.”

Su Si pretended to beg, subtly moving closer. Hua Jingchun’s eyes blazed with fury. “Coward!”

“You saw those strange things. What if we can’t escape? Maybe you’re using us as bait to divert his attention!”

Su Si replied confidently. He made a few hand gestures behind his back to Yan Qing.

Wu Huai was momentarily distracted by their argument, and in that brief moment, Yan Qing swung his stone sword.

The sword’s wind tore apart countless threads. The wind directed Su Si, who, despite the pain, moved with it. Powered by the wind and his own momentum, he reached Wu Huai in an instant.

His butcher knife drew an arc in the air, cutting open Wu Huai’s throat.

“Grandpa is the true Young Patriarch,” Su Si said with a cold smile. “Now, taste the real Bone Sweeping Sword.”

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