Free Web NovelChapter 80: Chapter 78: Like a Descended Immortal
After a brief discussion, Mo Xiao, Fei Yan, and the others had Ye Yuan take his men and temporarily retreat to a more distant location to avoid detection.
A moment later, after seeing to his soldiers, Ye Yuan and Lord Jian Yi regrouped with the others.
Ye Yuan said with some confusion, "While we were hiding, we encountered people from the Tiger Clan Tribe. They seem to be headed for this village. For now, it’s hard to tell if they’re friend or foe."
Mo Xiao frowned. "I’ll go scout out the situation in a little while."
They exchanged a look, and Yue Ying spoke up. "I’ll go with you."
—
Just as Jin Tong returned, Zuo Xuan arrived in his study.
Standing beside his desk, Zuo Xuan spoke with the utmost respect. "Sect Leader, it seems Su Mo’s Beast Husbands haven’t pursued us. We’ve found no trace of them."
"Are you certain?"
"I’ve thoroughly searched the vicinity and found nothing out of the ordinary."
Jin Tong narrowed his sinister eyes.
’Considering how much those men care for this woman, there’s no way they’d do nothing.’
’Even though I deliberately masked Su Mo’s pheromones and took a circuitous route, with their abilities, it’s impossible that they haven’t found this place by now.’
Zuo Xuan stared at the few pills on his desk and frowned. "Sect Leader, do you really believe that woman can cure your poison?"
Jin Tong let out a cold snort. Of course he didn’t believe Su Mo could cure his poison.
He was just curious to see how she would try to fool him each day.
After all, while she hadn’t managed to completely neutralize the poison in his body, she had certainly alleviated its effects.
’How can she control the dosage of each ingredient so precisely?!’
’This expertise that has appeared out of nowhere... just who did she learn it from?’
’If I can figure out her methods, then I’ll no longer have to fear any of her poisons.’
’However, it would be even better if I could make her poison-crafting skills my own! Once my goals are achieved, I can kill her then and be done with it.’
Zuo Xuan added, "Sect Leader, while I didn’t find any sign of her fiancés, I did spot members of the White Tiger Clan en route. I don’t know if they’ve come to seek revenge for the general you severely wounded last time."
Upon hearing this, Jin Tong’s expression darkened. "It seems they still haven’t learned their lesson from last time."
"They’ve come with great momentum, and we don’t have many people here. Most of our main force is injured, so it’s best we don’t meet them head-on."
Jin Tong frowned in thought for a moment. "Bring those men in." Zuo Xuan nodded and walked out quickly.
—
Meanwhile, Su Mo was squatting by the door, conning the Beastman guard. "When you’re chasing a girl, you naturally have to cater to her interests. If she likes cooking, you should look up some recipes. Just tell her what I taught you, and I guarantee you’ll find some common ground!"
The Little Beastman asked apprehensively, "Will that really work?"
"Go try it when the shifts change in a bit, and you’ll find out."
The young Little Beastman looked at her suspiciously. "Why would you be so kind? The Master said you’re a very cunning Female."
Su Mo raised an eyebrow. "I’m just teaching you how to make conversation. You’re not going to be wary of even that, are you? If you’re this timid, then I’d advise you to just give up. You’ll never win her over."
With that, she turned to leave.
The man retorted indignantly, "Who says I don’t dare! I’ll go find her in a minute! But about that secret recipe you mentioned... can you tell me first?"
Su Mo smiled. "What’s the rush? Tell me how it goes, and then I’ll tell you. Just follow my instructions, and I guarantee you’ll get twice the results with half the effort!"
"Oh!" the Little Beastman replied excitedly. "Then you just wait for my good news!"
"Mhm," Su Mo yawned, deciding to lie down and take a nap.
When she woke up, she heard RUSTLING sounds from outside.
She and Little Nine quietly peeked through a crack in the window. "What’s that damn pervert up to now?"
Little Nine said, "It looks like all the young, able-bodied Beastmen in the village have gathered here. It seems like he’s deploying them for something. Don’t tell me he’s already discovered your fiancés’ tracks?"
Su Mo frowned but said nothing.
She just heard the brawny Beastman in the lead shout sternly, "From this moment on, I want all of you on high alert! No slacking off in the slightest! The patrol routes and schedules must be reinforced!"
The crowd of young Beastmen shouted in unison, "Yes!"
The leader walked toward the crowd and continued, "The moment you see anyone from the Tiger Clan approaching, report it immediately!"
Su Mo quietly backed away. ’The Tiger Clan?’ she thought. ’Looks like another wave of that dog Jin Tong’s enemies has tracked him down.’
Little Nine said excitedly, "The enemy of our enemy is our friend! Maybe we can team up with them and slaughter that freak, wipe him out completely!"
Su Mo thought for a moment before shaking her head. "North Wing doesn’t seem to have any relationship with the Tiger Clan. I just hope them showing up to fight now doesn’t mess with my escape."
Little Nine chirped, "If they start fighting tonight, we can escape in the chaos! We wouldn’t have to wait for tomorrow, right?"
Su Mo frowned. "I’ll have to go out again tonight and get a clear idea of the internal layout."
—
Mo Xiao and Yue Ying had already reached the place where the Tiger Clan members were camped.
After covertly listening to a few sentences, their suspicions were confirmed: the Tiger Clan was indeed here for Jin Tong.
Yue Ying recognized the leading Tiger Clan general. They had met once before at the Tiger Clan’s black market. His name was Tian Huan.
At that moment, he stood among the Tiger Clan soldiers with a grim expression, declaring furiously, "This time, we must kill Jin Tong and avenge General Bai Chi! We will make him pay his blood debt in blood!"
The soldiers’ morale surged, and they roared in unison, "Blood for blood! Avenge him! Annihilate him!!!"
Suddenly, the melodious sound of a zither cut through the spirited cries.
Everyone turned toward the source of the sound, only to see a man sitting on a green stone atop the high cliff behind them, facing the wind. His white robes danced in the breeze, and his silver hair, like frost and snow, shimmered with a cold halo in the twilight. His entire aura was so coolly noble that one dared not look at him directly.
It was as if a celestial being had descended, completely at odds with the murderous atmosphere of the scene.
"TWANG—"
Following that sharp, final note from the zither, the man on the cliff instantly flew down to land before Tian Huan.
His cool, tranquil gaze swept over Tian Huan.
A flicker of guilt crossed Tian Huan’s face. "Young Master Xuan Qing, what brings you here?"
Xuan Qing’s tone was calm and even. "General Tian Huan, you are quite capable, aren’t you? To actually convince Father to let you dispatch troops to this little village."
’If I hadn’t been passing through here on my travels and sensed the presence of the Tiger Clan Beastmen, I never would have known about this!’
"I... Bai Chi and I are like brothers. He was ambushed and harmed, a debt of vengeance I must repay! Otherwise, how can I face his men?!"
"It’s still uncertain whether General Bai Chi is alive or dead. General Tian Huan, even if you seek revenge, you should ascertain the situation before acting. By behaving so recklessly, what value are you placing on the lives of all these men? There are plenty of ways to capture that Jin Tong. Must you insist on a head-on clash? You’re just sending your men to their deaths in enemy territory!"
Tian Huan clenched his fists, enraged. "Do you look down on me so much, Young Master?!" frёewebηovel.cѳm
Xuan Qing gave him a cool glance. "Bai Chi’s martial prowess is greater than yours, and when he was ambushed, his forces were not much smaller than what you have today. From where do you derive the confidence to think you can defeat Jin Tong?!"
Tian Huan, irritated by his words, retorted, "He’s been missing for weeks; it’s almost certain he’s met with disaster! Young Master, your greatest hobbies are calligraphy and studying zither music. It’s best you don’t meddle in the affairs of war!"
A Beastman standing nearby said in an agitated tone, "That’s right, Young Master! We must avenge General Bai Chi! We’re already at his doorstep; there’s no reason not to fight! Don’t try to persuade us further. We swear to follow General Tian Huan to the death!"
Xuan Qing’s gaze swept over them, and he suddenly smiled.
Knowing it was pointless to argue with this group of brutes, he simply said in a faint voice, "As you wish. General Tian Huan, when do you plan to dispatch the troops? I don’t mind accompanying you."
Tian Huan said grimly, "In the latter half of the night. The enemy already knows we’re here, so a swift and decisive battle is our best option!"
Xuan Qing said no more. Cradling the Ancient Zither in his arms, he went to a secluded spot and sat down.
From behind him came the sound of the soldiers’ chatter. "Scholars are useless. It seems to me that in all these years, the young master hasn’t learned to do anything but read books and compose music for the zither. Won’t he just be a burden if he comes with us?"
"He’s the Clan Leader’s only son. The leadership of the Tiger Clan Tribe is supposed to pass to him one day, but if the young master is always so timid and afraid of trouble, what will happen in the future...?"
Xuan Qing heard them, his expression indifferent. He had never cared for such baseless things as reputation, power, or wealth; they were never his life’s ambition.
He was seen sitting to the side in his white robes, continuing to play his zither as comfortable, gentle notes flowed from his fingertips.
Soon, the crowd’s agitated emotions were soothed, and they listened, utterly entranced.
When the piece ended, the crowd looked bewildered. "The Young Master’s zither music seems even more pleasant than before, but... are we here to fight a war or to attend a concert???"
Tian Huan shot a surprised look at Young Master Xuan Qing. The soothing effect of his zither music was even stronger now. ’Could it be that he advanced in rank while he was away?!’
He had long known that Young Master Xuan Qing was skilled in martial arts, but the young master rarely took action, so many in the clan were unaware of the true depths of his power.
By this time, Yue Ying and Mo Xiao had returned.
"That young master of the Tiger Clan doesn’t seem like a useless weakling at all," Yue Ying remarked. "Rumor has it, a zither in the right hands can soothe the heart, but it can also kill."
Mo Xiao frowned. "I’ve heard that the Tiger Clan Leader’s two daughters were also raised to be quite formidable. It makes no sense that his only son would be useless."
Yue Ying frowned. "The situation is becoming more and more complicated. Once we rescue our wife, we must leave this place at once!"
