Free Web NovelChapter 474: Chapter 70: The Traitor Ma Shihuang
"Xuanyuan’s stratagem of sowing discord seems to have been used against us."
Shen Fei listened to Shennong’s words; just before Jiu Li advanced, Xuanyuan had sent information over.
After reading it, Shennong told Shen Fei.
"If the Common Lord is moved, you can go ahead," Shen Fei said with a slight smile, looking at the silent Shennong.
Of course, he was just saying that, knowing that Shennong would never actually go.
Earlier, if he hadn’t been healed, Shennong might have indeed gone to Youxiong.
After all, Shennong is still the Common Lord now, and it’s his freedom to go where he pleases.
But now.
If Shennong were to go to Youxiong, he wouldn’t become the Common Lord.
"High Priest, you jest," Shennong shook his head, "I remain silent because I wonder how Xuanyuan came up with this method.
It doesn’t seem like the way of a ruler.
"Probably it was your former disciple Ma Shihuang, considering his insights, he might have understood a lot about Lie Mountain."
"And it involves disputes between cultivators and shamans."
Shen Fei smiled; though he didn’t know who was behind it, he didn’t mind giving a wink to the one going to Youxiong.
As for the belief that their trip to Youxiong was incited by the Medicine Ancestor, that couldn’t be said carelessly.
At the time, the Medicine Ancestor genuinely spoke from the heart, though they misunderstood Jiu Li.
If Duan Xiu were still in power, it might indeed have suppressed the cultivators belonging to Lie Mountain.
After all, shamans are the basic base of Jiu Li, but now Shen Fei has won them over with emotion and reason.
And Chi You also supported Shen Fei’s perspective.
"Ma Shihuang..."
Upon hearing the name Shen Fei mentioned, Shennong fell silent for a moment; the departure of Chi Songzi didn’t affect Shennong much.
Even though now Shennong’s ability has surpassed Chi Songzi’s.
Yet, Chi Songzi was once his mentor, the one from whom he sought the Dao.
Chi Songzi’s departure is also his own choice; the Li Shanbei Tribe didn’t cultivate Chi Songzi much either.
But Ma Shihuang is different.
He was nurtured by Shennong from childhood, with the intention of having him inherit the mantle of the Medicine Immortal.
Ma Shihuang didn’t even fight; he directly went to Youxiong, which was undoubtedly a betrayal to him and to Lie Mountain.
Previously, Shennong thought Jiu Li was brutal, believing that the basic base of Jiu Li’s extraordinary power is shamans.
He thought that cultivators integrated into Jiu Li would be oppressed, but Jiu Li’s openness surprised Shennong.
Of course, he knew this was because the High Priest was Shen Fei, who had no parochial views and would accept anything beneficial to Jiu Li.
Moreover, he didn’t hold the past grudges between Lie Mountain and Jiu Li, returning benevolence for resentment, and even had Duan Xiu make efforts to heal him.
But Ma Shihuang, he’s still using this discord to cause rifts among them.
Actually, what Shennong told Shen Fei was already stripped down and was still somewhat normal.
The original message was more direct.
"I will send a message back to them. Ma Shihuang... sigh."
Shennong, now free from the danger of death, became much clearer-minded.
He also realized that Ma Shihuang and the others’ defection wasn’t for Lie Mountain, as they claimed.
It was for themselves; otherwise, they would have told it to Gonggong long ago.
"The Common Lord will handle it."
Shen Fei smiled.
...
Soon after, many voices emerged among the Human Race, all criticizing Ma Shihuang and others who had joined Youxiong.
Back then they fled without fighting, abandoning Lie Mountain in the face of the advancing Jiu Li, and went to Youxiong.
Even after joining, they had people send messages to the Common Lord urging him to join Youxiong.
They disregarded the kindness shown by Jiu Li in healing the Common Lord.
In the military camp stationed by Youxiong.
Ma Shihuang walked among them, about to go prepare medicines, when he overheard the soldiers’ conversation during training.
"Did you hear, the Ma Shihuang who joined us not long ago is actually a defector from Lie Mountain.
It’s said the leader even entrusted him with important duties."
"Could it be a rumor spread by Jiu Li to make us distrust Medicine Immortal Ma? I think Medicine Immortal Ma is quite good.
After all, we are about to fight Jiu Li."
"Heh, if Jiu Li themselves said it, it would surely be false, but this was said by Shennong the Common Lord himself.
And some people from Lie Mountain did indeed say that Ma Shihuang fled without fighting..."
"The leader of Holy Virtue, how could he tolerate such... Medicine Immortal Ma!"
Seeing Medicine Immortal Ma appear, the speaking soldiers quickly shut their mouths.
They saluted him.
Others immediately put on a solemn appearance.
"Damn it..."
Ma Shihuang’s face was livid; he thought the stratagem of sowing discord had now backfired on him.
It was just unbelievable that this came from his own mentor’s words.
Was his original defection a mistake?
Not to mention, wasn’t it Shen Yao who asked them to come to Youxiong in the first place?
Why hasn’t Shen Yao come?
"So exactly how did the mentor heal..."
Ma Shihuang entered the large tent camp.
He saw that all the people who had set out on this expedition were gathered in the big tent, and when Li Mu saw Ma Shihuang.
His face was somewhat grim, frankly, he hadn’t known Ma Shihuang fled without fighting back then.
He heard differently from Leader Xuanyuan.
It was said that Ma Shihuang was attracted by the leader of Youxiong Tribe’s Holy Virtue; that’s why he came from Lie Mountain.
At that time, people even thought Ma Shihuang and Chi Songzi were indeed impressive, not only leading so many people.
But also bringing so much resources with them.
Especially bringing the Medicine Immortal that Youxiong sorely lacked.
Not to mention Ma Shihuang was willing to offer the cultivation method of the Medicine Immortal.
All these actions appeased the initial controversies when Leader Xuanyuan appointed him as the Drug Manager of Youxiong Tribe.
Despite Leader Xuanyuan’s high prestige.
There were objections to seizing so many resources and positions from an external force for the tribe.
However, Ma Shihuang managed well with his rhetoric.
Even those from Lie Mountain were seen as being attracted by the leader.
But realizing Ma Shihuang was actually a traitor explained things differently.
Being a defector attracted over, how can it showcase the leader’s Holy Virtue?
Now even the morale inside the camp has slightly dropped.
In many people’s view, Jiu Li is brutal and aggressive, and the Common Lord’s direct statement.
Declared Ma Shihuang a traitor.
In the Great Wilderness, fighting for the tribe is an instinct, and even dying for the tribe is an honor.
But you, Ma Shihuang...
"What do we do now, the stratagem of sowing discord hasn’t worked, and instead it has affected our morale here."
Li Mu did not blame Ma Shihuang, as indeed Ma Shihuang had provided Youxiong Tribe with a lot of information and strength.
"Originally, we held the Great Righteousness, but now the Common Lord stands there, and it’s challenging.
Although we indeed know the Common Lord’s position now.
We must report to the leader.
The Common Lord has become our opponent, and it needs to be quickly communicated to the tribe." Fang Lingyun frowned, admitting Shen Fei’s tactics were indeed remarkable.
Previously unnoticed, now realizing how formidable Shen Fei was in transforming Jiu Li’s reputation.
Combined with the Common Lord’s ultimate endorsement, it has already impacted their Youxiong’s combat power.
