Way of the Devil - Chapter 166

Chapter 166
"Guan Nian?!" The two elders hurriedly rose to open to door .



Guan Nian stood outside the door with four men from his Green Squad . Behind them all was a tall middle-aged swordsman who exuded a sharp aura .

"You are…?" Zhang Wuya had been in Martial League for over a decade and could easily recognize all new members . But he had never seen this man before him .

"I’m Xu Chui, the right hand man of Crimson Whale Sect Master Lord Lu Sheng . " The man bowed slowly, speaking without arrogance or humbleness .

Without using "it", he would not be a match for this old man in front of him . After all, he had not attained his strength through hard work like these people, and had received his cultivation base from Sect Master through direct impartation . There remained a difference .

Thus, he respected the old man before him deeply .

"Sect Master Lu Sheng!?" Zhang Wuya’s eyes lit up . "Why has he sent you here?"

"Let’s talk inside," Xu Chui whispered .

"Yes yes yes!" Zhang Wuya’s head bobbed up and down .

Guan Nian led his men into the room but left one of them standing guard outside .

After they entered the room and sat down, Xu Chui revealed Lu Sheng’s intentions directly .

The present Martial League was no longer like what it used to be . The League Master was in solitary confinement and did not seem to care . Things in Martial League were not going well and many people were maligned and killed innocently .

Zhang Wuya and the other older members had been waiting for the League Master to come out and restore order . Unfortunately, he remained nowhere to be seen . And now, many in the League had either fled or been killed .

This deeply disappointed him .

"Why the heck should we stay!" Guan Nian exclaimed involuntarily . "I’ve no idea what’s got into that bitc* Zhong Yunxiu, trying to eradicate every spy in the sect . As long as you’re in the least suspect, she won’t let you go! Isn’t that just framing and killing the innocent!?

Damn this Martial League . I’m not staying anymore!"

"And so you’ve brought him here to see us?" Zhang Wuya said softly .

Guan Nian instantly swallowed hard .

"What’s wrong? Can’t I? The mole in my squad was an exception, but Zhong Yunxiu detained two of my men without even a word! What’s she trying to do? Splitting us up?!" His neck turned red .



"It may be a good idea to take refuge outside the League temporarily . We can trust Sect Master Lu, but about Ashoka Manor…" Zhang Wuya hesitated .

"Ashoka Manor has just lost two Officiators . They haven’t got enough time for themselves, how can they bother about us?" Guan Nian said without concern .

Zhang Wuya traded glances with the old woman . Both of them sighed inwardly .

‘Precisely because they suffered severe losses, they would suspect us all the more now! The situation may take a turn for the worse…’

"But if it’s Sect Master Lu, there wouldn’t be a problem at all . We can go take refuge in Crimson Whale Sect indeed . " Zhang Wuya decided that the plan could work after some thought .

Just by the fact that Lu Sheng had killed four Emissaries from Ashoka Manor, he already had a feud with Ashoka Manor, not to mention that Lu Sheng was Li Shunxi’s good pal . The enemy of my enemy is my friend . They would definitely be safe there .

"My Sect Master has come originally to trade for some martial arts manuals . But we didn’t expect to run into such a scene . Since Elder and Captain Guan are familiar with us, it may be a good idea for you to leave with us to wait out the trouble," Xu Chui said .

"Give us a moment to consider again…" Zhang Wuya frowned . He was wise in the ways of the world and was skeptical that Lu Sheng would really send his man here just to take them into refuge . Probably Lu Sheng was moved by his stash of secret manuals and all the resources Martial League owned . They might not be grain, but they were worth something .

"Consider my balls! Let’s hurry and go!" Guan Nian was impatient indeed . He of all people knew how chaotic Martial League had become . People’s loyalty had faded, and the rift between the mortal Divine Prime experts and Noblemen was widening . If things were to go on like this, something really bad was bound to happen .

"What will happen to the rest if we go?" Zhang Wuya asked solemnly .

"Our Sect Master’s intention is the more that comes with us, the merrier," Xu Chui replied earnestly . "But of course, we need Captain Guan to identify the trustworthy Noblemen . "

At those words, Zhang Wuya and Guan Nian’s jaws hung loose in dumb shock .

‘That’s basically emptying the entire Martial League!’

***

Lu Sheng entered the solitary confinement sanctuary light-footed .

The waterfall outside the window crashed straight into the lake, splashing drops and mists of water into the room every now and then .

Only a gray round mat and a short table with an incense pot on it lay in the entire sanctuary . Some water and dishes had also been placed on the table .

Lu Sheng looked at the mouldy food . It was untouched; clearly, it had been left here for a long time .



The sanctuary was empty . The League Master who was supposedly in solitary confinement was nowhere to be seen . Who knew where he had gone .

"Qin Wumian?" He surveyed the entire sanctuary with narrowed eyes . Apart from a mouldy smell, there was also a faint trace of the raw scent of blood in the air .

But none of these were his business . He had entered the sanctuary only to make contact with this League Master of Martial League to see if there was any possibility of taking him into his service . Unexpectedly, however, that was all that was in sight .

‘This Martial League League Master seems very mysterious…’ finding nothing in the room, Lu Sheng had no choice but to leave .

Once out of the tower, he moved with astonishing speed along the blind spots of the place . When it was impossible to evade detection, he would simply knock sentries out with one blow .

Under his speed and force, he quickly returned to the courtyard he had been in just moments ago .

Zhong Yunxiu and two other ladies were waiting there for him .

At the sight of Lu Sheng, the three of them broke into joy .

"Sect Master Lu! What’s going on in there?!" Zhong Yunxiu asked hurriedly .

Lu Sheng shook his head . "The League Master isn’t in the sanctuary at all . "

"I knew it!" Zhang Yunxiu’s face lurched . She was different from that blundering Guan Nian . Ever since Li Shunxi’s incident, she had been increasingly suspicious of whether or not the League Master was really still here .

The only reason why she kept opposing Guan Nian was merely to mask and hide her true intentions .

"Since Sect Master has invited us, it’s unwise and inappropriate to stay in the League any further, especially given the situation now, as you can see . But… if we joined Crimson Whale Sect, wouldn’t it draw Ashoka Manor’s attention to you?" Zhong Yunxiu asked with a frown . She was much more careful and thorough than Guan Nian .

"There’s no need to worry about that . I’ve prepared plenty of grain in another place . You can all go and hide in wait there first instead of returning to Crimson Whale Sect with me," Lu Sheng said simply .

"In that case, we’ll trouble you, Sect Master," Zhong Yunxiu nodded after some deliberation .

"How many do you intend to bring along?" Lu Sheng asked in a whisper .

"Just my two sisters and me . None of the rest are trustworthy . " Zhong Yunxiu shook her head . "I’ve discovered that apart from Ashoka Manor’s mole, there’s another force hidden in the League . It’s no longer possible for us to tell apart who’s trustworthy and who’s not . "

"A while ago, somebody discovered the bird poop of a Red Letter Pidgeon—the kind used to transmit messages—outside the valley . Somebody’s been communicating with someone on the outside," one of the ladies interrupted .

To be honest, Lu Sheng would not reject anyone . He welcomed all as long as they were strong . Yin Crane Web could resolve all issues .

But he was in a rush now and could not afford to take too many with him . Things would get troublesome if Scarlet District Mistress were to get here before he could leave . Hence, he needed to bring those in the know out of this place and into hiding as soon as possible .

"Alright then . I’ve sent my man to contact Guan Nian and Zhang Wuya’s company . In a while, we’ll leave together . "

"We’ll comply with all your arrangements, Sect Master . " Zhong Yunxiu cupped his fists .

"Thank you," Lu Sheng smiled . "But before that, I need to personally perform a check . I’ve got a way of determining if there’re any traitors or moles among us . "

"Oh?!" Zhong Yunxiu and her company were shocked .

"Time is short . And it consumes my inner force . So I can only use it on very few people," Lu Sheng added .

"And are you certain of the results, Sect Master?!" Zhong Yunxiu was immediately solemn .

"Eighty percent certain . "

"That's sufficient!" Zhong Yunxiu clapped her hands . "If possible, please check us now . "

"Of course," Lu Sheng smiled warmly . Some Yin Yang Jade Crane Aquarius Qi swiftly gathered at his fingertip .

"Just one touch is all I need . " He extended his finger towards Zhong Yunxiu's forehead .

She was a Double-Vein Noblewoman—perfect for testing if Aquarius Qi can form a Yin Crane Web .

If it worked, then it would not activate as long as Zhong Yunxiu did not betray him . But if any 'mishap' were to happen, this would be his failsafe .

"Thud . "

He touched Zhong Yunxiu's forehead with his fingertip . A trace of Aquarius Qi shot into her .

"Szzzz . . . "

Instantly, her black membrane appeared and fought the Aquarius Qi . In a burst, they both vanished .

Zhong Yunxiu retreated several paces as her face lurched . She stared at Lu Sheng .

"This thing’s is harmful to me! What's the meaning of this, Sect Master Lu!?"

"Oh . . . looks like it can't penetrate black membrane . . . " A trace of disappointment crept up in Lu Sheng's eyes . "It's just a method to test one's loyalty . Don't tell me just a tinge of this aura could put you in danger?"

Zhong Yunxiu hesitated . A moment ago, she clearly felt a keen threat and blocked it with her black membrane by reflex and pulled away .

"Regardless, Sect Master had better keep this method for your own use . When do we leave?"

"Anytime now," Lu Sheng's face turned into one of regret for a lost opportunity . He put down his hand .

Under Zhong Yunxiu's concealment, they met up with Guan Nian and Zhang Wuya at that very night . In total, there were about two dozens of them . Carrying all sorts of luggage and manuals, they left Martial League silently, leaving behind some members of the League whose loyalty was suspected .

***

Deep in the night, a tall figure stepped out from the shadows outside Martial League .

Scarlet District Mistress stood on the cliff and surveyed the silver tower beneath her . Beside her was umbrella girl and a few wandering ghosts .

"So this is Martial League? Rather pretty place, I must say . "

"How . . . do we . . . investigate?" umbrella girl asked softly .

"Charge in directly . Kill those who refuse to speak . " Scarlet District Mistress leapt forward without waiting for umbrella girl's reply . Like a bird, she flew and pounced at the tower under the cliff .

"Who's there!? How dare you trespass into Martial League!"

Several green figures shot towards her, armed with steel forks, long sabers, and long swords . These were the Noblemen on sentry in the League .

But at the sight of Scarlet District Mistress while she was still in mid-air, their faces were drained of color . They abandoned their weapons, turned and tried to flee . Clearly, they had recognized her identity .

"BOOM!!!"

A large pit, several meters in diameter, was smashed into the ground before the tower .

Slowly, Scarlet District Mistress rose up from the pit .