Xuanxia

Chapter 34 Second Identity

The area around Youzhu Cave was extremely quiet. The noise from the distant village was completely blocked out by the bamboo forest. Fu Qingzhou's loud laughter echoed like a bell, extremely clear.

Sure enough, not long after, heavy and slow footsteps were heard in the cave.

Under the moonlight, the old and tired figure gradually emerged.

Elder Ma walked out of the cave. He still had the same kind face as before, but now half of his body was covered with pus and blood, and his right hand was extremely black, like charcoal.

Fu Qingzhou narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Elder Ma, did you force the lock open and get hurt by the fierce blood curse? It's really powerful. If it were someone else, I'm afraid they would have turned into pus and blood like Elder Nian, right?"

Elder Ma didn't say anything, but continued to move forward silently, and didn't stop until he was two steps away.

His eyes were very cloudy, as if he could only see Fu Qingzhou clearly at this distance, so he sighed heavily: "You are not from Mingjian Pavilion...You can't be named Fu..."

Fu Qingzhou smiled: "Then who am I?"

"Although Wandu Mountain has guarded the southern border for more than ten years, the number of people who know about this matter... except for our sect, is only a handful of people."

Elder Ma said hoarsely: "Not to mention that you also know about the fierce blood curse... Are you... a member of the royal family?"

Fu Qingzhou shrugged: "I am whoever you say I am."

"This is impossible..." Elder Ma's face trembled like a dead tree: "Why would the royal family choose to come here at this time..."

Fu Qingzhou shook his head, let go of Hua Xiaolan's ankle, and let her collapse to the ground.

"Old man, you're not smart enough."

He said calmly, "Your former sect leader has been lingering on for a long time. Do you really think that others don't know about the open and secret struggles in your sect?"

"Now that the former sect leader has passed away and most of the strong men in the Ten Thousand Poisons Mountain are out fighting against the evil spirits, isn't this the best time for you to rebel? If I don't come now, should I wait until you're done making trouble?"

Elder Ma still lowered his head: "No... it's still not right. The strange curse on you, your strength... you didn't bring anyone with you..."

"hehe."

Fu Qingzhou smiled casually: "The curse is just a reason to go into the mountains. As for bringing people? Why should I bring people?"

He spread his hands and said, "For the imperial court, does it matter who is the leader? All the imperial court needs is a stable and peaceful Wandu Mountain in southern Xinjiang. Now that you are powerful, I am naturally willing to stand on your side. Would you attack your own backers?"

Elder Ma frowned and glanced at Hua Xiaolan who was lying motionless on the ground.

With his strength, he didn't need to take Hua Xiaolan's pulse or have any additional perception. With just one glance, he could tell that Hua Xiaolan's breath was weak and her meridians were disordered. She must have been seriously injured.

"why?"

He asked hoarsely, "If you were willing to stand on our side, why did you cooperate with her in the first place? And why did you...watch Nian Rufeng die?"

Fu Qingzhou laughed: "So I said, you are not smart enough."

"The elder is so radical and violent, and his resentment towards the court is written all over his face. He is not a good partner to work with."

He narrowed his eyes and revealed a cruel and smug smile: "But Elder Ma, you are different. You have a gentle personality and are unwilling to conflict with the court unless necessary. The court is willing to let you control Wandu Mountain."

"As for this little girl..."

He kicked Hua Xiaolan: "If I hadn't lied to her and the people behind her, how could they have protected me so well? How could they have fallen for my trick and been tricked out of the mountains to 'chase you and Long Dabei'? How could this little girl... be subdued by me?"

Elder Ma's body trembled slightly, and he sighed heavily: "My lord... you are so calculating."

"I know you are dissatisfied."

Fu Qingzhou said leisurely, "The elite disciples that I have worked so hard to train for many years died quietly in the mountains, and even their bodies may not be found. Especially you, Elder Ma, you have to supervise and treat most of the disciples who rarely come back from the front line. Some of them can be cured after being sent to the Phoenix Blood Pool, but some can only wait to die..."

“You are an elder who teaches martial arts. It is hard not to feel resentful when you see these children you raised suffer such torture. This... I understand.” These few short words made Elder Ma burst into tears.

He sighed repeatedly, unable to utter a complete word, turbid tears streaming down his old skin with wrinkles all over it, and his body trembled even more violently.

"But Elder Ma..."

Fu Qingzhou also sighed: "You should never, ever, ever think of releasing Long Dabei."

"What serious crimes did this man commit in the past? Neither the imperial court nor the martial arts world can tolerate him. If Wan Dushan joins forces with him, the enemy you will face will be the entire world!"

Elder Ma shook his head and wiped away the tears on his face: "Sir, we have no other choice... Only he... Only he can help us fight against the people that the court may send..."

"You guys." Fu Qingzhou shook his head and said, "You've just stayed in the mountains for too long, and your thinking is not flexible enough."

"Of course the imperial court does not want the inheritance of Wandu Mountain to be cut off. If you are really having a hard time, why don't you speak to the imperial court?"

Without waiting for Elder Ma to reply, he immediately waved his hand and said, "I know, you have said that, of course, but His Majesty has too many things to take care of. If you don't let the people in the capital see your blood and tears, who will know what you have paid? They will only think you are just country bumpkins who come here to cry poor!"

Elder Ma was a little stunned. He opened his mouth slightly and said, "What you mean is..."

Fu Qingzhou's eyes turned cold, and he smiled mysteriously: "Let the evil spirits cross the Hundred Thousand Mountains, or even deliberately capture a few and throw them into the capital, so that they will know how terrible this thing is, right? In this way, His Majesty will be able to send reinforcements..."

Elder Ma's whole body stiffened, and even Hua Xiaolan on the ground couldn't help but tremble.

"Damn, this plan of yours is really vicious!"

The Smoker screamed, "Why didn't I see that you were so vicious before?"

"It's all acting." Fu Qingzhou laughed awkwardly in his mind: "If I don't do this, how can he trust me?"

As expected, there was no longer any suspicion in Elder Ma's eyes, only deep fear: "Sir, who... are you?"

"Don't ask if you shouldn't ask."

Fu Qingzhou sneered: "You just need to know that if I come here again one day, the prosperous Wandu Mountain will have to thank me for it."

Elder Ma's pupils shrank, and his expression suddenly became clear: "You... you have a great cause..."

"Shhh."

Fu Qingzhou raised a finger to his lips: "Don't say it."

"Yes...I understand."

Elder Ma lowered his head and said: "If you can save Wandu Mountain from the water and fire, the 100,000 Miao people in this mountain will be willing to go through fire and water for you in the future!"

"very good."

Fu Qingzhou walked forward with a smile and patted him on the shoulder: "In this case..."

"Master-uncle!"

At this moment, a very shrill cry suddenly came from the bamboo forest: "You can't trust him!"

They were both startled at the same time and looked into the bamboo forest.

Jiang Yunfeng rushed out of the forest covered in blood, stumbling and shouting, "Elder Yu's men are already chasing us! No matter what he says, don't believe him!"

Elder Ma's pupils shrank sharply.

At the same moment, Hua Xiaolan jumped up from the ground and a cloud of poisonous smoke shone towards Elder Ma's face!
On the other side, Fu Qingzhou also jumped back very quickly, and then without hesitation... threw the jade token in his hand towards Elder Ma!
(End of this chapter)