Zongwu: Aspiring to be the mastermind behind the scenes

Chapter 290 Anwu Reappears, Winning Over with Clever Words
A few days later, Huo Tianqing arrived at the headquarters of the Rakshasa Sect and met the new sect leader, Kunsha.

He was wearing the most ordinary linen clothes.

Her hair was loose.

He always seemed tired and lacked energy.

This is completely unrecognizable from the wealthy, dashing, and handsome steward of the Pearl Pavilion in the past.

"Your subordinate, Flying Eagle, greets the Master."

"Ah."

Kunsha nodded, but ignored him, focusing instead on the book in his hands.

Huo Tianqing stood to the side, not uttering a word, like a servant.

Before long, two more people entered the Baoyu Pavilion.

"Heavenly Demon Black Scorpion pays respects to the Sect Leader."

"Crazy Tiger of the Earthly Fiends pays respects to the Master."

These two men were none other than Tuotuo and Tiezhan.

The two were in completely different states.

Tuotuo lowered his head and looked meekly, while Tie Zhan boldly surveyed the environment of Baoyu Pavilion, seemingly pondering how to fight in this environment to gain the upper hand.

Finally, his gaze fell on Huo Tianqing.

Although Huo Tianqing was dressed plainly, Tie Zhan had been through countless battles since he started learning martial arts, and had developed a unique fighting spirit. He could vaguely sense that this seemingly ordinary young man could pose a considerable threat to him.

Kunsha put down his book and waved his hand, closing the door to the Jade Pavilion.

This move surprised all three of them.

Because the true energy that Kunsha released the moment he made his move was not ordinary, but had reached the level of a grandmaster.

In other words, the new leader of the Rakshasa Sect, whom everyone thought was only at the Innate Realm, was actually already a Grandmaster.

"The Rakshasa Sect is truly a place where hidden talents abound."

Kunsha laughed and said, "If I hadn't seen the membership list, I really wouldn't have guessed that three experts who are somewhat famous in the Central Plains would be hiding in this Rakshasa Sect."

Tie Zhan didn't care at all.

Tuotuo was startled.

Huo Tianqing, however, remained expressionless.

Unlike the other two, he was just an ordinary member of the Rakshasa Cult and had never shown his martial prowess.

He figured it out on the way to be invited by the Rakshasa Army and bring the Rakshasa Cult.

It must be that this new cult leader has learned his true identity.

Otherwise, why would they bother looking for an ordinary member of the Rakshasa Cult?
Although Tie Zhan hadn't expected this, he didn't care at all about his identity being exposed.

Although he changed his name according to the rules of the Rakshasa Cult, his appearance and style remained completely unchanged.

His penchant for challenging others and his tendency to go berserk during battles have become his defining characteristics.

Within the Rakshasa Cult, many people had already completely guessed his identity.

However, in places like the Rakshasa Cult, many people have unknown pasts and another original identity.

So no one will point this out.

Of the three, only Toqto'a did not expect, nor did she want, her identity to be exposed.

After all, she betrayed the Yuan Kingdom and is currently wanted by the authorities.

He quickly replied, "Master, you flatter me. Our sect is full of talented people, including many grandmasters. Our strength is far inferior to that of you grandmasters."

Kunsha shook his head: "Their strength is indeed impressive, but unfortunately, none of them are easy to deal with, and few are truly loyal. Right now, they're probably still plotting how to get rid of me."

"To be frank, I want to control the Rakshasa Cult, but I can't do it by relying on them alone. Therefore, I hope the three of you can lend me a hand."

Toghtoa was actually aware of what Kunsa had said.

However, having been trained as a secret envoy by a Yuan general to infiltrate the Ming Dynasty and cause trouble, she was already tired of the power struggles between the two forces and had no desire to get involved in them at all.

He hurriedly replied, "I am of low rank and weak, and I am afraid I am unable to share the burden for the leader."

"Oh? You're... rejecting this leader?"

Kaka!

As soon as Kunsha finished speaking, the sounds of weapons clashing against armor rang out outside the pavilion, and figures appeared and disappeared, surrounding the entire pavilion.

Tuotuo felt a chill run down his spine.

She then realized that she had made the same mistake as the high-ranking members of the Rakshasa Cult.

arrogant!

Although this new cult leader has demonstrated her master-level strength, as an excellent assassin, she has the blood of more than one master on her hands.

Furthermore, the fact that the two were so close at the moment gave her even more confidence.

For a moment, I even started to underestimate the other party.

Although she felt some regret, Tuotuo was not afraid. Instead, amidst the sounds of weapons clashing, she gritted her teeth and thought that if the other side dared to use force, she would dare to fight back.

Tie Zhan and Huo Tianqing, standing nearby, were also secretly mobilizing their inner energy, seemingly ready for battle.

But at that moment, an incredibly terrifying aura pressed down, causing the three of them to pause for a second.

A tall man emerged from behind the screen.

He was dressed in a yellow robe, with blond hair and blue eyes, a black inner lining, and a gold chain hanging from his clothes.

This terrifying aura was the oppressive force created by him mobilizing his internal energy.

All three were shocked, especially Tie Zhan, whose face paled slightly and he involuntarily took a half step back: "An... An Wu?! What are you doing here?"

"Anwu?"

The Western Regions are different from the Central Plains. They are vast and sparsely populated, and even the Jianghu Monthly Report cannot be widely disseminated here. Therefore, Huo Tianqing had no idea who An Wu was.

However, as a demon of the Rakshasa Cult, Tuotuo had access to the Rakshasa Cult's intelligence network and naturally knew who this blond man was.

Master of Two Flowers!

And he's not just any ordinary Second-Grandmaster!

In an instant, a sense of despair welled up in her heart.

There was originally a possibility of a desperate counterattack, but now that An Wu is here, there is probably no such possibility.

With two Grandmasters inside and the Rakshasa Army outside, there's no way the three of them can escape.

Anwu smiled and looked at Tiezhan: "I am from the Western Regions. Now that I have returned to the Western Regions, what's wrong with that?"

"No... I wouldn't dare..." Tie Zhan said, trembling.

Kunsha stood up and said, "Gentlemen, let me introduce you. This is my partner, An Wu. But please rest assured, his presence is not to help me oppress anyone, but to prevent others from launching sneak attacks and assassinations."

I have no intention of using force to coerce the three of you. Such an action would not result in loyalty, but in betrayal, just like the Rakshasa Cult is doing now!
When Yu Luosha was alive, the many high-ranking members of the Rakshasa Sect were all incredibly obedient. But as soon as Yu Luosha died, these people immediately took their own actions. Not to mention the Three Friends of Winter who personally went to the Republic of China to seize the Rakshasa Token, even the two envoys and the four Venerables who remained in the Rakshasa Sect all had their own ulterior motives.

Let alone me, an outsider, bringing the Rakshasa token, even if it were Jade Rakshasa's own son, I'm afraid they wouldn't be convinced.

Having learned such a lesson, I will naturally take heed. Therefore, I will absolutely not use force to oppress anyone. What I hope for is that the three of you will sincerely join my ranks and pledge your loyalty to me! With that, the Rakshasa army outside the pavilion dispersed.

Anwu sat down leisurely and then glanced at Tiezhan.

Tie Zhan immediately clasped his hands and bowed, saying, "As a member of the Rakshasa Sect's Earthly Fiend, it is only natural for me to be loyal to the sect leader."

Kunsha smiled and shook his head: "I said I don't want to use any force to oppress you, so you don't need to worry about Anwu. As for Mad Lion Iron Warrior, the conditions I'm offering are very simple. Since you're warlike, I can directly appoint you as a combat strength examiner within the Rakshasa Sect."

From now on, all the high-ranking members inside Rakshasa Bridge must pass your test and meet the required strength before they can become Heavenly Demons and Earthly Fiends. How about it?

"Furthermore, I will give you the authority to randomly inspect the combat strength of all Heavenly Demons and Earthly Fiends at any time. If their combat strength decreases, you have the right to demote them from the ranks of Heavenly Demons and Earthly Fiends. How about it?"

Upon hearing this, Tie Zhan's eyes lit up.

After joining the Rakshasa Cult, he did enjoy benefits for a period of time.

After all, the people in the Rakshasa Cult are not good people. They all have bad tempers and can start a fight with you if you provoke them a little.

But after being beaten so many times these days, he has begun to be hated by both gods and ghosts.

If things continue like this, sooner or later it will end up like the Central Plains in the past, hated by everyone.

However, if he couldn't make it in the Central Plains back then, he could always go to the Valley of Villains.

But if they can't survive in the Rakshasa Sect, can they really run west again?

Tie Zhan is a battle maniac, not a fool.

To avoid ending up in that situation, I've been subtly toning down my behavior lately.

But this made him unhappy.

And this examiner that Kunsha arranged for him could actually fight with people in a legitimate way?

Is there really such a good job in the world?
"Your subordinate, Tie Zhan, is willing to serve the leader!"

Kunsha turned to look at Toghto: "You have the strength of a Grandmaster, but you can only exert the power of the Innate Realm. Don't you feel frustrated?"

Tuotuo remained calm: "Can the leader cure me? The poison in my body was planted when I was six years old, and I have been taking it every year. It has long been deeply ingrained in my bones."

That's right, Tuotuo wasn't born that way, but was a grandmaster.

After all, he was someone who had fought against Qinglong, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the past. How could he not have the strength of a Grandmaster?

However, she is not old; even now, she is only thirty.

He became a grandmaster when he was only in his early twenties.

At this age, he is even much younger than Lu Xiaofeng and Ximen Chuixue.

But this does not mean that she is a genius comparable to Lu Xiaofeng and Ximen Chuixue.

Although her martial arts talent was indeed extraordinary, it was still somewhat inferior to that of a top-tier genius of the time.

The reason why Tuotuo was able to reach the Grandmaster level at that age was entirely due to the Yuan general's reckless training, which led her to consume a large number of pills and practice martial arts that damaged her own body, thus enabling her to reach the Grandmaster level in a very short time.

But this completely ruined her future potential.

Not only that, the general had also poisoned Tuotuo since he was a child, controlling him with poison so that he dared not resist.

Unfortunately, he underestimated Tuotuo.

For many years, Tuotuo had obeyed orders, not because of the poison, but because the general had shown her care and raised her after she lost her parents.

Even if this care is fake, raising her was purely for profit.

Therefore, Tuotuo did his utmost to carry out all the orders given by the general.

However, once she had repaid all the kindness and seen through the falseness of the care, she abandoned it without hesitation.

The poison in her body could not stop her will at all.

“After taking it for more than ten years, the poison has seeped into the bone marrow... Even if it were just an ordinary poison, it would be extremely difficult to deal with at this level, let alone the Yuan Kingdom’s secret poison, which is specifically used to control subordinates?” Kunsha said.

The two people next to them cast other glances.

Unexpectedly, this renowned and aloof Heavenly Demon was actually a secret envoy trained by the Yuan Kingdom.

Tuotuo said, "Since you do know me, I won't ask about your source of information. With such a potent poison in my body, my strength will never reach the Grandmaster level, and my lifespan will be greatly limited. Even if I join you, I won't be able to help you much."

"No, that's precisely why I value you even more."

Kunsha said, "Compared to strength, what I value most is your will to persevere in fighting against this deadly poison despite its torment!"
Furthermore, I only stated how potent the poison was; I never said it was incurable.

"What? You can help me detoxify?" Tuotuo's eyes instantly lit up with surprise.

Since the mission failed and she returned to the Yuan Kingdom, the general was furious and, in order to punish her, refused to give her any more antidote to alleviate the poison.

From that time on, this deadly poison tormented her relentlessly.

Although she found various ways to avoid death and even suppressed the poison with her inner energy, her lifespan was still greatly shortened, and she was unable to unleash her true strength.

Furthermore, the pain caused by the deadly poison would always strike suddenly, tormenting her from time to time.

Outsiders all thought she was aloof and cold.

In fact, she was suppressing the poison and didn't want to make any expression at all.

If one can be cured of this poison and pledge allegiance to the other party, then it doesn't really matter.

"Three days!"

Kunsha said, "Three days to remove all the poison."

Tuotuo immediately replied, "If the leader can do it, I am willing to pledge my loyalty."

Kunsha nodded, then looked at Huo Tianqing.

Huo Tianqing also wanted to know how the other party would convince him.

"You've been in the Western Regions for over a year now, haven't you? How do you find life here?"

Huo Tianqing answered truthfully: "The Western Regions are vast and sparsely populated, with scarce resources, yet some people still rely on force to trample on others."

life?

These two words aren't quite right. I think "survival" is a better description of the Western Regions!

“Yes,” Kunsha sighed, “Life is very difficult for people in this chaotic Western Regions. Resources are so scarce that many people have to do everything they can to survive.”

Unfortunately, no matter where they are, there are always people who want to take away their right to live.

In places with order, the powerful and wealthy oppress; in places without order, force reigns supreme, and the lives of ordinary people... are too bitter..."

Kunsha stood up and said, "Sect Leader Huo has only been in the Western Regions for a year, yet he has such insights, but I have lived in the Western Regions for more than twenty years!"

Huo Tianqing sighed: "So you really knew my identity."

Kunsha laughed and said, "Although the Heavenly Bird Sect has few members, it is an extremely chivalrous sect. However, Sect Leader Huo, do you know what kind of person can be called a great hero?"

Huo Tianqing shook his head: "I certainly don't know."

Kunsha said, "Guo Jing, the great hero who guarded Xiangyang City, once said, 'The greatest heroes are those who serve their country and its people.' He said it, and he did it, so people willingly call him a great hero!"

When I heard this, I was filled with many emotions. The people of Song were people, but weren't the people of the Western Regions also people?

However, while the Song Dynasty had great heroes like Guo Jing and countless other lesser heroes, the Western Regions had nothing.

(End of this chapter)