Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 533 Entering the game
I can't live this day.

Hearing someone insult you to your face, and not being able to express your anger, makes you unable to vent your anger.

Now Jiang Yuan just wants to go out and strangle Lu Xingzhou. You proposed that marriage arrangement back then, and you didn't even clean up the mess. If you're so capable, why don't you actually ask for his hand in marriage? Now Bai Mao is cursing Zang Wanchun, how did my reputation get like this?

In an instant, all the diplomatic skills he had just put on were gone, and he sat there dumbfounded with his eyes wide open.

"Young Master Jiang, Young Master Jiang?" Zang Wanchun waved his hand in front of him.

Jiang Yuansheng let out a helpless "Huh?"

Zang Wanchun sighed, "There are plenty of fish in the sea. It's just a woman, why bother, Young Master Jiang? Don't you think Qianqian is better?"

Jiang Yuan almost blurted out, "Does she even deserve it?"

He immediately remembered that his current persona was that of a shameless sycophant who was supposed to redeem Qianqian, so he forced himself to suppress his anger and sneered, "Sect Leader Zang, a powerful overlord of one region, actually speaks ill of girls behind their backs. I've seen something new."

Zang Wanchun sighed: "This is just to give Young Master Jiang a more accurate understanding of the various forces on land. After all, what you know at sea may not be accurate."

Jiang Yuan glanced at him sideways: "Sect Leader Zang, are you so eager for external allies? What is your purpose?"

In such matters, whoever is more eager will naturally suffer. Zang Wanchun naturally understood this principle, so he smiled and said, "We do need to expand, but not as urgently as Young Master Jiang imagines. However, since Young Master Jiang is also seeking land allies, and fate has brought us here, I will naturally say a few more words. If Young Master Jiang is truly uninterested, then so be it."

The conversation seemed to have reached a dead end, with neither side willing to reveal their true intentions, and neither able to ascertain what Zang Wanchun was really up to. The main issue was that, aside from Qianqian, the two sides lacked a common point of reference to connect and build rapport.

Zang Wanchun wasn't in a hurry. Drinking, chatting, and building relationships were standard practice; they'd become friends over time.

Jiang Yuan wasn't in a hurry. It was just bragging, much simpler than the diplomatic maneuvering from before. A few casual remarks from an ancient master about "overseas experiences" were enough to leave beggars like Zang Wanchun completely bewildered.

As Lu Xingzhou listened to the conversation inside begin to drift into casual chatter about all sorts of things, he chuckled softly to Dugu Qingli and said, "Let's play supporting roles and give it a boost."

Dugu Qingli said, "Not hiding in the shadows anymore?"

“With Young Master Jiang, the main character, around, the plan should revolve around her.” Lu Xingzhou’s eyes deepened; that was the method of controlling people using the Charming Maiden Mystic Art.

The madam, who was resting on the deck of the pleasure boat, suddenly stood up with a start.

Originally, she planned to keep the sale of Liu Yan'er a secret. Why bother telling the higher-ups about such a trivial matter as redeeming a prostitute? What if the sect leader was unhappy because of Liu Yan'er's identity? She could just drag it out for a few months and then announce that she had died of illness.

But for some reason, I had only one thought in my mind: after all, he was the sect leader's former bedmate, so I had to let him know.

So the madam, as if in a daze, went to Zang Wanchun's attendant to "confess": "Um, Mr. Cheng, there's something I forgot to report to the sect leader."

The attendant was taken aback: "What could be wrong?"

"A couple of guests just ransomed Yan'er. Yan'er was, after all, once the sect leader's person..."

The attendant waved his hand: "This is a small matter, the sect leader won't care. You've been selling yourself for half a year, how could the sect leader still be interested? Go, go, don't disturb the sect leader's meeting with distinguished guests."

"But the couple looked quite different; the man was a handsome young gentleman, and the woman had white hair and blue eyes... I think we should still say something."

"Are you sure?" The attendant was horrified and turned to knock on the door like a madman.

Zang Wanchun apologized to Jiang Yuan, then went outside and angrily asked, "What's the matter? Why are you in such a panic?"

"Sect Master, Granny Zhang said that a handsome young man and a white-haired, blue-eyed girl ransomed Liu Yan'er."

Zang Wanchun's expression changed drastically: "Lu Xingzhou, Dugu Qingli! They really have come to Chunshan County! Why didn't you say so earlier!"

He then paced back and forth a few times: "Liu Yan'er, Liu Yan'er... I was careless. I originally thought Lu Xingzhou and Liu Yan'er were enemies, but even so, they should have been dealt with."

After thinking for a moment, he stopped in his tracks: "Immediately send someone to inform the prefect and ask him to cooperate with us in a secret search for Lu Xingzhou's whereabouts throughout the city. Dugu Qingli's appearance is unusual, making it difficult for her to hide."

"Yes."

"Also, isn't Liu Ming Liu Yan'er's aunt? Immediately send people to keep watch around her."

The subordinate said, "Could it be that Lu Xingzhou would seek revenge for Liu Yan'er?"

"It's hard to say, but it's still a clue." Zang Wanchun was troubled: "I wonder how many of them came, or if it was just two?"

The subordinate lowered his voice: "Lu Xingzhou and Dugu Qingli have never been known for having a large entourage; perhaps there really is only the two of them." Zang Wanchun's eyes flickered: "If that's the case..."

He stopped mid-sentence, waving his hand and saying, "Go and inform the prefect first. Lu Xingzhou might even formally pay him a visit, after all, the prefect is a disciple of Pei Qingyan."

The subordinate took the order and left. Zang Wanchun composed himself and returned to the room.

Jiang Yuan put away the little snail, looking completely bewildered, and asked with concern, "Sect Leader Zang, has something happened? If there is something to deal with, you can go and handle it. There's no rush to drink."

Zang Wanchun said, "It's nothing serious, just that an enemy has entered the area."

Jiang Yuan asked casually, seemingly unintentionally, "Is your enemy very strong?"

Zang Wanchun sighed: "In general terms, they are indeed very strong, with two second-rank members."

Jiang Yuan's heart stirred slightly. The breakthrough efficiency of Lu Xingzhou and Dugu Qingli exceeded the imagination of ordinary people. According to people's information, these two were still at the second rank.

This is ridiculous... These two are not only at the first rank, but they're also both striving to break through to the super rank. Lu Xingzhou is a little slower, but if Dugu Qingli can decipher the Illusion of Ice, she'll definitely be a super rank. To be mistaken for two second-rank opponents by the enemy shows a complete lack of understanding of their own strength. What kind of enemy are they?
He remained outwardly calm: "Two second-rank officials, that's indeed impressive... But this is your sect's territory. Let alone second-rank officials, even two first-rank enemies wouldn't be a problem, would they?"

“That’s true, that’s why I’m still drinking here.” Zang Wanchun still looked somewhat uneasy: “It’s just that if such a powerful person were to risk his reputation by lying in wait for an assassination, it would be quite troublesome, and the disciples would not be able to go out.”

Are you crazy? Would Lu Xingzhou play the assassination game with you? Oh, maybe he used to, since he came from the Underworld.

So, Zang Wanchun doesn't intend to tell me that the enemy who came is Lu Xingzhou... What are you planning to do?
They tricked me into dealing with Lu Xingzhou, using this as an excuse to drag me onto their pirate ship?
Jiang Yuan was a little confused. Could it be that Lu Xingzhou deliberately revealed his identity just to bring this step forward?
How do you know what Zang Wanchun would think?
“If they insist on lying in wait and plotting against us, that would indeed be quite a headache.” Jiang Yuan raised his cup with feigned magnanimity: “For Qianqian’s sake, if Sect Leader Zang needs any help from me, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

Zang Wanchun raised his glass in return: "If Young Master Jiang can really help, then Qianqian will be given to you. It can be considered a trial of cooperation between us. Perhaps the alliance between our two families will begin from here."

Jiang Yuan chuckled dryly twice: "That's good."

"How did you know that Zang Wanchun would invite Jiang Yuan to help us?" Dugu Qingli asked in a low voice, "Zang Wanchun doesn't lack such an accomplice."

"That's for sure. It's not a loss for him to drag another fool into our mess. Whether we run away or die, this so-called Young Master Jiang has seriously offended our forces. We have no choice but to stick with them to the bitter end."

"Then what do we do now?"

"Come with me. Relying on yourself to fight a force head-on is what traditional fantasy is all about. We need to understand that every force has enemies."

Lu Xingzhou, holding Dugu Qingli's hand, quickly disappeared into the night rain.

When it reappeared, it was on the outskirts of Chunshan County, on a barren red rock mountain that seemed to be devoid of spiritual energy and had nothing at all.

Lu Xingzhou tapped lightly on a rock and drew a mark.

Before long, several figures in blood-red robes suddenly appeared in the mountains, asking in low voices, "Which fellow cultivators have come to visit?"

Dugu Qingli's heart skipped a beat.

The Blood Refining Sect, a top-tier sect within the Demonic Path.

Only then did he remember that the Blood Refining Sect and the Spring Mountain Pavilion were mortal enemies. Back when Gu Xuyang, the Grand Elder of the Spring Mountain Pavilion, went to the Heavenly Path Sword Sect to cause trouble, Lu Xingzhou secretly leaked Gu Xuyang's whereabouts to the Blood Refining Sect, which led to Gu Xuyang being killed by the Blood Refining Sect on his way back, despite being seriously injured.

The demonic path is elusive, difficult for ordinary people to find. However, there are special ways of communication among the demonic sects, known only to the high-ranking core members of each sect. Unfortunately, the Judge of the Underworld was once the core of the core.

The first thing the newcomer noticed was Dugu Qingli's white hair. With a series of clangs, a blood-red blade was drawn, its killing intent soaring to the heavens: "Holy Maiden of Tianyao?"

Lu Xingzhou gestured with his hand: "Everyone, it's me."

"Judge... oh no, Lord Lu." The burly man at the front, carrying a large sword, said coldly, "We are no longer on the same path. What business do you have here with the Holy Maiden of Tianyao?"

"What are you saying? When I provided you with the information to kill Gu Xuyang, you didn't hesitate to say that we weren't on the same path." Lu Xingzhou laughed. "Whether we're on the same path or not is not important at all. What's important is that we have a common enemy, isn't that right, Sect Leader Wei?"

The burly man was none other than Wei Miao, the sect leader of the Blood Refining Sect. Upon hearing this, he sneered: "Lord Lu, you're sending just two people to deal with Spring Mountain Pavilion, and you're using my Blood Refining Sect as your vanguard again? Well, I'm sorry, but Spring Mountain Pavilion has taken some kind of aphrodisiac these days, and its power is far greater than before. We've been beaten so badly these past few days that we can't even breathe properly. We can't be your pawns, Lord Lu."

"Why use such an unpleasant term as 'pawn'... If your Blood Refining Sect wants to go against Spring Mountain Pavilion, who else do you think you can rely on besides me, Lu Xingzhou? Let me guess, did the Emperor secretly contact you, saying he could help you break through to the Super Grade, but the price is to be his dog?"

Wei Miao's eyes flickered slightly: "So what? Being the emperor's dog and being Lu Xingzhou's dog seem to make no difference. At least he's still the emperor, and he can still help me break through to the Super Grade."

"Why is Sect Master Wei hesitating? Isn't it because he has been fighting the Spring Mountain Pavilion for many years and the blood feud is hard to resolve?" Lu Xingzhou smiled slightly: "They all believe that the demonic path values ​​profit over righteousness, but only we fellow practitioners know in our hearts that the paths of each sect are different... The Blood Refining Sect cannot repay blood with blood, it would be more painful than killing you all."

(End of this chapter)