Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 70 Whose Death Is It?
This list is indeed very stressful.

If we disregard Dugu Qingli and only consider the Tianxing Sword Sect itself, after Jin Mingxiu's death, only Shen Tang, who was a fourth-rank official, remained in the entire sect; the rest were utterly vulnerable.

The list from Fenxianglou includes three Rank 3 alchemists, two of whom are in combat sequence. Even if the alchemists leading the teams aren't great in actual combat, they can still crush lower-ranking opponents like shrimp.

Even if Shen Tang is invincible among his peers, there is a huge gap between him and the third rank, which is the upper third rank. It is very difficult to defeat someone of a higher rank. Being able to hold his own is already quite remarkable. But there are three of them on the other side.

No matter how you look at it, this is a crushing defeat. When Sheng Yuanyao saw the list, she couldn't imagine how the Heavenly Sword Sect could win.

To divide and conquer, you at least need to offer something that will tempt the other party... As for the Heavenly Sword Sect, a declining sect, Sheng Yuanyao just can't understand why they would do that. Are they going to break the tacit agreement and promote their princess status themselves?

That could have even more serious consequences.

Will the Heavenly Sword Sect be wiped out in one fell swoop...?

No power in Xia Prefecture dared to easily participate in a war that was of interest to the higher authorities, nor could any power accommodate or hide a large number of powerful members of the Incense Burning Pavilion. In order to avoid a large gathering of powerful members in Xia Prefecture from arousing the suspicion of the government and the Heavenly Path Sword Sect, the members of the Incense Burning Pavilion entered in batches and hid in secret.

Some stayed directly at inns, while others went to stay at the homes of familiar friends, waiting only for the signal to launch a full-scale attack on the Tianxing Sword Sect.

Zhang Shaoyou sat quietly in the inn's secluded courtyard, gently polishing and nurturing his beloved flying sword.

The snow has been falling heavier these past few days. Killing someone on a snowy night is quite in line with the style of a swordsman, and it's an atmosphere that Zhang Shaoyou quite likes, but for some reason, he feels uneasy.

Perhaps it was the sudden inquiry from the Demon Suppression Division today?
Although the people from the Demon Suppression Division only learned about the situation and left, it's hard to imagine how the Xia Prefecture City Lord would react if it were discovered that so many people from the Incense Burning Pavilion had entered Xia Prefecture.

If it were Zhang Shaoyou making the decision, he would likely choose to launch the operation ahead of schedule, rather than waiting for the originally planned date. It doesn't matter if some people aren't present; the current strength is already enough to raze the Heavenly Sword Sect several times over…

If the Heavenly Sword Sect were to take precautions, there might actually be casualties. Zhang Shaoyou himself is a sword cultivator and is well aware of the power of a former third-grade sword sect's protective formation. Once the opponent reacts and prepares, it will only add to the difficulty.

Unfortunately, he wasn't the one leading the team; it was Alchemist Chang Qing. Not only was Alchemist Chang Qing there, but also Zhu Lianfeng, who had always been at odds with him.

Zhang Shaoyou's face unconsciously darkened.

To put it bluntly, this shows that the Incense Burning Pavilion doesn't trust its outside protectors. They appear to be one of their own, but when it comes to crucial moments, they've never given Zhang Shaoyou the opportunity to take charge independently.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door of the courtyard.

Zhang Shaoyou's heart skipped a beat: "Who?"

There was no answer from outside, but the door opened by itself. A white-haired girl pushed a wheelchair, in which sat a stunningly beautiful woman with exceptional poise, who smiled politely at him: "I apologize for coming uninvited, Protector Zhang."

A smile blossoms, like a crabapple flower in bloom.

Shen Tang!

Zhang Shaoyou instinctively gripped the sword hilt.

"Protector Zhang, there's no need to be nervous. No one outside knows." Shen Tang smiled slightly. "I'm not here to be your enemy."

Zhang Shaoyou said calmly, "Sect Leader Shen recently killed two of our sect's protectors and even publicly declared that he would fight to the death with anyone who met me at Fenxianglou. I don't think we have a relationship where we can talk face to face."

“I don’t think so,” Shen Tang said leisurely. “Otherwise, if Protector Zhang were alone here, I could have easily gathered my elite forces to hunt him down and assassinate him. Why would I need to come here and be so open?”

Zhang Shaoyou fell silent; Shen Tang was right.

He sensed it; the white-haired girl beside Shen Tang was a fourth-rank sword cultivator, and Shen Tang's combat prowess had been clearly demonstrated during the ceremony, effortlessly dispatching two peers as if slicing vegetables. It was said that the Heavenly Sword Sect also had a fourth-rank Sword Peak Hall leader; with these three as a foundation, and with a calculated attack on an unsuspecting opponent, the assassination attempt indeed had a certain success rate.

At least for now, if he wanted to launch a surprise attack on Shen Tang, he wouldn't be very confident without knowing the arrangements outside, so he wouldn't dare to act rashly.

But Shen Tang chose to have a conversation.

Moreover, does Shen Tang's arrival mean that their Incense Burning Pavilion's plan has been completely exposed to the Heavenly Sword Sect?
Seeing Zhang Shaoyou's silence, Shen Tang knew he had figured it out and smiled, "In fact, in my heart, Protector Zhang and Fenxiang Tower are not considered as one entity."

Zhang Shaoyou subconsciously said, "Please do not speak recklessly."

Shen Tang said leisurely, "Is that not how Fenxianglou sees it?" Zhang Shaoyou paused, unable to respond to this question.

"Sir, you are ultimately an outsider. Compared to someone like Zhu Lianfeng, who has been nurtured since childhood, there is naturally a difference in closeness. In the eyes of Fenxiang Tower, you were able to break through to the third rank because you took their pills. They treat you with gratitude, right?"

Zhang Shaoyou remained silent, this time the blow weighed heavily on his mind.

Indeed, Fenxianglou acted as if they had done him a favor, as if he would be ungrateful if he didn't repay it. However, things couldn't be calculated that way. The pills were Fenxianglou's payment for hiring him. He accepted the pills from Fenxianglou, but he also risked his life for Fenxianglou. Over the years, whenever Fenxianglou had a conflict with another organization, he was always the one on the front line.
Essentially, this is just about getting paid and starting a job. How did it involve gratitude? It's just that in people's minds, helping you break through is a great favor, and compared to that, contributing some combat power is not enough to repay it. Even Zhang Shaoyou himself subconsciously thinks so.

But after Shen Tang said that, he couldn't help but feel aggrieved.

I risked my life to work for you and earned these pills, how did that become your kindness?

Shen Tang smiled and said, "Furthermore, I've also heard that Protector Zhang receives considerable resources from the Incense Burning Pavilion, making them a community of interest?"

"Bullshit!" Zhang Shaoyou blurted out instinctively, then immediately realized his mistake and shut his mouth.

"Let me guess... Protector Zhang's cultivation is evident here, and his rank is high, so his monthly allowance is higher than others, which is a matter of course. But in their eyes, they always feel that Master has taken a huge advantage and received a lot of training..." Shen Tang smiled and said, "Zhu Lianfeng is the First Protector, and his allowance is higher than yours, but no one says that he receives any preferential treatment... because he is one of the Burning Incense Pavilion's own people, while Master is not. They want Master to feel that you owe them something."

Zhang Shaoyou's breathing finally became heavy.

"Furthermore..." Shen Tang paused, then chuckled, "Since breaking through to the third rank, it seems you haven't made any progress in recent years, have you?"

Zhang Shaoyou remained silent for a long time before shaking his head and saying, "The ninth rank and the ninth level of the Heavenly Realm are all more difficult than the last. My aptitude is insufficient, so this is all I can do."

"That's not necessarily true. In fact, the difficulty of breaking through from Rank 3 to Rank 2 is not higher than that of breaking through from Rank 4 to Rank 3... Isn't it because the highest rank the Incense Burning Pavilion can achieve in alchemy is Rank 3, which is already of little help to you, sir? Just like Zhu Lianfeng is also stuck at Rank 3."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Shaoyou couldn't help but laugh: "Could it be that your sect's seventh-grade alchemist is more effective than the pills from the Incense Burning Pavilion?"

Shen Tang instinctively spoke up for Lu Xingzhou: "First of all, he is already a sixth-grade alchemist; secondly, his ability to refine pills surpasses that of the fourth-grade Bai Jingtian, as has already been proven at our sect's grand ceremony."

Dugu Qingli glanced at her, her face expressionless.

"Ahem." Shen Tang coughed lightly, then said, "However, he really can't refine pills above the third grade. What I and the master were talking about is not his business."

"what is that?"

"Sir, you are a sword cultivator. We sword cultivators don't like to rely on external things."

Zhang Shaoyou remained silent. If there were any other way, who would want to randomly take pills… It's not like we're from Xiazhou.

Shen Tang continued, "Since you can't improve by focusing on pills, why not consider returning to the essence and considering sword cultivation itself? Burning Incense Pavilion is a pill-refining sect. What beneficial insights can they offer regarding sword cultivation? Do they have the insights and understandings of sword cultivators over the years? Do they have various sword intents for study? Do they have a trial ground specifically designed for sword cultivators?"

Zhang Shaoyou's heart skipped a beat, and then he heard Shen Tang conclude leisurely: "As for my Heavenly Path Sword Sect, it is a sword sect with a long history... It was once a third-rank sect, but my master was only a third-rank sect. However, our Heavenly Path Sword Technique is a first-rank sword technique!"

Zhang Shaoyou's mouth was dry, and he said with great difficulty, "Sect Leader Shen... what do you mean by that..."

"It's just to let you think it over carefully... As we all know, our Heavenly Sword Sect is currently in ruins and desperately needs talent. Anyone who joins us now would be considered an elder. However, the Incense Burning Pavilion does not trust you and is not a good match. If you continue to waste your time, your life will just end like this... Why not open your eyes to other opportunities, or there may be a new world."

"I...I am not a traitor."

As they were talking, a cluster of fireworks shot straight into the sky in the distance. Zhang Shaoyou turned his head to look and his expression changed drastically.

Shen Tang glanced at her and gestured for Dugu Qingli to turn and leave. Her last words echoed in the courtyard: "What is betrayal... A first-grade mountain-protecting sword formation, anyone who enters will be reduced to dust. Sir, do you want to go and test the sword formation for them first, or do you want to turn around and look at the vast sea and sky? It is up to you."

At almost the same time, at another inn, Anuo pushed Lu Xingzhou away from the courtyard. Lu Xingzhou was watching the fireworks in the sky and chuckled: "It seems that your sect has already gathered its forces. Mr. Qin, there is no need to see me off. It would be bad to be late... When you visit another day, I will welcome you with open arms."

Qin Buwang, a fourth-rank protector of the Incense Burning Pavilion, saw Lu Xingzhou off and watched the summoning fireworks in the sky from afar, remaining silent for a long time.

He secretly thought to himself that the sect finally decided that tonight's surprise attack was the best course of action... but now it seemed that this cluster of orders might signify the death of someone.

(End of this chapter)