The Legend of the Condor Heroes: From Being Expelled from Peach Blossom Island

Chapter 489 Chapter of the Agreement
After Yang Xu entered the room, no one knew what Fang Yaning and he were talking about, unless someone leaned over the door in full view of everyone.

Apart from Wu Chengyu, who stood three zhang away with his arms crossed and a calm expression, of course no one thought he could hear the sounds inside.

Wu Du stood beside Wu Chengyu at that moment: "Brother Zhou, do you think the young lady will really change her mind this time?"

"Who can know? A woman's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea. The Snake King has always been wise; he might understand women better than I do. What do you think?"

Wu Du was given a cold shoulder, but although he kept speaking ill of Zhou Dao in front of Yang Xu, he was very enthusiastic in front of Zhou Dao.

"Haha, although I am a few years older than you, I am not married and know nothing about women. However, based on my understanding of the young lady, since she is willing to call the sect leader 'senior brother,' she must be willing to shake hands and make peace with the sect leader."

The cult leader and the young lady have always had a deep sibling-like relationship. Now, because of this misunderstanding, the young lady hates him so much, which is really giving the cult leader a headache.

Fortunately, Brother Zhou, as expected of the son of the Fox King, is exceptionally intelligent and eloquent. He resolved the leader's troubles with a single move, making a significant contribution upon his return to the Ming Cult. It seems the leader will surely give him an important position, and a bright future awaits him.

"I don't care about my future. I'm just grateful to have a decent meal and not be hunted down by the Beggars' Sect. I hope you'll take good care of me in the future, Lord Snake King."

"Brother Zhou, you are underestimating your own and the leader's magnanimity by saying that. As for me, it's easy to talk to you."

Both of them were cunning and scheming. On the surface, they were on good terms, practically inseparable. However, Wu Du remained wary of Zhou Dao's sudden appearance.

Wu Chengyu was well aware of the deep-seated hostility this guy harbored, and that this Snake King would definitely be the biggest threat if he caused trouble in the Ming Cult in the future.

As for the dialogue inside, Wu Chengyu was not interested, because these were all things he had taught Fang Yaning to say.

The scene returns to the room. Yang Xu, feeling excited yet somewhat apprehensive, gently pushes open the door and sees Fang Yaning's swollen eyes, and an indescribable look in her eyes—a mixture of contradiction, struggle, resentment, confusion, and a touch of emotion.

If Wu Chengyu were in the room now, he would definitely praise the girl for her good acting skills. Fang Yaning was full of hatred and only thought about revenge. After Wu Chengyu's constant brainwashing, especially when he used his persuasive skills to communicate the plan, he influenced Fang Yaning's subconscious.

Fang Yaning seems to have suddenly become enlightened, understanding things instantly. Or perhaps Zhang Wuji's mother was right: the more beautiful a woman is, the more likely she is to deceive people. Fang Yaning has now awakened her innate talent.

Just that one look directly touched Yang Xu's heart. At least in Yang Xu's eyes, his proud, unpretentious, and guileless junior sister's look was definitely a genuine expression of emotion.

Yang Xu is more than ten years older than Fang Yaning and can be said to have watched Fang Yaning grow up. There is definitely no romantic relationship between the two, but there is always a brother-sister relationship.

Fang Yaning seemed to have made a decision, and her entire demeanor collapsed. Helpless and vulnerable, she seemed to see the little Yaning who was too naughty and punished by her master, and then secretly ran to him for comfort.

"Senior brother, please have a seat."

"Ya Ning, it's all my fault, but I really didn't mean to betray Master. It was just the way things were and I had to endure the humiliation."

"What's the point of saying all this now? Senior brother, please don't bring it up again."

All I want to say is that my father treated you like his own son, and I have always regarded you as my elder brother. Neither my father nor I have ever wronged you. Do you acknowledge that?

Yang Xu nodded silently, no longer trying to find excuses to cover up his betrayal. Nobody is a fool; everyone knows whether the betrayal is real or fake. Lying again would be truly shameless.

"Actually, my senior brother was very good to us. I remember when I was five years old, I had just started practicing martial arts. I would cry every day when I was practicing the horse stance. Then my senior brother would comfort me, help me massage my meridians and improve blood circulation, tell me stories, and make me happy."

When I was seven years old, I heard someone say that candied hawthorns were delicious, so I kept asking for them.

There's no such thing as candied hawthorn in the Kunlun Mountains. It was my senior brother who traveled all the way from the Western Regions to Sichuan and Chongqing, covering thousands of miles, and managed to capture the candied hawthorn maker and bring him to Bright Peak.

When I was ten years old, a rebellion broke out. While my father was away, more than a dozen people sneaked in with the intention of kidnapping me.

At that time, you were only in your twenties, and your martial arts skills were not yet fully developed. Yet you fought a bloody battle all by yourself until your father arrived in time. You were stabbed several times and almost died on the spot. It took you half a year to recover.

And then, when I was thirteen…

Fang Yaning recounted her past with Yang Xu, word by word. This trick was taught to her by Wu Chengyu. The feelings between the two were genuine. Back then, Yang Xu was definitely a good older brother, and all his kindness towards Fang Yaning came from the bottom of his heart.

Feelings can change as positions and interests clash, but they can also become memories that settle in people's hearts. No one will forget them, nor will anyone want to admit that the feelings they gave back then were fake. Yang Xu is no exception.

Whether it's reminiscing about the past or talking about old times, it's all meant to evoke Yang Xu's memories. For Yang Xu, it's an emotional offensive, while for Fang Yaning, it's a prelude.

Fang Yaning continued her story slowly, and Yang Xu's expression softened considerably. His initial suspicion and wariness of Fang Yaning gradually subsided, and even his eyes reddened. Fang Yaning finally stopped talking.

“Senior brother, these days, while I think about my father’s tragic death and my desire for revenge, I can’t help but think about our past. Zhou Dao is such a smooth talker. He thought he could soften my fighting spirit with worldly pleasures and that he could bind me with the righteousness of the Ming Cult and make me willing to sacrifice for the greater good. He underestimated me.”

In my heart, the most conflicted relationship is between my father and you. You contributed to my father's death, and I hate you to the core. But in my heart, how are you any different from my own brother?

On one side is my father, and on the other side is my brother. This is what causes me the most pain and makes it the hardest for me to cope.

To me, Zhou Dao was just someone I could vent my frustrations on. Only after I had vented did I finally realize that I had already lost my father, and I absolutely could not lose my brother as well.

Senior brother, I know exactly what you're thinking.

In a few days, we will enter the territory of my Ming Cult. Bright Peak is right in front of us. Don't worry, after we go back, I will explain things clearly to those loyal followers of Father.

Your father's death has nothing to do with you. On the contrary, you killed the traitor and made great contributions. This position of leader is rightfully yours.

As for me, I would say I'm not completely disheartened, but it will take me at least a few years to forget all of this. I will no longer participate in Ming Cult affairs. My senior brother knows me best; I never pretend to be polite. These are all the truth.

However, I also have a few requests that I hope you can fulfill.

“Junior sister, please speak freely. Senior brother will not refuse.”

"According to my father's last wishes, his body should be buried on Phoenix Mountain, but the Ming Cult should also build a cenotaph. My senior brother, please find me a place near the cenotaph so that I can build a hut and live there to observe three years of mourning for my father."

I am an unfilial daughter, unable to avenge him. I will pray for my father's well-being from now on, and hope that the Great Ming Venerable will protect his spirit in heaven.

But you, senior brother, must also wear mourning clothes and keep vigil before my father's spirit for ten days, sincerely kowtowing a hundred times each day, as a way of atoneing for your sins.”

Upon hearing this, Yang Xu replied without hesitation: "My master treated me like his own son. It is only right that I keep vigil for him until his death. Even if I kowtow a thousand times, it would be too late to forgive my sins. I will certainly do my best to preside over his funeral."

"The second thing is that the four gates of wind, rain, thunder, and lightning are the leader's personal guards and are extremely loyal to my father. After I return to Bright Peak, I will not contact them to avoid arousing my senior brother's suspicion."

But my senior brother must also treat them well. Even if they are no longer his personal guards, they can at least make a living in the Ming Cult. I don't want my senior brother to send the people my father left behind to see him."

Yang Xu looked somewhat puzzled. Like Fang Yaning, he valued these hundred-plus guards highly. After all, they were more than a hundred second- or third-rate experts, and their combined strength was not to be underestimated.

It should be noted that Sha Tongtian, as the leader of the Yellow River Gang, was only a top-tier second-rate figure. There were at least five or six people of similar ability in the four sects of Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning. If these people were released, they would be enough to establish more than a dozen powerful gangs in Jiangnan.

Fang Yaning's original plan was to return to Bright Peak and summon wind, rain, thunder, and lightning to kill Yang Xu. Yang Xu was extremely wary of these people, so he would first try to appease them, and then, once he had secured his position as the leader, he would divide and suppress them, or even make them disappear from the world.

In Wu Chengyu's view, these two people still had the mindset of martial arts practitioners, regarding these martial arts masters as the backbone of the Ming Cult.

However, with the power Yang Xu currently possesses and his top-level cultivation, these winds, rains, thunder, and lightning will give him a lot of trouble, but they will definitely not be able to harm him.

At the same time, Yang Xu will closely monitor Fang Yaning's connections with these people, so these people are actually not important at all, not only are they useless, but they will also expose Fang Yaning's plans.

At the same time, given Yang Xu's suspicious nature, these people will not gain his trust in a short period of time, and without trust, their status within the Ming Cult will decline.

Before Yang Xuteng takes action to investigate these people, their situation will not be very good, and Fang Yaning can mobilize them back at any time.

"Alright, since you're so frank, I won't be coy either. These people will be specifically responsible for guarding the sacred flame from now on, and I will reorganize my personal guards."

As long as my junior sister can observe mourning in peace, these people are, after all, talented members of the Ming Cult, and I won't harm them in the slightest."

"Then there is the third thing. I don't like Zhou Dao. I don't want to see him again after returning to Bright Peak. Senior brother can put him among the followers as a minor leader, or put him in the Five Elements Flag."

Yang Xu was somewhat puzzled: "Zhou Dao has spent several days with my junior sister, so why does she dislike him so much?"

"If I give up avenging my father, am I supposed to watch someone who also gave up avenging his father, not only not saddened, but actually enjoying himself, wander around in front of me every day?"

Besides reminding me of certain things, it only makes me hate myself more and more. I never want to see Zhou Dao again.

“Then so be it, Junior Sister. Zhou’s martial arts are only at the second-rate level, so let him become the deputy flag leader of the Hou Tu Banner. The Five Elements Banner is not allowed to go to Guangming Peak without an imperial edict, so Junior Sister will not see him often.”

“Alright, I hereby make a pact with you, my senior brother. From now on, I entrust the Ming Cult to you. I hope you can carry on the legacy of the Ming Cult’s past leaders, revitalize the Ming Cult, and complete the great cause as soon as possible.”

(End of this chapter)