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

Chapter 517: Deceiving
Under the power of persuasion, Fang Yaning once again placed her utmost trust in Wu Chengyu. When talking about the mistakes she had made, she felt a sense of guilt, as if she had failed an exam and was presenting her report card to her parents.

Wu Chengyu continued to deceive her: "The first point is that you are too indecisive, Senior Sister. It was indeed unexpected that Yang Xu was seriously injured by that Tantric lama. It is reasonable for you to take the opportunity to lead the people to rebel. But since you have already rebelled, why bother to look back and forth?"

Yang Xu was simply carried back to Bright Peak. His senior sister was very familiar with Yang Xu's martial arts skills and should know his condition at the time.

Fang Yaning's face was very pale. She nodded and said, "Yang Xu's martial arts were all taught by my father. He only learned three moves of the Great Nine Heavens Hand. If he had fought that lama for a long time before being defeated, his injuries would not have been too serious."

In fact, he was knocked to the ground in just three moves, and I knew from the moment he needed to be carried back that his injuries were extremely serious and he wouldn't be able to fight for a while.

Wu Chengyu continued to use his persuasive skills: "Therefore, we can also confirm this from Yang Xu's subsequent behavior. When the people of Fumingtang gathered, he remained unmoved, and even when your Holy Maiden Banner was so powerful, he tolerated it all."

Even if he was only enduring it temporarily, he endured it for a full six months, which means that his injuries were too severe at the beginning, and he was unable to fight at all, so he had no choice but to endure it.

But during this time, Senior Sister, you have more than sixty personal guards under the old sect leader, all of whom are second- or third-rate experts, and you yourself are also a top-tier expert.

"Yang Xu's mid-level strength is at most comparable to yours. You could definitely defeat Wu Du in a one-on-one fight, and you also have the support of the Elders' Hall. If you had attacked recklessly right then and there, Yang Xu wouldn't have been able to stop you."

Under Wu Chengyu's subconscious influence, Fang Yaning also felt that she had seemingly missed a good opportunity, and her face was full of regret, but she was still trying to defend herself.

"At that time, it was because a group of unidentified people had infiltrated our Ming Cult. They were very powerful and could not be found. For the sake of the Ming Cult's cause, I had to temporarily suspend the offensive, otherwise it would have given outsiders an opportunity to take advantage of us."

"So, in your heart, the cause of the Ming Cult truly outweighs the hatred of killing your father. The reason I advised you like that back then was because walls have ears, and I had no choice but to say it."

To my utter surprise, my senior sister actually took it seriously. In my eyes, what is the great cause of the Ming Cult if one doesn't even avenge the murder of one's father?

With his final words, Wu Chengyu unleashed his persuasive skills to the fullest, once again influencing Fang Yaning's mind.

As if struck by a sudden enlightenment, Fang Yaning couldn't help but mutter to herself, "Yes, what's the use of the Ming Cult's great cause if we don't even avenge the murder of our fathers?"

Seeing that the time was right, Wu Chengyu added another weight: "Senior Sister's second mistake lies in the handling of Fuming Hall."

The strength of Fumingtang is neither too great nor too small. From the beginning, they wanted to serve under Senior Sister. If Senior Sister could get help from Fumingtang, her strength would immediately surpass Yang Xu's.

However, their senior sister consistently refused to let Fuming Hall in, forcing them to band together for self-preservation. What should have been a helpful alliance ultimately became a hostile force.

Fang Yaning said anxiously, "But they were involved in Nangong Luan's rebellion after all, and my father died because of them."

"So what? Senior sister, have you ever heard the saying that we should unite all forces that can be united? What's wrong with enduring a bit for the sake of revenge?"

Furthermore, those who followed Nangong Luan in the rebellion—Tiger King, Bear King, and even the leaders of the Hou Tu Banner—are all dead. The remaining ones were either coerced or were simply part of Nangong Luan's faction; none of them went to Hubei to participate in the rebellion.

These people have been suppressed by Yang Xu and are now facing a life-or-death situation. If you give them a chance, they will surely be willing to die for you.

It's a pity that you, Senior Sister, were ultimately bound by hatred and shut them out. My point is, the real enemies are Yang Xu and Wu Du; the others can be spared for now. Do you agree, Senior Sister?

Fang Yaning felt deep regret again because of Wu Chengyu's words. She felt that she had really missed the best opportunity for revenge, while Wu Chengyu seized the opportunity to strike while the iron was hot.

"Sometimes, wasting an opportunity means certain death. Senior sister is already in dire straits."

As far as I know, Yang Xu has recovered 90% of his injuries after more than five months of recuperation and can fight without any worries. Whether it is Senior Sister, the Elder Hall, or the Fuming Hall, is there anyone who can contend with Yang Xu, a top expert?

In my opinion, Yang Xu will launch a major counterattack in a few days. Once Senior Sister's Holy Maiden Flag can't withstand the pressure, those elders who only care about their own interests and rely on their seniority will inevitably turn against her. The strength of Fuming Hall will be negligible.

"I ask you, Senior Sister, what plan do you have to deal with Yang Xu now? Not only will you be unable to avenge the old sect leader, but Yang Xu will also surely not let you live any longer."

Finally, under Wu Chengyu's analysis and the influence of his persuasive words, Fang Yaning became completely disoriented and filled with despair.

"Junior brother, things have come to this, what should I do? Otherwise, I will go and fight Yang Xu. If we can die together, that would be best. If not, junior brother, you should leave Bright Peak immediately and avenge us in the future."

"There is another way now, but I don't know if Senior Sister dares to take a gamble, or if she dares to put herself in a do-or-die situation."

"Junior brother, just speak frankly. As long as it can avenge my father, even if it means feeding the tiger with my own body or dying under a thousand cuts, I, Fang Yaning, will not hesitate."

Wu Chengyu knew that Fang Yaning was now completely under his control. He quietly leaned close to Fang Yaning's ear and revealed his plan. Fang Yaning's expression changed. At first, she struggled, was wary and doubtful, but in the end, she was resolute: "I will do as you say, junior brother. I will wait for you here tomorrow."

At noon on the third day, the situation of the Ming Cult took another turn. The guys from the Fuming Hall actually left their hideout and a group of them came to the headquarters on Bright Peak.

Yang Xu's injuries were no longer serious, and with his confidence greatly boosted, he immediately led his men out to confront the two sides in the square in front of the main altar at Bright Peak.

"Left Envoy Wu, my martial arts have been fully restored. It seems that today I must deal with these remnants."

However, the situation developed in a way that was completely beyond Yang Xu's expectations. The people of Fumingtang knelt down in front of Yang Xu and presented him with three trays. Although the trays were covered with cloth, the strong smell of blood made everyone know what was inside.

The leader kowtowed nine times on the ground, his forehead a bloody mess: "Master, please understand, we were coerced by Nangong Luan in the past and had no choice but to disobey you. After that, we were only afraid of your divine might."

Now we are willing to repent and have already killed these treacherous officials who were determined to betray our leader yesterday. We only beg our leader to spare our lives.

Yang Xu squinted and remained silent. Wu Du stepped forward and removed the covers from the three trays, revealing the three leaders of Fumingtang.

The leader of the remnants of the Nangong Rebellion, and the highest-ranking subordinates of the Tiger King and Bear King, were also the people in charge of the Fuming Hall before.

Yang Xu was suspicious and never trusted the people of Fumingtang, but these guys had directly offered their leader's head as a pledge of allegiance, so he had no choice but to believe them now.

Most importantly, with the three leaders of Fumingtang dead, the remaining people no longer had the ability to resist him, and there were no more future troubles.

"May our leader enjoy eternal bliss and live as long as the heavens. We are willing to die for our leader in the future. If we ever harbor any disloyal thoughts, we are willing to die under ten thousand knives."

Wu Du also came to Yang Xu's ear: "Master, with these three dead, Fumingtang will no longer be a threat. Right now, the most important thing is to return the people on the Holy Maiden's side. Why not take them all in and see how they behave? If they are loyal in the future, there will be no problem. Otherwise, they won't be able to cause any trouble."

After this internal strife within the Ming Cult, Yang Xu was no longer determined to eliminate all of Nangong Luan's remaining followers as he had before; what he wanted was the overall stability of the Ming Cult.

"Alright, I will believe you today. As long as you do not betray me and remain loyal to the Ming Cult and serve the Ming Cult, there is no need to mention the past again."

"We are deeply grateful for the great kindness of our leader." The people of Fumingtang knelt down again. Yang Xu was somewhat smug. With Fumingtang surrendering, his martial arts were fully restored, and Fang Yaning's Holy Maiden Flag was no longer a threat. In his view, he could destroy it with a flick of his wrist, and his position as leader was finally secure.

At this moment, he walked to Wu Du's side and asked in a low voice, "That Zhou Dao said he wanted to assassinate Fang Yaning for the sake of the Ming Cult's cause. I don't know if he was talking nonsense or if it was true. Today is the third day, and the deadline has arrived."

Wu Du remained wary of Wu Chengyu: "Master, in my opinion, this Zhou Dao is absolutely untrustworthy. Don't forget that his father, Zhou Xuancheng, died at our hands. Besides, this guy's martial arts skills are weak, and he is no match for Fang Yaning at all."

Yang Xu nodded: "That's true. I shouldn't have had any expectations of this playboy in the first place. Fortunately, Fumingtang has already surrendered, so we can focus on dealing with Fang Yaning. Whether or not he exists is irrelevant."

"Once I've reorganized the Ming Cult, Zhou Dao can't be kept around. You're right, he's the son of the Fox King; how could he possibly be truly loyal to me?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Yang Xu's men and the surrendered men of Fumingtang were still in the square when they heard shouts of battle from below Bright Peak. Weapons clashed, screams filled the air, and the attackers were moving at an extremely fast pace, seemingly about to charge over.

Yang Xu and Wu Du exchanged a glance, their expressions turning extremely grim. Could it be that the recent surrender of Fumingtang had provoked Fang Yaning, causing this woman to disregard everything and rebel directly?
At this moment, a disciple rushed over: "Reporting to the Master, the Holy Maiden's men have stormed Bright Peak. There are six or seven hundred of them, and they are all fearless and willing to die with every move. The brothers can't hold them off."

Moreover, and they…

Wu Du stepped forward: "And what? Explain yourself!"

"And they were all wearing white cloths on their heads, and they were carrying a coffin. The person inside the coffin was the saintess?"

"What?!" The surrounding people were shocked. Yang Xu took a few steps in front of the disciple and grabbed him, demanding, "Explain yourself! What happened to the Holy Maiden?"

"The Holy Maiden, she should already be dead."

Wu Du narrowed his eyes, as if he had finally realized something: "Could it be that Zhou Dao succeeded? Does he really have the ability to kill Fang Yaning?"

Before the questioning could even begin, the Holy Maiden's banner had already reached them, the leader holding a long sword, tears welling in his eyes, his voice hoarse and strained.

"Yang Xu, you are a wolf in sheep's clothing, ungrateful and unworthy of being called a human being. You actually dared to send people to assassinate the Holy Maiden. Today, we will perish together with you to avenge the old leader and the Holy Maiden."

(End of this chapter)