HSSB1015: Seeking assistance
The Western Exalt Lang Qing was dressed in scholarly attire just like Mao Yuansheng. Still, he had an outer Daoist robe draped over him.
He had a short beard which was very trimmed very neatly.
âWe have a common enemy in Cao Jie,â Lang Qing said, âThe newly arisen Broad Creed Mountain is an unexpected variable.â
âFrom how things look now, this Broad Creed Mountain is virtually like a new watchdog that Cao Jie has reared. If we do not first get rid of this nail, Golden Court Mountain will forever remain stable.â
Lang Qing slowly nodded, âI too would be very happy to pull out this nail first. Still, this does not seem possible at the moment.â
Zhuang Shen did not feel that Lang Qing was trying to push things away as he instead asked calmly, âHave you heard something, Brother Lang?â
âThatâs right. I came here this time for the sake of informing you about it.â Lang Qing nodded, âThe Brocade Emperor is back in the World beyond Worlds.â
âAlso, word from Ingenious Flying Peak is that he intends to protect Yan Zhaoge and Broad Creed Mountain.â
As soon as this was said, the expressions of all the Wutong Slope martial practitioners present sunk.
They had not expected that the Brocade Emperor would express such a clear and definite stance.
Still, no one raised any doubts regarding this.
The Southeastern Exalt Cao Jie was on close terms with the Brocade Emperor. Meanwhile, while the Western Exalt Lang Qing and Cao Jie could not easily coexist, he could be considered a good friend of the Brocade Emperorâs.
After failing to successfully mediate between Cao Jie and Lang Qing, the Brocade Emperor generally helped neither of the two sides, maintaining a neutral stance.
Still, for Wutong Slope, this was a mountain that would be difficult to overcome.
Zhuang Shen slowly asked, âSince when was this?â
âIt was virtually at the same time as when we emerged from seclusion,â Lang Qing answered, âHe was clearly planning for this since long ago.â
âWith the Heaven Emperor still yet to return from extradimensional space, if we head to the southeast now, we will only be pointlessly colliding with a wall.â
Lang Qing was speaking rather politely with this.
For Lang Qing whose relationship with the Brocade Emperor was not bad, it might just be colliding with a wall. Still, for Zhuang Shen and Wutong Slope, things might not end up as simply as that.
Someone blurted out, âIf we only make a move on Broad Creed Mountain, not laying a hand on Golden Court Mountain, would the Brocade Emperor still act?â
Lang Qing did not mind him suddenly interjecting as he just nodded slowly.
That Wutong Slope martial practitionerâs expression suddenly changed slightly, âCould some of those rumours be true? The Brocade Emperor is choosing a groom for Red Lotus Fu? The one he has set his eyes on is that fella surnamed Yan?â
Hearing this, Zhuang Shen looked at Lang Qing with an enquiring look on his face.
While Wutong Slope hated Yan Zhaoge to the core, they had to admit that he was probably the most outstanding person of the World beyond Worldsâ younger generation in recent years, a favoured son of Heaven.
The name Fallen Deity was widespread even in the southern Blazing Heaven Territory.
âWe cannot say that he does not intend this for sure. Still, this should not be the case,â Lang Qing shook his head, âWord from Ingenious Flying Peak is that Yan Zhaoge once rescued Fu Ting. Thus, they wish to return this debt.â
Zhuang Shen pondered for a moment before saying, âThe Brocade Emperor might not able to act.â
âOh?â Lang Qing was rather taken aback as he looked at Zhuang Shen.
Beside him, Mao Yuansheng coughed dryly before elaborating, âIt is not that the news you received is erroneous. What Chief means that is while the Brocade Emperor might want to lend a hand, when the time comes, he might not be able to do so.â
Lang Qing knit his brows, âWhy do you say that?â
Zhuang Shen spoke some words in a low tone. Lang Qingâs expression changed.
âI would like Brother Langâs help in ascertaining if my method is viable,â Zhuang Shen requested.
Lang Qing pondered for a moment before slowly nodding, âThere seems to be a high chance. There is indeed much certainty of success.â
He turned to look at Zhuang Shen, âIt looks like Brother Zhuang has been plotting for a long time.â
Zhuang Shen said calmly, âThis was initially because of Golden Court Mountain. While the Heaven Emperor is in a conflict with the Brocade Emperor, I still wanted to make some more preparations.â
âStill, it is now for that Yan Zhaoge and Broad Creed Mountain.â
âThere is no need to be disappointed, Brother Lang. If I do not guess wrongly, Cao Jie will definitely act to aid Yan Zhaoge and Broad Creed Mountain. We still share a common enemy.â
Lang Qing said, âBrother Zhuang speaks rightly. Still, since you have this move, I would prefer that you wait for a while longer.â
Zhuang Shen nodded, âAwaiting the Heaven Emperorâs return?â
âThatâs right. A gentleman does not mind waiting ten years to exact his revenge. Moreover, the circumstances are far from requiring as many as ten years,â Lang Qing said, âWith the Brocade Emperor, there will be the Heaven Emperor to stop him. Without the Brocade Emperor, there would be a surefire chance of winning. There would not be a chance of an accident happening in the least.â
âThere is a high chance of your method succeeding, Brother Zhuang. Still, we also have to consider the scenario where the Brocade Emperor is still able to rush over and make it.â
Zhuang Shenâs expression was calm as he slowly said, âYou speak rightly, Brother Lang. Actually, even if the Brocade Emperor cannot act, our combined might still cannot be assured of taking him down for sure. I already intended to seek further assistance in the first place.â
Lang Qing asked, âWho do you intend to look for?â
âI believe Brother Lang knows the appearance of that Yan Zhaoge,â Zhuang Shen asked rather than answered, âDonât you feel that his appearance is similar to someoneâs?â
Lang Qing focused his mind as an image of Yan Zhaoge quickly flashed through it, being compared with all those within his memory.
It would have been fine if Zhuang Shen had not mentioned it, but now that it had, Lang Qing too gradually gained his suspicions.
âThat disciple of Hu Yuexinâs, Xue Chuqing?â Lang Qing frowned, âThey are related by blood? Mother and son? While there is a resemblance between their brows, there are also many who appear similar yet are wholly unrelatedâ¦â
At this point, the Western Exalt Lang Qing suddenly halted, his gaze flickering as he appeared to be pondering something.
Zhuang Shen said, âThatâs right. It would be fine if only their appearance was similar. Still, I noticed one thing.â
âYou and I both know that Cao Jie has protected the descendants of the Dim Radiant Sect. However, even if that brat surnamed Yan did not acquire an Immortal Artifact in the Dim Radiant Mausoleum, he still benefited from Yin Tianxiaâs remnant legacies for sure. With him not being an orthodox descendant of the Dim Radiant Sect, Cao Jie was not enraged, instead actually having been constantly watching over him? This is not normal.â
Hearing Zhuang Shenâs words, Lang Qing stroked his beard, âIt is suspected that Hu Yuexinâs descendant may have inadvertently acquired a clue left behind by Yin Tianxia. It is because of that Yan Zhaogeâs relation to Hu Yuexinâs descendant that Cao Jie views him in a different light?â
âThatâs not rightâ¦â Lang Qing shook his head, his eyes narrowing into slits, âIt was not inadvertently. From the looks of it now, Hu Yuexin and Yin Tianxia were close from the very start. It was because of that that what Yin Tianxia brought back ended up in Hu Yuexinâs hands, now being in the possession of that descendant of hers!â
He opened his eyes, âWhat a Dim Radiant Emperor, what a pulling the wool over everybodyâs eyes. His successors were never his descendants of the Dim Radiant Sect in the first place, instead being that lineage of Hu Xinyueâs.â
Zhuang Shen nodded, âCao Jie should be in the know to some extent.â
Lang Qing looked at him, âIn that case, the people you wish to seek for assistanceâ¦â
âFellow Daoist Oneheaven of the east,â Zhuang Shen replied, âLian Zulin of the northwest.â
Daoist Oneheaven was the Lord of the eastern Vast Heaven Territory, the Eastern Exalt who ruled Remote Cloud Mountainâs Clear Light Locale.
Lian Zulin was the Lord of the northwestern Dim Heaven Territory, the Northwestern Exalt who ruled the Red Sea.