Chapter 463: Wang Daozhong Reappears in Miaojiang

Chapter 463: Wang Daozhong Appears Again in Miaojiang

Messengers from all sides spent the entire day relaying information, finally confirming that the first Five Tribes Joint Conference would be held at the Sea Heart Pavilion on the southern shore of Erhai Lake.

By noon the next day, Lei Zhentang led his men around the lake, heading straight for the Sea Heart Pavilion.

With the hundred tribes gathered and countless eyes watching, he still needed to maintain a veneer of "righteousness," unable to do anything too unsightly. If he attempted an assassination afterward, he wouldn't even find a trace of his target, and he dared not truly send troops to attack their villages. While that pair of dogs and bitches had spent two days practicing swords together in sweet intimacy, Lei Zhentang had been so stifled he hadn't slept well for two nights.

But the small Five Tribes meeting still left some room for maneuvering. After all, this was an age of martial arts. Leaving aside someone like Dao Qingfeng, who had a blood feud with them, figures like Pan Wan and Xiang Simeng could perhaps be subdued through intimidation... For instance, that Si Laoye was surely Xiang Simeng's most relied-upon pillar of stability. If he could strike swiftly and cut him down, wouldn't Xiang Simeng's tiny tribe of a few hundred people be forced to bow and obey?

Perhaps he might even enjoy her company in bed... He hadn't met her face-to-face before and hadn't realized how beautiful this woman was. No wonder Lei Ao liked her... Now she would belong to her father.

Just as they were halfway there, a figure stood before them, clad in a scholar's robe and wide sash, hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the sea with an imposing air, utterly ignoring the approaching troops.

Lei Zhentang's heart skipped a beat, and behind him, Shi Wuding's voice rang out: "Brother Daozhong, why are you here?"

The man turned, his expression cold and proud—it was indeed Wang Daozhong.

"Wang Daozhong" flicked his sleeve and said flatly, "I came specifically to catch up with Brother Shi. That sword of yours from three days ago—I've pondered it these past few days and gained some insights. I've come to test them again."

Shi Wuding was somewhat surprised. This Wang Daozhong had vanished from Xizhou Town a few days ago without a trace, and with so many major changes happening, he hadn't had the mind to search for him. He never expected the man to appear on his own.

Did he not realize that his challenge was actually a trap to capture him? Did he truly believe it was a mere swordplay contest? Or did he think he could actually defeat him?

Was this recklessness or stupidity?

Shi Wuding felt the Langya Wang family couldn't be so shallow, so he grew cautious: "Brother Wang, if you still wish to spar with me, let's set another day. We have other pressing matters at hand."

Wang Daozhong—of course, it was Zhao Changhe—snorted coldly upon hearing this: "How long does a duel take? Whatever you're off to do, let them go ahead. After we finish, you can catch up. Or does Brother Shi fear he's no match for me, that I'll cut him down with my sword, forcing him to cower behind the Miao people, trembling in their shadow?"

Shi Wuding's expression darkened. He cupped his hands to Lei Zhentang: "Chief Lei, please go ahead. I'll follow shortly."

Lei Zhentang stared at Zhao Changhe for a long moment, said nothing, and merely replied, "Take care, sir."

Shi Wuding drifted out, and Zhao Changhe shot straight up into the surrounding mountains, with Shi Wuding close on his heels. Lei Zhentang frowned, sensing something off about this whole affair... Wasn't Wang Daozhong's appearance a bit too timely?

Meanwhile, Shi Wuding pursued Zhao Changhe into the mountains, where Zhao Changhe suddenly halted.

Shi Wuding said coldly, "It seems Brother Wang has gained something from his secluded cultivation these past few days? I look forward to witnessing it."

Zhao Changhe cupped his hands: "That night, Lei Ao sent assassins after me. Did Brother Shi know?"

Shi Wuding was taken aback: "Where did they get the confidence to assassinate you without my knowledge?"

Zhao Changhe said, "Earlier, when I was their guest, I drank their tea and wine. Perhaps that planted the seed of a curse, giving them confidence... Fortunately, my Langya Wang family has its own methods, or I might have fallen."

Shi Wuding frowned deeply: "I truly knew nothing of this."

Zhao Changhe said, "I suspected as much. If you had known, you would have appeared that night, not those worthless thugs."

Shi Wuding's expression turned sour.

He had already allied with the Black Miao, throwing his sect's support behind them. Yet the Black Miao had secretly attempted an assassination without informing him, knowing full well he intended to deal with Wang Daozhong. What did this imply...

Zhao Changhe said flatly, "I think there's something wrong here. If Brother Shi doesn't want to be treated like a fool, it's better we speak openly."

Shi Wuding said slowly, "What do you propose?"

Zhao Changhe said, "Brother Shi and I have no prior enmity?"

Shi Wuding replied, "No enmity."

"Then why did you challenge me out of nowhere? Surely not just because you were eager to cross swords?"

Shi Wuding fell silent.

Zhao Changhe continued, "After much thought, I can only think of one reason: my Langya family intends to 'clear the court of evil,' and the world likely knows this. Brother Shi, unwilling to join us, sought to capture me? Or perhaps you were commissioned by someone to try and take me."

Shi Wuding sighed: "Close enough."

"That is to say, your actions against me have nothing to do with the Miaojiang affair?"

"Nothing. If there is any connection, it's that I didn't want a powerful variable appearing here, best to drive you away." Shi Wuding asked, "Brother Wang, why are you really here?"

Zhao Changhe said, "You know my family wants to clear the court. The Black Miao have a deep grudge against the Emperor. Is it strange that I came to contact them? Look, didn't I go straight to Lei Ao?"

Shi Wuding thought it over, found it reasonable, and said nothing.

Zhao Changhe continued, "So here's what I don't understand... The Black Miao clearly want to rebel, and by associating with them, you're also rebelling. Yet your attempt to capture me aligns you with the loyalist faction... What does this mean?"

Shi Wuding was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Though I've joined forces with the Black Miao, our interests aren't entirely aligned."

"Oh?" Zhao Changhe asked curiously, "Can you explain?"

"What do I care about rebellion or not? We swordsmen seek only the path of the sword." Shi Wuding said, "I can't go into details with Brother Wang, but suffice it to say, I stumbled upon the Black Miao and obtained a sword technique that helped break through a bottleneck in my swordsmanship. But it was incomplete, and I needed to find a core method. My cooperation with the Black Miao is solely for this..."

"Surely it's more than that?" Zhao Changhe said. "Given the fragmented state of Miaojiang and their hostility toward the Han, finding what you seek would be extremely difficult. By allying with the Black Miao to unify Miaojiang, things become much easier?"

Shi Wuding didn't answer, tacitly agreeing.

What sword technique? It was likely the method of the Sword Slave, a form of sorcery. Zhao Changhe couldn't see how it helped sword cultivation. But each person had their own path; perhaps it did aid Shi Wuding's practice. In any case, the cause and effect were roughly connected, and the reason the Black Miao had hidden the assassination of Wang Daozhong from Shi Wuding could be inferred...

"Brother Shi, if the Black Miao truly wanted to rebel, they should have been happy to see me here and welcomed me, not tried to kill me. Could it be that they aren't rebelling at all? Or perhaps what they're doing is more important than rebellion, and they don't want a major Central Plains power getting involved, so they decided to kill me outright."

Shi Wuding mused, "If so, why hide it from me?"

"Then there's only one possibility..." Zhao Changhe suddenly stopped.

From the known clues, only one possibility emerged: they felt that if Shi Wuding captured Wang Daozhong, he wouldn't need to cooperate with them anymore.

In other words, the so-called core method of the Sword Slave technique didn't need to be sought at all. If he could obtain a Di-rank swordsman as a slave, Shi Wuding might achieve mastery... They still needed his help to unify Miaojiang and wouldn't let him complete his sword-slave cultivation so soon, so they simply killed Wang Daozhong.

Shi Wuding also realized this, his expression shifting between gloom and uncertainty.

On one hand, it proved the Black Miao didn't truly want to cooperate with him—they would hinder his sword path now, so would they really help him after achieving their goals?

On the other hand, it also proved that if he captured Wang Daozhong right now, he might be done...

Zhao Changhe stepped back half a pace, expressionless. Damn it...

Shi Wuding looked at Zhao Changhe's demeanor, and his deadpan face twisted into an ugly smile: "Brother Wang, why so tense?"

Zhao Changhe was fully on guard, saying flatly, "Though Brother Shi is stronger than me, I am prepared. It won't be easy for you to capture me alive... But there's another Di-rank in Miaojiang who might not be so wary of you. Could Brother Shi consider that?"

Shi Wuding narrowed his eyes.

This was a man who would stop at nothing for the sword. Zhao Changhe made his judgment.

He would kill even his own father, let alone a collaborator.

Was this why Han Wubing had parted ways with the Sword Hut? Different paths.

Far away in Fengyi Town, Lei Zhentang suddenly shivered, though he didn't know why.

At that moment, he was seated in the Sea Heart Pavilion. In the center, someone was roasting meat and distributing wine. The five tribes sat around the pavilion, each with only a few attendants and guards.

Lei Zhentang cursed his luck inwardly. Originally, everyone had come with few people. With Shi Wuding by his side, the pressure was immense. He had planned to launch a surprise attack, kill that Si Laoye, and intimidate Xiang Simeng. But now Shi Wuding had been inexplicably intercepted by Wang Daozhong halfway, and he had no idea what sparks might fly between them. Lei Zhentang felt restless.

The pressure on his side had dropped significantly. Fortunately, Xiang Simeng's left and right guardians were also one short—Si Laoye wasn't there. Instead, that ugly female guardian who had kept a low profile before stood behind her.

You tiny Ling tribe, having one Si Laoye as a strong hand is already impressive. Surely you can't have two?

With this thought, Lei Zhentang said aloud, "The first item on today's agenda is how to deal with the Han within our territory. My tribe's opinion is to kill them all. What do the rest of you think?"

Before anyone else could speak, Sisi said flatly, "The Ling tribe does not..."

Lei Zhentang thought, *Perfect timing*. His tiger eyes, long focused, instantly glared at Sisi. The pressure of a Di-rank expert surged toward her like a tidal wave, as if trying to lock her very soul.

Under normal circumstances, this girl would surely tremble in fear, shaking like a leaf, unable to even speak.

In the end, Xiang Simeng found it not as difficult as imagined; though her expression was a bit stiff, there was still a trace of a smile.

That ugly female guardian silently stepped half a pace forward, and Sisi's pressure instantly dissipated; her words flowed smoothly as she continued: "...I disagree."

Lei Zhentang flew into a rage: "What business do you mere girls have at the clan chief meeting? Get out!"

With his words, a thunderous palm strike lashed out at the ugly female guardian standing before Sisi, intending to kill her instantly and awe the entire assembly.

But the ugly female guardian neither dodged nor avoided; she joined her fingers as a sword and thrust straight at Lei Zhentang's palm.

Fingers and palm met. The ugly female guardian indeed could not withstand it; with a muffled grunt, she crashed backward into Sisi. Yet Lei Zhentang fared no better—his palm felt as if pierced by a sword, the sword energy churning, scraping him so that he nearly cried out in pain.

Sisi rose in fury: "Clan Chief Lei, taking your anger out on our clan members—have you chosen the wrong target!"

Dao Qingfeng, Pan Wan, and others stood up with ashen faces. Lei Zhentang forced a smile: "Couldn't contain my temper... What is the name of this Spirit Clan guardian?"

The ugly female guardian steadied herself, standing straight as a sword: "Si Furen, guardian of the Spirit Clan, pays respects to Clan Chief Lei."

Lei Zhentang's face showed shock and uncertainty. What was with this Spirit Clan? Strange names were one thing—many clans had oddly named people—but after losing a Si Laoye, this Si Furen seemed even stronger than Si Laoye. Were all those surnamed Si in the Spirit Clan this formidable?

Unseen behind the ugly female guardian, Sisi was gnashing her teeth, nearly kicking her own guardian to death.

One wants to be 'master,' the other wants to be 'madam'—so I'm supposed to be the maid who keeps the door for you, right!