Chapter 593
Chapter 593
At last, Shu Baidao stood before the map.
"Shen Lang has mobilized immense manpower, resources, and funds to gather thirty-seven hundred imbeciles, intending to train a second Nirvana Army. Have you compiled the intelligence from the Xue Clan and the Blackwater Terrace?"
At his question, Shu Tingyu took out a new map. It was densely packed with small flags. Each flag represented a convoy of carriages carrying those with the Blank Bloodline. The hundred small flags currently on the map were converging toward the capital.
"By roughly tomorrow morning, the imbecile bloodlines Shen Lang has gathered will assemble at this location. It's a hundred and thirty li from the capital and a hundred li from the Northern Plains Hunting Grounds. There's a stronghold there called Longevity Fortress. They plan to spend the night there before moving to the hunting grounds for training."
"Have our warriors been prepared?"
"They have all been assembled. But Father, why not pick them off one by one and seize them?"
"According to the Xue Clan's intelligence, Shen Lang is exceedingly cunning. It's likely many of the carriages will contain decoys. Besides, we must capture them all in one fell swoop. We cannot leave a single one for Shen Lang."
"It's reported that Sword King Li Qianqiu, two hundred masters under Gao Duhuan, and several hundred masters from the Heaven's Path Society have all gathered near Longevity Fortress, ready to receive those with the imbecile bloodline."
"Sword King Li Qianqiu came all the way from the distant State of Jiang?"
"That's right. Big Dummy is still in the State of Jiang. This alone shows how much importance Shen Lang places on those imbeciles."
"For the time being, we must pay even closer attention to securing a certain place—our branch, the Silver Jade Pavilion! Shen Lang, that man has no scruples. If we deploy all our forces to seize the imbeciles, he might launch a frenzied attack on our branch. He's the kind of man who would kill an entire family of alchemists in Gao Duhuan's name. What wouldn't he do?"
"Father, rest assured. When we go to seize the imbeciles, we will draw all our masters from the states of Chu and Wu. Not a single master from the Silver Jade Pavilion will be moved. In fact, a formidable Grandmaster will remain stationed there. If Shen Lang dares to raid our pavilion, we should welcome him with open arms. No matter how many of them come, they will all die. Wouldn't that be like them walking right into a trap?!"
Hearing this, Shu Baidao nodded.
"However, to create the illusion that the Silver Jade Pavilion is empty, we must move all the masters out and then have them return through the underground secret passage to lure Shen Lang into attacking!"
"Yes!"
* * *
Inside the Marquis of Changping's estate.
Shen Lang was greeting a completely unfamiliar guest.
"Let me introduce myself. I am Wu Jue, a disciple of Mount Budao!"
Shen Lang's eyes narrowed slightly.
*They're finally here. Someone from that dangerous organization, Mount Budao, has finally come.*
Wu Jue was neither handsome nor ugly, neither tall nor short, and he wore a gentle smile on his face. Shen Lang greeted him with a cupped fist salute.
"Greetings, Young Master Wu."
"Greetings, Young Master Shen. You must miss Lady Xue Yin and Master Zhong Chuke dearly. Do not worry. The two of them are safe and sound."
He offered no further information. Safe and sound? Of course, to them, being imprisoned also counted as being safe and sound.
"Young Master Shen, are you fond of Yinghan?"
"I despise her."
"What a coincidence. I despise her as well. Every time I see her looking down on people, I feel the urge to stuff hundreds of venomous snakes into every orifice of her body."
"It seems she has rejected the marriage proposal from the Crown Prince of the new Great Qian Kingdom."
Wu Jue said with a smile.
"Young Master Shen, your recent profound achievements in bloodline research have greatly surprised us. Saving Xue Yin, and even the wife of Sword King Li Qianqiu—we have had to look at you in a new light."
"You flatter me."
"In truth, we never intended for Xue Yin to die. Even if you hadn't saved her, we would have. We simply wanted her to bow her head to us. After all, she was once a disciple of Mount Budao."
Shen Lang was startled.
*Xue Yin was a disciple of Mount Budao? Their relationship is incredibly complicated.*
"Then what were your intentions regarding Sword King Li Qianqiu's wife, Lady Qiu?"
Wu Jue sighed and replied.
"To us, she is nothing but an insignificant person!"
It was truly a lamentable statement, one that Wu Jue spoke from the heart. First, he deemed Sword King Li Qianqiu an insignificant figure. Mount Budao never intended to harm the Sword King's wife, Lady Qiu, nor did they care if someone else used their poison to harm her. His meaning was clear: if such a worthless person, whose death wasn't even worth mentioning, were to die, Mount Budao should not be blamed.
"Young Master Shen, how much do you understand about us? People like those from the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion, Zhutian Tower, Mount Budao, and the White Jade Capital."
"I'd say, 'I don't understand, but I'm in awe.'"
"Oh?"
"I can't say I know for certain, but you all seem incredibly formidable."
"Hahahaha! Young Master Shen, you are indeed amusing. I have come to befriend you. Yinghan is an eyesore to you, and she is an eyesore to us. You have a grudge against the Ends of the Earth Sea Pavilion, and our relations with them are not exactly pleasant either. Why don't we become friends?"
"Excellent, of course, that's excellent. We could even become sworn brothers. Shen Lang pays his respects to his elder brother."
*Ugh!*
"Gaining a younger brother today is a great joy in my life."
"So, from today onward, are we truly sworn brothers?"
"Of course, it's real."
Without another word, Shen Lang brought two sticks of incense. He and Wu Jue each took one, knelt on the floor, and declared.
"I, Shen Lang, and!"
"I, Wu Jue!"
"Hereby become sworn brothers. Though we were not born on the same year, month, and day, we wish to die on the same year, month, and day! From this day forward, we shall rely on each other with sincere hearts and never betray one another!"
"Elder Brother!"
"Younger Brother!"
* * *
After completing the ceremony to become sworn brothers, Wu Jue resumed his conversation with Shen Lang.
"Younger Brother, now that we are sworn brothers, there is something this elder brother must tell you."
"Elder Brother, please speak. This younger brother will wash his ears and listen respectfully."
"Younger Brother, your discovery of a method to alter bloodlines is a miraculous and extraordinary feat. But how can such a great achievement be used on the bodies of lowly commoners? That is like casting pearls before swine, like feeding a rare delicacy to a pig. It is such a reckless and chaotic act that it will incur the wrath of the ancient gods."
Shen Lang asked in a tone of great surprise.
"Elder Brother, is it that serious?"
"Younger Brother, it is more serious than that. The moment you saved Xue Yin, you incurred the wrath of our elders. They were about to send people to capture you, but my master intervened, arguing that talent is hard to come by. That is why Mount Budao has not held you accountable."
"Elder Brother, thank you. This younger brother is but a country bumpkin, completely unaware of such rules. Now that I know today how serious this is, you can rest assured. I will never do such a thing again. From now on, I will never again engage in things like bloodline modification."
"That's good, that's good. Younger Brother, do you have any desire to join Mount Budao?"
"Of course I do. Isn't becoming a member of Mount Budao a great honor?"
"Then excellent. Prepare yourself. Come with me to Mount Budao."
"Elder Brother, how about this? I still have a few matters to attend to. For example, eliminating the Crown Prince and Third Prince of Yue, and the Xue Clan. Once I've finished my revenge, I will follow you to meet our master."
*Ugh!*
"And Elder Brother, since Mount Budao is so formidable, why don't you help me with my revenge?"
*Gasp!*
"We are people who have transcended the mortal world. It is difficult for us to interfere in the affairs of worldly powers."
"That's a great pity. Elder Brother, give me one year, and I will finish my revenge within that year. Then, I will follow you to pay my respects to our master. By the way... what is our master's name?"
*Urgh!*
"She is Wu Daozi!"
"Oh! What a name! Just hearing it sounds so imposing, like a blazing inferno. Magnificent!"
"She is a woman."
*A woman? Is she pretty? Does she look young? Could I... you know... with her?*
Of course, Shen Lang only said this in his mind.
"A female master? Excellent. Though she is far away, in my heart, I will think of her as a star in the heavens. I will wait for her to guide the path of my future a year from now. Please, Elder Brother, convey to our master that I wish for her to forever preserve her immortal beauty and enjoy a long, hard... life!"
Wu Jue had actually come to warn Shen Lang, and even to hold him accountable. Shen Lang's actions were a complete provocation of Mount Budao, and if the King of Yue hadn't been protecting him, they would have killed him long ago. Thus, Wu Jue had come to demand, through warnings and threats, that Shen Lang hand over all his research on bloodlines. But now, Wu Jue suddenly thought that if Shen Lang were to join Mount Budao and become Wu Daozi's disciple, he would truly be doted upon. The man was just too audacious and shameless.
"Younger Brother, you cured the divine maiden Xue Yin and the wife of Sword King Li Qianqiu, and you transformed two thousand useless men into an elite army. These are miraculous feats. However, they also pertain to the interests of Mount Budao, so how about you hand over the relevant materials to us?"
"Of course, of course. Even if you hadn't asked, Elder Brother, I was going to give them to you. Please wait. You can deliver them to our master."
Then, Shen Lang disappeared for a full hour before reappearing before Wu Jue, holding a thick, large notebook of research materials.
"This contains the results of my research into bloodlines and the ailments of Mount Budao, written in great detail. Of course, my talent and knowledge are shallow, so I will need the guidance of my senior brother and master."
When Wu Jue opened the thick volume, he found it filled with countless characters, formulas, and diagrams. At a glance, it looked incredibly complex and esoteric.
*But why is there a portrait of you, Shen Lang, tucked inside? And such a handsome one at that? You've drawn yourself to look like a peerless beauty. It looks like it was just drawn, too.*
Shen Lang said bashfully.
"Our master doesn't know me yet, so shouldn't I show her what I look like? Oh, and that's a face mask, and that's perfume. There's also a box of sanitary pads here. Plus, there are dozens of fashionable, form-fitting outfits. It's a bit of a bother, but please deliver these to our master on my behalf, Elder Brother, and tell her they are gifts from me, out of my deep respect for her."
*Urgh! Ugh!*
In the end, Wu Jue couldn't take it anymore and left. He had come empty-handed, but he departed with a carriage full of goods.
"Elder Brother, you must not forget to deliver those things to Master Wu Daozi! Tell her that her disciple, Shen Lang, wishes for her to forever enjoy divine fortune and a long, long life!"
