Yan Sui had seenĀ ShixiongĀ die right before his eyes. HadĀ ShixiongĀ already hidden the white jade talisman before coming to rescue Yan Sui?
It was very possible that he had done so in order to prevent the jade talisman from falling into Chong Wanshanās hands. Then where was the white jade talisman?
Fang Liās expression wavered for a few moments.
Forget it, although the jade talisman was the Great Sageās holy treasure, from his point of view, it was simply an evil thing. It would be best if it never appeared.
Wu Yimei had already cleared the surroundings, and several hundred demonic cultivators clothed in black stood in grim attendance nearby.
Wu Yimei said respectfully to Fang Li, āYour Excellency, how should Cinnabar Gate be handled?ā
The corners of Fang Liās lips hooked up, and he laughed softly. āSince they dared to try to kill this lord, naturally, they have to suffer the consequences.ā
Xie Huai looked at Fang Li in puzzlement, a sudden unease rising in his chest.
Then, he saw Fang Li pick up Chong Wanshanās corpse with one hand.
Wu Yimei immediately understood Fang Liās meaning and gestured with his eyes, and the demonic cultivators collected all of the other corpses one by one.
Fang Li waved his hands, and a huge black ship appeared in midair.
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In the middle of Mountainview City.
People were sampling teas and chatting leisurely in the restaurants, and beautiful courtesans were dancing gracefully aboard the flower boats by the river. All along the streets, street peddlers called out their waresā¦ā¦
The very picture of peace and prosperity.
Up until a huge black shadow suddenly loomed overhead.
The people in the restaurants stopped their conversations, and the dancers paused their footsteps. The peddlers ceased their shouting, and everyone lifted their heads to look at the skyā¦ā¦
What was that?
In the center of the city where Cinnabar Gate stood, several hundred silhouettes came flying out. They were all Cinnabar Gate disciples, and they stood in formation at the ready as they looked at the huge ship in the sky, the hands that gripped their swords glistening with sweat.
The main gate of Cinnabar Gate was at least a hundred meters tall, towering and majestic, and the stone placard was engraved with intricate, ancient characters, as if it had been standing here since ages long past.
The huge ship stopped directly above the main gate.
All of the Cinnabar Gate disciplesā nerves were stretched taut. They thought about the rumors in the city these days, thought about how that devil might be in the city right this moment, thought about how Cloudgate Keep had been besieged by the demonic horde back thenā¦ā¦
It couldnāt beā¦ā¦
Just when everyoneās hearts were in a flurry, a black figure appeared at the bow of the huge ship.
That person had a sickly pale face, and his gloomy black eyes seemed to harbor a contemptuous, ridiculing look. With a wave of his hand, he threw a corpse down in front of Cinnabar Gateās main gate.
Thump!
The corpse plummeted down from a hundred meters in the air, crashing to the ground into a puddle of ruined flesh.
But every member of Cinnabar gate could recognize at a glance that this was the Gate Master that theyād looked up to as a godāChong Wanshan.
The surroundings became deathly quiet.
Terror spread silently throughout the crowd.
Only the soft, leisurely laugh of the black-robed man towering above resounded through the area. āChong Wanshan is dead. This is the outcome of disobeying this lord.ā
Following his words, Wu Yumei signaled to the demonic cultivators under him to throw down the other corpses. The dead bodies rained down in front of the gate one by one, fresh blood splattering everywhere, creating a wretched scene, like an earthly hell.
Some of these people were Cinnabar Gate elders, and some of them were inner disciples, but each and every one of them was of Cinnabar Gateās elite, and if they hadnāt been of a high and lofty standing in the past, then they had been a force to be reckoned with.
Yet right now, they were merelyā¦ā¦ corpses without a trace of life, their bodies distorted, their eyes still wide open.
All of the people raised their heads and looked toward the black-robed man atop the huge ship.
Terror and anger flooded their hearts.
Unwillingness and hatred suffused their eyes with red.
Fang Li seemed very satisfied with this effect and lowered his eyes languidly, giving a careless laugh. āYou have three daysā time. After three days, this lord will raze Cinnabar Gate to the ground. From then on, Cinnabar Gate will be no more.ā
He was actually going to destroy Cinnabar Gate!
Xie Huai stood behind Fang Li. Seeing this scene, he finally knew what Fang Li was going to do.
His expression suddenly became heavy, and he pressed his lips together, his chest surging with a rare fury.
Killing someone like Chong Wanshan was one thing. It was natural for you to take your revenge. But seeing as the great debt has been settled, what need is there to go this extra step?
I know that there was a reason you killed Chong Wanshan, but none of these people know. To so furiously spread word of destroying Cinnabar Gateā¦ā¦ Do you know what the consequences will be?
Cinnabar Gate is no tiny little sect, but a sect with thousands of years of tradition, held in awe throughout the world, of the same standing as Cloudbank Keep, one of the five great cultivation sects!
And this time was different from the previous one.
Although the battle at Cloudbank Keep had been tragic, in the end, only one person had been taken away. Although Cloudbank Keep had lost face, its foundations hadnāt been harmed, and the sect had remained intact.
The people of the world were just so. Unless left with no other choice, they would hold on to hope of being spared and wouldnāt stake it all on a single toss of the dice.
But this time, no matter what reason you have, in the eyes of the world, it was you who killed Chong Wanshan, destroyed Cinnabar Gateās backbone, razed it to the ground, and completely erased Cinnabar Gate from the worldāsomething like destroying a sect in a moment of displeasure has already surpassed the righteous sectsā lower limit!
If even the grand and mighty Cinnabar Gate, one of the five great sects, couldnāt escape such an ending, then even if they had to struggle to the death, they would still join hands.
Youāre making the whole world into your enemy!
Xie Huai grabbed Fang Liās wrist and fixed his own eyes on his, as if to thoroughly see through this person, saying word by word in a cold voice, āWhy are you doing this?ā
He didnāt understand.
If Fang Li really wanted to eliminate Cinnabar Gate to the last, he wouldnāt have given them three daysā time. Three days was more than enough for those people to escape. But seeing as you donāt intend to kill them all, then why did you insist on saying such insane words, making the whole world misunderstand you?
These days, Heavenās Summit was calling out to form the Thousand Immortalsā Alliance and march on Hollow Ridge. More than a few people were currently waiting and watching, wavering left and rightā¦ā¦
As soon as word of today got out, the ranks of the Thousand Immortalsā Alliance would be filled!
In the end, the righteous sects and Hollow Ridge would go to battle.
Stirring up a great battle between the righteous and demonic sects, bringing devastation to the world.
Is that really what you wish for?
I donāt believe it!
Fang Li was looking down from high above, watching the crowdās terrified and loathing appearance and feeling pleased with his flawless acting, when he was pulled back by Xie Huai without warning. As soon as he looked up, he met Xie Huaiās eyes that were dimly brimming with anger, and he couldnāt help but startle slightly.
Since capturing Xie Huai, this was his first time seeing such visible emotion in Xie Huaiās eyes.
No matter when or in what circumstances, this person always had that tranquil and indifferent appearance, like nothing in the world could faze him. But today, he was angry.
Fang Li suddenly felt a bit guilty, then understanding dawned on him.
Just now, heād been too preoccupied with acting cool and saying tough lines, and heād almost forgotten that to Xie Huai, his actions looked incredibly savage. Destroying a sect at the slightest hint of displeasureāthis was stirring up a great battle between the righteous and demonic sects, bringing devastation to the world! As a righteous cultivator who placed the whole world in his heart, it couldnāt be more natural for Xie Huai to get angry.
But donāt worry, I have matters in hand.
In the original book, after Yan Sui killed Chong Wanshan, heād led the demonic horde to surround Cinnabar Gate. At that time, Yan Suiās heart had been flooded by hatred and heād killed as if possessed, harboring the thought that he would rather mistakenly kill innocents than let a single enemy escape. Heād slaughtered for three days and nights, turning the place into a river of blood, not sparing even a chicken or dog.
Thoroughly wiping Cinnabar Gate off the face of the earth.
But Fang Li couldnāt do something like that. Although Cinnabar Gate included those as deserving of death as Chong Wanshan, it also had many innocents who didnāt deserve to die. Seeing as the main instigator and his close confidantes were already dead, then for the rest, even if he were to let some escape, he didnāt want to kill an innocent by mistake. Thus, heād given them three daysā time.
Three days was more than enough for these people to pack up their belongings and flee for their lives.
Heād thrown down the corpses and given his tough lines before the crowd. Three days later, after everyone had fled, heād raze Cinnabar Gate to the ground. The effect of it would be about the same.
After all, it was still destroying the sect.
It wouldnāt change the direction of the plot, nor would it require starting a massacre. It was truly perfect on all sides.
Moreover, outsiders wouldnāt know that he had a score with Chong Wanshan, and even less would they know that Chong Wanshan had struck first. They would only know that heād killed Chong Wanshan and destroyed Cinnabar Gate. The more savage he acted, the more scared those people would be. When the terror reached a certain point, they would want to resist.
Heavenās Summit was sending out calls to form the Thousand Immortalsā Alliance. Theyād spent plenty of effort, but the results werenāt too good. Fang Li was truly worried for them and had decided to give them a good push.
He sure was giving Heavenās Summit a big helping hand.
Hopefully, these righteous cultivation sects would work a little harder. At this point, stop hemming and hawing and pausing to look behind you at every step. Hurry up and fight your way up Hollow Ridge, Iām waiting to finish the mission and go offline.
Everything was within his plans.
Not many people would die!
Fang Li looked at Xie Huaiās angry appearance and recalled that during this period of time, they had more or less been seamless collaboration partners. In his heart, he had long started considering Xie Huai a friend, but he couldnāt say these words to Xie Huai, and he couldnāt help but feel a little guiltyā¦ā¦
Fang Li fell silent for a moment, gritting his teeth. He shook off Xie Huaiās hand and smiled indifferently. āIs this lordās business something you have a say in?ā
Xie Huai looked at Fang Liās eyes, his chest heaving.
I donāt believe that you donāt know the consequences of doing this.
You clearly donāt want to kill, you clearly still have kindness in your heart, you clearlyā¦ā¦
Why are you doing something like this, why are you not leaving any room for retreat, why do you have to make the whole world into your enemy?
Why, wonāt you treat yourself a little better?
Xie Huaiās voice was cold as ice. He said, word by word, āFine. I have no say in Your Excellencyās business.ā
Fang Li watched Xie Huai turn around.
Heād always been like this, doing what he was supposed to do, making the plot progress smoothly, making Xie Huai loathe and detest him. He wasnāt afraid that Xie Huai would misunderstand. In reality, this was precisely what he wantedā¦ā¦
This was the result that he should want.
But right now, for some reason, his heart seemed a little empty, a little uneasy.
After a long time, Fang Li awkwardly touched his nose. Oh, maybe it was because this time, Xie Huai was really angry.
After all, they counted as friends. In the end, making a friend unhappy was wrong.
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Because they were in the middle of a cold war.
Fang Li didnāt tactlessly go over to where Xie Huai was.
Although he was a little sorryā¦ā¦ he would just let Xie Huai continue to be angry. Maybe by a stroke of luck, it would allow him to smoothly go offlineā¦ā¦
With the situation at this point, there was nothing more important than completing the mission. There was no path of retreat left for him.
Fang Li stayed at Cinnabar Gate for three days.
After three days, all of the people in Cinnabar Gate had fled. Fang Li ordered his subordinates to wipe Cinnabar Gate clean. At the moment, there wasnāt much left in Cinnabar Gate, but in the end, they were one of the five great sects, with a great mass of accumulated history. There were some things lrft that no one had had time to take away, which could be considered a reward for the demonic cultivators under him. As for the common people of Mountainview City, Fang Li had issued a strict command not to slaughter innocents.
After that, Fang Li brought his subordinates away on the huge ship, leaving behind a swathe of broken walls and rubble.
It was time to go home.
The journey back was very short, and in just a few daysā time, they arrived at the foot of Hollow Ridge.
These days, Xie Huai hadnāt said a word to Fang Li.
He stood silently at the edge of the boat, solemnly watching the person before him. His fists were clenched at his sides, his impassive face seemingly covered with a layer of ice.
He had been waiting the whole time for that person to explain, even if it was only a single sentence, a single reason, but there was noneā¦ā¦
Walking his own path, not willing to give even a sentence of explanation.
When he thought up to here, Xie Huai closed his eyes with self-derision. Exactly what was he hoping in vain for? That personā¦ā¦ hadnāt he always been like this?
Not a single word of truth in his mouth, not allowing anyone to approach his heart.
Nobody could stop him from doing what he intended to do, and nobody could guess his true thoughtsā¦ā¦ Impossible to grasp, like clouds and mist.
So, youāve never changed.
It was I who changed.
Fang Li stood alone at the head of the great ship, narrowing his eyes slightly as he looked at the people coming to welcome them, the corners of his lips rising slightly.
The plot had arrived again.
This part of the plot could be considered a small climax near the ending, and it was also the last time Yan Sui had gotten to eat meat in the original book.
In the book, Du Meng had been sent off to attack Heavenās Summit, but though he appeared to obey, he was plotting behind the scenes. Not only did he secretly make a deal with Heavenās Summit and betray Yan Sui, he also arranged for a wave of assassins at the foot of Hollow Ridge.
This was called making preparations with both handsāscheming to have Xie Huai make trouble for Yan Sui on the one hand, and cooperating with the Thousand Immortalsā Alliance on the other, advancing at every step and moving the pieces on both sides, swearing to destroy Yan Sui!
But although heād sent people over, Du Meng knew that directly plotting against Yan Sui held little hope of success, so this time, his scheme was directed at Xie Huai. During this period of time, Yan Suiās affection and pampering of Xie Huai was known throughout the world. Du Meng was betting that Yan Sui wouldnāt watch Xie Huai die, so heād command his people to coat their blades with poison and assassinate Xie Huai, thus drawing in Yan Sui.
Du Mengās plan could be considered as having hit the target on a fluke. Yan Sui had just used the black jade talisman to kill Chong Wanshan and was still weak. He hadnāt thought that the person attacking him would suddenly charge at Xie Huai and was caught unprepared. Although he had killed that person, Xie Huai had been injured and poisoned.
Yan Sui naturally couldnāt possibly watch Xie Huai die and forcefully drew the poison from Xie Huaiās body onto himself,Ā cough cough coughā¦ā¦ As a little smut novel, there was no need to elaborate on the method of drawing the poison.
In short, Fang Li thought this was yet another completely useless plot point for the sake of serving meat.
He couldnāt possibly draw away the poison, so wasnāt it fine if the poison was avoided altogether?
Moreover, this part of the plot had no meaning at all in the grand scheme of things. On the contrary, it was to exhibit Yan Suiās deep love toward Xie Huai in the later period, not hesitating to sacrifice it all for the sake of rescuing Xie Huaiā¦ā¦ Fang Li shivered. There was absolutely no need for this kind of plot, right? Skip it, skip it.
Anyways, Xie Huai wouldnāt be moved. In the original book, even after Yan Sui had done that, carving out his heart from his chest and nearly giving up his life, Xie Huai had still been stone-hearted. He couldnāt possibly accept someone who had disgraced him like that.
Fang Li didnāt intend to have such intimate contact with Xie Huai, nor did he want to act out some deep love toward Xie Huai at this last, critical juncture.
So Fang Li decided to simply mow through the problem and quickly resolve these assassins, then go home.
At the foot of Hollow Ridge, a crowd of demonic cultivators stood respectfully in attendance, kneeling on the ground and greeting in unison, āRespectful greetings, Your Excellency.ā
Fang Li disembarked from the great ship in slow steps, appearing languid and carefree, but in truth on high alert. He knew that all of the people welcoming him here today were Du Mengās people. Du Meng intended to catch him off guardāhe was certain that Fang Li wouldnāt believe that anyone would dare make a move against him on Hollow Ridge.
Yan Sui indeed hadnāt thought so, which was why heād allowed Xie Huai to fall for the scheme, but Fang Li had the script in his hand and was long prepared. He definitely wouldnāt give them the chance to hurt Xie Huai.
Fang Li proceeded step by step.
Just when he was no more than three steps away from the crowd of demonic cultivators, the glint of blades flashed!
Wu Yimei had received his command long ago and was currently on guard. The demonic cultivators under him immediately began to fight with Du Mengās. Du Mengās people hadnāt thought that they would already have preparations and were instead caught off guard, and the two sides soon became drawn into a chaotic battle.
Fang Liās expression set slightly, throwing aside someone who had come piercing toward him, when suddenly a black shadow flashed past the corner of his eye. He laughed coldly, his fingers curling into a claw, his figure demonic as he seized the neck of the demonic cultivator leaping toward Xie Huai. With aĀ crack, he threw the cultivator away!
If anyone dared make a move against Xie Huai, he would kill them as they came!
Fang Li firmly stood guard in front of Xie Huai, giving those demonic cultivators absolutely no way to approach.
Fresh blood splattered all around, weapons clashing.
Entangling in a tragic image.
Following the gradual flow of timeā¦ā¦
More and more people fell to the ground, and those still standing became fewer and fewer. Seeing that the circumstances were dire, Du Mengās people prepared to stake it all on one throw and charged at Xie Huai with no regard for their livesā
They had long received the order that if they couldnāt touch His Excellency, then they should start with Xie Huai. This was their only opportunity!
Fang Li also summoned all of his concentration, not relaxing his guard just because of the opponentsā death throes. A cornered beast was the most dangerous, and regardless of the occasion, carelessness was the greatest foeā¦ā¦
Xie Huai quietly watched Fang Li skillfully guard him with ease.
This schemeā¦ā¦ it looks like youād prepared for it long ago.
As expected, this person knew everything and didnāt need him to worry for him at all.
The number of people remaining became fewer and fewerā¦ā¦
Yet another one came charging at Xie Huai, once again being killed by Fang Li, to no surprise.
Xie Huai knew that this melee was about to endā¦ā¦
But just at that moment, Xie Huaiās expression suddenly trembled. Among the crowd, one person suddenly turned their blade and pointed it at Fang Liā
Xie Huai struck out without a hint of hesitation, simultaneously letting out a fierce shout, āBe careful!ā
Fang Li had just finished crushing the neck of a demonic cultivator and hadnāt thought that one of the people in the ground would suddenly turn their blade on him. At the same time, another person pointed a sword at Xie Huai, one in front and one behindā
Fang Li didnāt even think before striking out at the one charging at Xie Huai, then nimbly turning around and sending a blow at the person behind him!
That person gave Fang Li a savage grin, and just before being sent flying, suddenly threw the long blade in their hand! The blade sliced through Fang Liās black roves, leaving a shallow wound at his waist.
But that demonic cultivator laughed delightedly, then ended their own life without any hesitation!
Fang Liās expression was a little unsightly.
He felt half his body quickly becoming numb.
Although he had the script in his hand and had made preparations long ago, he still had no way to control all of the abrupt happenings that arose. Every single person here, even a nameless cannon fodder, was capable of making unpredictable decisions on the brink of life and deathā
Theyād seen that plotting against Xie Huai was hopeless and would result in certain death, so someone had staked it all on striking against Fang Li directly.
The human heart was the most difficult to predictā¦ā¦
Very quickly, Wu Yumei cleaned off the last of the assassins.
Wu Yimei quickly arrived before Fang Li and said anxiously, āYour Excellency, are you alright?ā
Fang Liās body wavered, his consciousness becoming blurry.
Fang Li gave a very faint smile.
No problem, it wasnāt a big deal if he got poisoned. He was going to die anyway.
His last thought before he fainted wasā
Thank the heavens and earth that Xie Huai was fine.
He didnāt need to draw out the poison.
When that person had attacked, Xie Huai had charged forward without any hesitation to stop it, but he had been late by a step. Luckily, Fang Liās reaction had been swift and had killed that person with one strike, only suffering a light wound.
But at this moment, seeing Fang Li smile, Xie Huai suddenly felt that something was wrong. Then, he saw Fang Li topple straight to the groundā
Xie Huai subconsciously reached out and cradled Fang Li in his embrace. He watched that pale, white face take on an unnatural tinge of red and immediately realized that that demonic cultivatorās blade had been smeared with poison!
It was all his own fault.
He had actually already recovered over half of his cultivation and didnāt need anyoneās protection, but Fang Li didnāt know thatā¦ā¦
If not for the sake of protecting him, he wouldnāt have been caught off guard and fallen victim to the scheme.
Xie Huaiās hand that was holding Fang Li suddenly tightened.
Wu Yimei had also been shocked upon seeing Fang Li topple over, and he reached out to take Fang Li from Xie Huai, saying coldly, āHand His Excellency over to me.ā
But Xie Huai only tightly held the person in his embrace. He suddenly raised his eyes, those eyes dark and frigid, and Wu Yimei couldnāt help but startle.
Xie Huaiās thin lips parted slightly, speaking slowly and deliberately. āRegardless of our standpoints, he just saved me. Do you really think that I would hurt him right now?ā
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The Author Has Something to Say:
Fang Li: The hero rescues the damsel in distress ā
Xie Huai: The wife is always making me angry and never consoles me, Iām angry! ā¦ā¦ [10 seconds later] Forget it, my heart hurts.