Chapter 187 - Return to Windgaze City (1/2)
“Also…”
You Wanshan’s group was slowly getting into a mood of celebrating Zhuo Fan’s death. Meanwhile, the one-armed 5th elder was shedding tears of vindication. However, this stopped when Leng Wuchang shot them a look, “You all need to proceed to Windgaze City!”
The smile froze on the four and You Wanshan turned his head mechanically, with a bright smile to offer the two, “Estate Lord, Sir Leng, haven’t we been keeping watch of Windgaze City just so we could get rid of Zhuo Fan? Why do we need to attack that place now that Zhuo Fan is out of the picture?”
“Fool!”
Huangpu Tianyuan barked, his eyes cold, “That’s the place that gave birth to Zhuo Fan and there’s a good chance for a second, a third, maybe even a tenth Zhuo Fan to rise! Rather than deal with that mess, we need to level that clan. Furthermore…”
Huangpu Tianyuan’s tone shifted to a darker one, “Have I ever gone back on my words?”
[You did exactly that just now!]
Shivering, You Wanshan’s group complained in their minds, but they were on their best behavior on the outside. Bowing to Huangpu Tianyuan again, they then left.
“Send them a message. It’s time for them to begin!”
“En!”
Huangpu Tianyuan, nodded, pleased. Once the four were out of sight of the hall, You Wanshan stomped in rage, “Who does Regent Estate think they are to use us as messengers?”
“Yeah, the Emperor banned us from Windgaze City two years ago. Regent Estate wants to test the imperial family’s limits and doesn’t dare go himself. So, he is making us face the danger. What an abominable man!” Yan Bogong gnashed his teeth.
Lin Rufeng furrowed his brow in worry, “But, we will be offending Regent Estate if we don’t go. And if we do, we will incur the imperial family’s wrath. What is the better choice?”
They stared at each other for a long time but came out empty as they sighed.
The imperial family may be a frail tiger now, but that didn’t mean one should start groping its tail. If by some chance they touched a sore spot, the weak tiger would snap back at them. The three houses would feel the fangs and claws of the imperial family and would have no place to hide in the empire.
[Go to hell, Regent Estate!] Each of them was thinking along the same lines, but none dared to turn Huangpu Tianyuan down.
5th elder continued, “Valley Lord, we should choose the lesser of two evils! We don’t know if the imperial family will act if we move in on Windgaze City. But going against Regent Estate will have Huangpu Tianyuan on our backs. And you know his short temper.”
The three house lords shuddered and sighed.
“In this situation, our only option is to go on a limb!”
You Wanshan spat, “That the imperial family is useless and won’t act against us!”
You Wanshan picked a green jade slip and made a gesture. The jade slip turned into a light and shot in Windgaze City’s direction.
The other two house lords followed his gestures.
Leng Wuchang was outside the hall, smiling at the three lights tracing the sky above Caged Dragon City.
“The three realized my plan but they chose to follow it anyway!” Huangpu Tianyuan chuckled as he walked next to Leng Wuchang.
Leng Wuchang nodded with a smile of his own, “The three are house lords, after all, not mere idiots. How could they not see through Estate Lord’s intentions? But even so, after balancing the gains and losses, they ultimately sided with Estate Lord. The seven houses seem to take the imperial family as just an empty shell!”
“Indeed. Over the last thousand years, the seven houses thrived while the imperial clan declined. It reached a point where the current Emperor is the weakest this empire has ever seen. A great opportunity presents itself to us!”
Huangpu Tianyuan grinned and showed his ambition, “If the imperial family remains passive even after the battle of Windgaze City, then I can enact the Demon Purging Decree and purge all outsiders while unifying the seven houses. I will ultimately control the whole land!”
“Ha-ha-ha, with the seven houses under you, not even the Four Pillars can stand in your way! I would like to be the first to congratulate the Estate Lord for taking the throne!” Leng Wuchang gave a deep bow.
Huangpu Tianyuan laughed having his ego stroked, then helped Leng Wuchang up, “Leng Wuchang, you are the genius of this generation yet, chose to become my steward, helping Regent Estate’s rise to glory. I hereby vow that once I ascend the throne, I will make you the head of the Four Pillars!”
“I am most grateful for Estate Lord’s kindness!”
Leng Wuchang bowed again as hope flickered in his gaze, “Once Elder Li kills Zhuo Fan and brings back the Bodhi Root. I will assist Estate Lord in obtaining the Nine Dragons Diamond Body. Not even the imperial family’s five Divine Dragons will be able to harm you then. You will truly wield ultimate power and rule above everyone!”
“But won’t that martial fanatic catch an interest into that worldly treasure? Or would he just throw it away?”
“Ha-ha-ha, you must be jesting, Estate Lord. Elder Li is only a martial fanatic and not a complete idiot. How could he throw away such a treasure? Of course he’ll return it to us. And with Elder Li’s ability, Zhuo Fan will have no opportunity in damaging the treasure at all. Rest assured, Estate Lord.”
Leng Wuchang and Huangpu Tianyuan started laughing together. As if the world was their oyster.
In a different part of the city, Long Yifey, Xie Xiaofeng, and Chu Bijun convened in a secluded place once they left the hall.
Long Yifey showed Chu Bijun proper respect, “Grandmother, what has gotten into Regent Estate? Could you please enlighten me?”
This also concerned Xie Xiaofeng deeply. They knew Regent Estate was up to something, and it was not good by the looks of it, but he couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
Grandmother sighed and shook her head, “Pavilion Lord Long, Abode Lord Xie, the three of us are in an alliance so I’ll be frank. You two are at the very top of Huangpu Tianyuan’s blacklist.”
[What?!]