Chapter 433 - Life in Desperation (2/2)

Grand Elder glared, “You Ming earned the most merit in the first place with his plan. Why would he steal ours then?”

“He-he-he, I was just messing around. Don’t mind it, You Ming.” 5th elder scratched his head.

You Ming nodded, rushing up the hill.

What he saw beyond the hill had him wide-eyed.

Grandmother and her people were tense, but ready to fight to the last.

The only choice now was to go down fighting.

Yet You Ming made a signal for them to stay quiet.

They all looked stumped.

You Ming turned around and shouted to Grand Elder, “Drifting Flowers Edifices’ team passed through here. They must’ve gone in that direction. You might catch them if you give chase!”

You Ming’s finger picked a random spot. Grand Elder was overjoyed and led his men into a chase. With their trust in You Ming and the hill separating them, they had no clue their quarry was just over yonder. They were so close yet oh so far.

The women were stumped, looking tensed at You Ming.

Why would someone from Hell Valley help them?

With the army behind him gone, You Ming said, “Everyone from Drifting Flowers Edifices, east and west are blocked. Only north and south have been searched already and there’s no one there. But I highly recommend going south. In those tall mountains and dense forest, it’s easy to hide.”

You Ming left.

“One moment.”

Grandmother cried, “Thank you, sir, for your timely rescue. But why did you help us?”

You Ming mocked, “Help you? Ha-ha-ha, you’re rich. It’s never worth betraying my house over some strays. Just send this message to Zhuo Fan. He owes me one.”

You Ming flew after Hell Valley’s men.

Grandmother felt bitter and despondent.

Zhuo Fan had cast such a huge shadow that even the enemy had people hoping to get on his good side. The youth just now wouldn’t have helped them otherwise.

They all felt sour at the revelation.

Grandmother was known to all houses for a hundred years, yet her name had less weight than an upstart. [Who’d have thought Zhuo Fan’s name can make one betray his house?]

[How could we be so different?]

No one knew that the true mastermind behind their current plight was none other than their savior, You Ming.

He did it all for Zhuo Fan.

Not that Zhuo Fan asked him, of course, but Zhuo Fan’s handiwork had left him with no other choice.

Ever since Zhuo Fan razed Hell Valley, the guy was homeless.

It hit him the instant the news reached him. Zhuo Fan took care of Hell Valley to force him to renounce his unflinching trust for his house.

As long as Hell Valley stood, he was one of them and betraying one’s king never came easy.

But with his home up in smokes, Hell Valley was gone for good. Even though You Wanshan took his elders to follow Regent Estate to attack Drifting Flowers Edifices.

And Regent Estate would never entertain the notion of helping them rebuild, deciding on a far better approach, to absorb them.

As it stood, this vagrant who used to be at a three-way crossroads found only two paths forward, Regent Estate and Zhuo Fan.

Under these circumstances, he had put aside the good of the house and was putting himself first.

Breaking Drifting Flowers Edifices was gaining credit in front of Regent Estate, while letting Drifting Flowers Edifices go was doing Zhuo Fan a solid. No matter which of these two behemoths ended up ruling the lands, he had a way out.

This was his plan, to be a double agent!

“I can’t help but wonder, who’ll be my lord in the end? Ha-ha-ha…” You Ming shook his head.

The women heeded You Ming’s advice and escaped the four houses’ siege and bumped into their rescue team.

“Grandmother, Steward Zhuo has had us waiting for you here for ages!” Qiu Yanhai cupped his hands…