191 Drawing the Snake Ou (2/2)

”I'll pick someone my own size. You are just a killer, a knife for hire if you will. Why would I seek revenge from a mercenary?”

”The Ninth Young Master is no 'soft target' as well.”

”Who I get my revenge from is my own business. Tell the Tenth Young Master that I mean her no harm. If she wishes to revive the Kun Society, I can help her. My contacts with machetemen do not amount to only the 20 or so which I brought previously.”

”You do not need get involved in the matters of the Ninth and Tenth Young Master.” Gu Shenwei held onto his sword shaft as he retreated. He had many reasons to wish for the twins to not fight amongst themselves.

”You don't command me. If you wish to stop me, now is the time to do so.” The old macheteman replied, his hand on the hilt of his machete as well.

Gu Shenwei continued retreating. He left Tuo Nengya with a few parting words as he turned and returned to Jade City. ”Next time then. You better have more men with you.”

When he was sure that he was alone, Gu Shenwei took out the stack of paper that he had retrieved from the Immortal's corpse. It was indeed his copy of the Death Scripture Just as he was about to tear it into pieces, he noticed that there were some tiny scribblings on the white spaces of the notes.

It seemed that Immortal Peng had made his own notations on some parts of the Scripture.

It was getting darker and harder for him to read. Reluctantly, Gu Shenwei kept the notes again.

As he walked down the dirty streets of the South City, Gu Shenwei felt that it was ages ago since he first went to the Pavilion. He had wasted a few months of his precious time and was not any closer to getting his revenge. However, he bizarrely ended up with a dead 'immortal' on his hands. He had once thought highly of his own willpower, and would never have thought that he had to rely on the Peripheral Force in his body to keep him from acting under the influence of the Immortal's hypnosis.

As the time limit of three years draws closer, he realised that his plan of exterminating the entire Golden Roc Fort was impossible now. He should have killed off a few masters of the Shangguan Family before he would die from qigong deviation. Top on his list was Shangguan Nu, the Eighth Young Master who was still at the border of the desert, busy plotting the fall of the New Moon Hall.

He did not find Maid Lotus in her room at the backyard of the Southwall Tavern. It was not their rendezvous day, so she must have remained by Shangguan Ru's side.

As he could not get to Maid Lotus, he went into the tavern to look for the manager. Shopkeeper Lyu was extremely surprised to see Yang Huan, and hid his hand with the missing finger behind his back while he welcomed this harbinger of doom awkwardly.

Gu Shenwei managed to get the news from the past few months from the manager.

He came to know that Shangguan Ru had requested for the reins of Kun Society back from her brother.

Not long after Slave Huan had left for Hope Alley, Shangguan Ru paid a visit to her twin brother along with six killers. Shangguan Fei was prepared for it, and mobilised all of his killers, along with 50 or so machetemen from the South City. Even though no one present was armed, Shangguan Fei had made a bigger show of force.

Everyone in the City thought that another mass brawl would break out. The commandant stood guard outside the residence of the Ninth Young Master, along with about a hundred of his soldiers and guards from the Stone Castle, to maintain order in case anything happened.

To everyone's surprise, Shangguan Ru did not lose her temper. She treated her brother with respect, as she would to a true power in the City. She requested for the Kun Society in exchange for all the territories she held.

Even though the territories were only hers in name, as they were bequeathed to her by their elder brothers, the income generated from them was substantial. It was many times more than the money that was given by the merchants under the protection of the Kun Society.

Shangguan Fei agreed, and a deal was struck.

Shangguan Ru entered the South City that very day, and spent the next few days visiting the merchants under the Kun Society's protection. Amongst them was the Southwall Tavern.

”The Tenth Young Master is a good person who understands the issues of us businessmen. She was extremely courteous to me and even suggested that I contribute less every month, as long as I keep business coming her way. Of course, I agreed. She is a far-sighted person and the Kun Society's territory will definitely grow under her command,” he told Yang Huan.

This was just wishful thinking on his part. In reality, the Kun Society's territory was diminishing everyday. This happened as the Ninth Young Master had directed all profitable ventures towards the Horned Dragon Society, cannibalising his sister's share of the spoils.

”The Horned Dragon Society is growing stronger. As businessmen, we cannot afford to not partner up with them. Honestly speaking, I have frequently received advice to switch sides...”

Gu Shenwei hurried to the stronghold of the Kun Society upon hearing this.

Shangguan Ru was dictating something to two secretaries in the hall as he entered. She broke out into a grin upon seeing Slave Huan. It was as if he was by her side all along for these few months, and had came back to report to her after completing a mission.

She had changed a little since their last meeting in the forest. A lot of the childishness was gone from her face, and those jet black pupils of hers contained neither innocence nor curiosity. They were replaced by a scrutinizing look.

She had also seemed to have become less trusting.

After she sent the secretaries away, she spoke to him. ”Are you cured of your sickness now?”

”More or less,” he replied. The two Peripheral Forces still remained in his body and he was not sure what condition he was in.

”Can you start working again?”

”Yes.”

”Are you aware of Kun Society's present situation?”

”I'm aware of it, yes.”

”How do you envision our future to be like?”

”We need to draw the snake out of its hiding place.”

Shangguan Ru brightened up and broke into a smile as she heard his reply. ”I know that waiting for you to return was the right decision.”

Gu Shenwei understood what Shangguan Ru's was thinking. She did not forget about Master Yu's death, and was willing to present herself as weak to the public to draw Shangguan Fei to the South City.

The end of the was between the twins was still nowhere in sight. Gu Shenwei came up with an idea on his way to see Shangguan Ru. Rather than allowing Shangguan Fei to blackmail him, he thought it would be a better idea to get rid of him first. ”Have you made up your mind?” he asked Shangguan Ru.

She nodded, and it was the first time he had seen the desire to kill in her eyes.