233 The Supreme Kings Words (2/2)
Gu Shenwei knew that Zhang Ji wanted to recommend Shangguan Hong, so he played along. ”What about Master Hong?”
”Master Hong is a good-for-nothing. He has all the flaws of the nine young masters.”
Shangguan Hong had been waiting for his teacher's praise. He was taken aback by such a blunt criticism. He hotly rose to his feet but did not dare to express his anger. He then struggled to think of an excuse for the teacher's criticism but he could not think of anything. His face turned red and he did not know what to do.
Zhang Ji coldly looked at him and said, ”Sit down, I haven't finished speaking.”
Shangguan Hong uneasily sat down like a dog that was being trained. Even though he felt highly indignant, he did not let it be apparent.
”He has only one admirable quality, and that is his obedience.” Zhang Ji continued in his conversation with Slave Huan. ”He listens to the opinions of others despite having such a social status. If you support other masters, you'd be an average killer for your entire life. In that situation, you'd only be able to slowly gain success. However, if establishing a great career is your objective, then Master Hong would be your best bet.”
Zhang Ji's words were simple and direct but it revealed a powerful truth. Shangguan Hong would naturally be at a disadvantage when it came to competing with the other masters and powerful figures. However, because the other candidates were equally weak, Shangguan Hong's malleable disposition was turned into a winning trait. He'd follow a strong man who'd be willing to assist him.”
If he did not have any other motives in mind, Gu Shenwei would have gladly accepted Zhang Ji's advice. Actually, Gu Shenwei did not consider Shangguan Hong to be of any value but rather he held Zhang Ji in high regard.
”Let me think about it.” Gu Shenwei did not reject at the outset. ”The situation is too chaotic right now. I have to reconsider a few things.”
Zhang Ji knowingly raised his glass but did not say a word. Shangguan Hong felt unsettled. ”You won't reveal the secret, right?” He blurted.
”No, I won't.”
Zhang Ji snorted, chiding his disciple, ”Don't be foolish. If he had truly wanted to tell the secret, he wouldn't have said it. And even if he were to reveal the secret, what could you possibly do about it?”
Gu Shenwei had not expected that the situation in the Stone Castle to have stabilized so quickly, such that it had almost disrupted his entire plan.
After the quarrels between the several masters and Shangguan Hong's attempt at winning Slave Huan over, the Supreme King had finally made a speech.
”The Eighth brother has won a victory.” Shangguan Fa immediately erased Shangguan Nu's label of being a 'traitor'. ”He removed Golden Roc Fort's mortal enemy. Bighead Kingpin is ambitious and big-headed and would have become a scourge sooner or later. The Eighth brother understood me best. He has achieved something great for me.”
The several masters were gaping in astonishment. After some time, they recovered and started to praise the Eighth brother for his foresight. The smarter ones attributed the victory to their father, saying how the Eighth brother was clearly only following the Supreme King's instructions. Everyone else had been kept in the dark.
”The Central Plains is a friend, not an enemy.” These words completely reframed the relations between Golden Roc Fort and Jade City. There was no big army. A battle between them was now completely out of the question. ”Second son, go build good relations with the great general of the Central Plains in my name. Tell your Eighth brother that he is my good son. New Moon Hall has not been exterminated. Let him continue to work hard.”
Shangguan Fa personally sent his second son out of the city. This squashed rumours about how he was suffering from a debilitating illness that caused him to lose all his martial arts abilities. Only a small number of people knew that his personal servants were all first-rate black-masked assassins. Unless it was an army, no person could have come within ten steps of the Supreme King to cause him any harm.
During the days when the Second Young Master Shangguan Tian was fretting over how to carry out his father's instructions, Shangguan Fa had already sent messengers to different parts of the Western Region to proclaim the news. Some of them had already succeeded in their mission while others were still on their way.
Hence, the 16-nation alliance was disbanded for a very simple reason. ”The Iron Mountain bandits have already been annihilated. There's no need to stay here any longer.”
The Central Plains only had 5,000 troops. It relied on the alliance for resources and all forms of support. The General of the army knew that the time was not ripe. He had thought that the Supreme King was heavily ill and that Golden Roc Fort would fall from infighting. However, it had turned out that the Supreme King was healthy and so it would be unwise to pick a fight now.
The Central Plains accepted Golden Roc Fort's tribute and this meant that both sides have re-established normal friendly relations. Initially, the annihilation of Iron Mountain was not a loss to the Stone Castle. It was actually a form of victory. Residents of Jade City breathed a sigh of relief. However, only a few had noticed a catch: the troops of the Central Plains have not retreated. They still remained in the big camp of Iron Mountain. Furthermore, the Eighth Young Master, who had just been praised by his father, had not returned to the Stone Castle in this calm period.
The dust had settled. There can only be one winner, but his status was still unclear.
As Bighead Kingpin was declared to be the enemy of the Supreme King, Luo Ningcha would have naturally become the enemy's daughter. However, because of Shangguan Nu's feat of scoring the ”first victory”, the Eighth Young Mistress should be receiving her husband's honor.
However, contrary to what Luo Ningcha had expected, she was only a small fry in the Stone Castle. Hence, no one bothered her for a few days. As long as the Supreme King had not said anything about it, everybody behaved as though the problem did not exist.
Neglect felt sharper than hatred. The pain that it caused would permeate through the entire body and crush the spirit. How much had Luo Ningcha wanted to run into the Inner Residence to stir up a havoc!
If Shangguan Nu had truly cared about his wife, Gu Shenwei felt that his plan might not have succeeded. However, the Eighth Young Master's ”pet” had not given the Eighth Young Mistress any protection. Gu Shenwei felt that this situation might become the status quo and thus he felt that the time was finally ripe.