338 Pledging Allegiance (2/2)

Though Wei Song had evil intentions, Gu Shenwei did not want to fight him in the open, and definitely not so soon. The Central Plain was the Great Snowmountain's biggest benefactor. Though not entirely definitively, it could easily scare away other forces in the Western Region. ”It's best that we don't do it the antagonistic way. I don't think Wei Song will fight us openly.”

”Yes, you're right. Mr. Wei is the Commanding Officer of the Western Region and the alliance with the Great Snowmountain was made by the previous Commanding Officer, he won't openly abandon it so soon. In fact, I have an idea, but I'm not sure how you'll like it.”

”Go ahead.”

”You have to be the Emperor's son-in-law.”

Zhong Heng did not elaborate any further, he believed that the Dragon King knew his meaning.

The Central Plain hoped to use the Stone Kingdom to control the entire Xiaoyao Lake -- it was their basic strategy. Lin Tao had chosen the Loulan Kingdom Prince as his puppet, but if the Dragon King managed to eke out, Wei Song would be forced to continue allying with the Dragon King and Great Snowmountain and would have to abort the assassination.

In the case of Zhong Heng, as long as the Dragon King was alive, Wei Song would not act so rashly as to kill him.

Gu Shenwei had never liked the Stone Kingdom Princess. Part of what he told Lin Tao was true; the Xiaoyao Lake was far away from the Great Snowmountain. Even if he claimed that territory, it was like distant water that could not quench the present thirst. It would help much in defeating the Golden Roc Fort.

Now, he needed to think about how to marry the Princess.

Zhong Heng could not stay for long, and after the discussion, he withdrew.

In the evening, Maid Lotus finally returned.

Maid Lotus did not openly present herself to Dragon King in the Stone Kingdom. Just as she left the desert, she put on a disguise to search for the Four Truths Temple monks.

The monks did not stay in the royal palace; instead, they had settled at Nengjue Temple in the city. Nengjue Temple was not big, but it was Stone Kingdom's national temple. It was conveniently located close to the royal palace.

”It's true that the King is going to abdicate and become a monk.” Maid Lotus brought back a lot of useful intelligence. ”The monks are busy preparing. It looks like that the King will shave his hair before the Princess gets married. You have to be the Emperor's son-in-law; you don't even need to have a son to get the throne.”

”I don't want to be the Emperor's son-in-law...” Gu Shenwei had not decided yet, but he would rather not discuss it with Maid Lotus.

Maid Lotus did not press. ”The good news is that it is not just the old monk who practices the Sumeru Mustard divine kung fu, some of his disciples practice it too. But they're too dumb to master it; I think I can capture one of them to interrogate.”

Maid Lotus had benefited from Fayan's Internal Strength and had never forgotten it since.

”Don't.” Gu Shenwei thought it was not the top priority at the moment, ”I need you to do something for me.”

”Alright.”

”Special Emissary from the Central Plains has 50 guard troops; the Central Plain may have planted masters among them. Go and find out, but don't engage.”

Maid Lotus did not ask any further. Before leaving, she took out a pile of papers. ”I said I would tell you all the secrets of the New Moon Hall. This is part of it, I'll write down the rest. You'd better destroy it afterward; I don't want the New Moon Hall people to find out.”

Gu Shenwei put them away and said nothing. After she had left, he carefully read through them.

The first thing she presented was the New Moon Hall's most important occult science, the Divine Rotation.

The Divine Rotation was indeed a wicked kung fu, the practicer would not gain Internal Strength through it, and must consume others' to feed himself to recover his Qi.

Not only the cultivation method was written down in detail, but the pained reactions of each victim were listed. The inventor of the practice seemed to relish them.

One of the reactions was letting out continuous bloodcurdling screams. Monk Fayan had learned it somehow and knew that someone was practicing the Divine Rotation in the tent.

Even if he fully trusted Maid Lotus, he would not practice such a method. He held out the paper to the candle but suddenly changed his mind. He folded the paper and carefully put it away.

It was dark outside, but Gu Shenwei did not intend to sleep. He wanted to meet Shangguan Fei. He always had the feeling that other than getting the Stone Kingdom Princess, the Supreme King had a larger plot, a plot that he was not even close to deciphering.