377 Pursuit After (1/2)
Chapter 377: Pursuit After
Translator: TransnEditor: Transn
Both Shangguan Ru and Maid Lotus were led into the Land of Fragrance by Old Man Mu. As the two of them were chasing him into the forest, they had not the slightest idea that they were three days ahead of Dragon King, who was leading the remaining troops of the Great Snowmountain and marching through the wilderness as well.
Old Man Mu had planned his escape for a long time. All his previous actions, including the multiple escape attempts, were just a ruse to let the two girls let their guard down. His Kung Fu had not yet fully recovered, but he was not lacking in jianghu experiences.
Unlike Old Man Mu, Dragon King and his troops raided the villages where the savages lived in order to collect supplies. However, Old Man Mu did not dare approach places with traces of human habitation. He was afraid he would leave visible trails and specifically chose to walk in secluded places covered with dense trees and tall grass. Moreover, those areas ensured that there was not much sunlight during the day so that he was able to travel through day and night.
Maid Lotus was extremely skilled at tracking. No matter how small the clues left by Old Man Mu were, she was always able to discover his tracks.
In the beginning, Shangguan Ru was very surprised because almost all the greenery in her eyes looked the same. Gradually, she came to realize that the methods used by Maid Lotus had all been taught by the killer mentors in Golden Roc Fort. Everyone had learned it but not many could remember when it comes to applying these methods in real life situations.
Due to this, Shangguan Ru's respect and admiration for Maid Lotus grew.
During a short break, Shangguan Ru gave serious thought about the current situation of Golden Roc Fort for the first time and came to understand many things.
The decline of the Stone Castle was inevitable. As the castle continued to cultivate stronger and powerful killers, the decline of the castle itself would soon follow as well. This was because while the masters of the Stone Castle enjoyed the safe environment created by these powerful killers, they neglected the need to progress and improve along with them.
Compared to the ruthless and cruel experience of the killers, the power struggle between the Shangguan children really were not worth mentioning.
A killer who grew by leaps and bounds would not endure the weakening authority of his master forever.
The Stone Castle was like a gigantic rotting corpse, while it nourished worms and larvae, at the same time, it was also withering increasingly day by day. There would only be more traitors like Slave Huan and Maid Lotus and it was only a matter of time when the rotting corpse was completely wiped out.
Shangguan Ru suddenly understood why her father was persistent in wanting hegemony in the Western Region to fight for the title of King for the Shangguan family. He wanted to make use of the loyalty shown by these killers to set up a new empire and create a kingdom that would not rely on just killers alone.
Rather than letting these killers end the Stone Castle, it was better for the master to do it himself.
She also came to understand the pathetic and sorrowful behavior of the current generation of the Shangguan children. They were still having fights among themselves according to the traditions laid down by previous generations and were not aware that their most important audience outside the arena was already restless, their minds long drifting to matters that had nothing to do with these power struggles.
This was also the reason why the most unusual son of the Supreme King was suddenly in favor.
Third Young Master Shangguan Yun had always refused to become the master of the killers. He was the only one among them who had actually braved the real jianghu and understood the thoughts and needs of the common people. This was a course that the future successor would need to learn the most.
Therefore, even without the help of outsiders, the Supreme King would be reminded of this son sooner or later.
It was as though the blind could see again; Shangguan Ru's thoughts had never been so clear and lucid. Moreover, what had triggered all of these was due to Maid Lotus unconsciously performing the skills used by killers.
When they set out again, Shangguan Ru gave Maid Lotus a sincere smile. Her resentment, secret or public, had all vanished. She realized that her fate was neither arranged by gods or anyone else, but bound to the family's overall destiny. No one was to blame for this.
However, Maid Lotus was puzzled by her smile and increased her vigilance toward her.
”To what extent do you think Old Man Mu has recovered his Kung Fu?” Shangguan Ru asked quietly. In the enclosed forest, strangers tend to lower their voices to speak, as if they were guests visiting for the first time. Only the savages who had lived here for a long time spoke loudly, like the master of this place.
During the several days traveling, they two of them seldom spoke to one another. Maid Lotus was always the one who found the clues and Shangguan Ru would follow silently. Therefore, her simple question perplexed Maid Lotus.
”About 50 percent or so.” Maid Lotus never revealed her uncertainty easily, so she added, ”He is constantly on the road and has no time to practice his Kung Fu, so his recovery will likely be slower.”
”Will Old Man Mu really lose all of his Internal Strength if he is exposed to the sun for seven consecutive days?”
”That was what the book recorded.” Maid Lotus pondered for a moment, then she continued, ”They say Old Man Mu is the only one who has practiced the Seven Rotation Skill in recent decades.”
”I hope you can forgive my mistake. I should have listened to you and tanned him under the sunlight for seven days straight so that his Kung Fu could be disabled completely.”
Maid Lotus paused for a moment. She would never have imagined hearing an apology from the Tenth Young Master herself. ”It's alright. We still have time to capture him.”
The two of them continued to track down Old Man Mu. It was also from this day onward that Shangguan Ru's attitude toward Maid Lotus changed greatly. She was much warmer toward Maid Lotus as if they were good friends who had known each other since childhood.
Shangguan Ru wanted to confide in Maid Lotus and let her understand that all the Golden Roc killers, be it the loyal ones or the traitors, were on their way to demise. Rather than just sneaking into the Stone Castle and seeking revenge alone, Slave Huan grew to become Dragon King instead because he had already realized this,
However, she was unable to find the right moment to say all these. Maid Lotus' suspicion was more impregnable than the stone walls of Golden Roc Fort. It was not something that could be broken down easily, not even by Shangguan Ru's cordial attitude.