947 Benefits (2/2)

”I will forbid disciples of the Waning Moon Hall from killing outsiders, but I won't forbid them from killing each other.”

Stunned, Zhong Heng watched the Dragon King for quite a while and then said, ”Of course. Nobody has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of the Waning Moon Hall. A family has family rules, and a sect has sect regulations. The Master Commander has the right to punish her disciples in whatever way she wants.”

This was the greatest extent to which Zhong Heng could understand the words ”killing each other.”

Red Bat couldn't help but say in a muted voice, ”Instructor, you don't have any conditions?”

Shangguan Ru appeared a little amazed. ”The ban on killing is the biggest benefit. What other conditions should I ask for?”

Embarrassed, Red Bat answered ”Yes.” Turning her head aside, she saw that Han Fen was making faces at her. She contemptuously snorted but suddenly realized that the Instructor might misunderstand her due to this snort. She blushed and wanted to explain, but found that it was not the right time to talk. Thus, she couldn't help feel very annoyed.

Shangguan Ru didn't have any terms to dictate, but Zhong Heng did. He gave two coughs again and said, ”With the support of the Kun Society and the Waning Moon Hall, I think that it's safe to say that the ban on killing will probably be a success, but we're still facing one big obstacle, or two… ”

Zhong Heng was good at beating around the bush, but Shangguan Ru saved him some time. ”Commandant Zhong is worried about Golden Roc Castle and the Heavenly Mountain Sect, right? I'll handle it. I can't guarantee that I'll succeed, but I think that I have at least a seventy to eighty-percent chance.”

Red Bat repeatedly pulled on the tail of the Instructor's clothes, implying that she shouldn't get involved in this so recklessly, but there was no response. So, she could do nothing but secretly feel sorry for her.

As if it was some kind of competition, Han Fen also started pointing behind Lotus. Even she herself didn't know why she was doing this.

”That's great. Tomorrow, Jade City will welcome the new Governor of the Western Regions with the ban on killing already in place.” Zhong Heng never expected that things would go so smoothly, so he was very delighted. Since his mission had been accomplished, he made an excuse and left the main tent with Chu Nanping and the guard, trying not to think too hard about how the Dragon King would deal with these two women.

Red Bat took the hint and also left, while it was not until Lotus gave an order that Han Fen reluctantly took her leave.

There were three people left in the tent, and the atmosphere suddenly became awkward. All three people were looking in different directions, trying to avoid eye contact with the others. Gu Shenwei felt that he was obliged to offer an explicit explanation of this issue, so he said, ”I think that it's better we make things clear. All of us want to become the Lord of Jade City, right?”

Lotus turned her head aside and glanced at Shangguan Ru who then let out a laugh. ”Yes. I want to compete for the position of Lord of Jade City as well.”

There were many issues that needed to be explained, but it also seemed as if explanations were redundant, so Shangguan Ru might as well let it go.

Gu Shenwei didn't ask her any further questions. ”Taking Golden Roc Castle and the Central Plains into account, there are now five sides competing for the position of Lord of Jade City. The Central Plains will be in support of Golden Roc Castle.”

”Haven't the Central Plainsmen allied with the Dragon King?” Shangguan Ru asked in surprise.

”It was Prince Xiao who allied with me. There is another group of Central Plainsmen who prefer the Unique King. I'm guessing that the new Governor of the Western Regions will be on the side of the latter. For Central Plainsmen, they have bets on two sides, which means they'll be on the winning side no matter which one of the two wins.”

Lotus snorted as the Waning Moon Hall wasn't backed by either of the Central Plains sides. ”The Dragon King hopes that the three of us will forge an alliance to compete against Golden Roc Castle and the Central Plains, right?” She glanced at Shangguan Ru again, totally confused.

Shangguan Ru knew what she meant. ”My father has allowed me to return to this city, but it doesn't mean that I'm a member of Golden Roc Castle again. Let me get this straight. My 'backer' is the Four Noble Truths Temple. The monks there hope that Jade City will become a place where Buddhism prevails. I think that this is also a good thing. The Dragon King's ban on killing can be counted as a start, so I don't want to see the position of Lord of Jade City to fall into the hands of Golden Roc Castle. My father has abandoned his killers, but that is merely an expedient measure. After he gets what he wants, the castle will return to normal.”

Lotus slightly raised her head. When facing her former master, she was no long timid. ”I only have one question. What is it that makes you think that you're qualified to compete for the position of Lord of Jade City?”

As far as Lotus could remember, Shangguan Ru had never been a kung fu expert.

Shangguan Ru smiled. ”An eminent monk transferred all of his internal energy to me before he died. Knowing this, the Four Noble Truths Temple taught me a few moves, so I think that I might stand a chance.”

Lotus peered at Shangguan Ru, warning herself to not underestimate this opponent. Since both the Four Noble Truths Temple and the Unique King thought highly of her, there must be something special about her. ”Was this also the reason why the Unique King granted you the permission to return?”

The look on Shangguan Ru's face went slightly glum, since what Lotus said was right. The bond of kinship was actually an inappreciable part of the relationship between her and her father.

The three then forged an alliance. After that, the atmosphere fell into awkwardness again. This time, Shangguan Ru was the one to break the silence. There was a question that she had been meaning to ask for a long time. ”You were hurt?”

Lotus' heart slightly lurched. She had perceived the Dragon King's injury quite some time ago, but this was not the key. Judging from Shangguan Ru's tone and the look in her eyes, she finally confirmed one thing: Han Fen was right. These two people had indeed had sexual relations. She was destined to be an outsider.

'So what?' Lotus found that she wasn't jealous. Instead, she was relieved. From now on, a certain thought would no longer appear in her mind, which meant that the only previous obstacle in her path of cultivating the Death Sutra no longer existed.