Chapter 90 — The Mantis
劍問蒼天 · Page 4 of 6
That night, Yuyang Zi received a secret report from his disciples: near the "Bottomless Pit" at the outer edge of the Dead Marsh ahead, a group of righteous cultivators had made camp and intended to spend the night there. Then, as wave after wave of scouts returned, Yuyang Zi's expression grew colder and colder, and he already understood in his heart who these people were.
They were the most elite young disciples of the Canglan Sect. There should have been only a dozen or so of them, but the scouts reported that their numbers had already swelled to several dozen, and among them were monks and people in the garb of the Fenxia Valley. Yuyang Zi knitted his brows tightly, drew a deep breath, and gazed into the distance, as if waiting for something.
After a long while, light footsteps suddenly sounded in the darkness behind him, and a shrewd, lean-looking middle-aged man emerged and came to Yuyang Zi's side. Yuyang Zi turned at once to face him, clearly showing that this man's status was no ordinary one.
This middle-aged man was named Meng Ji, one of the top masters of the Changsheng Hall under Yuyang Zi himself, and one of the few surviving Changsheng Hall experts from the battle of Canglan Mountain—which was why Yuyang Zi trusted him so deeply. That Yuyang Zi had delayed in making his decision was also because he was waiting for this man to return.
Meng Ji bowed to Yuyang Zi. Yuyang Zi shook his head slightly and said, "Enough, no need for formalities. How did it go?"
The question came out of nowhere, but Meng Ji clearly understood what Yuyang Zi meant. He said in a low voice, "This subordinate has already taken men to search the Black Water Ditch and White Horse River areas on the other side of the Dead Marsh. We found no large-scale incursions by the Hades King Sect, the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect, or the Soul-Charming Faction—only a few stragglers from minor sects, whom this subordinate disposed of directly."
Yuyang Zi's spirits lifted, and for the first time a smile appeared on his face. He nodded and said, "Good! Then we need not worry about our rear. Tonight we strike with full force at those Canglan Sect, Brahma Sound Temple, and Fenxia Valley youngsters who don't know the height of heaven and earth. Once we remove these people, the righteous path will have no strength left to contest us!"
Yet Meng Ji showed little joy; instead he looked somewhat worried. He hesitated for a moment, then finally said, "Master, three days ago, a hidden lookout near Great King Village sent word that Ming Li and Qin Wujiu seem to have already arrived near the Dead Marsh. And Jin Pingyue of the Soul-Charming Faction has always come and gone like the wind. We cannot fail to guard against them!"
Yuyang Zi's facial muscles twitched, and a look of bitter hatred came over him. "How could I not know that! Those righteous folk merely want the treasure, but the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect and the Hades King Sect—what they want is my life!"
Meng Ji's body gave a start. What he was thinking inside was impossible to tell, and his expression shifted uncertainly. He said in a low voice, "Master, then what shall we do?"
Yuyang Zi snorted, drew a deep breath, and relaxed his bearing. "As things stand, we have no road back. While the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect, the Hades King Sect, and the Soul-Charming Faction have not yet arrived, we will first wipe out these righteous whelps, then search for the treasure with all our strength. Once it is in hand—judging by the omens of recent days—it must be a peerless treasure the likes of which the world has rarely seen. Then we need not fear the other three factions!"
Meng Ji bowed his head and said, "A wise plan, Master."