Chapter 287: Hidden Traitor
Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
It was pitch dark and was as silent as a stone wall. It seemed that no one had survived.
The survivors were holding their breath. Instead of comparing their kung fu, everyone here was trying not to be the first person to make a mistake.
Gu Shenwei couldn’t see but he knew that one of Meng Yuzun’s guards was lying five steps away from him with a bleeding neck. Another guard was hiding in the dark. Just like everyone else, the guard was waiting for an opportunity to strike.
He didn’t know the fates of Shangguan Fei, Meng Yuzun, and Guan Shang. There were many unexpected things, but he had no time to consider them.
Death Scripture could detect the living energy of the survivors, but Gu Shenwei only had half a chopstick in his hand. Thus, he didn’t dare to try.
Both sword and chopstick could kill people, but this couldn’t eliminate their differences. Gu Shenwei couldn’t display his Death Scripture swordcraft with chopsticks.
He had once used the saber in place of his sword. He then incorporated Death Scripture into his machete skills. However, these two methods were unsatisfactory as they had less power. He was even less confident now that his weapon was just a pair of chopsticks.
This was a strange phenomenon. It felt similar to a person who had used chopsticks for decades, who knew how to move his fingers without even thinking about it. However, his fingers would immediately become clumsy when either he only had a pair of extremely short wooden strips or had nothing in his hands. The harder he tried, the more his movements would become serious.
All kungfu had to rely on weapons such as hands, knives, swords, poles, spears, etc. Without them, kungfu wouldn’t exist.
To Gu Shenwei, Death Scripture would always be a swordcraft.
Some people couldn’t help but breathe. A slight sound was like a leaf falling slowly onto the surface of a lake. People might not hear it, but the ripples it caused could travel a far distance.
Gu Shenwei didn’t react immediately.
Another man rushed up and the two blades struck each other. It created a spark and generated a fleeting faint flash.
The one who breathed was Meng Yuzun’s guard, and the attacker was Guan Shang. Gu Shenwei needed to choose one of these two as a target.
He also rushed forward. He thrust his chopsticks into someone’s neck and then returned to his original position.
It became dark and silent once again. After a while, Guan Shang said, “I want to light up the place.”
“Ok,” Gu Shenwei said.
There was a sound of flint hitting each other and the torch on the wall lit up soon afterward.
Both of Meng Yuzun’s guards were dead. The fat man was lying on Shangguan Fei.
Guan Shang carefully placed her saber into her scabbard and picked up the Dragon King’s sword with both hands. She said, “This is yours.”
Gu Shenwei carefully took back his sword. He then felt relieved. He was a complete killer as long as he was holding onto his familiar sword hilt.
Guan Shang took out a dagger and also returned it to the Dragon King. She said, “I am not your enemy.”
“Nor a black-masked assassin?” Gu Shenwei thought that Guan Shang was just an ordinary killer and he didn’t expect that she had such a complicated identity.
“Let’s talk outside.”
Guan Shang turned over Meng Yuzun’s fat body and took a key from him.
Meng Yuzun didn’t die. He was struck at his acupoints and was holding onto his breath. He persevered longer than his guards.
Shangguan Fei didn’t die either. He passed out from fear, and his breathing was weak. He was also blocked by the fat man. Thus, it seemed like he wasn’t breathing.
Both of them had set up a trap, but they were caught in it and were rendered helpless. Meng Yuzun was experiencing a shortness of breath. He couldn’t say anything and his eyes were moving around. He wanted to use this method to beg for mercy.
“Can I say something?” Guan Shang knew that the Dragon King was still doubtful of her, so she was respectful.
“You don’t want me to kill these two men.”
“Yes, I have my reasons.”
Obviously, Meng Yuzun mustn’t learn of the reason. Gu Shenwei didn’t know much about acupoints so he knocked the fat man out by kicking him.
“It was not easy for us to position some of our men around Meng Yuzun and the Ninth Young Master. Our efforts will be in vain if both of them died. They will be at loggerheads after today’s incident. Instead of killing them, it will be better to let them fight each other.”
Gu Shenwei flashed through many possibilities in his mind. He said, “You are a disciple of New Moon Hall.”
“Does the Dragon King want to talk about the details here or outside?”
This was the second time that Guan Shang said something similar. Previously, Gu Shenwei was led to the underground chamber of Tianji Society by this remark. This time, he didn’t know where he would be led to.
“Let’s talk outside.” Gu Shenwei also wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.
Guan Shang used the key to unlock the door and pulled open the heavy metal door with much effort. She then gestured for the Dragon King to leave first.
It was dark outside. Bodhi Garden was no different from the wilderness in early winter, and there was a layer of snow on the ground. Gu Shenwei couldn’t figure out how many days he had been hiding in the underground chamber.
Guan Shang dragged Shangguan Fei out and placed him on the snow. She then turned and closed the door. Subsequently, she explained, “The one who wakes up earlier will kill the other person. He will then push the blame onto the Dragon King. It is better to separate them first.”
Gu Shenwei nodded in agreement. In fact, at this crucial juncture when Great Snowmountain wanted to make peace with Golden Roc Fort, even without Guan Shang’s persuasion, he wouldn’t have killed any member of the Shangguan and Meng families.
Shangguan Fei was dressed in women’s clothing and he looked very similar to his sister. He snorted in the snow. Gu Shenwei went up and kicked him.
“The Dragon King, please come with me.”
“No, you come with me.”
The Dragon King wasn’t holding onto his swords, but Guan Shang couldn’t question his words. Guan Shang hesitated a little bit and said, “The Dragon King, please lead the way.”
Out of all the apartments Xu Xiaoyi bought in Jade City, one was located in North City. It was an independent apartment in a grand mansion. There were also other tenants. The owner of the mansion was a relative to the king of a nation and had the nominal ownership. Because of this, the owner would receive his monthly rent and turn a blind eye to anything that was happening in the mansion.
That was his last hiding spot. Gu Shenwei wouldn’t use it unless the situation had become extremely dangerous.
Even so, he and Guan Shang still checked the surroundings carefully. They entered after having made sure that there was no danger.
Guan Shang was an excellent killer. Gu Shenwei couldn’t help but think that he needed such a killer.
Before the Dragon King could ask, Guan Shang started to narrate a story, “New Moon Hall didn’t disappear. On the contrary, the leader brought the majority of the disciples out from the desert. For many years, I have been working hard to penetrate into the various forces of Jade City, especially that of Golden Roc Fort. I shouldn’t have exposed my identity this early, but it is my priority to protect the Dragon King.”
“Are you really the black-masked assassin?” Gu Shenwei had his doubts. The assassins he knew were extremely loyal to their masters as if they were their masters’ shadow. They were very different from Guan Shang.
“I am. I was trained in Golden Roc Fort ever since when I was able to remember things. I had been leading a monotonous life for twenty-eight years. The leader enlightened me and made me understand that I was no different from a zombie. I switched over to New Moon Hall two years ago. From then on, I only had one goal and the leader was like my parent.”
Guan Shang’s words made Gu Shenwei feel more suspicious.
It was said that New Moon Hall was good at making knockout powder and specialized in evil secrets. If Guan Shang didn’t have other motives, then he might be controlled by the evil secrets. Ordinary Golden Roc killers, let alone black-masked assassins, were unlikely to be swayed by a few words. Gu Shenwei knew that he and Maid Lotus were the only two defectors in many years.
“It doesn’t matter if the Dragon King doesn’t believe me. The leader will explain everything to you after you have met her.”
Gu Shenwei had seen the leader of New Moon Hall. She was a tall beautiful woman and she was the one who inserted the “evil spirits” into Shangguan Ru’s body and the others. Her methods were more powerful and were more evil than that of Mama Xue. It was beyond Gu Shenwei’s understanding. He only knew about swords, so he was definitely unwilling to deal with that kind of woman.
Gu Shenwei had seen the disciples of Barren Sect and New Moon Hall before, and none of them were normal. Even Maid Lotus showed her madness which was deep inside her during the last moment of her escape.
Gu Shenwei thought that the word “crazy” was the most appropriate term to describe these women.
“I am not in a rush to meet your leader.”
“The Dragon King had misunderstood our New Moon Hall,” Guan Shang laughed. “Whatever, both New Moon Hall and Great Snowmountain have the same goal, which is to destroy Golden Roc Fort.”
“Is that the reason why you kill people in my name so that the negotiations will be disrupted?”
“The purpose of the Great Snowmountain peace treaty is to preserve and strengthen its capacity. It works the same way as the concealment of New Moon Hall. Why would we ruin the Dragon King’s plan? The imposter is someone else.”
“Oh?”
“I heard a lot of insider information from Stone Castle. The news that is reported to the Dragon King on a daily basis is true, so …”
“The imposter came from Golden Roc Fort.” Gu Shenwei had known about this. He wanted to sound Guan Shang out by accusing New Moon Hall.
“I haven’t found any concrete evidence, but these imposters have something to do with Stone Castle. Those who were killed either had a dispute with Stone Castle or were useless machetemen. Stone Castle made use of this opportunity to simultaneously wipe out dissidents and disrupt the negotiations.
Gu Shenwei reminded himself that New Moon Hall was good at sowing discord and would thus benefit from it. Gu Shenwei couldn’t completely believe Guan Shang’s words.
“Do you have other clues?”
“Well, that’s for the time being. It is better for the leader to explain to you in more detail.”
“Yes.”
Gu Shenwei slapped Guan Shang on her neck and knocked her out. He then found a rope to tie her up and placed her on the bed.
It was too late for Gu Shenwei to learn about acupoints pressure. He thought to himself that he would have to bring some tough ropes along with him in the future.
Guan Shang said that she had no clue, but Gu Shenwei was doubtful of her words. Gu Shenwei had one clue.
The reward for the swords and the successive assassinations reminded Gu Shenwei of a place: Blacksmith Village. It was located in the easternmost part of South City.
The imposters of the Dragon King had committed crimes in many places, but there were many cases which happened in Blacksmith Village. Many people, including the Big Protector, blacksmiths and apprentices were killed. There must be a reason behind this.
Gu Shenwei put on his cape and took Guan Shang’s waist token. He entered South City through the checkpoint in the morning.
It was now when the Great Snowmountain’s negotiation had fallen through. It was the seventh day of the ten-day ultimatum, which had been delivered by the Special Emissary from the Central Plains. Fang Wenshi was very anxious and prayed that the Dragon King would soon appear and solve all the current problems.
It happened four hours after Shangguan Fei had gotten up from the snow. He hastily left Bodhi Garden in fear and anger and turned to his mother for help.
Golden Roc Fort heard the news and deployed many men. Golden Roc Fort made a vow that they will kill the Dragon King and the black-masked assassin who betrayed them within three days.
