Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Qian Wanguan was Jiang Yi’s brother. Both he and Zhan Wushuang had a blood-bound friendship with Jiang Yi. It was especially so for Qian Wanguan. He was willing to abandon everything and wholeheartedly follow Jiang Yi.
Jiang Yi was very cold-blooded and vicious to his enemy, but he was extremely loyal towards his own people. He was willing to risk his life just for Qian Wanguan and Zhan Wushuang. It could be imagined how angry and imperative he was when he heard that something had happened to Qian Wanguan.
Swish!
He stormed into the city lord mansion tyrannically and headed up to the second level directly. He even ignored the Lu Clan’s guard who was greeting him at the doorstep. He walked to the main hall of Lu Ping’s and yelled heavily, “Lordess, Lone Wolf requests for an audience.”
Buzz!
The restriction on the gate lit up as it gradually opened up. Jiang Yi walked in with big strides and had forgotten to greet as he spoke urgently, “Lordess, something happened to Wanguan.”
“I know!”
Lu Ping waved her hand, signaling for Jiang Yi to relax. She paused before continuing, “In fact… I had received this news yesterday. I had also sent people out to investigate this immediately and had received some information.”
Jiang Yi inhaled a breath of air deeply before replying, “Please continue, I’m listening.”
Lu Ping nodded her head, “The people who had undertaken this task is a mountain bandit group called the Black Wind Legion. They are ranked 10th among all the corps in the White Tiger Island. White Tiger Island was where they had made their move, and Chief Qian had been attacked the moment he was returning to the city after he had completed the transaction. They clearly knew who their target was and also had a very clear understanding of Chief Qian’s identity. Otherwise, Chief Qian would already have died. In other words, someone had learned of our plans and had intentionally kidnapped Chief Qian.”
“Uh…”
Jiang Yi’s senses were clouded by anger earlier, and his mind was filled with fury and killing intent. For that moment, he didn’t contemplate about it. At this moment, he was astonished and his eyes flickered while he replied, “How is this possible? Unless there’s a traitor among us? Impossible! Wanguan had always been extremely cautious in what he did. Furthermore, only the soul slaves knew of the inside details. There couldn’t be any traitors from my side.
“Naturally, I’m confident in how Chief Qian handled his task!”
Lu Ping nodded her head, “I didn’t harbor any suspicions of traitors appearing on your side. Furthermore, I can also guarantee that there are no traitors from my side as well.”
Jiang Yi narrowed his eyes before crying out in alarm, “Don’t tell me those people from the top had started paying attention to us? It can’t be. It wouldn’t be the mountain bandits group making a move if they had taken note of us. Rather, it would be the enforcement team.”
“That’s right!”
Lu Ping also agreed to Jiang Yi’s deduction. She narrated profoundly, “There shouldn’t be a problem from the upper echelon. If there was any news about it, I would have gotten it immediately. I had thought over this incident for the night, and I suspect someone is messing around secretly. He is very clear about what we are trying to do. Furthermore, he had secretly investigated Qian Wanguan and his group’s whereabouts. After which, he sold this news to the Black Wing Legion, which allowed this interception.”
Cold rays shot out from Jiang Yi’s eyes as he spoke in an immense tone, “Who?!”
Lu Ping threw her gaze towards the window as she spoke out two words unhurriedly, “Lu Di!”
“It’s him?”
The cold rays within Jiang Yi’s eyes flourished. After pondering about this, he felt the possibility of it was very high as well. Originally, Lu Di had collaborated with Chief Leng to sell the thunder stones, allowing him to earn a large number of celestial stones. Naturally, he would harbor a grudge with them now that his livelihood had been cut off by Lu Ping’s orders to transfer him. Perhaps, he might be afraid of the influence behind Lu Ping and didn’t dare to scheme openly. Therefore, he had investigated everyone’s whereabouts secretly before colluding with the mountain bandits group to extort Jiang Yi.
“Lu Di! Black Wind Legion!”
Jiang Yi gritted his teeth and roared with a low voice, “Do you have information of the Black Wind Legion? How many of them are there? What about their strength?”
“I’m sure!”
Lu Ping replied expressionlessly, “You wouldn’t be able to exterminate them. There are no less than a hundred Heaven Monarchs among them. Five of them are in the middle stages of the Heaven Monarch Realm while three of them are comparable to Chief Leng. You shouldn’t be capable to kill Chief Leng, right? Chief Jiang… I cannot help you with this matter. The City Lord of White Tiger City isn’t of the same lineage as me. Even if he is, I cannot possibly seek help as well. If someone is to take note of this incident, we will be in big trouble. Thus, you can only handle this matter yourself.”
She paused for a moment and didn’t wait for Jiang Yi to speak as she continued, “We should temporarily cancel the transaction with the other side. I will send someone over to the White Tiger City to ask around. Even if you wish to continue the transaction, we still need to change the location. However, the chances of us being exposed are very low. Indeed, Chief Qian has been very prudent in how he handled the matters, and he didn’t leave behind any evidence. Thus, you can be at ease from the Lu Clan’s side. It would be best for you not to make a move if you can redeem the person back alive. Otherwise… if you are to perish, I have to search for another person to collaborate with.”
Jiang Yi nodded his head. Although the fury within him could burn the heavens, he still forcefully suppressed it. Qian Wanguan’s safety was his priority. A hundred million celestial stones might be a lot, but Jiang Yi did not mind. He was willing to part with a billion celestial stones as long as Qian Wanguan could return alive.
He discussed with Lu Ping for another round. After he had inquired about the territory of the Black Wind Legion as well as the situation of the mountain bandit groups in the vicinity, Jiang Yi got an informative map and walked out from the city lord mansion.
“Niu Deng, gather all the Heaven Monarchs within the city and standby at the plaza!”
After he had exited from the city lord mansion, Jiang Yi shouted out to Niu Deng who was standing outside. Following which, he flew back to his own small courtyard and discussed with Feng Luan for an hour. He stored everyone into the Thearch Palace before making his way to the plaza alone.
Over a hundred of Heaven Monarchs had been waiting in the plaza. Jiang Yi swept his murderous gaze across before yelling heavily, “Those Heaven Monarchs who have yet to finish serving their time are to return. The rest of you, follow me out of the city!”
Simultaneously, he swept his gaze at Niu Deng and transmitted a message: “Niu Deng, you remain here! You will be the commander within the city when I’m not around for this period of time. If there was an incident, wait for my return. Don’t act recklessly. If not, go and look for the City Lordess and let her make the decision.”
There were only over 160 Heaven Monarchs within the city. Among them, there were over fifty of them who had yet to finish serving their time. Jiang Yi and the rest had long finished serving their time a year ago. Previously, they had gone to meet a commander, and the ‘slave’ word above their head had also been wiped off.
The reason why he didn’t bring all the Heaven Monarchs with him was that he was afraid there would be someone scheming behind his back. If the higher-ups of Lu Clan had sent people over to monitor during the crucial moments and saw those martial artists who had yet to finish serving had actually left the Sky Thunder Island, Lu Ping would definitely be held accountable for. The situation would only get even worse.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Under Jiang Yi’s lead, a hundred and thirteen of them darted towards the west of the city. The city was in an uproar as countless people had gathered together to discuss it. They were guessing what major event had happened.
Meanwhile, Niu Deng had gathered the remaining Heaven Monarchs and passed on Jiang Yi’s orders to them. He got the remaining Heaven Monarchs to continue on with their duties strictly, maintaining the stability of the Sky Thunder City. No one was allowed to leave the Sky Thunder City, and if anyone dared to go against the order, they would be killed without mercy.
“Everyone, listen up!”
After Jiang Yi had left the city, he stopped on a piece of wasteland. He swept his gaze across everyone like a blade before speaking gloomily, “We are heading out to save someone. Chief Qian had been kidnapped by a mountain bandit group. This mountain bandit group possessed a pretty decent strength and is not weaker than us. Therefore, if a war were to break out, some of you might die. I wouldn’t force everyone to follow. If there’s anyone of you who don’t wish to follow, you can leave now. Of course… you cannot return to the city. If you are to follow me, you will receive at least a hundred thousand celestial stones as long as you make it back alive! Make your choice: whether to follow or stay behind.”
Those twenty over Heaven Monarchs who went out with Qian Wanguan that made it back alive didn’t spread the news out. Therefore, the majority of the people had no understanding of the inside story. They were merely taken in by Jiang Yi’s prestige and didn’t dare to go against his orders.
When they heard of Jiang Yi’s statement, a lot of their eyes flickered while they muttered to themselves. Jiang Yi was very clear with his words. There would no longer be a spot for them in Sky Thunder City once they chose to leave. If they were to follow him, they might die; but if they could make it back alive, they no longer have to worry about living in poverty in the future.
“Chief Jiang, I will follow you!”
“Chief Qian helped us to get rich during this period of time. How could we possibly abandon Chief Qian?”
“I will go!”
A lot of them made their decision very quickly. After all, where were they going to make a living once they left the Sky Thunder City? During this period of time, all of them had reaped quite a bit of harvest when they followed Qian Wanguan out to eliminate those mountain bandit groups. Naturally, they would wish to continue working with Jiang Yi.
Of course, there were seven or eight of them who had gritted their teeth and cupped their hands towards Jiang Yi. All of them flew out of the Sky Thunder City, and Jiang Yi didn’t chase after them. Everyone had their own ambition, and he wouldn’t wish to force it upon them.
“Let’s go!”
He swept his gaze across everyone before waving his hand and flew towards the northwest. His voice had also resonated out within everyone’s eardrum, “If everyone can make it back alive, I guarantee everyone to be raking in money and would be able to enjoy glory, splendor, wealth, and status. This is my promise… to all of you.”
…
