I moulded qi to lighten my body and caught up with Dark Wind Branch. The Emperor's men didn't understand the signature way Divine Moon Cult's arranged their buildings and structures. It was safe to assume the Emperor's group found their way through trial and error, because Guardian Long and I wouldn't have been able to fight for so long if they found us.
We took an alternative path. Divine Moon Cult always arranged for a special path reserved for high-ranking authority personnel. Said paths were usually shortcuts and easy to navigate. I knew my way around, as I spent my time figuring out the paths after I went on an onslaught in the ring yesterday.
When I caught up to Dark Wind Branch, I found they didn't intend to leave without me; they waited for me in the secret passage. Actually, I take that back. When I took a closer look, I saw them carrying barrels of something outside. It smelt… I was fairly certain it was black powder.
I exclaimed, "What are you doing?!"
"Lord San Shen! We were discussing how to rescue you if you fell into the enemy's hands. Kong Duan left behind these barrels of explosive powder. He planned to blow up everyone with these barrels if his Feiyun Guards encountered a formidable adept."
'Huh?! Kong Duan left behind black powder to blow up everyone? What a fucking lunatic!'
After I discovered Feiyun Hall was Dark Moon Faction's altar, I was so mad that I went and challenged the fighters, completely ignoring everything else. Had I not been fast enough, I'd probably been buried under the rubble after they blew the place up.
Long Cheng smiled: "Lord San Shen, you are blessed, so you would be fine. We were going to threaten the wretched Emperor with this black powder if you were seized. Your subject underestimated your profound skills. Brothers, fill up the barrels."
"I've already managed to escape; why are you still filling up the barrels?"
Long Cheng looked more joyous than before: "Since you have escaped, we have no reason to hold back. We can blow the wretched Emperor to pieces with this and avenge our fallen brothers!"
The other members actually cried out in support.
'Do you realise you're revolting?! I had to talk a boat load to convince him to let you off the hook! Don't kill yourselves! The Ultimate Three couldn't even get a warm-up out of you lot!'
Since I looked panicked, Long Cheng apologetically added, "Of course, we will let you light the first barrel."
"Shut up!! Put the black powder away!"
'Who would make a fuss out of wanting to be the first one to light it?! If I lit it up, would I see another day?! You trying to ensure my demise?! Is assassinating a monarch a joke to you?! Ximen Chuideng failed after decades of trying! As a matter of fact, he almost got himself killed.'
I eventually managed to convince them to give up on blowing up the Emperor after a lot of talking. The black powder was worth an exorbitant amount and too dangerous. Hence, I had no choice but to reluctantly keep it with me. I rounded up everyone in the residential homes and discussed the next step.
"Let's deal with Kong Duan first," I resolutely said. "Kong Duan cannot be forgiven for desecrating our cult. However, the Emperor won't spare him after he returns to the capital, either. Let the Emperor capture him; it's one way of dealing with him. By the way, Guardian Long, you should've been tasked with guarding him. Where has he gone off to?"
"Kong Duan…" Long Cheng froze and pointed down: "Was left down there."
"Why is he still down there?" Suddenly recalling something, I questioned, "By the way, who was the old man you were helping out before, the one who played dead?"
"Uh, that was the Ministry of Rites' Kong Duan. Your subject intended to tell you that when we were about to leave, but you said to leave everything and go, so…"
I fell silent for a moment before exclaiming, "Does he look like Kong Duan?!"
'He looked perfectly fine a few days ago; he literally walked around with a revolutionist's determination! Why would you call a demented melon Kong Duan?!'
Long Cheng explained all the mishaps that befell Kong Duan. It turned out I incorrectly presumed Guardian Long had a change of character and took up helping people as a hobby. I was going to tell him to be careful people would trick him into touching them then pretending to fall over and con him.
'Fuck Kong Duan! The piece of shit heard everything we said!!'
I commanded, "Drag that piece of shit before me! Do not let him reveal my identity!"
"Yes, My Lord!"
========
Kong Duan wobbled out from the underground space. He barely managed on his wobbly legs, but he couldn't stop. He fled into the residential homes. He played dead until Ming Feizhen left, after which he got up and fled for dear life. He was surprised nobody with the Emperor recognised him; they mistook him for a member of Dark Wind Branch and let him go. He didn't take a beating for nothing in the end.
As Kong Duan stumbled around, he thought, "How does such a monster exist? That door is a several metres thick and made from the toughest stone. It would take an artisan several days to make a hole big enough to get through with all the tools at his disposal. "
Kong Duan managed to threaten Long Cheng with the key in his possession for two years for the above reasons. Had he not personally witnessed Ming Feizhen knock the door down, nothing could've convinced him knocking it down using sheer brute force was within human capabilities. As sure as night followed day, he never thought Lord San Shen, the only man who could stand as an equal to Ximen Chuideng and a man who dissociated with the world for years, was actually someone he knew. He felt Lord San Shen infiltrating Liu Shan Men's ranks was insulting and challenging the imperial court's authority. He inferred Lord San Shen harboured sinister motives for infiltrating their ranks.
Kong Duan smiled savagely. There were two reasons his world came toppling down. The first reason was the Emperor caught on to him. The other reason was because Lord San Shen massacred his Feiyun Guards. If his Feiyun Guards were still around, he believed he wouldn't be in such a pitiful state. Tone vindictive, he pledged, "Heh, as long as I know this secret, I'll ensure you have hell to pay every day you're alive."
"Oh? What secret?"
"A secret I just learnt, obviously. I won't mindlessly share it."
"Let's hear it. I might know, as well."
"And how would you know? The secret is the Demon Sect's Lord San Shen's true identity. He is…" Kong Duan cut himself off when he realised his folly. Startled, he shouted, "Who are you?! Why are you trying to pry the secret out of me?!"
"I'm Su Xiao."
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