"Huang Tian?" Zhang Yu's brows knitted tight. "Who is he, and why does the sect want him dead?"
To evade capture over this past period, he had been keeping a low profile, leaving him poorly informed about the outside world. As far as he knew, the commandery's Martial Restraint Guard had never had a Probationary Company Commander by the name of Huang Tian.
Knowing Zhang Yu was out of the loop, Fang He quickly recounted Huang Tian's deeds.
"One rank every ten days—breaking through three ranks in a single month?!"
Zhang Yu's expression changed abruptly. "Did he take some miracle medicine or precious pill?"
One had to know that he himself had painstakingly tempered his vital blood for nearly thirty years before finally breaking through to the sixth rank, and with that alone he already counted as having upper-middle aptitude. Countless people toiled at martial arts their entire lives only to remain trapped in the lower three ranks, unable to even touch the threshold of the middle three ranks. Yet Huang Tian had entered the seventh rank in a mere thirty days!
The disparity was far too vast!
It was almost impossible for him to believe. Unless precious medicine was involved, he simply could not accept that such a thing could occur.
Fang He shook his head. "That I do not know. But presumably not. He is nothing more than the son of a maidservant who broke ties with the Huang family. Where would he get a precious pill? Not to mention, even selling the entire Huang family might not fetch enough to buy a pill that could help someone break through three ranks in succession without damaging their latent potential.
"What's more, his comprehension is astoundingly high. He can master ordinary martial arts after just a couple of glances. Such natural talent is too startling, a truly colossal threat. That is why the sect wants to eliminate him early."
Zhang Yu's brows furrowed tightly. "Killing him one-on-one wouldn't necessarily be difficult. He's merely a newly advanced seventh-rank martial artist; I could slay him with a flip of my palm.
"However, since he is such a genius, the Martial Restraint Guard will very likely assign people to protect him. I only worry that if I fail to kill him, I'll be trapped by his protectors instead, and then I won't even be able to flee."
Baoqing Ward was the stronghold of the Martial Restraint Guard. An attempt on Huang Tian's life would inevitably alert numerous experts of the government office. When heavily encircled at that time, even wings wouldn't let him escape.
"Rest assured, no one is asking you to kill him right now. Scout out his situation first. We must wait until the reinforcements sent by the sect arrive before acting together."
"Whom will the sect send?"
"There should be two fifth-rank martial artists and several sixth-rank martial artists. But on the surface, none of them belong to our Feihong Sect. They are Jianghu itinerants recently recruited by the sect and given the nominal title of external affairs deacons in private, so you probably won't recognize them, Senior Brother."
Ever since word got out that Zhang Yu had ambushed and killed an imperial county magistrate and county lieutenant, Feihong Sect had promptly cast him off as a renegade disciple, but it had still inevitably suffered some fallout.
Therefore, they had learned to be smart. They no longer used deacons or disciples of the sect proper to assassinate imperial officials. Instead, they used medicinal pills, martial techniques, divine armaments, and other boons to enlist rogue Jianghu figures to do the deeds.
This way, even if these so-called external affairs deacons were caught, the sect could easily shirk responsibility. After all, those captured were Jianghu figures rather than disciples of the sect itself, making it difficult for the authorities to place the blame on them.
Fang He said with regret, "It's only because the Martial Restraint Guard and the Six Doors are watching so closely. Otherwise, a fourth-rank elder might have slipped into the commandery city to personally strike and suppress Huang Tian."
The Five Great Sects had vast numbers of disciples; it was impossible for the authorities to watch every single one. However, keeping constant track of the movements of fourth-rank elders and Grandmaster-level Supreme Elders was well within their capability.
Hearing this, Zhang Yu's brow relaxed slightly. "If two fifth-rank martial artists join the attack, the chances of success will be much greater."
Two fifth-rank martial artists and several sixth-rank martial artists counted as quite a formidable force in the commandery city. If such a force mounted a surprise assault against an unsuspecting seventh-rank martial artist, even if he had experts protecting him in secret, the probability of success remained very high.
"Before the sect's deacons arrive in the commandery city, Senior Brother, do not rush to act, but do not sit idly by either. Do your best to investigate what Huang Tian does and where he goes every day, figure out his routine, and see if you can find an opening for an ambush," Fang He instructed. "As for me, I will not meet with you again after today. We will communicate only through secret messages. When you make your move, remember to inform me. I will create as much chaos in the city as possible to provide you with a window to kill him and escape."
Often, killing someone was not difficult; the hard part was escaping smoothly.
"I understand. If there really is no time to flee the city, we will disguise ourselves and hide. There are so many common folk in the city; finding us won't be that easy."
Zhang Yu nodded, then urged, "The medicine has been delivered, and what needed to be said has been said. You should leave quickly."
Fang He chuckled, thinking Zhang Yu had become a bit jumpy after being hunted, but he still stood up and departed.
After Fang He left, Zhang Yu stood in the room and pondered for a moment. Suddenly, a series of crackling sounds rang out, and his face slowly altered, shifting into an unremarkable, wooden visage.
After changing his appearance, he swiftly gathered his clothes and silver, took the healing and restorative medicines, and unhurriedly walked downstairs. Mingling with the patrons entering and leaving the tavern, he stepped outside. With a few subtle shifts of his body, he melted completely into the bustling crowd rubbing shoulders on the street, virtually impossible to distinguish.
***
Baoqing Ward Company Office, Main Hall.
Withdrawing his perception, Huang Tian mused quietly: *It seems that after my talent was revealed, it truly drew the attention of sect forces, and they can't wait to get rid of me. Still, Zhang Yu and his lot pose no threat to me...*
With his current strength, he could easily suppress a fifth-rank martial artist and hold his own against a fourth-rank martial artist. He stood near the very pinnacle of Kunyun Commandery!
Unless a Grandmaster powerhouse acted in person, no one could do anything to him. But the Grandmasters of the Five Great Sects were too prominent; the authorities kept them under relentless surveillance, making it impossible for them to slip secretly into the commandery city.
Thus, he did not have much to worry about. Taking down Zhang Yu directly or waiting for Feihong Sect's reinforcements to arrive before rounding them up all at once made no difference. He could also report the "intelligence" he had obtained regarding Feihong Sect's Zhang Yu to Xia Hong and let Xia Hong make a move—it was just that explaining the source of the intelligence would be slightly troublesome.
After deliberating for a moment, he slowly exhaled a breath.
*No need to worry about Zhang Yu for now, nor Feihong Sect. In the short term, they have no way to act against me. As for myself, breaking through to the sixth rank will take less than half a month. Once I break through, I'll be able to easily suppress fourth-rank martial artists and even contend with Grandmasters!*
*Such strength is at the absolute peak in Kunyun Commandery, and even across the vast Qin Province, it counts as formidable. When that time comes, I can act with far greater freedom!*
Thinking thus, he stepped down from his chair and stood in the center of the hall. Sinking slightly, his hands rose like swimming dragons as he slowly performed the Cloud Dragon Stance. Within his body, low rumbles like muffled thunder resounded; vital blood surged rapidly through his meridians, boiling, as waves of heat radiated from him.
Beside him, the old clerk recounting the situation of Baoqing Ward paused at the sight, cautiously asking, "Company Commander, sh-should this humble subordinate continue?"
"Continue. I'm listening."
Spitting out those few words, Huang Tian closed his eyes. His breathing was deep and slow, three inhalations to one exhalation, exceptionally rhythmic.
"Yes, yes."
The old clerk assented twice and resumed speaking where he had left off, glancing up every now and then to steal a peek at Huang Tian, marveling inwardly:
*No wonder this newly appointed Company Commander broke through so quickly. He doesn't let a single moment go to waste, devoting himself wholly to cultivation! When someone already possesses transcendent talent and works far harder than ordinary people, how could anyone ever stand shoulder to shoulder with him...*
Chapter 80