Confrontation

Inside the car. Zong Yan handed a file over to Yaoguang. "Thanks to your recent killing spree across Tiannan, there are only four suspected demon lifeforms left in the entire province. Of course, those are only the ones we've confirmed; a few fish may have slipped through the net, but there's no telling how many." He gave a brief briefing. Yaoguang glanced at the file. A few familiar names were written on it. Wang Lie, Xie Yusheng. "Demons share a particular trait that I imagine you're aware of: once they undergo demonic transformation, their strength often surges far beyond their true bodies. A Martial Master can rival a Grandmaster, and a Grandmaster can rival a Martial Saint. Therefore..." Zong Yan pointed at Xie Yusheng's name. "Aside from Zhao Sheng, our greatest threat is Xie Yusheng. My recommendation is to kill Xie Yusheng first, then go after Zhao Sheng." "Kill Zhao Sheng first so Xie Yusheng's death doesn't startle the snake into hiding," Yaoguang said. It was not sound military tactics. Yet, considering that Yaoguang's primary objective was avenging Xia Wuyuan, letting Zhao Sheng flee because they tipped their hand would defeat the entire purpose. Thus, this relatively improper tactical decision was understandable under the circumstances. Zong Yan nodded. "When the time comes, I'll take the vanguard while you lie in wait for an opening. Together, we'll strangle Zhao Sheng." "I already said—Zhao Sheng is mine to deal with," Yaoguang stated. Zong Yan parted his lips, wanting to protest. Yaoguang, however, spoke first: "I have killed a demon with Martial Saint combat power." His tone was entirely devoid of dramatic swells or solemn gravity; he simply stated it as a plain fact. Yet to Zong Yan's ears, the words struck like a thunderclap, shocking his pupils wide. He whipped his head toward Yaoguang. "You..." "If not for that, how could I claim I could kill Zhao Sheng?" Yaoguang said. "'Where green hills remain, one need never worry about firewood.' I understand the logic." "A Grandmaster killing a Martial Saint... and one who had revealed its true demon form, no less?!" Disbelief filled Zong Yan's eyes. "How... how is that possible..." Demons were forged from the Ten Thousand Demons Blood Soul Banner. Every single one was a master of slaughter, fearless and savage, superior to human Martial Saints in direct confrontation! If Yaoguang had killed a demon with Martial Saint combat power, didn't that mean... He had already surpassed ordinary human Martial Saints?! "People often refuse to believe in things beyond their comprehension, and I have always believed that thousands of words pale before concrete action," Yaoguang said, turning his gaze toward Tiannan. "Once we face Zhao Sheng, you will see." ... The motorcade soon reached Tiannan's provincial capital. Before entering the city, Yaoguang dialed Yue Xingzhou's number. "I need Zhao Sheng's whereabouts," he said. "Nothing in Tiannan should be able to hide from your Yue family." "..." On the other end of the line, only Yue Xingzhou's heavy breathing could be heard. He knew very well what this call meant. Yaoguang was forcing him to choose. Between the Rebirth Society and Yaoguang, he had to take a stand. Claiming he didn't know Zhao Sheng's whereabouts was essentially siding completely with the Rebirth Society. If he disclosed Zhao Sheng's location... "My elder brother, Yue Nanxing, has already prepared gifts and plans to pay a visit to Zhao Sheng, and he's even spread word of it to make the Yue family's stance clear..." After a long pause, Yue Xingzhou spoke in a dry, hoarse voice. "Understood," Yaoguang said, about to hang up. "Wait!" Yue Xingzhou's voice rang out again. His tone turned resolute. "But... I do not agree with what he's doing! Xia Wuyuan's disclosure of these monsters' existence indeed disregarded the bigger picture and only put him in harm's way, but I believe that when he did it, he had already put life and death aside! A man who risked his very life just to bring the truth to light before the entire world... he cannot, and should not, die in vain without a ripple!" Taking a breath, he spoke with determination: "Zhao Sheng is currently a guest at the Xie Family Manor. Furthermore, we've discovered that quite a few recently renowned Martial Masters have been gathering at the Xie Family Manor in an abnormal pattern. It's a trap." "No, it's not a trap," Yaoguang said calmly. "It's the grave they dug for themselves." "..." Yue Xingzhou was momentarily at a loss for words. "Thank you." "You shouldn't be thanking me; I'm the one who should apologize," Yue Xingzhou replied with guilt. "I'm sorry I can't stand shoulder to shoulder with you like at the Baisheng Chemical Plant." "I understand." With that, Yaoguang hung up. He turned to Zong Yan. "Head to the Xie Family Manor." "The estate of Blade Absolute Xie Yusheng?" Zong Yan signaled the motorcade to divert course, sighing as he did. "So he really has been replaced by a demon." "Perhaps what you should really be looking into is why Zhao Sheng was able to prepare in advance," Yaoguang said. "Perhaps killing Xia Wuyuan in Tiannan was meant as a warning and a provocation in itself. If they were provoking us, they would naturally prepare a countermeasure." "That's one possibility." Yaoguang looked at the Martial Saint from the minor nation of Lihuo. "But there's another possibility... not everyone in your Jishi Society shares the same heart." Zong Yan had clearly suspected this as well. Having it stated bluntly by Yaoguang struck him into silence. "The Jishi Society's primary goal... in the end, is merely to resist the tyranny of Chixing's Martial Saints and reclaim the quotas to the Artifact Sect... Some people don't care about anything beyond those quotas," Zong Yan finally spoke again after a long while. He immediately added, "I will inform the President of this." Yaoguang said nothing more, checking his already-donned 5S-class combat suit and maintaining the Shenying Sword in his hands. "The Xie Family Manor is a trap. We..." "When the time comes, you stage a feint outside to draw their attention. Whether you ultimately enter the Xie Family Manor is up to you. I will infiltrate the estate and kill Zhao Sheng," Yaoguang said. "Infiltrate... We should at least wait until nightfall." "Speed is of the essence in war," Yaoguang said. "Since we can strike now, why wait until night?" Night provided the cover of darkness, making infiltration far easier. That was what Zong Yan was thinking. At this moment, however, he found it difficult to voice. He could only say, "I'll infiltrate alongside you." "You?" Yaoguang shook his head. "Demons have keen senses. You won't do." Zong Yan frowned in objection. "I've been a Martial Saint for over twenty years. When it comes to concealing my presence..." Before he could finish, his eyes snapped wide open. Right before him, Yaoguang had completely vanished from his perception, not a shred of aura remaining. "This... this is?!" Zong Yan was thoroughly shaken. If he had not seen it with his own eyes, Yaoguang could have been standing directly behind him in this state and he would never have detected a thing. "When it comes to concealing presence, you still have a long way to go." Yaoguang looked ahead as he spoke. A complex of buildings nestled amidst verdant greenery on the city outskirts entered his sight. "Pull over. I'll get out first; the rest of you slow down," Yaoguang said. "You..." Zong Yan lowered his head. "Why go this far!" He sighed and added, "With your talent, you could easily wait until you become a Martial Saint in the future... Or at the very least, wait until Zhao Sheng lowers his guard before assassinating him. Why must you act now, taking such extreme risks in the least safe manner at the most disadvantageous moment?" "Indeed, why take risks in the least safe manner at the most unfavorable moment?" Yaoguang echoed. It seemed like an answer to Zong Yan, yet also a question directed at himself. In the end... He gave his answer. "It's just that... in the past, I was too safe, too cautious." Yaoguang said, "When in this world has anyone ever truly been able to plan every step from the strategist's tent and guarantee victory thousands of miles away?" He lifted his gaze to the distance. "When Xiang Yu broke through at Pengcheng, did he know he could emerge unscathed? "When Cao Cao raided Wuchao by night, could he guarantee his own safety? "During the ten months of bloody fighting at Suiyang, what kind of conviction drove those people?" The words Xia Wuyuan had spoken the last time they met echoed in his mind. 'I know this is a difficult decision. Because of it, I may lose my time, my family, my friends, my life, even everything. But... someone has to stand up and put an end to this...' 'If no one else will...' 'Then I will!' He could not truly sacrifice his life for a cause the way Xia Wuyuan did, but... Since he had the strength, why refuse to do what could be done with only a measured degree of risk? Accidents were called accidents precisely because they never gave you time to fully prepare. "Sometimes, being too low-profile and too prudent only invites others to treat you as weak and easily bullied." The car came to a stop. Yaoguang stepped out. This time, the contemplative Zong Yan did not stop him. Looking at Yaoguang, he solemnly said, "Be careful. Only while you're alive is anything possible." "I know," Yaoguang replied. You can only deal damage if you survive. With that, he stepped forward, leaping across the terrain a few times before disappearing from Zong Yan's sight. Beside him, Zhang Tianji parted his lips to say something, but in the end, not a word came out. "What do we do next..." "Go straight to the Xie Family Manor and pay a visit to this Blade Absolute, Xie Yusheng!" ... Xie Family Manor. Inside the study that originally belonged to the master of the manor, Zhao Sheng—head of the Tiannan Rebirth Society and overseer of the entire "divine blood" supply chain across Dayu—was twirling a mobile phone in his hand. Savoring the news that had just arrived, a playful smirk formed on his face. "Interesting. These people... are truly interesting." He tossed the phone onto the floor and stood up. "Still... since they know their place so well... I might as well keep them around when the time comes. Keeping a yapping dog can be quite entertaining from time to time, can't it?" Just then, a voice filled with deference came from outside. "Chief, they're almost here." "Then I leave it in your hands." Zhao Sheng waved dismissively. "I look forward to your splendid performance." As he spoke, he poured a glass of fine wine brought to him—worth no less than several hundred thousand—and leisurely took a sip. "As for me..." Holding his wine glass, Zhao Sheng gazed directly out the window. "Since you're already here, why not come in? Let me see who you are, daring to make an enemy of me."