Chapter 1004: Light’s Shadow
Proofreader: Papatonks
As the carriage rushed along the snowy roads, the mood within was as peaceful as ever.
Bali Yuyu hugged the cute and adorable Qiao’er, while Zhuo Fan finally started to grow on her. She exclaimed all of a sudden and said hastily, “Oh, Murong Lie couldn’t find my intentions, but he can easily find yours. Maybe he’s searching for it right now and gaining on us. Now that he got a feel of my skills, I can’t stall him for long. I can only protect myself so you need to watch out.”
“Heh, only now you’re worried about me?”
“Who would? But with you dead, who knows when I’ll ever get the chance to touch such a precious divine sword again?” Bali Yuyu went red and whined.
Zhuo Fan shook his head, turning to the others, “How far till the next stop?”
“Sir, we will be arriving at Sea Cloud Sect in around four hours.”
“Go faster.” Zhuo Fan smiled as he said.
Bali Yuyu’s brow shook, “Weren’t you listening? Murong Lie must’ve been looking for you by now. And since he lost our trail, he’ll be sure to ask Sea Cloud Sect for help since it’s the closest to Galefrost Town. Are you going there to get caught?”
“My dear Frigid Rain Sword King, you think I haven’t thought about it as well?”
“Then…”
“Ha-ha-ha, do you know of the light’s shadow?” Zhuo Fan put on a vague smile laying down without a care.
Bali Yuyu was then left utterly confused.
Four hours later, the carriage went on undisturbed and reached a frozen waterfall where they slowed down and entered a barrier.
At the same time, three people stood in an opulent hall, the same three they just shook off not long ago.
Before them stood an old man with an immortal air and white beard, bowing in respect, “Sword G.o.d Murong of southern lands and Immortal Healer Murong, you honor my sect with your visit. But from what I know, sir should be with Sea Bright Sect, getting ready with Sir Ouyang to fight Invincible Sword. What wind has brought you here instead?”
“It’s a long story.”
Murong Lie sighed, “I had been staying at Sea Bright Sect in preparation for the upcoming storm, but something happened. Northern lands’ first line of defense, Sun Sea Sect, had been under attack and called for help. So I volunteered to go. Only to find the sect already in ruins, with the survivors escaping for the Sea Bright Sect. I have thus scouted around for the culprit that did this.”
“Isn’t it obvious? The only one who can destroy a northern lands sect can only be Invincible Sword’s team. As you already know, he has those Nine Sword Kings under him who can cause such destruction just as well.”
“Yeah, that was my conclusion as well. While I could not take them on by myself, at least by understanding their journey, maybe we could be prepared for the next time, but…” Murong Lie frowned at the end, filled with hesitation and confusion.
The old man urged, “What, did Murong Clan Head find something else disturbing?”
“Precisely!”
Murong Lie had a dark look on his face, “There’s another group that might have come within the northern lands besides Invincible Sword’s.”
The old man shuddered and gasped, “Murong Clan Head, you mean to tell me there’s another power out there that can do away with a northern lands sect just as easily as the central area? And that it is now here, on our grounds? That’s absurd! We all know very well all of the strongest people in the five lands. With the central area eyeing us like a starved tiger, the other four lands allied together. How can there possibly be a third faction so strong?”
“I didn’t believe it was true either, but having seen it with my own eyes, I must.”
Murong Lie squinted and sighed, “As I was investigating Sun Sea Sect, the trail took me to Galefrost Town where I happened to meet my sister in a dispute with an unknown party. I wanted to investigate further but they were exceptional. A woman among them is as strong as me and wielded a divine weapon unlike any of which the lands knew. We fought for eight days to a standstill. It might’ve gone on for years if the divine weapon was a match for her skill.”
The old man’s face twitched and looked graceful, “She must be something indeed to fight Murong Clan Head with a divine weapon to a standstill. However, what makes you so sure they aren’t from the central area? Maybe that sword might have been the Sundering Sword…”
“Sect Leader Liang, my brother has once met with the Invincible Sword and has seen the Sundering Sword. On top of that, Invincible Sword guards the sword with his life, never giving it to anyone…”
Murong Xue gave a bow of respect and intervened with sharp eyes, “I’ve once seen the man within their group, once. He unleashed a river of blood in the central area, making it so that in just three days, the greatest company, Serene Sh.o.r.es Trading, was destroyed, and the Sword Star Empire to lose close to half their officials. Would someone from the same land resort to such cruelty towards his fellow compatriot?”
The old man’s brow shook, but hesitated still, “What I hear from you, miss, is that he is from the third faction? But since he struck at the central area, wouldn’t that make him a friend…”
“No!”
Murong Xue spoke resolutely, “He is ruthless and cruel, of a twisted mind and insidious cunning. Just because he left the central area in pain does not mean his visit to northern lands bodes well. Maybe he wants northern lands to end up in the same sorry state as the central area, if not worse. You can’t let this happen, Sect Leader Liang!”
Murong Lie agreed with his sister’s judgment, “I’ve also seen him myself, of steady calm, great talent and sharp mind. His bearing points to anything but average. Not to mention he has a Sword King level expert under him. When he acts, he’s bound to make huge waves. We are still in the dark about the purpose of his visit, but it’s best to gain control of the situation as soon as possible. We are on the cusp of waging war with Invincible Sword and can’t afford anything to disturb us, especially a viper staring us from the back.”
“Murong Clan Head, you’re right, we need to gain control of this as soon as possible.”
The beard of Sect Leader Liang shook as he sank in thought, then he cupped his hands, “Then what has brought Murong Clan Head to my sect? Ask and I shall do all in my power to help.”
Murong Lie returned the gesture with a smile, “Sect Leader Liang is too kind. I’ve come to ask for a helping hand. I had fought with the woman guard before, giving them time to flee, and because of the scope of destruction, all trails went cold. I alone will find it hard to search through so much ground, but I’m fortunate to find your sect nearby and wish to ask Sect Leader Liang’s help in this endeavor.”
“Please, it’s our duty to help. Murong Clan Head works so hard for the safety of our homeland that you needn’t be so polite about it.”
Sect Leader Liang cupped his hands, “What may be their description?”
Murong Xue said, “They’re a group of three. The woman among them is very dangerous, and needs only to be seen to know their whereabouts. Beside the man, there’s also a seven-year-old cute girl, making them easily recognizable.”
“Ha-ha-ha, then rest easy. My disciples shall roam for thousands of miles and are sure to spot such a conspicuous group very soon. As for the lady’s worries, ha-ha, rest a.s.sured that we know restraint and not incite anyone that could fight with Murong Clan Head for eight days straight. Miss Murong needn’t have mentioned, as we would also be weary and keep our distance, ha-ha-ha…”
Murong Xue smiled and nodded, while Murong Lie looked satisfied with the answer, cupping his hands in respect.
The order was soon given and the sect was on the move, with all kinds of exceptional experts filling the skies and leaving the sect to scout the lands.
In their haste, they failed to notice the four carriages at their gates, and Zhuo Fan holding Qiao’er as he talked business with a round middle-aged man.
Glancing at the swarm of people flying out, Zhuo Fan felt the need to comment, “Executive Qi, what’s going on in the sect? Are you getting ready for war going out in such force?”
“How would I know? I didn’t get any orders.”
Putting his own signature into a jade slip and giving it back to Zhuo Fan, the large horizontally challenged man looked at a flying disciple that pa.s.sed by, “Hey, what happened? Why the sudden deployment?”
Making a hard stop, the man bowed to the fatty, “Executive Qi, Sect Leader decreed to scout for spies. They’ve even brought a child!”
“A child? Like this one?” Zhuo Fan pointed at Qiao’er, “This is my daughter. Isn’t she adorable?”
The man gave a curious glance at the fatty, who waved his doubts away and introduced, “Steward Qian, in charge of his clan’s supply caravan. You can’t be looking for him now, can you? Ha-ha-ha…”