Chapter 69

“Stone Forest Gang itself might not be much, but when considering the entirety of Yunnan’s poison sects, it was a significant force! That’s how much the strength of our Yunnan poison sects has been diminished!”

However, at those words, Mang Ryo let out a faint, mocking smile.

“You’re laughing?”

“No, not at all.”

“Not at all? It looked like you just laughed. Or did I see wrong?”

A murderous intent flickered across Wei Zong’s face.

Yet Mang Ryo responded calmly.

“Which is why I’m saying that if you don’t want to lose another of our Yunnan poison sects to him, you should follow my advice right now.”

Wei Zong suppressed his anger and asked.

“And that means?”

“We must deploy the full strength of Iron Umbrella Sect, Poison Valley, and Shadow Bureau, along with all nearby sects, to form a Heavenly Net and Earthly Trap.”

Heavenly Net and Earthly Trap!

It was an overwhelming encirclement strategy, creating a dense web of ten or twenty layers with sheer numbers, ensuring that no matter how skilled the target, escape was impossible.

However, it required careful and precise deployment of both experts and regular forces according to the opponent’s strength. Failure to do so would result in heavy casualties among the regular forces, a significant drawback.

The absolute number of regular forces was the most critical element in forming this Heavenly Net and Earthly Trap.

Thus, in a situation like now, where the enemy’s identity and strength were largely unknown, recklessly deploying this strategy would mean accepting massive losses among regular forces.

Given the nature of poison sects like Poison Valley and Shadow Bureau, their numbers of disciples were not particularly large. Executing the Heavenly Net and Earthly Trap in the current state would result in severe losses among regular warriors and disciples, causing significant damage.

The Heavenly Net and Earthly Trap was a tactic suited for massive sects with thousands of disciples or large bandit groups like the Green Forest, not for poison sects. A misstep could put the sect’s very existence at risk.

And yet, Mang Ryo was now demanding the use of this Heavenly Net and Earthly Trap.

It was an absurd notion. There was no way to make such a risky decision based solely on Mang Ryo’s words!

Naturally, Wei Zong’s face couldn’t help but contort.

“That won’t do.”

As expected, it was a refusal.

Even so, Mang Ryo didn’t give up and tried to persuade Wei Zong.

“I’ve already informed Shadow Bureau of his existence and sought their cooperation, and I’ve come all the way to this distant Poison Valley. What more must I do?”

“In my opinion…”

Wei Zong cut him off with a sneer before continuing.

“It seems to me that even if we brought a few people, Advisor Mang could handle him single-handedly with ease.”

“Valley Master Wei.”

“To be frank, I’m not fond of all this fuss about Heavenly Nets and Earthly Traps. Besides, you’ve already informed Iron Umbrella Sect of his existence through Shadow Bureau, haven’t you? I doubt Iron Umbrella Sect would fall even if they’re aware of him.”

“Then are you saying you’ll just leave him be?”

“Of course not. I’m saying we’ll handle our own affairs. This isn’t something for the Martial Arts Alliance to meddle in.”

Wei Zong drew a clear line between Mang Ryo and the poison sects. He was once again making it evident that he no longer considered Mang Ryo one of their own.

“My thoughts differ. I…”

Mang Ryo began to speak while reaching into his sleeve to pull out a silver plaque.

It was the silver plaque symbolizing the authority of the Martial Arts Alliance. Since Poison Valley was also part of the Martial Arts Alliance, if Mang Ryo presented this plaque, even Wei Zong would find it difficult to refuse his words.

Even if they couldn’t deploy the full Heavenly Net and Earthly Trap, they would have to contribute at least thirty to forty percent of their forces.

Knowing this, Wei Zong gritted his teeth and spat out his words.

“One piece of advice…”

“Go ahead.”

Wei Zong glared at Mang Ryo and spoke.

“Stop this nonsense. If you pull that out, things will get very ugly. Yunnan’s affairs must be resolved within Yunnan.”

A chilling murderous intent.

A heavy atmosphere pressed down on Mang Ryo’s shoulders.

Mang Ryo frowned and hesitated.

He seemed to be overwhelmed by Wei Zong’s presence, clenching his teeth tightly.

For a moment, Mang Ryo glared at Wei Zong.

Crackle, crackle.

The ends of Mang Ryo’s hair and beard trembled, curling as if singed by fire.

Then, as if he could no longer endure it, Mang Ryo took a step back and bowed his head.

“Urgh.”

With a tone full of frustration, Mang Ryo spoke.

“Very… well then.”

It was a sign of retreat!

Mang Ryo, grinding his teeth, tucked the silver plaque back into his sleeve.

Only then did Wei Zong retract his oppressive aura. Folding his arms, Wei Zong looked down at Mang Ryo with arrogance.

“Be on your way. I won’t see you off far.”

At Wei Zong’s farewell, Mang Ryo bowed his head and stepped back before turning around.

However, contrary to his apparent forced retreat, as Mang Ryo turned, a sly smile crept across his face.

Though there was no sound, his expression was one of barely contained amusement, as if he found the situation utterly hilarious.

Wei Zong, despite his outward appearance, was domineering and authoritarian.

To the extent that he considered all of Yunnan’s poison sects his personal domain. He viewed Mang Ryo’s interference with Stone Forest Gang as a direct challenge to his authority.

Naturally, he couldn’t possibly welcome Mang Ryo meddling and giving orders.

Heavenly Net and Earthly Trap, of all things!

It wasn’t as if he was praying for the downfall of Poison Valley or the Yunnan poison sects!

Wei Zong must have found it utterly absurd.

“Ke ke.”

Eight years ago, when Mang Ryo had momentarily been at a loss for words and stood dumbfounded, Wei Zong had immediately unleashed poison to subdue him by force.

Mang Ryo had provoked him from the start with martial prowess and even attempted to force compliance using the Martial Arts Alliance’s silver plaque. There was no need to elaborate on how twisted Wei Zong’s insides must have felt.

Thanks to that, Wei Zong completely failed to notice the trap Mang Ryo had laid.

Wei Zong had declared that they would handle the matter with their own strength, without the Martial Arts Alliance’s interference. That meant he intended to dispatch Poison Valley’s experts.

To Iron Umbrella Sect.

Not to Shadow Bureau!

Mang Ryo smiled with satisfaction.

“The table is set nicely; now all that’s left is to enjoy the feast. Because of you, I even had to bow my head to someone like him. Of course, I’ll make you pay for this humiliation someday. So, don’t disappoint me this time either. Ke ke ke!”

Shadow Bureau was on a completely different level from a half-crippled faction like Stone Forest Gang. It was a sect a step above even Extreme Poison Sect.

Even with Poison Valley and Iron Umbrella Sect out of the picture, taking down Shadow Bureau wouldn’t be an easy task.

However, due to Mang Ryo’s misguiding advice, Shadow Bureau had turned its watchful eyes toward Iron Umbrella Sect. Meanwhile, their defenses around themselves might be somewhat lax.

No, that was precisely what Mang Ryo had hoped for in orchestrating this.

In any case, Mang Ryo eagerly anticipated how Jin Ja-gang would deal with Shadow Bureau.

****

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

Jin Ja-gang surmised that his location would soon be exposed due to the incident at the inn.

Should he then sneak his way to Shadow Bureau?

However, he decided against it.

Given that they were determined to capture him based solely on the single clue of being a “suspicious limping person,” it likely meant their intent was more to restrict his movements than to actually apprehend him.

Moreover, the general assembly of Yunnan’s poison sects was less than a month away.

If discussions about cooperating against Jin Ja-gang began at the assembly, his position would become even more precarious. Since he couldn’t predict what might happen, it was best to take down Shadow Bureau before then.

To do that, Jin Ja-gang needed to move quickly. If he allowed himself to be intimidated by their intentions, he would be the one running out of time.

‘What should I do…’

The distance to Shadow Bureau was about five or six days at Jin Ja-gang’s pace.

On the way to Shadow Bureau, there would undoubtedly be countless watchful eyes. Not just from Shadow Bureau itself, but also from cooperating sects and even ordinary villagers.

It wasn’t that there were no methods available.

It was just a matter of deciding which approach would be more efficient and exert greater pressure on Shadow Bureau.

After a moment of thought, Jin Ja-gang resolved to proceed directly without taking detours.

* * *

A small village along the official road.

An unfamiliar young man was passing through the village entrance. Though somewhat dirty from what seemed like a long journey, he wasn’t dressed like a beggar.

People working in the village’s rice fields and farms paused to straighten their backs and look at the young man.

The young man asked for directions from the people in the fields as he passed through the village.

A few of the villagers’ eyes sharply scanned the young man up and down.

However, finding nothing particularly noteworthy about him, they soon turned their heads away.

With dozens of travelers passing through the village each day, the young man didn’t stand out as particularly unusual among them.

* * *

Xingyun Lake, a large lake on the route to Fumin.

The ferry crossing Xingyun Lake was bustling with people.

At a teahouse in front of the ferry, many customers were sipping tea while waiting for their boat.

“Hey! Bring some tea over here!”

Two burly men carrying swords entered the teahouse noisily.

Even as they pulled out chairs, they made a loud scraping sound before sitting down.

The men drank their tea and chatted loudly.

“Have you heard about the guy with a bounty on his head roaming around?”

“Man, I hope we run into him. We could make a big score and turn our lives around.”

“Well, rumor has it he’s headed toward Iron Umbrella Sect.”

“They say he used poison to kill all the leaders of Stone Forest Gang and even slaughtered everyone nearby. Is that true?”

“He’s a madman. If we see him, it’s better to give up on catching him and just quietly report it for the reward money. That’s worth more than risking our lives.”

“They said he’s a limping guy, right?”

“Yeah. If you spot a limping person, anyone can report it and get a few coins. Let’s just take that and call it a day.”

As the men were talking, a young man drinking tea nearby stood up.

The two men’s eyes turned toward the young man.

“Thanks for the tea.”

The young man paid for his tea and left the teahouse. The men glanced at his retreating figure but soon turned their attention back to their conversation.

“I hope we’re the ones who spot him.”

“If we get the reward, let’s have a drink together. Heh heh.”

Hearing the men’s words, the young man smiled as he headed not toward the ferry but up into the mountains.

“Iron Umbrella Sect, huh?”

The young man, who had been walking normally, began to limp slightly as he moved into less populated areas, eventually dragging one foot noticeably.

* * *

Guai Song, the sect leader of Shadow Bureau, was pulling weeds in a field when he straightened up.

A middle-aged man dressed as a farmer approached and bowed respectfully.

Guai Song asked.

“Still no news from Iron Umbrella Sect?”

“My apologies, but none yet.”

“Hmm. It’s already been seven days and nights. The fact that he hasn’t been spotted at all is rather strange.”

Guai Song pondered for a moment before asking again.

“How many times have there been reports of spotting a limping person?”

“There were two reports, but both turned out to be local residents.”

“How odd.”

Guai Song stroked his chin.

It had been discovered that members of Shadow Bureau, disguised as innkeepers, had been poisoned and buried just a day’s distance from Stone Forest Gang.

This was less than half a day after the order had been given to capture the limping person on sight.

Their deaths meant they had encountered the limping person and were likely counterattacked while trying to apprehend him.

Considering this, Mang Ryo’s words didn’t seem entirely false. However, the complete lack of news since then was somewhat frustrating.

“Keep a close watch anyway. Don’t focus solely on Iron Umbrella Sect; make sure to secure the perimeter around us as well.”

“Yes, sir.”

Guai Song muttered to himself.

“Mang Ryo is hardly a trustworthy fellow, after all.”

But Guai Song had no idea.

While Shadow Bureau, Iron Umbrella Sect, and Poison Valley were searching for Jin Ja-gang, he had already arrived in Fumin.

In fact, disguised as an herbalist, Jin Ja-gang had been scouting Shadow Bureau for three days now.

This was partly due to Mang Ryo’s scheme to divert attention toward Iron Umbrella Sect, but also because they were utterly convinced that Jin Ja-gang was a limping person.

Thanks to that, all Jin Ja-gang had to do was be mindful of his gait.

By deliberately choosing crowded places, he had managed to reach Shadow Bureau far more easily than if he had taken mountain paths.