Chapter 569 - 250: Where Are You Going?
Chapter 569: Chapter 250: Where Are You Going?
If the ancestral hall had only been burned down, it wouldn’t have mattered.
With the family records intact, they could simply remake the ancestral tablets.
What truly worried Suhe Zhen was the secret beneath the ancestral hall...
As for who could cause such a huge commotion, Suhe Zhen only had to think for a moment before his mind landed on Fang Shuwen—the man who had suddenly and inexplicably vanished at noon!
’Oh no!’
Suhe Zhen’s face instantly turned deathly pale.
Even with the sudden disaster tonight, where most of Tingtiao Pavilion’s disciples had been hit with the potent "One Drop of Fragrance" poison, and even as he faced a siege by the three top masters under Saint Mother Chaoyin, his expression had not changed one bit.
But in that instant, every last drop of color drained from his face.
Suhe Zhen’s eyes flickered. He took a sharp, deep breath, then bellowed:
"Human World Demon God Fang Shuwen has conspired with Saint Mother Chaoyin’s Xin Wufang, coordinating an attack on Tingtiao Pavilion from both inside and out!
"All elders in seclusion and all disciples of Tingtiao Pavilion, hear my order! Emerge from your cultivation at once! Proceed to the ancestral hall to surround and kill this man.
"The Second Miss, Suhe Lan, has colluded with him in an adulterous plot, attempting to murder her own father and brother! Her crimes are monstrous... If she is seen, she is to be killed on sight, with no quarter given!!"
He circulated his True Qi, and his voice rolled like ocean waves, washing over the entirety of Tingtiao Pavilion.
But his words inevitably caused confusion.
The disciples of Tingtiao Pavilion were baffled. ’Everything was fine during the day, so why have we suddenly become enemies with the Human World Demon God tonight?’
Saint Mother Chaoyin’s followers exchanged bewildered glances. ’Since when did we start working with Fang Shuwen?’
’This... If something this great was happening, why didn’t anyone tell us?’
Meanwhile, halfway up the mountain, Zuo Xuan, Zuo Hong, and Zhou Zhengze also heard the announcement.
Zhou Zhengze and Zuo Hong were both a little dazed.
Zuo Xuan, however, grasped the situation in an instant and shot to his feet.
"Quick! To the docks!"
"What for?"
Without a second thought, Zuo Hong and Zhou Zhengze followed Zuo Xuan.
As they frantically used their Lightweight Technique to sprint toward the docks, Zuo Hong didn’t forget to ask her question.
Zuo Xuan explained hastily:
"Even at full strength, Tingtiao Pavilion would have to think twice before taking on Hero Fang.
"Now, Saint Mother Chaoyin’s people have poisoned them.
"Tingtiao Pavilion’s strength has been crippled. For Suhe Zhen, who seemed to be turning the tables, to suddenly issue such an order... it’s no different from suicide.
"When things are this strange, something sinister is afoot!
"I’m afraid Hero Fang and Tingtiao Pavilion are now enemies, not allies. Suhe Zhen’s announcement is just a ploy to slow Hero Fang down... That old bastard is trying to escape!!
"We’re going to burn their boats!!"
He spoke in fits and starts, since he was using his Lightweight Technique while talking.
But once he finished, understanding dawned on both Zuo Hong and Zhou Zhengze.
Zhou Zhengze said with a hint of admiration,
"I thought you were pretty dumb, but I guess you’re smarter than you look."
Zuo Xuan paused, unsure if he’d just been complimented or insulted.
He subconsciously shook his head.
"I’m not the smart one. The person who’s really smart is..."
He trailed off, stopping abruptly.
Zhou Zhengze asked, confused,
"Who?"
"It’s nothing."
Zuo Xuan shook his head, earning a subtle glare from Zuo Hong.
The group sprinted off, disappearing into the night in the blink of an eye. Just as they left, on the other side of the island, Suhe Zhen had already issued his outrageous order. He grabbed Suhe Chen by the shoulder and gestured to the eight Elders beside him.
"You go as well."
"Yes."
These eight Elders didn’t question it. The Pavilion Master had given an order, and their only duty was to obey.
They immediately took flight, heading straight for the ancestral hall.
Once he saw them go, Suhe Zhen hauled Suhe Chen up and started for the docks.
"Suhe Zhen!!"
The scar-faced woman shrieked wildly:
"What do you think you’re doing!
"You’re not allowed to run! Today, I swear I will take your life!!"
Her words, however, were like a stone dropped into the sea. Suhe Zhen didn’t spare her a single glance. With a single leap, he vanished from sight.
"AAAAAAH!!!!"
The woman roared in a frenzy, smashing her fists into the ground with all her might. She didn’t stop, even as her hands were beaten to a bloody pulp.
The other two exchanged a look. One of them asked:
"He’s gone. What do we do now?"
"Fang Shuwen is not someone to be trifled with. Better to keep our distance and observe than to get involved."
The two came to an agreement in that brief exchange.
They immediately sent out the order: all forces involved in tonight’s attack on Tingtiao Pavilion were to halt their assault. If they were to fight anyone, it would be Tingtiao Pavilion. Under no circumstances were they to provoke the walking disaster that was Fang Shuwen.
...
...
The commotion at the ancestral hall had indeed been caused by Fang Shuwen.
After emerging from the secret passage, they found the entire ancestral hall already engulfed in flames.
The inferno blazed so fiercely it was almost impossible to look up.
Fang Shuwen simply activated his Twelve-Gate Golden Bell Shield and led Luo Shuqing and Suhe Lan out of the secret passage.
With a surge of True Qi, the massive, translucent ancient bell let out a deafening boom, shattering what was left of the ancestral hall.
The three of them walked slowly out of the sea of flames, sheltered by the Golden Bell.
The next moment, they heard Suhe Zhen’s order.
Listening to her father’s words, Suhe Lan’s expression was a twisted mask of laughter and tears.
Whether it was hatred or disappointment, all her feelings dissolved into a fragmented mess.
She took a deep breath and looked at Fang Shuwen.
"So, what now? I guess we’re having a ’treasonous affair’?"
Fang Shuwen was momentarily speechless. He couldn’t be bothered with pointless platitudes like ’the innocent have nothing to fear,’ so he just said bluntly:
"Don’t worry. I’ll just go kill your father and brother in a bit."
"...Should I thank you for that?"
Suhe Lan’s heart trembled, but then she found her own reaction almost laughable.