Chapter 572 - 251: Why so much nonsense!?
Chapter 572: Chapter 251: Why so much nonsense!?
"S-Second Sister!"
Suhe Chen was pale. The ’A Drop of Fragrance’ poison in his system had yet to be expelled.
He hadn’t had a moment to treat his wounds.
Now, seeing Suhe Lan, his face was a mixture of shock and fear, tinged with shame and the embarrassment of being exposed.
"You... How are you here?"
"Where am I supposed to be?"
After saying this, Suhe Lan sighed and took a step back.
"It doesn’t matter anymore."
"Second Sister!"
Suhe Chen cried out instinctively, but received no response.
Fang Shuwen, however, glanced back the way they had come. An inscrutable light, tinged with mockery, shone in his eyes.
"Pavilion Master Suhe, you’re a smart man. Why must you insist on doing such foolish things?"
At these words, the false smile on Suhe Zhen’s face slowly faded.
He shook his head.
"Some things... simply must be done."
"So, the reason you’re willing to risk all of Tingtiao Pavilion... is just for the Profound Celestial Iron Mirror?"
Fang Shuwen had never seen the item before, and a sudden curiosity stirred within him.
"That’s right."
This time, Suhe Zhen nodded without hesitation and said in a tempting tone:
"Do you know what that is?"
"You can tell me. Consider them your last words."
"..."
Suhe Zhen looked as if he’d been punched in the face. He spoke through gritted teeth:
"It’s the key to unifying the entire East Sea!
"Once it is forged, not only will we be able to face the coming great calamity, but we will also be able to unify the East Sea and restore the former glory of my Profound Celestial Sect!!"
The statement was brief, but the information it revealed was astonishing.
Fang Shuwen raised an eyebrow.
"The Profound Celestial Sect? A great calamity? Pavilion Master Suhe, could you elaborate?"
"The Profound Celestial Sect... was once the foremost Sect in the East Sea. They controlled these waters for countless years.
"Our Tingtiao Pavilion records state that when a great calamity swept the world, the Profound Celestial Sect rose to fight, single-handedly saving the world from ruin!!"
Suhe Zhen spread his arms wide, his voice filled with an unprecedented fanaticism.
"In those days, everyone in the East Sea lived under the protection of the Profound Celestial Sect!
"But... as times changed, the very people who survived thanks to the Profound Celestial Sect became ungrateful. They even conspired against the Sect’s rightful authority!
"They spent nearly a century forging the most powerful weapon in the East Sea, and with it, they overthrew the Profound Celestial Sect."
Fang Shuwen had heard a rough version of this story.
But it seemed there was truth to the rumors after all.
Fang Shuwen simply raised an eyebrow.
"Is a story of questionable truth really worth staking your life and fortune on?"
"The very fact that I’ve staked my life and fortune on it proves that it’s all true."
Suhe Zhen declared loudly:
"Because Tingtiao Pavilion is one of the true successors to the Profound Celestial Sect!"
"One of..."
Fang Shuwen suddenly raised an eyebrow.
Ever since he’d arrived in the East Sea, he’d heard that the Eight Forbidden Areas of the East Sea were intricately connected.
The more Fang Shuwen learned, the more similarities he found among the Eight Forbidden Lands.
Their internal organizational structures were identical.
Each so-called Forbidden Land was controlled by a single family.
The Suhe of Tingtiao Pavilion, the Luo of Qingxiao Pavilion, the Shui of Celestial Water Palace, the Huang of Hengyang Island...
Fang Shuwen didn’t know the rest, but he presumed they followed the same pattern.
He’d also heard it said that each of the Eight Forbidden Lands held its own secret traditions, unknown to outsiders.
Coupled with Suhe Zhen’s claim of being ’one of the true successors,’ Fang Shuwen couldn’t help but wonder: were the so-called Eight Forbidden Areas of the East Sea simply the old Profound Celestial Sect, split into eight parts?
"You’ve guessed correctly."
Suhe Zhen roared with laughter.
"Hero Fang, I was wrong today.
"Let’s put an end to tonight’s affair. I am willing to offer you a toast in apology and present you with gold and jewels.
"Even... even my daughter, Lan’er. You can take her with you.
"She doesn’t have to be your official wife. Let her stay by your side as a serving girl, fetching your tea... or, or as a dog at your heel, a slave girl...
"What do you say?
"If you want anything else, you need only ask!
"I will not refuse any request!
"Even if... even if you want Tingtiao Pavilion, I will hand it over to you without a fight!"
Even though her heart had already turned to ash with disappointment for Suhe Zhen, Suhe Lan still couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
"What in the world do you take me for?"
Suhe Zhen completely ignored her, not responding to Suhe Lan’s question. His eyes were fixed solely on Fang Shuwen.
He was waiting for an answer from Fang Shuwen.
But Fang Shuwen just shook his head.
"You really have gone senile. If I kill you, all of this will be mine regardless.
"I sold off the Sword God Palace. What makes you think Tingtiao Pavilion is any different?"
"No, it’s different!"
Suhe Zhen said hurriedly:
"If you kill me, you’ll never be able to sell Tingtiao Pavilion. There are seven other Forbidden Lands in the East Sea.
"We are all descendants of the Profound Celestial Sect.
"If you kill me, the other seven Forbidden Lands will never let you get away with it!
"The entire East Sea will rise up and attack you."
"It’s about time."
Fang Shuwen glanced back the way they came again and said with a smile,
"One last question...
"Why did you have to kill your own daughters?
"Suhe Jing in the past, and Suhe Lan now.
"And what about all the other members of the Suhe Family who have died over the generations? The remains hidden inside the statues... what’s that all about?"
A corner of Suhe Zhen’s mouth twitched. He suddenly looked up, a flicker of delight in his eyes.