"We actually have quite a lot of clues in hand now."
Fang Shuwen counted them off on his fingers.
"First, the Black Sha Cult has a major undertaking in the works.
"Second, the Black Sha Cult's young cult master is named Li Nanchen. He's the Pearl Pavilion Master's senior-most personal disciple.
"Third, the Black Sha Cult has been hiding in Guangning City all these years, but the only people it has left now are the ones beneath Qingyang Manor.
"Those are the three most important pieces of information. Besides them, there are quite a few scraps of information.
"For example, if you don't kill Miss Zhou soon, something will go wrong with your so-called major undertaking.
"You don't need to deny it. The letter on Black Granny said it plainly in black and white."
Zhou Qingmei's heart stirred slightly at this.
Fang Shuwen continued:
"I think it can't be a coincidence that both Li Nanchen and you became disciples of the Pearl Pavilion.
"You wanted to use those identities to do something.
"That something is very likely connected to the Pearl Pavilion.
"Besides the fact that your identities out in the open are those of Pearl Pavilion disciples... more important are your reasons for wanting to kill Miss Zhou, and the possibility that leaving her alive could cause something to go wrong with your major undertaking.
"A simple deduction tells us that Miss Zhou is also closely connected to this major undertaking of yours.
"But Miss Zhou doesn't have a particularly wide circle of acquaintances. Aside from the Zhou Family of Julu City, the most important connection she has is the Pearl Pavilion.
"So this so-called major undertaking of yours is most likely a plot against the Pearl Pavilion!
"Also, judging by how desperately you want to kill Miss Zhou, I can guess that you're probably going to make your move soon."
He paused and looked at Zhang Fang.
Zhang Fang's face remained expressionless.
Fang Shuwen paid it no mind. He thought for a moment, then said:
"So the outcome can only be the destruction of the Pearl Pavilion, or... a change of leadership.
"But the latter would be far too difficult, practically impossible, even.
"So the former is highly likely.
"In that case, I'm afraid the people the Black Sha Cult has gathered in Guangning City over the years have all reached the Pearl Pavilion by now?
"After all, with the Pearl Pavilion Master's senior-most personal disciple working on the inside, it would be easy enough to use a few tricks and strike from within and without.
"The only thing worth worrying about would be Zhou Qingmei recognizing him and reporting everything to the Pearl Pavilion.
"That's the main reason things might go wrong with your major undertaking, isn't it?"
By the time Fang Shuwen finished, Zhang Fang still hadn't said a word.
An anxious look had already appeared on Zhou Qingmei's face.
Taken together, the outline of events was already extremely clear.
Li Nanchen's reason for wanting to kill her, the Black Sha Cult's major undertaking, and the danger the Pearl Pavilion might face.
With all of it pieced together, there was no need for Zhang Fang to say anything more.
Fang Shuwen's guess was almost certainly right!
"But there's one thing I'm quite curious about,"
Fang Shuwen added.
"If everything really is as I guessed, what do you plan to do after destroying the Pearl Pavilion?
"Thirty years ago, the Pearl Pavilion joined forces with the other sects and wiped out your Black Sha Cult once.
"Thirty years later, even if you destroy the Pearl Pavilion through these underhanded schemes... how will you deal with everyone else?
"Paper can't wrap up fire, much less a behemoth like the Pearl Pavilion.
"If anything goes wrong, it'll be hard to keep what happened from everyone else.
"When that draws the various factions of the martial world to attack you together, what... backup plan do you have?"
Zhang Fang sighed.
"Just where did you spring from?
"I've never heard of anyone like you in the martial world...
"What a pity. Even if everything you said is right, it won't change anything.
"It takes at least eight days to reach Nine-Congealing Mountain from here, but the Pearl Pavilion will be gone in five. It's already too late for everything.
"Come on! Kill me! Give me a quick death!!"
"Five days..."
Fang Shuwen thought for a moment, then brought his index and middle fingers together. He immediately drew the thread out with his internal force.
Zhang Fang was baffled. Then he saw Fang Shuwen raise his hand and tap a finger.
A faint prick of pain instantly reached his heart, making him stare.
"What are you..."
Before he could finish, countless points of pain suddenly spread across his entire body.
The pain was slight at first, but in the blink of an eye it became excruciating!
A piercing scream burst from Zhang Fang's mouth. As he howled, blood began pouring wildly from all seven of his orifices, and his entire face instantly became hideous.
"Hm?"
Fang Shuwen stared, then hurriedly withdrew his hand.
Zhang Fang wasn't dead, but he gasped for air as though a drowning man had suddenly been able to breathe.
Then he looked at Fang Shuwen in terror.
"You... you..."
Fang Shuwen looked a little embarrassed.
"Sorry, sorry. I came up with this method by tinkering around myself.
"Today was the first time I've used it on a living person.
"So a few unexpected things happening is only natural.
"How about this? Don't panic... I'll try again. It might not be so frightening in a moment, once I find the right way to do it."
Hearing that, Zhang Fang was even more horrified.
"Don't, don't!!
"Come on... we've killed people together, at least...
"Can't you give me a quick death?"
"No. I'm curious."
Fang Shuwen's answer was plain and unadorned.
Zhang Fang stared at him for a long time with gritted teeth, then said helplessly:
"I don't know who they really are either... I only know that the Black Sha Cult survived back then because of them.
"The plot against the Pearl Pavilion also came from them.
"Other than that, I know nothing..."
Fang Shuwen turned back to Zhou Qingmei.
"I don't think he's telling the truth."
Zhou Qingmei, on the other hand, thought Fang Shuwen wasn't telling the truth.
Zhang Fang gritted his teeth.
"Every word I said was true. You just want to use me for another experiment!"
Zhou Qingmei secretly nodded. That was what she thought too.
"Was it that easy to see through?"
Fang Shuwen sighed regretfully.
Zhou Qingmei said helplessly:
"Don't waste time on him..."
"He's one of your Pearl Pavilion's people. How should he be dealt with according to your rules?"
Fang Shuwen asked.
Zhou Qingmei glanced at Zhang Fang, then suddenly struck with the broken sword in her hand.
The broken blade pierced Zhang Fang's throat.
Zhang Fang's face instantly turned bright red, and blood flowed from his mouth.
Zhou Qingmei's eyes were a little red, but she remained fierce.
"The rules of the Pearl Pavilion...
"Those who harm their fellow disciples... kill!
"Those who betray the righteous path... kill!
"Brother Zhang, have a safe journey!"
With that, she pulled the blade free. As she watched Zhang Fang's body fall to the ground, she couldn't say quite what she felt.
Then she saw that Fang Shuwen had already retrieved Zhang Fang's long sword, which had been knocked away.
"That broken sword of yours has bothered me for a while now. Use this one for the time being."
"Zhang Fang's Stillwater Sword..."
Zhou Qingmei nodded, slung her own sword across her back, and picked up Zhang Fang's sword. Then she looked at Fang Shuwen.
Fang Shuwen rolled his eyes at her and held out his hand.
"All right, let's go. If you're going to do a good deed, see it through; if you're going to escort the Buddha, take him all the way to the West. Let's see if we can reach Nine-Congealing Mountain in five days!"
P.S. Brothers, there really isn't anything I can do about the updates right now.
Two updates a day, to work with the site's recommendation system... every book has to go through this.
Although Chunjie is an author, I'm also a reader.
So I understand why everyone wants more updates. In fact, hearing that is also an affirmation of me and this book.
The one thing I can promise everyone is that there'll definitely be a burst of updates once the book goes on sale.
I hope everyone can bear with the current update pace for a while. Thank you~~