Effective methods are always simple and brutal

Wang Jingyuan didn't beat around the bush. "You're going to die, and Liu Zhengfeng's entire family will die with you."

Qu Feiyan was startled, but Qu Yang continued eating and drinking as if nothing had happened, unmoved by Wang Jingyuan's words. At his age, he'd spent most of his life wandering the martial world. His eyelashes were practically hollow, and he'd seen plenty of bluster meant to intimidate.

Although this young man treated him differently from others, they'd only met once. Besides, he was a Huashan disciple. How could Qu Yang know whether he was telling the truth or just trying to scare him?

But Wang Jingyuan wasn't a conventional martial artist. He was simply lazy—too lazy to beat around the bush. He continued, "Zuo Lengchan already knows about your relationship with Liu Zhengfeng. He wants to use this opportunity to weaken the Hengshan Sect.

"No matter how well Liu Zhengfeng has prepared, Zuo Lengchan won't let him complete the Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony."

Only then did Qu Yang set down his wine cup. Qu Feiyan couldn't hold back and asked, "Then what about Grandpa Liu...?"

Qu Yang raised a hand to cut her off and looked at Wang Jingyuan. "I thought we'd merely crossed paths by chance. I didn't expect you to have come looking for me."

Wang Jingyuan shook his head. "I knew you'd be going to Hengyang City, but who could've guessed I'd run into you here? Since we've met, I'd be a fool not to make good use of you."

Qu Yang nodded. "If what you've told me is true, then this information is worth a fortune. I'm in your debt. Tell me what you want."

"You've probably guessed already. I really am going to Hengyang to save Liu Zhengfeng. But I'm not doing it for free. First, I want to damage the Songshan Sect's reputation. Second, I want to force the Hengshan Sect to owe me a favor."

Qu Yang cautiously asked, "I've heard the Five Great Sword Sects stand together as one."

Wang Jingyuan waved a hand. "That's what they tell outsiders. We're a fake alliance. Behind closed doors, we're at each other's throats. Otherwise, why would Zuo Lengchan target Liu Zhengfeng?

"The Songshan Sect is stabbing the Hengshan Sect in the back, and the Huashan Sect is stabbing the Songshan Sect in the back. Fair's fair."

"What do you mean by 'fake'?"

"You wouldn't understand even if I explained."

Qu Yang asked again, "What about Taishan and Hengshan?"

"They're just irrelevant bystanders. They don't know anything and are only good for cheering from the sidelines."

"What do you mean by 'bystanders'?"

"It's not convenient to explain in detail."

Qu Yang was beginning to catch on. "So I've been part of your plan from the very beginning?"

Wang Jingyuan smacked his lips. "You weren't part of it at first, but since you've thrown yourself into the mix, I might as well kill two birds with one stone and make you owe me a favor too.

"I know you and Liu Zhengfeng planned to leave the martial world and stay out of its affairs. But that won't work. I'll help you revise the plan.

"I'll count the information I gave you earlier as one favor, and this as another. You'll owe me two favors."

Qu Yang held out his hand. "A gentleman's word."

Wang Jingyuan reached out and slapped his palm. "Consider it done."

Qu Yang withdrew his hand, looking bemused. "I've never heard that expression before. Now, young master, can you lay out your plan?"

"It's simple. Hurry to Hengyang City and beat Liu Zhengfeng half to death."

"What?"

"You've heard of the Bitter Scheme, surely? Before you beat him, make sure to denounce him for breaking the rules of the martial world—pretending to be your friend, only to plot with others to kill you while your guard is down.

"The Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony is coming up, and I'd bet my fingers the Songshan Sect has already sent people to watch Liu's residence in secret. That gives you a complete group of attackers. To make it look convincing, find them and kill them. That'll make your story even more believable."

Qu Yang frowned. "You've called it a Bitter Scheme yourself. Won't everyone else be suspicious?"

Wang Jingyuan waved a hand. "I have my arrangements. When the time comes, I'll stir up enough trouble that no one will care whether your actions are real or staged."

"I'm listening."

"I'll find a way to spread rumors around Hengyang City."

Qu Yang sounded disappointed by the answer. "Just rumors..."

Wang Jingyuan waved a hand. "I'm not finished. I know ordinary rumors are useless. He can easily prove them false, and they'll fall apart. But everyone knows people have a big head and a little head.

"The big head is complicated, so it prefers information that's logically sound. Take me writing... composing a story, for example. If there's even the slightest flaw in the logic, people will pick it apart. The more fastidious ones will chew over it again and again, hoping to find something that doesn't add up.

"But the little head is different. It's simple, so it's easy to satisfy. I've never seen anyone reading smut worry about whether the plot makes sense. As long as the little head is happy, nothing else matters.

"So I'm going to spread a Yellow Rumor about him. With my excellent writing, this stuff will be incredibly effective. I guarantee nobody will focus on whether it's true.

"Once it starts spreading, it'll do its work. Yellow Rumors have two characteristics: first, they're hard to disprove; second, even if someone does prove them false, the truth is far less interesting than the rumor itself. So the truth won't spread widely, while the rumor will endure."

Qu Yang looked confused. "This big head, little head, and Yellow Rumor—what do they mean? Never mind."

"From here on, just watch me work. I guarantee Liu Zhengfeng will complete the Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony without a hitch. He'll have no choice but to leave the martial world, even if he changes his mind."

Seeing how confident Wang Jingyuan was, Qu Yang grew curious about his methods. Even if they didn't work, the information Wang Jingyuan had already given him was enough to help him do a great deal.

So Qu Yang prepared to leave. "Then I'll await good news from you, young master."

But Qu Yang suddenly looked at his granddaughter, his expression troubled. Wang Jingyuan understood at once. "I know. Sometimes it's hard to get things done when you've got a deadweight tagging along."

Qu Feiyan stuck out her lower lip. "You're the deadweight!"

Wang Jingyuan acted as if he hadn't heard her and said to Qu Yang, "From now on, she's an orphan I picked up on the road. She's become my disciple.

"If your luck is truly rotten and you fail your check with a critical failure, at least Huashan can protect her. If you succeed, I'll have her come find you.

"But that'll make three favors."

Qu Yang nodded. "That sounds good."

Wang Jingyuan scratched his chin, puzzled. "This is strange. We've only just met, and I didn't even prepare a PowerPoint. I just talked off the top of my head, yet you're really willing to entrust your granddaughter to me. Do I have some kind of protagonist aura?"

Qu Yang smiled. "I don't believe most of what you've said. There's just one thing I do believe, and that's why I'm willing to trust you."

"What's that?"

"The Five Great Sword Sects are united in name only."

Qu Yang continued, "If they aren't united, then it must come down to fame and fortune. Your inner strength is weak, and your martial arts are mediocre. Yet you still dared to scheme against me, Brother Liu, the Songshan Sect, and the Hengshan Sect all at once.

"That shows Huashan has grand ambitions. My three favors in your hands will likely prove quite useful. I trust you to take good care of Feifei."