Incense Fragrance Sect

Hearing this, the two family heads, who had already been displeased, unexpectedly relaxed.

Meeting-records-domain-watermark-removed

They exchanged a glance and saw the same flicker of emotion in each other's eyes.

"What method?" they asked in unison.

They had suffered under the county magistrate for far too long and could hardly wait to break free on the spot.

Gao Huaiyi smiled. The scar on his face crumpled together like a coiled centipede, making him look even more sinister.

"We can send men to guard your residences for a year. We'll also give you a martial art that can take you to the Inner-Qi Realm, along with a large supply of medicinal herbs. What do you think?"

At his words, both men's breathing grew ragged.

Neither family possessed a martial art of the Inner-Qi Realm.

There wasn't a single person in the Inner-Qi Realm throughout Changfeng County.

Obtaining one could very well defy fate and let them sit securely as the strongest men in Changfeng County!

What would reaching the Inner-Qi Realm prove?

From then on, they would no longer have to act according to someone else's whims!

That was the main reason Huang He had flown into a rage when he learned last time that the Fifth Young Master was about to bring back an Inner-Qi Realm martial art, only to die before he could.

Hearing once again that they could obtain an Inner-Qi Realm martial art, it was impossible for the two family heads not to be tempted!

However, having experts from the Incense Fragrance Sect guard their residences for a year did give them some reservations.

Wang Ju furrowed his brow and asked bluntly, "We're certainly tempted by the Inner-Qi Realm martial art and the martial resources of the Incense Fragrance Sect."

"But having people guard our residences..."

Gao Huaiyi kept smiling and patiently explained, "You've misunderstood. The guards won't interfere in anything at your residences. You'll carry on as usual."

"Then you're sending experts to Changfeng County for reasons that surely go beyond simply helping us, aren't you?" Wang Ju's eyes shifted as an idea came to him.

Huang He also fell silent, deep in thought.

The Incense Fragrance Sect held sway over the areas surrounding Qingfeng Prefecture. It had a resounding reputation and immense influence.

Yet Changfeng County was one of the few places beyond its reach.

So was the Incense Fragrance Sect's true aim to come to Changfeng County and spread its faith?

The land was already in turmoil, and people were gripped by fear. The Incense Fragrance Sect was stirring up Qingfeng Prefecture, and its purpose could not be innocent!

For a moment, they hesitated, torn by conflicting thoughts.

Gao Huaiyi seemed to see what they were thinking. He made no attempt to hide it and nodded in acknowledgment.

He continued to tempt them. "Gentlemen, a handful of commoners is all it takes to break your chains and win back your freedom. This is a very good bargain for you."

Huang He and Wang Ju looked at each other. At last, their gazes flickered as they exchanged their thoughts.

They were constrained by the county magistrate and had no say in their own affairs. They had done who knew how many dirty deeds for him, and resentment had been building for a long time.

Yet they could do nothing about it.

Now they had a chance to break free from the county magistrate and regain their freedom. It was an opportunity not to be missed.

They were not afraid that the Incense Fragrance Sect would burn the bridge after crossing the river.

For one thing, the Incense Fragrance Sect was too powerful. It was sure to be watched closely, its actions restricted at every turn. Experts above the Inner-Qi Realm absolutely could not be sent out.

If the Incense Fragrance Sect went back on its word, they could simply join forces to resist and accuse the sect in turn.

A resolute look entered Huang He's eyes. He made his decision. "This is indeed a good bargain. In that case, we thank the Incense Fragrance Sect for its favor."

"I, Wang Ju, agree as well."

Gao Huaiyi rose and lifted his cup with a smile. "In that case, let me offer tea in place of wine and wish us a successful partnership."

A while later, Gao Huaiyi and Wang Tianlong left Huang Mansion and went to an inn.

"Brother Gao, are we really not going to find the person behind this and just kill some commoners to report back?"

"What if they cause trouble again when we come back to spread the faith?" Wang Tianlong couldn't help worrying.

Gao Huaiyi shook his head and sighed. "You really don't know how to adapt."

"If that person really comes to cause trouble, who can say it was the same person?"

"We can kill a few commoners and report back with hardly any effort. Why wouldn't we?"

"As for spreading the faith..."

"Ha! We go out and fight for our lives, while they just wag their tongues and get the people crowding around them. They're also among the ones who take the biggest share."

"Pah!" Gao Huaiyi spat, his face full of disdain. "They get to hog every good thing!"

Zhang Tianlong scratched his head and thought it over. He realized Gao Huaiyi had a point, but he was still somewhat worried. "But..."

Before he could finish, Gao Huaiyi cut him off. "Tch, our own ranks are divided, and we're at odds with each other. We're no united front."

"The sect leader hasn't come out to take charge in ages. How can anything come of that?"

"Eat when it's time to eat, drink when it's time to drink. We might as well muddle through."

"The world is full of hardships and dangers. Just staying alive is already something, let alone living as comfortably as we do."

"What, are you really thinking of rebelling?"

He glanced at Zhang Tianlong, his eyes deep, as if he had long since seen through everything. "Never mind whether this could succeed."

"If we really rebel, the battlefield will be crawling with danger, and the imperial court has countless experts and deep reserves. Even someone in the Inner-Qi Realm could lose his life, let alone us mere Tendon-Refining Realm martial artists."

"Think of those herb gatherers. They live at the bottom, and when they die, they don't even know why!"

Zhang Tianlong was silent for a moment, then sighed. "Brother Gao, you really know how to take things in stride."

The sect leader's absence had left people on edge, and rumors were flying everywhere.

Some said the sect leader had gone mad from cultivating and suffered a severe loss of power.

Others said the imperial court had captured him and was torturing him.

Still others said he had made off with the sect's wealth and vanished into the martial world.

Better to secure their own positions first.

Gao Huaiyi patted Zhang Tianlong's shoulder. "We've already been targeted, so we should get back quickly."

"The Wind and Rain Pavilion's assassins will probably come again."

Those in the sect were bound to offend people.

On this trip, they had been ambushed by assassins from the Wind and Rain Pavilion.

If they hadn't been strong enough, they would already have become wandering ghosts.

Lu Li had left Huang Family early to find Hu Niu, completely unaware of what had happened.

He rode Hu Niu, who shot through the woods like a bolt of white lightning.

In the blink of an eye, she was gone again.

Though he had cultivated Flying Swallow Step, demons were still superior when it came to speed and adapting to the complicated terrain of dense forests.

With the howling wind rushing past him, Lu Li took out the map and studied it carefully. Then, with his extraordinary eyesight, he examined the undulating terrain around him.

"Almost there. We'll reach the Wind and Rain Pavilion in another hour."

The Wind and Rain Pavilion lay in the exact opposite direction from the Black Market.

The Black Market was to the east, while the Wind and Rain Pavilion was to the west.

However, both had chosen to build their headquarters in valleys.

Following the directions marked on the map, he finally reached an inconspicuous valley, where a tall tower stood.

Lu Li left Hu Niu waiting at a distance and walked toward the tower alone.

People came and went at the tower.

All of them wore black night clothes, revealing only a pair of sharp eyes.

They sized Lu Li up.

He felt their gazes stabbing into him like sharp swords, pressing down on him with immense force.

Lu Li was secretly alarmed. As expected of the Wind and Rain Pavilion, it was truly full of experts.

Still, he could at least match an Organ-Refining martial artist. Though these people made him feel pressured, that was all.

If they actually fought, the outcome was still uncertain.

He entered the tower.

It was spacious inside. Only at the counter sat an old man in blue.

The old man was gaunt, his hair white as snow.

But his eyes were bright and his spirit vigorous, showing none of the frailty of age.

Lu Li stepped forward and bowed to the old man in blue.

"May I ask if you're Elder Qing?"

The map thoughtfully noted that anyone seeking a mission should look for an old man called Qing Yi.

The old man in blue nodded.

Lu Li explained that Black Hawk had referred him, and the old man's expression shifted.