The Vanishing First Rank Hall

"So, have you located the Western Xia First Class, Gang Leader Guan?"

After leaving with Guan Tiannan and entering a certain residence, Monk Tianming spoke directly.

Martial artists generally did not participate directly in the head-on confrontations of military forces; the Central Plains martial arts community focused more on intercepting the martial artists of Western Xia.

Facing Monk Tianming's question, Guan Tiannan sighed, shook his head, and said, "No."

Hm?

Monk Tianming was somewhat surprised. As the greatest sect in the world, the Beggar Sect might not have been physically powerful in terms of raw combat strength—far inferior to a righteous pillar like the Shaolin Temple—but their status in the pugilistic world was by no means low. In fact, they were almost on par with sects like the Shaolin Temple. The reason was none other than an advantage that no other sect could compare to.

That was intelligence.

Even in places with extremely tight security that martial artists found difficult to infiltrate, such as the imperial palace, the Beggar Sect could obtain information. Not only that, but even intelligence of such high importance as Western Xia declaring war on the Song Dynasty was obtained by the Beggar Sect almost at the same time the Song imperial court received it.

The title of the world's greatest sect was not just empty talk.

To establish a foothold in the pugilistic world, they did not rely solely on the Gang Leader and a few limited individuals to hold up such a massive situation.

Therefore, it was only natural for the Beggar Sect to organize the assembly for a conflict of this national scale.

"Does Gang Leader Guan not know the current movements of the Western Xia First Class?"

Guan Tiannan nodded and said, "A month ago, my disciples sent word that the Western Xia First Class had begun gathering toward the four prefectures of Yanzhou, Hongzhou, Longzhou, and Yinzhou. I immediately organized men to monitor the roads in these four prefectures, yet after an entire month, not a single shred of intelligence regarding the Western Xia First Class has been sent back."

"Have they used camouflage?"

Although the Western Xia First Class operated in the form of a martial arts sect, they differed from the Central Plains martial arts community; they belonged to the Western Xia imperial court and held official ranks, possessing a military nature, and thus would engage in behaviors inconsistent with the status of martial artists.

Guan Tiannan shook his head: "No. In fact, ever since the declaration of war, the passages between Western Xia and the Song Dynasty have been closed. For this past month, absolutely no one has come over from the direction of those four prefectures."

At this moment, Monk Tianming could not help but furrow his brows. This was not good news. The war had yet to break out, yet the most important target had vanished?

This was no joke; it was the truth.

The destructive power of martial artists was immense; one only had to look at the people present to know that if they wished, infiltrating a residence to assassinate officials would be very easy.

If the Western Xia First Class were to infiltrate the Song Dynasty and carry out decapitation-style strikes against military officers in various regions, it would absolutely cause massive destruction.

"Could it be that they haven't moved at all? Perhaps this declaration of war is merely intended to stir up a commotion?"

A voice cut in.

Looking at the newcomer, Monk Tianming pressed his palms together and said, "Daoist Xuanxin, we meet again."

"Master Tianming, it has been a long time."

The newcomer was a middle-aged man with white hair at his temples and a youthful appearance, dressed in a cyan Daoist robe.

An elder of the Shangqing Sect!

His status was equivalent to Monk Tianming, the Head of the Arhat Hall.

Daoist Xuanxin said, "For instance, to use this to pressure the Song Dynasty? And thereby demand concessions?"

Guan Tiannan shook his head: "If that were the case, I would not have gathered you all here. The biggest problem now is that the Western Xia First Class has disappeared. They are not within the borders of Western Xia either—at least, in the places where they can usually be found, not a single important figure has appeared."

Daoist Xuanxin and Monk Tianming were both shocked. They had simply vanished? Even the Beggar Sect could not find a single trace?

"Could they have blended into the army, and that is why they haven't been discovered?"

Guan Tiannan nodded, "It is possible, but if that is the case, their significance is greatly diminished."

An army is not the same as ordinary civilians.

In an organized state, unless one is a top-tier expert, once entangled, one can still be beaten to death.

Even for a second-tier expert with protective qi circulation, military clashes were never about direct charges. To say nothing else, the first thing to greet them would be a volley of arrows. The Song Dynasty might not be good at other things, but their equipment was not lacking. Facing such dense weaponry, a second-tier expert was still human; even if they survived the first wave, they would likely have little qi left.

And second-tier experts, even within the sects of the Central Plains, were undoubtedly the backbone of their strength, not items that could be easily used as expendable resources.

Even with state support, the number of second-tier experts in the Western Xia First Class was extremely limited.

After all, that level could not be reached simply by having techniques and resources; one had to have talent. Otherwise, with the intervention of the state machine, they would have long since become commonplace.

Therefore, the deployment of Western Xia First Class experts was mostly focused on assassination, creating massive destruction through decapitation tactics.

"Then, Gang Leader Guan, do you have any corresponding countermeasures?"

The people of the Western Xia First Class would not simply vanish; there was only one possibility for them being unfound: they were hiding.

If they were hiding in Western Xia, it would be manageable, but if they were already on the Song side, then it would be very troublesome.

"Haven't the solutions been here all along?"

A person walked out from within the residence.

His face was white and hairless, his voice sharp, giving one a sinister feeling.

Someone from the palace?

A strange look flashed in Monk Tianming's eyes. It was not surprising; with martial artists like them gathering, even if the one in the imperial palace knew it was not a major issue, he likely could not rest easy. After all, the Zhao family's imperial throne was not obtained honorably; it could be said they were constantly on guard, not even trusting the military generals who pledged loyalty to them. All the former meritorious officials had been treated like pigs and kept in Kaifeng.

It could be said that half the reason for the Song Dynasty's current weakness lay right here.

They feared military generals and employed civil officials.

The last defeat also seemed to be because a civil official acted rashly, fell into a trap, and led the Song Dynasty to a crushing defeat.

Because of this, the three leading officials were all demoted.

"Eunuch Hong!"

Guan Tiannan sighed and said, "The martial artists who have come here are all here to protect our home and defend our country. The plan you have proposed is truly too extreme. Martial artists are not imperial soldiers; you cannot demand such things of them."

The eunuch called Eunuch Hong cast a cold glance at Guan Tiannan. "If the Western Xia First Rank Hall can do it, why can't you? You're just afraid of death, so why dress it up with such pretty words? Guan Tiannan, there is an unspoken agreement between the imperial court and the martial arts world. We usually don't concern ourselves with you, but that agreement has a prerequisite. If you prove 'useless,' this humble one will have no choice but to report the truth and reconsider the relationship between us."

Having said that, the eunuch flicked his sleeves and turned to leave.

Monk Tianming and Daoist Xuanxin exchanged a look, then turned their gazes toward Guan Tiannan, their faces filled with inquiry.

The government and the martial arts world had an unspoken agreement; they generally left each other alone, each minding their own business.

Why had a eunuch come here directly this time? Judging by the situation, he even seemed prepared to "command" them.

Guan Tiannan offered a bitter smile and shook his head. "This man is a confidant of the grand eunuch Yan Wenying, sent here to serve as an army supervisor. He is desperate to earn merit. Upon learning that the Western Xia First Rank Hall had gone missing, he demanded that we organize martial artists to head to Western Xia to assassinate their generals, just as the First Rank Hall did, hoping to lure the enemy out."

Monk Tianming and his companion were stunned, their brows knitting together involuntarily.

The Western Xia First Rank Hall usually targeted the Song Dynasty through decapitation strikes, but how could such assassinations be so easy? Even if they succeeded, nine out of ten who went would be slaughtered; the act was essentially no different from that of a suicide squad.

Of course, regarding this situation, the Western Xia First Rank Hall invested heavily in their warriors. They lacked neither silver nor women; they did almost everything possible and enjoyed every luxury. In Western Xia, First Rank Hall warriors committed murder without consequence, and if they took a fancy to a woman, they could simply take her back with them.

And here in the Song Dynasty?

Not only were they constantly guarded against, but they were also kept under surveillance for even the smallest matters. Although it appeared that residences and resting areas had been specially arranged for them, in reality, it was merely to keep them concentrated in one place.

This time, it went without saying—at the very least, couldn't he have asked in the form of a request? That eunuch's high-and-mighty expression showed he didn't take them seriously at all. They were nothing more than a disposable pawn; if used well, the credit went to him, and if used poorly, it was because they were useless. Heh, did he think everyone else was a fool?

The three men shook their heads, deciding not to dwell on the eunuch any longer. They figured he must have mistaken them for Song Dynasty military officers.

Petition the Emperor? Change the relationship with the martial arts world?

Heh, go ahead and try. See if the Emperor listens to you and sends troops to suppress them, or if he simply has your head chopped off on the spot.