Zhongshan Society

Su Che really wanted to say something to this mysterious person.

Friend, you had mistaken him for someone else.

But faced with this display, he truly felt too embarrassed to say it.

The other party's aura was simply too overwhelming. At a glance, he looked like some ancient demon that had crawled out of an old legend.

And according to him, the misfortunes suffered by Su Che's former self had been caused by someone's scheme.

Just who was targeting him?

Could it truly be because of that so-called "Azure Dragon of the Six Harmonies" fate?

The demon he had trapped in his room had also mentioned the so-called "Azure Dragon of the Six Harmonies." Could she be connected to them as well?

"According to the original plan, you were to put on the mask belonging to the Eastern Duke only after you defeated Withered Forest Chan Temple. But something has gone wrong, so we have no choice but to move it forward."

The man calling himself Zhongyuan spoke slowly. "This is the Zhongshan Society, a place that gathers the disillusioned and the vengeful. We welcome you, and we will protect you. Given White Deer Cave's way of doing things, even if you hid in Shanyin County, you would not be able to remain detached from worldly affairs."

Su Che sorted through the information he had just received.

First, this was the base of an organization called the Zhongshan Society, and this man who called himself "Zhongyuan" was its leader.

Then, the various misfortunes he—or rather, his former self—had suffered were all the result of someone's schemes. According to Zhongyuan, the force that had framed him ought to be White Deer Cave...

One of the four great holy lands of the Confucian School, with masters emerging in endless succession, revered immensely by both Southern Liang and Northern Wei—how could he, or rather his former self, possibly have offended them?

Finally, Zhongyuan seemed to have been watching him all along. With such careful planning and maneuvering, what was he—or the Zhongshan Society—plotting?

Without another word, Su Che raised the wooden mask. The moment it touched his hand, a cool sensation spread through it.

He slowly put the mask over his face, and the wooden mask automatically clung tightly to it.

Come on, did anyone really think he still had a choice here?

No way? No way?

If he could not resist, then he might as well close his eyes and enjoy it.

From Zhongyuan's words, Su Che could tell that Zhongyuan had at least been watching him since his days in Jiankang City. He even knew perfectly well that Su Che's next target was Withered Forest Chan Temple.

What Su Che could not determine was what Zhongyuan meant when he said that "White Deer Cave would not let him go."

Perhaps it could be understood as a threat.

Su Che could not fathom why a Confucian School holy land renowned throughout the world would target him.

Yet after putting on the mask symbolizing the Eastern Duke, Su Che felt a long-lost sensation rising from within his dantian.

It was the elixir power left within his body after he had consumed the golden elixir. That long-dormant strength seemed to awaken once more under the mask's influence and began nourishing his body.

"That you chose to begin upon the path of the sword cultivator was beyond my expectations. Unfortunately, although the Dingtian Jun Sword counted as a passable method of cultivating sword intent in the Eastern Sea, it was confined solely to cultivation and had no practical application. This Mirage Shadow Origin Sword comes from the Eastern Sea Sword Palace. Cultivate it well."

Countless ages seemed to flow through Zhongyuan's eyes. With a flick of his fingertip, a ray of light shot directly into Su Che's Niwan Palace, and an outline of a sword art's cultivation method immediately appeared in his mind.

As Su Che carefully examined the sword art, he nearly drew the ancient sword from his Sword Case and began practicing it on the spot.

He finally understood how Lin Pingzhi had felt after seeing the Evil-Resisting Sword Manual—so impatient that he could not even wait for the wedding candles in the bridal chamber.

This Mirage Shadow Origin Sword was an exceptionally profound method of wielding the sword. At the beginning, it contained the mystery of concealing one's weapon upon one's body and hiding one's killing intent. At higher levels, one could split into bodies and transform into shadows, moving unseen and without trace. It was marvelous beyond compare.

Su Che looked with great satisfaction at Brother Zhongyuan, seated at the head of the table.

This fellow was indeed generous with his gifts. At a glance, he had the bearing of a leader of an evil organization.

"Since you have realized your resolve to join my Zhongshan Society, you must understand its rules. Within the society, you need only heed my instructions. As for the other members, regardless of who they are or what realm they have cultivated to, they are no different from you."

"The society convenes once every thirty-six days, each time according to one Heavenly Stem number. There are thirteen days until the next gathering. At every gathering, I will use the art of Minor Universe to summon you here, so make your arrangements in advance, lest your tracks be exposed."

"The society's way of doing things is equivalent exchange and mutual aid." Zhongyuan introduced the Zhongshan Society's style. "If you can pay the corresponding price, you may ask them to lend you their aid."

Su Che understood.

According to Zhongyuan's description, this Zhongshan Society should possess two characteristics.

First, Zhongyuan was the core of the organization. Without him, the organization would have no possibility of functioning at all.

Second, it was compulsory. The fundamental tone of the organization's operation was Zhongyuan's will—or rather, his objective.

"In a moment, I will convene a meeting and introduce you to the other members. Listen carefully from the side."

As he spoke, Zhongyuan took a jade chime from his sleeve and set it upon the table, then lightly tapped it with his right index finger.

"Wu Zhiqi, Gushe, Yuqiang, Plain Maiden, come, come..."

He chanted an incantation, and Su Che felt wave after wave of dizziness in his Niwan Palace.

All at once, several faces appeared in the other chairs around the long table.

The first had a face like that of an ape, with a snub nose, high brow, golden eyes, and snow-white teeth.

The second wore a mask resembling a young girl's face, except its eyes were sewn shut with golden thread.

The third mask bore two expressions: a smiling face on the left half and a furious glare on the right.

The fourth mask seemed to depict a woman, but it was covered in cloud-and-thunder patterns, with eyes like snakes and vipers.

The figures of the four seemed shrouded in dense fog. Only their masks could be seen suspended in the air.

"Everyone, I have gathered you today to introduce a new member. This one is the Eastern Duke."

Su Che's heart tightened. His mask was actually that of the Eastern Duke?

The titles used by the others in the Zhongshan Society—Wuzhiqi, Gushe, Yuqiang, and Plain Maiden—were all names he had seen in myths from his previous life.

Could these gods have existed in this world as well?

And that fellow who called himself Zhongyuan—whatever manner of being he was—his title was in a completely different style from Eastern Duke, Wuzhiqi, and the rest. Was there another layer to this?

These four seemed already accustomed to such a process. Perhaps they had encountered the same scene when they joined the Zhongshan Society.

They merely glanced in Su Che's direction and said nothing more.

After a moment of silence, Gushe spoke first.

"Yuqiang, there are developments in the matter you asked me to investigate."

"Wei Huaiwen halted his troops in Northern Yu for two reasons. First, there is insufficient military grain. Second, the Northern Sect of the Celestial Masters Dao has already aided Prince Zhongshan Yuan Ying, refining the corpses of those slain in war into ba. A ba calamity has broken out in Northern Yu, where many ghost immortals and demon kings have appeared. It is expected that the two sides will soon make peace."

"The court intends to send Right Censor-in-Chief Hai You'an as envoy to negotiate with the Northern Dynasties. The location should be somewhere among the Ten Continents of the Eastern Sea."

Yuqiang gave two low chuckles.

"Many thanks, many thanks."

Gushe continued, "This information is complimentary. The cause of the Huai River's flood is that Northern Wei persuaded the Lord of Dongting. That old dragon went mad and stirred up trouble in the Huai River. The Southern Liang Censorate, Embroidered Cavalry, Nightwatch Division, and other offices have already dispatched masters to Dongting Lake to demand an explanation. That old dragon seems to have suffered serious injuries."

"Wu Zhiqi, if you wish to go a step further, you might as well set your sights on that old dragon."

Wu Zhiqi, wearing the ape mask, smiled.

"Thank you for the fairy's kind intentions, but pulling chestnuts from the fire is better suited to fooling monkeys. I must respectfully decline."

The matters Gushe and Yuqiang discussed were all affairs that shook the realm. They must both hold considerable positions in the court—otherwise, why would they concern themselves with such matters?

Su Che was certain that Gushe must have connections at the very highest levels.

His cheap elder brother served as a general in Wei Huaiwen's army, yet even Su Che did not know that Wei Huaiwen's forces lacked grain. Through what channel had Gushe obtained this intelligence?

As for Yuqiang, why was he paying such close attention to the war in the north? What exactly was he plotting?

This Zhongshan Society did not look like a retirement tea party for a group of old monsters. It looked more like a stage for young schemers.

"Lord Zhongyuan, why is Miss Qingqiu absent?"

The person wearing the Plain Maiden mask asked. Her voice was hoarse and hazy, somewhat androgynous.

This made Su Che feel that perhaps one could not determine their owners' genders from their masks.

"Qingqiu has run into some trouble. She cannot come today."

Su Che was quite certain that Zhongyuan's eyes, hidden behind his flat mask, glanced at him when he mentioned the name Qingqiu.

Could this "Qingqiu" be the same Qingqiu as that Qingqiu?

Su Che perhaps understood why Zhongyuan had previously said he had not intended to bring him into the society so early.

If Su Che did not join soon, perhaps that "Qingqiu" would be screwed over by him to death.

But if that was the case, then the true strength of the people in this Zhongshan Society was rather low.

He was not even Ninth Rank, while that Qingqiu had been brought down by someone like him, who was not even Ninth Rank.

"Plain Maiden, there is news of the person you asked me to look into." The person beneath Wuzhiqi's mask replied to Plain Maiden, who had just asked the question. "Shall we speak privately, or let these people hear as well?"

"Please make it public."

Plain Maiden replied directly.

"Haha, Miss Plain Maiden certainly knows the way."

Yuqiang chuckled.

"Hmph hmph." Wuzhiqi gave a few cold laughs. "The person you asked about is named Su Che, born into the Su clan of Duling. The fate on him was indeed the Azure Dragon of the Six Harmonies. Unfortunately, you asked too late. Three months ago, someone set a trap and calculated against him, already stripping away his fate. He is now a cripple."

Hey, could you speak a little more politely? What did he mean, he was now a cripple?

Su Che looked at Wuzhiqi. Although this man behaved with abandon, he was not necessarily without the intention of testing Zhongyuan.

And what purpose did Plain Maiden have in asking about his circumstances?

Sure enough, none of the people in this Zhongshan Society were easy to deal with.