That Night

After settling a few more details with Hua Zhenzhen, Fang Yunhua went to the main hall to explain his plan to Withered Plum.

As Hua Zhenzhen watched her junior brother leave, her gaze grew ever firmer, though no one knew what she was thinking.

Once Mount Hua's leadership had gathered, Fang Yunhua explained how they could step on the Beggar Gang to establish the might of a sect whose swords defined its borders, then use the junction of Shaanxi-Henan-Shanxi as their base to spread Mount Hua's influence across all Three Provinces at once.

Such an ingenious strategic policy left everyone present deeply impressed.

Of course, a few elders also raised some difficulties.

For instance, if their negotiations with the An Prince's Mansion went awry, the lack of official backing would cause the plan to collapse halfway through.

Over the past few days, Fang Yunhua had studied the An Prince closely. As the reigning emperor's younger brother, he first of all avoided the troublesome status of an imperial uncle, who was bound to rebel.

Second, as a meritorious supporter who had helped the present emperor ascend the throne, he had been granted a fief not far from the Central Plains. That alone showed the favor he enjoyed. And as a man who coveted a comfortable life, the An Prince would naturally be wary of troubles arising from the martial world.

Moreover, his princely title had only been granted in this generation, so his local influence and control were not as firmly established as those of older princely houses.

He therefore needed a martial sect to act as his proxy and cut away some of his troubles and vexations as needed.

Of course, there was no certainty yet that he would agree to bind their interests together. But in Fang Yunhua's view, any plan with a fifty percent chance of success was worth further planning and execution.

Now, thinking of the two senior martial relatives from Mount Hua who would become embroiled in the Great Desert incident, Fang Yunhua placed even greater value on official support.

That was also one reason he had no intention of getting involved in the Blood Sea Fragrance storyline and planned to head to the Capital City after obtaining the White Jade Beauty.

The next difficulty the elders raised was the Beggar Gang.

Although Nangong Ling had yet to gain enough prestige to keep the entire gang in line since becoming its leader, the Beggar Gang was the largest gang under heaven. With its vast membership, even if only thirty or forty percent obeyed Nangong Ling's orders-

Once he discovered that Mount Hua was secretly fanning the flames and spreading rumors that he had struck Ren Ci down through foul means, the Beggar Gang's retaliation would surely destroy Mount Hua's current promising, steady growth.

"He won't have the energy to pay attention to us."

The elders looked in puzzlement at the confident Fang Yunhua, while Withered Plum seemed to think of something and suddenly asked a question.

"Because of Fragrant Marshal Chu?"

Fang Yunhua paused, then nodded.

He understood why Withered Plum had thought of him. His memories of his previous life had awakened at exactly the right time, just a few hours before Chu Liuxiang's visit. He had then made a series of reforms, including adjusting Mount Hua's development policy.

It was therefore easy for others to assume that Chu Liuxiang had come to disclose certain information, prompting these changes in Fang Yunhua.

In truth, Fang Yunhua's confidence also came from knowing that Chu Liuxiang would serve as a shit-stirring stick, keeping Nangong Ling scrambling. By the time Nangong Ling could spare a little attention and discover the growing number of damaging revelations about him circulating through the martial world-

It would also be time for Chu Liuxiang to pass final judgment on him.

This was what one called the unspoken understanding between the Amorous Young Master and the Thief Marshal.

So Fang Yunhua decisively passed the buck. His recent changes were certainly because of Chu Liuxiang. After all, that was the truth, and it saved him the trouble of explaining everything one point at a time.

Mount Hua's leaders present soon accepted this explanation.

As for Fang Yunhua's appointment of Hua Zhenzhen as the overall commander of the plan, no one stood up to object. They had already raised all manner of objections time and again in the past, only for Fang Yunhua's decisions to prove wise in the end.

They would no longer play the part of people being slapped repeatedly in the face. They had also grown accustomed to this way of doing things: checking Fang Yunhua's plans for gaps, filling them in, and then following his coordinated directives.

Besides, more than half the elders present had been recruited by Fang Yunhua from the sect's outside branches. The remaining two or three had personally witnessed the whole process of Mount Hua rising from decline to glory under his leadership.

To put it bluntly, if Fang Yunhua raised his arm and called for support now, he could kick Withered Plum straight out of the sect leader's seat.

It was precisely because Mount Hua now stood united from top to bottom, its collective resolve a fortress and its myriad hearts beating as one, that Fang Yunhua was all the more willing to toil in mind and body for the sect's growth.

His love for Mount Hua was no less than Hua Zhenzhen's. And since awakening his memories of his previous life had shown him that the sect's original future held only further decline, his emotional investment in the entire sect outweighed everything else.

After putting the plan into motion, he looked at the starry sky outside, once again draped in night, and told Withered Plum of his decision to leave the mountain early the next morning.

At that, Withered Plum's expression grew much more serious.

"We still haven't found a single trace of the assassin who attacked you. You must be doubly careful while traveling."

The public explanation had been that Withered Plum had confined Fang Yunhua for mishandling his personal romantic affairs. In reality, Fang Yunhua, who had been gallivanting wildly outside the sect, had suddenly suffered an assassination attempt that nearly cost him his life.

To keep him safe and track down the assassin, they had made the Amorous Young Master stay in the sect for a while.

That was simply how things were in Gu Long's World. Even the greatest experts could not escape the possibility of being ambushed through underhanded means.

After awakening his memories of his previous life, Fang Yunhua had carefully considered several people who might have attacked him.

But there were simply too many people who wanted him dead. His tangled romantic affairs alone, along with certain romantic debts forcibly laid at his door, were enough to drive wealthy rivals in love and groveling admirers to pay handsomely for a bounty on his head.

There was no hiding from this sort of thing. He could only take greater care himself.

"One more thing. When you leave the mountain this time, I will formally announce that you have become Mount Hua's Sect Leader Successor. After all, to approach His Highness the An Prince, you will need an official status that allows you to represent Mount Hua."

"All right."

Fang Yunhua waved a hand and calmly left.

Withered Plum, who had always valued proper etiquette, had grown used to her wayward disciple's lazy behavior. The elders beside her, still refining the plan's details, merely smiled cheerfully; not one voiced any objection.

After returning to his room, Fang Yunhua was still wondering which bastard deserving a thousand cuts had hired someone to kill him. Just as his list of likely suspects reached double digits, he suddenly heard footsteps outside his door.

The newcomer's movement technique was exceptionally accomplished, and in a flash she had swept into the room.

Then Fang Yunhua felt another person slip beneath his covers.

In the hazy moonlight filtering through the window, Fang Yunhua saw a pair of large, bashful eyes, so tenderly lovely.

Fang Yunhua understood that this was probably the bravest thing she had ever done in her life.

Now, there was no need for sweet words to pave the way.

No amount of talk could compare to taking action!

It was a beautiful, unforgettable night.

So it was for Fang Yunhua.

And even more so for Hua Zhenzhen.