Drawing in the Net!

The moment Yu Huatian exposed the identities of the Four Great Constables, an uproar swept through the crowd.

No one had expected the Great Song court to travel so far to join the struggle for the Great White Upper Kingdom's treasure. And the Bright Moon Cult had actually colluded with the Great Song court?!

Zhang Wuji's expression darkened as he stared fixedly at Yu Huatian, murderous intent raging in his eyes.

He, too, had never imagined that Yu Huatian would recognize the Four Great Constables.

Although the Great Song Dynasty lay beside Ming, a considerable distance separated them. Their martial worlds and imperial courts also kept as clear a boundary as the Jing and Wei Rivers, rarely interacting. Thus, while the Four Great Constables of the Great Song Dynasty's Six Doors were renowned within their own country, very few people in Ming had ever seen their true faces.

Even he had not known the Four Great Constables before this.

Had they not approached him, he would never have chosen to cooperate with the Great Song Dynasty.

But he had forgotten who Yu Huatian was.

Who was Yu Huatian?

The director of Ming's West Depot!

And what did the West Depot specialize in?

Intelligence and pursuit!

Strictly speaking, Ming's East and West Depots and the Embroidered Uniform Guard were institutions of the same nature as the Great Song Dynasty's Six Doors. All answered directly to the emperor, investigated crimes and hunted down criminals, and held the authority to execute first and report afterward.

How could Yu Huatian possibly neglect an institution like that?

As it happened, the West Depot's files contained records of the various figures in the Six Doors, including these Four Great Constables.

Thus, the moment the Four Great Constables appeared alongside the Bright Moon Cult, Yu Huatian had recognized them.

What Yu Huatian had not expected was that the Bright Moon Cult would be so utterly deranged as to cooperate with the Great Song Dynasty just to oppose the Ming court.

Although the Bright Moon Cult was at odds with the Ming court and had even moved its headquarters into this northwestern desert to evade pursuit, strictly speaking, it was still a martial sect of Ming!

And now it was cooperating with the Great Song court. How was that any different from selling out its country?!

Yu Huatian therefore met Zhang Wuji's gaze coldly, the murderous intent in his own eyes equally intense.

Traitors deserved death, no matter the era!

The atmosphere had turned decidedly strange.

Many people looked at the Bright Moon Cult members and the Four Great Constables behind Zhang Wuji with peculiar expressions, murmuring among themselves. Their words were filled with shock, distress, and contempt for what the Bright Moon Cult had done.

Some members of smaller sects and wandering martial artists, sensing that things had taken a bad turn, had already begun slowly withdrawing.

The situation had gone beyond anything they had anticipated. Even the imperial court and people from the Great Song Dynasty had come. This was no longer a spectacle they could afford to watch-not unless they wanted to die!

The major factions, however, including the Shaolin Sect, the Wudang Sect, the Money Gang, the Sun Moon Holy Cult, and Heavenly Venerable, did not leave.

The gold-masked figure at the front of Heavenly Venerable's group looked at the grim-faced Zhang Wuji and could not help sneering. "You were just claiming to act for all the people under heaven, yet behind the scenes, you colluded with the Great Song Dynasty to oppose Ming. How open and honorable you are, Cult Leader Zhang. No wonder you disdained cooperating with us. You already had a more powerful partner."

At the gold-masked man's scornful tone, Zhang Wuji's expression darkened further.

He swept a cold glance over the gold-masked man, then turned to Yu Huatian and said icily, "The court has abandoned righteousness. Eunuchs hold power and block the emperor's ears, leaving the people unable to survive. Our Bright Moon Cult carries out justice on heaven's behalf, and we dare to own our deeds. As long as we keep the treasure out of the court's hands, what does it matter if we cooperate with the Great Song Dynasty?"

"I can guarantee here and now that even if our Bright Moon Cult obtains the treasure, we will not keep a single portion for ourselves. Every bit of it will go toward helping the people of Ming!"

"Tch-"

The crowd sneered in contempt.

They were all people of Ming. Whatever internal struggles they engaged in were their own affairs.

But to them, the Bright Moon Cult's collusion with the Great Song Dynasty was treason. Once word spread, both the orthodox and demonic factions would despise it!

Thus, no matter how Zhang Wuji explained himself, their opinion of the Bright Moon Cult would not improve.

"Carrying out justice on heaven's behalf? What a fine, high-sounding excuse."

Yu Huatian sneered as well. "The so-called heroes of the martial world use their fighting skills to flout the law. Cases of martial artists relying on their prowess to break the law, burn, kill, plunder, and oppress the common people have piled so high that the government offices can barely hold the records. Without you rebels and traitors, how could the realm be in such chaos?"

"The people cannot make a living, and at the root of it all are you rebels and traitors!"

"With the country in turmoil, rather than serving it, you rebels and traitors oppose the court at every turn. Now you have even colluded with a foreign nation against it. Ten thousand deaths would not atone for your crimes!"

"Today, I will catch every last one of you rebels who bring disaster upon the realm in a single net!"

Zhang Wuji said coldly, "Do you think anyone will believe you when you turn black into white? Wasn't the turmoil at court caused by you eunuch factions of the East and West Depots? What does it have to do with the martial world?"

"I do not argue with dead men!"

Yu Huatian said impassively, "Whatever the case, not one of you will leave here alive today!"

At those words, many people in the crowd frowned, displeased by Yu Huatian's overbearing declaration.

"Hmph! What arrogance!"

Jing Wuming suddenly spoke, his voice cold. "How you fight is your own business. If our Money Gang wants to leave, let's see who dares stop us!"

"You can try!"

Yu Huatian swept a cold glance over him.

"Then I will. Let's go!"

With that, Jing Wuming waved his hand and led the Money Gang members away.

He was no fool, either.

His goal was the Great White Upper Kingdom's treasure, but before it had even appeared, the orthodox and demonic factions were already fighting so fiercely. Even the Ming and Great Song courts had entered the fray.

At a time like this, preserving their strength and waiting for the treasure to emerge mattered most. He wanted no part in either the struggle between the orthodox and demonic factions or the conflict between the Ming and Great Song courts.

What did the greater cause of the nation have to do with him?

Although he, too, despised the Bright Moon Cult's collusion with the Great Song court, he had no affection for the Ming court either.

Yet he had barely taken two steps when a figure silently appeared before him, blocking his retreat.

Jing Wuming's gaze turned icy as he looked up. "You intend to stop me?"

"Try taking another step!"

Ding Xiu carried the Imperial Guard Saber over his shoulder. Wounds covered his body, but he stood ramrod straight, staring coldly at Jing Wuming.

Shing-

Without a word, Jing Wuming drew the longsword at his waist and thrust it at Ding Xiu.

Without a trace of fear, Ding Xiu swung his saber backhanded. He made no attempt to defend himself, clearly intending to trade his life for Jing Wuming's.

Jing Wuming's pupils contracted. His thrust targeted Ding Xiu's abdomen; even if it struck, Ding Xiu might not die. But if Ding Xiu's saber came down on him, he would certainly lose half his life.

Moreover, Ding Xiu's Miao Saber was considerably longer than an ordinary longsword. It would definitely strike him before his own sword reached its target.

Jing Wuming had always thought himself willing to put life and death aside, but this was the first time he had met someone even more reckless with his life. Deciding that trading wounds with Ding Xiu was not worthwhile, he hurriedly withdrew his sword to block.

Clang-

Saber and sword collided. Though Ding Xiu's blow was heavy and powerful, his internal energy was a whole realm below Jing Wuming's, and the impact sent him staggering backward.

Jing Wuming glanced toward Yu Huatian. Seeing that he remained impassive and showed no intention of intervening, murderous intent immediately blazed in Jing Wuming's heart. He tightened his grip on his longsword and attacked Ding Xiu again, intending to kill one man first and show Yu Huatian that the Money Gang was not to be trifled with.

But the moment he attacked, he suddenly sensed a sharp rush of air behind him. Alarm surged within him, and he hurriedly turned, sweeping his sword across.

Ting-

The blade trembled slightly, and a streak of black was knocked to the ground. It was an arrow!

Jing Wuming looked up. On the distant dunes, figures clad in bullfight robes and flying-fish robes had appeared at some unknown point, each brimming with murderous intent and holding a different weapon.

At the same time, waves of hoofbeats sounded in the distance, and cries of battle rang out through the curtain of rain.

"They're from the West Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

Everyone's expression shifted.

--

There are probably only a few thousand words left before the treasure arc ends. I beg you all not to let the chapters pile up. As long as I get five hundred first-chapter subscriptions when the paid chapters launch, this little flop of an author will update twenty thousand words a day. I'm kowtowing-thump, thump, thump-

(End of chapter)