Chapter 230: Despair
“Lord Xiahou, what exactly is going on here?!” After repeatedly confirming that the cave entrance was sealed shut, the various clan grandmasters angrily questioned Xiahou Bubai.
After all, only Xiahou Bubai and Xiahou Bumie had escaped from that damned tomb.
“Are you blind?” Xiahou Bubai’s face was ashen as he said coldly: “Didn’t you see those two Southern Dynasties remnants?!”
“Those two are Bai Liu Village Master Zhou Huang and the former Southern Dynasties Grand Marshal Huan Daoji!” Xiahou En and Xiahou Jun hurriedly explained for Xiahou Bubai: “Half a year ago, we broke through Bai Liu Village and killed Southern Dynasties’ Third Highness Xiao Cheng, forming a blood feud with these two. Their appearance here must be for revenge!”
“They’re here to take revenge on the Xiahou Clan, so how come only the Xiahou Clan’s two grandmasters came out in the end?!” All the grandmasters of the six clans were buried in the tunnel, a blow to the six clans no less than the sky collapsing and the earth splitting. The six clans’ grandmasters present had no idea how to explain to their clans. Even Xie Ju, who had always been deferential to the Xiahou Clan, was now speaking without thinking and aggressively questioning Xiahou Bubai. “How could just those two southern barbarians have such great ability to trap all us clans’ grandmasters?!”
“Exactly, where did they get the Taiping Token?!” The various clan grandmasters were riled up, feeling more and more that there were too many suspicious points. “If they really had that ability, how could they let the main targets escape while burying our grandmasters inside?!”
Xiahou Bubai forcibly suppressed his temper and listened to their questioning for a moment, but seeing these guys becoming more and more insolent, almost spraying spittle on his face. He finally couldn’t hold back his anger, suddenly waving his hand to knock Xie Ju and the others to the ground, looking down at them coldly: “A bunch of undiscerning things, who do you think you’re talking to? You dare question me!”
“…” Seeing Xiahou Bubai’s icy gaze, the several grandmasters suddenly remembered his terror, finally calming down a bit, but still indignant with tears: “Lord Xiahou, only you brothers escaped from the tunnel, you must give our clan an explanation!”
“I will naturally give an explanation, but not to you.” Xiahou Bubai snorted coldly: “Instead of crying here with me, you’d better hurry and think of a way to rescue them!”
“That’s right…” The various clans’ grandmasters also thought it through; they couldn’t do anything to the Xiahou Bubai brothers, so for now, they should hurry and report to their clans and let the clan leaders decide!
Immediately, each side sent a grandmaster back to report the news. Lu Xin had no one to send, and he had no mind for reporting… While others were surrounding Xiahou Bubai with questions, he stayed in the cave, desperately trying to dig a passage to rescue his son.
But that boulder was over ten thousand jin heavy and incomparably hard; no matter if he broke his precious sword or smashed his fists, even exerting all his strength could only leave some shallow marks…
Seeing Lu Xin’s hands already mangled and bloody, Cui Pingzhi and the others finally couldn’t bear to watch. Several people went up to pull away the already deranged Lu Clan’s Third Steward, wanting to persuade him, but they themselves shed tears first…
There was Lu Xin’s son inside, sure, but there were also the brothers, uncles, and even birth fathers of everyone present!
.
On a distant mountain ridge, Gu Qi and the Earthwalker witnessed the earlier earth-shaking collapse, both filled with admiration for Xuanyuan Wentian standing in front of them.
“Thanks to Master seeing through it all, we were able to pull back from the precipice and watch this good show coldly.” The Earthwalker said with lingering fear: “If we’d really gone in, we’d be in big trouble.”
“The treasure vault is tempting, but you have to be alive to enjoy it.” Xuanyuan Wentian was actually a bit fortunate too; luckily he was cautious by nature. Seeing so many grandmasters rushing in, he felt that alone he couldn’t get any benefits and might even meet with mishap, so he decided to observe outside first and see if there was a chance to profit in secret.
“Yes, Master is wise and brilliant, perceptive and insightful. Compared to Master, those grandmasters are simply a bunch of idiots.” Gu Qi rushed to flatter him too.
“They’re not idiots…” Xuanyuan Wentian showed no complacency: “It’s just that their families’ ambitions are too great, so even knowing it might be a trap, they didn’t dare not send people down to check!” The White Ape Society wasn’t like the Eight Great Families or Taiping Dao; they were just an assassin organization that took money to eliminate disasters for others. The so-called Gaozu’s Treasure Vault naturally held no such powerful attraction for him as for the Eight Great Families.
So Xuanyuan Wentian alone choosing caution didn’t mean others weren’t cautious; it was just because everyone was in different positions, their choices naturally differed…
Pausing, Xuanyuan Wentian gave a sideways glance at his two useless subordinates: “In our line of work, the most important thing is to have the sensitivity to sniff out danger. Dull assassins have only the path of death.”
“This disciple is ashamed.” The Earthwalker lowered his head in shame. He and Gu Qi had racked their brains to make up for their mistakes and finally scouted that tonight the various clans would follow the Investigative Bureau to Mount Mang to seek treasure, who knew they’d almost gotten their master trapped.
“After this, the capital city will usher in a new situation. With the various clans’ strength greatly damaged, it’s the perfect opportunity for our White Ape Society to regroup.” In any case, seeing so many grandmasters buried under the deep tomb, Xuanyuan Wentian was in a very good mood. Looking at the vast mountains, his voice carried heartfelt pleasure: “The White Ape Society has had bad luck for over half a year; today fortune finally turns!”
“It’s all thanks to Master’s wisdom and brilliance, leading us to avoid disaster and seek fortune, that the White Ape Society welcomes this great situation.” The Earthwalker and Gu Qi seized every chance to flatter wildly. But could their little thoughts escape Xuanyuan Wentian?
A mocking expression surprisingly appeared on the White Ape Mask. Xuanyuan Wentian sneered: “Feeding me sweet talk won’t help; you can’t escape the death penalty this time, but the living penalty is inevitable. I will punish you with the Ten Thousand Ants Gnawing Bones torture, then demote each of you one level, to see your future performance.”
“Yes…” The Earthwalker and Gu Qi knelt to thank him for the grace, but their pale faces and trembling bodies revealed their fear exhaustively.
“The capital city side will send capable people to preside over things here; I will hand the execution rights for the Ten Thousand Ants Gnawing Bones to her.” Xuanyuan Wentian suddenly changed tone, sternly glaring at the two: “You’d better behave.”
“Thank you, Master, for your grace!” “Thank you, Owner, for your grace!” The Earthwalker and Gu Qi were as if granted a general amnesty, knowing Xuanyuan Wentian was using this method to make them obediently follow the new owner’s commands. In other words, as long as they obeyed orders, they could avoid the Ten Thousand Ants Gnawing Bones torture. “We will certainly follow orders strictly and obey absolutely!”
After the two expressed their stance and raised their heads, Xuanyuan Wentian’s figure was already gone from sight.
Clearly, the events in the capital city were too huge; Xuanyuan Wentian couldn’t stay a moment longer and had to hurry back to the lair to discuss the next strategy.
.
That bout of earth-shaking reached a nearby cave, shaking the cave ceiling so that dust and yellow soil fell pitter-patter, directly extinguishing the campfire.
Zhu Xiuyi and Xiahou Bupo couldn’t help but exchange bitter smiles; if this place collapsed too, they would become the most foolish conspirators in history.
Looking apologetically at Xiahou Bupo, who was covered in yellow soil and coughing nonstop, Zhu Xiuyi, still spotless, somewhat regretted circulating qi earlier to shake off the falling dust. “Third Master, let’s go out and wait.”
“Mm.” Xiahou Bupo nodded, patting the dust off his body while walking out, unable to help bitter smiling: “Good grief, how many Dragon-Slaying Stones did the military advisor prepare?”
“Heh…” Zhu Xiuyi walked to the cave entrance, gazing at the distant chaotic mountain ridge, faintly saying: “The mechanisms were already there; I just added some extra. Pausing, he lowered his voice: “Now the entire passage has collapsed; even a Xiantian True Person couldn’t escape alive.”
“This extra was plenty.” Xiahou Bupo couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.
