A group of people were resting in the dense forest, while Long Xingyun, Xie Tianshang, Chu Qingcheng and Zhuo Fan inspected a map.
Long Xingyun was the first to speak, “Brother Zhuo, do you see something wrong with the map to call it a fake?”
“None whatsoever. Be it the captives or the map, they are both beyond reproach.” Zhuo Fan shook his head and his gaze hardened, “But there’s no way I’d take it for granted when something so good just comes and falls into my lap. It goes double for something we need the most.”
Silence pervaded for a while, then Chu Qingcheng ventured, “Maybe… we do not need this map. We could go opposite-“
“Who says we don’t need it?”
Zhuo Fan butted in with a smile, “If it’s real, that turns it into a trap. This makes it worth using it. Since they went out of their way to plan against us, we’ll just beat them to the punch!”
The others didn’t know where he was going with this so Zhuo Fan held out the three sending jades. He left a message on them then left one to each of them with a crafty smile, “Wait for five days then read it.”
Zhuo Fan jumped to his feet and barked, “Listen up. We’re moving out. Form three divisions around the three houses and split up for the three exits!”
“Split up?”
Why make them weaker than they already were? Zhuo Fan handed over the exit keys and said, “Yes, split up! With our size, it’s very easy to be spotted. Smaller teams will allow us to move unnoticed. In the case of an enemy encounter it would also be simple to flee and hide among the thick trees. “
While others nodded, Chu Qingcheng pulled Zhuo Fan to the side, “What if the map is fake and the exits hold nothing but traps?”
“We won’t know unless we try. We finally got an exit route as well. Even if we clash a few more times in the Beast King Mountain it will be easy to escape while whittling down their Bone Tempering experts number. It will end with them being reduced to nothing. This is our best bet.”
Zhuo Fan put on a smile and turned to the rest, “Each team will send out three Profound Heaven experts to scout thirty miles ahead, reporting back on the hour.”
“Understood!” They all replied and Zhuo Fan said to Chu Qingcheng, “Even if they meet a trap, they can get an early notice.”
Glaring at him, Chu Qingcheng shook her head, [You’re full of tricks.]
As they all got ready to set off, Luo Yunhai’s team followed behind Drifting Flowers Edifices just as Long Xingyun brought the two prisoners, “What do we do with them?”
“Let them go.” Zhuo Fan spoke coldly.
The others whipped their heads around in shock. Long Xingyun was the most affected, “They’ll betray our plan if they’re found.”
“It will happen regardless. Recall what happened in Killing Blood Marsh? We have a mole among us. These two’s situation has already been reported back. Letting them go or not won’t make a difference.” Zhuo Fan sighed.
What a shocker!
[How could we forget? We still have a spy unaccounted for.] Everyone looked around suspiciously.
Zhuo Fan said, “This isn’t the time to draw him out. We’ll do that once we get back to the safety of Dragon Cloud City.”
“But a spy implies great danger.” Xie Tianshang’s face hardened.
Zhuo Fan sneered, “What danger? He’ll only rat out our movements. As long as we’re fast enough, any information will be worthless and they won’t be able to act on it. On the contrary, if we suspect each other all the time, it will be a disaster only they will profit from. So get a move on. Reach the three exits on the double!”
The people were startled for a second then their opinion of him grew. They never knew you could deal with a spy like that.
Ignoring him yet moving faster than he could report would be the same as turning him useless.
The way Zhuo Fan boldly did things got even the army-experienced Luo Yunhai in a daze.
Not even Dugu Zhantian led his army with such valor.
[Big brother Zhuo is a true man of ambition to have so many great figures set their eyes on him.]
“Set off! Let’s see each other in Dragon Cloud City in five days!” Zhuo Fan shouted and the other replied in high spirits as well.
Only Chu Qingcheng and her two allies knew his true meaning.
The nearest exit was a week away, while the farthest was ten days. He was speaking for their own benefit, to check the sending jade five days later.
The three noticed Zhuo Fan’s slight nod and smile.
The group thus split into three divisions according to Zhuo Fan’s orders. They moved swiftly, curious to see if they or the spy’s leaks were faster.
The forceful way Zhuo Fan dealt with the spy left the people fired up and eager for battle. Despite being a mere race to defeat the spy, to them it felt like they were battling against their greatest enemy, and winning too.
They started to get a feeling of holding everything beneath them, of indomitable spirit, just like Zhuo Fan usually was. Everyone was united in their goal and hearts!
Cai Xiaoting took an ashen Sun Yufei away. As they passed Zhuo Fan, he asked, “W-why let us go?”
“No reason. Maybe I’m showing kindness for taking care of Luo clan in the early days. Or maybe I wish to see your agony for my sick humor. But I will admit to this, when it comes to garbage, killing or throwing it away makes no difference.”
Zhuo Fan left as well, not minding them one bit.
Cai Xiaoting sighed and muttered, “Thank you.”
Then he slowly walked away with Sun Yufei.
They had lost the hatred they clutched to so dearly and it was now replaced by solitude.
Recalling their derisory look when Zhuo Fan entered the Cai clan, it all seemed like a poor joke now. He was a true man of ambition and had brushed them off from the very start. It was them who kept having their goals growing higher and higher.
The man had a clear vision of what he wanted, never changing, all while theirs did.
He finally realized that eight years ago when Zhuo Fan left Blackwind Mountain, he and his father were in awe of the man’s talent, but never held him in respect. It came to him that even his father belittled Zhuo Fan.
Zhuo Fan had such a talent lesser clansmen like them couldn’t even begin to compare.
Sighing, they slowly disappeared among the trees…
“Big brother Zhuo, you’re not coming with us?” Xue Ningxiang ran to him.
Zhuo Fan shook his head, “There’s something I must do. You and the Xue clan should go with Sword Marquise Abode. Xie Tianyang may be unreliable, but his brother is there to make it up for him. Few are his match, except Huangpu Qingtian. You’ll be safe.”
“Oi, what are you implying? Who are you calling unreliable? What did I ever do to you to badmouth me to Ning’er?” Xie Tianyang was annoyed and grabbed Ning’er’s shoulder, “Ning’er, don’t worry. No one will hurt you with me around.”
But Xue Ningxiang didn’t even register his presence. Her eyes fixed on Zhuo Fan, her voice soft, “When will we see each other again?”
“In five days!” Zhuo Fan smiled.
“That’s a promise. You have to come see me in five days.” Xue Ningxiang held out her Thunder Ring, “You can’t lie to me like you did in the Allbeast Mountain Range.”
Smiling, Zhuo Fan took out his own Thunder Ring and let them touch as sparks flew, “I won’t.”
Xue Ningxiang smiled brightly, to the rancor and jealousy of Xie Tianyang.
Xue Ningxiang then dragged a stiff Xie Tianyang back to Sword Marquise Abode’s division. Zhuo Fan shook his head and left in another direction as he heard Xie Tianyang’s incessant begging.
“Ning’er, let our rings touch as well.”
“No!”
“Why? I beg you…”
Zhuo Fan shook his head, then turned to the aged man following Luo clan, “Grandmaster Liu, come with me. I need your help.”
Liu Yizhen jerked, but got there on the double.
The two flitted through the trees and were soon gone. Half a day later, they stood atop a mountain peak.
Regarding the breathtaking view, Zhuo Fan took a deep breath and felt so free, relaxed and soothed, “Those dead weights are about to leave. I haven’t felt so at ease in ages.”
Liu Yizhen smiled inside as he bowed, “In the Esoteric Debate this century, the three houses’ alliance hardly did anything. They could only hold on because of Grandmaster Zhuo’s support, while they were holding you back.”
“You couldn’t be more right!” Zhuo Fan cocked his head with a smile.
Liu Yizhen probed, “Then, Grandmaster Zhuo, what are your orders?”
“Oh, no orders. I only want to know where Huangpu Qingtian is right now. Doesn’t he have another Brimming Sacred Pill? I should pay him a visit and receive it.” Zhuo Fan’s eyes flashed coldly.
Liu Yizhen felt a shiver crawl up his spine…