Chapter 613 93: Allies

It was Ruan Chunzi who had sent the message to Wang Ping. He didn't reveal his current location, only relaying the news that Lishui Prefecture was making a major move.

However, the puppets Wang Ping had stationed in Lishui Prefecture had sent no news back. This could only mean the information was currently known only to the top brass in Lishui Prefecture, and Ruan Chunzi had obtained it through a special channel.

"What's the move?" Hu Yin asked.

"The islands under the Seventh Prince's command are secretly mobilizing their navy. Their destination is currently unknown, but it's clearly not for their own civil war, and it's even less likely they plan to attack Hu Mountain Country or the Eastern Continent. That means we must be their only target!"

Hearing this, Zhi Gong flicked her wide sleeves and said, "Perhaps it's retaliation for your previous actions in Mozhou."

Wang Ping thought for a moment before disagreeing. "Impossible. Unless their commander simply wants to vent his anger, attacking Mozhou Road would only overextend their supply lines. They'd be better off settling things with me directly in Changwen Prefecture!"

"Our coastline is long. If they resort to constant harassment like they did decades ago, we'll be forced into a passive position. We would have to take the initiative and launch a counterattack to drive them back, but that's unrealistic given Chu Country's current situation." Hu Yin looked at Wang Ping and asked, "Can Changwen Prefecture defend the coast?"

"For the short term, it's definitely not a problem. My disciple trained a navy at Baisui Lake. Although it has officially been disbanded, its members are all stationed in Changwen Prefecture City. With them, plus our warships and Government Soldiers, we should have no problem holding out for six months to a year."

Wang Ping gave a time frame.

Hu Yin breathed a sigh of relief. "Three months will be enough. Within that time, I'll organize a large army from the Water Race to reinforce you. However, you'll have to be responsible for their supplies."

Wang Ping immediately cupped his hands. "Thank you!"

Zhi Gong added, "Be careful they don't turn the tactics you used in Mozhou Road back on you. You need to keep a tight rein on your disciples for the time being, so you don't give your enemies an opening."

"You mean they'll attack Qianmu Temple directly?" A flash of understanding crossed Wang Ping's eyes.

"And why couldn't they?" Zhi Gong retorted.

Wang Ping's expression hardened.

Hu Yin said, "I'll immediately dispatch a Core Formation Realm clansman to reinforce you."

Zhi Gong also spoke up. "I know a friend from my early years in the Yuqing Sect. He owes me a favor. I'll have him head to Qianmu Temple at once."

Wang Ping cupped his fist. "My thanks, Fellow Daoist!"

Zhi Gong was intentionally putting Wang Ping in her debt, and Wang Ping didn't refuse. He knew this favor was likely part of her preparations for her own advancement.

"I cannot travel to Qianmu Temple myself. My advancement is at a critical stage. I estimate I'll be able to make the attempt in another two hundred years!" Zhi Gong said with a nod.

Hearing this, Yu Lian quipped in his mind, 'It's still going to be that long? I wonder if you'll successfully advance before she does.'

Wang Ping ignored her quip. For a Third Realm Cultivator, two hundred years wasn't a particularly long time—it was only equivalent to about five or six years in the mortal world.

"The Daoist Palace Headquarters also needs some Second Realm Cultivators!" Wang Ping added another request.

This request was a welcome one for Hu Yin; it was the perfect opportunity for her clan to integrate into the Southern Cultivation Realm. She immediately replied, "If Fellow Daoist doesn't find the presence of the Demon Race unsightly, my clan's children would be happy to help ease your burden!"

"Excellent. You can have your clan's cultivators contact my disciple, Xia Wen Yi, about this matter."

"Then it's settled!"

...

Xia Wen Yi had no idea his master had just assigned him another task. He was currently in the front hall, discussing how to seize power with Liu Qin, the Patriarch of the Liu Family.

Dongcan and Leng Kezhen were also part of the discussion, while Hongyuan, Qin Zifeng, and Qingjiang waited outside.

Although Xia Wen Yi was of royal birth, he was unfamiliar with the games of political struggle. Liu Qin did most of the talking, proposing they first find an Imperial Censor to bring down a major family, then divide and dismantle the rest.

The method was conventional, but Xia Wen Yi felt it wasn't quite right. He turned to Dongcan and asked, "Senior, do you have any suggestions?"

"I only kill people. Everything else is none of my concern," Dongcan said, shaking his head, clearly not intending to get involved in the matter.

Leng Kezhen rose from his seat, cupped his fist toward Xia Wen Yi, and said, "I have a humble suggestion, if I may be so bold as to speak."

"Please, speak freely."

Xia Wen Yi knew who the man before him was. However, he had long since abandoned his identity as a member of the Xia Imperial Family, so he felt no awkwardness. In truth, when he had questioned Dongcan, he was really hoping to hear the opinion of this former Vice Commander of the Imperial Guard.

Having been given the chance to speak, Leng Kezhen first cupped his fist in the direction of the Mountain Peak Dojo. "We have the support of Changqing Zhenren. Compared to that, the affairs of this Imperial Court are a trivial matter. Why must we be so roundabout? In my humble opinion, we should just issue an edict and arrest them directly!"

"And who among them do you think will be so easy to arrest?"

Liu Qin retorted.

At this, Leng Kezhen turned and saluted Dongcan with a cupped fist. "With Senior Dongcan here, who would dare make a move?"

Liu Qin countered again, "The True Monarchs have set the rules: cultivators at the Second Realm or higher may not interfere in the struggle for the Divine Artifact. If it were that simple, why would we be here agonizing over it? And let's say we could arrest them. I'm afraid the moment we did, every army in Jinhua Prefecture City, save for the Imperial Guard, would storm the Imperial Palace. They've done it before."

Leng Kezhen glanced at Liu Shuang before turning back to Xia Wen Yi and speaking with a cupped fist.

"I have rarely met anyone who doesn't fear death. As long as we kill quickly enough, there will be no one left to lodge a complaint. And even if someone does, isn't it the Daoist Palace that will handle the issue in the end? The rules of this game are in our hands. As long as we don't blatantly use Second Realm abilities or higher to obliterate armies and civilians, or directly interfere with the struggle for the Divine Artifact, the True Monarchs likely can't be bothered with our petty affairs."

Xia Wen Yi found himself nodding. He remembered how his senior sister had avenged Hu Xin by publicly executing six Entering Cultivators, and the only consequence was house arrest. Then there was the recent cleansing of Mozhou Road. Technically, they had definitely broken the rules, but nothing had come of it.

Seeing Xia Wen Yi in thought, Leng Kezhen continued, "If that's not enough, we can take it a step further and find some scapegoats. As long as we control Jinhuai City, inside and out, deciding who the villains are and who the heroes are is merely a matter of our decree. Besides, Chu Country only controls four roads now. As far as the eye can see, everyone is an ally of Changqing Zhenren. Who could possibly make any real waves?"

Hearing this, Xia Wen Yi finally spoke. "If I were to entrust this matter to you, what would you need?"

A perfectly measured look of delight appeared on Leng Kezhen's face. "First, justification. In Chu Country, an imperial edict is the highest justification. Second, sufficient manpower. With these two things, I can cleanse the entire Chu Kingdom Court within three days."

"Do you want to see rivers of blood flow through Jinhuai City?" Liu Qin's voice was sharp.

"It won't come to rivers of blood, though some people will certainly die. Your Excellency needn't be overly concerned with them. Once the old guard is dead, a new guard will immediately rush to fill the vacuum. They will help us trample the corpses of their predecessors, and they might even help us wield the butcher's knife."

Leng Kezhen spoke these words with an ingratiating smile.