Chapter 259 - 222: A Gathering Storm (2)

"This saying shouldn’t be taken as a definitive power ranking. It only represents the experts within the Warlord system and can’t possibly include all the heroes in the world or hidden masters. Within the civilian Martial Arts Realm, for example, the Sect Leader of the Cyan Dragon Sect from the Four Saints Sect, the Living Buddha of Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism, and the three great generals of the National Salvation Association are all experts of this level."

Earth Elder slowly explained to Zhao Xuanqi.

"Eight Kings and Sixteen Generals..."

Hearing this, Zhao Xuanqi narrowed his eyes slightly, a look of interest on his face.

’So these are the top experts among the eight great Warlords controlling the Divine Land?’

He was extremely interested in their Martial Dao.

"Xuanqi, your training is finished. If there’s nothing else, we should return to Jinmen. The World Martial Banquet is drawing near, and I’m worried the situation in Jinmen might change. We must prepare in advance."

"But with your strength now greatly increased, and with the National Salvation Association helping from the shadows, I’m sure you can overcome any danger."

Earth Elder said to Zhao Xuanqi.

"It is time to go back."

Zhao Xuanqi nodded, then turned to Jiang Wu. "Elder Jiang, thank you for everything. The situation in Jinmen is tense, but I will come to visit you again when I have the chance."

"Go on, go on. Come and visit when you have time. Oh, and I need you to keep my presence here a secret. I don’t involve myself in the world’s affairs, and I don’t want a bunch of people showing up to bother me."

Jiang Wu said with a wave of his hand.

"Elder Jiang, I’ll come visit again when I can."

Earth Elder also said, bowing respectfully to Jiang Wu.

"Not you, kid. Nothing good ever happens when you show up. It’s better if you come around less."

Jiang Wu said coldly.

Earth Elder’s old face flushed red, but he paid it no mind. He cupped his hands in a farewell gesture to Jiang Wu, then followed Zhao Xuanqi. They moved quickly, sprinting toward the distant miasma and soon plunged right into it.

Jiang Wu stood his ground, watching them until their figures vanished completely, speechless for a long moment.

’Is another overlord about to rise in this world?’

...

...

Just as Zhao Xuanqi and Earth Elder were rushing back to the Jinmen Martial Arts Association.

「Somewhere in Shangjing.」

Early in the morning, pedestrians hurried through the streets. Winter had arrived, bringing a chill to the air and flurries of snow from the sky. Everyone on the road was bundled up tightly against the cold.

A woman was dressed in a black woolen overcoat, her slightly curly black hair peeking out from under a felt hat. She wore sunglasses and black leather gloves. Even bundled in thick clothing, her graceful figure was eye-catching and drew many stares.

The woman walked slowly to a newsstand and bought a copy of the day’s morning paper. Her gaze swept over the headlines on the front page, finally settling on the advertisements and the missing persons section.

When she saw a missing person notice signed "Luo Ada," the woman’s expression hardened. She rolled up the newspaper and walked slowly into a nearby alley.

After a series of twists and turns, once she confirmed she wasn’t being followed, she slipped into a residential house.

Her movements light, the woman didn’t use the front door. Instead, she slipped through a half-open window into the house’s bedroom like a cat.

The woman then looked down at the floor, found a hidden compartment, and retrieved a slip of paper from within.

"Suspected mole within the organization. Minister Yang’s arrival in Jinmen has been exposed. The Beidou Army is holding a secret meeting with the high command of other Warlords. They may use overwhelming force at the World Martial Banquet in three days. The target is not only Jinmen, but also our general. This operation is likely to be massive. Expect at least five Harmony masters. It is unknown if the Sixteen Generals will be deployed. Be extremely careful."

"Also, my identity may be compromised. I am risking my life to send this. Do not attempt to contact me. I will try to gather further intelligence. Don’t worry about me."

The note was signed, "Red Heart."

After reading the note, a sharp glint flashed in the woman’s eyes. She held the slip of paper between her hands and gave it a slight twist. The paper burst into flames without any visible fire source—a result of the intense heat generated by the instantaneous friction of her palms.

The woman remained silent for a moment. After making sure she left no trace, her figure flickered and she was gone from the house. She emerged from the alley, hailed a rickshaw, and rode to another district, entering yet another residential house.

"Sir."

Inside the house, a member of the National Salvation Association addressed the woman, his expression grave.

"Telegraph Jinmen and headquarters. There’s a mole. Yang Xun’s movements have been exposed. The eight great Warlords are planning a joint operation. There will be five or more Harmony masters. It’s unknown if they will deploy troops. Tell them to prepare."

the woman said.

"What?!"

The National Salvation Association member’s face was a mask of shock.

’Five Harmony masters! That’s nearly the entire expert contingent of a major power, and they’re launching a joint operation?!’

To be honest, not even during the campaigns to encircle and destroy the National Salvation Association had five Harmony masters ever gathered in one place. The organization had been too decentralized, and the Warlords had each fought for themselves.

As he spoke, the woman began to remove her overcoat. She walked to a wardrobe in a side room and took out a set of men’s clothes.

A low, guttural rumbling sound accompanied the transformation.

The woman’s body began to transform. Not just her skin and face, but her very bone structure and height underwent a dramatic change.

In less than half a minute, the graceful, charming modern woman had become a middle-aged man with a long face, thick eyebrows, and high cheekbones. Her figure had altered completely, all feminine traits vanished.

The woman was, in fact, one of the three great generals of the National Salvation Association: "Thousand Illusions" Li Ping.

If one were to ask which member of the National Salvation Association the great Warlords feared most—aside from the chairman, who possessed no martial skill yet commanded the organization’s countless followers—it would have to be Li Ping, "Thousand Illusions" of the Intelligence Department.

Changing bodies, altering faces, swapping genders in an instant—like a ghost, no one ever knew when or where he would appear.

Li Ping’s contributions were a major reason the National Salvation Association had been able to survive and even thrive under the Warlords’ repeated attempts to destroy it.

"Sir, you’re..."

the member of the National Salvation Association asked.

"I’m going to the Beidou Army headquarters to see what tricks they’re playing."

Li Ping said nonchalantly.

"After your last visit, they’ve tightened security at the Beidou Army headquarters. It’s said not even a fly could get in now."

the member of the National Salvation Association said.

"What place could possibly stop me?"

Li Ping gave a slight smile, pushed open the door, and his figure quickly vanished.

...

...

「Meanwhile, in a tea room at the Neon Concession Consulate.」

Consul Sano Hideyuki and Military Department Head Yamada Ichirō occupied the secondary seats. In the seat of honor sat an old man in simple, casual Neon attire. His face was a web of wrinkles, his body was stooped, and his eyes were cloudy. He looked to be at death’s door.

"Mr. Kei, your performance this time has been very disappointing."

The old man said to Wakatsuki Kei, who sat opposite him, after taking a slow sip of hot tea.

"Hai!"

"This subordinate is incompetent! To have forced you to come to Jinmen personally... even ten thousand deaths would not be enough to atone for my failure."

Wakatsuki Kei immediately shot to his feet, bowing deeply with utmost reverence.

"Enough. We’ll leave the matter there. I’ve had the situation investigated, and it’s true the blame is not entirely yours. Sit down. Don’t be nervous. The Empire still has need of your strength."

the old man said calmly.

"Thank you for your forgiveness."

Wakatsuki Kei let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding and sat back down. Cold sweat had beaded on his back without him even noticing.

"Mr. An Yuan," Sano Hideyuki began from the side, his hushed voice filled with fanaticism, "for you to come to Jinmen personally... does this mean..."

"The plan to use the Jinmen martial event to suppress the Divine Land’s Martial Dao spirit and use Jinmen as a springboard cannot be allowed to fail. This time, we’ve received intelligence that a general of the National Salvation Association has infiltrated Jinmen, and the eight great Warlords are launching a joint operation. At least five of the Divine Land’s Harmony masters will gather here. This is our opportunity."

"The Northern Territory has been preparing for far too long, and the Empire is growing impatient."

"The Divine Land has an old saying: ’The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.’ Tell me, in this situation, what do you suppose would happen if the great Warlords were to lose five of their Harmony masters?"

the old man said with a smile.

A storm was brewing in Jinmen!