Chapter 551 - 318: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada!

The people of the Five Poison Sect had been in Shu State for quite some time.

Initially, it was assumed they were associating with Liu Zhaoxue to use the Jing State Liu Family against the Mountain Race. Unexpectedly, they had another motive for coming to Shu State—they were likely colluding with Liu Hong to deliberately cause disaster.

This time, if Chen Yi hadn’t been in the right place at the right time and immediately noticed the Five Poison Sect’s subtle movements, the outcome would have been dire. Given a few more days, tens of thousands of commoners inside and outside the Prefecture City would have suffered this calamity and died tragic deaths.

Even now...

Chen Yi looked at the sky, then turned to the Mountain Race people standing quietly around him. "The Five Poison Sect’s scheme this time is not small. Even if we find their location, we still need to guard against their contingency plans."

Pei Ze, Pei Qian, and the others exchanged glances. "You might as well speak plainly, young friend."

"Plague poison is different from the rest; it’s extremely malicious and can cause massive casualties among the commoners in a very short time.

"I want to notify some people now so they can prepare in advance."

Pei Ze nodded. "That is how it should be. Please, go ahead."

Pei Qian and the others naturally had no objections.

However, Pei Guanli asked, "Sir, aren’t you going with me?"

Chen Yi shook his head. "You all go first. I will head over shortly."

Yuan Hao could hold on for that long, but those refugees could not. After a brief exchange, Chen Yi disappeared in a flash.

Pei Guanli stared at his retreating back, the smile on her face growing wider as she giggled incessantly.

Beside her, the little girl Lan Yanni looked up at her. Teasing the little white snake wrapped around her wrist, she said, "Sister Guanli, Dragon Tiger’s real name shouldn’t be Liu Wu, right? It looks like a fake name."

Pei Guanli gave her a joyful look. "Of course not."

"Then what’s his real name?"

"I’m not telling you."

"Sister Guanli, after we finish dealing with the Five Poison Sect, we have to go back to the mountains."

"So what?"

Zhu Fangling smiled mischievously. "Lan Girl means she plans to tell your Ah Ma about this. There’s no guarantee the old lady won’t come down the mountain personally to see that ’Dragon Tiger’."

"Ah?"

Seeing Lan Yanni nod, Pei Guanli’s smile vanished. She bared her teeth, brandished her claws, and pounced on the girl, wrapping an arm around her neck and trapping her head against her chest. "If you dare spout nonsense, I... I’ll let Little Flower bite you!"

"I won’t dare! I won’t dare anymore..."

Pei Ze watched the two of them roughhouse but did not intervene. Instead, he looked up at the cloudless night sky and said unhurriedly, "The Five Poison Sect... After this, I hope they still exist."

Li Yunjun glanced at Pei Qian, who was fully engrossed in incubating his insect cocoons, and asked in a low voice, "Mr. Pei, you are the most familiar with the Five Poison Sect among us. Tell me more about that Yan Jingchen."

"What? Are you scared?"

"It’s better to be prepared."

"Heh, this time just follow Xiaoqian and charge their formations. Leave the rest to me."

A ferocious sneer appeared on Pei Ze’s gaunt face. A foot-long centipede crawled out of his nostril, slithering along the deep wrinkles of his skin all the way up to his shoulder. "Old buddy, it’s been a long time since you made a move. Do you still remember the taste of killing?"

"HISS!"

Two hundred miles west of the Shu State Prefecture City.

A bright moon hung high in the sky. Silvery moonlight blanketed the mountains and wilderness.

In the forest, a convoy of carriages pulled by horned horses and camels wound its way through the trees. Beside the vehicles walked guards dressed in black, wearing bamboo hats, with swords and Blades hanging at their waists and holding torches high. The scattered torchlight stretched for several miles along the winding mountain path.

Inside a carriage lagging near the back, Lin Zhenghong leaned against the wall. He peered through the window curtains at the advancing convoy from time to time, unable to conceal his delight.

"A brilliant plan, sir. Taking the waterway out of the city to the west, then switching to the mountain paths and bypassing the official relay stations perfectly avoids any interrogations from the Prefecture City’s men."

Lin Zhenghong looked at "Li Sanyuan," who was reclining in the innermost seat of the carriage. After offering a few compliments, he asked, "Sir, the trading location is still within the western mountain pass. Do you think that’s somewhat inappropriate?"

Zhang Dabao’s eyes were half-closed. Resting comfortably on the soft goose-down pillows at the back of the carriage, he hummed dismissively, "We are only here for the silver. There’s no need to worry about anything else."

As he spoke, he looked over to the other side—at a man dressed in fine silk and sporting a thick beard, styled in the attire of the Poshisu Country. "Wouldn’t you agree, Your Excellency Wolf Six?"

Seeing his high-and-mighty, bureaucratic demeanor, Liu Lang pinched the flesh of his chin, nearly ripping off a few strands of his fake beard. Stifling a laugh, he said in a stiff tone, "No need, for your esteemed grain company, to worry. We, naturally have, our own methods!"

Lin Zhenghong glanced at him. Although he thought little of the man, for the sake of the silver, he nodded with a chuckle. "Lord Wolf Six and your Peacock King Banner possess formidable strength... We were indeed overthinking it."

He thought, "I really have too much free time. Once the transaction is complete and the silver is in hand, who cares how you horse bandits transport the grain out."

Compared to his subtle restraint, Liu Lang was much more direct. Hugging that long Blade wrapped in rags with both arms, he said disdainfully, "Wei People, cannot be trusted."

Zhang Dabao shot him a glance, thinking that only he could spout such words. An ordinary person really couldn’t act out that kind of obnoxious vibe.

Liu Lang didn’t care what they were thinking. He leaned back in the carriage, his body swaying with the bumps of the mountain road.

About fifteen minutes later, the carriage came to a halt.

Zhang Dabao took a deep breath and was the first to step down from the carriage. "We’re here."

Lin Zhenghong politely yielded the way, stepping down last.

Liu Lang followed them out. He scanned the surroundings, a smile breaking through his crudely disguised face. "Dark moon, high wind. Not bad."

Lin Zhenghong walked up beside him and smiled. "This matter is of grave importance, so please forgive us, Lord Wolf Six. After this transaction is over, we will welcome you to Shu State anytime. When that day comes, I will definitely treat you to the best restaurant in town."

"Very good, very good..." Liu Lang grinned and gestured for Zhang Dabao to lead the way.