Chapter 65: Deceiving His Way Down the Mountain

Page 1

"Your humble servant, Huang Yuantao, guerrilla general of Qingyun Stronghold, pays respects to Commander Jin." Huang Yuantao immediately followed suit, clasping his hands respectfully beside Wei Qi'an. Although the elder was not a Grandmaster of the Transformational Realm, the aura emanating from him far surpassed that of ordinary top-tier experts.

Jin Tukang raised his head, scrutinizing Huang Yuantao from head to toe with an unabashed, probing gaze that made Huang Yuantao extremely uneasy. Yet he restrained himself and maintained his respectful posture, quietly waiting.

Jin Tukang was fifty-six this year and had long since reached the pinnacle of top-tier mastery. However, limited by the bottleneck, he had not advanced in ten years. Still, with the right opportunity, he could break through to become a Grandmaster at any time. Thus, under Hong Tianzhi’s command, he was highly renowned, one of three deputy commanders, commanding fifty thousand troops.

"General Huang, you have chosen the righteous path, accepted amnesty, and pledged allegiance to Commander Hong. You are a man of ambition. I’ve heard Qingyun Stronghold recently annexed several nearby strongholds and developed rapidly. Have there been any new gains?"

Only when Huang Yuantao’s forehead began to sweat did Jin Tukang withdraw his gaze and invite him to sit.

"Reporting to Commander Jin, Qingyun Stronghold recently took over Taoshan Stronghold, killing Grandmaster Tang Zhi, and absorbed five or six thousand of their men. Now, Qingyun Stronghold has sixteen to seventeen thousand people, nearly ten thousand soldiers, with one Grandmaster, over ten top-tier experts, and dozens of second-tier experts."

Huang Yuantao showed no hesitation in selling out Qingyun Stronghold's information. However, he was unaware of the seven or eight top-tier experts hidden by Ye Qingyun and Fang Xian; otherwise, the news would have been even more shocking.

"So many top-tier experts in such a small stronghold?" a nearby general asked in surprise.

"Killed a Grandmaster? Was it Ye Qingyun who did it?" Even Jin Tukang was astonished; he himself had struggled to break through to Grandmaster, yet Qingyun Stronghold had slain one.

"Aside from the smaller number of soldiers, Qingyun Stronghold already surpasses our entire force in terms of elite experts," another officer murmured.

Calculating based on Jin Tukang's army, without a Grandmaster overseeing them, the court would only dispatch one if a major battle broke out, but under normal circumstances, they had none. Amongst their fifty thousand troops, there were just fifteen top-tier experts and nearly a hundred second-tier experts. Yet Qingyun Stronghold, with only ten thousand soldiers, had the same number of elites—truly remarkable.

"Commander Jin, Ye Qingyun only severely wounded Tang Zhi; he was slain by someone else," Huang Yuantao clarified.

"Was he killed by other top-tier experts ganging up on him?" Yan Kaizhi asked.

"Could it have been Fang Xian?" Seeing Huang Yuantao shake his head, Wei Qi'an, who knew Qingyun Stronghold well, changed color and asked.

"Precisely. Fang Xian wielded a divine sword and fought the gravely injured Tang Zhi for over a hundred rounds. Both battled to madness, suffering multiple wounds, but in the end, Fang Xian slew Tang Zhi," Huang Yuantao nodded with a bitter smile.

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"This is the stronghold’s son-in-law you mentioned? He can contend with a Grandmaster?" Jin Tukang was shaken, for even with his own abilities and wielding a divine weapon, he could only barely match an ordinary Grandmaster, roughly equal to Feng Ling before her breakthrough.

"This young man is barely twenty, and his cultivation speed is highly suspicious. Just three months ago, he couldn’t withstand a single move from me, but now he has surpassed me. Perhaps it is related to the body-tempering formula he possesses," Huang Yuantao hesitated but continued to betray Fang Xian.

"A body-tempering formula? What is that?" Jin Tukang’s gaze sharpened immediately.

"Commander Jin, the situation is as follows: when I accompanied General Huang to Qingyun Stronghold, I heard that Fang Xian derived a body-tempering formula from medical texts, which, when used as a medicinal bath, aids martial artists in tempering their bodies.

I, General Huang, and his son all tried it. For us top-tier experts, its effect was negligible; for second-tier experts, a bit better; it might be more effective for third-tier martial artists, so we didn’t pay much attention," Wei Qi'an quickly explained.

"Fools," Jin Tukang exploded, eyes wide. "If it’s especially effective for third-tier martial artists, how can that be insignificant for the army?

If most of our soldiers could become third-tier, what would our combat strength be? Why don't you use your brains? It might not benefit you much, but do you think it’s useless to the court? If this formula leaks, all five nations would send experts to seize Qingyun Stronghold!"

"Commander Jin, would it really be that useful?" Despite being scolded, Wei Qi'an remained skeptical.

"Commander Jin, I suspect that the medicinal bath we used was not the true body-tempering formula. From my observations, six or seven new top-tier experts in Qingyun Stronghold recently broke through after using the formula.

On the day I returned, I had a sudden conflict with Fang Xian and injured him as well as another top-tier expert. The one managing the medicinal baths was that top-tier expert’s brother.

Thinking back, I suspect our bath was diluted, hence the minimal effect," Huang Yuantao continued, hands clasped.

"Is that possible?" Jin Tukang half-closed his eyes, a sign to those familiar with him that he was becoming serious.

"Reporting to Commander Jin, it’s highly likely. Moreover, Fang Xian is at risk of becoming uncontrollable. His influence on Ye Qingyun is great; if Fang Xian ever refuses to serve the Ninth Prince, Ye Qingyun will likely follow him.

Therefore, for the sake of the formula and better control of Qingyun Stronghold, I believe we should seize Fang Xian first, lest circumstances change," Huang Yuantao nodded.

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"This will not be easy. Fang Xian is in Qingyun Stronghold—we cannot simply demand he leave. To capture him, we’d need at least two Grandmasters and many top-tier experts; an ordinary army attacking Qingyun Stronghold without fifty thousand men has no hope," Yan Kaizhi shook his head.

"You martial artists have muscle for brains—always thinking things must be solved by force. Yet in this world, many matters can be resolved without violence.

Military advisor Zhang, tell us—what method might persuade Fang Xian to willingly come down from the stronghold?" Jin Tukang snorted, berating the generals before turning to a young scholar in the corner.

The scholar was Zhang Xiuquan, a graduate of the Imperial Academy, sent by the Ninth Prince to serve in the army as a military advisor, assisting with paperwork and affairs. He was the only non-martial artist in the tent.

"Reporting to Commander Jin, I’ve heard Fang Xian is a divine physician who once offered free medical care to the people in Qingyang City. To invite him down, first, General Huang could send someone to request his help, claiming a severe injury in the camp;

Second, the county magistrate could send someone to Qingyun Stronghold to invite him down to treat his wife;

Third, the imperial court could summon him to the capital to treat the Crown Prince," Zhang Xiuquan replied without hesitation.

"Listen to that. You all claim scholars are useless, yet when it comes to schemes and stratagems, you aren’t fit to carry their shoes—most would die without knowing how it happened.

Of these three methods, the first is likely unworkable: if Ye Qingyun or Fang Xian suspects our Ninth Prince, they will never come to the camp.

The second requires County Magistrate Li Changlin’s support. Though Li is willing to serve the Ninth Prince, he has the sentiment of a scholar and was once saved by Fang Xian, so likely won’t treat his benefactor thus.

Therefore, we should use the third method: send someone to Qingyun Stronghold, inviting Fang Xian in the name of the imperial court to treat the Crown Prince in the capital. The Crown Prince’s illness is well-known," Jin Tukang analyzed.

"Commander Jin, this must not happen. Fang Xian’s medical skill is extraordinary; if he truly cures the Crown Prince, it would be disastrous," Huang Yuantao protested.

"No need to worry, General Huang. Fang Xian will never reach the capital," Wei Qi'an smiled, understanding Jin Tukang’s intent—he could be dealt with en route.