Chapter 657 - 206: Water Control Technique, Qualitative Change

The hall was a flurry of activity, with cups being raised and toasts exchanged, as bustling as a marketplace.

Zhang Dao Ling’s table, however, was completely silent, like the surface of calm water.

"Go on, tell me. What is this deal?" Zhang Dao Ling said slowly, his fingers drumming against the tabletop.

Zhang Dao Ling wanted nothing to do with these people from the Xinhua Academy, but his son was simply too much of a disappointment.

Several years ago, his son had secretly joined the Xinhua Academy. He had also provided them with a great deal of information, leading to civilian casualties.

Even though it wasn’t direct, he had indirectly caused the deaths and injuries of common people. If word of this ever got out, it would undoubtedly mean immediate execution.

Even his entire clan would not be spared.

He had only this one son. His wife had died giving birth to him, and he had transferred all of his love onto the boy.

Zhang Dao Ling had exhausted every possible means to protect his son, barely managing to keep him safe in the end.

Yet today, this fiend from the Xinhua Academy had dared to come before him and threaten him.

Zhang Dao Ling had considered that this might happen, but he never expected it to be at such a critical juncture.

He wanted to hear what the other party’s deal was.

The young man burst out laughing. "As expected of Lord Zhang—so decisive. The deal is very simple. We want to move against Shen Bai, but we currently lack an opportunity."

"If we can find an opportunity to kill Shen Bai and grind his bones to ash, it won’t just benefit us; it will benefit you and the Marquis as well."

"You’ll get payback for how Shen Bai humiliated you, and you’ll eliminate the risk of your son being discovered. After all, it seems Shen Bai has already noticed your son."

Zhang Dao Ling turned his head and glanced toward Shen Bai’s table.

At that moment, Shen Bai was talking with the people at his table.

He turned back and asked, "This opportunity you speak of—what is it?"

"And another thing—you people have a lot of nerve. Given Shen Bai’s current prestige in the Great Zhou Country, I can’t think of anyone outside the Capital Cities who would dare to cross him."

"To want to grind his bones to ash, you must have a comprehensive plan."

Just a moment ago, after careful consideration, Zhang Dao Ling had decided to hear them out first.

As the fiend from the Xinhua Academy said, after tonight, Shen Bai was bound to have noticed his son.

No secret can be kept forever.

Even though Zhang Dao Ling was confident he had erased numerous clues, what if someone managed to trace them anyway?

Anything was possible, and he had to eliminate that possibility. He didn’t want all his hard work to be for nothing.

’If Shen Bai were to die...’

Once the thought entered Zhang Dao Ling’s mind, he found he couldn’t shake it. It grew more and more persistent, impossible to uproot.

The young man smiled. "Shen Bai is always followed by a large entourage whenever he goes out. In that case, forget us—even if three major powers were to strike at once, I’m afraid they’d be helpless. The key right now is to create a situation where Shen Bai is alone."

Zhang Dao Ling frowned. "After tonight, Shen Bai and I are like fire and water. You expect me to lure him out alone? That’s impossible."

"And even if I could, if Shen Bai died, I would be the first one they suspect."

He was no fool. If he really did as they asked, he’d surely be the prime suspect.

At that point, if they followed the trail of clues back to him, he didn’t know what would become of the Xinhua Academy, but he himself would certainly be put to death.

The execution of his entire clan would be getting off easy. Future history books would vilify him for ages to come.

The risk far outweighed the reward; he wouldn’t do it.

The young man shook his head. "Lord Zhang, we would naturally not ask you to put yourself in harm’s way."

"We will arrange for two disturbances in Lingyun Dao beforehand—one a feint, and one the real attack. We will make the feint as big and loud as possible."

"And that’s where we’ll need your help."

’A feint and a real attack?’

Zhang Dao Ling understood.

The feint would draw away most of the Observatory’s members, while the real attack would be a net to ensnare Shen Bai.

He just didn’t know what part he was expected to play.

Seeing Zhang Dao Ling fall silent, the young man continued, "There are constables guarding Lianyun Medicine Mountain. We need an opening in their defenses."

"Impossible!"

Zhang Dao Ling’s eyes turned cold. "I poured my heart and soul into Lianyun Medicine Mountain. If you people cause trouble there, my Lingyun Dao will face an economic crisis."

Lianyun Medicine Mountain was a project he had personally pushed through; it was Lingyun Dao’s most important source of revenue.

The common folk would plant the herbs, and the Lingyun Dao merchant guilds would purchase and sell them, forming a complete supply chain.

If Lianyun Medicine Mountain were to be destroyed, the economy of Lingyun Dao would suffer a massive decline.

The young man shook his head. "Lord Zhang, nothing will go wrong. It’s just the feint, you can rest easy on that. In fact, it’s precisely because it’s only a feint that we need your help to create an opening."

At these words, Zhang Dao Ling fell into deep thought.

He was torn, unsure whether to agree.

Seeing the look on Zhang Dao Ling’s face, the young man knew the deal was halfway done.

"Lord Zhang, this is a chance to kill two birds with one stone. What is there left to worry about?"

"If you don’t do this, then even if we say nothing to Shen Bai, you won’t be able to escape the blame if he becomes dead set on investigating your son."

"The right and wrong of it... I trust Lord Zhang can reach his own conclusion. I needn’t say more."

Zhang Dao Ling unclenched his fist. "Then where is this so-called ’real’ attack of yours?"

The young man smiled. "That will require the Marquis’s help."

The Marquis of Ren De, who had been listening in, frowned when he heard this. "And what help can I provide?"

’So that’s it,’ he realized. ’This whole banquet was just to create an opportunity for the Xinhua Academy to approach Zhang Dao Ling.’