Chapter 360 - 351: Rebellious to the Bone, Old Acquaintances from Longqiu

Chapter 360: Chapter 351: Rebellious to the Bone, Old Acquaintances from Longqiu

"Very well."

Fu Juemin set down his teacup and stood up.

The young woman in the black dress stepped aside, lowering her head and casting her eyes down to clear the path for him.

She seemed utterly afraid to look at Fu Juemin, her cheeks slightly flushed in a display of shyness. Yet the clothes she wore were as thin as a cicada’s wing, revealing large swathes of alluring, snow-white skin. Her every move carried a hint of feigned resistance.

The young woman’s beauty was no less than Helian’s, but her style was the complete opposite of the naturally seductive Helian.

’One dies, and another one arrives.’

Fu Juemin thought to himself as he casually walked out.

The shy, black-clad young woman led Fu Juemin to the "Profound" private room. He paused briefly at the door before calmly pushing it open and walking in.

The door to the private room opened to reveal Helu, dressed in a Profound Robe, sitting at the table.

Behind him stood a figure shrouded in black smoke so thick it seemed to burn. Its face and form were obscured, with only a dense mass of black tentacles writhing wildly around its body.

Like a nest of snakes, like a tangle of vines.

The figure stared coldly at Fu Juemin.

As its gaze fixed upon him, the air in the space between the doorway and Helu seemed to grow incredibly viscous.

With each step, one could feel an immense, invisible resistance and pressure, as if submerged deep underwater.

Fu Juemin decided not to walk any further.

He stood at the doorway, quietly watching Helu a short distance away.

"Helian is dead."

Helu didn’t look at him, merely fiddling with the tea set before him.

"I know."

"You know?"

Helu looked up, his expression grim and his voice turning cold. "You knew about the message sent three days ago, yet you only thought to come see me today?"

"Because I was injured."

Fu Juemin said flatly.

Helu’s expression faltered for a moment.

Fu Juemin looked at him and said mockingly, "You don’t actually think I killed Helian, do you?"

He shook his head, the expression on his face making it seem as if Helu were the biggest fool in the world.

Helu’s expression shifted. The figure behind him stirred, and the invisible pressure in the air suddenly intensified.

Fu Juemin was affected. He grunted softly and took half a step back. When he looked up, his face was a mask of deep "wariness" and "fear."

But Helu raised a hand. "Come in. Sit and talk."

Fu Juemin remained at the doorway, his expression uncertain. Helu called out softly, "Ghost Dragon."

Only after seeing the figure in the thick black smoke retreat step by step into the shadows of a corner did Fu Juemin slowly walk in.

He sat down opposite Helu, his gaze still darting occasionally to the figure in the corner named "Ghost Dragon." Meanwhile, he spoke quickly, "The men from the Red Banner are dead, too..."

"I know about that."

"The one who killed them was an expert from the Banner-cutting Alliance. He was very strong and seemed to be coming straight for me. The Red Banner men were just unlucky enough to run into him first and took the fall for me.

I was injured, so I couldn’t worry about Helian..."

Fu Juemin spouted nonsense without batting an eye.

As Helu listened to Fu Juemin, his brow gradually furrowed. Before he could speak, the figure in the corner sneered, "Utter nonsense. Since when did the Banner-cutting Alliance have an expert of that caliber?"

"How would I know?"

Fu Juemin immediately retorted, annoyed, "That person had also undergone organ installation. His forehead and face were covered in blood-red eyes..."

"Fool! How could the Banner-cutting Alliance possibly have organ installa—"

The figure in the corner stopped mid-sentence.

Helu also seemed to realize something. His expression changed visibly, and when he spoke again, his tone had softened considerably.

"Alright, I understand now.

This matter truly isn’t your fault..."

"I wouldn’t admit it even if you did blame me."

Fu Juemin sneered, tapping his fingers on the table. "I took a risk to get this done for you, and not only did I get nothing out of it, I get interrogated by you... This partnership is really starting to feel pointless."

"The fault does indeed lie with this prince, for not investigating thoroughly."

Helu said slowly, "But with Helian’s sudden death and your refusal to reply to my message, it was inevitable that this prince’s mind would wander..."

"The Grand Sacrifice failed as you requested. After this, no one in the Lower Five Banners will be able to stop me. Consolidating the Lower Five Banners is only a matter of time..."

Fu Juemin said impassively, "You’ve achieved all your goals. The only price was the death of an insignificant Helian. What more could you be dissatisfied with?"

"You’re right."

Helu nodded in agreement. He then shot a look behind him, and the figure standing in the corner slowly approached.

From within the thick black smoke, a strange, large hand emerged. Its knuckles were thick, and its gray skin was covered in black pores of various sizes. It was holding a long box.

Helu took the long box from "Ghost Dragon’s" hand and gently pushed it in front of Fu Juemin.

The box opened to reveal a bizarre whisker, over a foot long. It was about as thick as a thumb and looked very similar to the Ghost Dragon Beard Fu Juemin had obtained before, but this one was nearly transparent, with some sort of grayish-black liquid flowing slowly within it.

"This was cut from the Ghost Flood Dragon King’s main whisker. It can’t be compared to those side whiskers I gave you before.

It’s perfect for organ installation. Consider it a reward for your competent work this time..."

Helu said to Fu Juemin in a gentle tone.

A hint of "interest" clearly showed on Fu Juemin’s face. He snorted softly and quickly put the box away without drawing attention to it.

"Now this is more like it."

Fu Juemin’s attitude softened slightly as he spoke flatly.

Seeing his reaction, Helu smiled and continued, "Although the Grand Sacrifice was a failure, our business is actually only half complete..."

"What do you mean?"

"The Wuchen Grand Sacrifice is crucial to the restoration. It cannot end so sloppily."

Helu said calmly, "Once this matter dies down, the Wangqi Elders will surely arrange a second Magic Sacrifice.

Many of the Lower Five Banners’ Demon Officials were lost this time, so the normal form of the Magic Sacrifice is out of the question. They will have to find another way.

I’m not sure what form it will take yet. You should go back and recuperate first. I’ll inform you when the time comes..."

Fu Juemin nodded slightly, picked up the box containing the Ghost Flood Dragon King’s Main Whisker, and stood up to leave.

Just as he was about to leave the room, he heard Helu speak again from behind him. "In a little while, I’ll introduce you to a friend.

This person is an important figure in the Northern Army and, like you, a close partner of this prince.

If we all work together with one heart, how can we fail to achieve great things?"

Fu Juemin treated Helu’s words as a fart, gave a perfunctory reply, and strode away.

Helu watched Fu Juemin’s departing back with a smile until he was gone. Once only he and Ghost Dragon remained in the room, the smile gradually faded from his face.

"Blood eyes from organ installation, and the power to kill Tu Kedi and his subordinate, Tu Xiao..."

Ghost Dragon spoke slowly, his voice hoarse. "It seems National Master Sang Luo’s side couldn’t resist making a move."

"That’s logical."

Helu nodded. "But we can’t fully trust that kid’s words. Tu Kedi’s death probably isn’t that simple...

For all we know, he might have been the one who set up both the Red Banner group and Helian."

"My Prince, I see that this Fu Lingjun is rebellious to the bone.

Now that his momentum to unite the Lower Five Banners is established, why not just kill him and replace him with someone more obedient..?"

"Not yet."

Helu shook his head. "He’s still useful.

He acts so arrogantly, we can use him to see who else is dissatisfied with our Profound Banner in secret. He can also draw some of the fire away from us.

And..."

Helu paused, then said with a smirk, "I’ve heard that Panxiang of the Purple Banner Jiasu Clan seems to have taken an interest in him. Panxiang’s status is special. Keeping this Fu Lingjun around might allow us to make a brilliant move."

"Your Highness is wise."

With Helian dead, the task of bootlicking fell to Ghost Dragon.

Helu stood up and paced slowly around the room, his hands clasped behind his back.

"With Tu Kedi dead, it will actually be easier to negotiate with the Red Banner.

Leak the news that Tu Kedi is suspected to have died at the hands of National Master Sang Luo’s disciples. Even if we can’t win them over, we can at least reduce their resistance..."

"Yes."

....

When Fu Juemin returned to the Mu Mansion, he casually tossed down the Ghost Flood Dragon King’s Main Whisker he had just acquired.

Hong Huan was severely injured. This was the perfect opportunity to use this Ghost Dragon Beard to perform the third organ installation on him. If it succeeded, all the better.

If it failed and he died, then so be it.

After settling matters with the Profound Banner, he planned to enter seclusion, vowing not to emerge until he had formed his Dharma Form.

But just before entering seclusion, he suddenly remembered something he hadn’t done!

Thus, twenty minutes later, a grand procession of carriages flying a massive banner with the character "Spirit" arrived at the gates of the Zhe Banner Mo Family’s mansion.

The group kicked down the doors of the Mo Mansion and barged right in.

In less than ten minutes—

BOOM!!

The gates of the Mo Mansion were suddenly smashed open as a figure burst out, riding a Black-Scaled Demon Horse that stood over four meters tall and was wreathed in rust-gray smoke.

Laughing heartily, he galloped furiously down the empty street and sped away.

Behind the departed rider and his horse, inside the wide-open Mo Mansion, the former Zhe Banner Lord and Patriarch of the Mo Family sat slumped on the ground, utterly crestfallen. He raised a hand, looking as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t get the words out.

After the ostentatious procession of the "Spirit" banner departed, a bleak atmosphere settled over the Mo Mansion. Many wore ashen faces, their futures looking grim, and the sound of the household’s women crying gradually began to rise.

However, in a small, unnoticed corner, a man and a woman could be seen staring at the gate. As they recalled the figure who had just ridden away on the Demon Horse, their faces were filled with unconcealable shock.

"Xiang... Xiangniang."

The handsome young man of the pair, dressed in a long gown and mandarin jacket and already beginning to grow his hair into a queue like the others, stammered to the woman beside him, "I-I’m not seeing things, am I?

That person..."

The young man gulped hard and said with difficulty, "Isn’t that the guy we met in Longqiu on our way here?

He... he, he... he’s the Young Master Profound Banner Ling who’s become so famous in the Capital recently?!!"