Chapter 701 511: Countermove_2

The battle immediately turned one-sided.

Most of the Profound Armor Army launching the attack were annihilated, a few escaped, and some people from the Green Blade Sect also managed to flee.

After these two assassinations ended in counter-killings, only a few from the Green Blade Sect remained.

This expert from Tianyuan wasn't easy to kill, but this time Shen Yidao wasn't as lucky. He was injured by a strike from Fahai. However, Shen Yidao was also flexible and adaptable; seeing the odds against him, he fled immediately.

The Tianyuan expert battling Mr. Qin also slipped away when he saw things weren't looking good.

As for Lingxiao Zhenren, although he was much more skilled than Helian Wanwan, Helian Wanwan, being a disciple of the super-class sect, Snow Mountain Sect, had many methods and could actually make it a close fight with Lingxiao Zhenren.

However, seeing the situation becoming unfavorable, he had to retreat; otherwise, if it became a three-versus-one, he might indeed fall on the spot.

"Crown Prince, you were frightened!"

"Crown Prince is blessed; after this return to the capital, no one will dare to target you again..."

"Thanks to Mr. Lin's early warning, I made arrangements in advance, but I still underestimated these opponents who want to kill me. Going forward, they may not easily give up!" Zhao Yuanze sighed in relief.

"Mr. Helian was supposed to be an arrangement by Mr. Lin to take advantage of Shen Yidao, but unexpectedly, they had a third Tianyuan expert." Zhuo Qingfeng sighed regretfully.

"They certainly won't have a fourth Tianyuan expert. This time it's clear that Consort Xue and King Qi have finally revealed their daggers. Your Highness, regarding the return to the capital, I have a suggestion..." Tie Lin said.

"Mr. Tie's suggestion is very good. Let Mr. Qin and the substitute follow the main group, while Master Fahai and Mr. Helian accompany the Crown Prince back to the capital first. With two Tianyuan experts secretly escorting the Crown Prince, it will be even safer." Zhuo Qingfeng said.

"The Crown Prince must return to the capital immediately to control the overall situation. If Consort Xue and King Qi were to launch a coup, correcting the chaos would be much costlier!"

"Alright, I shall disguise myself and return to the capital swiftly with Master Fahai and Mr. Helian, hiding my identity!" Zhao Yuanze decided.

At this time, he couldn't afford to hesitate any longer.

...

"Mr. Helian sent a message that the Crown Prince was once again ambushed at Cloud-Riding Ridge. This time, the Profound Armor Army was dispatched, and besides the two Tianyuan experts from last time, another Tianyuan expert appeared, reportedly the head of the Shenxiao Association, Lingxiao Zhenren. Three of the Shenxiao Association's envoys have also arrived." Yue Mei'Er delivered a piece of news to Lin Miao's desk.

"Send a message to Miaoxue and Fei'Er, we can take action over at Black Abyss."

"Hmm, I'm worried, Black Abyss might still hide the Blood Massacre, and also, that Zhuang Rong from the embroidery workshop is connected to the Carefree Palace. Black Abyss could very well be an important base of the Carefree Palace..." Yue Mei'Er blinked at Lin Miao.

"How about asking Jin Wushuang to go back?"

"Brilliant, Young Master." Yue Mei'Er smiled, "However, there's another person who can also help?"

"Situ Wan?"

"You can't bear it, can you, Young Master?"

"Why wouldn't I? Exterminating Black Abyss is also a merit for her sect. I'll talk to her." Lin Miao chuckled. If he wasn't tied up, he would've liked to personally participate in breaking Black Abyss.

"Alright, I'll go speak with her. I wouldn't know what to say otherwise." Yue Mei'Er giggled, "With Young Master stepping in, she'll surely agree."

...

"You're plotting Black Abyss?" Jin Wushuang was very surprised. She didn't expect Lin Miao to have such a large appetite, audaciously eyeing Black Abyss.

Black Abyss has existed for many years, possibly even predating Li Hen City. Throughout the generations, many have tried to control Black Abyss, but few succeeded.

It's nothing more than comings and goings, plus Black Abyss internally is not solid as a rock. Previously the greatest power was the overt ruler of Black Abyss, Scorpio.

After Scorpio got captured, the mastermind behind him took over, consolidating Black Abyss's forces in a short time.

Today, Black Abyss is stronger than when it was under Scorpio. At such a time, Lin Miao's attempt on Black Abyss makes one wonder if it's youthful folly or genuine capability.

"Black Abyss has always been under the control of this mastermind Guo Xuan, while Scorpio was just a frontman. Besides, Black Abyss is connected with the Carefree Palace. I suspect that Black Abyss is a crucial base of the Carefree Palace, a secret base for training the Profound Armor Army and Blood Massacre. Also, it seems the Shenxiao Association has some ties with Black Abyss. With the recent loss of at least 300 Profound Armor Army and over 100 Blood Massacre at Black Abyss, its forces are greatly diminished. This is our best chance to sneak into Black Abyss while it's vulnerable; otherwise, the opportunity will be lost," Lin Miao explained.

"You have no grudge against Black Abyss, why are you scheming for it?" Jin Wushuang was utterly baffled.

"Zhuang Rong's collusion with the Carefree Palace, you should know about it, right? Black Abyss is likely to be a secret base for the Carefree Palace. Aren't you worried that if Black Abyss isn't eradicated, the embroidery workshop might also fall under the Carefree Palace's control one day?"

"It's true that Miss Zhuang has colluded with outsiders, but it hasn't been proven to be the Carefree Palace, has it?" Jin Wushuang furrowed her brows and said.

"Zhuang Rong has been secretly selling Carefree Powder in the embroidery house. Over the past few years, her subordinates' skill levels have advanced rapidly, clearly propped up by drugs. Occasionally, someone would go insane, which is evidently a side effect of the drugs. Apart from the Carefree Palace, who else in the world could have this capability?"

Jin Wushuang's expression changed slightly. Zhuang Rong was a senior sister whom she had grown up with. Although she knew Zhuang Rong had always been ambitious, the internal competition and different management philosophies hadn't escalated to life-and-death conflicts.

Even if Zhuang Rong wished for her son Zhuang Cheng to marry Baili Yuyao, she hadn't explicitly opposed it. After all, Zhuang Cheng was also someone she had watched grow up. Despite his many flaws, he was ultimately still young and could change after marriage.

Of course, in her position, she couldn't outright support it, as Zhuang Cheng was indeed not an ideal match for a woman in many ways.

But being caught in the middle was indeed difficult for her.

"Over the years, has Zhuang Rong never given you any drugs?"

"She has given me some, but I don't need them, so I've never taken any." Jin Wushuang nodded.

"Fortunately, you didn't take them; otherwise, you might have been controlled by her." Lin Miao said, "Baili Bingyun gave me some drugs that Zhuang Rong obtained from the Carefree Palace. These drugs indeed stimulate human potential but at the cost of depleting one's life force. Ordinary people can temporarily enhance their strength and skills, but it's at the continuous cost of taking these drugs, which also have high addictive tendencies..."

"As for my personal feud with the Carefree Palace, even if I don't act against it now, one day it will come for me. So, it's best to strike first."

"You have a grudge against the Carefree Palace?"

"I do, but it's not personal; it's due to my background, which I had no choice in." Lin Miao sighed, "My mentor was from Huichun Valley, which had connections with the predecessor of Carefree Palace, the Elixir Alliance. The Elixir Alliance leader Ye Chen and the Huichun Valley founder Ding Yi were brothers. Ding Yi, unwilling to collude with Ye Chen, was framed by the Carefree Palace, leading to Huichun Valley's extermination by the righteous martial world, leaving only my lineage. They still want to eradicate us; there's no way I can be passive and wait for death. I have to retaliate."

"No wonder you possess such extraordinary medical skills. So, you're the descendant of the vanished Huichun Valley; that explains a lot."

"Is Huichun Valley's medical skill well-known?"

"Of course. Over a hundred years ago, Ding Yi of Huichun Valley was very famous. If not for his crippled legs, he could've had the potential to be the next medical sage after Le. Despite the infamous later deeds of the Elixir Sage, his achievements, if excluding his later actions, were on par with the previous three sages. Unfortunately, he took the wrong path, ruining his lifelong reputation."

"How much do you know about Ding Yi?"

"I don't know much, but the embroidery workshop likely has collected some material on this. You can ask Yuyao to help you look it up."

"Alright, I will." Lin Miao said, "As for your health issue, I can help you once with acupuncture, ensuring no relapses within three months."

"Acupuncture?"

"Tonight, come to my study, and I'll administer acupuncture to you." Lin Miao nodded.

"Alright." Jin Wushuang agreed without hesitation.