Vermilion Bird accepted the bet.
It seemed like an unequal wager, after all, one would only have to call the other "big sister" if they lost, while the other would have to reveal their face.
But Vermilion Bird never believed she could lose.
As one of the mightiest warriors in the world, she possessed both pride and confidence. A exalted Vermilion Bird Venerable could alone suppress all the powers within this city, at most needing your assistance for some secondary tasks or collecting some intelligence, how could she truly depend on him?
To earn his consistent calling of "big sister" in the future seemed quite amusing to her.
The two acted separately, and Vermilion Bird casually headed to the Pinghu Association.
Assuming that He Lei had once recuperated here and had now departed, covertly questioning the menials in the back yard would yield no real information, and trying to interrogate a high-ranking member risked alarming them. Vermilion Bird decided to temporarily ignore the issue, coming purely for the Pinghu Association’s "Unify Sword Lake City" matter.
Indeed, this was the mission that the Four Symbols Sect had given Wei Yueyan in Sword Lake City, providing considerable resources and manpower for support. It was also an example of what Vermilion Bird meant when she said that the "Holy Sect’s hidden influence is much larger than you imagine."
How exactly to unify was entirely Wei Yueyan’s responsibility, and Vermilion Bird did not intervene further. Perhaps Wei Yueyan had progress reports for the Main Temple, but Vermilion Bird had been away and was unable to receive them.
Aside from the barbarian issue, considering only the task of uniting Sword Lake City, Wei Yueyan appeared to have performed flawlessly. As for using someone like Han Wubing, from Vermilion Bird’s perspective that was hardly an issue; had she handled it herself, Han Wubing might have already been suppressed...
She pondered for a moment, somewhat reluctantly removing her little pig mask and switching back to the Winged Fire Snake.
Pinghu Association’s leader, Yan Lianping, was in the council chamber discussing city affairs with his subordinates, "How is the takeover of Xingyi Gang’s assets going?"
"Generally fine, just left with the shops along Taiping Street. The Ji Family claims it’s a personal property, to be inherited by their son, unrelated to the gang’s assets."
"Is there any word from those sent to kill the Ji Family’s son?"
"They’ve ambushed and killed him on the road. The Ji Family is probably unaware; I reckon there will be news tomorrow."
"Hmm... Since the Ji Family’s son is a disciple of the Divine Brilliance Sect, even though he’s only an outer disciple, it’s best not to draw attention to this matter."
"Then should we deal with the rest of the Ji Family..." the subordinate said while making a slicing gesture with his hand.
"No need, without their son, what can they do? Keeping the old, the women, and the children can earn us some reputation and stabilize the former members of Xingyi Gang... Xingyi Gang had quite a few strong figures, quite useful. We want to unite Sword Lake City, but we can’t kill everyone, how then would we contend with Sha Qi and the others?"
"Any news on Han Wubing?"
"None... it’s as if he’s vanished off the face of the earth. The former members of Xingyi Gang are searching for him everywhere."
"What a pity..." Despite his words, his tone was quite indifferent, not seeming very regretful.
The subordinate said, "Regardless of whether he’s left or is hiding somewhere in the city, after all, he’s just a Seventh Layer at the Mystical Gate. No matter how strong his potential, changing the current state of affairs is a matter for the future; one person can’t change the heavens."
"Hmm... Go on then, you have worked hard on the restructuring of Xingyi Gang. I shall rest now."
The subordinate took his leave, "Leader, you have worked hard these past days, please rest well."
Soon, the chamber was empty, leaving Yan Lianping alone sitting at the head, quietly contemplating in the flickering candlelight.
After a good while, he slowly said, "Which esteemed guest graces us with their presence, why not show yourself?"
The candle flickered and the sound of wind whistled past, as Vermilion Bird, wearing the Winged Fire Snake mask, suddenly appeared before him.
"Winged Fire Snake?" Yan Lianping frowned, "Isn’t this position vacant? Are you new? Or..."
He cut himself off, suddenly launching an attack, a Flying Shuttle silently speeding towards the shoulder of the Winged Fire Snake.
The Flying Shuttle suddenly disappeared as if it had never existed.
Yan Lianping’s pupils constricted slightly, "What a cunning ’Ling Snake Spitting Its Tongue’... it really is the Winged Fire Snake."
Vermilion Bird couldn’t help but smile within, speaking indifferently, "I heard there has been a change in Sword Lake City, so the Venerable sent me to ask about the situation, and whether you need any help."
Yan Lianping eagerly said, "Your timing is perfect. We really do need help."
"Firstly, with Han Wubing’s escape, a crisis is sure to follow. I must hold my position here and cannot act rashly, and the others are no match for Han Wubing. If you could take his life, that would be ideal."
"Han Wubing has a past with the Holy Daughter, why has it come to this?"
"I don’t know either. Originally, we cooperated with him on this very premise. It was certainly he who killed Ji Yinan, but for some reason, he suddenly turned against us. We are puzzled as well. But no matter the reason, now that he’s turned against us wanting to kill us, we can’t just sit here and wait to die."
Vermilion Bird questioned, "Just because he’s from the Four Symbols Sect, he’s willing to kill for you?"
"It’s because he discovered Ji Yinan colluding with the barbarians, harboring the injured Mad Lion He Lei. Initially, Han Wubing wanted to kill He Lei, but he was one step too late; He Lei had already left, and the target then became Ji Yinan. It was supposed to be a pleasant cooperation, but I don’t know why things changed."
Vermilion Bird was astonished.
This was different from what Wei Zicai had said... Looking at Yan Lianping’s candid demeanor, it really didn’t seem to be a lie, and besides, this matter would be easy to see through. Whether He Lei was staying at the Pinghu Association or the Xingyi Gang should be easy to verify, so why is there such a discrepancy in their accounts?
With his mind full of doubts, yet his tone still unwavering, he said, "Apart from Han Wubing, what else is there?"
"Nowadays, we seem to be seizing the opportunity to take over the Xingyi Gang, and once we’ve completely assimilated them, our voice and strength will be the foremost in the city. The next step would likely be to have a talk with Sha Qi of the Kangle Gambling House. If he knows what’s good for him, we can leave it at that, but if not..."
Yan Lianping continued, "I sent a letter to the Main Temple yesterday, asking for the Venerable’s guidance, querying if Ying Wu would take a personal interest in Sword Lake City’s gang conflict?"
Vermilion Bird knowingly inquired, "And if he is interested, what then? And if not?"
"If Ying Wu takes a personal interest in the matter here, then the Venerable must personally negotiate with him. If he doesn’t, and it’s simply treated as a struggle between the subordinate gangs, then we might prepare to go to war with Kangle Gambling House. Mainly, I’m concerned because Sha Qi’s name is similar to Ying Wu’s; I fear there may be some connection..."
Vermilion Bird pretended to be a newbie, "I see... I’m new here, so I’m not too clear about the things going on behind the scenes. I will send a letter to the Venerable to inquire as well."
"Good," Yan Lianping beamed with a smile, "I didn’t expect a new sister to join the sect so soon. Now that it’s getting late, rest well tonight, and tomorrow I shall host a grand banquet to welcome you."
While Vermilion Bird was playing the role of a newbie at the Pinghu Association, Zhao Changhe went to the Ji Family.
Once he removed his little pig mask and applied a circle of facial disguise paste, he quickly transformed into a sallow-faced, coarse man—exactly the appearance he had used during the attempt on Fa Sheng’s life.
There was no need to hide the broadsword on his back, for his current disguise made it irrelevant. Read full story at novęlfire.net
The Ji Family had just lost its head, with the white banners of mourning hung all around. Walking on the street, he could hear people discussing: "Why hasn’t the young master Ji returned yet? It has been days..."
"Divine Brilliance Sect is quite far, so the news must have just arrived... Alas, even if the young master comes back, what can he do? He’s just an outer sect disciple of Divine Brilliance Sect, what could he possibly learn there, and surely the sect won’t stand up for him."
"Wasn’t their old man with the Divine Brilliance Sect?"
"’Supporting’ a gang is all it was, there are many others out there."
Zhao Changhe silently listened to the whispers around him, making his way to the Ji Family’s gate where he was quickly stopped. The gatekeeper, looking dispirited, said, "Sir, our master has just passed away. If you’ve come to pay your respects, you may leave your name."
Without hesitation, Zhao Changhe took a leaf out of their book: "I’m from the Divine Brilliance Sect. Junior Brother Ji won’t be able to rush back in time, so he asked me to come and pay respects to Uncle, and see if the family needs any help."
The gatekeeper was overjoyed, someone dashed into the house, shouting, "Madam, madam! The elder brother of the young master has arrived!"
Quite soon, a middle-aged woman came out, crying from afar to Zhao Changhe, "Young hero, you must uphold justice for our family’s old master..."
Zhao Changhe remained composed, "Madam, do not worry, take me inside to pay respects first, and you can slowly tell me the specifics."
He had not received the information from Vermilion Bird’s side... But from the very beginning, this whole affair felt extremely complex, involving too many powers, and it really might not be just an ordinary city gang dispute.
There’s little use asking anyone about this sort of matter—the best answer might come from asking the dead.