Outside Xu Hengjiang’s room, there were a total of three Radiant Moon Level-led squads guarding nearby.
Normally, there would only be one squad, but because Xu Hengjiang was poisoned, two more were dispatched.
Seeing Yuan Shan approach, the Full Moon Level Guard Captain greeted, "Branch Master Yuan, you just left not long ago; why are you back so soon?"
"Hmm, I remembered something I need to discuss with the Alliance Hierarch," Yuan Shan nodded slightly before entering the room.
The Guard Captain did not stop him, having no doubts at all about Yuan Shan, who had followed Xu Hengjiang for a long time as the second-in-command of the Storm Alliance.
Xu Hengjiang sensed the movement and said in a low voice without turning his head, "Old Yuan, huh..."
Yuan Shan quickly came in and naturally poured a cup of Spiritual Tea for both himself and Xu Hengjiang.
"Hierarch, how are you feeling now?"
"Limbs weak, both pain and itch..." Xu Hengjiang leaned back on the large chair, speaking weakly, "As long as I don’t die, once Jing Yilian comes over, Mr. An can treat me."
Yuan Shan handed the tea to Xu Hengjiang and then sat down beside him: "I came over now to talk to you about the Qingming people."
Xu Hengjiang took the tea, glanced at it, and drank it: "What’s up with them?"
In a low voice, Yuan Shan said, "Didn’t Hu Bo mention earlier that Master Su from Qingming is actually a Burning Sun Expert!
An organization led by a Burning Sun suddenly coming to our coastal area must have some unknown intentions."
Xu Hengjiang took another sip of tea, saying casually, "Don’t speculate wildly."
Yuan Shan looked at Xu Hengjiang and continued, "Even if they have no other intentions, the presence of an organization led by a Burning Sun is not a good thing.
Though the Western Desert is vast, Star Power is limited, and now the entire Western Desert can at most support one or two more Burning Sun Levels."
Upon hearing this, Xu Hengjiang solemnly warned, "Old Yuan, regardless of Qingming’s future intentions.
For now, with Mr. An treating me, and Master Su providing many Detoxification Pills, our Storm Alliance owes them no small favor. As long as they don’t do anything outrageously wrong in the Western Desert, we should maintain good relations with them."
Yuan Shan narrowed his eyes and said, "Is it possible that Mr. An is so diligently treating you with ill intentions to do something to you..."
"Old Yuan!" Xu Hengjiang’s expression instantly darkened.
Yuan Shan openly continued, "Hierarch, I am thinking for your sake, for the Storm Alliance.
The Qingming people’s origins are unknown, and their strength is so strong, who knows their intentions.
If they take advantage of the treatment to do something to you, our Storm Alliance..."
"Enough!" Xu Hengjiang coldly interrupted, "You are all present during the treatment; what could he possibly do?"
Yuan Shan said, "But our Storm Alliance’s healers are limited in skill; if he does something, we might not be able to notice the problem."
Xu Hengjiang glared at Yuan Shan angrily, "Mr. An knows my current condition all too well; I have no battle strength at all!
Since Master Su is a Burning Sun Expert, if they had other intentions, they would have acted already; why bother with such twists and turns!"
"But..." Yuan Shan wanted to say more.
"Enough!" Xu Hengjiang interrupted directly, with some anger already showing on his face, "Don’t bring this up again... cough, cough!"
In an apparent agitation, Xu Hengjiang coughed up some black blood, his face turning even paler.
Yuan Shan immediately stepped forward nervously, "Hierarch, this?!"
"It’s nothing..." Xu Hengjiang weakly waved his hand, clutching his forehead as he slumped in the chair, "I’m tired, unless there’s something more, you should leave now..."
Yuan Shan discreetly glanced at the tea beside him, his eyes flickering.
"There’s one more thing..." Looking at Xu Hengjiang’s weakening state, Yuan Shan suddenly asked, "The Sun Spirit Pill in our gang, are you really intending to give it to Jing Chenghui?"
Xu Hengjiang took a deep breath to calm himself, then said, "Cheng Hui has been in the Storm Alliance for years, working tirelessly and managing the Storm Alliance’s affairs meticulously.
When he joined the Storm Alliance, he received nothing significant; now that I can offer him a Sun Spirit Pill, it’s naturally his deserved reward."
"But I’m your brother!" Yuan Shan suddenly growled.
"Everyone in the Storm Alliance is my brother!" Xu Hengjiang’s expression darkened, addressing Yuan Shan sternly, "Don’t think about the pill anymore; even if it’s not given to Cheng Hui, it would go to Jinghua."
Yuan Shan became agitated, "I’m getting old; if I don’t make a breakthrough now, I’ll lose the chance. Even so... you still won’t give it to me?!"
Xu Hengjiang sighed inwardly, a hint of nostalgia appearing on his face.
"You’ve been with me the longest. Before I ascended to Burning Sun or established the Storm Alliance, you were already there.
You even took a blow for me; my achievement in Burning Sun partly credits to you.
So, when the Storm Alliance first gained some success, I silenced objections and spent most of the gang’s savings to acquire a Sun Spirit Pill for you.
Unfortunately... you couldn’t break through."
Xu Hengjiang paused briefly before continuing, "Old Yuan, the Storm Alliance doesn’t belong to me alone; now that we’ve finally obtained another Sun Spirit Pill, it naturally should go to other members too, they deserve it."
Hearing Xu Hengjiang recount past events, hesitation surfaced in Yuan Shan’s eyes.
However, seeing the empty teacup beside Xu Hengjiang, a cold glint flashed in Yuan Shan’s eyes, turning utterly cold.
"In that case, Hierarch, you leave me no choice...!"
Once Yuan Shan finished speaking, a surge of black light surrounded him, transforming into a dark domain enveloping Xu Hengjiang!
Outside, the Guard Captain and others on duty were unaware.
This was precisely Yuan Shan’s signature Epic Skill — Dark Night Raid.
A killing move capable of pulling enemies into a dark domain and isolating waves!
Xu Hengjiang’s vision momentarily dimmed, losing sight of Yuan Shan’s figure.
For Yuan Shan had already melded into the dark domain, ready to emerge as Shadow Attack Dark Light at any moment.
"What are you doing!"
Xu Hengjiang was both shocked and angry, trying to take action.
He found not only the Star Power hard to mobilize but also his already weak body now feeling more ethereal...
"Hahaha!" Yuan Shan’s laughter echoed from the surrounding darkness, "Give it up; in your current poisoned state, coupled with Soft Dragon Powder, movement should be near impossible!"
Xu Hengjiang, worthy of being a gang leader, quickly stabilized his mind and said in a deep voice, "Yuan Shan, would you betray me for just one Sun Spirit Pill?!"
"This is not betrayal; I just want to live a little longer.
Without a Sun Spirit Pill, without achieving Burning Sun, in another thirty to forty years, I’ll be nothing but dust!
It’s you who forced me, Xu Hengjiang, even though I’ve been with you the longest!"
The more Yuan Shan spoke, the angrier and more excited he became, and suddenly, a streak of dark light shot towards Xu Hengjiang from a certain point in the domain!
Xu Hengjiang’s chest was pierced, leaving a new wound with anger, disappointment, regret... myriad emotions flickering in his eyes until finally turning utterly into coldness.
"Oh? It’s really no wonder that even in this state, you managed to dodge that, Hierarch!" Yuan Shan’s attack missed as he once again merged into the dark domain with astonishment.
Staring at the wound on his chest, Xu Hengjiang’s eyes shifted rapidly between anger, disappointment, regret... until eventually settling into a cold resolution.
"Since it’s , you can’t blame me, Hierarch...!"
Yuan Shan’s voice emerged from the darkness: "Of course, if I don’t kill you, how can I get the Sun Spirit Pill promised by the Fierce Battle Gang? I could never find an opportunity before, but now this poison is a rare chance..."
"Fierce Battle Gang... so that’s it, it seems they can’t wait any longer to dominate alone!"
"You may have evaded one attack, but the next strike will send you to your death!"
As soon as the words were said, Shadow Attack Dark Light shot down violently from directly above Xu Hengjiang’s head!
With those words, a whirlwind suddenly roared up around Xu Hengjiang, blocking the dark light coming from above!
The raging wind howled and shielded him from the attacking dark light, causing Yuan Shan’s figure to reappear in the dark domain with a look of horror.
"What!" Yuan Shan stared aghast at the whirlwind surrounding Xu Hengjiang, "Aren’t you under the effect of Soft Dragon Powder, how can you still..."
"How can you still manipulate Star Power?" Xu Hengjiang’s eyes were icy cold, "Did you really think I had no idea?"
"What? You noticed early on!"
"Yuan Shan, you’ve been with me the longest, since before I became a Burning Sun and before the Storm Alliance was founded.
You even took a knife for me, and it’s partly due to you that I could become a Burning Sun.
That’s why when the Storm Alliance first had some success, I stifled dissent and spent most of the gang’s money to exchange for a Sun Spirit Pill for you.
Unfortunately... you couldn’t break through."
Listening to the old tales, a trace of hesitation flickered in Yuan Shan’s eyes.
But gazing at the empty teacup beside Xu Hengjiang, a fierce look flickered in Yuan Shan’s eyes, turning him completely cold.
"Since this is how it is, Hierarch, then don’t blame me...!"