Chapter 250 - 174: Finally Making a Move
He had to get this news to a few people.
As luck would have it, Fang Yue ran into County Magistrate Lin before he even reached Denglai City.
After giving him the message, he turned and left, heading for the small town where his parents lived.
Whether the man believed him was not his concern.
Fang Yue felt a growing sense of urgency. The Great Wei dynasty was in turmoil; to think a single Prince could stir up such a storm and create such massive waves.
’How many different factions are involved in this?’
Fang Yue had no way of knowing.
’First, I need to find a way to track down and kill Xue Bing. Then I must hurry to Yujing City to find the subsequent parts of the Earth Element True Skill and raise my cultivation level,’ Fang Yue thought to himself.
This turmoil didn’t look like something the Great Wei Dynasty could suppress anytime soon. In fact, it seemed to be spiraling further into chaos.
Nowhere in the realm was truly safe.
So his priority was to use every moment to cultivate, increase his power, and advance his realm as quickly as possible. He had to gain enough strength to survive the coming chaos.
Along the way, aside from a few minor disturbances, the journey was smooth sailing.
It was as if the warning on that note had been a lie.
On this day, Fang Yue was sitting in his carriage, resting with his eyes closed.
Suddenly, a deafening crash echoed from up ahead.
The carriage immediately began to shake violently.
The startled horses whinnied and reared.
’So they’ve finally made their move!’
Fang Yue murmured, his eyes snapping open.
He stepped out of the carriage. Ahead lay Four Directions Valley, the fastest route to Guangfeng Prefecture City. But now, the valley entrance was completely blocked by a massive pile of rubble.
The commotion was clearly from a landslide.
Fang Yue’s brow twitched. As he stepped down from the carriage and took in the scene, a cold light glinted in his eyes.
He scanned the mountainsides flanking the valley, but saw no sign of human activity. It looked perfectly natural, but since Fang Yue knew Xue Bing was tailing him, he couldn’t possibly believe this landslide was a coincidence.
"We’re taking a detour," Fang Yue said indifferently, his eyes narrowing.
Then, he mounted his horse and led the convoy in another direction.
The group continued on their way.
~~~~~~
「Three days later, as dusk began to fall.」
Fang Yue and his group arrived at a county town. This place was still half a month’s journey from Guangfeng Prefecture City.
Because of the detour, it was as if the last three days of travel had been completely wasted.
In his room at the inn, Fang Yue sat on a chair, his eyes narrowed as he stared ahead. ’They’ve led me here. It looks like they’re finally ready to make their move,’ he thought with a cold smile.
"Lord Fang, you called for me."
Fang Lin, one of the three soldiers chosen back in Shanyang Prefecture and the most simple-looking of the lot, entered Fang Yue’s room and asked in a booming voice.
"This is the route for tomorrow. Go make the arrangements. And see to the food and water as well," Fang Yue said flatly, handing a map to Fang Lin.
Fang Lin nodded. "Yes, sir. I’ll see to it right away."
~~~~~~
Dawn broke, and on the second day, Fang Yue’s group set out again. The morning wore on, and noon was fast approaching.
At this time, the convoy happened to arrive at a teahouse.
"Lord Fang, there’s a teahouse up ahead. Why don’t we rest there for a while?" Fang Lin came forward to ask.
Fang Yue looked up into the distance and nodded.
They soon arrived in front of the teahouse, preparing to rest for a bit.
Inside, an old man was brewing tea. Seeing Fang Yue and the others enter, he greeted them warmly.
"Please, gentlemen, have a seat! What can I get for you? My little shop has homemade green beans and big bowls of bamboo leaf tea. If that’s not to your taste, I also have a fine sweet tea!"
Hearing this, a faint smile appeared on Fang Yue’s face.
’The owner of this teahouse seems to be a shrewd man!’
"Old man, a pot of bamboo leaf tea and two plates of green beans for each table," Fang Yue ordered.
The old man heard this and quickly nodded in agreement. He then had his assistant bring the tea, along with some pastries and side dishes.
A moment later.
After they had been drinking for a while, Fang Yue suddenly turned to Fang Lin at another table. "Fang Lin," he said, "is this where you’ve chosen to make your move?"
Fang Lin flinched at Fang Yue’s words, but quickly shook his head. "Lord Fang, what do you mean? I don’t understand!"
"This place is close to the Qi River. If you strike here, you can escape by boat and be out of Guangfeng Prefecture in a day or two. Your Blood Dragon Platform calculated this perfectly. No wonder you destroyed the other routes," Fang Yue said with a faint smile, his eyes locked on Fang Lin.
Hearing these words, the face of this simple-looking soldier instantly turned ice-cold.
He never expected his identity to be exposed so easily.
But it didn’t matter now.
’So what if I’m exposed?’
’In any case, these men have already drunk so much tea and consumed so much poison. It doesn’t matter if I’m exposed.’
"Where is Xue Bing? Tell him to come out," Fang Yue asked in a cold voice.
Fang Lin’s expression changed slightly. He looked at Fang Yue, a shadow of gloom flashing through his eyes.
’Something feels wrong.’ Today was supposed to be the day *they* ambushed and captured Fang Yue’s party.
’But why does it feel like *he’s* the hunter, and we’ve become the prey?’
’And he even knows about Xue Bing!’
This feeling was very unsettling.
"Heh heh... Lord Fang! I never thought a punk like you would have such good fortune. Not only did you break through to the Qi Sensing realm, but you even became an Inspector for the Observatory." At that moment, the teahouse owner, who had been so obsequious just moments before, slowly walked back in.
He walked with a ramrod-straight posture. Reaching up, he wiped a hand across his face, and the stooped, elderly demeanor from before vanished completely.
"Xue Bing. I never thought you’d defect to the Blood Dragon Platform. If your identity gets out, aren’t you afraid the imperial court will have your entire family executed?" Fang Yue said gravely, staring at him.
Xue Bing laughed loudly, his eyes full of mockery.
"HAHA... Fang Yue, you’re about to die, and you’re still so naive! The Blood Dragon Platform *is* the imperial court, and the imperial court *is* the Blood Dragon Platform. We’ve long since infiltrated one another," Xue Bing said with a laugh.
Fang Yue froze, stunned by his words.
’Is the Blood Dragon Platform really that powerful?!’
’No, that can’t be right.’
’If the Blood Dragon Platform were really that powerful, they wouldn’t have needed to resort to so many tricks; they could have just sent a master to deal with me directly.’
"Alright, I’ll give you one chance. Tell me exactly what Hui Wenzhong sent you to do. What item or message are you taking to Yujing? If you tell me, I can make the decision to spare your life. Otherwise, it won’t just be you—your family will be buried with you," Xue Bing said coolly.
"Is that so? Has no one ever told you that the one thing I hate most in this world is people threatening my family?"
Fang Yue’s tone grew colder, and his eyes became incredibly sharp.
"HEH HEH HEH! So arrogant, even after being poisoned. It seems if I don’t teach you a lesson, you’ll never learn your place!"
Xue Bing snorted. He flicked his wrist, and a Soft Sword appeared in his hand as he lunged at Fang Yue.
The sword strike was aimed at Fang Yue’s arm, clearly intended to cripple one of his hands.
But just then, Xue Bing thought he heard a deep rumbling. His pupils contracted violently, and the Soft Sword slipped from his grasp.
At the same time, a sharp pain shot through him. Xue Bing clutched his right shoulder, his face pale as he staggered back.
"You?!"
"How is this possible! How are you not poisoned!"
Xue Bing retreated rapidly, his face a mask of venom and terror. He couldn’t understand it. He had clearly watched Fang Yue drink the tea. He should have been poisoned, without a doubt.
And even if his target didn’t eat or drink, just entering the teahouse meant they would be affected. The potent toxin filling the air would slowly seep into their body.
So, no matter what, how could Fang Yue not be poisoned?
But Fang Yue had no intention of answering him. Instead, he lunged forward in hot pursuit.