In a secluded courtyard, candlelight flickered, illuminating Gao Yuanzhao’s face, etched with shock and uncertainty. He looked at Elder Liu of the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance, who sat across from him, his voice laced with a faint, almost imperceptible tremor:

"Elder Liu, is this information... truly reliable?"

He couldn’t help but be skeptical.

They had been plotting to ambush and kill Chen Sheng for a long time. However, Chen Sheng was extremely cautious. He either remained holed up in the Jingwu Bureau or, when he did go out, was always accompanied by elite guards. They had never found a suitable opportunity to strike.

That an opportunity would now present itself so easily made him uneasy. Something just didn’t feel right.

Elder Liu stroked his beard and chuckled, his tone brimming with confidence:

"Elder Gao, you are being overly cautious, even a little paranoid. My Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance has had spies inside the Jingwu Bureau for many years. They are highly placed. This news of Chen Sheng intending to visit the Xu Family is no baseless rumor. Elder Gao need only wait for the good news."

Gao Yuanzhao forced a smile that was uglier than a grimace:

"My apologies, Elder Liu. It’s just that brat, Chen Sheng, is exceptionally cunning. I’m just worried there might be a trap. If we can settle this all in one go, it would naturally be for the best."

"Elder Gao, rest assured."

Elder Liu was full of confidence, a vicious glint in his eyes. "The Alliance is taking this operation very seriously. Including you and me, we are dispatching a total of two Earth Fiend experts and four Chaoyuan Realm masters.

A lineup like this is overkill. Never mind that Chen Sheng is still finding his footing; even if he truly had the power of one of the Ning’an Ten Heroes, this time he will surely meet a bloody end, his soul lost to the wilderness."

Hearing that so many experts were being deployed, Gao Yuanzhao felt slightly more at ease, but a lingering worry still creased his brow:

"I am endlessly grateful for the Alliance’s tremendous support, but... Chen Sheng is, after all, someone highly regarded by Nie Xuanfeng. If the Jingwu Bureau, and especially Nie Xuanfeng, investigates afterward, my only son, Qilin, I’m afraid..."

Gao Yuanzhao’s greatest fear at the moment was that the Jingwu Bureau’s retaliation would affect his only son, in whom he had placed such high hopes. Furthermore, the Iron Sword Sect would not necessarily confront the powerful Jingwu Bureau—and especially the deeply connected Nie Xuanfeng—for the sake of a single disciple.

"About Gao Qilin..."

Just as the words left Gao Yuanzhao’s mouth, a somewhat sinister voice suddenly cut in.

Both men’s hearts skipped a beat. They turned toward the voice and saw a young man in dark martial robes standing silently in the shadows of the doorway. It was unclear when he had arrived.

He was handsome enough, but his brow was shrouded in an irremovable gloom. His eyes were as sharp as a hawk’s, and he radiated a faint, chilling aura. It was none other than the Young Master of the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance, Zhou Chengzong.

"Greetings, Young Master!"

"We greet the Young Master!"

Gao Yuanzhao and Elder Liu hastily rose and bowed, their attitudes deeply respectful.

Zhou Chengzong gave a cold nod and walked straight to the head seat. His gaze, like the blade of a frozen knife, fell upon Gao Yuanzhao with an air that permitted no argument:

"Elder Gao’s concerns are known to me. I have already arranged a marriage for Gao Qilin—an alliance with the Song Clan of Qu Shui. What are your thoughts, Elder Gao?"

Hearing this, Gao Yuanzhao’s heart sank.

The Song Clan of Qu Shui was a vassal force of Luoyun Manor. For the Young Master to personally arrange a marriage for his son—an Inner Sect disciple of the Iron Sword Sect—with them... The forces involved were tangled and complex. This was no simple marriage.

’This is clearly a move to bind my son and me more tightly to the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance’s war chariot. It might even involve a plot against the Iron Sword Sect or Luoyun Manor.’ At this thought, a muscle in Gao Yuanzhao’s face twitched. He hesitated, then asked:

"Young Master... Has the Song Clan also submitted to our alliance?"

The corner of Zhou Chengzong’s mouth curved into an inscrutable arc. He didn’t answer directly, only said coolly:

"Elder Gao need only answer: will you accept, or not?"

His tone was flat, yet it carried a suffocating pressure.

Feeling that almost tangible pressure, Gao Yuanzhao knew there was no room for negotiation. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. He lowered his head, his voice hoarse:

"This subordinate... has no objections. I will defer entirely to the Young Master’s arrangements."

"Very good."

Zhou Chengzong nodded with satisfaction, as if he had just dealt with some trivial matter. "Then please, Elder Gao, write a letter explaining the situation. I will have someone deliver it to the Iron Sword Sect later."

"Yes."

Gao Yuanzhao agreed in a low voice, his heart a storm of conflicting emotions. He felt a sliver of relief at having secured a powerful backer for his son, but this was overshadowed by the heavy feeling of sinking deeper into a mire from which he could not escape.

Zhou Chengzong then turned to Elder Liu. His tone was casual, yet it held a trace of cruel excitement, as if discussing a toy he was about to acquire:

"Tomorrow’s ambush on Chen Sheng must be clean and swift. Bring me his head. I want to personally turn it into a trophy for my collection. A young talent from the Jingwu Bureau is worthy of joining my collection."

He had no interest in personally dealing with the current Chen Sheng; a mere Chaoyuan Realm cultivator wasn’t worthy of his direct attention. However, the idea of collecting his head as a part of his glorious list of achievements did hold some appeal.

In fact, his ultimate goal was to one day collect the remains of the other Ning’an Ten Heroes.

This was because, besides his identity as the Young Master of the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance, he actually had another alias.

One of the Ning’an Ten Heroes, the Loose Cultivator, Zhou Yuanjiao.

The only one among the Ten Heroes who came from a Loose Cultivator background.

A fawning smile spread across Elder Liu’s face. He cupped his hands and said:

"Rest assured, Young Master. I will be sure to bring back that whelp Chen Sheng’s head intact and present it before you."

...

「The next morning, at the crack of dawn.」

Alone in his meditation chamber, Chen Sheng’s eyes swept over the clear message that had once again appeared in his mind from the Celestial Book of [Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil]. The barest hint of a cold smile touched his lips.