Chapter 36: Intimidation

February 26th, 2023

Was Shixiong still alive?

Fang Li’s brow furrowed deeply.

Impossible……

Yan Sui had seen Shixiong die right before his eyes. Had Shixiong already hidden the white jade talisman before coming to rescue Yan Sui?

It was very possible that he had done so in order to prevent the jade talisman from falling into Chong Wanshan’s hands. Then where was the white jade talisman?

Fang Li’s expression wavered for a few moments.

Forget it, although the jade talisman was the Great Sage’s holy treasure, from his point of view, it was simply an evil thing. It would be best if it never appeared.

Wu Yimei had already cleared the surroundings, and several hundred demonic cultivators clothed in black stood in grim attendance nearby.

Wu Yimei said respectfully to Fang Li, “Your Excellency, how should Cinnabar Gate be handled?”

The corners of Fang Li’s lips hooked up, and he laughed softly. “Since they dared to try to kill this lord, naturally, they have to suffer the consequences.”

Xie Huai looked at Fang Li in puzzlement, a sudden unease rising in his chest.

Then, he saw Fang Li pick up Chong Wanshan’s corpse with one hand.

Wu Yimei immediately understood Fang Li’s meaning and gestured with his eyes, and the demonic cultivators collected all of the other corpses one by one.

Fang Li waved his hands, and a huge black ship appeared in midair.

………………………

In the middle of Mountainview City.

People were sampling teas and chatting leisurely in the restaurants, and beautiful courtesans were dancing gracefully aboard the flower boats by the river. All along the streets, street peddlers called out their wares……

The very picture of peace and prosperity.

Up until a huge black shadow suddenly loomed overhead.

The people in the restaurants stopped their conversations, and the dancers paused their footsteps. The peddlers ceased their shouting, and everyone lifted their heads to look at the sky……

What was that?

In the center of the city where Cinnabar Gate stood, several hundred silhouettes came flying out. They were all Cinnabar Gate disciples, and they stood in formation at the ready as they looked at the huge ship in the sky, the hands that gripped their swords glistening with sweat.

The main gate of Cinnabar Gate was at least a hundred meters tall, towering and majestic, and the stone placard was engraved with intricate, ancient characters, as if it had been standing here since ages long past.

The huge ship stopped directly above the main gate.

All of the Cinnabar Gate disciples’ nerves were stretched taut. They thought about the rumors in the city these days, thought about how that devil might be in the city right this moment, thought about how Cloudgate Keep had been besieged by the demonic horde back then……

It couldn’t be……

Just when everyone’s hearts were in a flurry, a black figure appeared at the bow of the huge ship.

That person had a sickly pale face, and his gloomy black eyes seemed to harbor a contemptuous, ridiculing look. With a wave of his hand, he threw a corpse down in front of Cinnabar Gate’s main gate.

Thump!

The corpse plummeted down from a hundred meters in the air, crashing to the ground into a puddle of ruined flesh.

But every member of Cinnabar gate could recognize at a glance that this was the Gate Master that they’d looked up to as a god—Chong Wanshan.

The surroundings became deathly quiet.

Terror spread silently throughout the crowd.

Only the soft, leisurely laugh of the black-robed man towering above resounded through the area. “Chong Wanshan is dead. This is the outcome of disobeying this lord.”

Following his words, Wu Yumei signaled to the demonic cultivators under him to throw down the other corpses. The dead bodies rained down in front of the gate one by one, fresh blood splattering everywhere, creating a wretched scene, like an earthly hell.

Some of these people were Cinnabar Gate elders, and some of them were inner disciples, but each and every one of them was of Cinnabar Gate’s elite, and if they hadn’t been of a high and lofty standing in the past, then they had been a force to be reckoned with.

Yet right now, they were merely…… corpses without a trace of life, their bodies distorted, their eyes still wide open.

All of the people raised their heads and looked toward the black-robed man atop the huge ship.

Terror and anger flooded their hearts.

Unwillingness and hatred suffused their eyes with red.

Fang Li seemed very satisfied with this effect and lowered his eyes languidly, giving a careless laugh. “You have three days’ time. After three days, this lord will raze Cinnabar Gate to the ground. From then on, Cinnabar Gate will be no more.”

He was actually going to destroy Cinnabar Gate!

Xie Huai stood behind Fang Li. Seeing this scene, he finally knew what Fang Li was going to do.

His expression suddenly became heavy, and he pressed his lips together, his chest surging with a rare fury.

Killing someone like Chong Wanshan was one thing. It was natural for you to take your revenge. But seeing as the great debt has been settled, what need is there to go this extra step?

I know that there was a reason you killed Chong Wanshan, but none of these people know. To so furiously spread word of destroying Cinnabar Gate…… Do you know what the consequences will be?

Cinnabar Gate is no tiny little sect, but a sect with thousands of years of tradition, held in awe throughout the world, of the same standing as Cloudbank Keep, one of the five great cultivation sects!

And this time was different from the previous one.

Although the battle at Cloudbank Keep had been tragic, in the end, only one person had been taken away. Although Cloudbank Keep had lost face, its foundations hadn’t been harmed, and the sect had remained intact.

The people of the world were just so. Unless left with no other choice, they would hold on to hope of being spared and wouldn’t stake it all on a single toss of the dice.

But this time, no matter what reason you have, in the eyes of the world, it was you who killed Chong Wanshan, destroyed Cinnabar Gate’s backbone, razed it to the ground, and completely erased Cinnabar Gate from the world—something like destroying a sect in a moment of displeasure has already surpassed the righteous sects’ lower limit!

If even the grand and mighty Cinnabar Gate, one of the five great sects, couldn’t escape such an ending, then even if they had to struggle to the death, they would still join hands.

You’re making the whole world into your enemy!

Xie Huai grabbed Fang Li’s wrist and fixed his own eyes on his, as if to thoroughly see through this person, saying word by word in a cold voice, “Why are you doing this?”

He didn’t understand.

If Fang Li really wanted to eliminate Cinnabar Gate to the last, he wouldn’t have given them three days’ time. Three days was more than enough for those people to escape. But seeing as you don’t intend to kill them all, then why did you insist on saying such insane words, making the whole world misunderstand you?

These days, Heaven’s Summit was calling out to form the Thousand Immortals’ Alliance and march on Hollow Ridge. More than a few people were currently waiting and watching, wavering left and right……

As soon as word of today got out, the ranks of the Thousand Immortals’ Alliance would be filled!

In the end, the righteous sects and Hollow Ridge would go to battle.

Stirring up a great battle between the righteous and demonic sects, bringing devastation to the world.

Is that really what you wish for?

I don’t believe it!

Fang Li was looking down from high above, watching the crowd’s terrified and loathing appearance and feeling pleased with his flawless acting, when he was pulled back by Xie Huai without warning. As soon as he looked up, he met Xie Huai’s eyes that were dimly brimming with anger, and he couldn’t help but startle slightly.

Since capturing Xie Huai, this was his first time seeing such visible emotion in Xie Huai’s eyes.

No matter when or in what circumstances, this person always had that tranquil and indifferent appearance, like nothing in the world could faze him. But today, he was angry.

Fang Li suddenly felt a bit guilty, then understanding dawned on him.

Just now, he’d been too preoccupied with acting cool and saying tough lines, and he’d almost forgotten that to Xie Huai, his actions looked incredibly savage. Destroying a sect at the slightest hint of displeasure—this was stirring up a great battle between the righteous and demonic sects, bringing devastation to the world! As a righteous cultivator who placed the whole world in his heart, it couldn’t be more natural for Xie Huai to get angry.

But don’t worry, I have matters in hand.

In the original book, after Yan Sui killed Chong Wanshan, he’d led the demonic horde to surround Cinnabar Gate. At that time, Yan Sui’s heart had been flooded by hatred and he’d killed as if possessed, harboring the thought that he would rather mistakenly kill innocents than let a single enemy escape. He’d slaughtered for three days and nights, turning the place into a river of blood, not sparing even a chicken or dog.

Thoroughly wiping Cinnabar Gate off the face of the earth.

But Fang Li couldn’t do something like that. Although Cinnabar Gate included those as deserving of death as Chong Wanshan, it also had many innocents who didn’t deserve to die. Seeing as the main instigator and his close confidantes were already dead, then for the rest, even if he were to let some escape, he didn’t want to kill an innocent by mistake. Thus, he’d given them three days’ time.

Three days was more than enough for these people to pack up their belongings and flee for their lives.

He’d thrown down the corpses and given his tough lines before the crowd. Three days later, after everyone had fled, he’d raze Cinnabar Gate to the ground. The effect of it would be about the same.

After all, it was still destroying the sect.

It wouldn’t change the direction of the plot, nor would it require starting a massacre. It was truly perfect on all sides.

Moreover, outsiders wouldn’t know that he had a score with Chong Wanshan, and even less would they know that Chong Wanshan had struck first. They would only know that he’d killed Chong Wanshan and destroyed Cinnabar Gate. The more savage he acted, the more scared those people would be. When the terror reached a certain point, they would want to resist.

Heaven’s Summit was sending out calls to form the Thousand Immortals’ Alliance. They’d spent plenty of effort, but the results weren’t too good. Fang Li was truly worried for them and had decided to give them a good push.

He sure was giving Heaven’s Summit a big helping hand.

Hopefully, these righteous cultivation sects would work a little harder. At this point, stop hemming and hawing and pausing to look behind you at every step. Hurry up and fight your way up Hollow Ridge, I’m waiting to finish the mission and go offline.

Everything was within his plans.

Not many people would die!

Fang Li looked at Xie Huai’s angry appearance and recalled that during this period of time, they had more or less been seamless collaboration partners. In his heart, he had long started considering Xie Huai a friend, but he couldn’t say these words to Xie Huai, and he couldn’t help but feel a little guilty……

Fang Li fell silent for a moment, gritting his teeth. He shook off Xie Huai’s hand and smiled indifferently. “Is this lord’s business something you have a say in?”

Xie Huai looked at Fang Li’s eyes, his chest heaving.

I don’t believe that you don’t know the consequences of doing this.

You clearly don’t want to kill, you clearly still have kindness in your heart, you clearly……

Why are you doing something like this, why are you not leaving any room for retreat, why do you have to make the whole world into your enemy?

Why, won’t you treat yourself a little better?

Xie Huai’s voice was cold as ice. He said, word by word, “Fine. I have no say in Your Excellency’s business.”

Fang Li watched Xie Huai turn around.

He’d always been like this, doing what he was supposed to do, making the plot progress smoothly, making Xie Huai loathe and detest him. He wasn’t afraid that Xie Huai would misunderstand. In reality, this was precisely what he wanted……

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This was the result that he should want.

But right now, for some reason, his heart seemed a little empty, a little uneasy.

After a long time, Fang Li awkwardly touched his nose. Oh, maybe it was because this time, Xie Huai was really angry.

After all, they counted as friends. In the end, making a friend unhappy was wrong.

…………………………

Because they were in the middle of a cold war.

Fang Li didn’t tactlessly go over to where Xie Huai was.

Although he was a little sorry…… he would just let Xie Huai continue to be angry. Maybe by a stroke of luck, it would allow him to smoothly go offline……

With the situation at this point, there was nothing more important than completing the mission. There was no path of retreat left for him.

Fang Li stayed at Cinnabar Gate for three days.

After three days, all of the people in Cinnabar Gate had fled. Fang Li ordered his subordinates to wipe Cinnabar Gate clean. At the moment, there wasn’t much left in Cinnabar Gate, but in the end, they were one of the five great sects, with a great mass of accumulated history. There were some things lrft that no one had had time to take away, which could be considered a reward for the demonic cultivators under him. As for the common people of Mountainview City, Fang Li had issued a strict command not to slaughter innocents.

After that, Fang Li brought his subordinates away on the huge ship, leaving behind a swathe of broken walls and rubble.

It was time to go home.

The journey back was very short, and in just a few days’ time, they arrived at the foot of Hollow Ridge.

These days, Xie Huai hadn’t said a word to Fang Li.

He stood silently at the edge of the boat, solemnly watching the person before him. His fists were clenched at his sides, his impassive face seemingly covered with a layer of ice.

He had been waiting the whole time for that person to explain, even if it was only a single sentence, a single reason, but there was none……

Walking his own path, not willing to give even a sentence of explanation.

When he thought up to here, Xie Huai closed his eyes with self-derision. Exactly what was he hoping in vain for? That person…… hadn’t he always been like this?

Not a single word of truth in his mouth, not allowing anyone to approach his heart.

Nobody could stop him from doing what he intended to do, and nobody could guess his true thoughts…… Impossible to grasp, like clouds and mist.

So, you’ve never changed.

It was I who changed.

Fang Li stood alone at the head of the great ship, narrowing his eyes slightly as he looked at the people coming to welcome them, the corners of his lips rising slightly.

The plot had arrived again.

This part of the plot could be considered a small climax near the ending, and it was also the last time Yan Sui had gotten to eat meat in the original book.

In the book, Du Meng had been sent off to attack Heaven’s Summit, but though he appeared to obey, he was plotting behind the scenes. Not only did he secretly make a deal with Heaven’s Summit and betray Yan Sui, he also arranged for a wave of assassins at the foot of Hollow Ridge.

This was called making preparations with both hands—scheming to have Xie Huai make trouble for Yan Sui on the one hand, and cooperating with the Thousand Immortals’ Alliance on the other, advancing at every step and moving the pieces on both sides, swearing to destroy Yan Sui!

But although he’d sent people over, Du Meng knew that directly plotting against Yan Sui held little hope of success, so this time, his scheme was directed at Xie Huai. During this period of time, Yan Sui’s affection and pampering of Xie Huai was known throughout the world. Du Meng was betting that Yan Sui wouldn’t watch Xie Huai die, so he’d command his people to coat their blades with poison and assassinate Xie Huai, thus drawing in Yan Sui.

Du Meng’s plan could be considered as having hit the target on a fluke. Yan Sui had just used the black jade talisman to kill Chong Wanshan and was still weak. He hadn’t thought that the person attacking him would suddenly charge at Xie Huai and was caught unprepared. Although he had killed that person, Xie Huai had been injured and poisoned.

Yan Sui naturally couldn’t possibly watch Xie Huai die and forcefully drew the poison from Xie Huai’s body onto himself, cough cough cough…… As a little smut novel, there was no need to elaborate on the method of drawing the poison.

In short, Fang Li thought this was yet another completely useless plot point for the sake of serving meat.

He couldn’t possibly draw away the poison, so wasn’t it fine if the poison was avoided altogether?

Moreover, this part of the plot had no meaning at all in the grand scheme of things. On the contrary, it was to exhibit Yan Sui’s deep love toward Xie Huai in the later period, not hesitating to sacrifice it all for the sake of rescuing Xie Huai…… Fang Li shivered. There was absolutely no need for this kind of plot, right? Skip it, skip it.

Anyways, Xie Huai wouldn’t be moved. In the original book, even after Yan Sui had done that, carving out his heart from his chest and nearly giving up his life, Xie Huai had still been stone-hearted. He couldn’t possibly accept someone who had disgraced him like that.

Fang Li didn’t intend to have such intimate contact with Xie Huai, nor did he want to act out some deep love toward Xie Huai at this last, critical juncture.

So Fang Li decided to simply mow through the problem and quickly resolve these assassins, then go home.

At the foot of Hollow Ridge, a crowd of demonic cultivators stood respectfully in attendance, kneeling on the ground and greeting in unison, “Respectful greetings, Your Excellency.”

Fang Li disembarked from the great ship in slow steps, appearing languid and carefree, but in truth on high alert. He knew that all of the people welcoming him here today were Du Meng’s people. Du Meng intended to catch him off guard—he was certain that Fang Li wouldn’t believe that anyone would dare make a move against him on Hollow Ridge.

Yan Sui indeed hadn’t thought so, which was why he’d allowed Xie Huai to fall for the scheme, but Fang Li had the script in his hand and was long prepared. He definitely wouldn’t give them the chance to hurt Xie Huai.

Fang Li proceeded step by step.

Just when he was no more than three steps away from the crowd of demonic cultivators, the glint of blades flashed!

Wu Yimei had received his command long ago and was currently on guard. The demonic cultivators under him immediately began to fight with Du Meng’s. Du Meng’s people hadn’t thought that they would already have preparations and were instead caught off guard, and the two sides soon became drawn into a chaotic battle.

Fang Li’s expression set slightly, throwing aside someone who had come piercing toward him, when suddenly a black shadow flashed past the corner of his eye. He laughed coldly, his fingers curling into a claw, his figure demonic as he seized the neck of the demonic cultivator leaping toward Xie Huai. With a crack, he threw the cultivator away!

If anyone dared make a move against Xie Huai, he would kill them as they came!

Fang Li firmly stood guard in front of Xie Huai, giving those demonic cultivators absolutely no way to approach.

Fresh blood splattered all around, weapons clashing.

Entangling in a tragic image.

Following the gradual flow of time……

More and more people fell to the ground, and those still standing became fewer and fewer. Seeing that the circumstances were dire, Du Meng’s people prepared to stake it all on one throw and charged at Xie Huai with no regard for their lives—

They had long received the order that if they couldn’t touch His Excellency, then they should start with Xie Huai. This was their only opportunity!

Fang Li also summoned all of his concentration, not relaxing his guard just because of the opponents’ death throes. A cornered beast was the most dangerous, and regardless of the occasion, carelessness was the greatest foe……

Xie Huai quietly watched Fang Li skillfully guard him with ease.

This scheme…… it looks like you’d prepared for it long ago.

As expected, this person knew everything and didn’t need him to worry for him at all.

The number of people remaining became fewer and fewer……

Yet another one came charging at Xie Huai, once again being killed by Fang Li, to no surprise.

Xie Huai knew that this melee was about to end……

But just at that moment, Xie Huai’s expression suddenly trembled. Among the crowd, one person suddenly turned their blade and pointed it at Fang Li—

Xie Huai struck out without a hint of hesitation, simultaneously letting out a fierce shout, “Be careful!”

Fang Li had just finished crushing the neck of a demonic cultivator and hadn’t thought that one of the people in the ground would suddenly turn their blade on him. At the same time, another person pointed a sword at Xie Huai, one in front and one behind—

Fang Li didn’t even think before striking out at the one charging at Xie Huai, then nimbly turning around and sending a blow at the person behind him!

That person gave Fang Li a savage grin, and just before being sent flying, suddenly threw the long blade in their hand! The blade sliced through Fang Li’s black roves, leaving a shallow wound at his waist.

But that demonic cultivator laughed delightedly, then ended their own life without any hesitation!

Fang Li’s expression was a little unsightly.

He felt half his body quickly becoming numb.

Although he had the script in his hand and had made preparations long ago, he still had no way to control all of the abrupt happenings that arose. Every single person here, even a nameless cannon fodder, was capable of making unpredictable decisions on the brink of life and death—

They’d seen that plotting against Xie Huai was hopeless and would result in certain death, so someone had staked it all on striking against Fang Li directly.

The human heart was the most difficult to predict……

Very quickly, Wu Yumei cleaned off the last of the assassins.

Wu Yimei quickly arrived before Fang Li and said anxiously, “Your Excellency, are you alright?”

Fang Li’s body wavered, his consciousness becoming blurry.

Fang Li gave a very faint smile.

No problem, it wasn’t a big deal if he got poisoned. He was going to die anyway.

His last thought before he fainted was—

Thank the heavens and earth that Xie Huai was fine.

He didn’t need to draw out the poison.

When that person had attacked, Xie Huai had charged forward without any hesitation to stop it, but he had been late by a step. Luckily, Fang Li’s reaction had been swift and had killed that person with one strike, only suffering a light wound.

But at this moment, seeing Fang Li smile, Xie Huai suddenly felt that something was wrong. Then, he saw Fang Li topple straight to the ground—

Xie Huai subconsciously reached out and cradled Fang Li in his embrace. He watched that pale, white face take on an unnatural tinge of red and immediately realized that that demonic cultivator’s blade had been smeared with poison!

It was all his own fault.

He had actually already recovered over half of his cultivation and didn’t need anyone’s protection, but Fang Li didn’t know that……

If not for the sake of protecting him, he wouldn’t have been caught off guard and fallen victim to the scheme.

Xie Huai’s hand that was holding Fang Li suddenly tightened.

Wu Yimei had also been shocked upon seeing Fang Li topple over, and he reached out to take Fang Li from Xie Huai, saying coldly, “Hand His Excellency over to me.”

But Xie Huai only tightly held the person in his embrace. He suddenly raised his eyes, those eyes dark and frigid, and Wu Yimei couldn’t help but startle.

Xie Huai’s thin lips parted slightly, speaking slowly and deliberately. “Regardless of our standpoints, he just saved me. Do you really think that I would hurt him right now?”

…………………………

The Author Has Something to Say:

Fang Li: The hero rescues the damsel in distress ✓

Xie Huai: The wife is always making me angry and never consoles me, I’m angry! …… [10 seconds later] Forget it, my heart hurts.

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