The four-layered expert who has joined my Yitian Sect is named Long Shou Si. Although he is only a four-layered expert, he is an orphan. It’s quite a pitiable background, you know…”
Zhao Zhichen had no idea why Qiao Yihong was interested in this person, but he told Qiao Yihong everything he knew without reservation.
Qiao Yihong suddenly stood up. Long Shou Si—wasn't that Long Shou Si!
This man was indeed a descendant of the Long family, and he must be one of the two external protectors Long Feng mentioned. This meant that Long Shou Si was very likely the mastermind behind the attack on the major noble clans and sects by the Long family disciples!
Furthermore, if what Zhao Zhichen said was true, then the truth behind Long Jiang and his betrayal of the Long family was basically brought to light!
“Brother Qiao, what’s wrong?”
Seeing Qiao Yihong’s state, Zhao Zhichen quickly inquired, worried he might have said something amiss.
“Nothing is wrong. By the way, Brother Zhao, have you noticed any suspicious individuals recently… or rather, has anyone been frequently moving between the major sects and noble families in secret?”
Qiao Yihong suppressed his excitement and immediately asked Zhao Zhichen another question. If they were the ones attacking the sects and framing the Long family, then all they needed to do was find the whereabouts of Long Jiang and Long Shou Si and capture them; the truth would naturally emerge.
“No, I haven’t,” Zhao Zhichen replied. He had been preoccupied recently with figuring out how to contact the Zhang Family, the Medical Saints in the Long Family Plain, and hadn't paid attention to outside affairs. Qiao Yihong’s question truly left him clueless.
“I know!”
Just then, Zhao Zhibing suddenly exclaimed, then looked at Qiao Yihong and said, “Recently, people from the Northwest Zhao Family have been moving quite frequently among the major sects. I overheard other sect disciples mentioning this in private.”
“The Northwest Zhao Family?” Qiao Yihong repeated, then suddenly recalled that the Northwest Zhao Family was among the sects and clans that had gone to the Long family to demand an explanation. It was precisely because the Northwest Zhao Family was also an allied clan of the Long family that it drew the attention of the Long Family Head, Long Haotian, and it was the Northwest Zhao Family who had provided the bodies of the deceased Long family disciples.
Since Elder Zhang Daofeng and Elder Zhang Yun'an were currently at the Northwest Zhao Family, it meant that if everything was indeed as he suspected, Long Jiang and Long Shou Si must be headed there next.
“Brother Zhao, I sincerely apologize, but I have an urgent matter and cannot continue drinking with you here. Farewell!”
After figuring everything out, Qiao Yihong bid farewell, stood up, and left.
“Brother Qiao, what on earth happened?”
Zhao Zhichen hastily rose, but in the blink of an eye, Qiao Yihong was already far away, leaving only his receding figure.
“Master, judging by Senior Qiao’s reaction, it seems something big has happened in the Long family, hasn’t it?” Zhao Zhibing muttered doubtfully, watching Qiao Yihong’s retreating back.
“Whatever big thing it is, it has nothing to do with our Yitian Sect. Since Brother Qiao is willing to put in a good word for us in front of Sect Master Zhang, my heart can finally rest easy. Come, Zhibing, have a few drinks with your master.”
Zhao Zhichen didn't care at all about what had happened; instead, he began devouring the food on the stone table ravenously. It had been quite a while since he had eaten a proper meal.
“Master, Master!”
A disciple of the Yitian Sect suddenly rushed over, shouting loudly. Seeing Zhao Zhibing there, he bowed and greeted him as Senior Martial Uncle, then announced, “People from the Northwest Zhao Family just sent someone to our Yitian Sect, saying they urgently request the Sect Master come to their camp immediately for an important discussion!”
“What!”
Zhao Zhibing nearly choked on his food. The Northwest Zhao Family was inviting him for an important discussion.
What important matter could they possibly discuss with a disgraced figure from the Yitian Sect?
Recalling Qiao Yihong’s reaction from moments ago, Zhao Zhichen suddenly felt like he understood something. He immediately stood up, grabbed the Emei Sword from the stone table, and declared, “Let’s go to the Northwest Zhao Family!”
Outside the Long Family Plain, a middle-aged man in his forties was galloping madly, his destination the Shaolin camp, which was not far from there.
He was Long Jiu, a disciple of the Long family sent by the current Family Head, Long Haotian, to deliver a message to the Shaolin camp, and he was Long Haotian’s right-hand man.
As he rushed along, a hint of a smile finally appeared on his face when he saw the gates of the Shaolin camp ahead. He immediately quickened his pace, wanting to reach it faster. However, when his peripheral vision caught sight of an old man ahead, he immediately slowed down.
The old man ahead seemed not to have noticed him and was still walking slowly, heading in the same direction toward the Shaolin camp.
“Isn’t that Protector Long!”
When Long Jiu approached and clearly saw the old man, he immediately shouted happily, recognizing him at a glance as one of the external protectors of their Long family.
Long Jiu knew that the Long family currently had two external protectors searching Kunlun for the traitor Long Jiang, which was why he was so pleased to see the elder.
The old man appearing in front of Long Jiu was none other than Long Shou Si, who had been missing for a long time.
Hearing the shout from behind, the corner of Long Shou Si’s mouth curved upward into a sinister smile. However, when he turned around to look at the Long family disciple behind him, his expression instantly shifted to one of surprise.
“It’s Long Jiu. Long time no see.”
Long Shou Si had noticed Long Jiu’s arrival long ago and was deliberately waiting for him here.
“Protector Long, the Family Head has recalled the Long family disciples who were searching for the traitor Long Jiang. Didn't you know?” Long Jiu asked Long Shou Si with confusion.
“Of course I know. But I discovered a trace of the traitor Long Jiang earlier, which is why I couldn't return immediately,” Long Shou Si nodded and said softly. “But regrettably, when I tracked him, Long Jiang discovered me and escaped.”
“I see. Protector Long, don’t be discouraged. That traitor will receive his due retribution sooner or later.”
For a moment, Long Jiu didn't know how to respond appropriately.
Long Shou Si shook his head regretfully, gave a bitter smile, and then asked seemingly casually, “By the way, Long Jiu, why are you coming out of the Long Family Plain? Are you heading to Shaolin?”
“Yes, I am. The Family Head ordered me to deliver a letter to Shaolin,” Long Jiu answered, not thinking much of it.
Deliver a letter?
A sharp light flashed in Long Shou Si’s eyes, and he immediately followed up by asking, “Is it related to the matter of the Hua family, Zhou family, Li family, and the Demonic Sect’s Wudang simultaneously leaving Kunlun recently?”
Long Jiu had no guard up and nodded, answering casually, “That’s right. This is absolutely classified information. The Grand Perfection experts of the five major sects and clans—Li, Hua, Zhou, Demonic Sect, and Wudang—were all severely injured simultaneously and withdrew from Kunlun. I am on my way to Shaolin to deliver a letter, inviting their people to our Long Family Palace to discuss major matters together.”
Long Jiu knew this because he was also a core disciple of the Long family, Long Haotian’s right-hand man. Long Haotian had not hidden these matters from him. Long Jiu also clearly trusted Long Shou Si greatly, which is why he told him the truth.
“So that’s how it is!” Long Shou Si became instantly agitated, unable to contain himself. Now he finally understood why the major clans had suddenly withdrawn from Kunlun.
“What about our Long family’s Grand Elder? And Old Master Zhang of the Medical Saint Zhang Family? Has the Ten Thousand Year Peach already fallen into the hands of our Long family’s Grand Elder?”
In his excitement, Long Shou Si fired off several questions in quick succession, completely failing to realize how inappropriate these questions were.
“This morning, I returned with the Family Head to bring back Old Master Zhang and the Grand Elder. They both seem severely injured and very weak, but I did not see the Ten Thousand Year Peach; it must not have ripened yet.”
Long Jiu didn't find Long Shou Si’s questions abnormal; he had been just as shocked when he first heard the news, so he answered truthfully.
“That is of grave importance! Long Jiu, do not delay! Hurry and deliver the letter to Shaolin. I will return to the Long family immediately!”
After hearing Long Jiu’s answer, Long Shou Si suppressed the excitement surging in his heart after several deep breaths, and urgently urged Long Jiu.
“Understood. Then Protector Long, you should also hurry back to the Long family,” Long Jiu nodded, cupped his hands in farewell to Long Shou Si, turned around, and prepared to walk towards Shaolin.
The instant Long Jiu turned his back, a cold glint flashed in Long Shou Si’s eyes. He suddenly leaped up, raised his hand, and struck out with a palm laden with fierce internal energy!
Bang!
Pfft!
Long Jiu had never expected Long Shou Si to strike suddenly from behind. He took the full force of the blow, spat out a mouthful of blood, and crashed to the ground.
“You…”
Long Jiu struggled to stand up, but before he could finish a word or fully turn around, a large hand clamped around his neck and brutally twisted it. With a sharp crack, Long Jiu’s life ended instantly, leaving him speechless forever!
“Hahahaha! Third Brother’s foresight is truly divine! The Grand Perfection experts of all the major families have truly ended up in a mutually destructive state. What’s even more wonderful is that the Ten Thousand Year Peach hasn't matured yet. Heaven aids me! Heaven aids me!”
After violently killing Long Jiu, Long Shou Si looked up to the sky and burst into manic laughter.
After laughing enough, he searched Long Jiu’s body and retrieved the letter written by Long Haotian to the Shaolin Abbot, Shi Cheng. Without any delay, he bolted toward the largest area of rugged rocks on Mount Kunlun.
Moments later, Long Shou Si arrived at the pile of rubble where Long Jiang was hiding. Long Jiang had been waiting there for a long time.
“Good news, Third Brother! Truly great news!”
Upon meeting Long Jiang, Long Shou Si laughed heartily, handed him the letter recovered from Long Jiu, and relayed everything Long Jiu had said without missing a word.
After listening, Long Jiang opened the letter and read it carefully. He then trembled with excitement, threw his head back, and roared incessantly—the exact same reaction as Long Shou Si had shown earlier.
“This is truly what the Long family deserves! Even Heaven cannot stand by and watch, hahahaha!”
Once Long Jiang finished laughing, Long Shou Si softly inquired, “Third Brother, I have already followed your instructions and gathered the major sects and clans at the Northwest Zhao Family. Moreover, Zhang Daofeng and Zhang Yun’an of the Medical Saint Zhang Family are also at the Zhao residence. Since everything is going so smoothly, what should we do next?”
Long Jiang neatly folded the letter and put it back in its envelope. With a wave of his hand, he said, “Let’s go to the Northwest Zhao Family!”