Chapter Ninety-Three: Sect Strife

It was the main hall again.

The light was faint, the atmosphere somber. The dim glow of the bronze oil lamp flickered across the four faces. Though the walls were no longer shrouded in darkness, the entire hall seemed all the more bleak for it.

Qi Shiqi sat in the bamboo chair at the northern end. “Brother Wu, you’ve seen it for yourself. Though this Xie Family Post can hardly compare to the towns of Zhoushire, as the foundation upon which our manor survives, it is by no means a small scale operation.”

Zhang He nodded. He understood this reasoning well enough. The management fees generated by every merchant, every stall, every shop in Xie Family Post might be trivial on their own, but pooled together, the total was enormous.

For that reason alone, as a self-founded sect, Hidden Sword Manor could indeed take pride in itself.

Qi Shiqi continued, “All of this is thanks to the protection of the first Ghost Shadow Manor Lord. In his day, let alone a mere Life and Death Judgment, even members of the demonic cult would not dare come here to stir up trouble. But ever since the Ghost Shadow Manor Lord vanished from Shaoshi Mountain all those years ago, this manor has gone from bad to worse, declining day by day. Brothers, the two of you saw it just now—nowadays, even a disciple of Wudang’s Sword Dance Hall is unwilling to lift a finger for Hidden Sword Manor.”

His tone was melancholy and despondent, but how could Zhang He and Zhong Shuman fail to read the meaning behind his words?

In truth, Yun Hanying’s behavior today had not really been out of fear of the Life and Death Judgment. After all, the prestigious Wudang sect, throughout the entire Central Plains, had little reason to fear anyone. The reason Yun Hanying had chosen to make a show of leaving was simply that he felt the current Hidden Sword Manor was no longer worth the help of a Wudang disciple.

This was precisely the case of a tiger fallen to the plains, and a guest gone with the tea gone cold—one of those tragedies of the jianghu that no one could do anything about.

Zhang He pondered for a moment, then said, “Might I ask, young master, whether you believe someone is coveting this precious land of Xie Family Post? And that these people are not the Life and Death Judgment?”

Qi Shiqi’s eyes brightened, and for a moment his whole person seemed to recover a bit of his usual dazzling bearing. “Exactly. I have thought about this for a long time. In the past year or two, the Life and Death Judgment has gradually risen in the jianghu, pulling off several major cases south of the river. A sect with such renown, why would it set its sights on our declining Hidden Sword Manor? Moreover, as far as I know, every contract the Life and Death Judgment accepts comes with a hefty price and involves extremely troublesome tasks. If someone spent a fortune to have eight first-turn disciples and living players in my manor killed, I would find that very hard to believe.”

Zhong Shuman said, “Yes, now that you mention it, young master, I find it strange too. Unless those people were idiots with more money than they knew what to do with, doing such boring things.”

Zhang He said gravely, “Actually, this proves one thing. The two incidents today were not simply about killing. They carried more of a warning. And the killer was very likely someone impersonating the Life and Death Judgment.”

Qi Shiqi clapped his hands. “I share the same view as Brother Wu.”

He sighed again. “To be honest with Brother Wu and Miss Zhong, tragedies like these—this manor has already suffered twelve of them this week. Each time the other side goes further, and our casualties grow more severe. Now the danger has reached the very heart of the manor. My people are already losing heart, living in constant fear and dread. And so…”

Zhang He stared at him. “And so you urgently summoned the manor’s three most capable protectors to discuss a plan, is that right?”

Qi Shiqi sighed. “They are only protectors in name. Qiqi is currently at fourth turn, and her martial arts are certainly superb—after all, she trained at Divine Sword Manor. Unfortunately, she is simple-minded and rash in the face of trouble. If she were to meet an opponent with a sharp mind, how would she cope?”

Zhong Shuman also sighed. “No wonder you sent her to look for Yun Hanying. That indeed requires no great mental effort.”

Qi Shiqi went on, “Fuweng is cleverer than her, and his swordsmanship is passable, but he cannot stand provocation. Once he loses his reason, he will inevitably fall into a trap.”

Zhang He said admiringly, “Young master’s judgment of people is indeed precise.”

Qi Shiqi continued, “As for Shaogong, though he is steady and meticulous to a fault, he lacks courage and boldness. In major affairs he is short of overall strategy and the decisiveness to strike hard. He is not well suited to risky missions.”

Zhang He nodded. “So for the dull mechanical task of patrol and vigilance, he is the best choice.”

Qi Shiqi turned his head to glance at Fat Mantis. “The steward has always managed the manor’s affairs large and small, but in martial arts, wit, and adaptability, he is far stronger than the three of them. It is only that as a steward, his talents are wasted.”

Fat Mantis quickly rose to his feet. “I wouldn’t dare! The manor lord is too kind!”

Qi Shiqi smiled. “But I am not at ease letting the steward go alone. If he were to go by himself, I fear the chances of disaster would outweigh those of survival.”

Zhang He smiled too. “So you want me to replace Steward Mantis in going to the scene to complete the task?”

“You are mistaken, Brother Wu.” Qi Shiqi shook his head. “I want the steward to assist you and Miss Zhong in going to Famous Sword Manor, to help me get this matter done.”

“Oh?” Zhong Shuman said in surprise. “Young master’s meaning is that Famous Sword Manor covets this Xie Family Post?”

Qi Shiqi did not answer, but his expression grew even heavier.

Fortunately, Fat Mantis picked up the thread. “In truth, the two of you may not know. Among the three manors of Yuezhou, Famous Sword Manor has always been recognized as the strongest, with the greatest number of experts. Moreover, over the past year Famous Sword Manor has developed very quickly. In the past, Famous Sword Manor controlled one-fifth of the territory of Xie Family Post as their supply base for maintaining the sect. But recently they sent us a letter, expressing their hope to manage four-fifths of the territory, leaving our manor to manage one-fifth.”

At this point, even his usual Maitreya-like smiling face could not help showing anger. “They even sent us diagrams, having already divided up the areas they want to control. As for the one-fifth they left us, it is entirely the most remote and desolate parts of Xie Family Post. That territory could never support the five hundred-plus disciples and the thousand-plus living players of Hidden Sword Manor. To put it plainly, they want to swallow us whole.”

Zhong Shuman could not help saying, “What right do they have to be so overbearing?”

In truth, she did not need to ask. Everyone knew by now that Ghost Shadow Changkong had long since left *Dynasty*. Hidden Sword Manor was declining day by day, its talents withering away, no longer posing any deterrent. And Third Young Master Xie of Divine Sword Manor was just an NPC, always indifferent to fame and profit, unconcerned with worldly affairs—unless you triggered some quest to activate him to intervene.

Moreover, the two manors had long since established their own independent factions. The three were no longer branches of the same tree, and even the tripartite stalemate existed in name only. Now, very likely, one of them intended to dominate and unite all three.

“They are dreaming!” Fat Mantis sneered.

“They are not dreaming!” Qi Shiqi corrected him calmly. “They have long since calculated that our overall strength is simply no match for theirs. If it were not for the sake of sect prestige, they could have spared themselves all this trouble and simply led their people to destroy our manor outright. But they still sent the division diagrams, because in their eyes, this is still a concession to the old bond of a shared origin in Divine Sword Manor—an extra way out for us. Far from being an insult, this is a very generous treatment. If this matter proceeds according to their design, not only will their economic power grow unprecedentedly, but their reputation in the jianghu will soar. People of noble sects may even regard them as benevolent and virtuous, winning hearts by their magnanimity…”

Zhong Shuman and Fat Mantis were stunned into silence. Zhong Shuman especially—she had traveled far and wide with Zhang He in recent days and had seen no small number of dirty tricks in the jianghu, but those were all petty squabbles, child’s play.

Because in this conflict between the two sects, the tactic employed by Famous Sword Manor could be called killing without drawing blood. This was a truly formidable scheme.

No—it should be said that this was an open and aboveboard scheme, a grand design in plain sight.

To break such a scheme, frankly speaking, Zhong Shuman now felt a sense of weakness throughout her whole body. This task was ten times more difficult than the previous ones of Netherbright Mountain, Duke Iron’s Tomb, and Peony Pavilion combined. So she had no choice but to turn her head and look at Zhang He.

Zhang He’s expression was also solemn. “What would you have me do, young master?”

Qi Shiqi said gravely, “Brother Wu, I hope that when you go, you can negotiate on my behalf. Even if we cannot achieve a peaceful outcome, we must not agree to their arrogant demand of one-fifth. My manor knows its own limits; two-fifths would be enough. Of course, not the most remote and poorest two-fifths. Brother Wu, can you understand my meaning?”

Zhang He was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled. “Young master, you think so highly of me. You know, I am only at first turn.”

Qi Shiqi finally rose to his feet and said respectfully, “Brother Wu, I ask you to go in my place for three reasons. First, Brother Wu is not a member of my manor, and you arrived only today. The other side will not immediately know who you are. All the people in my manor, they know thoroughly. If the steward went, it would only be a wasted journey. And even in the worst case, should Brother Wu end up slaughtering them openly, it would not damage my manor’s reputation.”

Zhong Shuman could not help revealing a sardonic smile. “So you get the good name, and he carries the infamy?”

Qi Shiqi paid her no heed and continued, “Second, although Brother Wu is not at fifth or sixth turn and could be said to be unknown, that is precisely why the other side does not know your background. Even if they investigated, they would let down their guard. Moreover, in war, envoys are not killed. Brother Wu will have at least forty to fifty percent more room to maneuver than anyone in my manor.”

Zhong Shuman stopped smiling, because she had only now realized that this Qi Shiqi, like Zhang He, appeared careless and unassuming on the surface, but in reality was a sharp, meticulous schemer—possessing both cunning and courage, both craftiness and decisiveness.

If, under the current circumstances, there truly was an outsider who could replace Qi Shiqi in completing this task, Zhang He was indeed the only one possible.

“Then what is the third point?” Zhong Shuman could not help asking.

“That is precisely the most crucial point.” Qi Shiqi revealed a trace of an admiring smile. “Though I met Brother Wu by mere chance, that day Brother Wu slew the Wudang dandy White Horse Young Master at Peony Pavilion, gravely wounded the Fuling middle-rank chivalrous fighter Mad Butcher of One Street, and finally escaped under the arrows of Divine Archer Feiyang’s Xiliang Preface. All this shows that Brother Wu’s strength is by no means weak. Moreover, with Brother Wu’s eloquence, knowledge, insight, wit, adaptability, and strategy, you are the best candidate to resolve this thorny problem for my manor.”

Not waiting for Zhang He and Zhong Shuman to respond, he continued in one breath, “I mentioned earlier that when asking for help, one must offer something in return. I have prepared two modest gifts, and I only hope Brother Wu and Miss Zhong will not refuse them. Help my manor resolve this crisis, and Qi here offers his deepest gratitude.”

With that, he walked before Zhang He, bent at the waist, and bowed deeply—a long, unbroken bow.