Chapter 443: Eavesdropping
Translator: chuchutrain Editor: DavidT, Rock
The next course of action for Ling Jian was not to begin listening to what they were talking about below, but to remain motionless where he was, immediately working on recuperation! Having pushed his movement techniques to such an extreme, his face was already a pale white as a result of overexertion. If he didn't recuperate immediately, not only might he fail to obtain any information, but he would even risk being found out because of his heavy breathing!
It was only after silently revolving his energy through a major cycle that Ling Jian then gently placed his ear on the roof tile below him!
A soft voice sounded from below him.
"... Today, the reason for gathering all of you here is because I have a matter I wish to discuss." A cultured and refined voice sounded, "Ling Tian has traveled north all the way from Western Han. Yesterday, about thirty kilometers from our city, he butchered sixteen first-rate experts from the Blood Slaughter Pavilion, causing them to all retreat. He is likely to be within Bright Jade City at this time, so I have called all of you here to come out with an idea or strategy to deal with him!"
From below came the collective sound of deep breaths. A first-rate assassin from the Blood Slaughter Pavilion! All of them knew what that meant and what they represented, but to think that they were annihilated in one fell swoop by him, and probably without even leaving a scratch on him! Didn't that mean that Ling Tian's martial arts had already reached an unfathomable stage? How could they deal with such a character? Who had the ability?!
"However, Ling Tian might not dare to openly show his face in Bright Jade City and would likely be disguised." After a moment of silence, a more aged voice sounded, "If we can find Ling Tian before he discovers us spying on him, then we have absolute confidence that we can behead and kill him in Bright Jade City. Once he dies, then it will be a cause for celebration!"
Once the words were spoken, the rest of them rolled their eyes. This old fogey's words made sense, but were also 100% bullsh*t! Right now, weren't the most headache-inducing parts about what disguise Ling Tian had used to enter Bright Jade City, and where he was at? If they already knew that, then why did the Family Head need them to come here and discuss this? He would just need to go out and kill him!
"Family Head, this old one has a dumb idea, but who knows? It might actually be able to lure Ling Tian out." That aged voice continued on at the same speed and tone. "Starting from tomorrow, we can shut the four doors of the city and immediately send out our troops to search every house. First, this will ease the anxiety that the citizens feel regarding the recent assassinations from the First Pavilion, and second, the Shui Family is sure to have sent a group of people over here to Bright Jade City in order to take advantage of the chaos to scheme. We can use this chance to capture the lot of them. Lastly, and also the most important, we can use the excuse of capturing the rebel party to search for Ling Tian." He paused to cough, before continuing, "In name, we're still considered as in-laws to the Ling Family, and thus even if we want to make a move against Ling Tian, we still have to find an excuse to arrest him."
"I'm afraid that the effectiveness is not too high with this plan…"
"Family Head, a dumb idea has its benefits. We can use this chance to place all of the foreigners with unknown statuses under our control! Or, to ensnare everyone! If Ling Tian is within this group of people, he naturally will retaliate. Then we can take this chance to simply finish him off!"
"Isn't that inappropriate? If we do it that way, wouldn't it attract hatred from everyone? Even if we do it under the pretext of settling the citizen's hearts, the gains don't justify our losses. Slaughtering innocents, is that what a person who aims to reach the top should do?" another leader countered.
"This is not so, let's not talk about achieving the top, unbothered about the little trifles. We definitely can't allow ourselves to be soft-hearted. Furthermore, ever since a few days ago, the First Pavilion has already begun their series of assassinations, causing the entire Bright Jade City to be on edge. Even now, we're suffering from the repercussions, and our internal problems are becoming more and more critical. As for the officials that we put in as replacements, they've all been exposed to be lackeys under the Shui Family. While our own cleansing has not begun, the effects are actually similar to my plan. Thus, our priority now is to immediately draw up the plan for our own cleansing! Clear out all the spies, causing Bright Jade to plunge into chaos once again! When that time comes, then we deploy our troops, locking down the place under the name of preserving order, and capture all those 'murderers'. Even if we overdo it a little, it does not matter by then. Does everyone present understand this logic?"
The old man's voice was unbearably grating, bringing about a sense of irritation to those who heard it. His voice also carried a tone of treating human lives like grass, making those around him tremble even without it being cold. The old man followed up with two eerie chuckles before continuing, "If one wishes to rule at the top, they must use the hearts of the citizens. The hearts of the citizens can be used and should be used. If the citizens' hearts can't be used, then they must be incited. If neither method works, then they should be destroyed!"
A look of praise appeared on Yu ManLou's face. The hearts of the citizens should be used if available, incited and provoked if unavailable, and destroyed if unable to be used! This phrase coincided with his exact beliefs.
The rest remained silent, and only the person who voiced his opinions earlier argued once again, "Isn't it too overbearing to simply sacrifice everybody just like that? Even if it's for Ling Tian, it's not worth getting thousands to accompany him in death! If that's the case, then how different are we compared to those who willfully slaughter the innocent?"
The eerie voice rebutted at this point, "Pavilion Head Huang, you should know that so long as that punk Ling Tian doesn't die, he will become the biggest opponent fighting against our family for hegemony! When the time comes and we meet on the battlefield, even if we were to claim the victory in the end, how many lives would we have to pay for it? Yours might even be included in that number! During the battle between Northern Wei and Sky Bearing, Ling Tian charged alone on horseback into a 400,000 strong army, and in just a few seconds, he took up to 10,000 lives! How could we leave such a character alone? To have a few thousand people accompanying him to death would be an honor! Would you rather Ling Tian die or our entire Yu Family be sacrificed?!"
"I didn't say anything about going against Ling Tian, but those innocent citizens…"
"Innocent people who die for no reason at all are found everywhere! How could you lump such different matters together? Why do you not question the endless chaos and battles that happen continuously day after day, causing countless innocent citizens to be killed every year? Which of them aren't innocent? If one has to care about any and every random innocent, then why talk about establishing hegemony, unifying all? If those ignorant masses die for the sake of protecting my Yu Family, isn't that a good thing?"
"Head Deacon's words have meaning in them!" Yu ManLou made the final decision at this point. "If one wishes to achieve something great, sacrificing a few ignorant peasants is acceptable, more so as compared to sacrificing my people. This matter is decided as such, there's no need to debate anymore. Come tomorrow, we'll begin the cleansing operation, and seal up the city in the night. We'll search the city and capture all suspicious targets. I would rather have killed the wrong person than to let a suspect go!"
After pausing a moment, he continued, "This time, Ling Tian didn't come alone to Bright City. Accompanying him is a mysterious young lady."
"Mysterious young lady?" Everyone started having their speculations, for no one knew what sort of lady would then be able to live up to the tag of 'mysterious' in their Family Head's eyes.
"Ling Tian left Sky Bearing alone, but during this period of time, another lass suddenly appeared alongside him. She isn't too old, seeming around seventeen or eighteen, and her looks are exquisite, but her moves are ruthless. Out of the sixteen assassins from the Blood Slaughter Pavilion, this lass eliminated six of them on her own, and also without a single injury. Her strength is incomparably strong, and even if she is not at Ling Tian's level, there shouldn't be much of a difference. Both are first tier experts!" Yu ManLou indifferently spoke.
The crowd was tongue-tied yet again. While all of them could be considered supreme experts on the continent, not many would be confident of having the ability to deal with six first-tier experts, and even fewer being able to remain unscathed. To hear of a mere sixteen-year-old lass that could pull this off, everyone couldn't help but look shocked.
Could it be that lass Chen is also here? On the rooftop, Ling Jian sunk into deep thought. However, having ruthless moves like what the Yu Family Head described does not fit her at all. But if that's not her, then what other lady could have such a strength? Even if it's lass Chen herself, she wouldn't be that strong, right?
He suddenly heard Yu ManLou casually remarking, "From the intelligence I've received, her martial skills are extremely unique and strange. Every palm strike of hers was followed by chilling winds and snow, as though one was plunged in the middle of a winter solstice…"
It's indeed lass Chen, could her martial arts have taken a step forward once again?! Upon hearing the 'as though one was plunged in the middle of a winter solstice', Ling Jian immediately threw away all his doubts. However, due to the shock in his heart, he involuntarily shifted, pressing too hard on a piece of tile and causing it to slightly shift.
Ling Jian groaned in despair immediately. With so many experts present below, especially with Yu ManLou's unfathomable cultivation, how could it escape their acute senses? Ling Jian made his decision in a split second, shooting out from his current position as he escaped. Right now, he didn't even care to be discreet, and immediately burst out with his full strength, his speed accelerating to his limits!
Indeed!
"Who is it?!"
"Get down!"
Hong!
"Chase after him!"
Loud and angry bellows sounded at the very instant that Ling Jian shot off, and the place he was originally lying down on was blasted apart by a palm strike from someone. This was followed by the sounds of robes lashing against the wind as dozens of shadows shot up from below, and begin to chase after Ling Jian!
Yu ManLou's face sank, and on his chin, the three tufts of beard on his lower jaw trembled fiercely. He was already angered beyond belief!
To think that all the elites of the Yu Family were discussing matters in the same place, but had an eavesdropper hiding above them! This was as good as slapping Yu ManLou on the face, an extreme humiliation!
This person must not be allowed to leave the Yu Family!
However, what sort of person would possess such insane movement techniques such that even under all the wary senses of the experts present, they managed to secretly and stealthily eavesdrop on them?! If not for his minute movement previously, the ambush could be said to have been perfect! Even in his anger, Yu ManLou was filled with a certain interest towards this person!
Ling Jian resembled a black colored lightning bolt as he plowed straight towards the outer wall of the Yu Residence, 300 feet away!
Behind him were at least ten others, hot on his heels!
The bells in the entire Yu Family started to ring, and countless guards surged from all directions.
A low voice resounded like the rumbling of thunder, "Raise the Heaven Encompassing Net! All of the guards are to stand at the wall to intercept!"
Ling Jian's heart sank!
Yu ManLou's move immediately checkmated him!