Chapter 1513: Chapter 1611: Fire King’s Human Head

“I have already looked into Sword Pond Sect, it’s just an inconspicuous small sect in Qing Nation, and the Sect Master is named Song Xuesheng. But you claim your name is Cao Xuesheng,” the Pavilion Master Wei Yu of Thousand Gold Pavilion said to the Man with the Wolf Head Mask in an unpleasant tone.

This was the second time the Man with the Wolf Head Mask had come to Thousand Gold Pavilion. Wei Yu had long since had someone investigate the Sword Pond Sect and Cao Xuesheng, which the Man with the Wolf Head Mask claimed to be his identity last time.

Indeed, the Sword Pond Sect does exist; it’s a dilapidated small sect in Qing Nation, and the current Sect Master of the Sword Pond Sect is called Song Xuesheng, not Cao Xuesheng as stated by the Man with the Wolf Head Mask.

“Is this the sincerity you show in doing business with my Thousand Gold Pavilion?” Wei Yu looked at the Man with the Wolf Head Mask with disdain. She had always looked down upon those who hid their faces and dared not show their true selves.

The Man with the Wolf Head Mask glanced at Wei Yu and chuckled, “What difference does it make if my surname is Cao or Song? The person sitting before you now is neither Cao Xuesheng nor Song Xuesheng, but merely an envoy from Sky Swallowing Palace. The matter we’re here to discuss is unrelated to Sword Pond Sect, so those details are unimportant.”

“Then tell me, what is your real surname? I’m the kind of person who wants to know everything; you had better tell me the truth,” Wei Yu pressed, eager to find out everything about the Man with the Wolf Head Mask.

“The previous Sect Master of the Sword Pond Sect had the surname Cao,” said the Man with the Wolf Head Mask after a long silence, revealing only this much.

Wei Yu paused, wanting to continue her inquiry, but saw only coldness in the eyes of the Man with the Wolf Head Mask, as if he was becoming impatient with any further questioning.

“Qing Nation has contacted my Thousand Gold Pavilion three times, seeking to purchase Pills from me. What is Sky Swallowing Palace’s intention now?” Wei Yu quickly got to the point.

The coldness dissipated from the eyes of the Man with the Wolf Head Mask, who replied, “You can sell to Qing Nation, but the method of sale must change.”

“Oh? Change to what method?” asked Wei Yu.

“Sell the Pills from Tang Country to Qing Nation,” the Man with the Wolf Head Mask proposed.

Upon hearing this, Wei Yu’s face showed a look of shock: “Are you suggesting instigating a conflict between Tang Country and Qing Nation over the affairs of the Pill Alliance?”

“Hehe, Pavilion Master Wei, you truly possess extraordinary intelligence; you see through things immediately,” chuckled the Man with the Wolf Head Mask.

A shudder ran through Wei Yu’s heart. Was Sky Swallowing Palace going too far, stirring up chaos? Yuan Country was already in turmoil, Qing Nation was in disorder, and now they sought to disturb the only relatively stable Tang Country?

Thousand Gold Pavilion originated in Tang Country. Therefore, within Tang Country’s borders, besides the royal family controlling half of the Pill trade, Thousand Gold Pavilion managed the other half.

If Thousand Gold Pavilion were to sell the Pills, intended originally for Martial Artists of Tang Country, to Qing Nation, it would definitely cause problems on the side of Tang Country. After all, the quantity of Pills involved was not small; nearly half of Tang Country’s supply of Pills would impact more than just a little.

“What’s the point of doing this? Surely with these tactics alone, Sky Swallowing Palace doesn’t aim to vie for domination over the realm?” Wei Yu said, finding it hard to believe.

“Of course, that’s not all; this is only the beginning. Each of the Upper Three Countries has its problems. What Sky Swallowing Palace intends to do is simply to amplify their respective issues,” said the Man with the Wolf Head Mask nonchalantly.

Wei Yu furrowed her brows. As the current Pavilion Master of Thousand Gold Pavilion, she had considerable authority within the Pavilion, but making such a decision wasn’t something she could determine on her own.

There were other important higher-ups in Thousand Gold Pavilion–a foundation left to her by her father–who had significant sway within the Pavilion. If these individuals disagreed, she wouldn’t be able to unilaterally decide on any matter.

In Wei Yu’s opinion, if Thousand Gold Pavilion were to get involved in the strife between Sky Swallowing Palace and the Upper Three Countries, it was likely that other high-ranking members would have objections.

After all, with the current foundation of Thousand Gold Pavilion, there was really no need to get involved in such matters. Once they were too deep in it, she feared that it would be difficult to withdraw.

“I cannot decide on this matter,” Wei Yu said, shaking her head.

The man with the Wolf Head Mask did not seem surprised at all. He patted his Nine Palace Bag at his waist and took out a package that carried a strange scent and placed it on the table.

“What is this?” Wei Yu looked at the package and asked.

“As for the matter agreed upon with Pavilion Master Wei, our Sky Swallowing Palace will naturally deliver,” said the man with the Wolf Head Mask, as he opened the package to reveal a human head.

The bloody head, with bloodstains not yet dried, was clearly not severed long ago.

And this head was none other than the head of Fire King, one of the four top Assassins of Hidden Kill Hall!

Wei Yu immediately stood up, and the two guards behind her were equally shocked, staring incredulously at Fire King’s head.

Fire King’s eyes were wide open, not yet closed in death, his face still showing the colors of terror and despair, making it clear that the person who took action was very decisive and harsh.

“Pavilion Master Wei, our Sky Swallowing Palace has fulfilled your request. Now it all depends on how resolute Pavilion Master Wei is,” the man with the Wolf Head Mask said, then turned and left the place.

“Pavilion Master, this…” Both guards did not know what to say, completely surprised at the decisive and clean action of Sky Swallowing Palace, killing Fire King and bringing his head here.

Wei Yu looked at Fire King’s head, her eyes filled with irrepressible hatred; she drew her sword and split the head into two.

“Summon all the senior members of Thousand Gold Pavilion here within the time it takes an incense stick to burn!” Wei Yu commanded, her face returning to calm, now filled with even more decisiveness.

After leaving the Thousand Gold Pavilion, the man with the Wolf Head Mask had already changed into another person’s appearance, plain and unnoticeable as he blended into the crowd.

“Song is the surname grandfather gave me, believing I was a gift from the heavens, thus he had me take on the name Song. But grandfather, I don’t like this surname. Ever since you left, I’ve been using Cao as my surname. I am Cao Xuesheng, regardless of who my parents are, I am your grandson,” he murmured to himself.

…

Amid the tombs of Ghost Mountain, Fang Lin faced the old man and the woman in white, feeling somewhat heavy-hearted.

This woman in white turned out to be the wife of Flame Emperor. The Corpse Emperor Pill was also placed in her by Flame Emperor.

“The mistress passed away due to illness. In order for her to exist eternally, the master sought a Corpse Emperor Pill from Pill Saint Palace to let the mistress exist in a state between life and death. The master accompanied her for ten years here, and then he left, never to return. Until today, you came here with this lantern, which also seems to be the will of the master from beyond,” the old man said to Fang Lin, his tone filled with sorrow.

“Then why don’t you leave?” Fang Lin stared at the old man.

Showing a hint of shame, the old man responded: “Out of a cowardly fear of death, I dare not face that terrible calamity and can only hide here.”

“Flame Emperor is dead, this woman is also dead. Those who have died should not cling to the living world,” Fang Lin said.

“Yes, how can one who is dead be revived? The Corpse Emperor Pill has only made the mistress a living dead, forever unable to leave Extremely Yin Mountain. The power of the Pills will eventually be exhausted completely one day,” the old man said, shaking his head, his expression filled with melancholy.

ps: The fourth update has arrived, time to eat, more to come tomorrow.