Blood sedge

Chapter 1217 Submitting a Petition for Service (Part Two)

"Master Jinwu, this matter..."

"Sect Leader Zuo, the tea is getting cold!" Jin Fuyu neither stopped Song Yu and Leng Yiyi from making things difficult for him, nor did he listen to Zuo Hongxuan's explanation. He just kept urging him to drink the tea, as if what they were talking about had nothing to do with him.

This move not only failed to alleviate Zuo Hongxuan's awkwardness, but instead made him even more embarrassed.

"No, no, no! Please, Lord Jin, heed my words!" Under the gloating gazes of Song Yu, Leng Yiyi, and Ding Ao, Zuo Hongxuan's forehead began to sweat involuntarily. He could only steel himself and explain his position to Jin Fuyu, "Actually, I've long wanted to explain the situation in Luoyang to Lord Jin. Admittedly, at the time, we did harbor the hope that it was better to resolve conflicts than to perpetuate them, attempting to ease tensions with Liu Xunyi and Xie Xuan and clear up the misunderstanding. But their intentions were unrequited; once they gained power, they completely disregarded me. Not only did they ignore our goodwill, but they treated us like three-year-old children, playing with us for a fool..."

"Master Zuo, you're exaggerating," Ding Ao teased. "Even if you're disliked, you shouldn't resort to slander."

"This is not slander! It's a complete exposure of Liu Xunyi and Xie Xuan's true colors!" Zuo Hongxuan urgently defended himself. "You were all present at the anti-traitor gathering, and you saw Xie Xuan and Teng Sanshi's true colors clearly. Their intentions are all too obvious: they want to replace Qingfeng as the leader of the martial arts world. As for Liu Xunyi, he is a hypocrite, claiming he doesn't want to participate in the conflicts of the martial arts world, while simultaneously maintaining close ties with the Prince Xian's Mansion, the Valley of Heartbreak, Dragon Elephant Mountain, the Teng Clan of Xiangxi, and the Qin Clan of Hexi." Furthermore, with the Young King of Qin from the Western Regions providing him with full support, who could believe this young man has no ulterior motives? I even suspect his ultimate goal isn't just to dominate the martial arts world; he might very well be colluding with the Young King of Qin to overthrow the dynasty and aim for the throne. Their wolfish ambitions are blatantly obvious. They don't look down on us; they've already decided to completely eliminate us old fogies and install their own people in power. All this talk of pleasantries and hospitality is nothing more than a delaying tactic to slowly boil us like frogs in water…”

"These are just the left sect leader's guesses," Leng Yiyi said dismissively, pouring cold water on the idea.

“Hey! What Sect Leader Zuo said makes sense.” Song Yu spoke up for Zuo Hongxuan in a serious tone, “Now that Sect Leader Zuo has sensed the danger, what are your plans to do to avoid it?”

"Even ten Liu Xunyis couldn't make a dent in him if they fought alone. The reason he's so powerful is because he's connected with various forces and has their strong support. They've already tasted the benefits of 'three men make a tiger' at the anti-traitor conference; otherwise, they wouldn't be a match for Qingfeng. Therefore, if we want to contend with him, we absolutely cannot fight alone; we must cooperate sincerely..."

"Hey!" Before Zuo Hongxuan could finish speaking, Song Yu interrupted him rudely with a wave of her hand. "Sect Leader Zuo is joking! Jin Jian Wu and Qing Cheng Sect have long been brothers and sisters in the martial world, cooperating sincerely. However... even the most sincere cooperation cannot withstand the fickleness of people's hearts and their changing allegiances. What do you say, Sect Leader Zuo?"

"This……"

Zuo Hongxuan understood Song Yu's implied meaning, but he still looked at Jin Fuyu with resentment, hoping that Jin Fuyu would remember their past relationship and give him some face.

However, Jin Fuyu didn't even glance at him, continuing to "concentrate" on making, brewing, pouring, and tasting tea.

Zuo Hongxuan looked at the composed Jin Fuyu with a complicated expression. He knew that Jin Fuyu was pretending to be ignorant, and he also knew that Jin Fuyu's real intention was to force him to surrender. He had originally come to Jinjianwu with the intention of forming a "contractual alliance," but now it seemed that Jin Fuyu had no interest in being his equal.

Of course, Zuo Hongxuan also knew that with the strength of the Qingcheng Sect, it was not qualified to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Golden Sword Pavilion.

Things are different now. Jin Fuyu not only tore off his own disguise, but also ruthlessly ripped off Zuo Hongxuan's fig leaf, exposing his embarrassing situation and leaving him nowhere to hide.

Disheartened and filled with shame and indignation, yet forced to confront reality, Zuo Hongxuan remained silent, agonizing over the decision, weighing his options repeatedly. Finally, he made a firm decision, his face flushed, and resolutely rose to his feet. He bowed respectfully to Jin Fuyu and said, word by word, "In the martial world today, the only one who can rival Liu Xunyi is Master Jin! In the Central Plains today, the only one who can remain unscathed amidst the bloodshed is Master Jin! In the world today, the only one who can rival the Young King Qin is Master Jin! I, Zuo, am unworthy, but I wish to lead the entire Qingcheng Sect to honor Master Jin as the supreme ruler of the martial world, seeking a place to settle down and make a living in this chaotic world. If Master Jin forgives me for my past transgressions, I swear to Heaven that from this day forward, I will no longer acknowledge any martial arts orthodoxy, nor will I obey any alliance leader's orders. From this day forward, the Qingcheng Sect will only recognize Master Jin as the ruler of the world!"

Zuo Hongxuan's words secretly pleased Song Yu, Leng Yiyi, and Ding Ao. Clearly, their roundabout way of coaxing and intimidating had precisely this purpose.

However, when faced with Zuo Hongxuan, who was suppressing his grievances and lowering himself, Jin Fuyu's reaction was far less excited than that of Song Yu and the others. He remained engrossed in playing with the teacup in his hand.

"Master Jinwu, what are you doing...?"

"Master Zuo is too kind to me."

Jin Fuyu slowly raised his head, his gaze calmly meeting that of Zuo Hongxuan, who looked flustered. He said indifferently, "I have no ambition for the Qingcheng Sect, nor do I wish to become the supreme master of the martial arts world. But I am willing to believe in the sincerity of Sect Leader Zuo and am also willing to work together with the Qingcheng Sect."

"Master Jinwu..."

"No matter what situation we face in the future, or what opponents we face, Jin Jianwu is willing to stand with Qingcheng Sect through thick and thin, and never abandon them."

Jin Fuyu made the most inspiring promise in the calmest tone, putting Zuo Hongxuan's anxious heart at ease. "I swear to the heavens, what happened in Luoyang will never happen again! From this day forward, wherever Master Jinwu's sword points, the Qingcheng Sect will advance without hesitation! May I be struck by lightning and punished by the heavens for breaking this oath!"

Zuo Hongxuan knew that after this choice, he would have no chance or possibility to change sides until Jin Fuyu and Liu Xunyi truly fought to the death. If he continued to hesitate and try to please both sides as before, he would only lose Jin Fuyu's patience and trust, becoming a pawn to be discarded. Therefore, rather than hesitating and arousing suspicion, he should firmly express his determination to Jin Fuyu in order to achieve a symbiotic relationship.

"Since we're now in the same boat, I, Jin, will no longer stand on ceremony with Sect Leader Zuo." Having received a satisfactory answer, Jin Fuyu stopped beating around the bush and spoke frankly, "In this world, things are turbulent and dangerous, with wolves and tigers lurking everywhere. Neither our boat nor Liu Xunyi's and Xie Xuan's boat has the absolute certainty of weathering the impending storm. Therefore, if we don't want to capsize, everyone on board should do their utmost to protect us. Of course, if our boat manages to break through the encirclement and reach the shore safely, everyone on board will also deserve credit and will surely obtain what they've always dreamed of."

Upon hearing this, Zuo Hongxuan's eyelids twitched involuntarily. Having been in the martial arts world for many years, he was already a shrewd old man. Of course, he knew that "there is no such thing as a free lunch," and he also knew that Jin Fuyu's generosity was not out of great compassion, but because he still had value to be used.

Thinking of this, the slight joy that had just welled up in his heart quietly vanished. Zuo Hongxuan's expression turned serious, and he said solemnly, "Master Jinwu speaks frankly, and I am all ears!"

"I've heard that Sect Leader Zuo and the Tang Clan Head have a past relationship, which is excellent." Jin Fuyu didn't mince words and went straight to the point. "It just so happens that I, Jin, have also had the honor of meeting this reclusive patriarch of the Tang Clan once, and I greatly admire him. I suggest that Sect Leader Zuo personally make a trip to Sichuan to pay a visit to the Tang Clan Head."

"Master Jin is... planning to win over the Tang Clan?" Zuo Hongxuan instantly understood Jin Fuyu's intentions and couldn't help but show surprise.

“Excellent!” Jin Fuyu readily admitted. “The Left Sect Leader is wise, which saves me a lot of trouble.”

After speaking, Jin Fuyu's gaze sharpened as he stared intently at Zuo Hongxuan, whose expression was complex, and asked, "What does Sect Leader Zuo think?"

"This..." Zuo Hongxuan hesitated, "The Tang Clan's patriarch has been out of the public eye for many years, and now all matters, big and small, are handled by the steward, Tang Yuan. If Master Jinwu intends to get closer to the Tang Clan, shouldn't he seek out Tang Yuan...?"

"The Tang Clan Head may not approve of Tang Yuan's decision. But Tang Yuan dares not disobey the Tang Clan Head's wishes." Jin Fuyu slowly shook his head. "Furthermore, Tang Yuan is all bark and no bite, all strength and no substance. Since taking charge of the Tang Clan, he has sought only stability and has not made any progress in anything. Liu Xunyi is currently rising to prominence and is poised to become the youngest leader of the Central Plains martial arts alliance in hundreds of years. Asking Tang Yuan to sever ties with Liu Xunyi at this time, or even to join us in opposing him, is probably harder than climbing to heaven."

"Master Jinwu has a keen eye for talent, pointing out his shortcomings in a single sentence. I admire you!" Zuo Hongxuan frowned and pondered, "Tang Yuan, as the leader of a sect, does indeed lack some courage, but... he's not entirely useless, otherwise the Tang Clan patriarch wouldn't have made him the steward for so many years. As far as I know, Tang Yuan has already accepted the overtures of Liu Xunyi and Xie Xuan, which must be the result of his repeated weighing of the pros and cons. I imagine the Tang Clan patriarch is aware of this..." At this point, Zuo Hongxuan looked at the composed Jin Fuyu with a troubled expression and said bitterly, "Although I know the Tang Clan patriarch, our relationship is superficial, and I can't compare to Tang Yuan's position in his heart. Even if I were to pay him a visit, I'm afraid I'd only be asking for trouble..."

“If Sect Leader Zuo goes empty-handed, it will certainly not work.” Jin Fuyu seemed to have anticipated Zuo Hongxuan’s predicament, so he smiled calmly and said slowly, “But if you bring a gift that the Tang Clan cannot refuse, the situation will naturally be very different.”

"A gift that the Tang Clan cannot refuse?" Zuo Hongxuan was taken aback. "What does Master Jinwu mean..."

"Although I only met the head of the Tang Clan once, I have some understanding of his temperament. He has always disliked the troubles of the martial world, but he cares deeply about the reputation of the Tang Clan and cherishes the rules and family traditions that have been passed down for centuries as if they were his own life." Jin Fuyu smiled mysteriously, "There is one person who not only broke the rules of the Tang Clan but also openly tarnished its reputation. For many years, he has been regarded as a great disgrace by the Tang Clan, and everyone in the Tang Clan hates him deeply. But unfortunately, because this person has found a new backer, the timid Tang Yuan is wary and has never dared to pursue and kill him. To this day, we still haven't been able to cleanse the clan."

At this moment, Zuo Hongxuan gradually understood Jin Fuyu's meaning and slowly realized the situation he was about to face. He couldn't help but look flustered and feel horrified.

"Is Master Jinwu referring to... Tang Xuan, one of the four great protectors of Dragon Elephant Mountain?"

"As long as Sect Leader Zuo can escort Tang Xuan to Sichuan, whether he lives or dies, he will be treated as an honored guest by the Tang Clan Head." Jin Fuyu ignored Zuo Hongxuan's worries, his tone remaining calm. "Given the current relationship between Longxiang Mountain and Liu Xunyi, once Tang Xuan enters the Tang Clan, it will be tantamount to severing all ties between the Tang Clan and Liu Xunyi. Even if Liu Xunyi doesn't mind, Longxiang Mountain won't let it go. As for Liu Xunyi and Longxiang Mountain... as long as Teng Sanshi and Xiao Zhirou are still alive, the two are destined to be bound together and cannot part ways. Based on this, I dare to assert that neither the Tang Clan Head nor the Tang Clan Steward will dare to gamble with the Tang Clan's century-old foundation and risk getting close to Liu Xunyi."

“That being said, but… but the Tang Clan might not be willing to ally with us.” Jin Fuyu was clearly using someone else to do his dirty work. At this moment, Zuo Hongxuan’s mind was in chaos, yet he dared not speak out in anger, wanting to decline but not daring to refuse directly. “If they intend to protect themselves and choose neutrality…”

"What's gotten into Master Zuo? To borrow your words, 'When the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken,'" Jin Fuyu smiled confidently. At the same time, a faint glint of cold light flashed in his eyes. He stared with interest at the distraught Zuo Hongxuan, offering a double entendre, "The North and South are locked in a power struggle, like fire and water. Once they become estranged from Liu Xunyi, does Master Zuo think they'll have any choice but to suffer collateral damage?"

"This……"

"Don't worry, Master Zuo. I will have Ding Ao lend you a hand." Jin Fuyu gave Zuo Hongxuan no more time to hesitate and made a direct decision. "According to our scouts, Yun Zhuiyue has already left Luoyang City, but Tang Xuan is still in Danfeng Garden. His status as a protector of Longxiang Mountain is not appealing to begin with, and coupled with his arrogant and aloof nature, he is used to not getting along with others. Therefore, although he is in the same city as Liu Xunyi and others, they have little interaction and rarely visit each other. As the saying goes, 'the most dangerous place is often the safest.' This is a golden opportunity for Master Zuo and the Qingcheng Sect to launch a surprise attack, and it is also the best proof that you are keeping your promise and vowing to fight alongside me against the common enemy."

……