Starting with the titmouse, seventy-two transformations

Chapter 303 Identity Exposed, Level 5 Concealment

"The Holy Maiden has summoned us brothers to discuss important matters. Should we go or not?"

Zhang Jin glanced at the deep night and frowned.

He was in his early thirties, with a square face, thick eyebrows, a tall stature, and muscular build.

His forehead, cheeks, and arms exuded a metallic texture, as if forged from gold and iron, full of power.

His second younger brother, Zhang Yin, was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. He looked six or seven parts like him and also had an unusual appearance. He was sitting in the corner at the moment, not saying a word, seemingly lost in thought.

The third brother, Zhang Tong, was the tallest and youngest, in his early twenties, and had the most impulsive personality. Upon hearing this, he said in a gruff voice:
"What important matter could it be? It's nothing more than trying to win us over, afraid that we'll side with Young Master Ling or Master Sun and the others."

At this point, he glanced at his two older brothers with displeasure and said in a muffled voice:
"We've been on the mountain for over half a year, helping the Holy Maiden and the others resolve so many issues. If we're talking about repaying a debt of gratitude, we should have done so long ago."

If it weren't for our help, with their small force, they would have been wiped out by Master Sun and his men long ago, leaving not even a trace.

But besides a basketful of words of thanks, what benefits did they get in return?
Money? No! Women? No! Cultivation techniques? No! Elixirs? No!

The reason everyone is willing to follow us brothers is simply to drink heartily and share the wealth.
They've already become outlaws, yet they still have to abide by all sorts of rules. Women aren't allowed to gamble, and casinos aren't allowed to operate. Who can stand that?
The brothers below are very resentful; if this continues, they'll all leave.

After saying that, he skillfully squatted down with his head in his hands, and muttered:
"I've finished speaking, now you can start fighting."

Zhang Yin glared at him irritably and pointed to the corner of the wall:
"Get out of here and face the wall."

"Oh."

Zhang Tong responded and obediently went to the corner, squatted down facing the wall, stared at the crack in the wall, and pricked up his ears.

Zhang Yin then looked at Zhang Jin, whose face showed hesitation, and said softly:
"Brother, we must repay our debt of gratitude, but it would not be worth it if it cost us our lives."

Young Master Ling's power is growing stronger and stronger. The five thousand soldiers he brought are fully armored, and the craftsmen are highly skilled, proficient in forging swords and armor, building cities and manufacturing tools. They are much stronger than our brothers.

With experts like Qiao She at the Yellow Court Realm in charge, even with us joining them, could the Holy Maiden and the others withstand a life-or-death struggle?
That young master Ling is clearly from a noble family. Such scions of powerful clans are petty and impatient. If we hesitate this time, he might bring up old grievances in the future…”

"Hey!"

Zhang Jin sighed. He knew his two younger brothers were right, but abandoning the Green Serpent Saintess at this time and switching sides was tantamount to betraying her, and he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Moreover, the saintess's sworn brother who came tonight was able to exchange a single blow with Qiao She without being defeated; his strength is truly unfathomable.

just in case……

He took a deep breath, glanced at his two younger brothers, and stood up, saying:
“I told you at my parents’ graves that I would protect you, and even if things don’t go well, I won’t act rashly. Let’s see what the Holy Maiden has to say first…”

Zhang Yin and Zhang Tong exchanged a glance, breathed a sigh of relief, and quickly followed.
-
Wohu Village, East Peak.

Inside a magnificent, three-courtyard house.

Young Master Ling kicked off his shoes and boots, shrank back into the chair, and fiddled with his jade fan. Suddenly, he spoke:
“Master Qiao, what is Liu Sheng’s background? How come he seems to have sprung out of a rock?”
Such a talented person, in this world, will either rise to prominence or be buried in obscurity; it is impossible for him to remain unknown.

"Didn't we have the prefecture investigate before? He Yue'e's background is ordinary; she comes from a minor official's family in Shanyang County. The people around her are all commoners, not capable of anything. How come—"

"Son!"

"Ok?"

"I don't recognize Liu Sheng, but I know who the woman who came with him is..."

Qiao She's breathing became rapid, and his eyes flashed with a sharp light, dimming even the candlelight in the room.

Upon hearing this, Young Master Ling became interested, straightened up, and urged:
"Oh? Tell me quickly!"

"The true successor of Shuiyue Nunnery... Du Bingyan, the successor of Abbess Jingyue. I met her a few years ago and I can't mistake her."

Qiao She leaned closer, his voice sounding as if squeezed from his throat:
“Three years ago, the Qingyuan Cave ruins appeared, and Abbess Jingyue was one of the Qi Refiners who entered the ruins along with General Xie Bao!” “You mean…”

"Du Bingyan also followed her teacher into the ruins."

"Did she gain some divine favor from the ruins and emerge?"

Young Master Ling jumped off the chair, his plain socks stained with mud, but he seemed oblivious, his face beaming with excitement:

"The government sent the Green Lion Army to confront the imperial court at Yuding Lake for three years, guarding the entrance to the ruins. They spent countless resources, but in the end, someone was missed."
Hahaha, Third Brother, you stole the Green Lion Army's job, even the heavens can't stand it, and the credit is delivered right to my lips!
"Next time we return to the manor, let's see if you still have the nerve to say anything against me in front of Father!"

He paced back and forth in the hall, sometimes gritting his teeth, sometimes grinning broadly, finally stopping in front of Qiao She and leaning closer to say:
"Then Liu... Sheng, he must have also received a divine favor to be able to fight you to a draw, Elder Qiao, right?"

Hearing Young Master Ling emphasize the words "a draw," Qiao She's cheeks twitched a few times, and his newly healed right hand throbbed with pain.

He took a step back, bowed, and cupped his hands to Young Master Ling, saying:
"His Highness is extremely interested in the immortal opportunities presented by the ruins. If Young Master Ling were to send these two people back to the Prince's residence, it would surely please His Highness greatly, and he would be showered with rewards, perhaps even..."

"A predestined fate..."

Young Master Ling regained his senses, glanced at Qiao She with a half-smile, then turned away, his expression deep and serious.
"Brother Qiao...when do you plan to take down those two?"

"Speed ​​is of the essence in war. They are reuniting tonight, their emotions are running high, and they will surely be less vigilant. If we can..."

"Report——!"

Just then, a middle-aged man dressed as a manager rushed in:
"Young master, we have intelligence from the mountainside. At 11:15 AM, He Qiang led three hundred men out of the camp and headed straight for West Peak!"

Three hundred men rushed straight to West Peak?
To die?
Ling Gongzi and Qiao She exchanged a glance, both noticing the other's confusion.

But then he realized it was a golden opportunity!

"Lord Qiao, I'll give you a thousand Black Lion soldiers, fully armored. Bring those two to me before dawn..."
-
Wohu Village, West Peak.

White Lotus Army's garrison.

Liu Sheng walked casually through the crowd, his hands behind his back.

Neither the soldiers on night patrol nor the hidden sentries could see him, as if they were blind.

Or rather, subconsciously ignoring him.

"Level 5 concealment is enough to completely deceive a martial artist's senses."

Even if a true martial arts master were face to face with me, I would subconsciously ignore them.

"Spending those 10,000 spiritual points was worthwhile."

He licked his lips, feeling both pain and joy.

Just then, a group of soldiers came towards him, and he had an idea. He immediately stepped forward.

He deliberately lingered in front of them a few times without being noticed, and then he was completely at ease.

He immediately grabbed the leading internal organ martial artist and slipped into the shadows nearby.

After a while.

Then came exclamations of surprise from the other side, such as "It's gone!", "Where did it go?", and "Look again!"

Meanwhile, Liu Sheng had already made his way to the center of the encampment, to a luxurious courtyard.

In the candlelight, two shadows, one thin and one fat, were vividly reflected on the window paper.

(End of this chapter)