"We actually have a lot of clues on our hands now."
Fang Shuwen said, counting on his fingers:
"First, the Black Death Sect has something big planned.
"Second, the Black Death Sect's Young Sect Leader is named Li Nanchen, and he is the top direct disciple of the Zhuji Pavilion's Pavilion Master.
"Third, the Black Death Sect has been hiding in Guangning City all these years, but now the only manpower they have left are the people under Cyan Yang Manor.
"These are the three most important pieces of information. Besides these, there are quite a few other fragments.
"For example, if you don't kill Miss Zhou quickly, your so-called 'big plan' will run into complications.
"There's no point denying it. It was written loud and clear in black and white in the letter we found on Granny Hei."
Zhou Qingmei's heart stirred as she listened.
Fang Shuwen continued:
"I'm thinking, it's definitely not a coincidence that you and Li Nanchen became disciples of Zhuji Pavilion.
"You wanted to use that status to do something.
"And that something is very likely related to Zhuji Pavilion.
"Besides your public identities as Zhuji Pavilion disciples... what's more important is your reason for wanting to kill Miss Zhou, and how not killing her could jeopardize your grand plan.
"A simple deduction would be that Miss Zhou is also deeply entangled in this big plan of yours.
"But Miss Zhou isn't exactly a social butterfly. Besides the Zhou Family in Julu City, her most important connection is Zhuji Pavilion.
"So, this so-called 'big plan' of yours is most likely a plot against Zhuji Pavilion!
"Also, from how desperate you are to kill Miss Zhou, I can also deduce that you plan to make your move very soon."
He paused here, looking over at Zhang Fang.
Zhang Fang's face was devoid of expression.
Fang Shuwen didn't mind. He just thought for a moment before continuing:
"So the outcome can only be one of two things: either destroy Zhuji Pavilion, or... take it over.
"But the latter is too difficult—practically impossible, you could say.
"So the former is much more likely.
"In that case, I'm afraid all the manpower the Black Death Sect has gathered in Guangning City over the years is already at Zhuji Pavilion, right?
"After all, with the Pavilion Master's top direct disciple as a man on the inside, it'd be easy to pull some strings. With such cooperation from both inside and out, success would be well within reach.
"The only thing to worry about would be Zhou Qingmei recognizing his identity and reporting everything to Zhuji Pavilion.
"That must be the main reason why your grand plan could be jeopardized, right?"
Throughout Fang Shuwen's entire speech, Zhang Fang remained silent.
An anxious look had already appeared on Zhou Qingmei's face.
When she considered all this information together, the outline of the plot became extremely clear.
Li Nanchen's reason for wanting to kill her, the Black Death Sect's grand plan, and the danger Zhuji Pavilion might be facing.
Putting it all together, there was no need for Zhang Fang to say anything more.
Fang Shuwen's deductions were almost certainly correct!
"But there's one thing I'm quite curious about,"
Fang Shuwen said.
"If everything is really as I've guessed, what's your plan for after you've destroyed Zhuji Pavilion?
"Thirty years ago, Zhuji Pavilion, along with other Sects, managed to wipe out your Black Death Sect once before.
"Thirty years later, even if you succeed in destroying Zhuji Pavilion through these sneaky, underhanded means... how will you deal with everyone else?
"You can't wrap fire in paper, and this involves a behemoth like Zhuji Pavilion.
"If anything goes wrong, it'll be hard to hide the truth from others.
"When the time comes, the various Sects of the Jianghu will surround and attack you. Do you... have any other tricks up your sleeve?"
Zhang Fang sighed.
"Where in the world did you come from?
"The Jianghu has never heard of anyone like you...
"It's a pity. Even if everything you said is right, you can't change a thing.
"It takes at least eight days to get to Jiuning Mountain from here, but Zhuji Pavilion will be gone in just five. It's too late for everything.
"Come on! Kill me! Give me a quick death!!"
"Five days..."
Fang Shuwen thought for a moment, then put his index and middle fingers together. The thread was immediately drawn out by his Inner Strength.
Zhang Fang was momentarily baffled, only to see Fang Shuwen raise his hand and tap.
A slight stinging sensation immediately spread through his chest, and he couldn't help but freeze.
"What did you..."
Before he could finish his sentence, an overwhelming number of painful sensations suddenly covered his entire body.
The pain was unnoticeable at first, but in the blink of an eye, it became excruciatingly intense!
A blood-curdling scream erupted from Zhang Fang's mouth. Amid his wails, blood began to pour frantically from his seven orifices, and his entire expression twisted into something monstrous.
"Hm?"
Fang Shuwen froze and quickly withdrew his hand.
Zhang Fang wasn't dead, but he gasped for air like a drowning man who had suddenly surfaced, taking huge, ragged breaths.
Then he looked at Fang Shuwen with terrified eyes.
"You... you..."
Fang Shuwen looked a little embarrassed.
"My apologies, my apologies. This is a method I just randomly came up with myself.
"Today's the first time I've used it on a living person.
"So, some unexpected results are to be expected, really.
"How about this, don't worry... I'll try again. It probably won't be so scary in a moment, once I get the hang of it."
Hearing this, Zhang Fang became even more horrified.
"Don't, don't!!
"Come on... we've... we've killed people together, we have that bond at least...
"Can't you just give me a quick death?"
"No. I'm curious."
Fang Shuwen's reply was simple and unadorned.
Zhang Fang glared at him, grinding his teeth for a long while before saying helplessly:
"I don't know where they come from either... I only know that it was because of them that our Black Death Sect was able to survive back then.
"The plot against Zhuji Pavilion also came from them.
"Beyond that, I know nothing..."
Fang Shuwen turned back to look at Zhou Qingmei.
"I don't think he's telling the truth."
Zhou Qingmei, on the other hand, thought Fang Shuwen wasn't telling the truth.
Zhang Fang gritted his teeth.
"Every word I said was true! You just want to use me for your experiments again!"
Zhou Qingmei secretly nodded. That's what she was thinking, too.
'Was I that obvious?'
Fang Shuwen sighed with some regret.
Zhou Qingmei said helplessly:
"Don't waste any more time on him..."
"He's a member of your Zhuji Pavilion. According to your Sect's rules, how should he be dealt with?"
Fang Shuwen asked.
Zhou Qingmei glanced at Zhang Fang, and the Broken Sword in her hand suddenly shot out.
The broken blade pierced through Zhang Fang's throat.
Zhang Fang's face instantly turned crimson as he choked, and blood flowed down from his mouth.
Zhou Qingmei's eyes were slightly red, but her gaze was still sharp.
"The rules of Zhuji Pavilion...
"Those who harm their fellow disciples... are to be killed!
"Those who forsake the righteous path... are to be killed!
"Senior Brother Zhang, have a safe journey!"
As her words fell, she pulled the sword out. Watching Zhang Fang's body fall to the ground, she couldn't quite describe the feeling.
But she saw that Fang Shuwen had already picked up the longsword that had been knocked away from Zhang Fang.
"I've been finding that Broken Sword of yours awkward to look at for a while now. Use this one for now."
"Zhang Fang's Still Water Sword..."
Zhou Qingmei nodded, slung her own sword behind her back, and picked up Zhang Fang's sword. Then she looked at Fang Shuwen.
Fang Shuwen rolled his eyes at her and then held out his hand.
"Alright, let's go. In for a penny, in for a pound. We'll see if we can make it to Jiuning Mountain in five days!"
...
...
PS: Brothers, there's really nothing I can do about the update schedule right now.
Two chapters a day fits the website's promotion algorithm... every book has to go through this process.
Although I, Chunjie, am an author, I'm also a reader.
So I can understand everyone's desire for more chapters. In fact, hearing these requests is a form of affirmation for me and for this book.
The only thing I can promise everyone is that there will be a huge release of chapters once the book goes premium.
I hope everyone can bear with the current update speed. Thank you~~