Wayfarer

Chapter 808: Xiao Nanfeng's Trap

Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang entered the floating island that the Immortal Emperor of Daliang had prepared for them. The luxurious accommodations offered a breathtaking view over the city. As they sat in a pavilion, Xiao Nanfeng held Lan Yaoguang close. They gazed out over the beautiful sights of Daliang.

"Nanfeng, I can't help but feel like something's wrong with both the Shangqing hierarch and the Immortal Emperor of Daliang," Lan Yaoguang said, frowning.

"You noticed too?" Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

"Were you already aware?" Lan Yaoguang exclaimed.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "The Shangqing hierarch controlled his expression well, but it was clear that he was looking at you with desire and me with hostility. Meanwhile, though the Immortal Emperor of Daliang was praising our relationship, it seemed more like she was trying to fan the flames—to stimulate the Shangqing hierarch's hostility toward me."

"That's exactly how it felt, but why? Why would she do such a thing?"

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I'm not sure yet, but I'm sure she's doing it deliberately. She seems to know quite a lot about him."

"Oh?"

"What I'd like to know is what kind of person the Shangqing hierarch truly is. Why is he hostile toward me, and does he plan to do you any harm?" Xiao Nanfeng murmured.

"He favored me after I was acknowledged by the Cursebane Sword," Lan Yaoguang said. "He helped me fend off many elders' jealousy when they targeted me."

"I know. That's why I treated him politely at first—but I want to know precisely why he favors you."

"Well, that—"

"Your beauty is stunning, of course, and any man would be drawn to you. Just like me—I'm captivated," Xiao Nanfeng said with a grin.

Lan Yaoguang blushed and playfully punched Xiao Nanfeng on the shoulder. "Hardly!"

"It's absolutely the case," Xiao Nanfeng said firmly. "But a man like the Shangqing hierarch, who possesses the ability to rise to such a high-ranking position, must have a better reason for expressing such interest in you."

Lan Yaoguang shook her head. "I don't know what he's plotting myself."

"You mentioned that he began protecting you after you were acknowledged by the Cursebane Sword. Could it be related to that?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

Lan Yaoguang frowned. After a moment, she replied, "I fear it's connected."

"Oh?"

"The Cursebane Sword is one of the four great swords of Shangqing—Cursebane, Heavenbane, Deathbane, and Earthbane. I was acknowledged by the Cursebane Sword, and the hierarch by the Deathbane Sword. This acknowledgment doesn't have anything to do with the Shangqing disciples—the swords themselves judge their wielders. Allegedly, they were granted this ability by the Shangqing grandmaster himself, and no one can oppose the swords' choices."

"Are there any rumors about the four swords, or anything of the sort?"

"Allegedly, when the time is right, the four swords of Shangqing will be able to open the blue moon illusory realm."

Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes. "That may be the Shangqing hierarch's true objective, then."

Lan Yaoguang pursed her lips. "Was the hierarch protecting me only out of self-interest, then?"

"Even if that's starting to seem more likely, he did protect you. We should give him a chance to prove his intentions."

"How?"

"I'll set up a trap. If he means you harm, then his past favors hardly matter. Otherwise, if he doesn't, we can have a frank discussion with him."

"What sort of trap?" Lan Yaoguang asked curiously.

"You'll see once my subordinates thoroughly investigate Daliang's capital. Give me two days."

Lan Yaoguang nodded.

Two days later, the Shangqing hierarch listened to one of his disciples' reports in a certain hall.

"Hierarch, Xiao Nanfeng and Holy Maiden Yaoguang have made their move."

"Which Enlightenment Grounds have they gone to?"

"The sixteen-pearl territory to the west of the capital," the Shangqing disciple reported.

"Oh? Let's go have a look."

The Shangqing hierarch and his trusted subordinates shrouded themselves in dense fog as they left the capital and headed west of it.

They arrived at a mountain peak from which they could see the huge Enlightenment Grounds in the distance.

Just then, another Shangqing disciple flew over.

"How's the situation?" the Shangqing hierarch demanded.

"Hierarch, I just saw Xiao Nanfeng leading a group of black-robed subordinates into the territory," the Shangqing disciple reported.

"You witnessed them entering with your own eyes?"

"Yes, Hierarch. My fellow disciples can vouch for me as well. I'm certain that Xiao Nanfeng and his subordinates have entered."

The Shangqing hierarch nodded. He was confident that the disciple before him was loyal.

"A sixteen-pearl territory—that's extremely dangerous! Xiao Nanfeng must not know much about these Enlightenment Grounds if he's charging into one so recklessly. Does he want to die?" one Shangqing disciple murmured.

The Shangqing hierarch considered the situation for a moment. "One of his subordinates must be a Boundless Immortal. That's why he's so confident."

"Ah?"

"Over the last two days, I've learned about the situation in the outside world. Based on the battle that took place at Dahan's capital, Xiao Nanfeng has three Boundless Immortals under his command. The Demon Child is reportedly hunting outside Shenfeng's capital, and Ye Sanshui is training troops in Yongding. That leaves Xiao Nanfeng and the unknown Boundless Immortal in the green knoll hidden realm. This Boundless Immortal appears to be an early-stage one at best. Given how these Enlightenment Grounds suppress physical cultivation, I doubt he can even exert the strength of a Boundless Immortal."

"But in that case—aren't Xiao Nanfeng and the others going to die?!" one Shangqing disciple exclaimed.

The Shangqing hierarch narrowed his eyes. "Don't underestimate Xiao Nanfeng. He might last longer than you think."

"What should we do, Hierarch?"

"We'll wait for now."

"Understood!"

Meanwhile, on a nearby mountain, Xiao Nanfeng and Lan Yaoguang were eyeing the fog-shrouded mountain peak from afar.

"As you predicted, the hierarch's here. He's been watching us all along..." Lan Yaoguang frowned.

"Indeed." Xiao Nanfeng's expression turned cold.

"Will your avatar be safe in the Enlightenment Grounds?" Lan Yaoguang asked in worry.

"My avatar had to enter in order to lure the Sect Master here, but don't worry. It's hidden safely within, so there won't be any danger."

"What do we do now?"

"Wait."

Lan Yaoguang nodded.

They stayed hidden for a full day and continued to observe the mountain peak from a distance.

Finally, the Shangqing hierarch made his move. He led a group of disciples into the Enlightenment Grounds.

"Have they gone inside?" Lan Yaoguang frowned.

"They did, after waiting for an entire day. They must think that we're in the midst of heated battle against the entities within—and that it's the perfect time to claim the spoils of battle."

Lan Yaoguang's face darkened. "To think I trusted the hierarch..."

"Well, at least you've seen his true colors now. We can deal with him without any reservations."

Lan Yaoguang sighed. Her eyes flashed coldly.

Xiao Nanfeng smiled as he patted her hand gently. "Don't bother. It's not worth getting angry over people like this."

"I can't help but feel betrayed. I used to think that he was a benevolent man!"

"You don't have to return to the Shangqing holy land. Don't waste your energy on such people. Now, let's go. We still have Enlightenment Grounds to take down."

Lan Yaoguang nodded.

They departed alongside a group of black-robed subordinates, all cloaked in fog.

Within the sixteen-pearl territory, the Shangqing hierarch surveyed the snowy landscape before him with a frown. He turned to one of his disciples coldly. "I had you send your avatar in first to investigate. Didn't you say that Xiao Nanfeng was heavily injured and about to die?"

The disciple blanched. "Yes, Hierarch! My avatar saw a bloodied black-robed figure being chased by blue-furred monsters. He claimed to be one of Xiao Nanfeng's subordinates. He said that they had been defeated by the master of the territory and the superior yin pearls under its command. He barely escaped and was pleading for help."

"And? Where is he now? Where's your avatar?" the Shangqing hierarch demanded.

"The moment we entered, he suddenly ambushed my avatar and killed it," the disciple reported.

"What? Xiao Nanfeng's subordinate ambushed you and killed your avatar?!"

"Yes, Hierarch. I don't know why—I didn't even have time to report the matter."

The Shangqing hierarch suddenly blanched. "We've fallen for a trap."

"What?" asked the confused disciples.

"Xiao Nanfeng and Yaoguang never entered in the first place. They've tricked us!"

"They have? But I saw Xiao Nanfeng enter with my own eyes!" one Shangqing disciple cried out.

Suddenly, a thunderous roar sounded from a distance. Two superior yin pearls and a large group of blue-furred monsters shot toward them.

"Damn it, Xiao Nanfeng's subordinates must have lured them over! We can't escape now," the Shangqing hierarch said grimly.

The blue-furred monsters roared menacingly as the superior yin pearls eyed them with malice. The disciples fretted as they turned toward the hierarch. "What do we do now, Hierarch?"

"What else? We fight!" the Shangqing hierarch replied, frustration evident in his voice.

He drew a longsword and led the disciples forward into battle with a roar.