Chapter 155 Reaching the Shore Chapter 155...

Chapter 155 Reaching the Shore

Ling Hao thought to herself, "Could it be that Dongfang Bubai, while everyone else was navigating the treacherous waters of the martial world, actually used his own strength to help his followers escape to the right path?" She thought, "I suppose so." Because she knew in her heart that the emperor really needed people, especially those willing to do the work others didn't want to do.

However… Ling looked at Gongzi Yu.

Gongzi Yu raised an eyebrow. "You're here for me?" Dongfang Bubai claimed on the surface that he wanted to give the Sun Moon Sect to Ahao, but in reality, he was after him.

"Yes," Dongfang Bubai admitted directly. "Originally, I should have come to you directly, but you are not as reliable as your daughter. So after thinking it over, I think it would be better to hand over the Sun Moon Sect to your daughter."

To be fair, Gongzi Yu is indeed a capable person, not only because of his status, but also because Dongfang Bubai noticed some of his past actions. In this world, everything leaves a trace, and with Dongfang Bubai constantly monitoring the situation, he naturally discovered some clues.

Beneath the surface of this martial world, another force lurks—a force that belongs to Gongzi Yu. This greatly surprised Dongfang Bubai, and it was precisely because of this that he changed his original decision to cooperate with Gongzi Yu. He's a ruthless man; what if he uses the followers of the Sun Moon Sect as expendable resources?

Dongfang Bubai did indeed believe that the Sun Moon Cult had become a burden, but that didn't mean he wanted to watch the entire cult perish; otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to find them a place to go. In contrast, Ling Hao was upright and reliable, completely different from him.

Of course, the most important point is that Gongzi Yu cares deeply about Ling Hao, a care that surpasses everything else. Dongfang Bubai is blatantly exploiting this, making no attempt to hide it. Just like now, when Gongzi Yu asked, he admitted it.

Well, could this be considered one of his ways of showing sincerity?

“I’m not sure I can help the Sun Moon Cult,” Ling Hao said. “The Sun Moon Cult’s members are a mixed bag, and they’re all used to being undisciplined; they might not be willing…”

“The Sun Moon Cult is so disorganized that only a handful of people remain.” Dongfang Bubai interrupted Ling Hao. “Once you agree, I will kill them and ensure you have no worries.”

Ling Hao: "???"

What? You can do that?

Dongfang Bubai continued, "The Sun Moon Cult is different from the Ming Cult. It's not difficult to get them to obey." He swept his sleeve across the table, and a small porcelain bottle appeared on the table. "Three Corpse Brain God Pill. They can't disobey even if they want to."

Ling Hao clicked his tongue in amazement, "The Eastern Cult Leader has handed over all of this, isn't he afraid we'll use this opportunity to destroy the Sun Moon Cult?"

Dongfang Bubai chuckled lightly, "Your daughter, it's not that I underestimate you, but you couldn't do something like this, committing such a massacre. Besides, even if you were to harden your heart and do it, it would be their fate." He believed that he, as the leader, had done enough, and what happened in the future was none of his concern.

Ling Hao thought to himself, Dongfang Bubai seems ruthless but is actually quite compassionate, yet he is also quite ruthless at the same time; he is truly a very complex person. "Alright, I agree."

She knew the emperor wouldn't refuse the allegiance of such a large sect as the Sun Moon Cult, especially since this sect had originally been one of her biggest threats. This way, the problem could be solved without bloodshed; if the emperor refused, she would be a fool.

Clearly, neither the Emperor nor Ling Hao was a fool, so she agreed. "However, I must state beforehand that I will not interfere in the affairs of the Sun Moon Cult. Those who manage the Sun Moon Cult should be the Emperor's men. But I also guarantee that the Emperor will not simply treat the Sun Moon Cult as a disposable tool."

Although Linghao didn't spend much time with the emperor, she knew he was a very competent emperor. A competent emperor uses people when they need them and gives them what they deserve; he doesn't simply treat people as expendable resources and then turn a blind eye after using them.

"In that case, thank you very much, Miss Linghao," Dongfang Bubai said with a smile. He thought to himself that when he first met Linghao in Fuzhou, he never imagined they would have such a connection. Life is truly interesting. "Actually, I have another request."

Ling Hao said, "Please speak, Master Dongfang."

"I wish to spar with Senior Feng," Dongfang Bubai said. He wanted to climb to higher peaks of martial arts; working in isolation wouldn't work, and sparring with masters was a shortcut. Feng Qingyang's Dugu Nine Swords had long been famous in the martial arts world, and he naturally longed to master it.

Linghao said, "I'm sorry, I can't promise you this on behalf of my master. However, I can send a message to my master, and if he's willing, he will come to find you."

Dongfang Bubai was somewhat disappointed, but not too bad. "Then thank you very much, Miss."

Ling Hao finished his tea and said, "Now that everything is settled, we should leave. There are still things waiting for us in Kyoto." The decisive battle had indeed been postponed, but that didn't guarantee there wouldn't be other issues. Oh, the Sun Moon Cult thrown at us by this generation was one of them.

“Since you two have important matters to attend to, I won’t keep you any longer.” Dongfang Bubai took a black token from his waist and handed it to Ling Hao. “This is the Blackwood Token, which can command the followers of the Sun Moon Sect. Once you and the people in Kyoto have found a suitable candidate, send it over. I will bring that person to take over as the leader of the Sun Moon Sect.”

He really wanted to get rid of the Sun Moon Cult, but he wasn't in such a hurry.

Ling Hao accepted the Blackwood Token, saying, "I will hand the Blackwood Token over to the Emperor."

"Then I won't see you off any further." Dongfang Bubai watched the two of them leave, then drank the tea in his cup and stood up.

Now that Ling Hao has agreed, he should fulfill his promise. He'll first go to the bottom of West Lake and kill that old friend to prevent any future trouble. And Xiang Wentian—he'll send him to his death too. As for Ren Yingying…

After a moment's hesitation, Dongfang Bubai decided to give the woman he had once admired a chance to live. However, he would take back her status as a saintess and her martial arts skills. He would send her to the Dali Kingdom, and whether she would return to the Great Zhou Dynasty or what she would do afterward was up to Ren Yingying herself.

After making his decision, Dongfang Bubai also left Blackwood Cliff.

Meanwhile, Ling Hao, riding on a cloud, and Gongzi Yu, riding on a dark cloud, were heading towards the capital. Along the way, she kept thinking about whether she should first tell the emperor about Ren Woxing and Xiang Wentian, but who knew that she would later receive news that they had already been dealt with.

It can only be said that Dongfang Bubai's sincerity was truly remarkable, and at least the emperor was very satisfied, even though the news would not reach the capital until later.

But at this moment, the emperor was also very pleased. She smiled and patted Linghao on the shoulder, saying happily, "Thanks to you, Ah Hao. If we had relied on someone else, there would probably have been many more twists and turns." The "someone else" she was referring to was naturally Gongzi Yu.

Whether it was her, Gongzi Yu, or Ling Hao, they all knew perfectly well, because the emperor made no attempt to hide it at all.

Yes, she was openly criticizing Cricket Prince Yu. Who told her good brother to run off with Ah Hao the other day? She was so busy she wished she had ten hands, while he, on the other hand, had run away from the capital with his people, living a truly carefree life.

The emperor had been extremely busy lately, to the point that his eyesight had deteriorated to the point of developing dark circles. Therefore, her resentment towards her disobedient younger brother was understandable. Similarly, she believed someone should feel guilty.

So it's understandable, but Gongzi Yu has no intention of understanding, much less feeling guilty. Are they some kind of understanding siblings? Certainly not. So why should he feel guilty?

The emperor was furious at the sight of Gongzi Yu's lifeless appearance. She waved her hand and said, "Alright, alright, just shut up already. Just looking at you gives me a headache." Honestly, she didn't want such an infuriating younger brother anymore. If anyone wanted him, he'd be worth a penny a pound.

Before Gongzi Yu could reply, Ling Hao covered his mouth with her hand. She said with a smile, "Sister, let's go back to the villa first. If you need any help, just send someone to call us."

"Good." The emperor looked at Linghao with immense satisfaction. This is a good sister, unlike someone else.

Someone happily pulled Linghao out of the palace, pretending not to see his elder sister's lament.

On the way back to the villa, Linghao had a dazed feeling. "Why do I feel like we never left?" Apart from the time spent on the road, they only stayed at the border for a few days before returning. To be honest, she really felt like she had never left Kyoto.

"As long as we get through that period, everything will be fine," Gongzi Yu said.

The period he was referring to was when the emperor was frantically trying to recruit help. They went out for a while, and when they returned, there were still many things to do in the capital, but the emperor's side had enough people. Not only that, Feng Qingyang went back, Zhu Qiqi and Shen Lang went to the Zhu family together, and Shici stayed at the border to recuperate and did not return.

They went off in a large group, but now only two of them have returned. This is great news for Gongzi Yu, who wants to spend time alone with Ling Hao.

She saw right through his little scheme. She chuckled and poked his arm. "You stingy little thing." This guy really is stingy.

Gongzi Yu smiled, not denying it. He was a stingy person by nature and didn't want to share Ahao's feelings for him with anyone.

The two chatted and laughed as they arrived at the gate of the villa, where they immediately saw a group of people standing there.

"Lin Pingzhi?" Ling Hao exclaimed in surprise, "What are you doing here?"

"Master Ling!" Lin Pingzhi stood up abruptly upon hearing Ling Hao's voice, his face beaming with joy. "You've finally appeared."

"You..." Ling Hao looked Lin Pingzhi up and down. He seemed more resilient than when they first met. "You weren't waiting for me here all this time, were you?"

"No, not really." Lin Pingzhi smiled, a hint of silliness in his smile. "I come here every morning after breakfast, go out for lunch and come back, and then go back for dinner. It's not always like this."

This is no different from before. Ling Hao really didn't expect Lin Pingzhi to be so persistent; it took her quite a while to travel back and forth from the border.

Gongzi Yu stared at Lin Pingzhi with icy eyes.

-----------------------

Author's note: Gongzi Yu: Why are there one after another?