Chapter 154 Changing Direction Chapter 154 Changing Direction...
Chapter 154 Changing Directions
"You waited for me on purpose?" Ling Hao was somewhat surprised. "I wonder what important matter the Eastern Cult Leader has that requires him to come and wait for me?"
Dongfang Bubai looked at Gongzi Yu, then back at Ling Hao, and said with a smile, "Would you two be willing to visit Blackwood Cliff?"
Ling Hao raised an eyebrow slightly. "I'm sorry, but we're afraid we can't grant the Eastern Cult Leader's wish. We have other matters to attend to in Kyoto."
Dongfang Bubai said, "The duel between Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng has been postponed to the full moon night of the fifteenth of next month, so you have time."
Gongzi Yu said, "So you do know the purpose of our return to the capital."
“Most of the people heading to Kyoto these days are there for that final battle. Your swordsmanship is superb, and I’m sure you wouldn’t want to miss it,” Dongfang Bubai said with a smile.
“I certainly don’t want to miss it,” Ling Hao replied. Of course, the more important reason was the Emperor, but that goes without saying. “I’d like to know why the Eastern Cult Leader insists we go to Blackwood Cliff as guests? Is this some kind of trap?”
"Of course not." Dongfang Bubai laughed. "If it were a trap, I wouldn't dare come alone, because I wouldn't be able to invite you two."
Ling looked at Gongzi Yu, who returned the smile.
“Alright, then let’s go and take a look at the Blackwood Cliff of the Eastern Cult Leader.” Ling Hao stroked Yun Duo’s mane. “Now I finally have the chance to see the mysterious Blackwood Cliff in the martial world.”
Dongfang Bubai chuckled lightly, "You'll have many opportunities in the future." With that, he offered no further explanation and flew away.
Ling Hao and Gongzi Yu exchanged a glance, and the two of them rode off to follow.
Dongfang Bubai waited for them at the bottom of the cliff. Because they had to go up through a mechanism, their horses had to be left at the bottom of the cliff.
Ling Hao thought for a moment, patted Yun Duo's head, and said to her, "Yun Duo, go play, but don't go to dangerous places. I'll come find you when I get down."
The cloud whimpered twice, then pattered away. Gongzi Yu's dark cloud hurriedly followed, as if afraid of being left behind.
The followers of the Sun Moon Cult stepped forward and handed two blindfolds to Linghao and Gongziyu.
"Step back," Dongfang Bubai said.
The follower hesitated for a moment, but still took the cloth and stepped back, not daring to go any further.
Ling Hao looked at Dongfang Bubai with some surprise, "Don't we need to be blindfolded? Isn't Leader Dongfang afraid that A Yu and I will remember how we got up there, and then bring people to surround and wipe out the entire Blackwood Cliff?"
Dongfang Bubai raised an eyebrow. "If your daughter is willing, then please do as she says."
Ling chuckled and said, "I was just joking. After all, I am friends with the leader of the Eastern Sect. How could I betray a friend?" She felt strange. Logically speaking, Dongfang Bubai should have said something like, "Come on, I'm afraid you won't be able to leave once you come." That would have been more like his style.
But what he just said was completely out of character for him. More importantly, his words implied that Blackwood Cliff belonged to her and was at her disposal. Could it be that Dongfang Bubai came to recruit her?
He thought she would become a member of the Sun Moon Cult and then make plans for the cult, which is why he said she could just do it if she wanted. Ling Hao silently shook her head. She wouldn't join the Sun Moon Cult; she didn't want to shoulder any responsibility. Being free suited her better.
Gongzi Yu took Ling Hao's hand, their fingers intertwined. Since Dongfang Bubai was being so open, then there was no point in blaming him. He memorized how to use all the mechanisms, and even deduced a few weak points.
If he were to lead the imperial army to attack, it wouldn't be difficult. The reason the Sun Moon Cult was able to exist so close to the capital was twofold: firstly, because the Sun Moon Cult had a large number of followers, making any rash actions risky; and secondly, because Blackwood Cliff was easy to defend and difficult to attack.
It's not easy for an emperor to cultivate talent, and she certainly wouldn't want to sacrifice lives in vain. But if there were a way, she would definitely want to take action against the Sun Moon Cult. How could she tolerate someone else snoring beside her bed? The Sun Moon Cult was far too close to the capital.
Furthermore, with the Six and a Half Hall and the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion already in the lead—these two gangs were located in Kyoto—the Sun Moon Cult was not so conspicuous. Now that one of these gangs has completely disappeared and the other has left Kyoto, the Sun Moon Cult has become more prominent.
Such a nearby gang, with tens of thousands of followers—how could the emperor not feel a thorn in his side? Of course, Gongzi Yu would help his sister; with such a good opportunity, he would definitely want to take a closer look. As for whether Dongfang Bubai would be angry, he didn't care at all.
With him and Ah Hao working together, where can't they go?
Dongfang Bubai saw Gongzi Yu's actions, but he seemed not to see them or notice his intentions, and didn't care at all.
Linghao has very mixed feelings about this.
Was Dongfang Bubai a fool? Of course not. How could he be a fool? If he were a fool, then the fact that the late emperor was helpless against him, and the current emperor's temporary concession, would only make them seem even more foolish.
Since Dongfang Bubai wasn't a fool, he certainly couldn't have failed to see through Gongzi Yu's actions and intentions. If he did see through them, why didn't he point it out or stop them? Or was he prepared to seize the opportune moment and eliminate both her and A-Yu in one fell swoop?
Ignoring Gongzi Yu's probing and Ling Hao's suspicions, Dongfang Bubai led them directly to his courtyard. His courtyard was filled with flowers, and as soon as Ling Hao and Gongzi Yu entered, they were greeted by a riot of colors and a lively atmosphere, quite unlike the courtyard of a sect leader.
"Please sit down." Dongfang Bubai sat down in the pavilion and gestured for the two guests to sit down.
After Linghao and Gongzi Yu took their seats, the servants of Blackwood Cliff brought up various tea snacks and tea. Linghao looked down and saw that the tea snacks in the bowls and plates were exquisite and lovely, and it was obvious that they were made with care and took a lot of time to make.
Dongfang Bubai said, "Miss, what do you think of my Blackwood Cliff?"
"The scenery is beautiful; it's truly a wonderful place," Ling Hao replied. If this weren't the headquarters of the Sun Moon Sect, it would indeed be a great place for a spring outing. However, since this is the headquarters of the Sun Moon Sect, the gathering place of its many masters, it's not so good.
Dongfang Bubai raised his lips and said, "Since it's a good place, shall I take you there?"
"Huh?" Ling Hao couldn't help but look puzzled. Had she misheard something? The person opposite her hadn't said they were going to give Blackwood Cliff to her, right?
Dongfang Bubai's smile deepened, and he said again, "Since your daughter likes Blackwood Cliff, I'll give it to you. No, I'll give you the entire Sun Moon Sect."
Ling Hao: "..."
She picked up her teacup and looked down at her reflection in the water. Thankfully, there was no rainbow halo above her; clearly, her world hadn't suddenly transformed from a martial arts world into a Mary Sue world.
Thank goodness, thank goodness, the world hasn't changed. If it had, she felt she probably wouldn't be able to accept having multicolored hair or a halo around her.
Upon seeing Ling Hao's performance, Dongfang Bubai burst out laughing, his laughter echoing through the courtyard.
Ling Hao: "..."
If she remembered correctly, when they first met, the other party clearly looked like a powerful figure in the martial arts world. How come he seems to have gone mad now? Could it be that the way they met again was wrong? That can't be, she and A-Yu were just traveling normally.
Gongzi Yu tapped his finger on the table and said, "Does the Eastern Cult Leader want to submit to the imperial court?"
“Submission sounds awful,” Dongfang Bubai said, unconcerned about Gongzi Yu’s attitude. “I just want to cooperate with the court. But, you know, eagerness isn’t business, so I’ll have to take a roundabout approach.” Then, he looked at Ling Hao.
"Her?" Ling Hao raised an eyebrow slightly. "What do you mean by that, Master Dongfang? If you continue to be so secretive, I think it's time for A Yu and me to leave."
Dongfang Bubai picked up his teacup and drank the tea in one gulp. "The Sun Moon Sect has become a burden to me. I can't spare time from these heavy sect duties, and my martial arts can't improve at all. What I want is to reach a higher peak in martial arts. The Sun Moon Sect is no longer what I want."
Although Dongfang Bubai no longer wanted the Sun Moon Sect, he didn't want to just throw it away carelessly. After all, he had spent a great deal of effort to snatch it from Ren Woxing; he could give it up, but he didn't want it to be picked up by someone else after he threw it away.
After much thought, Dongfang Bubai thought of Ling Hao, a person with connections to both the martial arts world and the imperial court. Nowadays, most people in the martial arts world know that the man who follows Ling Hao around is a member of the royal family and has a good relationship with the emperor, and Dongfang Bubai is no exception.
He reasoned that if Ling Hao could have such a noble man following her so closely, then she must have some influence with the emperor, at least more so than ordinary ministers. Furthermore, she was now a highly respected chivalrous figure in the martial arts world, and would never scheme against others for personal gain. Therefore, she was the best candidate to take over the Sun Moon Sect.
If Ling Hao becomes the new leader of the Sun Moon Cult, then perhaps the emperor can convert most of the members of the Sun Moon Cult to his own use. Dongfang Bubai could see that the emperor was still short of manpower, and the people of the Sun Moon Cult would be very suitable; they could do all the dirty and hard work.
Although people in the martial arts world often talk about being lackeys of the imperial court, many would still be willing to become such lackeys. While Dongfang Bubai knew that not everyone in the Sun Moon Sect could find a good place, he was already quite generous in providing for most, and as the sect leader, he had done more than enough.
As for the rest, let everyone accept their fate. Dongfang Bubai wanted to focus on climbing the peak of martial arts. He felt that finding a good place for the Sun Moon Sect members was enough, and he shouldn't think about anything more.
Ling Hao, after hearing Dongfang Bubai's idea, was left speechless: "???"
Is this right? Is Dongfang Bubai trying to get his followers to come ashore? No, what happened to the great villain of the martial arts world?
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Author's Note: Greetings: Master Dongfang, you're out of character!
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