Chapter 60: Hypocrisy Beneath the Blade Part 2

The tension in Sang Chencao’s eyes softened, and her shoulders shook with laughter. Her moods shifted between anger and joy in an instant. After a moment, she said, “Fortunately, you’re by my side. If I’m to be an enemy of the world, at least I won’t be lonely.”

Feng Yun’ai remained silent for a while before slowly saying, “You truly don’t treat Wen Lanxin as a human being.”

“Mm. What is she to me?” Sang Chencao didn’t bother to argue.

Having been refined into a Medicinal Human since childhood, it was understandable why she couldn’t view Wen Lanxin as a person.

Feng Yun’ai stopped trying to probe the relationship between those two. A faint ache bloomed in her heart; she found she could now tolerate any of Sang Chencao’s heartless remarks.

More and more people entered the Dieshan Alliance, and the area around the Sword Trial Stage became impassably crowded. As the drums thundered again, the Hero Recruitment Meet finally began.

Zhou Gui stood up and raised a cup to the crowd. No smile reached her eyes, and it was impossible to tell if the momentary look of melancholy and resentment on her face was an act. She tilted the cup, pouring the wine onto the ground, and then tossed the vessel aside. “This cup is to the Hantian Alliance of the past! The Hantian Alliance spared no effort to drive out the demons of the Borderlands and stabilize the Central Plains’ martial arts. This deed is beyond reproach!”

The people nearby were startled, and someone hurried to refill her cup.

After the libation, Zhou Gui slammed the cup down again. She cupped her hands to the crowd, her voice rising and falling with practiced passion. “This cup is to Alliance Leader Feng! No doubt the heroes and warriors here have heard the rumors: Alliance Leader Feng was actually a descendant of the Moonlight Sect! Her intentions in founding the Hantian Alliance were surely foul. Fortunately, the Moonlight Sect suffered internal strife, and Wen Lanxin struck her down! We were previously ignorant of the truth and rushed to Yellow Sand Cliff to arrest Wen Lanxin. Little did we know we would uncover the schemes of those two! Thankfully, it is not too late to mend the fold!”

Feng Yun’ai knit her brows, her cold eyes filled with an immeasurable weariness. Fortunately, her veiled hat hid her expression.

She remained silent, but Sang Chencao scoffed at every sentence, seemingly unafraid of raising suspicion.

Feng Yun’ai had to nudge Sang Chencao’s shoulder with her own, unsure how else to silence the woman.

Luckily, Sang Chencao seemed to take the hint. Her scoff turned into a soft chuckle, and after a couple of breaths, she grew still.

A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd. Many praised Zhou Gui for her wisdom and decisiveness, marveling that after following Feng Rong for so many years, she hadn’t developed a heart of collusion but remained devoted to the martial world of the Central Plains.

Feng Yun’ai kept her lips pressed thin, her eyes moving slowly beneath the white veil as she searched for the mysterious person who had been by Zhou Gui’s side.

However, with the Dieshan Alliance now overflowing with guests, if that person wanted to hide, they would be impossible to find.

Feng Yun’ai withdrew her gaze and looked back at Zhou Gui, her ears filled with the woman’s indignant accusations.

Her voice, bolstered by deep internal power, echoed for miles. It was clear enough for everyone present to hear; even commoners outside the Dieshan Alliance likely caught the gist of it.

Feng Yun’ai glanced at Sui Jianxue. Though the blind woman’s face remained expressionless, she had crushed the porcelain cup in her hand, leaving her palm a bloody mess.

Yet no one criticized her. The Jianghu respected Qiushui Pavilion, and since its mistress had been close to Feng Rong, it was not surprising she found the truth hard to accept.

After finishing her denunciation, Zhou Gui declared, “This Hero Recruitment Meet is to select a new Alliance Leader for the Central Plains, one who shares the heart of the world! Hereafter, we shall pursue Wen Lanxin, capture her, and bring her back to Cloud City to give the Jianghu the justice it deserves!”

Shouts of agreement rose in succession. Warriors were eager to start, their eyes fixed on the Golden-Stone Heavy Sword on the stage.

Sang Chencao, who had been silent for some time, finally reached the limit of her patience. She let out another cold scoff, her voice barely audible to anyone but Feng Yun’ai. “I wonder if Zhou Gui’s swordsmanship has improved at all over the years. If she intends to compete for the flower herself, she’ll find it quite difficult.”

“She is the Acting Alliance Leader. Why would she be willing to hand over the position to someone else?” Feng Yun’ai asked, confused.

“You can’t figure it out, and neither can I. However… unless she can drug everyone who steps onto that stage, there’s no way she’ll win in the end,” Sang Chencao said meaningfully.

It seemed an impossible task. Taking the stage depended entirely on the whims of the warriors present; no one could guess who would step up next.

“The World’s Greatest Blade has already gone to the Yellow Springs,” Sang Chencao said casually. “Unless she has recruited the World’s Greatest Whip, the World’s Greatest Fan, and their ilk to secretly lose to her.”

“Did she kill Hu Cheng because she couldn’t persuade him?” Feng Yun’ai was startled.

“Hu Cheng had a volatile and eccentric temper; his only goal was to pluck the blossom. How could Zhou Gui keep him? Besides, she needed a catalyst to make the Moonlight Sect reappear in the Jianghu.” Sang Chencao smirked. “It all makes sense now.”

In the distance, Zhou Gui poured a third cup of wine and called out, “This final cup is to the Martial World!”

The moment her voice fell, the drums thundered one last time. This was the final signal. After this, anyone was free to take the stage.

However, very few were willing to be the first. Most people would be exhausted by a continuous stream of challengers before they even had a chance to climb the Golden-Stone Heavy Sword.

Only those with immense strength and arrogance dared to fly onto the stage the moment the drumsticks fell.

“Xiuxiu has read the Jianghu Records. Why don’t we guess who will be the first to ascend?” Sang Chencao asked.

Feng Yun’ai remained silent. From what she could see, many people had a sharp glint in their eyes, but none moved.

“My guess is it’ll be someone from Guanfeng Gate or the Hengshan Sect,” Sang Chencao said slowly. “Those two sects are clearly aligned with Zhou Gui, and they have great reputations. Challenges against them will be as numerous as cow hairs. Zhou Gui needs to wear down those who aim to pluck the blossom. Sending these two sects out first is her wisest move.”

Sure enough, the person who stepped onto the stage was the direct disciple of the Guanfeng Gate Master.

Sang Chencao leaned back lazily and smirked. She tilted her head and asked, “Tell me, Xiuxiu, when should I take the stage?”