Chapter 503

Hei Lou Lan reads a report that Zhao tribe has torn down its camp and left, and tosses it aside. Its rank five initial stage leader has little prestige, having lost to Dong Po Kong three years ago. Hei Lou Lan holds a tribe that fled before fighting in contempt. The Gu Masters in the main tent congratulate him on scaring it off and mock Dong Fang Yu Liang, whose personal invitation was refused. ^{ch. 503}

Fang Yuan, sitting to the side, notices the name Zhao Lian Yun in the report. He remembers her as a mysterious future wife of Ma Hong Yun and a wisdom path Gu Immortal, though now she is only a little girl. He sneers inwardly that the famous persuasion of tiger, wolf and sheep has already been used. In his past life a biography told how, with Zhao tribe sandwiched between Dong Fang tribe and Hei tribe, she used that comparison to persuade her hesitating father to side with Ma tribe far away. The tribe was protected and received extremely high importance. ^{ch. 503}

He remembers that in the battle of five regions Ma Hong Yun, Sheng Ling Er and Zhao Lian Yun become Gu Immortals and cornerstones of Northern Plains against Heavenly Court. Fang Yuan restrains his killing intent, planning to send Ma Hong Yun and Zhao Lian Yun to their deaths before they grow, without hurry. Ma Hong Yun must be kept to deal with Eighty-Eight True Yang Building. Zhao Lian Yun cannot be touched now, since Fang Yuan is playing Chang Shan Yin, who would never care so much about a girl a few years old. ^{ch. 503}

Turning to Dong Fang tribe, the Gu Masters class it, like Hei tribe, a super tribe with deep foundations and a huge force in Cao Fu region. Though Hei tribe’s military strength is superior, they call Dong Fang tribe’s young leader Dong Fang Yu Liang, a wisdom path expert in planning, definitely the greatest threat. He lost his parents at eleven and cared for his then six year old sister Dong Fang Qing Yu. He gave most of an enormous inheritance to an authoritative elder, became that elder’s trusted aide, and through his contributions gained pointers from the tribe’s Gu Immortal ancestor. Fang Yuan never heard these details in his past life. He realizes the man is not simple. ^{ch. 503}

Meanwhile in his study Dong Fang Yu Liang plans for the battle until his sister comes in and asks him to view the jade apricot blossom. He walks with her into the courtyard, where light rain falls. She asks whether Zhao tribe has moved, and he answers that he anticipated it and can still beat Hei tribe’s army without that tribe. She warns him that Hei Lou Lan has Wolf King Chang Shan Yin on his side. He replies that Hei Lou Lan once harbored unkind thoughts toward her and was taught a good lesson by him, and that he has a plan for Chang Shan Yin. She nods, mind completely relieved, yet sighs inwardly over her illness and her lack of aptitude to cultivate. Her body has been weak since young, and he soon sends her back to rest out of the rain. ^{ch. 503}

Left alone, Dong Fang Yu Liang lets his worry show. The battle is absolutely not as easy as he made it out to be. Chang Shan Yin with five hundred thousand wolves can change the situation alone, so his side must deal with the wolves first or victory will be extremely uncertain. He cannot lose, since he persuaded Gu Immortal Old Ancestor to agree, and if he completes this secret mission the ancestor will personally cure the source of his sister’s illness. For her sake he must become master of Imperial Court and enter Eighty-Eight True Yang Building. Declaring that anyone who blocks his path must die, he means Wolf King Chang Shan Yin to die in this rain before the battle. ^{ch. 503}