Tian Boguang fled, and the breath Linghu Chong had been holding finally spilled out. He was badly injured and had been forcing himself to stand firm. Now that the tension was gone, his exhaustion overwhelmed him.
The young nun Yilin hurried over, supporting Linghu Chong and tending to his wounds with medicine.
Zhao An calmly returned to his original seat.
Seeing him come back, the hunchbacked Lin Pingzhi pointed at Zhao An and stammered,"Y-You… you…"
Zhao An spoke to him evenly:"I know what you want to say. We'll talk about our matter later. For now, I have words to exchange with this senior."
He poured a bowl of wine and was about to take a sip when Qu Yang interjected:"Tian Boguang scattered drugged powder earlier. Young man, you didn't inhale much, so your body won't suffer serious harm, but it's best not to drink alcohol—it will worsen the effect."
Zhao An set the wine aside, turned toward Qu Yang, and said,"My thanks for the reminder, senior. In fact, there's something I wish to tell you.
"The Five Mountains Alliance Chief, Zuo Lengchan—his martial skills are formidable, his schemes deep, and his ambition immense. He seeks to merge the Five Sword Sects into one. His designs are vast.
"To unite the sects, he must first establish unquestionable authority within the alliance. Then he must eliminate dissenters, purge the disloyal, and weaken the other sects' strength.
"After unification, with the combined might of the Five Mountains, he could then annihilate the Demonic Sect, absorb the small factions, and, in due time, elevate his power to rival Shaolin and Wudang—thus embarking upon a grand enterprise of supremacy.
"Senior, what do you think of such an achievement?"
Zhao An's abrupt and seemingly nonsensical words left Lin Pingzhi and Qu Feiyan utterly confused. Even Qu Yang himself was unsure of Zhao An's meaning.
After a long silence, Qu Yang finally said,"Young man, your words are startling. I wonder where you heard such things—and why tell them to me?"
Zhao An glanced around the hall, then suggested,"Why don't we speak somewhere more private?"
Qu Yang replied,"It would be discourteous to refuse."
At Zhao An's arrangement, the group secured a private suite at a nearby inn. Linghu Chong was settled to rest and heal, and Yilin was sent back to deliver news. Only then did Zhao An and Qu Yang continue their talk in the parlor.
The very first thing Zhao An said startled Qu Yang so badly he nearly drew his weapon.
"Your friendship with Liu Zhengfeng," Zhao An said, "Zuo Lengchan has long been aware of it. With Liu Zhengfeng's golden-basin handwashing ceremony tomorrow… I fear the omens are dire."
Qu Yang froze. His right hand shot to his waist—ready to unleash his unique hidden weapon, the Black-Blood Divine Needles, lethal upon the slightest scratch.
Among the Sun and Moon Sect's Ten Elders, each was ruthless in their own way. None could have climbed so high by being merciful.
Zhao An knew. If not for certain vows holding Qu Yang back, those deadly needles would already be flying toward him.
But Zhao An had expected this very reaction. He had already braced himself—if Qu Yang truly attacked, Zhao An would not hesitate to respond in kind.
Qu Yang stood in silence for a long moment, thinking through countless possibilities, before finally heaving a deep sigh and sitting back down."Young man, just who are you? You seem to know far too much about me."
Zhao An said evenly,"There's no need to ask after my origins. All you need concern yourself with is your matter with Liu Zhengfeng. Listen, and let me finish."
He continued,"Zuo Lengchan's intent to merge the Five Mountains Sects is no secret—everyone can see it. His martial skill is profound, and Songshan boasts many experts. He has the strength to make it happen.
"All he needs is to press forward step by step, establishing an unstoppable momentum among the other sects, eliminating those who resist, and planting obedient followers to control the sects' authority.
"Zuo Lengchan has long restrained himself, waiting for the right opportunity. Liu Zhengfeng's friendship with you, an elder of the Sun and Moon Sect, is the perfect excuse to suppress Hengshan.
"Zuo's spies in the other four sects have long known of your bond. He has simply kept silent, waiting for the chance. Now, with Liu Zhengfeng's ceremony drawing heroes from every corner, if Zuo uses this as a pretext to strike—forcing Liu to yield—then half of Hengshan will become his puppets.
"If Liu refuses, then he will be branded as colluding with the Demonic Sect. And given the Five Mountains Alliance's deep hatred toward the Demonic Sect, Liu will either have to sever ties with you—or be doomed to death.
"And when he dies, it won't just be him—his entire household could be destroyed. At best, others will call Songshan domineering. But none will interfere.
"With Liu gone, Hengshan will be crippled. Only Master Mo Da would remain, struggling alone. And with the stain of Liu's 'collusion' upon the sect, their voice against unification would hold no weight.
"As for the other sects—save for a few with steadfast hearts—most will grow fearful of Songshan's might.
"Thus, Zuo Lengchan would both cripple Hengshan and establish his authority in one stroke. A gain of many folds.
"He is a man of ambition—he will not let such an opportunity slip by. That is why I say: tomorrow, at Liu Zhengfeng's ceremony, disaster looms. At best, his name ruined. At worst—ruin of his entire clan."
Qu Yang's face grew pale. Sweat poured down like rain.
Beside him, Qu Feiyan—still young and naïve to the ruthlessness of ambition and the treachery of the martial world—spoke indignantly,"But aren't the Five Mountains Sects all allies? How could they force Uncle Liu like that? You must be exaggerating. Grandfather, I don't like this man—he speaks so strangely!"
Her words were rude, but Zhao An only sighed inwardly. No matter how I disguise my voice, it never sounds natural enough. No wonder this little girl finds me strange. I don't like it either.
Qu Yang, a seasoned veteran, quickly apologized to Zhao An and scolded his granddaughter,"Feiyan, enough! You are still too young to know the darkness in men's hearts. What Zhao-shaoxia says is not exaggeration. If righteous men truly learned of my bond with Liu Xian-di, they would never forgive it. But Zuo Lengchan, who calls himself righteous, perhaps would not take Liu's life outright…"
Zhao An chuckled coldly,"Power struggles are always dark and bloody. Do not harbor false hope."
Then he added,"I tell you this for three reasons."
Qu Yang thought, This man has no ties to me, is not of the Five Mountains, nor kin to Liu Zhengfeng. Why tell me all this unless he seeks something?
Aloud he said,"I would like to hear them."
Zhao An explained,"First, if I am right, tomorrow will bring calamity for Liu Zhengfeng—and you will certainly try to save him. But against Songshan's might, neither of you can prevail. If you both die, though regrettable, you've brought it on yourselves.
"But Liu still has children. And you have this young granddaughter. If they are dragged down with you, it would be truly pitiful. So my advice: make arrangements for the young ones now. If nothing happens tomorrow, all the better. But if the worst comes, at least the innocent are spared."
"Second—I want your piece of the Guangling San score."
"Third—"
Before he could finish, Qu Feiyan sneered,"Ha! So that's why you've been frightening Grandfather. You're after his Guangling San all along!"
She looked smug, as if she had seen through a villain's scheme.
Qu Yang quickly restrained her and turned to Zhao An with grave respect,"Young man, even that secret you know… Very few in this world know I hold a copy of Guangling San. How did you learn of it?"
Zhao An gave no answer. For how could he explain? What should I say—that I have the perspective of a god?
So he merely said,"Thirdly, if disaster truly strikes tomorrow, and matters come to their worst, then entrust your zither to me. In return, I will see to your unruly granddaughter. At the very least, I will keep her alive."
His words, though delivered with conviction, were full of holes if examined closely. Qu Yang, an old hand in the jianghu, could not fully believe them. And Qu Feiyan's disbelief was written all over her face.
But Qu Yang still replied,"Though what you say is unbelievable, it is not without reason. And your request—far from excessive—shows candor and even a trace of chivalry.
"Still, this is no small matter. I must discuss it with Brother Liu."
Zhao An nodded."Of course. We are strangers; it's natural that you don't fully believe me. But to prepare for the worst harms nothing.
"Leave Guangling San with your granddaughter. If nothing happens, keep it. If something does, then the score and zither will come to me, and I will see to your granddaughter's safety.
"That's all. I have other matters. Please, do as you see fit."
Qu Yang rose and bowed slightly."Then this old man will take his leave."