Chapter 189

Sikong Qintiger was ultimately a figure of the ambitious, ruthless overlord type.

After venting some of his rage, he calmed his aura and regained composure, murmuring, "This matter is suspicious. When Wu Guanglin killed my second brother, was there anything unusual?"

"This…"

The fourth boss pondered.

"It seems there was!"

The fifth boss replied, "When Wu Guanglin arrived with Guo Zhanggui's corpse, he kept insisting we hand over our third brother, but his killing intent wasn't strong—mostly just anger. At the time, our second brother stepped in to mediate, and for some reason, the Feisha Zhai men suddenly attacked. Our men retaliated. Then Wu Guanglin clashed with our second brother—he pressed hard, but our second brother held back. He… he seemed to have let his guard down for an instant, which is why he was slain?"

"Let his guard down?"

Sikong Qintiger's eyes flickered.

"My second brother could never have let his guard down!"

"There were others at the scene!"

Sikong Qintiger spoke startlingly, his voice low, "Someone ambushed and disrupted my second brother, hindering his movements—that's why Wu Guanglin killed him!"

"Ah!?"

"What?"

"This… this can't be possible!"

"It really does seem that way!"

After Sikong Qintiger's revelation, the others gasped in shock, a chill crawling up their spines.

If someone was secretly manipulating events, then Yanhu Zhai's situation had become even more dangerous.

"Our third brother killing Guo Zhanggui… someone must have been pushing him too…"

"Issue orders!"

Sikong Qintiger rose abruptly, his killing aura surging, "All of Zhai, go on full alert! From today, enter wartime status! And send men to Feisha Zhai…"

He paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"Deliver a challenge letter to Feisha Zhai!"

"No matter who's behind this, my second brother died at Wu Guanglin's hands—Huang Batian must pay!"

"Yes!!"

The others responded and moved swiftly.

……

Outside Yanhu Zhai.

Chen Mu, using his "Listen to the Wind" skill, eavesdropped from afar on Sikong Qintiger's meeting.

He sighed inwardly.

"No wonder he leads Yanhu Zhai!"

Once Sikong Qintiger calmed down, he immediately sensed the problem.

Correct.

Under normal circumstances, Wu Guanglin could never have killed Gong Rentai in public—even if he was stronger and fully capable of killing, he wouldn't have done it!

Yet Gong Rentai was dead; upon reflection, something was clearly off.

But now that events had reached this point, Sikong Qintiger could no longer control them.

Regardless of anything, the fact remained: Gong Rentai died at Wu Guanglin's blade.

Since it was fact, Feisha Zhai must pay the price!

……

……

Feisha Zhai.

As soon as Wu Guanglin returned, he immediately sought out Huang Batian and reported the situation.

Huang Batian, true to his name, was tall and burly, imposing and commanding, with a square face, thick beard, and eyes blazing with sharp light.

After hearing the account, his gaze sharpened, and he rumbled, "Gong Rentai was ambushed!"

"Brother is right. On my way back, I carefully recalled the fight—I realized this too."

Wu Guanglin's expression turned solemn, "Someone is secretly pushing us and Yanhu Zhai into conflict, trying to force our two mountain strongholds into a duel."

"Could it be Langwang Zhai?" the second boss interjected. "Langwang Xue Ji is the most cunning, treacherous man alive."

"Xue Ji doesn't have the capability."

Huang Batian raised his hand. "Everyone knows the situation with Langwang Zhai and Julu Zhai. This incident was done by an outsider. This person is no weakling—his methods are strange; whether he's not a Ditan, he's at the peak of Xiantian!"

"Then… what's your meaning, brother?" the second boss asked.

Wu Guanglin also turned to Huang Batian.

"Of course, we find and expose him!"

Huang Batian snapped coldly, "Who dares scheme against us and Yanhu Zhai must die! But before that, we must still give Sikong Qintiger some reply."

"Forgive me, brother—it's my fault," Wu Guanglin said apologetically.

"It has nothing to do with you," Huang Batian waved. "You were manipulated too."

"Report!"

A shout suddenly came from outside the Yi Yi Hall.

"Enter."

The second boss rose and replied.

Thump-thump~

A lean, muscular man sprinted into the hall, holding a scroll in both hands and calling out loudly.

"Grand Chief, the Nightmare Tiger has delivered a challenge letter!"

"A challenge letter?" Wu Guanglin blinked in surprise.

Huang Batian's eyes lit up; he reached out and seized the challenge letter midair, opened it, and laughed aloud.

"Ha! Sikong Qinhu has challenged me to a duel at Sunset Valley tomorrow evening."

"Excellent!"

"I accept this challenge!"

Huang Batian roared with laughter, "Go tell the Nightmare Tiger's men—I'll be there on time tomorrow evening. The winner decides the final outcome."

What final outcome?

Naturally, the compensation for Wu Guanglin killing Gong Rentai!

Sikong Qinhu's challenge letter clearly told Huang Batian that he had discovered the hidden figure behind it all.

Otherwise, he would have simply led a large force to storm them.

But Gong Rentai was killed by Wu Guanglin—compensation was unavoidable.

If Huang Batian wins, he pays less.

If Huang Batian loses, he pays more!

…

…

Meanwhile.

The news of Wu Guanglin killing Gong Rentai spread like wings, racing through every large and small Shanzhai in Cang Mountain.

Wolf Wang Zhai.

Grand Chief Xue Ji stroked his chin, his eyes gleaming with greed.

"Sikong Qinhu lost an arm, Feisha Zhai lost a chief—heehee, this is a once-in-a-millennium opportunity. Issue orders: prepare the brothers. When these two clans are exhausted from fighting, we'll strike and tear off a fat piece of meat!"

"Exactly! Tear off a piece of meat!"

"Hahahaha~"

…

Giant Tree Zhai.

Grand Chief Liu Yitiao stroked his long beard as he conferred secretly with several chiefs.

"The battle between Nightmare Tiger Zhai and Feisha Zhai is inevitable—Cang Mountain's balance will be shattered. Whether our Giant Tree Zhai can rise to power hinges on this moment. Send spies to monitor both clans' movements—be ready to act at any moment!"

"Yes!"

…

Even Cang Mountain's largest Shanzhai, Panlong Zhai, could not remain aloof.

The Second Chief, responsible for daily affairs, gathered the stronghold's core figures with a solemn countenance: "If Nightmare Tiger and Feisha Zhai go to war, the impact will be vast. Though Panlong Zhai is strong, we must respond with caution. Order all checkpoints to increase vigilance, and dispatch scouts—I must know the battle's progress the instant it happens."

"Yes!"

…

Smaller and medium-sized Shanzhai all stirred in response—some trembled in fear, terrified of being caught in the battle; others clenched their fists, eager to claim a share; still others rejoiced wildly.

In a hidden cave somewhere in Cang Mountain.

A thin, scarred man, his face grotesquely marred, glided into the cave like a ghost.

"Second sister, Third brother, Fifth brother—the opportunity has come!"

"What opportunity?" A voice like scraping iron echoed from the dim cave.

"Wu Guanglin of Feisha Zhai killed Gong Rentai of Nightmare Tiger Zhai!"

The thin man cackled cruelly, "With Gong Rentai dead, Sikong Qinhu and Huang Batian must fight! Once they move, our chance for revenge arrives!"

"Jiejiejie~"

"Gagaga…"