Wayfarer

Chapter 520: Sneaking onto Thousand-Spirit Island

Even more days later, in a secluded cranny of a mountain on Thousand-Spirit Island, three figures were whispering to each other.

They were none other than Croak, Warble, and Ao Zhou.

"Many of the Immortal spirits on the island hate you to the core. Even so, you dared sneak onto the island? This is ridiculous—are they all blind? Can't they recognize you?" Ao Zhou exclaimed in disbelief.

"We can change the color of our skin. When we participated in Dazheng's war, it was black. When we arrived at Thousand-Spirit Island hoping to join the spirits within, it was gold. It's natural that they couldn't tell," Croak said.

"But how did the two of you end up being officers the moment you joined? That shouldn't have been possible..." Ao Zhou murmured.

"We had connections, of course. Xiao Nanfeng reached out to someone and had us be appointed officers."

"What? Xiao Nanfeng has connections on this island? Damn it, why didn't he tell me? Why didn't he help me out? It took me almost half a year to gain my footing here. Do you know what I sacrificed for this?!" Ao Zhou fumed.

"Didn't you say you wanted to be a spy? Xiao Nanfeng had you wait, but you insisted on heading over. You didn't even participate in Dazheng's war!"

"Nonsense! He tricked me by telling me that there was tremendous treasure and opportunity here. Several elders of the Qitian Alliance arranged to make a move on the island. As a member of the Qitian Alliance, of course I had to show up beforehand! Otherwise, I would have received nothing as a result," Ao Zhou said.

"Well, I don't know about you, but we were made officers the moment we arrived. Xiao Nanfeng arranged everything for us," Croak replied.

Ao Zhou: ...

"Really, Ao Zhou, I don't know what you do all day long. It's as if you fritter away all your time," Warble added from the side.

Ao Zhou's face twitched. He retorted, "What do you mean, fritter away all my time? It might be a little tiring, but we worked hard and fought the other spirits in the area to fight for opportunities. Thanks to that, we all broke through. I'm a mid-stage Heaven Immortal now, and all my subordinates are at least Earth Immortals. There are plenty of spiritual treasures here; it's far better than that barren place known as the Dazheng Empire."

"But we're Heaven Immortals now, too," Croak said.

Ao Zhou stiffened. He scowled in disbelief. "Liar! Didn't you both just recently become Earth Immortals?"

"What's there to lie about? We're guardian spirits of the Dazheng Empire, and we get to share in its spoils. Two months ago, Xiao Nanfeng granted each of us a Heaven Immortal pill that allowed our cultivation to break through immediately. Our foundations are exceptionally stable, too."

"Right, and we're not the only ones. Plenty of cultivators in Dazheng have become Heaven Immortals. Didn't you know?" Croak asked.

Ao Zhou frowned. The success that they had only achieved by risking life and limb, Croak and Warble had obtained lounging back home! How was this fair? 

"Isn't the Thousand-Spirit Island an enemy of Xiao Nanfeng? How could he have connections in the region—and ones that could appoint you as officers, at that? This is ridiculous! Could Xiao Nanfeng have other spies here? Who are they?" Ao Zhou demanded.

"How would we know? We're just here to reap what rewards we can get. We don't have to worry about all that!" Croak replied.

Ao Zhou's face twitched. He cursed inwardly, "Why does everything you say sound so reasonable? I can't even dispute it! Why is it that, despite my intelligence, I can't ever seem to get any of these benefits? Why do you two fools always manage to get something good? This is ridiculous!"

"Right, Xiao Nanfeng said that he's about to make a move here soon. He assigned us tasks, and you as well. How much you'll receive from him depends on how much effort you put in," Croak said.

"Oh? Are the elders of the Qitian Alliance going to make their move now?" Ao Zhou's eyes lit up in excitement.

In a hall on Thousand-Spirit Island, Yin Tianci sat in the seat of honor, his face dark and his mood poor. Mo Lengxuan smirked as he looked toward the doors of the hall, as though waiting for someone.

Just then, Tang rushed into the hall, a cloud of dust left behind in his wake. "You wanted to see me, Your Highness?"

Yin Tianci's face was cold. "What took you so long?"

"Ah, I told you, Your Highness, I've been using Sir Mo's name to gather standing forces all over the island. I've reorganized the spirits that have recently joined Thousand-Spirit Island, and I've been personally meeting with the various spirit kings to establish relationships with them. We're waiting only for the island lord to return and command them to attack Xiao Nanfeng. We'll be able to work together and blitz him down, I'm sure! In order to gain their support, I've been drinking and dining with them these last few days. I've drunk myself haggard by now—these spirit kings really can hold their liquor!"

"Go on, keep on acting," Mo Lengxuan scoffed.

Tang frowned. "Sir Mo, what's the problem now?"

"You're the problem. Tang, how dare you lie to us!" Mo Lengxuan shouted.

"What are you talking about?"

"You aren't going to admit it? Very well. I have a witness," Mo Lengxuan said.

He clapped his hands as a group of cultivators in black escorted a few chained convicts into the hall.

"Do you know who they are?" Mo Lengxuan asked.

Tang glanced over and gaped upon seeing a group of disciples from the left division of the Taiqing Demonic Sect. Hadn't they all perished? Why were there still some left alive?

"I've met these cultivators before a few times. They're disciples from the left division of the sect, aren't they? But I'm not familiar with them. Sir Mo, did you torture them? Are you trying to have them malign me?" Tang asked warningly.

"Should I call you Tang, or the Pestilence Sage?" Mo Lengxuan wondered.

"What do you mean? Be direct, please. Tell me how you intend to stain my reputation."

"Tang is an omen of calamity; all those who join him end up perishing. Then, the Pestilence Sage forged Tang into an avatar, causing the Pestilence Sage to become an omen of calamity himself. All who surround the Pestilence Sage have perished. When the Pestilence Sage became the left division leader, he suddenly decided to call himself Tang. Isn't that right?" Mo Lengxuan smiled.

"What are you trying to get at?"

"Do you intend to continue hiding the truth? Your purported confrontation with Xiao Nanfeng—all that is fake, isn't it? Everyone around you died except for you and Xiao Nanfeng. Your cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, and Xiao Nanfeng managed to claim ever more opportunities. That's because you're in cahoots with him, aren't you?"

Tang stiffened, but he forced himself not to reveal any of that tension. How could he admit to such a thing?

"Sir Mo, you tell a fine fiction," Tang replied.

"You can't deny it. These disciples have verified it all! I also have other evidence. Would you like to hear it?"

Tang ignored Mo Lengxuan. He looked toward Yin Tianci. "Your Highness, I can ignore Sir Mo's slander, but I would like to hear your thoughts."

Yin Tianci asked coolly, "Are you Tang, or are you the Pestilence Sage?"

"Your Highness, he's surely Tang! Why did our attempt to destroy the Dazheng Empire fail? It wasn't because I was a poor strategist—it was his fault! He's an omen of calamity, the reason we fail at everything we do. Xiao Nanfeng must have had him join us deliberately!" Mo Lengxuan accused.

Yin Tianci's face was dark. He stared at Tang with eyes that grew ever colder.

Tang, realizing that the situation was deeply unfavorable toward him, immediately countered, "Your Highness, I'm sure you're aware of my relationship with Mo Lengxuan. He recommended me to you. If I were a spy sent by Xiao Nanfeng, then wouldn't Sir Mo be Xiao Nanfeng's spy as well?"

"Ridiculous! You simply tricked me!"

Tang continued, "I know that Sir Mo has already found all manner of so-called evidence, and it would be useless for me to plead my innocence. If Sir Mo wishes to put me to death today, I have only one request to make of you, Your Highness."

"Oh?"

"I am innocent. The truth will reveal itself sooner or later. Please lock me up far from Thousand-Spirit Island," Tang said.

"What do you mean?" Yin Tianci seemed perplexed.

"I've been observing Sir Mo. He lacks ability and talent; all he's good at is presenting himself in the best light. He strategizes carelessly, claiming merit when he gets lucky and finding a scapegoat otherwise. The island lord is soon to return, and Your Highness' assault on Xiao Nanfeng is about to begin. Sir Mo will surely muddy the waters, and I suspect that his ineptitude will lead to tremendous losses on your part. I disdain the idea of working with him, and I wish to hide from him lest he accuse me of being some omen of calamity again."

Mo Lengxuan interrupted, "Tang, I've laid out my evidence. How dare you slander me?!"

Tang ignored Mo Lengxuan as he continued to appeal to Yin Tianci. "Your Highness, it would be trivial for you to kill me. Surely you wouldn't mind waiting? Although I haven't had a chance to look at this evidence for myself, I'm certain that it must have been such good counterfeits that I won't be able to argue for my innocence. I don't claim that you've been tricked by Sir Mo again, Your Highness. I only ask that you imprison me and send me away for the moment instead. Let me be judged for my actions once the truth has been revealed once and for all!"

Yin Tianci frowned. His evidence had come not only from Mo Lengxuan, but also from spies situated across the divine empire of Dayin. He had been intending to see how Tang would defend himself, but Tang's refusal to do so surprised him. Was Tang truly innocent, after all?

"Very well. To the capital's prison it is. Guards! Escort Tang to the capital of Dayin and monitor him carefully."

"Your Highness, wouldn't it be better to kill him right now? It wouldn't be a good idea to send an omen of calamity like him to the capital's prison, either," Mo Lengxuan said immediately.

"Sir Mo, are you trying to silence Tang to prevent him from revealing something?" Yin Tianci asked.

"No, no, Your Highness! I simply can't stand Tang's hypocrisy any longer. Let us wait, Your Highness, if that is your will. He won't live for long, regardless. When Xiao Nanfeng dies, so will he," Mo Lengxuan replied bitterly.

Not far away, Tang bowed deeply to Yin Tianci. "Thank you, Your Highness!"

Then, a group of black-clad guards strode up and escorted Tang away.