Wayfarer

Chapter 522: Mo Lengxuan, the Scapegoat

In a secluded courtyard of the Dazheng Empire, Tang's avatar looked toward a black-robed figure before him. "What are you doing here?"

"Marquis Tang, on His Majesty's orders, we have contacts who have made their way into the prison disguised as convicts. They've come across your main body and will protect you and obey your orders. Their identities are..." The man rattled off a list of names.

Tang smiled. "Thank His Majesty on my behalf."

"Understood!"

"Furthermore, remind His Majesty once again that the lord of the Thousand-Spirit Island wrote that he would be returning to the island within the next few days. I've stoked Yin Tianci's desire to take revenge, so he'll surely encourage the island lord to take revenge on His Majesty. In Mo Lengxuan's name, I contacted all the major spirit kings on the island and suggested that they should attack Yongding. They're surely making a fuss about that right now. Given Mo Lengxuan's dislike of me, I'm certain they won't adopt the scheme that I presented. There's a very good chance that the island lord himself will attempt to assassinate His Majesty."

"His Majesty is aware. On his behalf, I'm here to report that you've been the greatest contributor in Dazheng's efforts to take on the Thousand-Spirit Island, Marquis Tang. You're sure to receive a lavish reward."

"Long live His Majesty." Tang beamed.

"His Majesty also requests that you relax. If your main body is in danger, he himself will head to the prison in Dayin's capital to rescue you."

"There's no need to worry. I may yet have a chance to regain my favor with Yin Tianci. His Majesty must be careful—the lord of the Thousand-Spirit Island is an exceptionally strong foe," Tang stressed.

"I'll convey your words to His Majesty, Marquis Xiao."

Outside the city of Yongding, Sage Yellowbrow, Mo Lengxuan, Yin Tianci, and two True Immortal spirit kings were standing atop a mountain peak as they looked toward Yongding in the distance.

"Sage Yellowbrow, be careful. Xiao Nanfeng's no easy foe. Last time, we suffered greatly at his hands," Mo Lengxuan warned.

"Your utter defeat was humiliating for Thousand-Spirit Island," Sage Yellowbrow replied darkly.

"Surely you can't blame us," Mo Lengxuan said. "Xiao Nanfeng laid an ambush."

"Even so, how could you have lost so badly? You're all True Immortals, and the strongest cultivator in Yongding was only a Heaven Immortal! Even with an ambush, how did you suffer complete annihilation at his hands?" Sage Yellowbrow retorted disdainfully.

"Mo Lengxuan failed to command adequately," Yin Tianci commented.

"It's all because Tang is a natural omen of calamity! I wasn't responsible," Mo Lengxuan defended himself.

Yin Tianci was displeased by Mo Lengxuan continuously shifting the blame. He looked toward Sage Yellowbrow. "How do you think we should strike?"

"Although I could take on Yongding with brute force, there's hardly any need for that. I'll sneak into the palace and make as little commotion as I can, then return with Xiao Nanfeng's head."

"Very good!" Yin Tianci nodded.

Mo Lengxuan jumped in, "Yongding's heavily guarded, and it's difficult to enter via the city gates. I have a spy in Yongding. Shall I have him bring you into the city?"

Sage Yellowbrow nodded. "Very well."

Mo Lengxuan gave a signal and quickly came in contact with a subordinate within the city, who rushed out to greet them.

"Bring him into the city. Don't say or ask anything," Mo Lengxuan stated, pointing at Sage Yellowbrow.

"Understood!" The subordinate bowed, then said, "Yongding performs stringent inspections on cultivators from outside the city. I'll arrange for a merchant caravan within the city to sneak you in, Sir."

"Go," Mo Lengxuan commanded.

"Understood!" The subordinate immediately flew back to Yongding.

Not too long later, a formation around Yongding activated as a huge golden barrier manifested in the air.

"Enemy invasion! A spy in the city has been found. The Thousand-Spirit Island is attacking us again! All cultivators, protect the civilians to the best of your ability! Activate all defensive formations around the city to the fullest!" A loud shout could be heard all across Yongding.

The formations around the city shimmered as they layered on top of each other as a flurry of activity took over the city.

The five cultivators on the mountain peak gaped as they watched what was happening within the city.

"Mo Lengxuan, I was intending to make my way into Yongding secretly. Even without your spy, I would have been able to get inside, and I only chose to make use of your spy just in case. What have you done? You've exposed us all!"

Yin Tianci was glaring furiously at Mo Lengxuan as well. "Did you cause this?"

"No, I didn't! Perhaps my subordinate had already been under surveillance. I didn't expect it would happen, I—" Mo Lengxuan was at a loss as to how to defend himself.

There was no way for him to shrug off the blame for his failure this time.

"Forget it. Guard His Highness. I'll head down there and return quickly. This isn't over—I'll deal with you later!" Sage Yellowbrow snapped.

Then, he flew toward Yongding.

Mo Lengxuan stiffened and sighed.

Yin Tianci, however, had firmly decided that Mo Lengxuan really was inept, just as Tang had described. Tang was far superior—no, what if he had deliberately tried to frame Tang?

High above Yongding, Sage Yellowbrow cloaked himself in fog as he flew toward the palace. He smashed a fist into the layered formations, causing them to shatter as a howling gale formed around him.

He was just too strong; he was confident that his next punch would shatter all the remaining layers at once.

"Sage Yellowbrow, try it again if you dare," a voice shouted from within the city.

Sage Yellowbrow frowned. He had covered himself with fog, so how had he been recognized? He turned toward the sound of the voice to see Xiao Nanfeng standing by the doors of Xuanhuang Hall,staring at him.

"You're mistaken, Xiao Nanfeng," Sage Yellowbrow declared.

"I am not mistaken. The spy we caught described you very clearly."

Sage Yellowbrow froze. He glared in the direction of Mo Lengxuan once again. That damned fool!

Afar, Yin Tianci blanched. He suddenly realized that, if the spy had revealed Sage Yellowbrow, then he would be implicated as well.

"Mo Lengxuan, look at what you've done!" Yin Tianci gritted out.

Mo Lengxuan's face twitched. How was he to explain any of this? Why was he so unlucky today?

In the air, Sage Yellowbrow took a deep breath. He refused to acknowledge the truth. "Xiao Nanfeng, if I claim that you have mistaken my identity, then you must have."

Golden light radiated from him as he prepared to strike.

"Sage Yellowbrow, not only am I emperor of Dazheng, I'm also a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court. If you dare strike me down, you'll be attempting to assassinate a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court, an act of high treason. Are you certain you wish to proceed?" Xiao Nanfeng demanded.

Sage Yellowbrow hesitated.

"You represent the Thousand-Spirit Island, which attacked Yongding recently. Despite being in the wrong, you show up without making any reparations and even attempt to assassinate me. Do you want the troops of the Imperial Court to lay waste to your Thousand-Spirit Island?!"

Sage Yellowbrow frowned. He wasn't afraid of the Martial Aspects of the Imperial Court, but there was no need to deliberately provoke them, either. He very much wanted to retreat, but since he had already promised Yin Tianci, he had no choice but to continue. "As I've said, this is a case of mistaken identity. I don't care for whatever land you intend to lay waste to—but today will be the day you die."

"As you will, then," Xiao Nanfeng replied. He retrieved a seal and looked toward a nearby hall. "Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, I command you to kill Sage Yellowbrow immediately!"

Sage Yellowbrow blanched, following Xiao Nanfeng's gaze to see a man in silver armor standing outside one hall of the palace.

The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost watched on with a thunderous expression. He had been gleeful to see someone attempting to kill Xiao Nanfeng, and had made up his mind not to help and to watch him die instead. He had even thought of a good excuse to refuse assistance—the Xiao Nanfeng before him wasn't like the other one. This Xiao Nanfeng didn't possess the commander's token, and there was no need for him to follow this one's orders. 

Never would he have imagined that Xiao Nanfeng had actually passed the commander's token to his avatar. While on a Martial Aspect mission, the wielder of the token was imbued with full authority, and Xiao Nanfeng's avatar was the one wielding it. How could he disobey Xiao Nanfeng's direct orders?

"Why do you have the commander's token? What's your other body going to do without it?" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost exclaimed.

"Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, aren't you going to obey my command? Otherwise, I'll punish you for being in cahoots with the enemy!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.

The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost scowled in dissatisfaction. He had come out to watch Xiao Nanfeng die, not to help him out!

Just then, from another hall not too far away, a woman's voice called out, "Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, do you intend to disobey a direct order?"

The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost turned to see Zhang Lingjun. His eyes widened. What was she doing here?

High in the air, Sage Yellowbrow, realizing that something was amiss, turned to run.

"Martial Aspect of Silverfrost, for disobeying a direct command and deliberately releasing an enemy from Thousand-Spirit Island, my other body shall return henceforth to the Imperial Court and formally accuse you of wrongdoing!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted.

The Martial Aspect of Silverfrost blanched. With Zhang Lingjun's testimony as an eyewitness, he would be done for. Was this a trap that Xiao Nanfeng had specifically prepared for him?

"Hold it!" the Martial Aspect of Silverfrost shouted, shooting into the air, his face a mask of rage.

He unleashed a treasure that shot toward Sage Yellowbrow like a silver dragon.

"Damn it!" Sage Yellowbrow cursed, forced to defend against the attack.

A howling storm was unleashed high in the air as the two supreme cultivators began to fight.

At the same time, on an island on the Eastern Sea, Xiao Nanfeng's main body suddenly emerged from a hall and shouted, "Everyone, gather! We attack Thousand-Spirit Island immediately!"

"Understood!" countless purple-furred monsters shouted.

In another hall, Ao Shuai and his subordinates emerged upon hearing the commotion.

"Quick, ask them what's going on. Are they launching an assault?" Ao Shuai shouted.

"It's too late. Xiao Nanfeng has already flown off with the five thousand purple-furred monsters!" one of his subordinates reported.

"What? That quickly?" Ao Shuai was taken aback.