Stranger Danger

“As expected of the Mud Association. They did not disappoint.”

Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou were currently strolling on a street and watching the Seventy Two Water Land Alliance rushing here and there in a flurry. From time to time, they would hear someone talking about the Sword Ghoul and the real truth behind Xiang Weilong’s death.

The Seventy Two Water Land Alliance could not have known that the culprit behind the leak was right under their nose this whole time, touring their city at his leisure and enjoying their frantic activity.

“‘The birds fly in the sky, the mud meets on the ground’. If they couldn’t do this much, they wouldn’t dare to call themselves by this slogan,” Feng Qingyou replied smilingly.

The Bird Gathering and the Mud Association were two mysterious organizations who made a living transmitting, spreading, and trading information in the jianghu.

The difference between the duo was the method in which they performed their business. Bird Gathering used all sorts of tamed birds to transmit, scout, and spread information, whereas Mud Association used all sorts of tamed beasts to perform the same task. Hence the slogan.

Besides that, the two organizations were mostly identical. They both had roots in nearly every part of the world, and their members came from all walks of life. A beggar on the street, a passerby on the street, a storyteller in a restaurant and so on could all be a part of the organization.

Both Bird Gathering and Mud Association possessed their own unique methods of communication and channels. As a result, they were exceedingly well-informed and could often collect intel that were difficult for the average person to find out in just a short amount of time. They also possessed the ability to spread information to the farthest corners of the world in the shortest time possible. For example, if Warrior A wanted everyone in the world to know that Warrior B was a bedwetter and paid Bird Gathering the appropriate sum of money, the job would be done in a matter of hours at most.

This was why Ye Qing went to the Mud Association as soon as he confirmed their action plan. Everyone had their own specialty, and he was only one person. He knew that it was impossible for him to spread the news regarding Sword Ghoul to the entire jianghu within the timeframe he was given. Not only would the Seventy Two Water Land Alliance be able to shut down his efforts with ease, he would be giving away his location and his identity as well. It would be the stupidest way of doing things.

Therefore, he decided to leave the task to the professionals and contacted the Mud Association. He then paid them a large sum of money to spread the news regarding Sword Ghoul to the entire jianghu of Yan in the shortest time possible.

They lived up to his expectations. In just a matter of hours, every settlement around Dragonmount City learned that Sword Ghoul had tricked Xiang Weilong and manipulated the Dragonmount Duke and the Seventy Two Water Land Alliance to take his revenge for him. It was to the point where even the ordinary people were gossiping about it. Ye Qing was impressed to say the least.

But of course, Ye Qing was also aware that information traders such as Mud Association and Bird Gathering answered to profit and only profit. As long as the price was appropriate, they would sell out even their own parents. In order to avoid the Mud Association leaking his whereabouts to his enemies or the Seventy Two Water Land Alliance determining the origin of the rumors and guessing that he was still hiding within their city, he went through the trouble of running all the way to Black Desert City—the settlement over fifty kilometers away from Dragonmount City—before contacting the Mud Association about his business.

Now, he would be safe even if the Mud Association leaked his whereabouts, or the Seventy Two Water Land Alliance found out the origin of the rumors. No one would know that he was hiding right under the Seventy Two Water Land Alliance’s nose.

On a related note, it only took him two hours to travel to and fro Black Desert City. What could you do? He was a body-tempering Grandmaster.

Flutter flutter…

Suddenly, the sky turned dark all of a sudden. When everyone looked up, they saw a banner rising from the Dragonmount Manor.

The banner was square-shaped and blood red in color. A black dragon surrounded by clouds was sewn on it. It looked both noble and dignified.

The next moment, the banner swelled rapidly in size. It covered the sky of the entire Dragonmount City in just the blink of an eye.

Right after that, the black dragon on the banner abruptly came alive and flew out of the banner. Lightning struck, and a terrible aura enveloped the entire city as it circled around the sky.

Then, a booming voice came from the black dragon,

“Seventy Two Water Land Alliance, attention! Capture Sword Ghoul at all costs and without delay.”

“Anyone who supplies information regarding Sword Ghoul’s location will be rewarded handsomely, and anyone who hides information or supports Sword Ghoul will be killed without question!”

……

“Seventy Two Water Land Alliance, attention! Capture Sword Ghoul at all costs and without delay.”

“Anyone who supplies information regarding Sword Ghoul’s location will be rewarded handsomely, and anyone who hides information or supports Sword Ghoul will be killed without question!”

……

“That’s the Dragonmount Order. The rumors are true after all…”

“Tsk tsk… Sword Ghoul just dragged the Dragonmount Duke and the Seventy Two Water Land Alliance through the mud with his actions. No wonder they’re so furious!”

“Not anyone can withstand the wrath of the Dragonmount Duke. This is going to be fun…”

“We should join in on the fun. If we can capture Sword Ghoul, then our fortunes will be changed forever.”

“Who do you think you are? Sword Ghoul is a man who taunted the Dragonmount Duke, turned the Dragonmount City upside down, and escaped to tell the tale. Are you sure you’re not leading us to our deaths?”

“Maybe, but everyone’s gotten dogshit lucky at least once in their life, right? What if this is our chance?”

“As if! But… I guess we wouldn’t know if we don’t try, so… why not?”

“Yeah! Let’s go!”

After the banner in the sky faded away, the people in Dragonmount City immediately broke into murmurs of discussion. Some people were already hurrying toward the exit in hopes of getting dogshit lucky and capturing Sword Ghoul.

At the same time, a bunch of shouts erupted from here and there.

“The Seventy Two Water Land Alliance is passing through! Get out of our way or be killed!”

A few groups of warriors belonging to the Seventy Two Water Land Alliance passed through the area. Their expressions were solemn, and their behavior overbearing and tyrannical.

As if everyone could sense the gravity of the situation, the atmosphere across the entire city grew heavy as well.

“It looks like our plan is a success.”

Ye Qing crossed his arms in front of him and smiled as he watched the members of the Seventy Two Water Land Alliance leaving the city in groups.

“For now, yes. It looks like everything is proceeding as it should be,” Feng Qingyou echoed in agreement. “Now, it’s all up to Chen Cang.”

“I’m sure he won’t disappoint us,” Ye Qing replied with a devious smirk.

He had full confidence in Chen Cang’s tenacity. After all, he was the man who survived the ghastly Swordsgrave and even his “Break Hammer”. His will and ability to survive were nothing short of extraordinary. It was unlikely the man could hold on for two weeks or longer, but a week? That was entirely within his ability.

Ye Qing suddenly thought of something and asked, “One question. Is that banner the so-called Dragonmount Order?”

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