Rogue 015

Zuo Qianqiu was somewhat dazed.

"After the registration, we need to set rules for them. Simply put, draft a public security management law for the martial arts world. I don't want to see any more martial arts vendettas. Even if there is a vendetta, it must go through the registration and approval of the Heaven-Shrouding Guard. Do you understand?"

Zuo Qianqiu froze for a good while before nodding. "Will it work? The martial artists will not submit to discipline; it is already good enough to achieve what we have now."

Fang Zhiyi replied, "I don't know if it will work, but at least I want to try."

Watching Fang Zhiyi leave, Zuo Qianqiu suddenly asked, "My Lord, what about the matter of the Wave-Breaking Blade..."

"He is a bastard, just wrap him in a straw mat and bury him... Hand over his brother's matter to the local county office. If someone drowns while trying to save another, the person who was saved must be severely punished. As for the Zhongshan Sect... deal with it as you see fit."

"In addition, all sects must hand in management fees monthly. I will have Brother Ergou give you the specific amount later. Also... there is one person who is very suitable for the Heaven-Shrouding Guard." He tossed out a slip of paper, and Zuo Qianqiu snatched it in his hand.

Looking at the word "Qijue" on the paper, Zuo Qianqiu swallowed hard. How could he have forgotten this old stubborn mule?

But thinking about it carefully, if Qijue could join, many things would become easier to handle.

After all, this guy had an excellent reputation throughout the entire martial arts world. He remembered that one of his old brothers had once fought a match with him. Halfway through the fight, when Qijue was losing, he suddenly said he had an urgent matter and needed to leave for a while. The old brother let him go without the slightest suspicion. He waited for a full day and night, and Qijue returned to the duel site covered in injuries.

Because of this, they didn't deal a killing blow to Qijue.

"People like you are better off alive than dead."

Of course, this didn't stop Qijue from continuing to look down on them, the members of the Demonic Cult.

Fang Zhiyi returned to his residence, sat down comfortably, and closed his eyes. After a long time, he said, "What, do you need an invitation?"

A figure stepped out from the corner.

"Heh, Brother Fang, you really are amazing. How did you know I was hiding here?"

Looking at that ugly face, Fang Zhiyi chuckled. "Right after you set off, I received the news. Don't forget that although the Heaven-Shrouding Cult is gone, Zuo Qianqiu has taken over their entire intelligence network."

"Damn, that's cheating!" Huang Chao was somewhat indignant.

The two fell into silence. Huang Chao finally opened his mouth. "When I joined the army, under the Great General's care—though I know they were doing it for you, or rather, your silver—my starting point was higher than others. Over the years, relying on the information you provided, even though I haven't made any massive contributions, catching spies and intercepting harassing barbarians has earned me quite a bit of merit."

Fang Zhiyi nodded.

"Originally, I thought that by destroying the Heaven-Shrouding Cult, I would have a respectable achievement to present and could move up the ranks. But I waited for half a year and still didn't receive any commendation from the imperial court. Later I found out that the Great General took all the credit."

His eyes turned somewhat ruthless. Looking at Fang Zhiyi's indifferent expression, he continued, "Before coming here this time, I heard you established a Heaven-Shrouding Guard, is that right?"

Fang Zhiyi nodded; this matter was public anyway.

"Soon, the Heaven-Shrouding Guard will also have to change its name. They won't let you hold onto any bargaining chips," Huang Chao said incisively. "Brother Fang, I am grateful to you, but I must also remind you: you make money for them, so naturally they speak up for you. But right now, you are subtly doing things that could alter the landscape of Western Shu. I'm sure someone has already set their sights on this fat piece of meat."

Fang Zhiyi signaled him to continue.

Huang Chao became agitated. "If it were you, if you were the one controlling these martial arts outlaws, I believe that commoners all over the world, just like you and me, would have a good life. But you're wrong, you are completely wrong!"

"It took me a long time to realize that what truly makes life miserable for the common people is not the martial arts world, but this incompetent imperial court that occupies positions without doing any work!"

"They clearly have the ability to pacify the chaos in the martial arts world, yet they choose to maintain the status quo. They know that commoners die in vendettas, but the government at most just symbolically hangs up a wanted poster for a few days. Is this right? Do you think doing this will change the world? It won't!" He paced back and forth agitatedly. "Soon they will reach out to the Heaven-Shrouding Guard you established, and then secretly control the martial arts world to seek greater profits for themselves."

He stared at Fang Zhiyi. "You're already deep in this vortex, do you know that? No matter how hard you try, you won't be able to climb any higher. What they want are people like you and me to do their bidding, not people to make decisions for the imperial court."

Fang Zhiyi let out a long breath. "Go do it."

Huang Chao was stunned for a moment. "What did you say?"

Fang Zhiyi smiled. "You didn't come here just to lecture me, did you?"

Huang Chao's expression changed. His long military life made him exude a murderous aura.

"The imperial court has already issued an order for me to go to the capital for debriefing, bringing the martial arts registry I compiled." Fang Zhiyi rubbed his eyes. "By then, there will be an assassination attempt against me. Of course, it will be fake, but in order to protect me and the things they want, someone will need to protect me."

Fang Zhiyi stared blankly at Huang Chao. "Do you understand?"

Huang Chao did not respond.

"What is the fastest way to launch a coup?" Fang Zhiyi stood up, speaking as if discussing the most ordinary thing in the world. "Kill all the key figures in the shortest amount of time."

Huang Chao silently bowed to Fang Zhiyi, then turned to leave. He had already gotten what he wanted.

From behind him came Fang Zhiyi's parting words. "You know, you can't be the emperor. The people of the world won't submit to you. If you sit on that throne, you will forever only be a rebel."

Huang Chao slowly turned his head, as if making an extremely difficult choice.

Fang Zhiyi suddenly smiled. "There's no need to be too serious. There is also a saying in the martial arts world: people have always judged heroes by their success or failure. Just like the destroyed Heaven-Shrouding Cult, if it had won, it would be an orthodox sect; the loser is the unforgivably wicked Demonic Cult."

He gently patted Huang Chao's back. Huang Chao turned around and bowed deeply to Fang Zhiyi, his previously conflicted eyes now firm.

Watching his figure disappear into the night, Fang Zhiyi sighed, "The wind is rising."

Little Hei also mimicked his nod, agreeing, "Crazy."

Everything went exactly as Fang Zhiyi had predicted. When setting off for the capital, he encountered a series of attacks. The attackers had no distinguishing features and were highly skilled. Although repelled by the Heaven-Shrouding Guard, they would always return in full force.

This also caused the convoy to be unable to move forward, so Fang Zhiyi applied to the capital for a military escort, specially emphasizing that he had a very important registry in his hands.

The imperial court agreed to this request directly without much thought. Many people were waiting for Fang Zhiyi's arrival in the capital, and they didn't think much of such a demand. Naturally, this task fell onto the active-minded Huang Chao.