Chapter 1011: Nightly Conversations in the Tavern from Years Ago

A sleepless night!
Not long after the news of Happy’s successful retreat from the ambush in Longmen Town spread throughout the martial world, another even more explosive piece of news emerged.
The elusive Emperor, who had remained silent for over half a year, finally reappeared!
This time, outside Longmen Town, he ruthlessly annihilated the group of top experts led by Huang Sha. At the same time, the tens of thousands of troops secretly mobilized by the Xifeng Tower surrounded the area within several miles in all directions after the Emperor’s action, ultimately wiping out all those involved in the ambush against Happy!
Once this news spread, the Central Plains was shaken!
All factions in the martial world began to stir…
…
“She finally decided to take action against the First-Class Hall!”
“Shadow has chosen an excellent timing this time!”
“Mm.”
“Over the past year or so, since the Xifeng Tower officially became the largest gang in the Central Plains, although Shadow’s performance has been mediocre, I thought she had settled for her current status. It seems her dominance remains undiminished—indeed, even greater than before!”
In Longmen Town, Sword Master and Tea Speaker sat face to face, deeply reflective:
“When Shadow posted those vague messages on the forum, I thought she truly didn’t dare to attack the First-Class Hall and was just trying to intimidate them… Who would have thought… the battle outside Longmen Town was thunderous, giving the enemy not a chance to fight back… Now, with so many people left to control the Martial Temple in Longmen Town, and the members of the First-Class Hall being well-known and easy to identify, it’s almost impossible for them to break through and escape… From now on, neither Mengyun nor the First-Class Hall will be at peace.”
Tea Speaker nodded silently:
“I didn’t expect her to be so ruthless after Happy left… And she even enlisted the Emperor and you… No wonder she’s reached her current position—she’s truly extraordinary.”
“Heh, I’ll pass. I know my own worth. Don’t compare me to the Emperor…” Sword Master detected the flattery in Tea Speaker’s words and shook his head with a laugh. “What the Emperor does is truly ‘enlisting’ help. As for our hunting organization, we just do our job for money… This place is a hub for intelligence in the Central Plains—no move goes unnoticed by my informants. It’s only logical that Shadow asked me to help monitor Huang Sha and his group.”
As he spoke, Tea Speaker smiled, picked up the glass in front of him, and said playfully, “Offering two billion silver taels to have our hunting organization gather all information related to the First-Class Hall and the Blood Alliance—probably even the Emperor’s fee isn’t that high. Congratulations, Sword Master!”
The latter widened his eyes in shock:

“You brat! How do you know the price Phantom gave me?”
“Hehe, secret.” The tea talker smiled mysteriously.
Jian Bo wasn’t to be outdone:
“Still talking about secrets in front of me? Since you’re closely connected with Kai Xin, and Kai Xin is connected to Bai Xiaosheng, and Bai Xiaosheng to Phantom, it seems the Iron Triangle that deals with the Wild Wolves needs to be renamed the Iron Quadrangle starting today. Phantom’s price was told to you by Kai Xin, right?”
“…Think what you will.”
The tea talker smiled indifferently: “But you need to think carefully. Besides buying off you, this money might also bring you quite a lot of trouble. The people from Yipin Tang and Xue Meng will soon find out you’re working for Xi Feng Lou… They’ll surely offer a high price…”
“Don’t worry. I, Jian Bo, disdain doing such opportunistic things. Since I’ve already taken money from Xi Feng Lou, I won’t take any more from Yipin Tang until this matter is settled.”
Jian Bo’s expression turned serious.
Although the tea talker said it in a casual tone, in his eyes, wasn’t it also a formal warning?
In his view, Kai Xin, the tea talker, Phantom, Yi Di, and Bai Xiaosheng were all in cahoots.
Coincidentally, the tea talker knew very well that headhunting organizations tended to do business in various ways, so those words must have been a warning!
Even though Jian Bo had previously considered taking on Yipin Tang’s business to make more money, he now wouldn’t think of such selfish ideas anymore.
“Jian Bo, there’s no need to be so nervous. How much Phantom spends isn’t my concern…”
The tea talker’s smile remained, his expression calm:
“I’m just reminding you to be careful of Yipin Tang and Xue Meng, who might turn against you.”
“…”
Jian Bo remained silent, but inwardly he felt disdain.
Ever since the group led by the tea talker helped Kai Xin break through the Flying Sky Death Formation set up by Huang Sha, his view of the tea talker had completely changed.
Jian Bo deliberately shifted the topic back to Phantom’s current operation:
“It’s still uncertain whether Yipin Tang and Xue Meng can survive under the siege of Xi Feng Lou, Yi Di, and various forces in the Central Plains. How could they possibly have the chance or the intention to deal with me? Besides! Xi Feng Lou’s move came after Kai Xin ignited the spark to fight against Yipin Tang, taking advantage of Yi Di’s momentum! Together, it’s like a wildfire! Yipin Tang’s downfall seems inevitable! Even Meng Yun, no matter how powerful, can’t survive this crisis… Faced with the alliance of Yi Di and the Empress, not even the ‘Cloud Empress’ can resist!”
“I don’t think so.”

Yu Cha turned his wine glass solemnly in his hand and said, “Although the Shadow Queen is highly capable, and the Xifeng Tower she founded is indeed the largest gang in the Central Plains, don’t forget—this is only because of that incident… If not for that incident, which weakened the Yipin Hall and gave the Xifeng Tower the chance to overtake it, the Xifeng Tower wouldn’t be the top force in the Central Plains now.”
“…”
Jian Bo’s expression changed.
As the leader of a headhunting organization and the head of the largest intelligence agency in the Central Plains, he surely knew what “that incident” referred to.
Happy!
One year and seven months ago.
At the global swordsmanship competition held on Mount Hua, Happy missed the matches due to delays. Later, beneath Mount Song, she was reduced to a novice level by Lun Bai, which led to serious problems in the real world—she fell ill and became a vegetative patient…
After that,
Caiyi Gate, which could only be considered a first-rate force in the martial world, launched a nearly suicidal assault after learning this news.
They attacked the Yipin Hall relentlessly and systematically!
Gathering and inciting many gangs and players who held a grudge against the Yipin Hall, they launched a months-long revenge campaign!
Although the Yipin Hall suppressed them time and again, the people of Caiyi Gate were determined to kill at all costs, using every means—sneak attacks, assassinations, ambushes, even poisoning and traps—combined with propaganda campaigns, leaving the Yipin Hall exhausted.
While Caiyi Gate played a role, there was actually also the instigation and support of the Xifeng Tower behind it…
Otherwise, how could a small gang, with just propaganda, bring such a giant in the Central Plains to such a sorry state?
It was precisely because of that severe blow to the Yipin Hall that the Xifeng Tower gradually overtook it. Through several key events, it earned the recognition of martial artists across the Central Plains and became the top force there. One of the most crucial events was its resolve to confront the Wild Wolf Organization—risking everything to fight against them—thus gaining the approval of Bai Xiaosheng and Yi Di!
“Meng Yun is indeed a very powerful woman, with great skill…” Jian Bo said. “But it’s even more remarkable that Meiying was able to seize the opportunity and snatch the title of the largest gang in the Central Plains from such a formidable opponent!”
“Jian Bo, do you know why I’m not content to just be part of a headhunting organization? Why I must delve into the martial world and step onto its stage?”
“…”

“Sometimes, perhaps an outsider can see things more clearly; but other times… without truly being involved, you won’t understand many of the real intricacies! Your ambition is to make money, while I’m just here for the game.” Yu Cha’s words made Jian Bo frown silently:
“…”
Yu Cha spoke again:
“Actually, in that incident, Meng Yun should have known that there was someone behind the scenes manipulating things. When Meng Yun was dealing with our Caiyi Gate, she used many tactics, and we indeed received help and intelligence support from some people, which is why our plans succeeded beyond expectations. But you don’t know—originally, we had great ambitions to completely destroy Yipin Tang, using our youth and passion, our relentless revenge plans, to gradually weaken them until they perished… But Meng Yun’s move of having Xueyi leave Yipin Tang immediately took away the motivation of many of our brothers to continue our revenge.”
“…So there was more to it than I thought?”
Jian Bo was surprised.
“If it weren’t for Xueyi leaving Yipin Tang and Meng Yun personally admitting she was sorry to Kai Xin, we would have continued our actions. But Meng Yun’s move really caught us off guard. After that happened, I knew our revenge plan could no longer go forward.”
“…Indeed. After all, it was Xueyi who acted, not the entire Yipin Tang.”
“But that’s not even Meng Yun’s strongest move.”
Yu Cha smiled bitterly:
“With Xifeng Tower clearly becoming the dominant force, Yipin Tang didn’t fight them but instead helped Xueyi form a Blood Alliance, gathering numerous evil gangs… As a result, although Yipin Tang lost its status as the strongest force in the Central Plains, the one truly in control of the greatest power there is still Yipin Tang, still that woman, Meng Yun!”
“…”
“Besides the Blood Alliance, there’s also Wudu Gate, a top-tier gang that can stand on its own; plus well-known organizations like the Assassins’ Hall and Tianyin Sect—none of them are simple. It’s the combination of these forces that’s why Meiying doesn’t dare declare war on Yipin Tang officially.”
Yu Cha sighed heavily. “Although we fought well this time with the help of Kai Xin and Yidi, Meiying’s chances of success aren’t high… Xifeng Tower’s strength is still not enough to overthrow Yipin Tang. Unless the martial artists and various factions in the Central Plains step in in time, Meiying might not be the winner.”
“…”
Hearing this, Jian Bo fell silent once again.
“So, my situation is really bad?”
“A bit.”
Nodding, Yu Cha acted as if it wasn’t his concern.

After pondering for a while, Jian Bo looked up at the speaker with disdain:
“Fine, you’ve already forced me onto the war chariot. Now you’re spouting all these scary words to scare me. You must think I won’t side with the First Rank Hall. Consider it my bad luck… So, do you need my help?”
The speaker smiled, moved their lips, and whispered secretly:
“A small favor…”