Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 1677: Chapter 851: Where Exactly Did You Get This Jade Token? (Part 2)

Seeing the situation, Situ Qingfeng hastily put away his folding fan and quickly followed, deeply admiring Gu Sheng’s tactics of subtlety and intimidation, and feeling a chill at Gu Sheng’s ambition to ”control the Purple Mist Divine Sect.”

After leaving the Quiet Room, Situ Qingfeng immediately transmitted his voice to Gu Sheng, his tone carrying a hint of fear and concern.

”Gu, are you so sure she won’t leak our information? What if she takes the risk...”

Walking leisurely along the elegant corridors inside Purple Mist Residence, Gu Sheng replied with a confident tone.

”She is a smart person, and more importantly, she cherishes her life and desires power.

Before she is one hundred percent sure that she can eliminate me without bringing disaster upon herself, she would not act rashly. Besides...”

He paused, his voice tinged with the coldness of someone who understands human nature.

”Do you really think that the Southern Prince and these so-called adopted sons and daughters have such harmonious relationships as they seem on the surface? It’s nothing but mutual exploitation, maintaining a fragile balance. The Southern Prince’s death, to her, might actually be a... relief and an opportunity.

Now, she needs a strong external force to help her secure her position, and I happen to be able to provide what she needs most.”

Upon hearing this, Situ Qingfeng was thoughtful and kept silent.

He realized that he knew too little about the internal corruption and complexities of the forces in the Southern Border.

The two walked silently along their original path, quickly heading outside Purple Mist Residence. Some of the guards and attendants they encountered along the way seemed to have received some secret instructions. Although their gazes lingered on them, they neither interrogated nor obstructed them, allowing them to leave without hindrance.

Walking out the grand door of Purple Mist Residence and returning to the bustling streets of Xiaguang City, Situ Qingfeng breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Instinctively, he looked around, relying on his Martial Artist’s sharp perception. He vaguely sensed that there seemed to be several faint gazes sweeping over them from different directions.

”Gu, it seems someone is watching us...”

Situ Qingfeng couldn’t help but remind him once more, his body slightly tense.

However, Gu Sheng appeared oblivious, his expression remained calm, his pace unchanged, only giving a casual reply.

”No problem, it’s expected.”

With Situ Qingfeng in tow, he did not linger on the street nor tried to shake off those possible spies, but instead headed straight to a nearby inconspicuous inn of medium scale, booked two upper rooms, and completed the check-in procedures.

Situ Qingfeng cautiously observed along the way, wanting to warn Gu Sheng several times about those hidden stalkers. However, seeing Gu Sheng’s demeanor, as if everything was within his grasp, he swallowed his words.

He chose to trust Gu Sheng’s judgment, though he dared not relax his vigilance in his heart.

...

Inside the Quiet Room of Purple Mist Residence.

Nangong Yuexia still sat alone at the table, her fingers unconsciously stroking the jade plaque engraved with the word ”Nan,” her expression changing complexly, evidently caught in extreme hesitation and struggle. Collaborating with Gu Sheng was akin to making a deal with a tiger; his thoughts were deep, his methods ruthless, and he was also the culprit who killed the Southern Prince. If things were exposed, she would be doomed eternally.

But rejecting him... Thinking of Gu Sheng’s cold threats and the huge allure of ”controlling the Purple Mist Divine Sect,” she found it difficult to decide. Power and risk, like the ends of a scale, swayed violently in her heart.

Time quietly slipped by in silence.

After an unknown period, the door of the Quiet Room was gently knocked, and subsequently, a middle-aged woman dressed in a simple maid’s attire, with a plain appearance but eyes that carried a calmness beyond her years, entered with a pot of freshly brewed Spiritual Tea.

She was a confidante of Nangong Yuexia, having followed her for many years.

”Elder, you’ve been sitting here for nearly two hours.”

The middle-aged woman gently placed the teapot on the table, her voice warm as she reminded.

”Have you encountered some difficult decision?”

Nangong Yuexia returned to her senses, rubbed her slightly swollen temples, and sighed.

”Has it been two hours... I’ve indeed encountered a thorny issue.”

She looked at the middle-aged woman, a hint of seeking advice in her eyes.

”Nanny, do you think... should I collaborate with that person?”

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged woman showed little surprise. She cautiously replied in a low voice.

”This old servant is but an attendant and does not dare decide such major affairs for Elder.

But... this old servant has heard, that person... has deep grievances with the master.

And regarding the current situation in the Prince Mansion, Elder, you are clearer than anyone; fallen trees and scattered monkeys, vying for power against each other.

When the master was here, he could suppress them, but now... alas.”

She paused, observing Nangong Yuexia’s expression, and continued carefully.

”If this old servant may speak out of turn, the current situation is both a crisis and an opportunity for Elder. If that person... truly can, as he claims, fulfill his promise to help Elder out of the current predicament, and possibly... advance further.

Then, collaborating with him might not be entirely without merit. After all, in this Southern Border, strength and power are the foundations of survival.”

These words, like the final straw, pressed down on the wavering scales in Nangong Yuexia’s heart.

The struggle in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by a determined fierceness.

Indeed, with the Southern Prince dead and the old sentiments of the Prince Mansion long faded, it is now imperative for her to consider how she can survive better in the Purple Mist Divine Sect, in this Southern Border, and climb higher! Gu Sheng is certainly dangerous, but the power he displays and the energy behind him may be precisely the aid she currently needs most!

”I understand.”

Nangong Yuexia took a deep breath, her gaze restored to its usual shrewdness and decisiveness.

She reached for a small silver bell at the corner of the table and gently shook it.

Jingle...

Before the clear bell sound completely faded, a blurred figure, ghost-like, appeared silently in the shadowed corner of the Quiet Room, kneeling on one knee, breath contained, surprisingly a Sect Realm expert!

”Go find the lodging place of Young Master Situ and his attendants who visited today, and convey my message,” Nangong Yuexia’s voice was cold, carrying an indisputable command.

”Invite them to come back to Purple Mist Residence tomorrow morning.”

”Yes!”

The shadow responded with a low voice, disappearing into the shadows as silently as it came.

...

In an ordinary upper room at the inn where Gu Sheng stayed.

Situ Qingfeng was pacing back and forth restlessly, like an ant on a hot pan.

He paced around in his room, occasionally grabbing a cup of cold tea from the table and gulping it down, yet he still couldn’t suppress the agitation in his heart. Since Gu Sheng entered the adjacent room, there was no more movement, neither communicating with him nor revealing what he was doing inside.

Those seemingly present and absent spying glances from outside made him feel like on pins and needles, worried that their movements had been completely exposed, and they could face an ambush at any moment.

”What is Gu planning? Without revealing anything, it’s really driving me crazy!”

Situ Qingfeng muttered anxiously to himself.

At this moment—

Whoosh!

A figure, ghost-like, appeared without warning, directly through the room’s window, silently standing in the center of the room! The person’s whole body was shrouded in a faint shadow, their aura obscure, giving an unfathomable impression.

Situ Qingfeng’s hairs stood on end instantly! Without thinking, his body’s True Qi erupted, golden light faintly appearing around him. On his arm, strange and intricate golden patterns flickered, and a wild, fierce aura loomed, ready to fight with full force, even at the cost of activating some Secret Technique!

”Who?!”

Situ Qingfeng shouted sharply, his eyes warily watching the uninvited guest.

The shadowy figure did not show any hostility, simply spoke in a calm, undisturbed tone.

”Young Master Situ need not be nervous. At Elder Yue Xia’s behest, I come with a message. Please, young master and your attendant, come back to Purple Mist Residence tomorrow morning.”

Upon hearing this, Situ Qingfeng’s heart skipped a beat, his tense muscles slightly relaxed, but his vigilance remained as he confirmed.