Chapter 240: Unprecedented Malice
July 1, 1997, night.
East China Province A, Huangshan, a secluded valley housing a martial arts school estate, the hub of the Recluse Alliance.
On the second floor of an ancient-style loft that serves as the residence of the dominant faction, a window was pushed open, revealing a young man in glasses.
Behind him, the serious yet excited voice of a television presenter could be heard, while before him, a lively crowd was bustling around.
Today marked the most exhilarating historical moment in Huaguo, as Hong Kong, which had been away from the motherland for over 150 years, finally returned on this day.
What delighted the leaders of the Recluse Alliance, or rather the elite of the dominant faction, wasn’t solely the national celebrations broadcasted on TV; more so, it was the joyous news of a new baron newly awakening from dormancy.
In the corridors of the estate, a stunningly proud young woman was walking. She was Wan Yue, a celestial beauty often referred to as the flower of the dominant faction in the past century.
Surrounded by admirers like the moon among the stars, she headed toward the grand hall to participate in the celebration ceremony hosted by the elder of the alliance.
Watching the confident and beautiful figure, Zhuang Jianfei couldn’t help but smile slightly.
He didn’t know when it began, but Zhuang Jianfei truly believed that a person could emit a light, just like Wan Yue before him, or that breathtaking woman he met thirty-eight years ago named Han Zhongyue.
“Zhuang Jianfei, you’re not bad either; you’ve become a high-ranking knight, and could promote to dormancy at any time. It’s well known that the Apennine bloodline grows slowly; don’t be fooled by my Alatai bloodline, I’m still only a mid-tier knight.”
A low male voice came from behind, and Zhuang Jianfei turned slightly to see a handsome young man standing behind him, wearing a faint smile.
Zhuang Jianfei said nothing, lighting a cigarette and continuing to gaze out the window.
“Zhuang Jianfei, you’ve already established yourself abroad, so why come back? What are you really thinking?”
Cheng Yuanshan walked over and looked at Wan Yue disappearing into the distance, his eyes reflecting unusual brilliance. “Your mission should be abroad, in Europe.”
“You’ve made too much noise these years, becoming a favorite next to Chu Dali, your words carry weight even more than some barons. And Wan Yue, she’s not to be underestimated; being Chu Songming’s girlfriend and just promoted to baron, her future level will at least be one of a senior elder…”
At this point, Cheng Yuanshan’s lips twitched slightly, his eyes showing visible gloom.
“You know, I was sent back by the Engel family to follow Chu Dali’s orders. Even my current realm has taken many shortcuts and involved plenty of drugs… Cheng Yuanshan, Chu Songming is a petty man who seeks revenge for the smallest grievances; he can’t tolerate anyone invading his space. He has seen you getting close to Wan Yue several times.”
“With your actions, you not only provoke Chu Songming’s continued enmity, but it also raises suspicions from Chu Dali… Do you know what the Engel family is saying? They’ve already detected that someone from the dark arrow is lurking within the Recluse Alliance, and Chu Dali is conducting secret investigations.”
Zhuang Jianfei exhaled a smoke ring, gesturing to a passing female member of the Recluse Alliance below, concealing his conversation with Cheng Yuanshan.
He understood his companion’s sense of loss well and sighed inwardly—if fate weren’t so bizarre, perhaps the Han Zhongyue he met back then would end up with Zou Heshan, who is now Cheng Yuanshan.
When Wan Yue’s figure vanished from the main entrance of the hub, Cheng Yuanshan reluctantly closed the window.
After a few seconds, the handsome young man seemed to have thought of something, turned to Zhuang Jianfei with a serious expression. “Zhuang Jianfei, you were right; I may have exposed myself. Chu Songming is indeed testing me through Wan Yue, and it’s all orchestrated by Chu Dali.”
“If it weren’t for Xiang Zuxing shielding me, with Chu Songming’s character, he would have already made a move against me. If I continue to stay, it will only implicate you and Wan Yue; I will go abroad and provide cover for you!”
As he said this, Cheng Yuanshan clenched his fists, a fierce light flashing in his eyes.
You’re going abroad? What are you planning to do?
Zhuang Jianfei glanced toward the door and lowered his voice.
Cheng Yuanshan smiled, appearing to have already conceived a plan: “I will find an opportunity to kill Chu Songming; he’s Chu Dali’s trusted confidant, a disaster that cannot be allowed to harm Wan Yue! Moreover, if I act, it will also indirectly protect you.”
Zhuang Jianfei’s pupils constricted, his expression turning slightly fearful. “You’re insane; doing this will completely expose yourself! Neither Chu Dali nor the Engel family will let you off!”
“No, don’t panic; let me finish.”
Cheng Yuanshan pressed his hand on Zhuang Jianfei’s shoulder, his expression growing graver. “I will wait until Chu Dali has entered dormancy before acting. What you need to do is convince Chu Songming to promote to dormancy as well, alongside Wan Yue. The fact that he is hesitating to promote means he intends to marry Wan Yue first.”
“Once I succeed, you can release me privately and go to the Engel family to reveal my identity as a dark arrow. Convince them to accept me, believing I still hold some value, which can then mislead the dark arrow!”
“If, at that time, even if Chu Dali wakes up and suspects you, there will be people from the Engel family to vouch for you, and he will have to accept it.”
“Additionally, since someone is beginning to suspect me, it indicates there’s a mole within the special covert operations group. Chief Zhu has long passed away; the only ones who could leak our identities are members of the special covert operations group. For safety, the best method is for us to completely sever ties with the dark arrow and alert those who have ulterior motives!”
“Once I’m out, you must gain Chu Dali’s trust, clarify the content of the Ancestor’s plan, and root out the mole lurking within the dark arrow!”
Seeing his companion’s firm resolution in this desperate plan, Zhuang Jianfei fell silent.
At that moment, a knock sounded at the door, and a second later, another young man appeared at the entrance.
“Bro Zhuang, Bro Cheng, Brother Xiang and Sister Wan invite you both to join them for a drink.”
The young man named Zhao Peng was one of Wan Yue’s many devoted fans at the dominant faction. Although he was merely a junior servant now, his demeanor was steady, and he spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, making interactions pleasant.
Zhuang Jianfei and Cheng Yuanshan exchanged glances, both breaking into smiles.
Zhuang Jianfei’s smile was quite forced, whereas Cheng Yuanshan appeared calm and collected.
……
……
May 1, 2020, East G Province, G City.
In a luxurious five-star hotel’s executive suite, Da Li was in secret discussions with Qin Lao Wu and Qian Guilong.
“Jianfei, don’t space out, come over, take a look at the latest plan and give me your feedback. This is based on your previous proposal, with some modifications by Old Qin.”
Chu Dali’s voice interrupted Zhuang Jianfei’s thoughts, making him realize that the cigarette butt in his hand had already fallen, scorching a dark spot on the beautiful carpet.
“Let Liang Er and Ruan Shunhong first engage in a fight to mutual destruction with the dark arrow, and then take out the remaining ones… from now on, the entire two G provinces, even Vietnam and Laos, will be our territory…”
Chu Dali spoke passionately, pointing at several hand-drawn markings on the map.
“Old Chu, Liang Er and Ruan Shunhong are local strongmen in the South; can they really be handled?”
Zhuang Jianfei glanced at the map and the nearby drafts, frowning slightly, feeling that something was amiss.
“Don’t be fooled by Liang Er and Ruan Shunhong always working with us; in private, they have long since formed unclear ties with the James family. Haha, just with the Engel family, we can’t even manage; what we plan to do next will need to consider another family’s stance.”
“Liang Er still has some Frankenstein potions in hand; he’s ultimately a ticking time bomb. Who knows when he might stab us in the back? He’s already going crazy trying to break through the count’s threshold!”
Old Qin sneered and exchanged glances with Chu Dali.
“If that’s the case, then they’re not on the same page… But Liang Er and Ruan Shunhong, while hot-tempered, are quite shrewd. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have managed to interact with the Wang family and the dark arrow until now; they can spot the issues right away.”
“Combined, they can barely muster up a viscount, even four barons; how would they dare clash head-on with the main forces of the dark arrow? Unless it’s absolutely necessary, they won’t waste their Frankenstein potions.”
Zhuang Jianfei rubbed his chin, nodding repeatedly, secretly lamenting the ruthlessness of Qin Lao Wu and Chu Dali while feeling it was quite presumptuous.
You’ve got a sharp mind; if you have any thoughts, just say them!
Chu Dali affectionately patted Zhuang Jianfei on the shoulder, his face adorned with a warm smile.
If the dark arrow is mobilizing the Blood Dragon Squad, there will definitely be more action squads cooperating; I estimate it won’t be fewer than five squads, possibly more. To make Liang Er willingly serve as bait and engage with the dark arrow means they need to feel secure; for instance…
As he spoke, Zhuang Jianfei adjusted his glasses, looking at Qian Guilong, who was silent yet seemed to have something weighing on his mind.
Heh, such a young age with so many cunning thoughts… Alright, I’ll have Cao Xing and Zhu Bixian take the Black Dragon Society members to join them; that way, they won’t suspect a thing. Perfect, those white-eyed wolves have turned against me, so let’s settle the score together.
Qian Guilong puffed the dry smoke, a pair of shadowy, wolf-like eyes flickering with a vicious gleam.
Old Qin Lao Wu and Chu Dali simultaneously shifted expressions, wary of Qian Guilong’s amoral disposition.
If it comes to absolute ruthlessness, who could surpass a notorious figure who has instilled fear in both the legitimate and underworld circles in Huaguo for nearly a century?
To foster his own growth, Qian Guilong has likely been privately feeding on barons from the Black Dragon Society, it’s likely not just idle gossip.
There’s even an unverified claim that over seventy years ago, Qian Guilong had a clandestine involvement with the Tanaka family of Japan, leading to countless deaths of Huaguo bloodlines, marking him as a wanted traitor.
Haha, Old Qian is indeed bold!
Zhuang Jianfei smiled and nodded slightly toward Qian Guilong.
Old Qian, you’re really generous; one low-tier viscount, one high-tier baron, you just write them off without a second thought? Aren’t you afraid of being left alone?
After a few seconds, Chu Dali coldly mocked.
Tsk tsk, do you think I’m unaware of what you’re all thinking? As long as the Engel family fulfills their promises, raising a few more people in the next ten to twenty years will be a breeze.
As he spoke, Qian Guilong’s tongue licked around the rim of the dry smoke pipe, his ominous expression sending chills down one’s spine.
Well, that’s plugging the largest loophole! However, this is only the initial plan; we’ll wait for intelligence from the dark arrow and the Wang family before finalizing the proposal.
Old Qin patted his thigh, apparently satisfied with the action plan he adjusted.
Old Qin, do you still have a nail left in the Wang family?
Chu Dali was taken aback, a bit curious.
Only one who knows a bit of favor; not exactly a nail. Since the Wang family and the dark arrow have rekindled ties, whatever plans the Wang family has will certainly be known to Kong Ming; there’s no need to worry about any tricks they might pull.
Right now, even the Zhou family has pulled back. This indicates that the Wang family’s recent battle losses don’t seem to be feigned. Don’t be fooled by the Wang family’s current silence; as far as I know, the third, fourth, and seventh members are frantically on the hunt for my whereabouts; they are indeed anxious, haha…
Qin Lao Wu proudly stroked his beard, surveying the surroundings, but when his gaze passed over Zhuang Jianfei, it slightly cooled.
In the room, several elder figures burst into laughter.
Jianfei, some supplies from the Engel family have arrived; you take Wei Jun and a few others to pick them up.
After most of the laughter died down, Old Chu took out a folded piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Zhuang Jianfei.
Alright, I’ll handle that right away!
Zhuang Jianfei opened the folded paper, glanced at it, then revealed a confident expression.
Old Chu, your trusted aide is efficient, understanding, and intelligent; truly rare…
Once the door closed, Qin Lao Wu suddenly said to Dali.
Chu Dali smiled but didn’t respond, while Qian Guilong, who was puffing smoke, seemed to be in thought.
……
……
All morning, Wan Yue had been meditating on the lawn outside the Longquan Mountain villa, once again dissipating the long-accumulated blood-energy proteins within her body and suppressing the promotion to dormancy pressure that had persisted for years.
The practicing secrets provided by the Wang family not only facilitated rapid progress for Jiang Yan and Jiang Yao, but also benefited Wan Yue’s own foundation significantly. According to Old Jin, Wan Yue’s current realm strength exceeds what could be encompassed by just the title of half-step viscount.
“What’s wrong? Spacing out during training isn’t your style… Oh, your ears are red; are you thinking about Meng Huai?”
“I heard you invited Meng Huai to your house for dinner just before you got off work yesterday? And then this morning, you came back here—did he decline? Haha, I wonder if he’s genuinely clueless about such feelings or just pretending to be aloof.”
Opening her eyes, Wan Yue glanced at Jiang Yan kneeling beside her and pulled out a cigarette.
“No, it was Liang Ge and Xiao Dongjie who wanted to go out on a date. Meng Huai had to work today.”
Jiang Yan hurriedly shook her head, tightening her grip on the phone in her hand, as if still recovering from the previous surprise.
Meng Huai had just messaged her, inviting her to the Qinglong Lake Wetland Park in the eastern suburbs tomorrow, which made Jiang Yan believe she had mistaken the sender.
“Then why are you blushing? Thirsty for blood?”
Wan Yue exhaled a puff of smoke, her face playful.
Jiang Yan hesitated for a few seconds before she had to confess: “Meng Huai asked me to meet at the Qinglong Lake Wetland Park tomorrow… it’s quite close to here.”
Wan Yue was taken aback for a moment, quietly observing the slightly embarrassed Jiang Yan, gradually breaking into a meaningful smile: “That’s good; remember to dress up nicely. This wooden block is actually quite the awkward romantic.”
Jiang Yan didn’t know how to respond and could only lower her head to avoid Wan Yue’s gaze.
“Alright, I won’t tease you anymore… Did you leave Jiang Yao home alone today looking for me for something?”
Smiling at Jiang Yan’s still flushed cheeks, Wan Yue chose to change the subject. “Did you encounter any bottlenecks in your training?”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan quickly sat up straight, her expression turning serious: “Hmm, last time when Deng Baoyi and Nawa joined forces to ambush me and Meng Huai, I realized my problem with loss of control is still very serious, but I haven’t had time to discuss it with you, Sister Wan.”
Jiang Yan explained her status and feelings at that time, and Wan Yue listened intently.
……Weird images appeared in your mind, and then you used Blood Blade? I thought you, like Jiang Yao, mastered it after your training; it seems quite odd… However, it’s much better than your last chaotic attempt.
I can only speculate that, unlike Jiang Yao, your subconscious has already awakened a multi-faceted ability, but it can only be utilized when your consciousness is abnormal.
However, Blood Blade is very demanding of boiling blood stability. Consuming blood-energy proteins is not any less than that of Thousand Hands. Being able to maintain a battle state for two minutes is far better than Jiang Yao; a regular Rhine Count can barely last about ten minutes.
Gazing at the clouds in the sky, Wan Yue fell into contemplation.
Sister Wan, is it because I am an immature bloodline that the Queen’s realm has flaws, resulting in this fiery outcome?
Jiang Yan was deep in thought, but she knew that even the Wang family’s ancestors admitted that this generation of queens is completely different from before, with no precedents for reference.
Just the stability after entering the Queen’s realm far exceeds what the Wang family ancestors encountered before.
That’s not necessarily the case; perhaps what’s inside you is a mature bloodline? Maybe you two are both mature… it’s just that your primordial follicles are underdeveloped, losing fertility, which obscures or hinders the actual growth of the bloodline.
Wan Yue snapped back from her thoughts with a mysterious smile, gently shaking her head.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan slightly opened her mouth, clearly having never considered this possibility.
Jiang Yan lowered her head, a tumultuous wave of emotions swelling within her, both grateful and lost, creating a tangled complexity of feelings.
“I think you should try to gain control over the mysterious patterns in your mind, beyond just the loss of control. However, I don’t know what opportunity holds the key to opening this path.”
Having said that, Wan Yue stood up from the yoga mat, intending to return to her room for a shower.
Suddenly, her phone placed on a nearby stone table started ringing with cheerful tones.
Hearing the sound, Wan Yue’s expression changed slightly, but just for a brief moment, it returned to her usual elegant demeanor as she casually glanced at her phone and walked toward the villa.
I won’t keep you for lunch; head back and take a good break this holiday. Perhaps soon, we will all have to start truly fighting for our lives…
After taking a few steps, Wan Yue suddenly stopped, turning back to wave at Jiang Yan.
Truly fighting for our lives? Did previous times not count? It seems that day Han Jielin said that the dark arrow was planning a grand showdown against the southern Black Blood Clan, even the Blood Dragon team, which is a top-secret unit, would be dispatched in full force…
Jiang Yan contemplated Wan Yue’s words, her expression gradually growing serious.
Returning to her study, Wan Yue drew the curtains, took a deep breath, and opened the computer, which was rarely turned on, accessing a very obscure forum and opening a certain post, flipping to the end.
A strange reply from a forum guest consisted entirely of numbers, densely packed in groups of four.
With a light smile, Wan Yue pulled out a 2013 edition of “Youth’s Song” from the drawer, starting to decipher the code.
After about ten minutes, Wan Yue leaned back in her chair, cigarette in hand, enveloped in smoke as she fell into deep thought.
Chu Dali and Qin Lao Wu have already begun laying out their traps, waiting for the dark arrow’s combat plan to be released… After a suspenseful half an hour, Wan Yue finally picked up her phone and dialed a number.
“Wang Sheng, hasn’t he contacted you yet?”
On the other end of the line, Wang Sheng replied simply with “no” before hanging up.
“That brat Han Jielin can’t be that dull, right? Does he need me to reiterate once more?”
Wan Yue toyed with her phone, laughing helplessly.
As she laughed, the image of Zhuang Jianfei reappeared in her mind, the person who just sent her encrypted messages.
Zhuang Jianfei’s intelligence was disorganized and scattered.
The core message was just one: there are moles inserted into the Blood Dragon team by the Wang family long ago; this batch of people would end up on the list of sacrificial moles, along with the entire essence of the Blood Dragon team, being encircled and killed.
The underlying tension painted a picture of the situation; it was clear that this time, Chu Dali and Qin Lao Wu, or rather the Engel family, intended to bury everyone.
Under the Engel family’s long-term behind-the-scenes support, a significant number of high-level bloodlines have sealed around Chu Dali. Among the known, there is one count, four viscounts, and twelve barons of varying levels, not counting an unknown number of knights and servants, comparable to the full mobilization of a complete baron family.
This highly integrated bloodline faction is arguably the greatest threat the dark arrow has faced since its establishment, nearing the limits of what the dark arrow can handle.
If the dark arrow fails this time, the consequences are almost unimaginable. Beyond that, only the tactics of mutual destruction remain.
“Sigh, Zhuang Jianfei, when Chu Dali ascends to dormancy, the truth will be handed to you. Why do you trust such words? You’re on the verge of becoming his pawn as well…”
Muttering to herself, Wan Yue closed her eyes, her expression gradually turning icy.
