143: Chapter 143 A Plan to Turn the Tide

Gao Feng first expressed his 'shock' and 'anger' regarding the tragedy at the Tingfeng Sword Pavilion branch, and sternly declared that this matter was absolutely not the work of Panshi Land.

Immediately following this, he changed his tone and, with an unquestionable air, detailed the many suspicious points of the entire incident: Why was the perpetrator so vicious in their actions, yet chose to leave behind such obvious evidence of a 'frame-up'?

Why did the timing of the two tragedies happen to coincide exactly with the delicate moment when relations between Panshi Land and Tingfeng Sword Pavilion had just begun to ease?

Why were the perpetrator's targets—one being the vital granary of Panshi Land, and the other being the ears and eyes of the Tingfeng Sword Pavilion branch—clearly intended to force both sides into a fight to the death?

These progressive questions, like peeling a cocoon to reveal the silk, clearly outlined the image of a mastermind hidden behind the scenes—the Tianshan Alliance!

At the end of the letter, Gao Feng proposed that incredibly bold plan for cooperation: to play along with the ruse and lure the snake out of its hole!

He proposed that both sides should ostensibly break off relations completely, with their armies facing off, posing a stance of fighting to the death in the Youyun Mountain Range, in order to numb the Tianshan Alliance and entice its main force to leave their nest, hoping to reap the benefits of the fisherman.

When the time comes, the two families will join forces, set up an inescapable net, and in one fell swoop, completely eradicate this malignant tumor that has entrenched itself in the Northern Territory for many years!

At the end of the letter, there was only one short and imposing sentence: 'When the lips are gone, the teeth are cold; when the nest is overturned, how can there be intact eggs? The safety of Youzhou and the future of the Northern Territory all lie within a single thought of the Pavilion Master.'

Ying Sheng slowly closed the letter, and a deathly silence filled the great hall.

All the Elders held their breath, nervously watching their Pavilion Master, waiting for his final decision, which was enough to determine the fate of the entire Youzhou.

After a long while, Ying Sheng's gloomy face suddenly revealed an inexplicable smile. In that smile, there was appreciation, gravity, and even a hint of excitement at meeting a worthy opponent.

'What a Gao Feng! What a brilliant ruse!'

He placed the letter gently on the table and his gaze fell once again upon Xu Changqing. This time, the hostility in his eyes had dissipated significantly, replaced by a sense of equal scrutiny, 'Governor Gao's courage and resourcefulness are indeed far beyond ordinary people. However, why should I trust you? What if this is also your scheme, intending to lure the main force of my Tingfeng Sword Pavilion out of the mountain gate and then wipe us all out? After all, you, Panshi Land, certainly have the strength to do so.'

These words were both a probe and an attempt to secure more initiative for himself.

Upon hearing this, the smile on Xu Changqing's face grew even brighter. He knew that Ying Sheng was already tempted; now, all that was missing was a stepping stone and a reason he could not refuse.

'Pavilion Master Ying is overthinking it,' Xu Changqing said, neither humble nor pushy. 'Firstly, my lord is a hero who stands tall and upright, and he has always acted with integrity, disdaining the use of such despicable means. Secondly, every grievance has its source, and every debt has its debtor. Our enemy is the Tianshan Alliance, not the Tingfeng Sword Pavilion. This point can be seen from the fact that my lord personally came to your sect's mountain gate only to 'reason' rather than to 'start a war'.'

He paused, his voice suddenly raised a few notches, carrying a power that could see through people's hearts: 'Thirdly, and most importantly! Pavilion Master Ying, are you truly willing to let a cowardly rat who hides its head and shows its tail, only knowing how to play with schemes and tricks, ride roughshod over you and the Tingfeng Sword Pavilion? If the Tianshan Alliance dares to slaughter one of your branches today, tomorrow, they will dare to extend their butcher's knife to your main altar! How can such a venomous snake be allowed to sleep beside one's bed?!'

'This battle is not only to avenge the hundred-plus brothers of Panshi Land who died, but also to exact a blood debt for the more than three hundred of your sect members who died tragically! It is also to completely clear away the filth on this land of Youzhou and return a bright, clear universe to the Northern Territory! This is where the great righteousness lies!'

Xu Changqing's words were resounding and impassioned, every single word speaking to the heart of Ying Sheng.

Indeed, he, Ying Sheng, had dominated the Northern Territory for decades; when had he ever suffered such a humiliating disgrace?

To be played in the palm of a cowardly, hidden person's hand—this made him feel even more angry and stifled than if Gao Feng had defeated him face-to-face!

'Good!' Ying Sheng slammed his hand on the armrest and rose abruptly. The terrifying Aura belonging to a Sixth-Rank Grandmaster soared into the sky once again, but this time, it was not directed at Xu Changqing, but filled with monstrous Battle Intent and Killing Intent!

'We shall do as Governor Gao says! I want to see exactly what kind of sacred divinity is behind this Tianshan Alliance!' His gaze was like lightning as he swept across the Elders in the hall. 'Pass on my Pavilion Master's order! From this moment on, the Tingfeng Sword Pavilion enters the highest state of combat readiness! Announce to the outside world that we are at odds with Panshi Land, and three days later, at the 'A Thread of Sky' canyon in the Youyun Mountain Range, we will fight to the death, never to rest until one side is destroyed!'

'Additionally,' he looked at his son, Ying Xuan, a complex meaning flashing in his eyes, 'Xuan'er, your injuries have not yet healed, so it is inconvenient for you to participate in the battle. From this moment on, you will serve as the secret liaison between me and Governor Gao, responsible for transmitting military intelligence and coordinating tactics. This matter is of great importance and must not be allowed to fail!'

Upon hearing this, Ying Xuan was stunned at first, then overjoyed!

He knew that his father was giving him a chance to make up for his past mistakes, and even more, it was a form of trust in him!

He immediately knelt on one knee and replied in a loud, clear voice: 'This child obeys! I will certainly not fail my father's trust!'

An earth-shattering drama of 'playing along with the ruse' thus began.

In the following days, the atmosphere across the entire Youzhou became unprecedentedly tense.

On the side of Panshi Land, Du Wei and Wulu's Tiger Guard Battalion and Green Wolf Battalion, with banners fluttering and full of Killing Intent, marched majestically from within Yunzhou, gathering towards the direction of the Youyun Mountain Range.

Countless provisions and armaments, like an endless flowing river, were continuously transported to the front line.

Gao Feng personally sat in command of the central army, patrolling before the lines every day, putting on a stance of not resting until the Tingfeng Sword Pavilion was flattened.

On the side of the Tingfeng Sword Pavilion, the situation was equally tense. The mountain-protecting formation was fully activated, and thousands of sword pavilion Disciples, dressed in white as snow, with Sword Qi soaring to the heavens, marched towards the 'A Thread of Sky' canyon under the personal leadership of Ying Sheng.

Scouts from both sides went back and forth along the border, with small-scale friction and conflicts occurring constantly. Every day, news of 'casualties' was sent back, making the atmosphere of the entire situation thick with the smell of gunpowder to the extreme.

The common people of Youzhou and various forces were all terrified by the impending war between these two giants, fearing that they would be swept into this vortex of war capable of destroying everything.

However, no one knew that beneath this tense facade, pieces of the most core and secret intelligence were being rapidly transmitted between the highest levels of both sides through two young people whom no one would have expected.

Ying Xuan, this once-proud Young Pavilion Master, had now completely transformed into the most competent messenger.

Utilizing his familiarity with the terrain of Youzhou and the unique communication channels of the Tingfeng Sword Pavilion, he avoided all eyes and ears time and again, accurately transmitting 'top secret' intelligence, such as the Panshi Army's troop deployments and march routes, to his father.

On the other side, that eccentric young girl, Lin Waner, also played a crucial role in this great drama.

Using 'worrying about her brother's safety' as an excuse, she followed Ying Xuan around all day, but in reality, she was the 'double insurance' that Gao Feng had planted beside Ying Xuan.

Utilizing the innocence typical of a young girl and her inconspicuous identity, she repeatedly transmitted subtle intelligence—which even Ying Xuan had failed to notice—regarding the movements of Tianshan Alliance scouts, back to the command center of the Panshi Army through the special communication method she had established with Luo Qi.

In this magnificent war drama, the relationship between the two young people was also quietly undergoing subtle changes.

Ying Xuan's admiration for Gao Feng grew day by day, while Lin Waner looked at that 'idiot brother' who was running around for the sake of peace between the two sects and becoming increasingly mature and steady. In her heart, that initial curiosity and affection gradually added a hint of... worry and admiration that even she herself had not noticed.