Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Chapter 1552: Chapter 640: My Righteous Path_2

Ning Zhuo faced a Nascent Soul expert up close without feeling any pressure: "Nanming Village is newly established. What is its foundation? It’s not the mountain gate, not the spirit vein, not years of inheritance. It is debt, it is promise, it is the Nanming Fire Furnace, it is you Nascent Soul experts willing to believe that at the very least, I, Ning Zhuo, will acknowledge the debt."

"Today, if the Red Robe Guest dies and I immediately divide and dispose of his corpse, treasures, magic robe, and furnace to cover war damages, what will others think?"

"What will the Nine Fire Dragon Lord think?"

"What will Tao Liang think?"

"What will those Golden Core and Foundation Establishment creditors think?"

Chun Yangzi said coldly: "When someone dies, their debts are canceled, this is the natural law of heaven and earth. Ning Zhuo, you are a clever man, you ought to know, if you truly did this, you’d be handing leverage to the enemy."

Ning Zhuo sighed deeply: "I know."

Chun Yangzi snorted coldly: "You don’t know!"

His voice suddenly intensified: "You are the new master of the Nanming Fire Furnace!"

"The entire Nanming Village was established because of the Nanming Fire Furnace. If you fall victim to enemy calculation, the entire grand plan of Nanming Village will be overturned!"

"The soul of the Red Robe Guest fell into enemy hands, and you hastened to save it, thus providing the enemy an opportunity to set a trap."

"There are so many methods that can arise from this."

Ning Zhuo fell silent for a moment: "But I must do this regardless."

Chun Yangzi’s eyes flickered with a sharp gleam.

Ning Zhuo raised his eyes, staring at Chun Yangzi: "Senior, if I only consider advantages and preserve the grand scheme while abandoning the fallen, perhaps Nanming Village can endure the fifth battle, but it cannot withstand the future."

"Senior, Nanming Village is not Pure Yang Palace. It has no ancestral tablets, no millennia-old rules, no hierarchy. What allows it to unite now, is my willingness to acknowledge debts, willingness to bear responsibility, and refusal to abandon lightly."

"I want to save the soul of the Red Robe Guest."

"I want to keep the body of the Red Robe Guest."

"I also want to preserve the treasures of the Red Robe Guest."

The young man’s words were firm: "This matter is not open to discussion!"

With the last sentence, the cave mansion fell completely silent.

Chun Yangzi stared at Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo also looked at Chun Yangzi.

The atmosphere was as heavy as a mountain.

After a long time, Chun Yangzi suddenly chuckled.

The laughter carried no warmth.

Chun Yangzi said: "Ning Zhuo, you have a great sense of responsibility."

Ning Zhuo cupped his hands: "Senior, you flatter me."

The two parted without enthusiasm.

The night had already deepened.

Ning Zhuo looked outside the mountain.

Cloud Qi slowly floated at the mountain waist, while the distant peaks glowed sporadically, resembling cold stars embedded in the night sky. The mountain wind blew, bringing a faint wetness of the cloud tide, along with the lingering taste of blood on the martial arts arena.

The Red Robe Guest was dead.

This fact weighed heavily on his heart like cold iron.

If the Red Robe Guest had won, everything would be easier.

Nanming Village would have three wins and one loss, securing the Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar. The Red Robe Guest would have accomplished a great feat, negating Tan Zhu’s ability to exploit the situation. Chun Yangzi’s position as Great Village Chief would be stabilized, and Ning Zhuo could gracefully maneuver between various factions.

Nanming Village was newly established, and the people’s hearts scattered. Such a loose alliance was best suited for smooth sailing battles.

When things go smoothly, everyone is invigorated and all matters can be suppressed.

When things go wrong, everyone schemes and all concerns rise to the surface.

The reality was not only did the Red Robe Guest lose, but he also died.

More troubling was that his soul was fished away by the Heaven-reaching Hook, falling into enemy hands.

"Taoist Artifact..." Ning Zhuo sighed deeply.

Yue Qingshan first died at Tan Zhu’s hands, and the Territorial Expansion Alliance and White Cloud Village then used the Heaven-reaching Hook to kill the Red Robe Guest, which could be summed up as "You do the first day, I do the fifteenth".

"Therefore, the root still lies with Tan Zhu." Ning Zhuo’s eyes gleamed with cold light.

The Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar was "accidentally" discovered by Tan Zhu. Yue Qingshan was killed by Tan Zhu. Everything was within his rhythm.

What troubled Ning Zhuo was his complete ignorance of Tan Zhu’s intentions.

The opponent was, after all, someone who was nearing the end of their lifespan.

Tan Zhu has publicly stated that his impending death can be verified under the Wanxiang Sect’s Treasure Bell, so it must be true.

"A person who is about to die demanding the debt rights of the Nanming Fire Furnace is clearly paving the way for someone else. Who is this figure behind the scenes?"

"Is the death of the Red Robe Guest also part of this calculation?"

As this thought formed, Ning Zhuo’s heart was chilled further.

Ning Zhuo raised his hand to gently press his brow.

He sent a Flying Message to Chen San.

When Chen San entered, he maintained a respectful posture as usual, though his demeanor was noticeably more tense than usual. With the Five Battles Martial Arts reaching this stage, everyone knew that Nanming Village was already standing on the edge.

Ning Zhuo said: "Two matters."

Chen San immediately cupped his hands: "Young Master, please instruct."

Ning Zhuo said: "First, investigate thoroughly the origin of the Heaven-reaching Hook."

Chen San’s eyelids twitched slightly.

Ning Zhuo continued: "It appeared in the hands of the Cloud Pot Daoist, but it absolutely does not belong to him. Investigate which power of the Flowing Cloud Peak lent out this artifact, whether it was merely a middleman, or if there is an even deeper power behind it."

Chen San nodded solemnly: "Understood."

Ning Zhuo said: "Second, investigate Tan Zhu ruthlessly!"

Chen San felt a chill in his heart.

Ning Zhuo’s gaze was calm, but his words were weighty: "Investigate his background, who he contacted before joining Nanming Village, and whether he has secret ties with Danxia Peak, Commerce Hall, and Flowing Cloud Peak. Let’s find out as much as possible."

Chen San respectfully said: "Understood."

Ning Zhuo allocated ample funds, and Chen San withdrew after accepting the orders.

Ning Zhuo then connected with Sun Lingtong through the Life Hanging Thread: "Boss, I need to investigate the origin of the Heaven-reaching Hook, and also Tan Zhu."

Sun Lingtong: "I’ll try my best, but the results don’t look promising."

Ning Zhuo: "Hmm, I know. We have only just entered the Wanxiang Sect, and our foundation is very shallow."

Both tasks would be difficult to investigate. One involves a Taoist Artifact, the other an old demon. Someone must have covered tracks before and after.

Ning Zhuo then discussed his plan for handling the corpse, relics, and soul of the Red Robe Guest.

Sun Lingtong said: "I suggest you simply ignore it. The Five Battles Martial Arts were agreed upon by themselves, and life and death are not forbidden. The Red Robe Guest went on stage by himself, boasted by himself, and was fished to death by himself. In the end, this was his own choice."

"Heh heh, Chun Yangzi not willing to rescue him is actually a big blessing for you, Little Zhuo."

"He, being the Great Village Chief, doesn’t go to rescue him. You, Little Zhuo, being the last in the seat order, certainly shouldn’t take this burden."

Upon saying this, Sun Lingtong instinctively lowered his voice: "You’re not the Great Village Chief. Chun Yangzi is."

"If necessary, we will reveal this truth. Hee hee."

"Since Chun Yangzi is unwilling to assume this responsibility, let him bear it."

"As for the Red Robe Guest’s relics, we can just take fewer advantages."

Ning Zhuo sighed and said: "Boss, the Red Robe Guest lent me the Blood Ash Tinder."

Sun Lingtong: "He lent you the Tinder with the premise that you healed his wounds. And when he lent you the Tinder, he was very reluctant and wanted to test you."

Ning Zhuo fell silent on his end.

Sun Lingtong: "Let me put it another way. Shall we wait until we see the tide?"

"The Red Robe Guest’s soul was fished away, it might not last long. The Heaven-reaching Hook as an artifact is too powerful, and things without Spiritual Nature cannot be sent or received freely. Perhaps after a few days, his soul will perish."

"By that time, the Red Robe Guest’s soul will be gone, and recovery will be futile. We will carry on his legacy to continue fighting against the Territorial Expansion Alliance and White Cloud Village, this is also the Righteous Path!"

Ning Zhuo shook his head: "Boss, this is indeed the Righteous Path, but it’s not my Righteous Path. My decision is made!"

"Hmph, you brat, asking for trouble!" Sun Lingtong grumbled, scolding Ning Zhuo, though there was little anger in his tone.

"When do you plan to announce your decision?" Sun Lingtong asked.

Ning Zhuo: "Tomorrow morning. No, as soon as possible."

The youth’s eyes flashed with brilliance, suddenly realizing the importance of time.

That evening, Ning Zhuo invited Shen Xi, Lin Jinglong, Situ Xing, Mu Yuehua, several Confucian cultivators from the Wanxiang Sect, and other figures to publicly preserve the body of the Red Robe Guest and seal his relics one by one. Moreover, he openly admitted to the matter of the Blood Ash Tinder.

Ning Zhuo solemnly announced: he would seek ways to save the soul of the Red Robe Guest and return all these relics to him!

Many passersby were attracted at the time, joining in as witnesses.

Once Ning Zhuo’s declaration was made, it immediately spread like the wind throughout the Wanxiang Sect’s Main Mountain Gate, sparking widespread discussion.