It was only when Li Tianlan was out of sight that Zhuang Huayang took a deep breath and slowly turned around.

The battlefield was in a mess. The neat path was completely destroyed, and the woods on both sides of the road were all in a jumble, with countless branches and severed trunks scattered everywhere. Zhuang Huayang walked through the chaos, indifferent, and finally stopped in front of Tribulation.

“Don’t you follow him and secretly protect him?” Zhuang Huayang asked in a casual way.

There were several top a.s.sa.s.sins in Sigh City, and they were capable of teaching the a.s.sa.s.sination course in Sky Academy. When Zhuang Huayang communicated with Sigh City, hoping that they could send someone to be the teacher, Zhuang Huayang did not expect Cool Breeze or Drifting Cloud to teach, let alone Tribulation, the deputy Governor.

Sigh City had stood aloof from worldly affairs for many years and had no interest in affairs outside the northeast. Given Situ Cangyue’s personality, Zhuang Huayang didn’t expect her to ask her right-hand man, Cool Breeze or Drifting Cloud, to condescend to Sky Academy. His target was other a.s.sa.s.sins, who were less capable than Cool Breeze and Drifting Cloud but qualified to represent Sigh City’s super a.s.sa.s.sins or killers.

Like Demon, Monster, Virtual Pool and Sunset Shadow

All the four were well qualified for the job at Sky Academy, and more than enough to be the teacher. They were the ones Zhuang Huayang really wanted to invite.

In recent years, the Academics and Sigh City were closely related. If the four a.s.sa.s.sins mentioned above came to Sky Academy, it would be enough to bring Sigh City and the Academics closer. Such cooperation was a win-win situation for both sides.

Kunlun City had been making small gestures towards Sigh City in the last few years. The Setting Sun, Situ Cangyue’s murderous weapon from the Zhongzhou State, was the thing that the War G.o.d Gu Xingyun had wanted for a long time, and also his biggest scheme in recent years.

Even Gu Yunxia’s speech at the Sky Academy welcome ceremony was part of the ruse of Kunlun City. If Sky Academy had not blocked it, her remarks would have spread quickly to Youzhou and then to the northeast.

The truth was, her words were directly blocked by Zhuang Huayang, and thus the impact of those words had greatly diminished. That Zhuang Huayang invited Sigh City’s a.s.sa.s.sin to join Sky Academy was to sound out whether Sigh City had the intention of fighting back against Kunlun City’s increasing tricks.

If the a.s.sa.s.sin from Sigh City joined Sky Academy, it would be the first time that Sigh City had left the northeast since its founding, marking the beginning of the contest between Sigh City and Kunlun City.

The Academics would like to see the two groups’ contradictions contained to a certain extent so that they could expand their influence in the Special Warfare System, as well as giving Sigh City certain support.

n.o.body would be averse to something mutually beneficial.

But the only thing Zhuang Huayang didn’t expect was that Situ Cangyue sent Tribulation to Sky Academy.

As the most powerful a.s.sa.s.sin in the Zhongzhou State, he was on a special path in realm and above the headmaster Zhuang Huayang in both combat capability and lethality. This not only bothered Kunlun City, but delighted Zhuang Huayang and gave him a headache.

Tribulation’s entry into Sky Academy had been more than just Sigh City’s fightback against Kunlun City. The fact that the most powerful a.s.sa.s.sin came to Huating from the northeast meant that Sigh City which had been holding themselves aloof from the world since its founding, was about to wake up.

It was not all because of Kunlun City, of course.

Li Tianlan was part of the reason.

Li Tianlan even accounted for more of that than Kunlun City.

Tribulation’s arrival to Sky Academy indicated that Sigh City had already known Li Tianlan’s ident.i.ty.

Zhuang Huayang knew Li Tianlan’s background and the love-hate relationship between Situ Cangyue and Li Kuangtu, which the upper cla.s.s of the Zhongzhou State probably had heard about. Then it was not difficult to understand whether the Hidden G.o.d in Sigh City supported or hated Li Kuangtu’s son.

Now, as Tribulation had barely saved Li Tianlan, Sigh City’s position was clear.

“She plans to support his son?” Zhuang Huayang wonder.

All of a sudden, he found that it was a brilliant move to draw Li Tianlan over to the Academics. In a very short period of time, this young man with a sensitive ident.i.ty had intentionally or unintentionally connected with many things.

“There’s no need,” Tribulation answered slowly.

When he did not speak, he was like a shadow in the darkness, who was so quiet that people could not help but ignore him. However, once he spoke, his deep, husky voice immediately grabbed everyone’s attention. “In the present state of Young City Governor, he doesn’t need others’ protection. I’m not able to stop anyone who can kill him.”

“Young City Governor?” Zhuang Huayang asked, looking shocked.

“Li Tianlan will be the next Governor of Sigh City. Sigh City will announce this soon.”

Tribulation stated flatly.

Zhuang Huayang’s face changed dramatically.

Two opposing emotions of ecstasy and anxiety mingled together in his heart. He opened his mouth and sighed subconsciously. “What a surprise!”

Now Li Tianlan had become the Young City Governor of Sigh City. The information behind this news was just too much and too complex.

From the Academics’ point of view, this was good news. The young man of the declining Li family to join the Academics and the Young City Governor of Sigh City to join the Academics was completely different. In the former case, everyone could only expect his potential and growth, while in the latter case, the relationship between the Academics and Sigh City could be closer, which should be something that everyone in the Academics would welcome.

But for the big picture of the Zhongzhou State’s Special Warfare System, it was hardly good news.

If Sigh City, which had always remained silent ever since its establishment, suddenly announced their heir, who was a stranger for most people, regardless of whether most people would be curious about Li Tianlan or not, at least some of the big powers that had been keeping an eye on Sigh City would try every way to find out Li Tianlan’s background.

The surname of Young City Governor of Sigh City was Li.

The news itself was a big clue.

It was no exaggeration to say that once Sigh City announced the news that Li Tianlan had become their Young City Governor, Li Tianlan would be directly exposed to all powers. So how long could his ident.i.ty remain hidden?

One day? Or two days?

Once his ident.i.ty was revealed, the entire Zhongzhou State’s Special Warfare System was sure to immediately set off a violent storm.

The news that the Li family’s descendant was the Young City Governor of Sigh City would keep countless big shots awake at night.

Prince Group, Sigh City, the Dongcheng Clan, Kunlun City, the w.a.n.g family of Beihai, the Samsara Palace, and even some foreign forces related to the events of years ago would be involved thoroughly. The whole Zhongzhou State would become a battlefield filled with smoke. Then what should the Academics do?

Li Tianlan… Li Tianlan…

Zhuang Huayang murmured this name inwardly. Then he shook his head with a bitter smile. “He’s just a scourge,” he thought.

“I suggested that Her Highness Hidden G.o.d delays announcing it for a while,” Zhuang Huayang finally said.

“Yes, it has to be deferred.” He stressed.

Li Tianlan was in such bad shape that no one could see his future. As Zhuang Huayang knew, it was extremely difficult for him to recover, but it was not hopeless. When he recovered and became the Young City Governor of Sigh City, in the case of his ident.i.ty exposure, either Kunlun City or the Prince Group would probably be eager to rush over and tear him up.

By then, the whole Special Warfare System of the Zhongzhou State would be extremely chaotic, possibly even causing some foreign forces to take advantage.

No matter how much the Academics wanted a say in the Special Warfare System, they were unlikely to do so. For centuries, high officials, high-ranking military officers and even the Invincible Realm experts had been playing by the rules. If there was too much instability at home, leading to foreign forces swooping in, what was the difference between doing so and treason?

Zhuang Huayang was silent, thinking of the treason case 20 years ago, and there seemed to be a little haze in his eyes.

“You’re right, at least until Tianlan gets over it.”

Tribulation nodded, with a confused look in his eyes.

He forced back most power of the blow Li Tianlan launched, but Li Tianlan’s potential and vitality were overdrawn and had left little. Tribulation was not sure why Li Tianlan was still in such a state, but he surmised that it had something to do with the exhaustion of his vitality. Though he couldn’t figure it out, it was the only explanation. It was difficult to recover from his strange condition.

“Do I really need to make contact with the w.a.n.g family of Beihai?” Tribulation wondered.

For now, that seemed to be the only way to get Li Tianlan back on his feet.

The w.a.n.g family of Beihai did have a way to save Li Tianlan, but unfortunately Tribulation didn’t have a decent bargaining chip to negotiate with w.a.n.g Tianzong. Getting w.a.n.g Tianzong to save Li Tianlan was not only like drawing his blood, but also like digging his heart out.

The murderous weapon Setting Sun in Sigh City could be a bargaining chip of sufficient weight, but it belonged to the Zhongzhou State and Sigh City had the right of use but no right of trade.

Tribulation stood still. The mask that covered almost all his face glittered, making his expression invisible, but his eyes grew visibly irritated.

“How the h.e.l.l is Tianlan doing?”

Zhuang Huayang cast a glance at Tribulation and suddenly inquired.

“He is in very poor physical condition, but his combat capability is formidable.”

Tribulation answered automatically, his mind obviously on something else.

“After all, don’t declare him the Young City Governor for the time being. If he can recover, it will be better to wait until after he graduates.”

Zhuang Huayang said seriously, “That would be the time. I will give my advice to Her Highness Hidden G.o.d.”

Li Tianlan would have graduated three years later.

If Li Tianlan could recover in these three years, then the Academics would fully value him.

In the three years, the Academics could also boost the relationship with various forces.

Three years later, the midterm transition was almost over. As the current ruling bloc of the Zhongzhou State, there was sure to be an eruption in the Academics once the situation was stabilized. By then, even if the Academics was not the most powerful one, it would at least be stronger than it was now.

That was when everything was ready.

As for now…

Everything was not clear yet. If Li Tianlan’s ident.i.ty was exposed in an uncertain situation, once the Prince Group and Kunlun City took actions with all their might, the Academics was not strong enough to resist them at all, even far worse than them.

Once the conflict broke out, Sigh City would certainly go all out.

But the point was that Sigh City had stood aloof since its founding. When it came to this organization, people had the impression that they were very powerful but after careful consideration, they didn’t know their strong performance. Sigh City of less than a thousand people was basically supported by Situ Cangyue and a few top a.s.sa.s.sins. As a newly established giant force, compared with Kunlun City and the Prince Group, it was far from them in both scale and heritage.

Now the Dongcheng Clan acted like they were close to Li Tianlan, but the actual relationship was not clear. Zhuang Huayang was not sure how much support they would give Li Tianlan when the big change happened. Even if they were willing to go all out for Li Tianlan, they were likely to be dragged down by the Giant Group, because the Giant Group had been so loose that it was impossible for them to work together.

It seemed that what Li Tianlan had shown was not enough to make the Academics determined to fight against the Prince Group and Kunlun City at all costs, especially in this sensitive period.

The situation was not yet clear, and it was better to keep a low profile.

Tribulation took a look at Zhuang Huayang, said nothing, and turned toward Sky Academy.

Zhuang Huayang slightly frown. Since he knew that the Lord of Shadow of the Zhongzhou State was known to be difficult to get along, he also prepared to leave with a wry smile.

Suddenly, his cell phone rang.

Zhuang Huayang paused and answered the phone.

Qin Weibai’s cold voice sounded from the phone. “Headmaster Zhuang, is there a body at the scene?”

After a startle, Zhuang Huayang saw the black-robed man who died a bitter man lying on the ground not far away.

“Yes.”

He nodded and chuckled.

“Keep it.”

Qin Weibai said in a cool voice, “I was in a hurry to leave. Maybe I’ve met that person before.”

Zhuang Huayang agreed with a smile and hung up.

…

At the same time.

Inside the Garden Party, w.a.n.g Yuetong whose eyes were red and puffy because of crying rushed across the picturesque landscape of antique beauty and straight into the octagonal arbor at the center of the garden.

Inside the arbor, w.a.n.g Tianzong was still sitting there, seemingly lost in thought. The completely quiet w.a.n.g Tianzong was no longer the center of the world, but as if had become a part of the arbor that couldn’t even be sensed.

w.a.n.g Yuetong hesitated, gritted her teeth, walked over, and whispered, “Dad.”

“Yes?”

w.a.n.g Tianzong, who seemed to be thinking, suddenly came to his mind and looked at his baby daughter’s red and puffy eyes. Suddenly, there was a grave look in his eyes. “What’s the matter? Did that boy bully you?”

“No.”

w.a.n.g Yuetong shook her head, flurried. “He didn’t bully me but saved me one more time. I have just been attacked by three Thunder-shocking Realm experts.”

Three Thunder-shocking Realm experts!

This was a considerable force anywhere.

No one thought they targeted Li Tianlan. If they were going to kill Li Tianlan, they only needed to send a Thunder-shocking Realm because they didn’t know anything about him.

They had sent a raid squad to attack w.a.n.g Yuetong by surprise several days ago, and then came three Thunder-shocking Realm experts today. Everybody believed that they were here to kill w.a.n.g Yuetong.

w.a.n.g Tianzong narrowed his eyes slightly and asked flatly, “What about Enchantress?”

“Sixth Sister was stuck with someone else.”

w.a.n.g Yuetong bit her lip, trying to compose herself. “Dad,” she said in a low voice, “Senior brother Tianlan saved my life again at the pivotal moment. He performed a sword strike and burned his potential and vitality. Can you… Can you save him?”

w.a.n.g Tianzong took a look at her with no sharpness but softness in his eyes, but under the gaze, w.a.n.g Yuetong became more uneasy than ever.

“How do you expect me to save him?”

w.a.n.g Tianzong asked lightly.

“I, I’d like a bottle of…”

“Does he deserve it?”

w.a.n.g Tianzong cut w.a.n.g Yuetong off before she could finish. “How could he be worthy of it? I don’t deserve it. How could he?”

“He saved you, and I’ll thank him in my way. But I can’t give him what you want.”

w.a.n.g Yuetong turned pale, and the tears welled up in her eyes again, but she held them back. “Please, dad,” she whispered, her hoa.r.s.e voice containing a sense of pleading.

“It’s no use begging me. There are some things that are the basis of w.a.n.g family of Beihai. Do you think I will give you it when you act like a spoiled child and being willful?”

w.a.n.g Tianzong’s eyes grew stern. “Yuetong, you are so headstrong. I’m very disappointed in you. Maybe it was wrong to let you come to Huating from the beginning.”

w.a.n.g Yuetong stood where she was, in a daze. After a long while, she smiled sadly and whispered, “Yes, it was wrong from the beginning.”

w.a.n.g Tianzong turned to look at the pool outside the arbor and said calmly, “Don’t mention it again. I won’t agree.”

“Dad…”

“Off you go!”

w.a.n.g Tianzong suddenly ordered in a deep voice.

w.a.n.g Yuetong’s tears finally flowed down her face. She took a glance at her father’s back and turned to leave.

w.a.n.g Tianzong didn’t look back, sat there shaking his head and composedly said, “That’s absurd.”

“Who are you talking about, Your Majesty?”

A soft and aged voice sounded.

Dressed in a Taoist robe, Xuan Xuanzi walked into the arbor with a gentle smile and eyes as bright as stars.

“I should not spoil Yuetong so much.”

w.a.n.g Tianzong stood up and said with a smile, “It’s shame, please have a seat.”

“Her Highness is a lucky star. How could you find a talent like Li Tianlan without her?”

Xuan Xuanzi sat opposite w.a.n.g Tianzong with a smile and said quietly.

“A talent? Not anymore. I heard he had just burned his vitality and potential. I don’t know what’s going on with him, but from what Yuetong looked like, he’s probably in pretty bad shape.”

w.a.n.g Tianzong shook his head and replied in a flat way.

“It is his destiny that he should have one tribulation recently.”

Xuan Xuanzi smiled and said, “He should be saved.”

“He’s not worth it.”

w.a.n.g Tianzong thought carefully for a while before he said definitely.

Xuan Xuanzi kept smiling but said nothing. He never forced anyone to change the mind and never missed a word of what should be said. Whether the listener listened or not, it was none of his business.

“Won’t you ask the particulars?”

Xuan Xuanzi asked, still all smiles.

“Yuetong is all right and that’s good enough.”

w.a.n.g Tianzong sighed. “She is frustrated. What can I learn from her? Wait till Enchantress comes over and asks her.”

After a pause, he said calmly, “Do you know who the attacker is?”

“I know their general orientation, but I can’t say it out.”

Xuan Xuanzi chuckled and pointed to the top of his head. “If I speak it out, I’ll be d.a.m.ned.”

The best he could do was to give a few pointers to some of the w.a.n.g family of Beihai. The collision of superpowers was related to the international situation. Even if Xuan Xuanzi could manipulate national fortunes in some way, he still dare not speak out rashly.

The metaphysical masters believed in fate and providence. It was the rule not to say some things.

w.a.n.g Tianzong looked at him, smiled and nodded. “Play chess?”

“Okay.”

Xuan Xuanzi took a chessman from his chess box and set it on the board carved on the stone table.

w.a.n.g Tianzong also took a chessman and put it on the board.

Black chessmen and white chessmen were spreading across the board.

“Boom!”

Before the first round was over, a loud explosion suddenly sounded.

In the blink of an eye, the Garden Party was ablaze. The violent explosion almost spread through the mountains, making the whole Garden Party shake violently.

The alarm in the Garden Party went off in the first place.

w.a.n.g Tianzong suddenly disappeared from the arbor after his face changed.

A white chessman dangled in the air and eventually landed squarely on the board.

In the roar, Xuan Xuanzi did not move but stared at the board. “Good move,” he said, squinting.

He looked in the direction w.a.n.g Tianzong had left, shook his head and muttered, “The place of destiny… The rising of proud Heavenly Son…”

Loud explosions continued, drowning out all the old Taoist’s murmurs.

On April 2nd.

The second day for w.a.n.g Tianzong to come to Huating for the first time in five years.

The Garden Party encountered inexplicable attack.

The Garden Party that represented the pride of the w.a.n.g family of Beihai in Huating in some ways exploded, nearly a third of it destroyed.

The heir of w.a.n.g family of Beihai w.a.n.g Shengxiao was seriously injured.

The little princess w.a.n.g Yuetong.

Missing.

…