Chapter 605: 2 More People!
Despite the scathing glares that Venerable Lord Frost and Snow threw at him, Venerable Lord Sword eventually spilled the beans, saying, "I know that Young Master Yun won't be happy to hear this from me, someone who has a conflict with you; it truly sounds as if I am instigating something between you and your brother. Nonetheless, I have to speak my mind. I hope that Young Master Yun does not take offense."
Yun Yang was silent for a long time after that, finally nodding softly, and said, "I understand your kind intentions, but... the first thing about getting along with someone is serendipity; it is difficult to speak of the past. Besides, can anyone in this world truly be free of personal intentions? Who can guarantee that they have no ulterior motive of their own? If not now, then in the future?"
He nodded with some difficulty and said, "I will be careful... and I will try to manage my expectations."
"That would be best. You are certainly cultivated and dignified. We are truly impressed." The trio smiled.
"Now that you have obtained revenge, what are your subsequent plans?" asked Yun Yang.
Venerable Lord Sword spat hatefully, "Hong Zhan isn't dead yet. How can the grudge be considered avenged?"
"Going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short. I think you have achieved enough. Also, three Venerable Lords should feel that it's about done." Yun Yang chuckled.
Venerable Lord Snow questioned, "What do you mean, Young Master Yun?"
"It would make sense for the three of you to take revenge for Venerable Lord Ice, but there are more than ten thousand people who have already lost their lives here in Tiantang City since you began plotting your revenge. I honestly think that you can now put a stop to things. Even if the three of you are still reluctant, still think that the grudge lingers, you would have completed most of it by now. The wise move would be to stop now," Yun Yang answered seriously.
"If you continue to entangle yourselves, there can only be one consequence. The three of you will lose your lives here as well. Next time, I believe there won't be any more lucky chances."
Yun Yang spoke with empathy, "If the three Venerable Lords are willing to listen to my humble opinion, why not retire from the martial world from here on? Isn't this also one way of fulfilling your brother's wish and the goal you've been wanting to achieve?"
Hearing Yun Yang's words, the trio could not help chuckling humorlessly. Retire in seclusion?
'Oh, how we would like to retire from the martial world and live the rest of our lives in peace... however, what could you possibly know of the Four Seasons Tower's terror?'
'How will we be able to retire to seclusion? Today's chance only happens today; after this day, other than facing The Merciless Tower and Hall of Crimson Blade's pursuit, we will also wait for the wrath of the Four Seasons Tower to descend upon us!'
"Retire? We won't be able to do that..."
Venerable Lord Snow's gaze towards Yun Yang was friendly and so was that of Venerable Lord Sword and Frost.
The youth had saved them and did not have any further demands. Instead, he had advised them kindly to retire in seclusion and spend the rest of their lives in serenity. Everything that had transpired was evidence that Yun Yang had no ill intentions towards them; he was sincere in caring for them! Furthermore, Yun Yang words were genuine, uttered after putting himself in their shoes. The trio were martial world veterans. They were able to discern the truth in his words.
Since knowing Yun Yang, they had gone from expending their all to take each other down with their initial opposing stances, to compromising afterward and later, admiring each other. That progressed to the favors owed today until the total acknowledgment which was taking place right now... It was truly a longwinded process.
Prior to this, the three Venerable Lords would never have dreamed of experiencing so many psychological changes towards a youth, let alone changing their minds so many times about a person.
"There are only methods not thought of in this world, never things that can't be done. If the three of you do intend to retire in seclusion, it doesn't mean that there is only one way to achieve that end."
Yun Yang spoke seriously, "A simple one can go like this. Being a local here in Tiantang City, I have the utmost confidence that I can find three absolutely heinous criminals and disguise them to resemble the three of you before killing them. In addition, we can even let The Merciless Tower and Hall of Crimson Blade do the deed. As long as the preparations are adequate, this substitution tactic is foolproof. Not only could the three of you leave in grace without any consequences, there'll hardly be any accidents even if you want them to happen, as long as you are careful in the future."
"Even if the Four Seasons Tower is incredibly powerful, there must be a limit to their reach. According to your understanding of the Four Seasons Tower, you should be rather self-assured in tackling the threats that come from there!"
Yun Yang grinned.
"Sigh, Young Master Yun's consideration is well thought through, but it's simply too bad that this approach is impossible to be executed upon us."
Venerable Lord Snow was sullen as he spoke. "Thank you for your kind intentions, Young Master Yun. It's not that the three of us do not wish to retire from the martial world and spend the rest of our days in peace and security. Because of what lies upon us, no matter where we go to, we are destined to be bereft of a safe haven as long as we're still in this continent. The Four Seasons Tower will find us at any time!"
Yun Yang was doubtful about that explanation. "What's on you that's so important?"
The trio sighed glumly.
"Even then, the forces of the Four Seasons Tower in Tiantang City is basically gone. Despite their intentions, they should be of no threat to you within this short period. Am I right?" said Yun Yang.
"Young Master Yun's knowledge of Four Seasons Tower is scanty. The combat power the tower had displayed this time is only the tip of the iceberg. It is insignificant. The truth is... there are two more people around Tiantang City."
The three of them chuckled bitterly. "These two people have taken over the civil and martial sides respectively. They're tough characters to tackle. When they came in the past, they left after obtaining a rough understanding of the situation. They didn't partake in the planning; otherwise, our plans would never have gone as smoothly as they did."
"Yes. These two are the real overseers of the Four Seasons Tower in Yutang," Venerable Lord Snow sighed softly and said, "They are... unpredictable. Even if we were to retire, we can never hide from the two of them."
There was a flash of worry in Yun Yang's eyes, he said, "Civil and martial, unpredictable? Could the reason behind your inability to retire be these two people? They have a certain way to track the three of you?"
"Not exactly but it cannot be denied these two are very powerful," Venerable Lord Sword chuckled dryly.
Yun Yang spoke with ease, "Does it mean that you can retire safely as long as these two people are taken down? If so, I'll help you manage them."
The three Venerable Lords chortled depreciatingly in unison. "Young Master Yun, we probably didn't explain it clearly earlier. What we commented about them taking charge of the civil and martial sides respectively is only in view of their inclinations when taking action. To see them through a cultivator's eyes, both of them are the mighty pinnacle forces in this world, incredibly wise. If they can be taken down so easily, we would have acted upon it long ago to sever these restraints!"
Venerable Lord Snow said with a dry chuckle, "I'll only mention one incident and I believe that Young Master Yun will have a substantial understanding regarding these two people's abilities. Back when the Nine Heavens Demesne descended upon Yutang, it was the two of them who slipped into Tiantang City and plotted the conspiracy, laying things down so that the Nine Supremes had to go for the mission. A dragnet-like sealing formation was set up to exterminate Yutang's Nine Supremes in one go..."
"This isn't all there is to it. After they planned everything, they didn't make any more interventions. They withdrew themselves immediately, causing the entire incident to look like it had nothing to do with them. The truth was, however, that the series of schemes against the Nine Supremes, every link, and every step, would have followed their designed directions closely and were executed without any deviations."
"The reality also proved that they've managed to calculate each and every link and step in the process!"
"Such intelligence is something we dare not even think about, no matter how highly we regard ourselves and how reluctant we are to belittle ourselves."
Venerable Lord Snow said, "Furthermore, the two of them have revealed themselves to the public in their individual identities. One seems to be a cultivation expert while another is just a helpless aide. We, on the other hand, know better!"
"Both of them are the mightiest experts who have reached the realm of returning to innocence. The three of us, even if the Five Venerable Lords were still here, could hardly harm either one of them even if we were to attack in unison!"
"How could someone like that not be terrifying?"