Chapter 87: An Inescapable Dragnet

It was early in the morning when Yun Yang leaned against a tree as he breathed in deeply. Spiritual energy from the rising sun was absorbed into his body like tendrils of smoke.

He stretched himself, his bones popping and cracking. When Yun Yang opened his mouth, a long cloud of condensed white air jetted out from his mouth like a dragon!

It rose, barely dissipating, into the morning breeze, only making a soft pop after several hundred feet that resulted in a small hole in the enclosing wall.

"Oh my god!"

Fang Mofei and Laomei who had been closely watching him were both dumbfounded.

"Bones like cracking thunder from the heaven, dantian's Qi like a soaring dragon!"

Fang Mofei was speechless. He had only achieved this stage after cultivating to the seventh peak while Lao Mei who was already at the peak of sixth heaven barely came close.

Yun Yang seemed to only be... third heaven? It was an unexplainable phenomenon.

What was going on?

Both of them simultaneously looked towards the sky and peered suspiciously at their surroundings. Nothing had changed and they were still on the same earth...

"Could it a problem with my cultivation method?" Fang Mofei and Lao Mei's eyes met, reading the same question from each other's gazes.

Yun Yang recovered from his cultivation, standing up slowly while taking in the feel of his surroundings.

Both Fang Mofei and Laomei then realized with a shock that the weak state that had always clouded Yun Yang before this had vanished.

He brimmed with life and vigor!

They could scarcely believe their eyes.

Just yesterday, he was still sickly and was unable to lift his leg up; today, he was already spirited and energetic?

Yun Yang breathed in and out deeply. The lingering exhaustion had completely recovered today. The absorption of air of injustice from killing the enemy on the battlefield was minuscule, no matter how many he had killed.

Based on his calculations, his conjured wind and flame had burned at least a hundred thousand men of the army of Dongxuan but his collected air of injustice was at most derived from twenty to thirty people.

"Perhaps these belonged to those who were especially wicked..." Yun Yang pondered upon the recent developments.

It was still better than nothing. At least Emmie was a little stronger as the air of vitality it could provide increased and got richer.

However, Yun Yang's exploitation of Emmie during this period of time had made it extremely recalcitrant. It was always listless with its leaves flopping down, not waving its tendrils anymore and appeared lethargic. It looked exactly like a child who had been greatly wronged but dared not speak up, jutting its lips in a pout.

Yun Yang felt his heart soften at the sight, and immediately gave it ten pieces of the good jades he had taken previously.

It was only then that Emmie perked, waving its tendrils again and regaining it's blithe. It got friendlier when it saw Yun Yang too. However, Yun Yang grew troubled again.

Looking at the remaining twenty-three pieces of jade from the original fifty he had - it was running out too quickly.

His resources were about to be depleted again.

Even most of the Pearl of the Flood Dragon was depleted. Although Emmie would nourish it when it had some energy - it seemed reluctant to let the Pearl of the Flood Dragon be gone too, what they could make use of now was all about to be used up.

Those mystical stones and mystical crystals, including the treasured gems that he had gotten from searching through Zhao Binglong's residence, had all been consumed!

Just as Fang Mofei and Lao Mei came over with intention to congratulate Yun Yang on his breakthrough, they heard him murmuring to himself, "Time to raid someone's house... if I don't raid another house, there's no living to be made... Whose should I be raiding?"

Fang Mofei and Lao Mei stumbled, almost falling to the ground.

You can't make a living if you don't raid someone's house? What has gotten into you?

"Old Fang, what is your current cultivation level?" Yun Yang asked.

"Seventh intermediate. Although I'm accumulating spiritual Qi every day, the improvement is not distinct."

"Lao Mei, what about you?"

"Sixth, pinnacle. But I still feel like the next breakthrough is very far away..."

"Too slow!" Yun Yang frowned. "Too weak! It's not enough to do the necessary!"

Fang Mofei and Lao Mei were both exasperated.

Yun Yang continued, "Both of you need to work harder!"

He sighed and went back to his room.

Both Fang Mofei and Lao Mei were left speechless. It was a strange feeling, to be chided by a third peak cultivation amateur when they were sixth and seventh level experts themselves!

In his room, Yun Yang frowned. He was not simply saying that their abilities were insufficient.

The incident with Cirrus House's Yun Zuiyue earlier seemed like a farce no matter how one had looked at it. It was only quelled after Yun Yang made a ruckus directly at Qiu Jianhan's residence.

However, the activities in recent days made Yun Yang highly alert, feeling all his goosebumps raised.

Nine Heavens Dictum's intel arrived, flying in like speeding clouds.

"Qiu Jianhan's mistress felt deeply ashamed, giving up on Cirrus House's matter and stayed indoors to reflect on her mistake."

"Qiu Family's Young Master Qiu Yunsan was injured from Old Marshal Qiu Jianhan's beating - grounded and stayed indoors to reflect on his mistake."

"Old General Leng Daoyin punished his son-in-law harshly, the latter grounded at home. No one in the Residence of Leng is to partake in Cirrus House's matters."

"Residence of Crown Prince's aide Shui Yuehan was punished, His Highness the crown prince apologized to Old Marshal Qiu."

"Great keeper of Plethora Gem Tower Fu Guansan went to Cirrus House personally to apologize."

It looked like things were falling into place.

"Residence of Crown Prince's aide Shui Yuehan began frequenting Cirrus House, infiltrating Cirrus House continuously under the guise of apologizing. He is wealthy and generous, handsome and graceful as much as he is elegant and gentlemanly; his mystical skill is high and unable to be estimated."

"Great keeper of Plethora Gem Tower Fu Guansan frequents Cirrus House as well, with the same reason as Shui Yuehan."

"Fu Guansan and Shui Yuehan met each other at Cirrus House today. Both of them decided upon each other as their target and refused to compromise. In the end, with provocation of words, Shui Yuehan spent a thousand taels of gold in one go while Fu Guansan splurged on a hundred thousand silver taels! Cirrus House took the limelight in Tiantang City."

"Shui Yuehan invited guests to Cirrus House and invited his colleagues for a feast."

"Fu Guansan held a feast in Cirrus House, inviting wealthy businessmen.."

...

Each of these messages looked so normal but with the previous farce, Yun Yang could sense something was amiss. It was a disturbing feeling, a premonition about a deadly danger that was fast approaching! Yun Yang's expression was grim.

Prior to this, days before Tianxuan Cliff's battle, he had had the same feeling and had reminded his brothers to stay alert. All of them were immediately on their guard.

Due to this feeling, they had even brought the troops through longer routes and probed by separating into smaller divisions but they had still stepped into the enemy's trap!

Now, the feeling was here again.

"Four Seasons Tower! You have finally noticed!" Yun Yang's eyes radiated with a chilling glow. "You have finally made a move too!"

"Yun Zuiyue is in danger!"

Yun Yang paced around in a panicked frenzy.

Although he had been very cautious in his actions, both Li Changiu and Zhao Binglong, members of the Four Seasons Tower, had met their doom in Cirrus House.

"Li Changqiu has gone missing after the army has gone for a siege but Four Seasons Tower must know the fact that Li Changqiu frequents Cirrus House. This makes it one of their suspects after Li Changqiu went missing..."

Yun Yang thought deeply. "Zhao Binglong was driven out from Cirrus House directly... then his entire family was slaughtered."

"Although it happened in his house, it could be said that Cirrus House was involved too."

"Both men are related to Cirrus House and have met their doom... Without a clearer suspect, the Four Seasons Tower has decided to make one of Cirrus House... This is a tactic as well."

"If so..."

Yun Yang's face fell. "Then Qiu Yunsan should be a chess piece used as the first probe to Cirrus House. If Yun Zuiyue were to be eliminated, Cirrus House would naturally come crashing down as well. It would then also pick the thorn out of their heart."

"If she can't be taken down, then it is proven that Cirrus House indeed has a secret guardian, a hidden benefactor."

"With Ling Xiaozui's words safeguarding the place, it shouldn't amount to a large worry. But they would still think of everything possible to infiltrate Cirrus House."

"This is my biggest problem. Perhaps they don't know it yet, they are still probing to find out."

"I must take action when they target Yun Zuiyue! This is a complete scheme to me! No matter what, I can't stand by and watch fifth brother's love be bullied."

"It's would be too easy to find me this way."

"And my rage this time followed with Old Marshal Qiu's anger, would only reassure them that Cirrus House has a strong backup influence in Yutang's official and military side besides Ling Xiaozui!"

"From there, Old Marshal Qiu who obviously knows what's going on would also become their target. Perhaps, Leng Daoyin would also attract their attention..."

This move of the Four Seasons Tower has revealed three of my weaknesses in a single swoop!"

If I didn't attack by turning into wind and flame in the battle for the Fortress of Resilience, perhaps the Four Seasons Tower would not be so quick to act. However, once wind and flame got out, the Four Seasons Tower has obviously perked up. They couldn't find anyone to blame so they could only start from other places."

A cold glow was flickering in Yun Yang's gaze. He did not regret his rash actions earlier. If he had not cared for Yun Zuiyue being bullied, then Qiu Yunsan might really succeed in getting what he wanted!

The pressure from the military, combined with the coercion from the crown prince's residence, in addition to Qiu Family of the eight great noble families in the martial arts world, plus the threat of a super influence in the martial arts world, Plethora Gem Tower...

Even if Yun Zuiyue really had a pinnacle expert like Ling Xiaozui being her guardian, it would still be difficult to stave off their wrath!

He would feel regret forever. Even when he had died, what face did he have to meet his fifth brother Supreme Flame?

...

Yun Yang scoffed.

He could already feel the dragnet slowly expanding coming down on top of Tiantang City! Where he stood right now was exactly the area it covered.

"Since you're making a move, you must expose yourself! Even if Shui Yuehan and Fu Guansan are not from the Four Seasons Tower, they must be related!"

"Qiu Guansan could actually summon Old Mistress Ding and Zhou Zizheng... There must be some sort of mysterious force behind the coercion as both these people are not someone one could simply call upon."

"You are looking for me but I am seeking you out as well!"

"One of the aides in crown prince's residence is from the Four Seasons Tower. How big of a possibility would it be that the aide was Shui Yuehan?" Yun Yang silently thought.

The enemy had made its move. Now, it was up to him whether he could counter it.

However, his biggest weakness was inadequate ability! Lao Mei and Fang Mofei alone would definitely be insufficient to stand up to them, this was for sure.

"They have only commissioned those who have made an appearance. There must be many of them in the dark who are just watching and remaining unseen. One careless move and I would lose it all!"

Yun Yang's heart was heavy.

"I must be really cautious, as cautious as anyone can possibly be!"