Chapter 167: Scum

"Marshal Xiao is overthinking things," Ye Xin said. This was precisely the plan he had laid out targeting Xiao Mozhi. In truth, there was no fundamental conflict between him and Xiao Mozhi. Furthermore, since Xiao Mozhi had already entered the ranks of the famed marshals and had made both his identity and his goals public, they instead had the possibility of supporting and helping one another. If he wished to take back the position of the famed marshal, he needed Xiao Mozhi's assistance, and if Xiao Mozhi wanted to refine the Dao-Proving Pill, the Flower of Doom alone was not enough; he likewise needed Ye Xin's help. Because of this, he had written a letter to invite Xiao Mozhi.

Therefore, although Ning Gaowu, Zhou Polu, Wu Qiushen, and the others had all arrived here and clearly intended to help Zong Bieli, Ye Xin held no murderous intent toward them—at least, not until they had engaged in a sufficiently detailed exchange to make a decision.

If Xiao Mozhi sided with Zong Bieli, he would have no choice but to deal a fatal blow. He had confidence in himself, and he had confidence in Ghost Thirteen.

"Is it me who is overthinking?" Xiao Mozhi smiled. Ye Xin held deep wariness toward him, but how could he dare to underestimate Ye Xin? Perhaps the single and only effortless opportunity in his entire life to kill Ye Xin had been when they first met. Over the past two years, Ye Xin's growth had been far too fast and too astonishing. In Xiao Mozhi's eyes, Ye Xin was a man carrying virulent poison; if a single strike failed, it would trigger a terrifying backlash. Xiao Mozhi paused, then smiled again: "No matter what the Young Marshal says, this great favor is something Xiao will not forget. I will not interfere today, and in the future, whatever the Young Marshal intends to do, you can count Xiao in."

"Good, I have been waiting for Marshal Xiao to say those words," Ye Xin nodded.

"This must be Marquis Poushan, Ning Gaowu, right?" Xiao Mozhi's gaze fell upon Ning Gaowu opposite him.

"It is indeed this old man." Ning Gaowu revealed a bitter smile. "This old man is feeling somewhat unwell, so I hope Marshal Xiao will not fault me for my lack of courtesy."

The July Ash God was originally a potent nourishing treasure, but none of them could endure it, and at this moment, it had turned into a deadly poison.

"Could this be Marshal Zhou Polu, and this Marshal Wu Qiushen? I have long heard of your esteemed reputations," Xiao Mozhi smiled.

Zhou Polu and Wu Qiushen reluctantly nodded in acknowledgment to Xiao Mozhi. Xiao Mozhi suddenly turned his gaze to Ye Xin: "Young Marshal, I have an unchaste request."

"What unchaste request? It seems to me you are just trying to ride the coattails of a favor and look magnanimous," Ye Xin said indifferently.

Xiao Mozhi was startled, then burst into hearty laughter: "The Young Marshal truly possesses a heart of seven exquisite apertures. Others might not know, but I, Xiao, am truly convinced of your brilliance!"

"Because I originally had the exact same intention," Ye Xin stated. Although he and Xiao Mozhi had reached a consensus on the grand direction, petty scheming in the details was unavoidable. He had been guarding against Xiao Mozhi all along; how could he possibly let Xiao Mozhi take such a massive advantage for free?!

"Oh?" Xiao Mozhi's eyes flickered.

"Lord Ning, Lord Zhou, and Lord Wu only know of the famed marshals, but they haven't the slightest understanding of how Elder Zong operates," Ye Xin said slowly. "Elder Zong forms his own faction. For instance, a few days ago, he sent people to raid the inner treasury of my Great Wei Kingdom, and the ones he dispatched were his own trusted confidants."

"And it happened to be intercepted by the Young Marshal? I wonder who Elder Zong's confidant might be?" Xiao Mozhi smoothly picked up the conversation with tacit understanding.

"It was Shentu Chi," Ye Xin said.

"It was him..." Xiao Mozhi showed a look of astonishment, then looked toward Zong Bieli: "Elder Zong has quite the capability!"

Xiao Mozhi was indeed familiar with Shentu Chi; Shentu Chi's combat prowess was on par with his own. But that was two years ago—such a fierce warrior had actually been subdued by Zong Bieli?!

Opposite them, Ning Gaowu and the others looked extremely startled and turned their gazes toward Zong Bieli, as they had known nothing of this matter.

"When there are benefits to be reaped, Elder Zong naturally sends his trusted confidants to the forefront. When there are no benefits, Lords like Ning Gaowu are the ones who come in handy," Ye Xin sneered. "As for Marshal Xiao... you didn't even have the qualification to watch the show."

"So, in truth, Elder Zong, Jiang Neng, and Tie Xinsheng are all the exact same breed of trash," Xiao Mozhi sighed. "What they want are dogs, not men. That is why Elder Zong runs around everywhere; he must assess the situation and read people's expressions. Those he can use, he naturally draws in as confidants, but he could never allow anyone to manipulate him. As for those on the outer periphery of the famed marshals whom he cannot control at all, like myself, they are simply forgotten by Elder Zong."

The expressions of Ning Gaowu and the others changed drastically. In truth, Ye Xin and Xiao Mozhi coordinated quite well, word by word laying bare Zong Bieli's true nature with absolute clarity. More importantly, they had not rehearsed this beforehand; the reason they could achieve such tacit harmony was because their judgment of Zong Bieli was identical.

"Elder Zong, I remember when I entered the ranks of the famed marshals, you personally told me that our ambition is to overthrow the heavens and level the earth, and if we succeed, we will find a heavenly ladder for everyone, but if we fail, everyone will be shattered to pieces! That is why we must trust and unite with one another!" Ning Gaowu said word by word: "Yet you... is this how you do it?!"

Zong Bieli remained silent. In truth, he desperately hoped they would continue to denounce him; no matter how potent the medicinal power of the July Ash God was, it would eventually wear off. In this world of slaughter and combat, what ultimately determined victory and defeat was not the mouth, but fists and sheer power! He had already broken through the ultimate barrier of the mortal realm, and given him a little more time, he believed he could walk out of this predicament!

"Perhaps it is precisely because Lord Ning thought this way that his relationship with Marshal Zhou and Marshal Wu grew so close?" Xiao Mozhi remarked. "It just shows that Marshal Zhou and Marshal Wu are also forthright and upright people! It's just that... Elder Zong harbored entirely different calculations..."

The expressions of Ning Gaowu and the others grew increasingly grim. The analyses of Ye Xin and Xiao Mozhi were entirely correct; they controlled military power in different countries and had simply never had the opportunity to understand one another. The reason they could reach mutual recognition so quickly after learning each other's identities was precisely because of Zong Bieli's words—that they were engaged in a great endeavor to overthrow the heavens and level the earth, and must remain united and trusting, otherwise the famed marshals could never endure, and they would have no way of finding that heavenly ladder.

"Those words were never spoken by Elder Zong in the first place, but rather the demands placed upon the famed marshals of the world by their creator," Ye Xin sneered once more.

"Weren't the famed marshals created single-handedly by Elder Zong?!" Xiao Mozhi had merely worn a look of astonishment earlier to cooperate with Ye Xin, but now he was genuinely surprised: "If not Elder Zong, then who?"

"It was Ye Guanhai," Ye Xin said slowly.

The moment Ye Xin uttered those three words—Ye Guanhai—the hall fell into a dead silence. The implications hidden behind the name Ye Guanhai were far too rich and weighty, instantly allowing everyone to vaguely understand a great deal.

Why did Ye Xin know about the famed marshals? Why had he anticipated Zong Bieli's conspiracy long ago and turned the tables to plot against him? All of these questions could find their inspiration in the name Ye Guanhai.

Xiao Mozhi looked at Ye Xin, then looked at Zong Bieli, letting out a heartfelt, lingering sigh: "I was wondering... Elder Zong looks as diligent and stubborn as an old peasant in the fields, paying such close attention to petty, trivial matters—how could he possibly harbor such a lunatic ambition as to point his sword at the sacred sects... If the famed marshals were created single-handedly by Wolf Marshal, then it all makes complete sense. Only Wolf Marshal possesses such vision and insight."

"Elder Zong is most skilled at occupying the magpie's nest. He entered the Lifeless Army, squeezed out Hong Wuhou, seized control of the Lifeless Army, and upon entering the famed marshals, he caused the death of my father. Yet he still has the shamelessness to go around claiming everywhere that he single-handedly founded the famed marshals. He is a genuine, thorough scoundrel. Even thirty miles against the wind, I can still smell the stench of his human scum."

"Human scum? That is a very fitting description!" Xiao Mozhi laughed. Then, he bent down, plucked three black-spear leaves from Ye Xin's vegetable platter, and walked slowly toward Ning Gaowu's group, placing a black-spear leaf in front of each of them one by one.

Earlier, Xiao Mozhi had wanted to claim that favor for himself, which was why he made that unchaste request to Ye Xin. To his surprise, Ye Xin hadn't given him the chance at all. Yet, paradoxically, he felt that Ye Xin was an even more interesting person.

Xiao Mozhi was an extremely proud and aloof individual; to catch his eye, mere strength was not enough—one also had to possess a vision and insight that could leave him astonished.

Ning Gaowu and the other two showed expressions of excitement and, without the slightest hesitation, hurriedly popped the black-spear leaves into their mouths.

As for Wang Fang and Shen Wangji, their complexions had turned ashen. They finally understood why Ye Xin had wanted them to leave. The information just revealed was of a nature that could never allow outsiders to leave alive. They had stayed behind out of a sense of duty to state affairs, and now they finally knew the truth: a mere Great Wei Kingdom was completely insignificant compared to an organization like the famed marshals. Yet, what could they possibly do about it now?

"Xiao Mozhi, I will give you one more chance. It is not too late to turn back now," Zong Bieli said coldly. He finally felt the surging meridians within his body begin to calm down, which also signified the imminent approach of a life-or-death duel.

Xiao Mozhi looked at Zong Bieli, then frowned: "Young Marshal, do you see it? He is not of the same kind as us. How should I put it... He lives life somewhat too superficially. His vision remains confined to his own courtyard, and the only things he cares about are the chickens, ducks, geese, and dogs within that courtyard. He cannot see the sky, he cannot see the turning of the sun and moon, and he cannot see the vast sea of stars."

"Heh..." Ye Xin chuckled: "Elder Zong, after Marshal Xiao said so much just now, did you not understand a single word? The association of famed marshals that Marshal Xiao wishes to see is one where everyone is equal in status. There may be differences in seniority, but there is certainly no hierarchy of noble and humble. I might become the Marshal Lord, but I am merely the convener and coordinator of the famed marshals; there are no rulers and subjects among the famed marshals! Elder Zong, even now, you still expect Marshal Xiao to come over and help you—isn't that casting pearls before swine?"

"Very well, Xiao Mozhi, this is your own choice." Zong Bieli looked back at Ye Xin, then slowly stood up: "Ye Xin, I admit you are very clever, but you overlooked one thing: the victor takes all... Whoever walks out of this grand hall alive is the true Marshal Lord!"

"Elder Zong seems to have forgotten one thing as well—he forgot whose father my marshal is," Ye Xin replied indifferently. "The Flower of Doom might be a difficult hurdle for others, but for me, it poses no problem at all. Do you really think you are the only one who has consumed the Dao-Proving Pill?!"

Xiao Mozhi froze in place, while Ning Gaowu, Zhou Polu, and Wu Qiushen were also stunned. Though Wang Fang and Shen Wangji did not understand the details, they realized that the Dao-Proving Pill must be an extraordinarily crucial miraculous elixir. (To be continued.)