Volume Two: Winds Rise in Anxi Prefecture Chapter 166: The Person Behind the Scenes

"Understood!"

Director Zhao nodded.

With the business concluded, Lu Jiuzhang prepared to leave.

As he departed, Director Zhao gazed at his retreating figure with mixed emotions.

She indeed held affection for Lu Jiuzhang, but she had never felt any reciprocal affection from him.

Perhaps Lu Jiuzhang simply regarded her as a friend and nothing more.

...

On his way back, Lu Jiuzhang arranged for several martial arts masters to conceal themselves around the residence.

Inside the courtyard, the one-armed fierce man had already returned and was chatting and laughing with the large black dog.

Seeing Lu Jiuzhang walk in, the smile on the large black dog's face vanished, and it said solemnly, "Master Jiu, I'm preparing to leave."

Starting the act so soon?

Lu Jiuzhang played along, asking, "Leaving? Where to?"

"Master Jiu, I've discovered that I'm not suited to stay by your side," the large black dog said. "It's too dangerous, and I'm afraid I might lose my life one of these days."

"As for where to go? This divine beast hasn't decided yet, but the world is vast, where can't I go?"

Lu Jiuzhang let out a long sigh. "So be it, leave if you must!"

"Master Jiu, before I go, let me advise you—your temper is too terrible. After I'm gone, you should rein it in," the large black dog said.

"Get lost, your temper is the terrible one!"

With a darkened face, Lu Jiuzhang suspected the large black dog was using the act to take a dig at him.

"Look, look at you, I say a couple of words and you start getting worked up," the large black dog said. "Master Jiu, everything I'm saying comes from the bottom of my heart. Just treat it as the parting words of someone about to leave, which are always kind!"

"Do I need your heartfelt words? You talk too much, believe it or not, I'll have dog meat for dinner tonight?" Lu Jiuzhang scolded.

"Damn it, Lu Jiuzhang, are you ever going to let up? I kindly advise you, and you're still shouting about eating dog meat? I'm not a dog, I'm a divine beast."

The large black dog grew angry as well, directly calling Lu Jiuzhang by his full name.

Inside the room, unaware of the situation and hearing them arguing, Bai Xiaosu hurriedly walked out. "Master Jiu, Master Hei, it's just a small matter, there's no need to quarrel."

"A small matter? Sister Bai, if I'm leaving, you should come along too. Staying by Lu Jiuzhang's side is bound to bring misfortune," the large black dog said.

"Hah, if you're going to get lost, then get lost already. Do you need to be here sowing discord?"

Lu Jiuzhang rebuked.

This left Bai Xiaosu utterly bewildered.

As for the one-armed fierce man, seeing the two of them quarrel made him immensely happy.

He feigned persuasion, saying, "Master Jiu, Master Hei, we're all family here, no need to argue."

"None of your damn business!"

Lu Jiuzhang and the large black dog cursed in unison.

Fine, he had better keep his mouth shut.

The one-armed fierce man retreated to the side to watch the spectacle, not daring to speak another word.

"Lu, whatever-your-last-name-is, I'm leaving right now, don't you dare regret this!"

The large black dog turned as if to leave.

"Go on, get going! When you die out there, I'll find some spare time to visit your grave."

"..."

The large black dog strode out of the courtyard and headed straight outside.

"Master Jiu, I'll go see Master Hei off."

Dropping those words, the one-armed fierce man chased after it.

Inside the courtyard, only Bai Xiaosu and Lu Jiuzhang remained.

"Master Jiu, Master Hei is actually a good person," Bai Xiaosu advised. "With what you just said, let alone Master Hei, even I would be angry."

"Sister Bai, it's not that my temper is bad; it's simply that this large black dog is begging for a beating."

Lu Jiuzhang put on an irritated expression.

"Being able to stay together is all a matter of fate, Master Jiu."

Bai Xiaosu persuaded once more.

"For the sake of Sister Bai, I'll temporarily spare his dog's life. Persuading him to stay is out of the question, but I can at most see him off a short distance," Lu Jiuzhang said.

"Alas!"

Bai Xiaosu let out a long sigh, knowing it was irredeemable.

"Then let's see Master Hei off for a bit."

Bai Xiaosu felt immensely depressed inside; why did things have to devolve into a quarrel out of nowhere?

...

Elsewhere, inside an inn two hundred paces away from the courtyard.

A man in black was sitting in his room when suddenly, a hurried knocking sounded.

The man in black opened the door to reveal a servant.

"Reporting to milord, that large black dog has left, and Lu Jiuzhang is preparing to see him off for a short distance," the servant reported.

"The opportunity has arrived!"

The man in black sneered. "We never had a chance before. Once he leaves the city, we'll capture this fellow alive."

"Should all our forces stationed here be mobilized?"

The servant asked doubtfully.

"Why wouldn't they? Success or failure hinges on this single move. Once we eliminate this fellow, we can return to report our mission. Anxi Prefecture is such a desolate backwater, staying here makes my whole body uncomfortable!"

With that, the man in black strode outside.

Simultaneously, several hidden martial arts masters inside the inn followed him out.

They dispersed among the crowd, heading directly toward outside the city.

Initially, they had dispatched men from the Changshui County Demon Slayer Bureau to kill Lu Jiuzhang.

Never did they expect the Changshui County Demon Slayer Bureau men to be so utterly useless, failing repeatedly.

Afterward, their superiors decided to take matters into their own hands, dispatching them to assassinate Lu Jiuzhang.

Who would have thought that upon entering Anxi Prefecture, Lu Jiuzhang would check straight into the Yingtian Tavern, leaving them with no opportunity whatsoever.

Having plotted for many days, they had finally managed to lure the large black dog away.

Lu Jiuzhang would inevitably see the large black dog off, allowing them to assassinate him outside the city!

This scheme was flawless!

The man in black rejoiced inwardly; once the mission was accomplished, he must find a few maidens to vent his pent-up desires.

...

Outside the East Gate, Lu Jiuzhang finally caught up with the large black dog.

"Lu Jiuzhang, what are you here for?"

The large black dog asked angrily. "What? Still want to argue with me?"

The act still had to be thoroughly maintained to avoid discovery.

"Not at all!"

Lu Jiuzhang shook his head.

"You want to persuade me to stay?" the large black dog said. "Let me tell you, it's too late! This divine beast has already made up its mind to venture out into the world."

"Just seeing you off for a bit! We've lived together for quite some time after all," Lu Jiuzhang said.

Hearing these words, the large black dog felt a tinge of sentimentality.

From the moment it met Lu Jiuzhang in Changshui County until now, two or three months had already passed.

Quite a few events had transpired over these past few months.

"Then I'll reluctantly consider you Lu-surname fellow as still having a shred of conscience."

The large black dog walked as it spoke.

...

Passing through the city gates and crossing the moat,

the group and the dog continued walking, stopping only when they reached a location a dozen kilometers from the city gates.

The city of Anxi Prefecture was no longer visible from here.

Along the road, a few merchant caravans were passing by, alongside villagers from nearby settlements heading toward the prefecture city.

There was no shortage of travelers coming and going!

"Though you travel a thousand miles with someone, a parting is ultimately inevitable." The large black dog looked at Lu Jiuzhang. "Master Jiu, stop here."

"Indeed! A parting is inevitable, and I plan to head back now."

Lu Jiuzhang glanced around his surroundings.

Why hadn't the danger appeared yet?

Could it be that the mastermind behind the scenes didn't intend to strike?

That made no sense!

They had even hired several top experts from the Qianji Pavilion of Anxi Prefecture; if the mastermind didn't strike, wouldn't all that silver have been wasted in vain?

"Ahem..."

At that moment, the one-armed fierce man coughed twice. "Master Jiu, you really shouldn't go back!"