Volcanic Age

Chapter 237: The Demonic Path Grows Restless (1)

"The Poison Dragon?"

Zhou Xuchuan’s eyes widened in genuine surprise.

The Poison Phoenix Tang Hui's older brother and the successor of the Tang Family.

"The Poison Dragon is a member of the Black Shadow Division?"

The Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes represented the younger generation talents of the Righteous Faction.

In a way, it was surprising that someone who could become a representative of the Righteous Faction belonged to the dark side of the Martial Alliance.

To think it really existed...

Rumors about the Black Shadow Division had been common even in Zhou Xuchuan’s previous life. He had been curious enough to investigate them personally.

When he was one of the Five High Elders of Mount Hua, he obtained the authority to access and read the Martial Alliance's confidential information.

He had searched for records of the Black Shadow Division but found nothing. Concluding that it was just a rumor, he had dropped the matter.

Now, however, he realized his conclusion had been flawed.

It was just a level of confidential information that not even the Five High Elders of Mount Hua could reach.

Well, now that I think about it, it's the Martial Alliance's evil side. It makes sense they wouldn’t carelessly share that kind of information unless someone was directly involved.

If the dirty side of the Martial Alliance, or rather the Righteous Faction, were to be made public, it wouldn't end with ordinary criticism.

"Just like you said, Xuchuan, I don’t think the traitor would have acted in a way that made them immediately suspicious. On the contrary, it’s possible they deliberately poisoned the prisoners so that the Black Shadow Division would get suspected."

Zhuge Xiang nodded in agreement.

"However, since the perception of the Black Shadow Division and poison itself is the way that it is... the gazes looking in their direction aren't very favorable."

Poisonmasters were not viewed favorably within the Righteous Faction. They were reluctantly acknowledged as necessary, but never fully accepted.

There was no need to mention the Black Shadow Division, either. Even those who knew about their existence were reluctant to acknowledge them.

Since their missions usually strayed far from the Righteous Dao and were actually closer to the methods of the Evil Faction, such treatment was inevitable. Accepting the Black Shadow Division's methods was like having to accept the Evil Faction, which had been their enemy all their lives.

We're short on funds, and our internal enemies are running wild. Everything’s a mess. No wonder this elder, who always seemed relaxed, looks so tired.

There had been a mountain of work to do just to clean up the aftermath of the Great War of Good and Blood. However, to think that there were even more problems causing trouble.

Not even the Coruscant Realm, which surpassed human limitations, could solve everything.

"There's nothing we can do. I'll meet with the Black Shadow Division's Poison Dragon. If someone like me, a hero of the Righteous Faction, approaches him with goodwill, it might improve people’s perceptions."

"Are you really okay with that?"

"Doing so would be much better for the future. I’ll be staying in the Martial Alliance for a while because of the donations anyway. I’m also good friends with the Poison Dragon’s younger sister, the Poison Phoenix, so it shouldn’t be hard to meet him."

"The Poison Phoenix has already been summoned. She’s set to arrive tomorrow, so you can meet both of them then,” Zhuge Xiang added."

As expected of the Heavenly Strategist. His preparations were thorough.

"Then is this everything? If you have anything else you need from me, please just kill me instead," Zhou Xuchuan asked, organizing the tasks he had been assigned in his mind.

"Ahem, you little brat. I'm not that shameless."

Nangong Weiwu also coughed in embarrassment.

Zhou Xuchuan left the Alliance Leader’s office and walked down the hallway.

"By the way, Vice Strategist."

"What is it, Great Hero Zhou?"@@@@

"Well... while I just realized, with how hectic everything has been, you don’t have to be so formal. You can talk to me like before,” Zhou Xuchuan said, scratching his head awkwardly..

Zhang Hong and Zhang Xuen, who had fostered a sibling relationship with Zhuge Xiang when they had first appeared in the gangho, had also told him to treat Zhou Xuchuan comfortably when the young boy had joined them on a mission. While Zhuge Xiang had refused, saying it would be rude and inappropriate, Zhou Xuchuan had welcomed him back then with open arms.

He had asked him to speak freely then, thinking that it would be a good idea to become friends with the person who would later become the Heavenly Strategist.

"I definitely can't do that," Zhuge Xiang replied immediately.

"Back then, it was because we were so young. Most importantly, we weren’t all that different, so deciding who was the elder based solely on age felt silly. Thinking about it now, it’s really embarrassing," Zhou Xuchuan joked.

"You don’t have to keep worrying about something like that..."

"Hahaha. Then, why not think about it as a courtesy you're giving to a hero?"

Zhuge Xiang sighed, reluctantly letting it go.

"By the way, how is that child Shengji?"

Zhou Xuchuan was surprised by Tang Hui’s question.

"...let me tell you something."

Tang Hui moved over to the side and Zhou Xuchuan followed her.

Following the outer wall of the Poison Institute, a bamboo forest appeared before them. Instead of entering the main building, they went into the bamboo forest.

"Who do you think is the closest to the Black Shadow Division?"

The tall bamboo blocked most of the sunlight, leaving the forest floor dark. The scenery looked identical in every direction, and Zhou Xuchuan couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d get lost without a guide.

Tang Hui eventually stopped, pushing aside some bushes at her feet and pulling on something.

"The elders of the murim? The Strategist or the Vice Strategist? Or the Martial Alliance Leader?"

Creak. Thunk.

The ground opened up, revealing a secret door hidden in the bushes.

“No.”

She went down the stairs past the door. After taking a few steps after her, Zhou Xuchuan heard the door close above him.

The area ahead was dark. However, it quickly brightened. A part of the wall opened up, and a Luminous Night Pearl appeared.

Tang Hui grabbed it with practiced ease, using it to light their way.

If Zhuge Shengji had been here, his eyes might have sparkled and he might have been happy.

"No, it's the direct descendants of the Sichuan Tang Family.”

Tang Hui's voice was strangely dark.

"Tang Hui, by chance, are you..."

"Watch your mouth. I don't want that sort of pity."

Tang Hui reacted fiercely, her voice sharp.

He couldn't see her face because only her back was visible, but he could tell that her expression was distorted.

"All of the direct descendants of the Tang Family would learn about it even if we didn't want to. That's all there is to it."

Zhou Xuchuan began to wonder if there had been another reason why Zhuge Xiang had called Tang Hui.

"...we aren't like those losers."

Tang Hui clenched her fist.

The ring on her finger reflected the Luminous Night Pearl and shone fiercely like her emotions.

"In your opinion, which of the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Ancient Families that make up the Martial Alliance has the least influence?"

"That's..."

"The Emei Sect, which hasn't produced any Absolute Masters in ages and is on the path of decline? The Kunlun Sect, which is far from the Central Plains? The Zhuge Family, which emphasizes strategy rather than strength? No. It's the Tang Family."

The influence of the murim's forces changed with the times.

It was mainly determined by the Absolute Masters who reached the Coruscant Realm.

In particular, it was focused on the Shaolin Temple and Wudang Sect, which had continuously produced these Absolute Masters to the point where they had come to be called the Highest Peak and the Strongest Yang, respectively.

"Even though we call ourselves the Righteous Faction, in the end, we're still part of the murim. If one doesn't have the power, one would be eliminated, and no matter how one protests, one would be ignored. While those hypocrites of the Righteous Faction may say that they aren't like that, that's all a lie. This is the reality."

The Tang Family also often produced monsters that surpassed human limits. However, their numbers were fewer compared to other forces, and the intervals between them were much longer.

Since there were already many within the Righteous Faction who looked down on them for working with poison, the situation grew even worse.

As time passed, those contemptuous gazes didn't disappear but deepened instead. It was natural since they didn't have any Absolute Masters.

"When our strength became weak enough to be excluded from the Five Great Ancient Families, the Tang Family gave up on producing Absolute Masters and made a decision."

“Wait..."

A terrible scream was heard from the end of the long hallway, accompanied by the stench of blood and decay.

After passing through the hallway, a space that could accommodate hundreds of people appeared. At the center stood a gaunt man who appeared to be in his forties, although he was clearly not yet thirty.

Looking at him, Zhou Xuchuan was reminded of Tang Youqi, the current head of the Tang Family, who looked old despite being middle-aged.

"Assassination, kidnapping, intimidation, torture, poisoning, and even drugging people into insanity... We took on the work that the hypocrites of the Righteous Faction don’t want to do in order to maintain our power."