Chapter 375: The cat is out of the bag!
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
There was a saying - if one isn't involved, don't get involved.
Nangong Hao was doing just that. He looked like an observer, unwilling to participate or speak.
In fact, all of the candidates knew that Nangong Hao was somehow connected to it all. However, other than Nangong Hao, there was one more person who was silent.
That was Fang Zhengzhi.
Fang Zhengzhi was calm and composed throughout the entire sequence of events.
This stumped all of the candidates.
Why was this so?
If Fang Zhengzhi was suspended, it would be horrible for him. If he wasn't suspended, Nangong Hao would be the one at a disadvantage.
So why were both of them acting like mere observers?
"Why are they this calm?" These candidates could not understand what was happening.
In actual fact, Fang Zhengzhi did not say anything because his participation in the examination did not matter much to him. However, the other candidates did not know this.
As for Nangong Hao...
It was because he understood what was happening.
He knew that the key to the Great Xia Dynasty's plan was the Icy Monkey Settlement. He also knew that the Crown Prince would never allow Fang Zhengzhi to take it. At the very least, Fang Zhengzhi would not be allowed to take it before they had put their plan into action.
As such, what did he have to worry about?
The Crown Prince did give those orders verbally. There was no doubt about it. No messenger would have the audacity to falsify something like that.
However, just as Xing Qingsui asked, did the Crown Prince put it in writing?
No!
That was the key problem.
The Crown Prince was the invigilating on behalf of the Emperor. His role was to ensure that the rules were followed and no innocent lives were lost.
Did he have the right to disqualify a candidate?
Of course not! The Chief Invigilator was still the Emperor himself!
The Crown Prince was supposed to report back to the Emperor. The Emperor would have the final say as to whether Fang Zhengzhi was disqualified or not.
The Crown Prince, Nangong Hao, Xing Qingsui, and all the candidates all knew this. However, the candidates were happy to see Fang Zhengzhi suspended.
As such, why would they question the messenger?
They wanted to believe that it was true.
Nangong Hao knew exactly what the other candidates were thinking. He also predicted how they would react. The Crown Prince's move was quite predictable.
He would sacrifice the pawn for the king!
Fang Zhengzhi was the sacrificial lamb here. However, the Crown Prince would never do something without giving himself a way out.
He only issued a verbal order. That was his escape ticket.
If it came down to it, the Crown Prince would just deny giving such an order. The person at fault would be the messenger.
He would simply accuse the messenger of being bought over by the Southern Mountain Range!
Xing Qingsui's actions was just pinning the charges on the messenger a few days in advance.
Would the Crown Prince take this to heart?
Even if he did, would Xing Qingsui care? He was the heir to the Stabilization Constabulary. As for the Crown Prince, would he go up against the leader of the 13 Constabularies because of this?
If he did, he could forget about being the Crown Prince.
Nangong Hao had predicted all of this. He could also predict what Xing Qingsui would do after capturing the messenger.
...
Fang Zhengzhi never expected Xing Qingsui to appear in the Southern Mountain Range. He did think that Xing Yuanguo may make an appearance, but Xing Qingsui's attendance was unexpected. That being said, he could still understand the reasoning behind it.
The entrance to the Icy Monkey Settlement.
After Xing Qingsui gave the order for the messenger's capture, he subconsciously glanced at Nangong Hao. Then, he began walking towards Fang Zhengzhi.
Fang Zhengzhi did not speak immediately.
He did not know the details of the Great Xia Dynasty's plan. Of course, he did not want to know, and did not want to participate in it.
His only aim had been to find Yan Xiu.
He had brought along 500 silver horned wolves to conquer the Thunder Light Settlement. Then, he had snuck up on Chen Feiyu and Wu Feng and the Thunderous Lion Settlement.
He did this to build up his power.
He knew Yan Xiu very well.
If he had simply participated in the combat examinations, Yan Xiu would not join up with him. Yan Xiu would have treated him as an 'opponent'.
However, if Fang Zhengzhi attacked Nangong Hao, things would be different.
Yan Xiu would definitely meet up with him.
Fang Zhengzhi's plan had been going smoothly all the way till this point. As for defeating Nangong Hao at the Icy Monkey Settlement...
That was a different plan altogether.
In fact, it was his promise to Nangong Mu.
His 40,000 strong army was already at the gates. He had to make a show of attacking.
More importantly, if Fang Zhengzhi had called for a retreat after seeing Yan Xiu, what would Yan Xiu think?
Defeating Nangong Hao was something Fang Zhengzhi had to do.
However, he never expected that there would be this many twists and turns along the way. After all that happened, he seemed to be back where he started.
But...
Was it really the case?
Xing Qingsui had smuggled his way into the ranks a long time ago. For him to choose to reveal himself now meant that he wanted to do something other than blocking this 'fake' order.
"Fang Zhengzhi, if I ask you to pull back, will you?" Xing Qingsui stopped at a point five steps away from Fang Zhengzhi.
"Pull back?"
"Xing Qingsui wants Fang Zhengzhi to pull back?!"
"What is going on? Is the Stabilization Constabulary interfering with the court examinations?"
All of the other candidates did not understand why Xing Qingsui would ask such a question. They were all guessing why the Stabilization Constabulary was in the Southern Mountain Range, but they could not figure out why Xing Qingsui would ask Fang Zhengzhi to retreat.
"I won't." Fang Zhengzhi shook his head and answered honestly.
He knew that Xing Qingsui had a reason for asking him for something like that. However, he did not want to turn back.
"Mm... I guessed as much. What if I asked you to pull back with the Emperor's token?" Xing Qingsui nodded, unsurprised by Fang Zhengzhi's answer.
"Emperor's token?"
"The Stabilization Constabulary is interfering with the court examinations?!"
"What is going on?"
All of the candidates were stunned when they heard Xing Qingsui. This meant that Xing Qingsui was using the Emperor's token to interfere with the combat examination.
Was he not afraid that the Emperor would charge him?
Or...
Was this the Emperor's idea?
But why would the Emperor have such an idea?
When Yan Xiu heard this, he frowned and looked like he was deep in thought. He stared at the golden token in Xing Qingsui's hand.
Fang Zhengzhi did not answer Xing Qingsui immediately. He knew all along that the combat examinations was an excuse for the Great Xia Dynasty to send an army into the Southern Mountain Range. However, he did not know how they planned to execute their plan.
However, the moment Xing Qingsui asked him to retreat, he understood almost immediately.
The Great Xia Dynasty had gathered 100,000 soldiers to enter the Southern Mountain Range. 60,000 were in the hands of the candidates whilst the remaining 40,000 were commanded by the Crown Prince.
However, should they be activated, the 100,000 could not possibly fight from their respective locations...
The best tactic would be to strike as one, straight at the heart of the Southern Mountain Range!
Where was the heart?
The Sagely Mountain City!
The Icy Monkey Settlement is the nearest to the Sagely Mountain Settlement. Nangong Hao had based himself there from the start of the examination, understanding its layout and scouting the surroundings.
This would only mean one thing. The Icy Monkey Settlement was the 'frontline' for the Great Xia Dynasty's plan.
If Fang Zhengzhi's guess was correct, they wanted the combat examinations to proceed as per normal. When the time was right, either Wu Feng or Chen Feiyu would command the 60,000 strong army to the Icy Monkey Settlement.
Mm...
They would be delivering the army to Nangong Hao.
By that time, all Nangong Hao had to do was defeat Wu Feng or Chen Feiyu. The 60,000 strong army would then be his.
However, Fang Zhengzhi's appearance had complicated matters...
He had come out of nowhere and defeated Chen Feiyu and Wu Feng. Then, he had come straight for Nangong Hao with his army.
Everything would have still been according to plan, but right now, Fang Zhengzhi only had 40,000 soldiers. This was still some ways away from the 60,000.
There were still candidates out there.
The time had not come for them to execute their plan.
Fang Zhengzhi finally understood why the Crown Prince wanted to suspend him temporarily. He also understood why Xing Qingsui would stop him from attacking the Icy Monkey Settlement.
"I understand." Fang Zhengzhi glanced at the golden token in Xing Qingsui's hand. He finally understood why Xing Qingsui made such a request.
"You agree to pull back?" Xing Qingsui was visibly relieved after hearing Fang Zhengzhi's response.
"Mm, I agree to pull back, but..." Fang Zhengzhi nodded as he looked at Nangong Hao.
"But what?"
"My army can pull back, but I will not."
"You will not? Fang Zhengzhi, you... you're thinking of?" Xing Qingsui's expression changed as he thought of the implications.
This stunned Xing Qingsui, his calm demeanor disappearing in an instant.
"Since I'm here already, why not fight it out?" Fang Zhengzhi smiled, almost as if this was something obvious.
Xing Qingsui wanted to prevent him from attacking the Icy Monkey Settlement and ensure that the plan could proceed.
However, the truth was, Fang Zhengzhi's goal was never the Icy Monkey Settlement. It was Nangong Hao. As such, why not just challenge Nangong Hao directly?
Fang Zhengzhi's thought process was straightforward.
However, all the candidates could not believe their ears.
Because...
They had just witnessed a show of Nangong Hao's power. The clean thrust of his blade was still etched in their minds.
He had defeated Chen Feiyu in a single round.
What about Fang Zhengzhi?
They still remembered that Chen Feiyu blocked Fang Zhengzhi's Million Sword Illustration. Furthermore, Fang Zhengzhi had the element of surprise then.
Even though they now knew that Fang Zhengzhi's arrow was aimed at the demons and not Chen Feiyu...
Fang Zhengzhi did not hold back on that strike. In other words, Fang Zhengzhi could not even defeat Chen Feiyu in a single round, despite having the element of surprise.
However, Nangong Hao had defeated Chen Feiyu handedly in a fair battle.
The difference between the two of them was clear.
If Fang Zhengzhi tried to suppress Nangong Hao using his 40,000 soldiers, he may still stand a chance. However, Fang Zhengzhi refused to pull back!
He was challenging Nangong Hao!
All of the candidates looked at each other in disbelief. Their disbelief was also mixed with expressions of mockery and disdain.
"Is this guy dumb?"
"Why is he trying to duel Nangong Hao alone. He has 40,000 soldiers!"
"It's not that he doesn't want to use them. He can't use them!"
"Well, it's not that he can't use them later! Xing Qingsui may have stopped him now, but that doesn't mean that Xing Qingsui will stop him indefinitely. Fang Zhengzhi can pull back to his stronghold. With his settlements and army, he will still finish in first place. Nangong Hao would be forced to attack him there. Isn't that better than a duel?"
"That's true!"
All of the candidates began murmuring amongst themselves. All of them thought that Fang Zhengzhi was crazy to do this.
However, Fang Zhengzhi was keenly aware of something else.
The Southern Mountain Range had set up ambushes in all the other three settlements.
Pull back to the Thunderous Lion Settlement?
That would be dumb!
Fang Zhengzhi's thought process was simple. Since he was here, he would just try. If he won, he won. If he lost, he would escape. Why waste time in this god forsaken place?