novelraw Chapter 1354 - 176: Open and Aboveboard in the Way of Deceit, Narrow Escape from Foes
Chapter 1354 - 176: Open and Aboveboard in the Way of Deceit, Narrow Escape from Foes
Xu Shu nodded in agreement: "Oh, this seems like a supplement for when your first plan doesn’t work well?"
"Yes, that’s right!"
"So you don’t just have one plan?"
"What’s the rush? I have a third idea, which is..." Xiao Ya smiled mysteriously.
"Stop keeping secrets." Xu Shu said seriously.
"Alright then, it’s to infiltrate the Annihilation Association! You know, Bai Yujing’s Living Cultivation Group has been vigorously searching for people from the Annihilation Association recently but to no avail. Especially, the Destruction Association Tiger, Yu~" At this point, Xiao Ya knocked on the nearby door panel three times, her small mouth opening and closing to mime the syllables.
Faced with Xiao Ya’s teasing gaze, Xu Shu coughed.
The opposite party is the only one who knows that Yu Mingluan is his "alias," which naturally need not be said.
Xiao Ya didn’t intentionally tease him and continued: "I have an informant who told me the Red Emperor Army and the Annihilation Association are surprisingly close! At such a critical moment, don’t you think it’s a coincidence?"
"What? There’s such a thing? The Annihilation Association is a local organization in Penglai, right? They’ve also hooked up with the Red Emperor Army?" Xu Shu was genuinely surprised.
As far he knew, the Penglai District boasting the superpower ’Bai Yujing’ is strongly controlled, and in some relatively impoverished small battle zones (like D8B3 District), the Salvation Army might have a decent reputation, with some even seeing them as Saviors.
But in Penglai, the Salvation Army has no voice at all, and is practically branded as terrorists, even in the civilian realm, they’re labeled as "Rebel Army," like rats being chased by everyone.
This is what’s called ’one locale nurtures one kind of people,’ compared to those resource-poor refugee zones where the Wasteland Wanderers struggle even for basic needs, Penglai’s wasteland is rich in produce, heavily subsidized by Bai Yujing, there are only "residents," no "wanderers," naturally the Salvation Army’s meager resources can’t earn favor here.
In such a situation, a local organization like the Annihilation Association also hooked up with the Red Emperor Army.
Wait, Ghost Killing Sect, Annihilation Association...
Xu Shu’s eyes darted, and he suddenly lowered his voice: "Are you implying that the Voodoo orchestrating all of this is in opposition to all of Bai Yujing’s Living Cultivators? So, it’s not just Voodoo at work, the real person backing this is—"
"Shh!" Xiao Ya raised her finger, "You can know this in your heart, but don’t say it out loud, be careful of eavesdroppers."
"Oh." Xu Shu nodded and took a deep look at Xiao Ya, thinking he must be correct in his guess.
This is indeed a war within Bai Yujing.
A war between two different factions!
At this moment, Xiao Ya glanced around and suddenly said with a face full of gossip: "Oh, and let me tell you quietly, given the smell of gunpowder from this conflict, our Judgement Department Commander is eager to make some achievements and have the whole of Penglai District see, to bolster the prestige of our Judgment!"
"Hiss, your Commander seems quite ambitious." Xu Shu pondered a bit, already grasping the reason.
It’s widely known that in Penglai’s domain, the Judgement Department actually holds quite a modest position.
Many people even only know of Bai Yujing’s various department chiefs, seeing the Judgement Department as just another head under Bai Yujing’s command.
This matter has always been a sore spot for the Judgement Department and even for the entire local Astronomy Association.
They’ve done their share of the dirty and tiring work, and maintained order, even though the Astronomy Association and Bai Yujing are co-managers, when it comes to reaping rewards, Bai Yujing hoards all the benefits!
And this time, with Bai Yujing’s Living Cultivators and dead cultivators clearly in a civil war, it’s the perfect opportunity for the Judgement Department to showcase their prowess and reclaim some of their voice.
"So, Brother Xu Shu, trust me, join us and your parents will absolutely not face any danger in the residential courtyard. I, Zhong Xiaoya, stake my life on it; I will personally keep watch, and for sure anyone who approaches will pay with their life, deal?"
At the end, Xiao Ya made her intentions clear.
As she spoke, she actually took off her head, extracted a finely-crafted spherical eyeball from inside her brain, and inserted it into the ventilation duct of the building, showing her determination.
Afterward, she replaced her head, glaring at Xu Shu with her small face lacking one eye, looking both beautiful and terrifying.
"..." Seeing such a scene, Xu Shu’s mouth twitched, thinking it wouldn’t be much of an issue if Xiao Ya personally watched over things with her ’puppet clone’.
After some consideration, Xu Shu slightly leaned back and chose to use a pick-up line he learned from a certain senior: "Hmm, let’s give it a try for a while, if it shows promise, I’ll consider agreeing to your request. Of course, this is just giving you a chance, okay~"
Xiao Ya blinked her one eye, having seen many people but never encountered such a humble upbringing yet highly skilled presence. Though she felt something off, she thought it over and agreed.
"Then Brother Xu Shu, don’t make me wait too long, okay~" Xiao Ya said, evidently very keen on recruiting Xu Shu for her accomplishments.
No more clues were available at the scene, so Xiao Ya decided to head back to the Judgement Department first.
She planned to employ special methods to continue tracking Voodoo, with the contest between two pinnacle "mechanical experts."
Meanwhile, Xu Shu quietly went to meet his adoptive parents, instructing them not to stray far from the residential courtyard.