SFS Chapter 16 Strategic Planning
Chapter 16 Strategic Planning
"What?! Evil arts? A cultivation vessel?!" The gruff voice gasped in horror. "Is this true? Although we are a demonic sect, we still have our bottom line. Practicing evil arts and harming fellow disciples are strictly forbidden!"
The hoarse voice declared with absolute certainty: "Absolutely true!"
Hu Wenbiao also said that, according to Tong Lu, several female disciples who were unaware of the truth had already been poisoned, their cultivation completely destroyed, and their fates extremely tragic.
A rough voice, tinged with fear, said, "My God! I've heard that Pang Sicheng is currently pursuing Senior Sister Duanmu Yao. Could it be that he also...?"
The hoarse voice answered decisively: "Is there any need to say more?! Their motives must be impure!"
Senior Sister Duanmu's cultivation is exceptionally pure; if she were used as a cultivation vessel...
Gee!
Okay, that's enough, let's go!
Senior Brother Hu arranged to meet Tong Lu at the back mountain and told us to go keep watch on the outskirts; we'd get scolded if we were late.
As soon as he finished speaking, a series of rustling footsteps came from deep within the bamboo forest, indicating that the two people had obviously left.
Zhao Ping'an, hiding in the shadows, was already so shocked that his mouth was agape and his heart was pounding wildly: Pang Sicheng was practicing evil arts? And he needed female disciples from the sect as his cultivation vessels?
Surely not?
He is the great-grandson of the elder, and he has no shortage of resources and cultivation techniques. Why would the crown prince rebel?
But after the initial shock, an indescribable sense of excitement at having uncovered a shocking secret instantly overwhelmed him.
He didn't care whether the secret was reasonable or not.
He suppressed his excitement and left the bamboo forest quietly, completely satisfied.
The news he heard tonight was enough to cause a huge uproar in the sect, enough for him to "share" and savor for quite some time.
Shortly after Zhao Ping'an left, a dark figure slowly emerged; it was Shen Li.
He curled his lips into a cold smile.
The "dialogue" just now was naturally him playing two roles, imitating the accent of Hu Wenbiao's subordinates.
Although there were only slight similarities, he was certain that for someone like Zhao Ping'an who was keen on private secrets, the sensationalism of the content far outweighed the verification of the authenticity of the voice.
Shen Li looked towards the inner gate, her gaze deep and unfathomable: Pang Sicheng, I hope you like this generous gift.
Next, let's see how much fire Zhao Ping'an can fan with his quick tongue.
He believed that once the rumor of the "evil method furnace" that was enough to shake the sect spread, it would be enough to keep Pang Sicheng so busy that he would have no time to care about anything else.
Hu Wenbiao, who has been accused of being the "source of the rumors," is probably not far from his doom.
Although this method is not very honorable, I am an undercover agent, here to cause trouble.
Moreover, dealing with enemies requires neither pedantry nor mercy.
Shen Li murmured somewhat embarrassedly: "Senior Sister Duanmu, although this rumor has slightly implicated you, Pang Sicheng is not a good person. I am trying to help you."
You don't need to thank me.
......
The next morning, the servants' dining hall was bustling with noise.
Zhao Ping'an listlessly poked at the spirit grain porridge in his bowl with his chopsticks, looking preoccupied and unable to enjoy his food.
The shocking secret was etched in his mind, yet he couldn't share it with anyone immediately. It felt as if a thousand claws were scratching at his heart, making him restless and uneasy.
Just then, two disciples who knew him well and also liked to inquire about news sat down next to him.
Seeing his state, one of them asked with concern, "Senior Brother Zhao, what's wrong? You seem distracted. Has your cultivation been going poorly lately?"
The other person's eyes lit up, and he asked mysteriously, "Judging from your appearance, you don't seem to have slept poorly, but rather you seem to have something big on your mind?"
What, what explosive news have you gotten this time?
Sharing happiness is worse than keeping it to yourself, so tell the brothers and see for yourselves!
Their words were like two keys, precisely unlocking the lock in Zhao Ping'an's heart.
He was torn between his inner conflict: to tell or not to tell.
If I told him, what if it got back to Pang Sicheng? Would I still be alive?
If I don't tell, I'll go crazy!
He scratched his head in frustration, then suddenly a thought struck him: That's it!
This secret was told to that bastard Hu Wenbiao and his men. What does it have to do with me, Zhao Ping'an?
I was just an innocent bystander who overheard this.
Hu Wenbiao will take full responsibility for everything.
Thinking of this, he felt as if a huge burden had been lifted from his shoulders, and his face instantly regained its radiance, even showing a hint of superiority as if he possessed core secrets.
He waved to his two friends, who then leaned closer.
Zhao Pingan then said with utmost solemnity, "I'm going to tell you a huge secret."
You absolutely, positively must not tell anyone!
Last night, I heard Hu Wenbiao's henchman say with my own ears..."
At noon, Shen Li strolled into the servants' dining hall, intending to find out the results of last night's "sowing".
As soon as he stepped through the door, a slight smile crept onto his lips.
Inside the dining hall, the servants no longer ate separately as usual, but gathered in groups of three or five, whispering and discussing amongst themselves.
A strange yet exciting atmosphere filled the air.
Shen Li quietly found a corner to sit down, and listened intently as snippets of conversation drifted over.
"...Have you heard? Senior Brother Pang Sicheng from the inner sect seems to be practicing some kind of wicked and clandestine art, which requires female disciples as his cultivation vessels!"
"What?! That can't be! Senior Brother Pang is Elder Pang's great-grandson, a prodigy of the sect, how could he..."
"How could it not be? The information is absolutely reliable! It was his trusted confidant, Tong Lu, who personally told Hu Wenbiao!"
"Hu Wenbiao? Who does he think he is? How could someone like Senior Brother Pang be associated with him?"
At this moment, another voice, with an air of knowing everything, interjected: "You're too superficial!"
I heard that Hu Wenbiao is planning to offer his own younger sister as a sacrificial offering to curry favor with Senior Brother Pang!
"puff--"
Shen Li, who was eating quietly, spat out her food upon hearing this.
He quickly lowered his head to cover up, inwardly laughing and crying at the same time: What is all this about?
The rumors are outrageous; they're getting more and more outrageous.
Although the rumors have spiraled out of control, their core objective has been achieved.
Shen Li didn't linger any longer and got up to leave this place of trouble.
......
As the saying goes, good news doesn't travel far, but bad news travels a thousand miles.
Such rumors, involving inner sect prodigies and great-grandchildren of elders, and containing erotic and bizarre content, spread at an astonishing speed.
As evening fell, Pang Sicheng, who had been cultivating all day, was in a good mood and strolled out of his cave.
He hadn't gone far when he ran into several familiar female classmates.
He habitually put on a gentle and handsome smile, and was about to go up and say hello.
However, to his surprise, the junior sisters who usually greeted him with smiles and even looked at him with a hint of admiration were now like startled rabbits, avoiding him from a distance with disdain and fear in their eyes.
Pang Sicheng's smile froze instantly, and his brows furrowed tightly: What's going on? Why are they avoiding me?
He subconsciously looked down to check himself; his Taoist robe was neat and there was nothing wrong with it.