Sword Among Us

It was a sleepless night.

Soon after the news of Happy escaping unscathed from Dragon’s Gate even though he was ambushed, another even more explosive news arrived.

After keeping quiet for more than half a year, the elusive One Emperor had finally appeared before the people!

However, this time, when he appeared outside Dragon’s Gate, he ruthlessly destroyed the group of top-class elites Barren Murderer brought. At the same time, Wind Assault Tower also secretly mobilized more than ten thousand people to tightly surround an area that stretched out for several miles away from Dragon’s Gate. In the end, they managed to successfully kill all the people who joined the operation of ambushing Happy in Dragon’s Gate.

When this news spread out, the Chinese server trembled!

All factions of power in the Chinese server grew restless.

*****

“They finally decided to attack Class One Hall!”

“Phantasmal Shadow is really good at seizing the chance this time!”

“Yeah.”

“Over the past year or so, Phantasmal Shadow has always showed a lackluster performance ever since Wind Assault Tower officially became the strongest sect in the Chinese server, to the point that I’ve begun thinking that Phantasmal Shadow was already beginning to be satisfied with her current situation, but by the looks of it now, Empress Shadow’s might has not reduced even in the slightest. In fact, it’s even stronger than the past!”

Uncle Sword and Tea Words sat together in Dragon’s Gate, and they were both filled with emotions about this situation.

“When Phantasmal Shadow sent that vague thread on the forum, I thought that Phantasmal Shadow would truly not dare to fight against Class One Hall and was really just causing a ruckus to frighten Class One Hall. I didn’t expect that they would deal just a lightning fast blow outside Dragon’s Gate. They didn’t even give their enemy the chance to strike back. Right now, they left behind a lot of people to control the Guanlin Temple in Dragon’s Gate. Those Class One Hall members are also famous, so it’s very easy for them to recognize them. They’ve basically killed all possibility of Class One Hall breaking out of this situation. From now on, Dream Clouds and Class One Hall will not have any peace.”

Tea Words nodded silently. “I didn’t expect that she would deliver such a ruthless blow after Happy left, and she even managed to ask One Emperor over, and you… It’s no wonder why she could sit in her current position. She’s indeed not a simple character.”

“Hehe, count me out of the equation. I know how much I weigh, so don’t compare me with One Emperor.” Uncle Sword could tell that Tea Words wanted to flatter him, and he shook his head while he laughed. “You can say that she asked One Emperor to come, but as for Head Hunters, we just did what she told us to after she gave us money. This is a place where information gathers and spreads out. No matter what happens here, it won’t escape from my sight. It’s only logical for Phantasmal Shadow to ask me to help monitor Barren Murderer and his group.”

Right when he finished speaking, Tea Words smiled and picked up his winecup as he said in a ruminating manner, “She gave you two billion taels of silver and had Head Hunters be in charge of collecting all information regarding Class One Hall and Blood Alliance. I don’t think that the fee she paid for One Emperor to egress was as high. Congratulations, Uncle Sword!”

Uncle Sword glared at him. “You brat, how did you know how much Phantasmal Shadow paid me?!”

“Hehe, it’s a secret.” Tea Words smiled mysteriously.

Uncle Sword refused to admit defeat. “You’re talking about secrets in front of me? Since you have a close connection with Happy, and Happy has a close connection with Wandering Know-it-all, and Wandering Know-it-all has a close connection with Phantasmal Shadow. Looks like the iron triangle in fighting against Wild Wolves will turn into an iron square from now on. Happy must have told you about the price Phantasmal Shadow offered me, right?”

“…You can think about it however you want.” Tea Words smiled and declined to reply to Uncle Sword. “But you must think carefully. That money might be enough to buy your information, but it might bring you a lot of trouble. Class One Hall and Blood Alliance will soon learn that you are working for Wind Assault Tower, and they will definitely offer you a high price—”

“Don’t worry, I won’t be someone who is easily swayed. I regard that sort of thing with contempt, you know? Since I’ve already taken Wind Assault Tower’s money, before I complete their task, I will not take Class One Hall’s money.” Uncle Sword schooled his expression.

Even though Tea Words was saying those words in a casual tone, to Uncle Sword, this was an official warning.

To him, Happy, Tea Words, Phantasmal Shadow, One Emperor and Wandering Know-it-all all belonged to the same group.

And coincidentally, Tea Words had a clear knowledge of many of the businesses Head Hunters were used to conduct. The words he said just now should be a warning!

Even though Uncle Sword had made deals with Class One Hall before and had wanted to earn even more from this incident, right now, he did not dare have this sort of thought.

“Uncle Sword, you don’t have to be so nervous. It doesn’t matter to me just how much money Phantasmal Shadow spends in this.” Tea Words’ smile did not fade away. His expression was one of ease. “I’m just reminding you that you should be careful that Class One Hall and Blood Alliance might do something not beneficial to you.”

Uncle Sword said nothing, but his heart was filled with contempt.

Ever since Tea Words and his group took action to help Happy break Barren Murderer’s Fatal Flying Matrix, his view of Tea Words had completely changed.

Uncle Sword took the initiative to change the topic from Head Hunters to Phantasmal Shadow’s operation.

“We still don’t know whether Class One Hall and Blood Alliance can last through the attacks from Wind Assault Tower, One Emperor and the various factions of power in the Chinese server, so they won’t have the chance and time to attack me. Besides, Wind Assault Tower chose to attack after Happy ignited the sparks in the war against Class One Hall, and they did it using the momentum One Emperor created. They launched their attack while the momentum against Class One Hall is high, and the sparks have already turned into a great flame that is burning through the plains! Class One Hall’s destruction might come naturally in due time! No matter how strong Dream Clouds is, it’s impossible for her to get through this disaster. She’s going to face One Emperor and an empress, and even Empress Clouds will not be able to fend against this onslaught!”

“I don’t quite agree.” Tea Words spun the winecup in his hand with a stern expression. “While Empress Shadow is extraordinary, and her Wind Assault Tower is indeed the strongest sect in the Chinese server, don’t forget, it’s entirely because of that incident that allowed her to become the strongest. If that incident had not happened and caused Class One Hall to have their foundation of strength largely damaged so that Wind Assault Tower could seize the chance to surpass them, Wind Assault Tower wouldn’t be the strongest faction of power in the Chinese server right now.”

Uncle Sword’s expression changed, but he remained silent.

Since he was the leader of Head Hunters and the head of the biggest information brokering organization in the Chinese server, it was only natural that he would know just what was the incident Tea Words mentioned.

It was the incident involving Happy one year and seven months ago.

During the grand Sword Among Us tournament at Mount Hua, Happy had missed his match because he was delayed. Then, he was killed so many times at the foot of Mount Song that he was reduced to the level of a newbie, causing him to fall into a coma in reality, and he never woke up until recently.

Then, Beautiful Robes Faction, which could only be considered as a first-class faction of power in World of Martial Arts, launched a suicidal operation against Class One Hall once they learned of this news.

Then, other organizations attacked Class One Hall nonstop!

They gathered and instigated multiple sects and players who disliked Class One Hall and launched an attack for vengeance that lasted for a few months!

Class One Hall might have suppressed them multiple times during then, but since Beautiful Robes Faction had attacked them with the thought of killing as many of them as possible, they used everything in their disposal, from sneak attacks, assassinations, ambushes, and even poison and traps. They also used the forums to attack them, causing Class One Hall to be incredibly exhausted from the onslaught of attacks.

Beautiful Robes Faction had indeed contributed to this, but Wind Assault Tower had also suggested to them what they should do, along with supporting them.

Or else, a small sect and public denouncements would definitely not be able to cause such a huge giant in the Chinese server be in such a pathetic state.

It was precisely because of Class One Hall being injured badly that one time that Wind Assault Tower was able to gradually catch up to and surpass Class One Hall. Later on, through several events, they were gradually acknowledged by the public and became the strongest faction of power in the Chinese server. Among them, the key in pushing them to the top of the Chinese server was their determination in fighting against Wild Wolves. They had actually staked everything in Wind Assault Tower against Wild Wolves and fought against them regardless of the cost. That was also how they were acknowledged by Wandering Know-it-all and One Emperor.

Uncle Sword said, “Dream Clouds is indeed a very powerful woman, and her methods are great. But it’s even rarer that Phantasmal Shadow is able to seize a chance and snatch the title of the strongest sect from such a powerful opponent!”

“Uncle Sword, do you know why I’ve never been willing to become just a member of Head Hunters and insist on entering the depths of the world of martial artists and get onto the stage of their conflict?”

Uncle Sword said nothing about it.

“Sometimes, perhaps the onlookers would be able to see what is going on clearly, but there are times where you don’t know many of the real profound truths if you aren’t truly involved in the situation! Your ambition is in earning money, and I am really only here to play the game.” Tea Words’ words made Uncle Sword frown a little.

He said nothing.

Tea Words spoke once more, “In truth, Dream Clouds should know that Phantasmal Shadow was involved in spurring things forward during that incident. Dream Clouds used a lot of methods when she attacked Beautiful Robes Faction, and Beautiful Robes Faction has indeed received help and information from certain people. Hence, we’re able to be successful in every single one of our operations, which is something surprising, but you don’t know that our ambition right from the start is to completely destroy Class One Hall with our youth, passion, and plan for vengeance. We had even staked everything we had in our plans when we fought against Class One Hall, and through it, we weakened Class One Hall bit by bit, wanting to make it walk into its own demise. But Dream Clouds’ move in making Blood Robes leave Class One Hall caused many Beautiful Robes Faction members to lose our motivation to continue exacting our revenge.”

“…So there was actually something like this happening behind the scenes?” Uncle Sword was surprised.

“If it weren’t for Blood Robes leaving Class One Hall and Dream Clouds personally admitting that she wronged Happy, we would have continued with our operation, but Dream Clouds’ move had indeed been something we didn’t expect. After that happened, I knew that it was impossible for us to continue with our plan for vengeance.”

“Indeed… After all, the person who acted on behalf of Class One Hall was Blood Robes, not all of Class One Hall.”

“But that’s not where Dream Clouds is at her best.” Tea Words smiled wanly. “When she saw that the situation where Wind Assault Tower’s status as the strongest sect had become something set in stone, Class One Hall did not fight over the title with Wind Assault Tower. Instead, they helped Blood Robes set up Blood Alliance and helped him gather a large group of evil players into the alliance. Because of it, even though Class One Hall lost their throne as the strongest sect in the Chinese server, the person who really has the strongest faction of power in the Chinese server is still Class One Hall and Dream Clouds!”

Uncle Sword said nothing.

“Aside from Blood Alliance, there’s also Five Venoms, which is another first-class sect that can act independently. She also has Assassin Hall and Heaven’s Music Sect, which are both famous organizations. All of them are not simple organizations. The reason behind why Phantasmal Shadow has never dared to officially declare war against Class One Hall is because of the strength Class One Hall can accumulate when these forces gather together.”

Tea Words sighed heavily and said, “This time, even though she managed a good fight through Happy and One Emperor, Phantasmal Shadow’s chances of success are not high. Wind Assault Tower’s strength is not enough to overturn Class One Hall, unless the players in the Chinese server and the factions of power can attack in time, or less, the victor in this war might not be Phantasmal Shadow.”

When he heard this, Uncle Sword found himself unable to say anything.

“Are you saying that I’m in a really dangerous situation.”

“Just a bit.”

Tea Words nodded, as if the matter did not concern him at all.

Uncle Sword thought about this for a while before he looked up and stared at Tea Words in derision. “Alright, you’ve already made me become involved in the war, and now, you said a whole bunch of things to make me afraid because you’re certain that I won’t join Class One Hall. Consider me unlucky… Go on, just tell me. Do you need my help?”

Tea Words smiled and moved his lips to send a private message.

“Just a bit…”