The Poisonous Strategist Calculates the World in His Hall

Chapter 57: The Poisonous Strategist Calculates the World in His Hall

Early morning, Ji Shi Clinic.

“When one reaches youth, one must understand that a failing body means nothing.”

An Jing happily ate the ‘loving’ porridge made by Zhao Qingmei, then touched his firm little waist, and was about to find an excuse to go out.

He hadn't forgotten that today was not only the Yulanpen Festival (Ghost Festival) but also the Cao Gang’s Demon Extermination Assembly, where the head of the Peerless Swordsman, ‘Xue Chen,’ would be displayed to the public.

Tan Yun, while tidying the medicine cabinet, said, “Young Master, today is the Yulanpen Festival (Ghost Festival). I heard there’s a Water and Land Dharma Assembly. Shall we go have some fun?”

An Jing paused and said in an annoyed tone, “What’s so fun about the Yulanpen Festival (Ghost Festival)? The Water and Land Dharma Assembly is just a few bald monks lecturing on Buddhist scriptures; you won’t understand any of it.”

The Cao Gang had gathered the Four Great Families of Jiangnan Province, as well as many experts, to discuss how to deal with the Demonic Sect. Faxi Temple must be crowded with people and many experts at that time, and if chaos broke out, it might be very dangerous.

If this little girl, Tan Yun, were accidentally targeted by Jianghu people, he would still need to spend effort taking care of her.

“But Young Master, I want to go see it,” Tan Yun said, feeling wronged.

“Then do you listen to Young Master?” An Jing glanced at Tan Yun’s prominent chest.

“Of course, I listen to Young Master,” Tan Yun quickly said with a smile, “I listen to everything Young Master says.”

“Alright then, listen to Young Master, don’t go,” An Jing said righteously.

The smile on Tan Yun’s face froze, and her small face showed some surprise.

“Husband, I want to go too.”

Zhao Qingmei also walked out, looking at An Jing with an expectant expression, and said sweetly, “We haven’t been out to play for a long time.”

“If Madam also wants to go, that’s naturally good.”

An Jing immediately smiled apologetically upon hearing this, “Besides the Water and Land Dharma Assembly, the Yulanpen Festival (Ghost Festival) also has lantern releases, which are very interesting.”

Tan Yun: “???”

Didn’t he say it was incomprehensible? How did it suddenly become interesting?

At this moment, Tan Yun saw An Jing immediately change his tune, her small mouth instantly pouted, but in her heart, she secretly cursed: “Stinky Young Master, bad Young Master! When I said I wanted to go, you said it wasn't fun, but when the Sect Leader said she wanted to go, you immediately changed your expression.”

“I’ll remember this, and when I catch a big handle on you later…”

Thinking of this, Tan Yun took out a small notebook from her sleeve.

“This old man, however, finds this Water and Land Dharma Assembly quite interesting.”

Li Fuzhou slowly walked out at this moment, his clothes meticulously neat. He adjusted his sleeves and said lightly, “The Water and Land Dharma Assembly, where monks and nuns set up altars to chant scriptures, worship Buddhas, and offer repentance, and widely distribute food to transcend all deceased souls on land and water, and universally benefit the six realms and four births. Therefore, it is called such. Generally, those who can set up altars and chant scriptures are eminent Buddhist monks. The abbot of Faxi Temple is an eminent monk from the Western Regions. This Water and Land Dharma Assembly is indeed very worth seeing.”

Zhao Qingmei chuckled, “I’ve never seen a Buddhist Water and Land Dharma Assembly before, so let’s go and see it today.”

Faxi Temple, rear hall of the Revolving Dharma Hall.

Guo Yuchun sat in the rear hall, holding a secret scroll, his brows sometimes furrowed, sometimes relaxed.

“Deputy Gang Leader Guo, everything is ready,” Ouyang Yu slowly walked in.

“Good, I understand.”

Guo Yuchun nodded slightly, “Add another group of people for vigilance, the more the better, there must be no slightest error.”

“Do we need to add another group?”

Ouyang Yu asked.

Now the entire Faxi Temple, inside and out, was filled with Cao Gang’s secret sentries, and there were also many experts openly, so it could be said that the security was truly strict.

“According to the information I’ve received, the Demonic Sect has indeed entered Great Yan.”

Guo Yuchun narrowed his eyes and said, “Do you think the Demonic Sect will allow us to rise in prestige by stepping on their reputation?”

Ouyang Yu shook her head.

“That’s right.”

Now, all the rumors are saying that Xue Chen has defected to the Demonic Sect, and the Cao Gang has killed a Demonic Sect expert and is preparing to show off at the Demon Extermination Assembly. This is clearly a provocation to the Demonic Sect. If Demonic Sect experts find out, how could they not come to disrupt this Demon Extermination Assembly?

A grand game of chess not only requires enough pieces but also corresponding opponents.

Guo Yuchun’s Demon Extermination Assembly can be described as killing two birds with one stone. If the Demonic Sect members do not appear, then the Cao Gang, having killed a Demonic Sect expert and planning to hold a Demon Extermination Assembly, is undoubtedly stepping on the Demonic Sect to rise, making the Cao Gang’s prestige in the Jianghu even greater. This lays the foundation for the future Five Gangs Alliance.

If Demonic Sect members appear, then he will set up a Heavenly Net, and with the assistance of the Black Robe Guard and Buddhist experts, he can give the Demonic Sect members a crushing blow.

And if the Demonic Sect suffers a setback at his hands, the Cao Gang’s prestige will also soar.

Ouyang Yu naturally could also see Guo Yuchun’s calculations, but she still didn’t understand why Guo Yuchun wanted to use the Demonic Sect to establish his authority.

Although that swordsman did indeed kill Cao Gang members, and it was possible he was a Demonic Sect member, the Demonic Sect was not so easy to provoke.

The Demonic Sect was like a sleeping tiger; once awakened, it would devour people.

“I know your doubts.”

Guo Yuchun smiled faintly, “The Demonic Sect is making a comeback. Do you think it’s just by themselves?”

Ouyang Yu’s heart trembled, and she said coldly, “Deputy Gang Leader Guo means that someone is colluding with the Demonic Sect?”

Ouyang Yu vaguely knew that there was someone behind the Cao Gang. Over the past few decades, the rapid development of the Cao Gang had secretly surprised many in the Jianghu, but few knew that the Cao Gang actually had support.

The forces capable of supporting a power like the Cao Gang, with such means, were few and far between in Great Yan. So who was supporting the Demonic Sect?

At this moment, Ouyang Yu realized that the Jianghu was not as simple as she had imagined.

One must know that she was one of the Seven Vajra of the Cao Gang, a first-rate expert in the Jianghu, yet she still felt that the depths of it were unfathomable.

“Collusion is not the right word, but rather mutual benefit.”

Guo Yuchun’s smile slightly receded, “You might not need to know the rest, but you only need to know one thing: the Demonic Sect is a grave hidden danger to us. If the Demonic Sect wants to make a comeback, the first one they will target is our Cao Gang, and we are the same. If we want to confront this behemoth, we can only achieve the Five Gangs Alliance.”

Ouyang Yu’s heart trembled upon hearing this. She had always thought that the Five Gangs Alliance was merely a fantasy, an impossible ambition or aspiration.

After all, in the Jianghu, each of the Five Gangs was a top-tier force, occupying various corners of Great Yan. Even the weakest Three Lakes Gang had tens of thousands of members under its command, and the other four Gangs were even more massive. Once such five Gangs formed an Alliance, they could instantly become a colossal power.

Even six of the Seven Great Sects would find it hard to compare; only true giants like the Zhenyi Sect, the Black Robe Guard, the Buddhist Sect, and the Demonic Sect could contend with them.

Such a formidable power, so terrifying, would anyone be willing to see such an existence?

Those with such ambitions, without much thought, must be a certain individual in Jade Capital City, or that person on Zhenyi Mountain, or perhaps those several princely heirs.

“The Jianghu is far from the Imperial Court, but the Imperial Court is high above the Jianghu.”

Guo Yuchun sighed and said faintly, “To deal with the Demonic Sect, our Cao Gang alone is far from enough. We also need the banner of righteousness; we must learn to borrow power.”

Ouyang Yu also took a deep breath, “Then what if the Demonic Sect experts really come this time…”

Her heart was still somewhat worried, after all, the two words ‘Demonic Sect’ had thoroughly ingrained themselves in her mind.

Guo Yuchun frowned and said, “Gan Yue of the Black Robe Guard, as an Imperial Court official, eradicating the Demonic Sect is his primary duty, and he has no choice but to act. As for Monk Fa Zhi, representing Leiyin Temple and the Buddhist Sect of the Western Regions, what does the Buddhist Sect want most? Besides the nod of the one in Jade Capital City, it is recognition. This is the recognition of the Great Yan Jianghu, and to gain the recognition of the Great Yan Jianghu, dealing with the Demonic Sect is a very quick method, and it’s a method that the Great Yan Jianghu cannot refuse.”

Guo Yuchun was able to become the Cao Gang Leader’s strategist not only because he had a clear insight into matters of the Jianghu but also because he understood matters of the Imperial Court like the back of his hand.

Where is the world?

The world is in his heart.

“I understand.”

Ouyang Yu nodded, and said emphatically, “I’ll go now and mobilize more people to strengthen the security.”