Chapter 850 - 850: Deeply Scheming

The moon in the sky is shrouded by clouds, rendering it blurry and hazy.

This leads to the appearance of the person suddenly arriving, whose face looks indistinct, showing only a vague outline from a dozen meters away.

"In half an hour, it'll be December 31st; excited as I am, I feel like slaughtering a chicken," the person said leisurely.

Zheng Wei pondered for a while before saying, "I advise you not to slaughter the chicken. After the 31st, it's New Year's Day, so keep the chicken for more eggs."

The person continued, "Eggs aren't as tasty as chicken; pluck the feathers and smear honey, coat with mud, I'll leave half the rump for you."

"Focusing only on one's momentary gain will inevitably lead to hardship later. Better keep the old hen, let her hatch chicks for future craving."

The two bantered poetically, crafting rhymes about a nonexistent "chicken," with simple and comprehensible meaning, and rhythmic verses.

Xiao Feng and his company listened in utter bewilderment, yet they understood there was a hidden meaning behind it.

After all, who'd be so weird to come to a graveyard at night for a poetry showdown?

Therefore, this must be a unique "coded language" created by the Celestial Defect Sect.

And since it's coded, deciphering it clearly couldn't be accomplished immediately.

After several rounds of such exchanges, Zheng Wei cupped his hand in greeting and asked, "Are you Holy Army, Brother Holy?"

"I am." The person agreed, walking forward with hands behind his back.

Approaching within ten meters, Zheng Wei finally discerned the other's features.

A square face, a large nose, dark skin, a fairly ordinary face adorned with a smile at the corner of his mouth.

As Holy Army drew near, he cupped his hand in return and said, "It's Zheng Wei, Brother Zheng, right?"

"Indeed." Zheng Wei nodded.

"Let's skip the pleasantries. Before coming, I received crucial news. Do you want to hear it, Brother Zheng?"

"Oh?" Zheng Wei showed interest, "I'd love to hear the details."

Holy Army beckoned, "Come closer, Brother Zheng."

Zheng Wei glanced around, furrowing his brows, "Is it necessary? It's just us two here, speak openly."

He refused, worrying Xiao Feng and others might witness them, causing unnecessary misunderstandings.

Another reason was self-protection; unless necessary, he wasn't willing to approach the other too closely.

Yet Holy Army said, "It's an important matter; leaking it would be problematic. Please come closer, Brother Zheng."

"What requires whispering even in a place like this?"

"I told you it's crucial, Brother Zheng—do you distrust me, fearing I'll attack you?" Holy Army complained.

At that point, Zheng Wei couldn't further refuse, so he nodded, "Of course, I trust Brother Holy completely, speak freely."

He then stepped forward, pressing his ear closer, remaining vigilant internally, ready to call for assistance if any sign indicated betrayal.

Holy Army also leaned closer, whispering, "Brother Zheng, news says you vanished from Bai Family a week ago, likely in Xiao Feng's hands."

Zheng Wei's heart sank, but he feigned composure, "Nonsense! I dare not say I can defeat Xiao Feng, but I can protect myself..."

At this moment, sudden sharp pain erupted from his abdomen.

He looked down and saw a curved knife embedded in his stomach.

Holy Army abruptly exerted force, driving the knife deeper into Zheng Wei's abdomen, saying coldly, "Forgot to mention, the source is highly reliable. My two brothers also believe."

Finished, he released the handle and clapped thrice.

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

Soon after, two figures emerged.

Zheng Wei gritted his teeth, pressing a hand to his stomach, gazing at the two approaching.

The person in front slightly hunched, appearing fiftyish, yet his demeanor matched that of an eighty-year-old.

"Ji Shengli?!" Zheng Wei's gaze hardened.

The hunched man coughed lightly, "You still recognized me."

Following behind was a small-eyed, freckled man with a handlebar mustache, reminiscent of a traitor guiding enemy forces in old films.

He stepped forward, sneering at Zheng Wei, "Recognize me?"

"You're Feng Haotian, aren't you?" Zheng Wei retorted coldly, "Seems you've long planned to kill me."

Ji Shengli and Feng Haotian were those who had previously pledged to assist him in Jiangcheng.

Now, appearing alongside Holy Army made certain things self-evident.

"Traitor, not killing you, are we awaiting your attack instead?" Feng Haotian shouted angrily.

Zheng Wei took a deep breath, refraining from using the pill inside his clothes, nor disputing, only asking, "Who informed you?"

"Humph! No harm in telling you." Ji Shengli smirked derisively, "Before the meeting scheduled by Holy Army tonight, we all received a text.

The text stated your disappearance a week ago under nightfall, revealing after thorough investigation, you likely fell into Xiao Feng's hands.

While seeking our aid, you never mentioned this, and after pondering briefly, we naturally considered betrayal."

"You still didn't tell me who sent the text." Zheng Wei murmured, paling significantly, shedding his complexion's color.

"It was Bai Huanyu," Holy Army snickered sarcastically, "Funny how you thought everything was flawless, meanwhile he had you figured out all along, understanding your communication methods entirely."

In the shadows, Xiao Feng muttered, "The old fox's scheming runs deeper than expected."

"Boss, Bai Huanyu's playing a dangerous game," Lone Wolf commented, "Isn't he afraid Celestial Defect Sect might silence him?"

Xiao Feng shook his head, "This is the safest choice. If Bai Huanyu hadn't grasped these three's contact methods, or more, Bai Family would inevitably face disaster.

Informing them beforehand changes the scene entirely.

As for silencing, Celestial Defect Sect wouldn't resort to such measures.

Too many know about the sect; if killing were their routine, the Bi father and son would have perished long ago."

"Damn it, miscalculating everything, that old fart Bai Huanyu spoils it all, better find the time to eliminate him!" Lone Wolf grumbled.

Aspergillus oryzae interrupted, "Forget eliminating Bai Huanyu for now, should we go rescue someone? I bet Zheng Wei won't last long."

Xiao Feng looked toward Hui Yi, nodding slightly, "Go!"

"I go first?" Hui Yi replied reluctantly.

"Weren't you bragging about leading the charge?" Xiao Feng retorted.

Hui Yi rubbed his nose, bracing himself, "Fine, I'll go first, but you've got to follow closely; alone I can't handle the trio."

Everyone nodded in unison, expressing understanding.