Chapter 513

Chapter 513: Attack Directly or Talk First
Fang Cheng Lang and Nan Gong Jie chatted and laughed as they walked, as if they were old friends who had not seen each other for many years.

Many clansmen of the Nan Gong Clan saw this along the way and showed looks of surprise.

Although Nan Gong Jie always wore a smile in daily life and seemed very easy to get along with, he was still the son of the Chieftain, born higher than others.

They rarely saw Nan Gong Jie treat anyone so warmly, especially when the other person was an outsider with only average Cultivation Level, who had only risen up because of Nan Gong Yu’s favor.

Their gazes toward Fang Cheng Lang became more serious.

Fang Cheng Lang felt the change in their expressions and grew even more grateful to Nan Gong Jie in his heart.

Nan Gong Jie’s behavior quietly raised his status in the clan, and their relationship also grew closer because of this.

A few days later, Nan Gong Jie invited Fang Cheng Lang to his courtyard to sit and drink.

After three rounds of wine, Nan Gong Jie suddenly put down his cup and gave a bitter smile: “Brother Fang, do you know that although I was born in the Nan Gong Clan and seem to shine in glory, in truth every step I take is difficult?”

Fang Cheng Lang felt a bit strange inside, but on the surface he spoke with gentle concern: “Why do you say that, Brother Nan Gong?”

Nan Gong Jie gave a bitter smile and shook his head: “It is all because of my outstanding cousin Nan Gong Yin. Father favors her too much. No matter what she does, she can always get Father’s praise.

As for me, no matter how hard I try, I am always belittled as useless.

Take the selection for the Daqian Alliance. Clearly both she and I have the right to take part, but Father refused to agree to my request no matter what and only allowed Nan Gong Yin to join.

I… I just want to beat her once, even if it’s just once.”

After he finished speaking, he seemed to realize he had said too much. He hurriedly raised his cup and apologized to Fang Cheng Lang: “Sorry, Brother Fang. I lost control for a moment and said things I shouldn’t have. Please don’t take it to heart.”

Fang Cheng Lang’s face stayed calm. He raised his cup and clinked it with Nan Gong Jie’s: “It’s fine. I understand how you feel. Matters of a Family Clan are always complicated. You only spoke to me because you were moved by your feelings. How could I blame you?”

However, after he returned to his own place, Fang Cheng Lang’s expression faded.

He was not some inexperienced fool. Of course he could hear the deeper meaning in Nan Gong Jie’s words.

Nan Gong Jie’s closeness to him was not because he valued his potential, as he had claimed, but because he had another plan in mind.

Fang Cheng Lang felt a bit disappointed.

He had thought that he and Nan Gong Jie were close because they saw eye to eye. He had not expected that there were still interests and schemes mixed in.

[Sure enough, I was still too naive.]

Even so, Fang Cheng Lang did not really feel much dislike toward Nan Gong Jie.

After all, although Nan Gong Jie had used him, his actions had not harmed Fang Cheng Lang. Instead, he had helped Fang Cheng Lang completely gain a foothold in the Nan Gong Clan.

After thinking for a while, he decided to help Nan Gong Jie a bit.

Of course, he did not plan to get too involved. He only planned to say a word for Nan Gong Jie at a key moment.

As for whether Nan Gong Jie could get what he wanted, that would depend on Nan Gong Jie’s own luck.

……

Auspicious Palace.

A sharp shattering sound rang out.

A seductive-looking man sat on the main seat, tightly gripping a broken jade cup in his hand. His knuckles were white from the force.

Anger burned in his eyes as he swept his cold gaze over the subordinates kneeling on the floor.

“Trash! You can’t even catch a little Yu Zhao. What is the point of Auspicious Palace raising you?”

The subordinates kept their heads down, not daring to breathe loudly. They could only loudly admit their fault: “Palace Master, please calm your anger. We are useless. Please punish us!”

The man threw the shard in his hand. The sharp edge of the flying pieces cut across the faces of the few people kneeling in front.

Thin lines of blood slowly flowed down.

They did not even dare to raise a hand to wipe it away and pressed their bodies even closer to the floor.

But the Palace Master of Auspicious Palace did not calm down because of this. His chest rose and fell even more heavily. He was clearly furious to the extreme.

He had never thought that someone could offend Auspicious Palace and still walk away in one piece.

What made him even angrier was that this operation had not only failed, it had also cost him two capable subordinates.

“Yu Zhao, I really did underestimate you.”

When the Palace Lord of the Auspicious Palace thought of the information they had gathered recently, a trace of fear flashed in his eyes.

In fact, Yu Zhao herself was not scary. In his eyes, she was just a tiny ant he could crush with one finger.

The truly scary ones were the people around her.

Their identities were not simple, and they were willing to risk their lives to protect Yu Zhao.

This confused him. Just what was Yu Zhao’s relationship with them that made them so willing to work for her?

Right now, the Palace Lord of the Auspicious Palace was in a dilemma.

Auspicious Palace did have the strength to crush Yu Zhao, but it was not worth it to clash with other powers just for her and cause heavy losses to Auspicious Palace.

Besides, he did not know whether Yu Zhao still had other trump cards she had not shown yet.

If there was still some hidden force behind her and things were exposed, then Auspicious Palace would fall into a passive position.

“Since I can’t act personally, I might as well let others deal with her.”

He suddenly thought of the Tu Clan, who had been quiet lately.

The Tu Clan already had a grudge with Yu Zhao. If he could use their hands to get rid of Yu Zhao, wouldn’t that be killing two birds with one stone?

With that thought, the Palace Lord of the Auspicious Palace quickly made up his mind.

“Someone come.”

A subordinate hurriedly crawled forward on his knees and knelt on the broken pieces on the floor: “Palace Master, what are your orders?”

The Palace Lord of the Auspicious Palace narrowed his eyes, hiding the coldness in them: “Send word to the Tu Clan, the Feng Clan, and several other Family Clans. Whoever can catch Auspicious Palace’s runaway slave Yu Zhao will get the spot for the next Jade Ruyi candidate, plus twenty top grade furnace cauldrons.”

The subordinate looked up at him in shock. Seeing his cold face, he quickly lowered his head again: “Yes. I will take care of it at once.”

The Palace Lord of the Auspicious Palace curled his lips into a cold smile and tapped the armrest with his fingertip: “Yu Zhao, you think you can rest easy just because those people are protecting you?

I want to see if they can fight against several Family Clans working together.

People who offend Auspicious Palace never have a good end.”

……

Senior Xiu Yu pointed at the emerald green planet ahead: “Up ahead should be the Black Domain where the Giant Spirit Bear Beastmen live.”

Old Daoist Hei narrowed his eyes and took a look. Then he turned his head, a bit nervous, and asked everyone: “What should we do? Charge straight in, or be polite first and then use force?”

Ancestor Sui Bian glared at him: “All you ever think about is fighting and killing. Can’t you use your brain? If we accidentally hurt the Giant Spirit Bear people and they get angry and kill the bookworm, what will we do then?”

Old Daoist Hei was left speechless and shut his mouth in frustration.

“According to the news we heard before, the Beastkin are very closed off. It might not be proper to visit them suddenly without warning.”

“But if we don’t go and find them first, how will they ever see us?”

Senior Ling Long frowned slightly. Her gaze swept across the inside of the Starship and finally stopped on Yu Zhao, who was standing on tiptoe, looking outside. Her brows slowly relaxed.

“I know what to do.”