Strongest Among the Heavens
Chapter 378: Will of Society

Chapter 378: Will of Society

Heng and Shaoruo, their survival was not unwelcomed. Whether they lived or survived, whether their actions would catch up, it all did not matter. They could live. They could die. They could seek vengeance against "David", the man responsible for all this. For making them commit a crime against humanity and their home.

He guided the boys to a safer part of Sukhothai, a quiet alley where the chaos and destruction felt distant, almost unreal. Indeed, throughout his invisible walks, he had set-up bombs. He was aware they couldn’t stay for too long or else someone would discover them so they installed them seven hours before. It was what subtly guided the monsters and Wang Lun to where he wanted. He calculated it all. He ran the numbers in his head like a supercomputer and made pinpointed which areas would be crowded and which would be left alone.

As predicted, this was one alleyway that had the people sprint through to get into a neighbourhood. Much of the focus of Dasha’s bombs were in the Sukhothai, not what was outside it.

"You two run out until things settle down," Dasha instructed. "Keep out of sight and don’t go back until it’s safe."

Heng nodded, clutching his brother’s hand tightly. "Thank you, Mr. David. We’ll do as you say."

Dasha gave a slight nod, and without another word, they ran. The boys peered over their shoulders, staring into the shadows that hid him. They thought him a saviour. They did not understand. They did not understand that the potions they sold were responsible for all this.

They believed a lie. A beautiful, terrible lie.

Dasha returned to the market place. The Sukhothai was huge, five kilometers long. There was much to explore, many factions and individuals to fight. Dasha’s monsters would not win. They would die, that much was certain. Wildfires and smoke spread and clogged the darkness. Corpses lay astray. Navigating this hell was proving difficult, even to Dasha with his Qi Sense.

But he had an appointment to keep. The chaos he had orchestrated had done its work, but now he needed to ensure that everything fell into place. He followed peace. Yes, the corpses of his own monsters. Dasha knew from the start who his monsters would fall against.

Wang Lun and his Pure Water Sect.

At a secluded spacing, the Pure Water Sect gathered. Blood and muck marred them, though otherwise, they were unharmed. At the center of the smoke and bodies of wolves stood Wang Lun.

The moment Wang Lun noticed Dasha, his expression shifted, a mixture of recognition and annoyance crossing his features. "Messenger," he called out. "Over here."

Invisibility or not, Wang Lun’s Qi Sense was at a level far beyond his own. Hiding from him and spying on him were fruitless endeavors.

The invisibility cloak deactivated, Dasha approached with measured steps, his soul betraying nothing of the satisfaction earned. Wang Lun and his men were exactly where he needed them to be—frustrated, desperate, and ready to listen.

"Wang Lun," Dasha greeted, playing his role as the obedient messenger. "Did you kill the royal guard as you wished?"

Wang Lun’s jaw tightened. "I was so close," he muttered, more to himself than to Dasha. "That Gūniáng slipped through my fingers. He excels at running, it seems. But if there is one thing to take away, we know he is to blame for this chaos. He, the Imperials, allof them."

Dasha tilted his head slightly, feigning curiosity. "What happened?"

Wang Lun’s Qi thickened, the wood of the nearby structures creaking under the force. "We caught him at a building for the poor, hiding potions. He was trying to sell them to those poor men and women, probably to spread this...disease. I saw the colour; I suspect that the Imperials are selling this to the people to experiment and produce a new cultivation potion. The explosions were an end product, I presume, to clean up the mess. Hide the evidence."

"Ah..."

Yes, buildings of the poor. Where those without homes came together. There were many of them, Dürr’s home was no exception. It was the norm. All it took was a little set-up and he could make even an investigator look guilty.

Wang Lun’s face twisted into a scowl. "Gūniáng is slippery, I’ll give him that. But he will not escape again. We’ll hunt him down and finish what we started."

Dasha was pleased. Very pleased. Wang Lun was so eager to place the blame on Gūniáng and the Imperials. His plan had worked perfectly.

First, selling the potions to the lower-level fighters who in their ignorance would not know any better regarding its contents. Second, have Mùchén spy on his little princess and her people. Find out where they went and when they went. Third, Frame the third-in-command, Gūniáng, known to be loyal to a fault and specializing in investigation. Fourth, manipulate Wang Lun into killing Gūniáng’s guards and pushing Gūniáng himself to the brink of death. Weakening him to the point that Dasha could deal the finishing blow.

Not only to receive XP—no, no. By orchestrating the chaos and framing Gūniáng, he had successfully planted seeds of distrust and anger in Wang Lun’s mind and the desire to push for more power and influence. Many had died today. Named or unnamed, it did not matter. A small power vacuum was left by the deaths and destruction in a small, vital section of the marketplace. The perfect opportunity for Dasha to step in, with Wang Lun unknowingly paving the way.

"Your information is impressive," Wang Lun said. "You said you would signal me when he would be there and he was. Discreetly, might I add."

Yes, Dasha had selected that building well in advance. Lighting up Dürr’s building, the smoke worked as a signal to tell them to raid the specified location. See, Wang Lun himself, while an excellent sensor, was too strong to be stealthy. The same could be said for much of his Sect. They were rebels through and through.

"You must have observed him for a long time. Take me to any other areas he went. Gūniáng may have fled there."

"As you wish."

The Royal Guard was dead. This was pointless. For the sake of appearances, he did it. Only Wang Lung walked with Dasha, rings glistening, bracelets bouncing, and his scarlet blade dragging along the ground.

There was debris. Broken shops. The screams of people. Wang Lun appeared to care less about it than Dasha.

"For the Imperials to go so far, I wonder what pushed them," Dasha said.

"Ha, the messenger for the dismantling of the gods speaks for the reasoning of their descendants?"

"Yes. Enemies or not, all pursue their own reason. Some reasons may be incomprehensible but it is reason regardless," Dasha retorted.

"Experimenting with mythical beasts and death itself...perhaps the rumour that the Kangxi Emperor kept the corpse of his eldest son is true."

"Prince Fulin..." Named after his father, the former prince sacrificed his life to kill Yamata-no-Orochi. "Some rumour say he reached Late Nascent Soul and died after burning through his soul."

"I would believe it. As despicable as his family is, Fulin’s talent was not. He surpassed his father in strength and was near his equal in wisdom too. He was on the cusp of being crowned as the next Emperor. If not for Yamata-no-Orochi, perhaps he might have rivaled the Original Cultivator himself."

"But those are just words. He died. His story ended."

Wang Lun smiled. "Correct and we are all the better for it."

Slash!

Dasha didn’t even see it. One moment, a wolf charged at them and the next it imploded, bubbles of liquid sprinkling out and onto his lips. Dasha presumed it was blood but upon tasting it, it was in fact water. Wang Lun walked ahead as if the monster he crafted ever so carefully was but a speck.

’Intriguing.’

Dasha too walked as if it was a speck.

"There is power to be had now," Dasha said. "The Imperials are weakened, and with Gūniáng on the run, there will be space for those who are strong enough to take control."

Wang Lun’s eyes narrowed as he considered Dasha’s words. His steps and blade did not slow. "And you think I should be the one to step into that power?"

"You have already shown your strength, Wang Lun. The people here need someone to lead them, someone who isn’t afraid to take decisive action. The Pure Water Sect could become more than just a thorn for the Imperial Sect."

Wang Lun’s scowl faded, replaced by a thoughtful expression. The idea was appealing and Dasha could see the wheels turning in the man’s mind.

"You speak sense, Messenger," Wang Lun finally said, his tone grudgingly respectful. "But the Imperials won’t roll over. Once the princess returns, they will fight back. Alone, there would be no issue. But if one is killed, then the others will come. The Kangxi Emperor, Prince Yuzin, Consort Lü Siniang—her especially. Her affinity with blood holds an advantage over my water element."

"Then do not fight. Seize control. You are a rebel that ransacks and battles. That is what you did in life and that is what you do now."

"My people are fighters, not tax collectors, messenger."

"Then allow me to assist in that endeavor. Grant me protection and I will spread influence under your name. You will reap the benefits, my friend." Dasha stopped and turned toward a series of broken stalls and shops. So many owners were cowering and bleeding. So much opportunity. "It is the will of the Society."