Starting as a supporting character in Doupo

Page 240

"Enough with the small talk, I'll ask, you answer, understand?"

Xiao Fan didn't waste words with Sha Qing, looking at him coldly and directly asking his question.

"I know...I know."

Sha Qing had no other choice at this moment. Although he was still surprised by Xiao Fan's strength as a Dou Huang, he dared not provoke him since he had been easily suppressed by him.

"I'm asking you, are you aware that the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect is preparing to start a war with the Gama Empire?"

Upon hearing Xiao Fan's words, Sha Qing's body trembled almost imperceptibly. So that's why he'd come—to discuss this matter. Now, with the situation beyond his control, Sha Qing could only say, "I know about this, but..."

"Just knowing is enough."

Xiao Fan waved his hand to interrupt Sha Qing's next words. He could guess what Sha Qing was going to say next. After all, when he saved Mo Qiancheng, wasn't Ling Lifu the same? After realizing that he couldn't beat Xiao Fan, he immediately started complaining.

Xiao Fan knew all too well that villains die from talking too much, and that things could go wrong if things dragged on, so he wouldn't give Sha Qing that kind of opportunity.

"Tell me, what is the latest move by the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect? They intend to massacre and sacrifice a city. Which city in the Izumo Empire are they planning to target?"

Upon hearing Xiao Fan's words, Sha Qing's face showed despair. She hadn't expected that the other party would even know such a secret matter. What exactly were those high-ranking members of the sect doing?

Now that he was in their hands, and thinking of the fate of those traitors, Sha Qing felt even more desperate if he betrayed the sect. He roared at Xiao Fan, "Kill me! I can't possibly tell you!"

Xiao Fan looked at Sha Qing, who suddenly struggled to her feet, shook his head, and said, "I forgot to tell you, besides being a Dou Huang, I am also a sixth-grade alchemist. You should know that with my sixth-grade alchemist's soul strength, it would be easy for me to find out these secrets. However, you won't have it so easy."

Xiao Fan wasn't trying to intimidate Sha Qing. With his soul strength, obtaining information would indeed be easy. However, getting the information he wanted from someone's soul would require filtering, which would take much longer. This mission was time-limited, and he didn't want to waste too much time.

Sha Qing knew that what the mysterious Dou Huang said was not without reason. Even if the other party was not an alchemist but just a Dou Huang, he could still get the information he wanted just by the pressure he exuded. It would just take some time.

Chapter 22 Silencing

"I...I'll tell you."

Hearing Xiao Fan's threat, Sha Qing had no choice but to relent and spoke to Xiao Fan and Yun Yun. As for the punishment he would receive for betraying the sect, that was a matter for later. If he didn't speak up now, he probably wouldn't even be able to get past this hurdle.

"Speak, I naturally have ways to tell whether you are deceiving me."

Upon hearing Xiao Fan's words, Sha Qing immediately began to tell Xiao Fan and the other person what she knew.

"Well... actually, our sect has a strict hierarchy. Each elder is responsible for different matters. Apart from the elders in charge and the sect leader, even if others know about this plan, they are completely unaware of its specific details."

Sha Qing glanced up at Xiao Fan, noticing his calm expression, before continuing, "So, regarding what you just said about the plan to sacrifice the people, although I have some general information, I'm not the one in charge of this matter. I know nothing about it."

"Ok?"

Xiao Fan sat on the stone bench, glanced at Sha Qing after hearing his words, and then said indifferently, "So, according to you, it seems that keeping you around is of no use?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Sha Qing noticed that the pressure on his body had increased significantly. The colorful toad that had been perched on his shoulder now looked listless.

Sensing that Xiao Fan's killing intent was genuine, Sha Qing abandoned any lingering hope. Although she didn't know which faction the mysterious expert before her came from, she knew that whoever dared to oppose the Izumo Empire and the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect would ultimately meet the same fate.

But right now, the most important thing is to ensure that I can stay alive.

"I... let me think about it..."

Sha Qing was afraid that Xiao Fan would immediately kill him, so he shouted at Xiao Fan before he started to think.

To rise to such a high position within the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect, Sha Qing must possess exceptional connections and intelligence. Although the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect has a strict hierarchy and clear division of labor, as a senior member, Sha Qing naturally understands the sect's consistent approach to affairs.

Although he was not in charge of the sacrifice, he knew that many of the deacons and disciples in the sect were his people. Although he was not currently involved in the major affairs of the sect, he was not unfamiliar with them.

After pondering for a moment, Sha Qing suddenly remembered something he had dealt with the day before.

The sect gathered some of its forces in Tianrong City and headed to Zhanyun City on the border of the Chuyun Empire. Thinking of this, Sha Qing seemed to have grasped a lifeline and said to Xiao Fan and the other person, "I know, it must be in Zhanyun City!"

"Zhan Yuncheng?"

Upon hearing Sha Qing's words, Xiao Fan looked at Sha Qing curiously, since he wasn't familiar with her.

"That's right, it must be Zhan Yuncheng."

Without delay, Sha Qing continued to speak to Xiao Fan: "Zhan Yun City is located on the southwestern border of the Chu Yun Empire. It is extremely remote and not far from the Jia Ma Empire. In addition, there are no experts in Zhan Yun City at present. Therefore, if the sect wants to make a move, Zhan Yun City is definitely the most suitable place."

"Didn't you just say you didn't know? How come you immediately deduced that they were planning to target Zhan Yuncheng?"

Seeing that He Shaqing seemed quite certain, Xiao Fan couldn't help but ask curiously, "Besides, how do you know that there are definitely no strong individuals in Zhanyun City?"

Upon hearing Xiao Fan's question, Sha Qing hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Well, it's because I suddenly remembered many orders issued by the sect some time ago. Many stewards and disciples in the heart of the Chuyun Empire were transferred from their original locations for various reasons and gathered in the southwest direction."

"Many of them are my people, and we keep in touch frequently. I didn't notice when I heard them talking about it before, but I only realized it after you reminded me just now."

"Moreover, Zhan Yun City is not far from the Jia Ma Empire, so if something happens, it can be better to shift the blame to the Jia Ma Empire."

Sha Qing began to explain to Xiao Fan and Yun Yun in a very detailed manner.

Worried that Xiao Fan and the other person might not believe him, he continued, "Moreover, Zhan Yuncheng originally had a conflict with the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect, which is why I am certain that they are planning to target Zhan Yuncheng."

"A contradiction? What do you mean?"

Upon hearing Sha Qing's words, Xiao Fan curiously asked another question.

"The city lord of Zhanyun City, Zhan Zichu, was originally a general of the Chuyun Empire. He was loyal to the previous emperor and had many grievances against the Wanxie Sect, causing considerable losses to the sect. Because of his opposition to the Wanxie Sect, after the war, through the efforts of the sect's higher-ups, he was demoted to Zhanyun City. In fact, if it weren't for the emperor's obstruction, the Zhan family would probably have died before they even reached there. However, it was precisely because of his arrival that the city gradually developed and was later renamed Zhanyun City."

"Since Zhan Zichu died, many of Zhan's descendants have harbored ill will towards the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect. They are one of the few families in the Chuyun Empire that oppose the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect. That's why I said they might choose Zhanyun City as their location."

After listening to Sha Qing's explanation, Xiao Fan and Yun Yun finally understood why the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect chose Zhan Yun City as the location. Firstly, its geographical location was close to the Jia Ma Empire, making it easy to frame someone. Secondly, there were forces in the city that did not submit to the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect, so they could take advantage of the situation to eliminate them.

[Ding! The host has identified the sacrifice location. Please complete the mission as soon as possible.]

The system's voice sounded, which made Xiao Fan overjoyed. This meant that what Sha Qing had said earlier was true, and the place where the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect was preparing to attack was Zhan Yun City.

Having determined the location where the other party was going to strike, Xiao Fan had no intention of continuing to chat with Sha Qing. After all, this was a time-limited mission, and he needed to get to Zhan Yun City as soon as possible. He really didn't have the time to waste here.

"Everything you said is true."

Xiao Fan said something to Sha Qing in a low voice, then turned to look at Yun Yun beside him. He glanced thoughtfully at Sha Qing's robes and then said, "Let's go."

After saying that, the two flew directly into the sky.

Sha Qing, standing on the ground, watched Xiao Fan and the other person gradually disappear into the distance, a look of surprise on his face. He hadn't expected that the other party would actually let him go like that!

Just as Sha Qing's face relaxed, a man in black wearing a crimson mask appeared not far from her.

When Sha Qing saw the newcomer, a look of surprise appeared on his face. He opened his mouth to speak, but his face gradually turned ashen. Then his eyes widened and he collapsed to the ground, dead.

The man in black looked at Sha Qing, who was gradually turning into blood on the ground, without any surprise. He stretched out a withered arm from under his black robe and beckoned to Sha Qing's body. Immediately, a grayish-brown venomous snake crawled out from under Sha Qing's clothes and coiled around the man in black's hand.

Chapter 23 The dove takes over the magpie's nest

After Xiao Fan and Yun Yun received news about Zhan Yuncheng from Sha Qing, they didn't waste any time. They returned to Tianxiang Tower and told Si Kou Shisan about the news they had received from Sha Qing. The two of them then hurriedly headed towards Zhan Yuncheng.

Xiao Fan didn't want to waste too much time because the system's task was time-limited, while Yun Yun was also very anxious because she was concerned about the safety of the people in that city.

Zhan Yun City is located in the southwest of the Chuyun Empire, and it is not very close to Tianrong City. For ordinary people, it would be impossible to cross such a long distance in less than a month, and if they were even slower, it might not be possible to arrive in a month (this describes ordinary people).

Fortunately, both Xiao Fan and Yun Yun are Dou Huang level experts. Xiao Fan has the Three Thousand Thunderbolts, and Yun Yun also has wind attribute Dou Qi, so their flight speed is extremely fast.

Even so, it took the two of them a whole day to get close to Zhan Yuncheng.

On a hilltop outside Zhan Yun City, Xiao Fan and Yun Yun landed.

"Let's rest here for a while."

Looking at the slightly tired Yun Yun, Xiao Fan felt a pang of heartache. He took her to the top of the mountain and said, "We are not familiar with Zhan Yun City, and we don't know who the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect has sent to handle this matter. Let's rest here for a while and find an opportunity to enter the city after we recover."

Yun Yun nodded gently, then sat down next to Xiao Fan, rested her head on his shoulder, and closed her eyes for a short rest.

Xiao Fan didn't say anything to disturb her. Looking at the fatigue on Yun Yun's face, he felt a pang of guilt.

Since taking Yun Yun with him, she has followed him everywhere, from the Yunlan Sect to the Xiao Family, from the Xiao Family to the Monster Mountain Range, and then she followed him all the way to the Chuyun Empire. She has never complained, which has deeply moved Xiao Fan.

Although they were powerful, they only took a day to travel from Tianrong City to Zhanyun City. Even Xiao Fan, who relied on his special physique of Chaotic Flame Body, felt a little tired, let alone Yun Yun.

Xiao Fan looked at Yun Yun, who was holding his left arm and leaning on his shoulder, and had unknowingly fallen asleep. He waved his right hand and used his soul power to hide around them, isolating them from outside sounds and preventing anything from disturbing her.

When the moon was high in the sky, Yun Yun, who was leaning on Xiao Fan's shoulder, moved her eyes and then came to her senses.

"woke up?"

Yun Yun looked up and saw Xiao Fan's gentle gaze. A hint of satisfaction flashed in her eyes. She nodded gently without saying anything, holding Xiao Fan's left hand with both hands, her head still resting on Xiao Fan's shoulder, sitting quietly.

"Eat something first."

Xiao Fan took a tender animal leg from the fire in front of him with his right hand and offered it to Yun Yun's mouth.

Upon hearing Xiao Fan's words, Yun Yun realized that a pile of firewood had been lit in front of them, and a golden-brown magical beast was roasting on it.

How did you manage to grill it with only one hand?

Yun Yun felt Xiao Fan's left arm holding her in his arms, pulled her hand away and took the beast leg that Xiao Fan handed her, wondering how Xiao Fan could start a fire and roast meat with one hand without disturbing her.

"It's very simple." Xiao Fan smiled at Yun Yun, then gestured with his chin: "That's all."

To Yun Yun's astonishment, the meat on the firewood floated towards Xiao Fan out of thin air.

Xiao Fan reached out and caught the beast meat in mid-air, then said to Yun Yun, "Easy, right?"

Yun Yun looked at the beast meat floating over, glanced at Xiao Fan with a wry smile, and said with a laugh, "You think you can use your soul power to roast meat?"

"hey-hey......"

After the two had eaten and drunk their fill, Xiao Fan looked at Yun Yun's radiant appearance and said, "Let's go, let's go into the city and take a look."

The two were summoned to Tianxiang Tower by Sikou Shisan yesterday morning. After obtaining information from Sha Qing, they rushed over without stopping and did not arrive until the evening of the next day.

During Yunyun's rest, the moon had already hung high in the sky.

Nighttime is the most dangerous time for these cities near the empire's borders, as they must be constantly on guard against possible enemy attacks. Therefore, there are still many patrolling soldiers on the walls of Zhanyun City.