Blue Phoenix Chapter 82 – Plea for Help

Although Hui Yue gained some valuable information, he kept quiet about it for some time. He knew that although the Deng and Wang families were getting ready to make their move, it was evident that they could do nothing for the next year. Everything needed precise planning and timing. That was one thing which could not be rushed.

The Deng family had always been a major family within Riluo City. After they had gained the watermills, they had gotten greedy, due to their increased income by tenfold, and they wished for more.

The Wang family were different. They did not participate in this battle for Riluo City because of greed. No, they were driven by revenge.

The current leaders within the Deng and the Wang families had long since agreed that Deng Tsang Ying was to become the new City Lord, as long as the Wang family was allowed to take over everything which belonged to the Rong family.

As for which of the two families set this revolt into motion, Hui Yue did not know, and truthfully for him, it did not matter who was the leading force behind it.

What he did care about was the fact that his friends had been split between the two factions. Hui Yue felt as though he would have to make a major decision.

Hui Yue was, however, not the only one who was stuck with an important decision which needed to be made. The Wang and Deng families had ensured that no one knew about their plans from the very start. Their attempt to attract the young genius with ties to an esteemed expert had backfired on them.

Not only did he decline to join their group, but he now also possessed knowledge of their plans to a certain degree. If he were to tell this information to the City Lord, their plans would collapse. Then their hopes of ever overthrowing Lord Rong Liang would go down the drain.

Hui Yue was, unfortunately, the student of an esteemed expert and getting rid of him was impossible, as they knew that the expert would come back and get revenge. A certain someone’s vengeance was much more dangerous than a young boy who might tell on them to the City Lord.

Recently Lord Rong Liang had been incredibly busy with creating something which he called sewers. These sewers were vastly improving the living standards of the poorer areas of the city, not to mention his sudden explosive investment into mining magical gems and minerals.

This improved standard of living was obviously caused by Hui Yue. Two families from the Great Hundred Names used this opportunity to bribe and tempt other families to join their faction. Especially the rumor that the City Lord had come up with a mechanism which would totally change the entire field of mining. This new standard of living caused many of the poorer noble families to be jealous and greedy. Magical crystals were definitely something which they wished to possess.

Although the surface of Riluo City was the same as ever, information started to seep into the underground. As soon as the servants knew and gathered all the information, they brought it to Gao Yan.

Gao Yan was a part of the Rong faction, and all the information he gained went straight to the twins who in turn took it home.

Although the rumors were far from reality, they quickly caught on to the fact that something was happening and that it included the Deng family recruiting more families to ally with them. Allying families in itself was nothing new, yet the urgency shown was one which worried the Rong faction.

Seated within Hui Yue’s mansion, the Rong twins had summoned the entire group of friends. Their expressions were full of doubt and suspicion as they stood in the middle of the living room, looking at Deng Wu and Wang Ju Long.

“We don’t know what is going on,” Rong Xing chose her words and started speaking. “We are aware that the Wang and Deng families are planning something, but no matter how much we dig, it is impossible to get any information as to what they are planning.” A worried expression appeared on her face as her eyes never left her two friends.

“If you know anything, please, please tell us,” she said with a quiet voice. Rong Xing was a proud girl. She saw herself as someone who could get things done and who had the ability to look after herself in any situation. Here she was asking for help from the ones who were supposed to be their rival faction.

Hui Yue had at first considered answering her plea. It was apparent that she was in a very tricky and painful position. Yet his final decision was that as long as the two groups of friends were pitched against each other, he would not take any action.

Hui Yue trusted all his friends which included Wang Ju Long and Deng Wu. He was not in any position where he could choose between those two, or the Rong twins with Gao Yan and Ma Kong. Instead of choosing, Hui Yue decided to simply step back and watch the groups manage it on their own. Although if it turned into a full out battle, Hui Yue would use all of his ability to save all of his friends, as he refused to allow even one of them to die.

Because he refused to allow even one friend to die was also one of the reasons why Hui Yue was training like a madman. The young white-haired boy had chosen not to step into the actual fight unless all of his friends were joined on one side, or if any of his friends were in danger. He did not care if he had to rely on Lan Feng to ensure that all of his friends would be safe. Friends were those they could trust in, in their final moments. Even if Hui Yue were to put himself at risk, he knew that saving his friends would be worth it.

Although Lan Feng considered himself and his goal to be of utmost importance, he did not try to argue when Hui Yue decided, by himself, how to deal with the current situation.

‘To call oneself a man, one must step up even if there is the possibility of death. Friendship is not something cheap. Although our goal is important, we can never forget how we got here, so decisions like these are equally valuable.’

Leaning back in his chair, Hui Yue observed Wang Ju Long and Deng Wu, curious to see how they would react to such a question, especially considering the love which Deng Wu felt for Rong Xing.

“My heart, my flower!” Deng Wu started, yet his expression quickly turned serious as he saw how solemn Rong Xing was, and he completely ignored the elaborate and decorative sentences he had prepared in advance.

“I do not know,” he said while shrugging his shoulders. Looking at the guy, Hui Yue had to admit that he was a first class actor. No one would be able to tell that he had in fact previously explained the whole plan to Hui Yue.

“Our families are aware of the relationship between all of us,” Wang Ju Long took over as she said with an apologetic voice. “They never speak of anything important when we are around.”

Hui Yue was just about to snort at the words spoken, but he managed to turn it into a cough. After which he quickly apologized for interrupting. Looking at the people present Hui Yue could not help but feel a slight tinge of sadness. He saw how doubt and confusion were evident within the eyes of the Rong twins.

Sighing deeply, Hui Yue stood up. “We are all friends,” he said with a gentle voice as he placed a hand on Rong Xing’s shoulder. “I am confident that no one here wishes for the others to be in trouble. I can guarantee that if anyone wants to harm you, it will be over my dead body. That goes for everyone here, as I honestly consider everyone present a friend.”

Upon hearing Hui Yue's words, a particular gratitude appeared within the eyes of all the people present, and the atmosphere turned slightly more cheerful. Hui Yue brought out snacks and drinks. Everyone felt the same as they had back when they were still students at the academy.

After a couple of hours, Hui Yue’s guests slowly left his mansion. Before Deng Wu left a few words escaped his lips, “Thank you.”

Hui Yue just patted his shoulder much like he had done to Rong Xing earlier, and he smiled as all of them left. The gentle smile on Hui Yue’s face instantly halted, after which it vanished as soon as they had disappeared down the street.

“Why did you not say anything?” Sha Yun asked as she stood behind Hui Yue, her silvery eyes glistening.

“I don’t need to,” Hui Yue sighed as he turned around and beckoned for Sha Yun to follow him. The two of them walked through the entire house and out into the rear garden where Hui Yue knew that no one was observing him.

“I know you have broken into the Master rank very recently,” Hui Yue said and patted Sha Yun’s head slightly, which caused the snake-woman to sprout a proud smile and nod her head enthusiastically.

The thing which Sha Yun liked the best was getting patted on her head and complemented by Hui Yue.

Sha Yun was a beast, and like a beast, although cultivation was ranked the same as humans, it was very different. Sha Yun did not have dantians. Instead, she had her beast core which was located in her head. This beast core was the place where the entire cultivation base was located. Since magical beasts had all their energy concentrated in one place they had, since childhood, unlocked their mental affinities.

Sha Yun only had one elemental affinity, the earthen one. Unlike humans, magical beasts did not need to learn spiritual attack skills or other kinds of attacks, as they had certain abilities born within their beast core.

One such ability was Sha Yun’s ability to control earth with but a thought. She did not need to use incantations as the earth always moved to her will. Although Sha Yun had only just entered the Master rank, Hui Yue knew that she was already stronger than Deng Wu and Gao Yan. As to whether or not Hui Yue was the stronger of the two, he did not know because Sha Yun refused to spar with him.

“We need to be stronger, Yun,” Hui Yue sighed deeply and groaned, contemplating much as he sat down beneath a new tree which he had purchased after the fire. He closed his eyes as he once more started refining qi into spiritual energy. He wished to reach the second star of the Master rank as soon as possible so that he would be capable of perfecting his new spiritual arts.

Sha Yun was standing in front of Hui Yue for a long time, just observing him. Within was a turmoil of emotions as she was contemplating her options. Sha Yun hated Wang Ju Long, the human girl who pretended to be a man.

Sha Yun, also, knew about the plans of the Deng and Wang families to overthrow Lord Rong Liang as City Lord, yet she had stayed quiet and followed Hui Yue’s lead. Although Hui Yue had remained silent, Sha Yun could not help but wonder how simple it would be to get rid of Wang Ju Long. All she had to do was go to the City Lord and informed him about the schemes of his rivals.

Shaking her head, Sha Yun refused to give into disloyalty and selfishness. She knew that if she did, Hui Yue would be greatly disappointed in her, and that was one thing which Sha Yun could not accept.

Sighing deeply, she sat down next to Hui Yue and closed her eyes. She started absorbing the essence in the air, turning it into energy and slowly raised her strength, glad of her decision to remain silent.

Her aim was not much different from the others as she wished for the strength to be able to protect Hui Yue from any danger.