Chapter 87: Chapter 88: Song Luyao’s Scheme

"What secret are you hiding from us?!" Song Luzhou growled, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Song Xianyun like a wounded beast’s.

Song Changsheng was taken aback. It was the first time he had ever seen Song Luzhou speak to the Grand Elder that way. ’Is he really hiding something from all of us?’

His gaze shifted to Song Xianyun’s face. The Grand Elder’s expression was full of pain as he said, "After that clan council meeting, Luyao came to see me."

"What did she say?" Song Luzhou demanded impatiently.

"That day, she told me that while this trip was to bid on the Foundation Establishment Pill for Changsheng, it had another purpose—to lure the snake out of its hole."

「After the clan council meeting ended...」

Song Luyao secretly arrived at Song Xianyun’s residence. Seeing her arrive so covertly, Song Xianyun frowned. "What is the meaning of this?"

"There are traitors and spies in the clan. I must be cautious," Song Luyao said calmly.

"You already have a lead on the traitor?" The existence of a traitor was hardly a secret among the clan’s upper echelons. As the Supervisor of the clan’s general affairs, Song Xianyun naturally took the matter very seriously.

Unfortunately, the traitor was exceptionally good at hiding. After so many years, they had yet to make any obvious mistakes. This had always been a thorn in Song Xianyun’s side.

Song Luyao shook her head, her voice detached. "He hides himself very well. My investigation has only turned up a few faint clues. I’m a long way from being able to confirm anything."

"Then what are you suggesting?" Song Xianyun was now confused.

"I intend to lure the snake out of its hole."

"Lure the snake out of its hole?"

Song Luyao nodded and sneered. "This trip to Luoxia City to bid on the Foundation Establishment Pill is the perfect opportunity. I am certain the traitor is one of the clan’s high-ranking members. The details of today’s council meeting will surely be leaked before long.

"For the enemies lurking in the shadows and eyeing our clan, this is a golden opportunity. An opportunity to kill me.

"From our enemies’ perspective, killing me would not only be a blow to the clan’s morale, but they would also get a Foundation Establishment Pill. More importantly, it would paralyze the clan’s intelligence network.

"Killing so many birds with one stone... Who could possibly resist such a temptation?"

Song Xianyun was shocked. "In that case, your journey will be incredibly perilous! No, absolutely not. This is too dangerous. I cannot agree."

"Twenty-first Uncle, nothing ventured, nothing gained. You have to make sacrifices to get results. The clan is out in the open, while the traitor lurks in the shadows. This leaves the clan far too vulnerable.

"We must create an opportunity for him, force him to make a move. Only when he acts will he expose himself, and only then will we have a chance to remove this poisoned thorn." Song Luyao’s tone was dispassionate, as if she were discussing something that had nothing to do with her.

Song Xianyun was swayed. He frowned, lost in thought. A moment later, he looked up and slowly shook his head. "It’s still too dangerous. Have you considered this? If they decide not to act, fine. But when they do act, it will be a thunderbolt strike. You will die!"

"My life is not so easily taken," Song Luyao said, full of confidence. "As long as I have the clan’s cooperation, I’m certain I can turn the tables on them."

Song Xianyun took a deep breath. He decided to hear her out first. "What’s your plan?"

Song Luyao took a Jade Token from her sleeve. She channeled a small amount of Spiritual Power into it, and an illusory map materialized before them.

"The fastest route from the clan to Luoxia City is here. Along this path, there is only one location suitable for an ambush. The enemy will almost certainly choose this spot as their battlefield.

"Therefore, I want to set a time with you, Twenty-first Uncle. When the time comes, you will lead Luhuai and the others down the mountain to this location to reinforce me. We’ll turn their ambush into our own trap!" Song Luyao’s finger tapped the map, her voice firm and resolute.

Song Xianyun frowned. "But if we all leave the mountain, we won’t be able to hide our movements. What if the Earth Fire Sect seizes the opportunity to attack?"

"Why hide our movements? You should all head down the mountain openly. The more people who see you, the better."

Seeing that Song Xianyun didn’t quite understand, Song Luyao explained patiently, "The Clan Leader’s might from the last battle still lingers. As long as he remains on Vast Mist Peak, the Earth Fire Sect won’t dare to make a rash move.

"Although he is injured and can’t engage in Magical Combat, Chang Wudao doesn’t know that. He might have his suspicions, but if you lead men down the mountain, those suspicions will vanish into thin air.

"The reason is simple: Chang Wudao is an extremely suspicious man. If we act openly and brazenly, it will give him the impression that we have nothing to fear, and he won’t dare make a reckless move.

"If we try to be stealthy, it will only confirm his suspicions that the Clan Leader is weak, and then a battle will be inevitable."

It all clicked for Song Xianyun. So, Song Luyao had already considered every angle. If that was the case, the plan had a very real chance of success.

Still, he harbored significant doubts. Song Luyao’s plan was a series of tightly interlocking links; if even one were to break, the consequences would be irreversible.

"Twenty-first Uncle, this is our best chance. We won’t get another. I will arrange everything before I leave. Even if I die, I’ll make sure that traitor is dragged down to the grave with me!" Song Luyao looked directly into Song Xianyun’s eyes, her gaze filled with unshakable resolve.

Song Xianyun stared at her, stunned. The little girl who so rarely smiled had grown up to possess the courage to face death without fear...

In the end, Song Luyao got the answer she wanted, turning herself into tempting bait...

"Sigh... It’s all my fault. I should have stopped her." Song Xianyun’s aged eyes filled with tears, his heart wracked with guilt.

After listening to Song Xianyun’s account, everyone fell silent. They never imagined there had been so many considerations and calculations behind the scenes.

After a long silence, Song Changsheng was the one to speak up. "Ninth Auntie’s plan was so meticulous. How did she end up injured this badly?"

Song Luzhou’s eyes burned with murderous rage as he spat, "Everything was going smoothly at first. Every step was within Ninth Sister’s calculations. But she miscalculated one thing: the ones who ambushed her weren’t from the Earth Fire Sect. It was the Lieyang Sect! Our enemy colluded with the Lieyang Sect!

"The Lieyang Sect dispatched three Foundation Establishment Cultivators to lay the trap, and one of them was a Tier Two High-grade Array Master. Ninth Sister was caught the moment they engaged. We kept waiting at the counter-ambush point, but no one showed up. By the time we realized what had happened, Ninth Sister..."

No one had expected the enemy to make such an audacious move. A bitter feeling washed over the crowd. Although Song Luyao had saved her own life with a Pill from Song Luzhou, her legs were beyond help.

There are many methods for regenerating severed limbs, but the Song Clan possessed none of them. In other words, Song Luyao would have to spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair. For a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, such a fate was simply too cruel.

"They all deserve to die!" Song Changsheng’s hatred for the Earth Fire Sect and the Lieyang Sect intensified, and he wished he could slaughter every last one of them.

...