: Personally Visiting the Enemy Faction

"Who dares barge into the inner courtyard!" a guard shouted.

Ning Zhuo walked straight towards him, lifting his foot to kick the guard over without hesitation.

He then shoved a warrant right in the guard's face.

"Open your eyes wide and take a good look!"

"I'm here on Master Fei Si's orders, on urgent business, to find Deputy Leader Yuan Er. How dare you block me?" Ning Zhuo shouted loudly, scanning the other guards with an imposing aura.

"Someone from the City Lord's Mansion again?"

"Last time, that envoy forcibly bought our gang's monkey corpse, and the leader didn't even dare to utter a word of protest!"

"What is the envoy here for this time?"

The members of the Monkey Head Gang already held considerable resentment towards Yuan Er.

Most gang members were beast tamers who had raised their monkey companions for years—how could they not feel affection? Giving the monkey corpses a proper burial was the right thing to do. Yet, last time, Yuan Er had succumbed to pressure and sold them directly to the Mechanic Workshop. This action had severely damaged his reputation.

Now, with the added catastrophe of Yuan Da Sheng critically injured and near death, the entire Monkey Head Gang was in a state of panic.

Ning Zhuo needed only a token to stride in boldly, unimpeded all the way.

Soon, he reached the inner courtyard.

In the dimly lit master bedroom of the inner courtyard, Yuan Er sat blankly, silently weeping as he gazed at Yuan Da Sheng lying unconscious on the bed.

He had always known how significant Yuan Da Sheng was to him and the Monkey Head Gang. But only when the monkey truly fell did Yuan Er fully realize just how heavy that significance was!

Though Zhu Xuanji had saved Yuan Da Sheng's life, it was only a temporary reprieve. Even after taking the Late Autumn Life-Preserving Pill, Yuan Da Sheng would remain permanently disabled, confined to a sickbed.

This devastating news felt like a thunderbolt striking Yuan Er.

Noise erupted from outside the door.

Yuan Er shuddered, thinking: Could it be the elders coming to force me out?

Without Yuan Da Sheng, who would back him up?

Then, Ning Zhuo's voice rang out: "Where is Deputy Leader Yuan Er? I am here on Master Fei Si's orders—urgent business."

Tear stains still on his face, Yuan Er stepped out of the bedroom and saw Ning Zhuo's arrogant expression.

As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Yuan Er possessed spiritual sense.

With a sweep of his spiritual sense, he confirmed the warrant was genuine and dared not delay. Cupping his hands respectfully, he said to Ning Zhuo, "Uncle Monkey watched me grow up; his kindness is as weighty as a mountain. Now that he is critically injured and near death, I must care for him and cannot leave. Please report truthfully to Master Fei Si that I regretfully cannot participate in the Fire Persimmon Festival."

Yuan Er's face was full of despair.

The explosion in the Thousand-Year Fire Persimmon Grove and Yuan Da Sheng's critical injuries had utterly defeated him and the entire Monkey Head Gang.

Without Yuan Da Sheng's protection, how could he dare to venture out again?

Ning Zhuo smiled at this moment, putting away the warrant. "Deputy Leader Yuan Er, I have come precisely to save your life. Do you know that your days are numbered?"

Yuan Er was furious. "Why is the envoy speaking so alarmingly!"

Ning Zhuo immediately replied, "Whether it's alarmist or not, would Deputy Leader Yuan Er dare to dismiss the attendants and hear me out?"

Yuan Er snorted coldly, his eyes flickering. In the end, he waved his hand and said to the guards around him, "All of you, leave."

Seeing no third party present, Ning Zhuo strode directly into the master bedroom.

This was quite rude, and Yuan Er's face turned green with anger, but he restrained himself.

Entering the master bedroom, Ning Zhuo immediately saw Yuan Da Sheng on the sickbed.

The monkey was barely breathing, its life hanging by a thread.

For a moment, Ning Zhuo felt a strong impulse to kill the monkey right then and there.

But he took a deep breath and restrained himself.

He couldn't kill it.

Many things that seem straightforward can actually lead you in the opposite direction.

For one, if he suddenly attacked, Yuan Er behind him would surely intervene. As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Yuan Er far surpassed Ning Zhuo in cultivation.

Secondly, even if he succeeded in killing the monkey, he would find it hard to escape the Monkey Head Gang's stronghold.

Thirdly, and most crucially, if Ning Zhuo killed Yuan Da Sheng directly, he would publicly offend Zhu Xuanji!

Zhu Xuanji had just saved the monkey's life, and if you immediately rushed to its home to slaughter it, where would that leave Lord Zhu Xuanji?

Zhu Xuanji was a Divine Constable investigating the Lava Immortal Palace and had already interrogated Ning Zhuo once. Acting so brazenly would be like pointing at Zhu Xuanji's nose,挑衅ing him to investigate Ning Zhuo himself.

In fact, even Fei Si wouldn't dare to do something so direct.

Yuan Er followed him in, lowering his voice displeased. "Do not disturb my Uncle Monkey's rest, Envoy. This way, please."

Yuan Er led Ning Zhuo to a side room.

It was a small study.

Ning Zhuo proactively closed the door and said bluntly, "Deputy Leader Yuan Er, how long do you think you can remain in your position?"

Yuan Er's face darkened. "If the envoy insists on sowing discord, please leave."

Ning Zhuo sneered. "Deputy Leader Yuan Er, I am here to help you, to save your life. Is this how you treat your savior?"

"The pill Lord Zhu Xuanji gave you and the words he spoke were recorded via formation and are now widely known."

"Even if Yuan Da Sheng survives, he will be a useless cripple confined to bed. Without him, who will obey you, Yuan Er?"

"You know very well how your father rose to power!"

"The Monkey Head Gang gradually rose and established itself through bloody battles and fierce struggles."

"How many enemies did you make in the process?"

"How many foes are lurking in the shadows? Now they finally have a chance for revenge. Do you think they will just sit back and watch you live peacefully and enjoy your wealth and status?"

These words struck right at Yuan Er's heart. His eyes flickered. "How will the envoy help me?"

Ning Zhuo raised the warrant again, specifically showing Yuan Er the two characters "Fei Si" on the back.

"How can a mere monkey as a backer compare to Lord Fei Si?"

Yuan Er's eyes flashed with a sharp light, somewhat incredulous. "Are you saying I can seek refuge with Lord Fei Si?"

Ning Zhuo sneered, shattering his illusion. "Don't dream. Even at its peak, the Monkey Head Gang wasn't worth Lord Fei Si's attention. Much less now?"

"What I mean is, you seek refuge with me!"

Yuan Er felt a mix of shame and anger but knew Ning Zhuo spoke the truth.

Gang members were mostly brawlers involved in gray areas—hardly clean.

Officials of the Southern Bean Immortal Dynasty wouldn't dirty their reputations by associating with them.

To put it bluntly, Fei Si, a Golden Core cultivator, would find the entire Monkey Head Gang unworthy as enforcers! Of course, this was under the premise that Yuan Da Sheng hadn't shown his true strength.

Yuan Er scrutinized Ning Zhuo, then cupped his hands. "May I ask who the envoy truly is?"

"My surname is Ning, given name Zhuo. I am a member of the Ning Family."

Ning Zhuo directly used his family name as a deterrent.

Yuan Er's expression turned serious.

Ning Zhuo waved the token in his hand again. "I also have the honor of being appreciated by Lord Fei Si, doing some errand-running."

Yuan Er's face remained stern as he gestured. "Please, have a seat."

Ning Zhuo spoke modestly, but Yuan Er understood that "errand-running" actually meant being close to Fei Si, even a trusted aide.

Yuan Er invited Ning Zhuo to sit and slowly took his own seat across the desk.

Ning Zhuo continued, "I am also a member of the Flying Disc Workshop. Many mechanical monkeys were produced by my hands."

Yuan Er shot to his feet, furious. "It was you people who tried to assassinate me? Poisoned our gang's monkey companions? How dare you come here?!"

(End of )