CHAPTER 42: PRAYING MANTIS

"What do you want?" Su Jiang asked with an irritated expression.

Su Ming sat comfortably behind his desk, going over a few documents.

"Did you call me here just to pretend to be busy? I’m leaving," Su Jiang said as he began turning around.

"Brother, why be so impatient? We are both in the same position, no?" Su Ming asked, raising his eyes from the paper and meeting Su Jiang’s gaze with a smile.

"I asked what you want. Get on with it quickly. I don’t have all day like you," he said.

Su Ming smiled. How impatient, he thought. "But that’s what I like about you," he thought, letting out a slight chuckle.

"Did you hear about the opening of the Twin Secret Tombs?" he asked.

"That useless thing?" Su Jiang asked, cleaning his ear with his finger.

"Yeah, what about it?" he said.

He thought to himself that although the Twin Secret Tombs were popular when they first came out, it was later found out that they didn’t have anything important. Everything there was all about secondary professions, and you had to solve all sorts of puzzles just to do the most basic things.

This led to people slowly losing interest in the tombs.

Besides, even if someone passed the test, the inheritance they would get would probably be knowledge about secondary professions. They were all cultivators - although the secondary professions were definitely powerful, no one wanted to focus on that their entire life. It was better to cultivate and get stronger instead.

Only old people cared about stuff like this, and since the test ground had a restriction for Core Formation and below, it would just be people of the younger generation here. Who of the younger generation wanted to study formations?

Every young person dreamed of becoming a hero and saving beauties - they definitely wouldn’t want to limit their potential by wasting time learning secondary professions.

He thought the same way too and was sure his brother shared this. He looked at Su Ming suspiciously. So then why was he bringing this up?

"I received some interesting information from one of my spies in little sister’s mansion," Su Ming said.

Immediately, Su Jiang turned around and began walking away.

"Wait..." Su Ming shouted.

"I’m not interested in your stalking business. I’m leaving," he said.

"It’s not like that," Su Ming said. He thought to himself that this brother was really hard to talk to. "Anyway, it’s something you might be interested in," he said.

"Ho, and what is that?" he asked.

"She is going to the Twin Tombs," he said.

Su Jiang was taken aback by this. "I see, that’s definitely interesting information," he said.

Su Ming smiled. Hooked, he thought. He thought to himself that his brother was all muscle with no brain - if he told him that Xueling would be out, he wouldn’t hesitate to take the chance. Since he knew her true strength, he was hoping to use her to get rid of him as he was too unpredictable.

Even so, he was a little nervous. Xueling’s true strength had been revealed to the disciples back then. Although he had forced them to stay quiet about the whole thing, there was no telling what might slip. He was just hoping that even if his brother might have heard some rumors, he would dismiss them as nothing and be overconfident.

"So, why are you telling me this?" Su Jiang asked.

Su Ming smiled. "Nothing, just felt you should know," he said.

"Is that so..." he spoke.

"That’s right," Su Ming said.

"Hmph," Su Jiang scoffed and walked out.

...

Outside, Su Jiang thought about Su Ming’s words. It was too suspicious. He knew his brother was very scheming and he understood what he wanted. He wanted him to get rid of Xueling for him - it was too obvious.

He remembered the rumors he had heard from before, that Xueling had been hiding her true power all this time. Although he couldn’t confirm the validity of these claims, he felt there might be some merit to them.

If that’s the case, then shouldn’t his brother be asking him for cooperation to get rid of the immediate threat first? His brother was a scheming person and wouldn’t be so narrow-minded to refuse teaming up with the enemy to get what he wants.

Since he wasn’t teaming up with him, then it could only mean that Xueling wasn’t a threat to him. He didn’t know for sure, but he guessed his brother probably had a way to control his sister even if she really was hiding her power. If that’s the case, then he’s the loose end.

His brother wanted to get rid of him using a borrowed knife.

And even if his deduction was wrong about the weakness, he definitely didn’t have any good intentions. He could be planning to use him to find this weakness. If the two of them fight and are exhausted, he could come and reap the benefits - getting rid of him and capturing Xueling’s weakness.

He had to admit, his elder brother was really crafty. Even someone like him who hides behind the arrogant persona didn’t think he came close to his elder brother.

Even so, this time, his brother would definitely lose.

Maybe this was the breakthrough point he needed. He always acted like this to appear like just an arrogant fool that could be taken out at any moment.

But his brother seemed to be getting restless as of late. If he didn’t take advantage of this chance to come out on top, then he would definitely regret it.

"Brother, this stage you have created... Let me take advantage of it and reap all the benefits," he said, smiling evilly.

He walked over to where his men were. There were two men and one woman.

"I’m going out. Keep watch at the sect and tell me immediately when my brother leaves," he commanded.

"Understood," the three bowed.

He then soared to the sky.

He thought to himself that he had many men outside. He had been slowly building up his force until now.

He was going to team up with them and prepare an ambush for Xueling. He didn’t know if she really was hiding her power or not, so it was better not to regret it.

As for his brother, he would know instantly when he went out and would prepare a welcome for him.