CHAPTER 563: CHAPTER 563: CHANGES IN THE SITUATION

Gu Rui suddenly realized that today’s banquet hosted by Yang Xiao and Zhao Benling was, in fact, akin to the historical banquet of Hongmen—an ostensible celebration of sworn brotherhood, but in reality, a public declaration of alliance. The fraternal oath was merely a pretense.

Now that the two had taken oaths as brothers, they naturally constituted an alliance with shared interests, thriving and suffering together.

With Yang Xiao’s proposal to redefine the activity range of Wuji Mountain and confirm Zhao Benling’s ownership of the territory, as well as the tossing out of the idea of dividing Wuji Mountain equally among four families, Du Tianxing was invisibly pulled into his team. This temporarily formed a united front of Yang Xiao, Du Tianxing, and Zhao Benling against Gu Beifeng.

Gu Rui felt a sudden chill in his heart and, glancing at Yang Xiao, immediately perceived his formidable nature.

Gu Beifeng’s power had previously dominated Wuji Mountain, even suppressing the local powerhouse that was Zhao Benling.

Gu Rui himself had moved unhindered within East City, with even Zhao Benling showing him due respect.

He had not anticipated that Yang Xiao, who had only recently arrived, could shift the balance of power in Wuji Mountain in an instant through the ceremony of sworn brotherhood, even effecting a reversal.

Casting a glance at Zhao Benling, Gu Rui said coldly:

"Brother Zhao, some matters require careful consideration. Our Gu Tianwang has treated you well, always keeping promises, limiting our activities to just the Wuji Mountain region without encroaching on your other territories. If Gu Tianwang had been ruthless from the start, perhaps your Eastern Province would cease to exist by now. Even Brother Zhao’s very existence might be questionable."

Gu Rui, accustomed to arrogance, was not intimidated by a few words from Yang Xiao. He himself had five or six thousand elite troops stationed in Wuji Mountain, so he was not fearful of engaging in immediate battle with Yang Xiao’s thousand men.

Yet Zhao Benling lacked confidence. Faced with Gu Rui’s threat, he hesitated, wishing to retort fiercely but seemingly afraid to break ties, apprehensive of the consequences. Muttering only a single sentence with a crimson face, he said:

"Brother Gu, you’ve misunderstood."

"There’s no misunderstanding," Yang Xiao countered coldly, sweeping a glance over Gu Rui. "As the saying goes, even a mighty dragon does not oppress the local snake. Where do you find the courage to openly threaten Brother Zhao like this? Is it from Gu Beifeng?

You are merely an envoy of Gu Beifeng posted to Wuji Mountain. In other words, you are just a dog of Gu Beifeng. I invited you and Zhou Yong here today to give you face. What right do you have to speak to me as equals?

Only your boss, Gu Beifeng, and Du Tianxing are qualified to speak to me. Your task is to take my words back to them. The final decision is theirs to make, not yours to act arrogantly before me. How do both of you compare to the King of Qingyun City of the Eastern Province?"

Gu Rui’s face turned beet red with anger at Yang Xiao’s words, his inner rage flaring up. However, in the end, he chose to suppress it, respecting Yang Xiao’s reputation.

Whether it was his training in Magic City, his participation at the martial arts tournament in Wentian City, or his battles at Sky City and Luoying City, Yang Xiao’s fame was considerable.

Especially after Yang Xiao had slain Qingyun City’s King, Li Jiachen, Gu Rui grew wary. Gu Rui had just broken through to the King Level Evolution, and compared to the Qingyun City King, his Beast Soul had no particularly remarkable power. He had also brought just over a hundred men with him; a direct confrontation would surely put him at a disadvantage.

Zhou Yong, standing nearby, hurried to smooth things over with a chuckle:

"Brother Yang, I agree with what you said. Indeed, I’m only responsible for managing the Wuji Mountain base; major decisions still require consulting with Du Tianwang. I think Brother Gu Rui feels the same way.

The issues Brother Yang and Brother Zhao raised today are of great importance. Please give us a few days to report back. The final decision will be made by our leaders. Let’s not argue over this and harm our good relationship. Let’s drink. Today is the joyous occasion of the brotherhood oath between Brother Yang and Brother Zhao, let me toast you both."

Yang Xiao nodded and raised a toast along with Zhao Benling.

Gu Rui could only awkwardly lift his cup, clinked it with the others, drank it all in one gulp, then said:

"There are matters to attend to back at the base camp, and I must personally return to Wentian City to report to Gu Tianwang. I must take my leave now."

Having said that, he led his hundred plus subordinates angrily into the Transmission Array near the stronghold.

After Gu Rui left, Zhou Yong looked at Yang Xiao and Zhao Benling, and asked in a low voice:

"Brother Yang, Brother Zhao, from what I gathered earlier, the four families are to divide Wuji Mountain equally, doesn’t that mean we have to force Gu Beifeng to give up most of the strongholds he has already taken? Can Gu Tianwang agree to this?"

Yang Xiao smiled slightly, his words filled with profound meaning:

"Whether Gu Beifeng agrees or not depends on what you, Du Tianwang, decide to do. As long as Du Tianwang agrees, the three of us joining forces would make it so that Gu Beifeng has to agree, even if he doesn’t want to."

Zhou Yong, hearing this, nodded, rose, and took his leave.

Zhao Benling saw Zhou Yong leaving and looked uneasily at Yang Xiao.

"Brother, why didn’t you discuss such a major decision with me today? I’m totally caught off guard here."

Yang Xiao patted Zhao Benling on the shoulder, laughing and said:

"Big brother, if I had told you in advance, would you have agreed?"

Zhao Benling was taken aback.

He had been humiliated and frightened by Gu Beifeng, not daring to stand up against Gu Beifeng directly, preferring to preserve his wealth and life by seeking peace rather than confrontation. If Yang Xiao had told him of such a major decision in advance, Zhao Benling would definitely have advised Yang Xiao to back down.

Zhao Benling looked at Yang Xiao and asked:

"Brother, what if Gu Beifeng turns against us?"

"Don’t worry, if it were just you and me, Gu Beifeng would have turned against us long ago. Now, isn’t there also a Du Tianxing? Last time Du Tianxing didn’t dare to compete with me over Luoying City and East City, simply because he was afraid that fighting me to a standstill would just hand the advantage to Gu Beifeng.

The situation is the same now. If Gu Beifeng goes to war with us, he will also be worried that Du Tianxing would take the opportunity. Moreover, this matter is advantageous to Du Tianxing.

Currently, you’re only giving one stronghold to him. If the strongholds were split equally, Du Tianxing could occupy eight strongholds. Where else could he find such a favorable deal?

Joining forces with you would give us half of Wuji Mountain, at the same time dividing Gu Beifeng and Du Tianxing, and instantly reversing the situation of Gu Beifeng’s family dominating alone. It’s a triple gain in one move, a risk worth taking."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Benling picked up his wine cup,

"Brother, I trust you. Cheers!"

"I plan to immediately call in five thousand troops from East City in Kongming City. You’re right at your homestead here, so get together twenty thousand elites and enter the few key strongholds near Wuji Mountain straight away. Also, we need to cut off the transmission channels between Gu Beifeng’s Wuji Mountain strongholds and your own, to prevent any surprises."

"Brother, are we amassing so many people to go to war with Gu Beifeng?"

"Better safe than sorry, force is the foundation and decisive power in negotiations."

Zhao Benling looked at Yang Xiao, thinking to himself, my brother is impressive, but I really hope he’s not bringing the wolf into the house to end up swallowing me whole!