Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 601 - 601 600 Reflection and Caution

601: Chapter 600 Reflection and Caution 601: Chapter 600 Reflection and Caution Hou Niao was still pondering how to establish a proactive and rapid response strike force in the desert; the recent attack by the Undead Army had heightened his vigilance.

Although he and Tideng Monk had assessed that the undead creatures would not launch a large-scale invasion for the time being, as that would mean a full-blown war with humanity, the possibility of occasional long-range harassment remained.

What he wanted was to create a system capable of rapid response, rather than always being in the passive position of plugging holes; not to mention the distance, once the forest belt around Loulan Town was fully formed, it would stretch three thousand miles wide, making it impossible to achieve a defense with no blind spots.

The only method was to push the sensory system forward, into the Kneecap Desert.

Then, establish a rapid strike team for proactive attacks.

The very nature of this world was contention; their tree planting and forest creation was a form of contention.

Even if humans weren’t currently considering how to extend their influence deeper into the desert, the undead creatures would see it that way.

It was impossible to find a balance in the forest belt; the choice was to either continue or retreat.

Thus, the afforestation project initiated by Yu Zhengxing was not merely for the benefit of the Snow River region; that was just the initial goal, but later on…

This was the prelude to the ever-changing landscape of the Continent.

To reverse the southward trend of sand and wind in the northwest, to push back the desert after gaining a firm foothold in the forest belt…

Of course, to achieve such a monumental goal would take an unknown amount of time and the efforts of generations of cultivators.

Everything had to start somewhere, and this was the intrinsic reason behind Yu Zhengxing’s insistence on taking action.

Hou Niao even maliciously wondered if the bold decision made by Yu Zhengxing wasn’t entirely his own idea.

Could it be that there were shadows of higher levels of power involved?

But since none of this could be verified, he could only wait quietly for the truth.

If he only reached the Tongtian Realm, there would be things beyond his reach unless he advanced further.

By then, he wouldn’t be able to ignore the truth even if he wanted to.

While he was forming these basic ideas, an acquaintance, not quite familiar, appeared before him.

“What are you doing here?

When did you arrive?” Hou Niao asked, somewhat surprised.

Judge Wan smiled slightly, “Hou Niao, you still haven’t done your homework.

Why can’t I be here?

I was the former guardian of Loulan Town, is that qualification not enough?”

Hou Niao laughed awkwardly; he certainly knew that the guardians of Loulan historically came from the Shan Sect, the region they were responsible for, but he had never really paid attention to the previous guardians.

“Are you here to help Uncle-Master Yu?”

Judge Wan chuckled coldly, “I have come for the forest belt, and it has nothing to do with who is the guardian.

Hmm, Hou Niao, you did well on this assignment.

If you hadn’t arrived in time, that stubborn Yu would have died rather than retreat, and even I might have lost my life to him.

I’ve said it before, that stubborn man is not someone to follow.

Wouldn’t it have been better to simply follow Li Chuping?

Instead, he insists on walking down a dead-end path with him?”

Hou Niao explained, “The disciple had no choice, it was all arranged by Sikong Mansion, and I was not free to make my own decisions.

When I was still a junior cultivator in the Da Feng Plain, I had dealings with Uncle-Master Yu and even owed him my life.

Now that we’ve met in the northwest, of course, I would give my full effort.”

Judge Wan snorted, “He has saved far fewer people than he has harmed!

Well, you’ll find out in the future.

It’s a good thing you didn’t spend too much time with him, or you might not have made it to this day.”

Hou Niao didn’t say much more; he knew there were too many ideological conflicts here, and he shouldn’t get involved before reaching a certain Realm.

He wouldn’t go out of his way to defend Yu Zhengxing just because of their past acquaintance, nor would he deliberately distance himself from Judge Wan because he was unsure of his intentions.

Humans are a complex species, not easily defined as good or bad; Yu Zhengxing is decisive in his actions but too harsh on his subordinates, while Judge Wan has an unpredictable mind yet rushes to help when there’s trouble in the northwest.

Can you say who is good and who is bad among them?

The best he could do was to tell each what they wanted to hear…

let them fight among themselves, why should he be involved?

He did not retort, and Judge Wan was satisfied, seeing that the young man hadn’t fallen too deeply into devilish ways and was still redeemable,

“I also have a mission for returning this time, to rotate the Sword Cultivators of the Shan Sect who are defending the northwest frontier.

Normally this should fall within the authority of Sima Mansion, but they know they don’t have enough say in matters pertaining to Loulan and are too weak to assert themselves, afraid that Yu Zhengxing would kick them back.

So they’ve asked me, a former guardian of Loulan, to take over the task.

There will be a large rotation, and we can’t just drill a bunch of people to death.

There are plenty in the Sect who do nothing but eat and idle their days away; it’s time for them to come here and endure some hardships as well.”

Looking at Hou Niao, “Including you!”

Hou Niao was surprised, “Me?

I thought I wouldn’t be able to leave this place unless I stayed for ten or eight years…

In that case, the disciple has no objections, but the question is, is it appropriate to return to Sikong Mansion now?”

Judge Wan narrowed his eyes, “Of course not.

Lately, Sikong Mansion has been harried by those pups from Situ Mansion.

Just half a year ago, True Disciple Wei Gu from Situ Mansion came to challenge us, defeating all in his Realm within the mansion, including Sun Kaiyu, a True Disciple from Sikong Mansion, who broke his seclusion upon hearing the news and still lost to him…”

Hou Niao scratched his head, what a mess, “So I should, go back to fight?”

Judge Wan shook his head, “Why go back to fight?

Should this tit-for-tat continue indefinitely until it escalates to us Golden Core Cultivators stepping in?

And ultimately, the Nascent Transformation ancestors coming out shirtless to battle?

Would the three mansions come to internal blows?

You defeated a True Inheritor from Situ Mansion, and someone from Situ Mansion defeated a True Inheritor from Sikong Mansion; this makes us even, fair and square.

It’s said that after Wei Gu, he was then sent on an external mission by Situ Mansion, implying that this matter should be laid to rest.

So, with Wei Gu sent away, you can’t go back either.

This is to avoid any rash actions by hotheaded Sword Cultivators.

Over time, memories will fade…”

Hou Niao was even more curious, “I understand this reasoning, and I won’t stick my neck out either.

The strife between the three mansions isn’t for a minor Natural Realm cultivator like me to meddle in, but if that’s the case, shouldn’t I just stay in the northwest to exterminate the undead?

How is it that…

You have another task for me?”

Judge Wan, of course, would not admit that this decision arose from his disagreement with Yu Zhengxing,

“You are from Sikong Mansion, serving a military term.

Yu Zhengxing had you on loan, and now that the service has been done, the job completed, there is no need to remain here indefinitely.

Sikong Mansion is overwhelmed with tasks, too busy to be cleaning up after others.

For the northwest, there will be no major changes for at least a decade.

If there are to be changes, they will occur in the sectors guarded by the Daoist and Buddhist Sects.

Staying here with nothing to do every day, what’s the point?

Wouldn’t it be better if I found you a more challenging task so that you could lead a more fulfilling life?”

He saw that this youngster had a restless nature, so his reasoning was not completely deceptive.

Hou Niao cautiously asked, “What about Uncle-Master Yu?”

Judge Wan dismissed the concern with a wave of his hand, “Why bother about him?

I’ve already discussed it; his opinion is irrelevant!”