Super God Grandmaster
Chapter 1261 - 1261 1247 Before the Storm

Chapter 1261: Chapter 1247: Before the Storm Chapter 1261: Chapter 1247: Before the Storm Shao Hengjiang said, “I’m almost certain, and here’s why: the local snake is definitely a clever person. His planning of his own fake death reveals his cunning nature. Moreover, he didn’t hastily leave after faking his death. He just didn’t anticipate that pinning the blame on Lion Head Island wouldn’t lead to a massive conflict among the thirty-six islands. Events unfolded faster than he expected, and peace was restored before he could evacuate Taiping Island. They missed the opportunity to leave, because, as I mentioned before, a hasty departure would certainly have attracted attention. Who would have expected the incident at the crossroads.”

The next day, Lion Head Island was wiped out, and there was an additional Immortal City Sect lurking in the shadows. The people from the Immortal City Sect, unable to obtain the Sacred Spirit Stone, will definitely investigate who spread the false news and who actually has the Sacred Spirit Stone in their possession. This is why the local snake and his people didn’t dare to leave in haste—they have to be careful and may well meet the same fate as those from Lion Head Island.”

Guan Xun, puzzled, asked, “What does this have to do with his plans to flee through the West Sea Gate tonight?”

“It seems unrelated, but it’s profoundly connected,” Shao Hengjiang continued his analysis. “Why would such a calm local snake choose to rush out tonight? Isn’t he afraid of being targeted by us or the Immortal City Sect? If any side were to focus on him, escape might be impossible. His cautiousness has all been to avoid suspicion, which is why he has delayed actions.”

“Isn’t it because the situation has changed now? Secrets can’t be kept forever. If they don’t leave quickly, it won’t be long before the investigation leads to them. They have no choice.”

“Right, you make sense, but have you ever thought that such a cautious local snake would have been worried about attracting the attention of us or the Immortal City Sect, and possibly even all thirty-six islands?”

“That’s true.”

“Hehe, the local snake was able to engineer the incident at the crossroads, then shift the blame to Lion Head Island. Due to his cautious nature, he dared not leave in haste. Now, he’s disregarding everything and rushing to leave, which is inconsistent with his usual prudence.”

After hearing this, Nangong Yao seemed to understand something and said, “You’re suggesting that the West Sea Gate may just be a diversion, and their actual escape route could be somewhere else.”

Shao Hengjiang nodded, “Perhaps he really is a bit panicked, but such a cautious person wouldn’t suddenly become reckless—unless there’s another plan. It’s very likely, as you said, the west is just a distraction and the real escape route is somewhere else.”

Guan Xun was shocked as he finally understood what Shao Hengjiang was implying. Admiring his analysis, he said, “Right, if they draw us to the southwest and then escape from another location, that would indeed be an excellent ruse.”

“Exactly, just like they used the people of Lion Head Island to divert everyone’s attention. It’s the same principle. If he could sacrifice a group of his own subordinates once, why couldn’t he replicate the tactic and use another group to lure us to the west while he escapes from another place?”

Guan Xun said, “Why didn’t I think of doing that!”

“Put yourself in his shoes—if I were the local snake, I would do the same.”

Guan Xun smiled.

Shao Hengjiang said, “However, this guy is indeed formidable. Imagine, the Island Master of Lion Head Island hadn’t been killed so quickly, and we hadn’t learned from those who escaped that the Sacred Spirit Stone didn’t end up in the hands of the Immortal City Sect—what would have happened? Everyone would definitely assume it was still with the people of Lion Head Island. They would deny it, of course, and the thirty-six islands wouldn’t believe them, leading to a massive battle. That would have provided enough time for the local snake to make his getaway.

Even once everything was cleared up, they could simply claim it was taken by a masked figure in black. Where would we even start looking for such a person? By the time we figured it all out, they would be long gone. The local snake made one miscalculation: he didn’t anticipate things would come to light so quickly and he didn’t have time to escape.”

Wan Liyun said, “If that’s the case, where are they likely to leave from?”

“It’s highly possible it’s from the south, but there are no guarantees, only a high probability.”

Nangong Yao said, “In that case, tonight, I will take a small group to keep watch on the west, while you and Wan Liyun are responsible for the south. Guan Xun, stay alert for any changes, and keep an eye out for a third possible route they may use.”

Guan Xun said, “Good, I’ll keep an eye on their lair and see if they’re really planning to use the commotion in the west as a distraction to escape from the south.”

Quickly, they formulated a plan, but Shao Hengjiang was concerned about a group they had not yet detected—the Immortal City Sect. The sect, not having obtained the Sacred Spirit Stone, would surely not have left yet. But where exactly were they? He didn’t know yet. To annihilate Lion Head Island overnight was something even he couldn’t do; the fact that the sect had done it mercilessly also suggested they were more dangerous than the people of the thirty-six islands.

“Any news of the Immortal City Sect?” Shao Hengjiang inquired.

Wan Liyun shook his head and said, “I’d like to find them too. I’ve inquired, but no unfamiliar faces have been seen arriving on the island. I don’t know whether they’re hiding in some cave or not.”

Guan Xun said, “Yes, several hundred strangers coming from the outside—if they had really entered Taiping Island, we should’ve found something. But strangely, we’ve found nothing, which makes us suspect they might have inside help. Otherwise, how could they hide so effectively?

If they truly came from the Immortal City Sect, it would be their first time on Taiping Island. How could they have inside help? It doesn’t make sense. I agree with Wan Liyun—they might be hiding in a cave somewhere.”

“Not necessarily. Even if they didn’t have insiders when several hundred people arrived, they could control a few inns, take people hostage, and you wouldn’t get anything out of it,” Shao Hengjiang said.

“Are you saying that some inns have been taken over, and the people there dare not speak the truth?” Guan Xun asked, puzzled.

“Why not? Just tell those inns straight, if they dare to expose us, they’ll end up like the people from Lion Head Island. How could they blabber nonsense? Who isn’t afraid of death? It’s better to do nothing than to do extra; act as if they know nothing. It shouldn’t be difficult to hide.”

Guan Xun was surprised, and said, “You should have told us before so we could have searched more thoroughly.”

“Your search would’ve been useless, and besides, we didn’t have the time nor the manpower.” What Shao Hengjiang could be certain of was that the Immortal City Sect people were definitely on Taiping Island. What he was unsure of was whether his conjecture about the local snakeheads’ plan might also occur to the Immortal City Sect people.

Wan Liyun expressed his doubts, “They couldn’t possibly have guessed that the local snakeheads are still alive, could they?”

“I doubt it, Uncle Shao. After all, it was by examining the bodies and the crime scene that we came to that conclusion. They didn’t have such an opportunity. Maybe they’re still looking for the masked men in black.” Guan Xun was quite skeptical.

“Don’t overestimate your own intelligence and think of others as fools. You’re right; they didn’t have the chance to inspect Immortal City, nor contact the bodies to determine that the deaths weren’t a result of the local snakeheads. However, they were the first to know that the Sacred Spirit Stone being in the hands of those from Lion Head Island was a ruse. After so many days, they might suspect Yang Zuotai. We can’t be sure of that. Maybe they already suspect, you just don’t know it; they might even have clearer information than us,” Shao Hengjiang spoke with a hint of seriousness.

Wan Liyun said, “Then we might as well assume the worst, that they also know it’s the work of the local snakeheads.”

This was exactly what Shao Hengjiang had in mind. He said, “Exactly, we should credit them with more intelligence, which means they also know the local snakeheads are still alive. Moreover, they might deduce that the local snakeheads will attempt a covert operation tonight, and we might encounter them after dark.”

Guan Xun spoke, “We’re not afraid of them, either. The survivors from Lion Head Island informed us that they have about four hundred people, five hundred at most. We shouldn’t have any problem dealing with them.”

Indeed, that was the information they received from the people of Lion Head Island.

Nangong Yao said, “I will send you an additional three hundred men to be in charge of the southern defense.”

Shao Hengjiang replied, “No need.”

“Didn’t you say there’s a high chance they will take that route? Then there’s no use keeping so many men with me. It’s better to arrange all the men to the south. I only need to verify this place as a decoy, and I will find a way to get there,” Nangong Yao calculated. Sending another three hundred men over meant that Shao Hengjiang would have nine hundred men under his command. With the Immortal City Sect having only about four hundred, even if they encountered the local snakeheads, it would be adequate.

Once he confirmed there was no issue here, he would hurry over, confident there wouldn’t be any significant problems.

Only then did Shao Hengjiang agree.

“When the time comes, we’ll make sure to hurry over as soon as we confirm,” he said.

“There’s no need for that, we can handle it,” Nangong Yao countered.

“Then let’s agree on that, and hopefully, we can catch the local snakeheads tonight, and find the Sacred Spirit Stone,” Nangong Yao continued, “The Sacred Spirit Stone must not fall into the hands of those ruthless people from the Immortal City Sect.”

In terms of martial arts, Shao Hengjiang had the upper hand, better suited than him.

“Otherwise, let me take charge of the south, and you handle the west.”

Shao Hengjiang knew he was concerned about his old injury flaring up and smiled, saying, “Don’t worry. My old injury has long healed. I will take charge of the south, and you make sure the west is clear before coming over.”

Guan Xun spoke, “Then I’ll keep an eye on them and see if the local snakeheads can conjure up any more trouble.”

“Remember, don’t alarm them at any cost. They will definitely wait until there’s a disturbance in the west before coming out. Just make sure they head south.”

“Rest assured, of course. We’ve been preparing for so long; we can’t let them escape now.”

In no time, they confirmed their plans, which were not complicated. They had made many preparations for this and only waited for night to slowly fall.