Can a Scholar Be Called a Villain

Chapter 20: Zhong Xiang gang

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On a narrow road in Yan, a carriage was moving quickly.

It was being driven by three large, burly men, and there were eight knife-wielding guardsmen on the side of the carriage, each riding on a horse.

It was Murong Lin’s party, they had departed from the city a few days ago towards the Hundred Flower sect. Despite its close proximity to the capital, Murong Lin decided to head directly towards the city underneath the Hundred Flower sect mountain. He didn’t want to be implicated in the deaths of the Xue clan’s members since they had perished in the city he was responsible for.

Well, it was his fault.

Murong Lin smiled, he was full of smiles these days.

“Deng!” The carriage stopped suddenly, and the three men driving the carriage said nothing. With the sounds of horses galloping, the ‘Eight Great Butcher Kings’ drew their swords and rushed forwards, followed quickly by the sounds of slaughter.

Just as he raised the curtains, Murong Lin saw the group of mountain bandits that were being mercilessly cut down by the ‘Eight Great Butcher Kings’, and he quickly shouted, “Leave one alive!”

The ‘Eight Great Butcher Kings’ immediately stopped their knives and brought the one surviving bandit to their master, Murong Lin.

The bandit’s face was pale as he looked at the people around him with fear and disbelief. His entire body felt powerless, and seeing that Murong Lin seemed to be their leader, he quickly knelt and started begging for his life.

“Master, master, please have some mercy and spare me my unworthy life!”

He cried as he trembled, tears and snot flowing freely from his face.

“Where are you from?” Murong Lin was curious, staring at the clothes that the bandit wore.

The man immediately cried, “Master, this lowly person’s name is Wang Wu, from the Zhong Xiang gang. I deserve to die for my identity, master, master please spare me! Spare my life!”

He didn’t even dare to raise his head, fearful that Murong Lin might kill him if he had seen Murong Lin’s face.

Murong Lin scratched his ears at Wang Wu’s pig-like screams as he helplessly spoke, “Shut up!”

Wang Wu immediately shut his mouth, trembling like a bullied mistress.

“I ask, you answer. Got it?”

“Yes! Yes! I got it!” He quickly nodded his head.

“Good! If I’m not wrong, the Zhong Xiang gang was known to be the best at spreading information, correct?”

“Ye-yes.”

“You guys are the best at spreading rumours too, correct?”

“Ye-yes.”

“Then, can you help me spread a piece of information?” Murong Lin smiled.

“Ah? W……what? You want our assistance in spreading rumours?”

“Information, not rumours. Why, you can’t do it?” Murong Lin raised the curtains.

“No! We can do it, we can definitely do it, but, this……”

“You need to be paid, right? Don’t worry about it, here’s the deposit.” Murong Lin threw out a stack of gold notes, “I just need you all to spread a piece of information, as much as possible.”

“Yes, what do you want us to spread?” Wang Wu asked carefully.

“I want you all to say: There are ruins within the remnants near South Village, sprinkle as much truth and some lies as you’d like. Here, this is the information, go crazy.”

Keeping the jade tablet that was tossed his way, Wang Wu asked, “Master, is that it?”

“Yes, you may leave.” Murong Lin gave his permission for Wang Wu to leave. Carefully glancing at Murong Lin, Wang Wu turned and left, his figure crawling and disappearing into the forest at the side.

Murong Lin smiled as he watched him leave,

He wasn’t worried that Wang Wu would have the guts to run away, because the gang would not let someone who deserted them stay alive. The reason why he did this was to mess up the Jianghu even more with the aid of the Zhong Xiang gang.

And he had also left his contact information within that jade tablet.

Afterwards, the carriage continued its journey.

Murong Lin cultivated in boredom as the carriage slowly made its way, finally arriving at the entrance of the Hundred Flower sect’s mountain.

“Hold! Who are you!” The two disciples guarding at the entrance asked sternly.

The carriage was stopped, and the three men driving the carriage didn’t speak a single word.

Seated within the carriage, Murong Lin was just about to respond before he heard a strange voice from behind him.

“Third brother? You’re here too?”

Hearing this familiar voice, Murong Lin raised his curtains and looked behind. It was his brother, the first prince Murong Ding.

He was riding on a horse, looking at him with a strange expression. Next to him was the sixth princess, currently seated within a carriage, gawking at him while raising her curtains.

Staring at him, Murong Liu’s expression changed from perplexion to joy, “Murong Lin, you’re doomed! Our imperial father sent you to guard the frontier, and you actually dared to come to the Hundred Flower sect to play? I’ll snitch on my father and have him beat you!”

Murong Lin spoke with a helpless tone, “Eldest brother, sixth sister, the beast wave in the south has already ended, my trip here today will not affect father in any way. Aside from that, what were your reasons for coming here?”

“Of course we’re here to watch the fun, to see sister Zhu……”

“Sixth sister, don’t say any more.” Murong Ding interrupted his eager sister as he invited Murong Lin, “Third brother, since you’re here as well, shall we head up the mountain together?”

Naturally, Murong Lin had no reason to reject him, and he followed behind Murong Ding.

After inspecting the invitation cards and the token that Murong Ding had, the guarding disciples respectfully let them through.

And the party headed up the mountain, with Murong Lin behind them as they chattered.

“Hey! Murong Lin, where did you get these three guys that are driving your carriage? They look strange.”

“Haha, I got them beyond the walls, they’re not people of Yan.”

“Oh! So they’re barbarians? Why would you find barbarians to drive your carriage?” Murong Liu continued the light conversation.

“Because of their skill in driving.” Murong Lin responded matter-of-factly.

“Hah, this is boring. If it weren’t for the show and the fact that I wanted to ask sister Zhu Zhu Shu to teach me her ways, I wouldn’t have come to such a shabby mountain.”

“Sixth sister, watch your words.” Murong Ding quickly stopped her complaints of the Hundred Flower sect, lest she offend them.

“Oh? Teach?”

“Nothing much, it’s just that father actually wants to marry me off to that little brat, Sheng Yi! Really! Why must I marry him?” Murong Liu couldn’t accept it.

Murong Lin’s face quickly changed into a smile, “That’s right! Our sixth sister’s beauty is unparalleled, known as the four great beauties of the capital. With your cultivation at the peak of the Origin realm as well, how would a brat like Sheng Yi be worthy of you?”

“That’s right, that’s right! Third bro, you really know how to speak well! Unlike big brother.” Murong Liu felt wronged.

Murong Ding responded helplessly at the side, “Young miss, please calm down. Our Murong Clan’s strength isn’t enough to suppress the four great clans anymore, considering our father’s body riddled with discomfort and the old age of our ancestor. If we don’t seek support now, the four great clans would definitely start to rebel.” Using his spiritual power, he blocked off their conversations from leaking, only allowing the three members of the Murong clan to hear what they were saying.

“So he’s marrying me off to that trash?” Murong Liu was furious.

“What trash? His strength is already considered to be decent, and with his father being in the Sky Reaching realm, he’s not a bad choice!”

“Hmph? I’m the one that’s getting married, not you guys. Of course it’s easy for you to say these words! Marry him if you guys want, I don’t want to!” She waved her fists in the air, throwing a tantrum.

Nodding along in interest, Murong Lin expressed his agreement.

Strange, why was Sheng Yi completely unconcerned with Murong Liu?

Did they not get together in the future?

Eh? Was Murong Liu a villainess?

Deep in thought, Murong Lin arrived at the Hundred Flower sect.

They had reached the plaza of the sect, designed to welcome guests. Within the plaza, there were quite a number of disciples sneaking glances their way.

True to the rumours, the Hundred Flower sect was filled with beautiful women. With just one look, plenty of gorgeous women would enter one’s eyes, a pleasing sight to behold.

The ‘Hundred Flower Fairy’ was already in front of them, wrigging her eyebrows as she smiled towards Murong Liu, who had eagerly jumped off the carriage, “Little Liu!”

The two hugged each other tightly as Zhu Zhu Shu patted her shoulders. After letting her go, she turned towards Murong Ding and Murong Lin, “I’ve met with the first prince and the third prince.”

Murong Lin was unbothered, and after taking a glance at the disciples at the side, he nodded towards Zhu Zhu Shu. On the other hand, Murong Ding respectfully bowed, “I’ve met with the Hundred Flower Fairy!”

“Hahaha.” Zhu Zhu Shu covered her mouth as she laughed, before walking forwards and leading the way. She held onto Murong Liu’s hand, with Murong Ding and Murong Liu following behind, walking leisurely.

At the same time, their servants were led away to another courtyard by the disciples.