Chapter Thirty: Miao Dao Pavilion

  In the late afternoon, Changshan County was gradually shrouded in darkness. Su Tang had drunk a lot of wine today and felt hot in his chest, so he simply opened his shirt to reveal his chest, enjoying the cool night breeze.

  "What do you think?" Longqi asked in a low voice.

  "It seems like everyone is deliberately making friends with me." Su Tang smiled: "When you give gifts to others, there must be something you want in return."

  "They certainly want to make friends with you." Long Qi said: "We are just an intangible knife, when the knife is out of its sheath... it will hurt people and see blood. Those who can come and go freely on the Winning Stage are mostly cultivators, and they will inevitably get into all sorts of trouble. Since they themselves cannot show up in person, at this time, they will ask you to take care of things for them."

  "Oh."

  "Or, you received a commission related to them. Some you can directly refuse, some you can communicate with them in advance, or else, find a way to make the task fail." Long Qi said: "Then, they will be grateful to you."

  "I somehow feel like there's an embezzlement going on here?"

  "You are Miaodao Pavilion, and Miaodao Pavilion is you. There's no distinction between public and private." Longqi smiled and shook his head.

  "If we are invisible swords, why not hide and instead let them know who we are?" Su Tang asked, he couldn't understand this point, shouldn't it be better to be more secretive?!

  "You've finally asked the crucial question." Long Qi let out a light sigh: "This is also the truth I came to realize after staying in Changshan County for a very, very long time."

  "What's the logic?"

  "Do you like venomous snakes?" Longqi suddenly changed the subject.

  "I don't like it."

  "Yes, you don't like it, I don't like it either. It can be said that no normal person would like it." Long Qi smiled and said: "We hide in the dark, act as invisible knives, once we receive a commission, we will resolutely complete the task. Is this different from venomous snakes? They only fear us, hate us, and once they find an opportunity, they will ruthlessly trample us to death. If this venomous snake grows big enough and poses a serious threat, they will stop at nothing to destroy our entire bamboo forest, even if it means perishing together with us."

  Su Tang was silently pondering Long Qi's words.

  "Our Miao Dao Pavilion has a low completion rate of entrusted tasks, less than 70%. So what? We're living well and happily." Long Qi said: "Not to mention others, the Zhenshen Temple that once dominated the entire continent had a completion rate of 100%, but are they still around now? Hehe... They wanted someone to die, so they died. Then, the three major Tianmen joined forces and completely wiped out the Zhenshen Temple."

  "Those who don't understand the art of compromise usually end up like this." Long Qi concluded.

  "The Three Great Heavens?"

  "Pengshan is one of the three major Tianmen." Longqi said, "So, we must come out of the shadows and make friends with them. You see... I'm right in front of you, what's there to discuss? Many hatreds and misunderstandings in this world are caused by lack of communication. I've never accepted any commissions related to them, if I hear rumors, I'll even give them a heads up. Where else can they find friends like me? Of course, if someone insists on being at odds with Miaodao Pavilion, that's another story."

  "In short, never offend the masses." Longqi continued: "This is easy, Changshan County has never been a unified entity, we have enough room for maneuver."

  "Is there anyone else?" Su Tang suddenly asked.

  "What other people?" Longqi didn't understand.

  "Tong Fei and Xiao Bu Hui's personal styles are too obvious, only Wen Xiang... I don't quite understand." Su Tang said: "But you won't leave everything to Wen Xiang, will you? Can she handle it?"

  "This sentence, although asked very amateurishly, has already proven that you are clever and at least really use your brain." Long Qi smiled: "Miao Dao Ge has four enshrined people. Apart from the three of them, there is another person with the nickname Shadow. To be strict, he is not a member of Miao Dao Ge, but my house servant. After I leave, he will also follow me."

  "Oh."

  "That's what I smell... I've been unable to figure it out." Long Qi furrowed his brow: "And I have a bad premonition, if one day she causes trouble, it will definitely be a disaster of epic proportions! Alas... look at your own luck."

  As they talked, the two people had already walked to Miaodao Pavilion. It was Su Tang's first time here, and he couldn't help but stop in his tracks, carefully observing it. It was a very unassuming small building with only two floors, which seemed somewhat dilapidated. However, inside, the lights were shining brightly, forming a stark contrast with the dark streets surrounding it.

  Producing such brightness every night would use up several thousand candles, which was too wasteful in Su Tang's opinion.

  As soon as they entered the great hall, Su Tang found that the interior was decorated like a waiting room in another world. In the center of the room were rows and rows of wooden chairs, nearly hundreds of them, on which sat many people, some alone, others in groups of three to five. They all carried weapons and looked like warriors from their demeanor.

  Long Wang Qi walked in, all the warriors stood up and bowed to greet him.

  Longqi smiled and nodded, then walked straight through the hall and into the backyard.

  There was a small building in the backyard, much smaller than the one in front. Longqi pushed open the door and walked in. Although there were also lights on inside, there was no one around.

  Perhaps due to the wine, Su Tang felt an inexplicable excitement in his heart, and he was about to come into contact with the secrets of Miao Dao Pavilion!

  Longqi sat down beside the round table in the center of the room, beckoning Su Tang to sit down as well. After a brief wait, the door was pushed open once again, and three people completely shrouded in black cloaks walked in one after another. The person at the front slowly lifted their cloak, revealing a sweet and lovely face, truly a breathtaking sight.

  Su Tang was taken aback and looked back, the two people behind should be Xiao Buqi and Tong Fei, but Tong Fei's height... how could it be as tall as Xiao Buqi?

  When Tong Fei also lifted the awning, Su Tang felt relieved. It turned out that Tong Fei was holding a round wooden mallet against the awning. Imagine Tong Fei's serious face, holding the mallet and walking with a straight face, Su Tang wanted to laugh.

  Three people sat down, and Wen Xiang's big eyes were always curiously sizing up Su Tang, as if they had never seen him before. Xiao Bu regretted it as usual, lazy, looking at his appearance, hated to lie down immediately. Tong Fei's sitting posture was the most upright, with her eyes on her nose and her nose on her heart, motionless.

  No one spoke, and just as Su Tang felt something was strange, a person chuckled and walked in from the side door.

  "He's called Mo Xiaobai, Su Tang. You can trust him absolutely." Long Qi said slowly: "Xiaobai, have you taken down a few plaques these past two days?"

  "I've seen Mr. Su." said the person called Mo Xiaobai with great respect, then looked at Long Qi: "Big Brother Long, business hasn't been good these days, I only took down one signboard."