Chapter 1341 — The Pi Family's Countermeasures

After hearing his son's report, the face of Pi Jiake, head of the Pi family, darkened as well: "In the mundane world, how could an Earth-rank expert possibly exist? Doesn't the Clan Arbitration Council forbid the Earth-rank experts of the hidden clans and sects from moving about the mundane world as they please? Without the Council's permission, it would bring down severe sanctions!"

"Father, that is exactly what worries me... Tell me, could they be people sent out from one of those ancient sects?" Pi Zhishan said, somewhat hesitantly.

"Hard to say..." Pi Jiake's expression grew more cautious still: "If they really are people from over there, then even the Clan Arbitration Council would not dare to interfere..."

"Then what are we to..." Pi Zhishan asked cautiously.

"Until we have made clear just where that great hero Goudan comes from, we had best not act rashly for the time being!" Pi Jiake waved a hand. "Lately our Pi family has established itself in Songshan City, and I have also made a survey of the spheres of influence there. I hear that Zhao Qibing, the illegitimate son of the hidden Zhao clan, was beaten crippled in both legs by Wei Zhao, the man who leads that great hero Goudan, and even now sits in a wheelchair! You must understand, the hidden Zhao clan is a hidden clan just like ours, and yet they have swallowed it for so long without making a move. That alone is enough to show there is something strange about the power behind Wei Zhao!"

"Indeed. I never imagined that Pi Yangyang and the others would be so impetuous as to strike at the Gu family, and bring such calamity down on themselves!" Pi Zhishan sighed.

"The fault is also mine for not warning them. I had only just finished surveying the division of forces in Songshan City and had not yet had time to speak with the Xiao family when they made their move!" Pi Jiake said. "This time we have swallowed a mute's bitter pill — and we still cannot act rashly. For now we can only watch and wait!"

"By the way, Father, I heard that Jin Wudi is coming out of seclusion. He has already obtained the Clan Arbitration Council's permission to enter the mundane world, and the enemy he means to deal with is likewise Wei Zhao, the man leading that great hero Goudan?" Pi Zhishan said.

"Oh? Why didn't that occur to me? This is wonderful — having an early Earth-rank expert like Jin Wudi go and probe Wei Zhao's strength will be no bad thing!" Pi Jiake said, instantly delighted. "When the time comes, we shall see how matters stand and then decide our next move!"

"Yes, we can sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, and reap the fisherman's profit!" Pi Zhishan nodded.

Over on the other side, Er Goudan sat in the car as though nothing at all had happened, still with his eyes wide open, braced and ready.

"Wow, Brother Goudan, you're amazing — one punch and you killed that Pi Yangyang!" Shen Yushu said in admiration. "Still, you're just a tiny bit below Brother Arrow, and Brother Arrow is better-looking than you too!"

"Of course the boss is better than I am." Er Goudan nodded as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Shen Yushu was left at a loss. This fellow really did know himself, but he was no fun at all.

"Ah, not as good as Brother Arrow. This bodyguard is too useless." Shen Yushu shook her head.

"Xiaoshu, don't talk nonsense!" Gu Mengyao said, rather helpless. Even if he isn't as good as Wei Zhao, there's no need to say it out loud. What if someone hears?

"It's fine. Everything she said is the truth." Er Goudan nodded, thoroughly convinced she was right.

"..." Gu Mengyao was completely speechless. This man truly was honest to a fault!

General Mighty was delivered by Liu Wangli's men to a small town nearby, and Wei Zhao drove there himself to bring the general back. He did not let Liu Wangli's men draw near the ancient tomb; until Wei Zhao was fully certain which side that expert belonged to, he had no wish for complications.

As for Wei Zhao bringing along a dog, almost no one found it strange. Using a dog's keen sense of smell as a means of scouting the way is a very common method in tomb raiding; it is only that dogs are such a bother to train, and in recent years modern technology has gradually replaced them.

That evening the leaders of the various tomb-raiding gangs appeared in Old Hei's tent. Apart from Old Keng, who had been beaten to death, everyone was present.

Yu Xiaoke could not help stealing a few more glances at Wei Zhao. What he had said earlier struck her as odd; she had long felt that Wei Zhao looked familiar. Could it be that she really had met him before? Otherwise, why would he have kindly warned her to be careful?

Though she knew this trip would be perilous, when she thought of the orphanage, and of the generous fee she would earn this time, Yu Xiaoke still chose to stay.

"Since everyone is here, let us discuss tomorrow's tomb expedition. As for what happened today, I don't know who was behind it, but I don't want anything of the sort happening again tomorrow. I have already invited an expert to come and lend us aid, so anyone who doesn't fear death is welcome to keep it up!" Old Hei's expression was quite stern; right from the start, his first words were a threat to them all!

No one could blame him for doing so. Today he alone had lost an expert, while the others had lost nothing, and that sat very ill with Old Hei. What galled him most was that even now he did not know who had done it. He and Lord Hao had discussed it at length, trying to work out who was most likely responsible, but the conclusion they reached was that, apart from the dead Old Keng, no one else was under any suspicion.

"In our country, biochemical humans and the gifted are all controlled by special organizations. Even if we wanted to hire one, it would be impossible." James shrugged, professing his innocence. "You've all seen it — when my men kill, they rely on modern weaponry!"

Indeed, among all their firearms, James's were the most advanced; the others all carried ordinary pistols and submachine guns bought on the black market.

"I am here to keep the peace, not to stir up trouble." Lord Hao spoke mildly as well.

"There are only three of us." Wei Zhao gave a cold laugh. "Aren't we here to discuss business? Are you finished yet? If we're not going to discuss it, then I'll be on my way and you can carry on suspecting one another."

"Husband-and-Wife Thieves, what do you mean by that? This is a collective undertaking. If you have nothing on your conscience, why are you getting so worked up?" Lord Hao glanced at Wei Zhao and gave a cold laugh.

"Since you don't trust me, then tomorrow we'll split up and act separately." Wei Zhao said calmly.

"This..." Old Hei was immediately put in a difficult position. "Lord Hao, Male Thief, both of you say a little less. Let us begin studying tomorrow's plan..."

Studying tomorrow's plan was, in truth, nothing more than a plan for mutual surveillance — nothing more than shuffling each other's people around so as to keep one another in check.