Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Perfecting the Plan

As he mulled over how to stir up trouble for the White Water Sect, Wang Ping almost subconsciously thought of a human bomb using the ’Five Elements Condensation Technique’—essentially, a living Power Pill.

He imagined sending someone with the Condensation Technique implanted in them into the White Water Sect, then having them self-destruct...

After all, someone with the Condensation Technique implanted in their body would have the cultivation base of an Entering Cultivator. The energy storm from their explosion would be powerful enough to level both the White Water Sect and the Iron Art Sect. If they were lucky, it might even kill both of their Entering Cultivators!

Wang Ping was startled by his own idea. But soon, he found he couldn’t shake it from his mind. ’And... it doesn’t even seem that difficult to pull off,’ he thought. ’It’s just that cleaning up the aftermath would be a bit tricky.’

"What are you thinking about? Why do you seem so... excited and uneasy?"

Yu Lian was communicating with Wang Ping through his Spirit Sea.

Wang Ping glanced at Yu Lian, who was lazing about on the eaves, then turned his gaze to Zhao Qing. He didn’t share his thoughts with Zhao Qing. If this plan were to be put into action, it required absolute secrecy. Besides, the first person he should report to was Yu Cheng Taoist.

So, the moment Zhao Qing left, Wang Ping went to find Yu Cheng Taoist.

But Yu Cheng Taoist was not there. The acolyte guarding the courtyard told Wang Ping that the Daoist had mentioned he would be away for about ten days, and that he had already been gone for eight.

Hearing this, Wang Ping decided not to return to his Dao Field. Instead, he sat down by the Stone Table in the small courtyard to meditate. He would wait for Yu Cheng Taoist and use the time to think through his plan more carefully.

「Three days later, at noon.」

A streak of light flashed across the sky, and Yu Cheng Taoist’s figure appeared outside the small courtyard. He was a little surprised to see Wang Ping waiting for him.

The moment Wang Ping sensed his master’s arrival, he immediately rose and bowed.

"Master!" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Is something urgent?"

"I have an idea, but I didn’t dare act on my own. I came specifically to ask for your guidance, Master."

"Mm, let’s sit and discuss it."

Having spent several days thinking, Wang Ping was no longer as hasty as he had been at first. After a quiet affirmation, he first dismissed the busy acolyte, then unhurriedly laid out his idea for Yu Cheng Taoist.

After listening, Yu Cheng Taoist sank into thought for more than a quarter of an hour. He then looked up at Wang Ping. "You’re right. This plan is feasible, and it has great potential. We could even devise a follow-up assassination plan for after the explosion to completely trap and kill the Third Realm Cultivator at the White Water Sect!"

His idea was even bolder than Wang Ping’s—he seemed to want to completely sever the White Water Sect’s lineage!

As Yu Cheng Taoist spoke, a murderous glint flashed across his face. Sensing his killing intent, Yu Lian scurried into Wang Ping’s sleeve in fear.

Then, Yu Cheng Taoist continued, "However, this matter cannot be rushed. To truly implement it might take a few years, a decade, or even several decades. I can wait, but the plan must be meticulous. Otherwise, it will backfire on us."

"First, we need to find someone willing to die for the cause—or two, or three. If we can’t find anyone, we’ll have to slowly ’cultivate’ them ourselves. Second, and most importantly, we must find out exactly whose lapdogs the White Water Sect have been all these years. If we don’t investigate this thoroughly and make preparations beforehand, the day the White Water Sect is destroyed will also be the day our Qianmu Temple is destroyed!"

"Furthermore, this matter must be kept absolutely secret..." Yu Cheng Taoist’s cold gaze fell upon Wang Ping as he asked, "Who in Qianmu Temple do you trust the most?"

Wang Ping was about to say Zhao Qing, but the name that came out was different. "Shuang’Er. After observing her for so many years, I can guarantee she won’t be a problem, now or in the future."

"Mm, Shuang’Er is indeed trustworthy. But she has the potential to reach the Entering Realm, and she is your disciple!"

Yu Cheng Taoist’s considerations were more comprehensive.

Under Yu Cheng Taoist’s gaze, Wang Ping lowered his head and continued to think...

He knew Yu Cheng Taoist was selecting someone to orchestrate the attack. This person would need to see the mission through from start to finish. This included everything from the initial selection of candidates to planting them inside the White Water Sect, and even cultivating an inside contact or two if necessary. These were all long-term tasks that required hands-on involvement.

"Shuang’Er is the one I trust most. I think we can have her secretly select the candidates. This first step requires knowing our true objective. Once she’s chosen someone, I can implant the Condensation Technique and then hand them over to Junior Brother Zhao Qing. From that point on, no one else needs to know the true purpose of the person we’re sending out!"

Yu Cheng Taoist nodded in satisfaction. "I know a few things about the White Water Sect’s background," he added, "but I haven’t pried too much in recent years for the sake of stability. I’ll have some friends from my gatherings make some discreet inquiries."

The master and disciple grew more and more animated as they talked, gradually fleshing out the rough framework of Wang Ping’s initial plan.

The most critical part of the plan was the cleanup. If it wasn’t handled perfectly, it could lead to the mutual destruction of both sects.

Yu Cheng Taoist’s thinking was simple and direct: if the White Water Sect truly had a powerful, hidden backer, then Qianmu Temple wouldn’t mind temporarily lowering its head. Or, they could simply find an even more powerful backer for themselves.

The discussion lasted for two days and two nights, but not a single word was written down. The entire plan was committed to their Divine Soul Memories.

According to the plan, Wang Ping would be in charge of matters concerning Liu Shuang, while Yu Cheng Taoist would be responsible for instructing Zhao Qing to arrange the inside contact and for the preliminary networking.

「Back at the mountaintop Dao Field.」

Wang Ping did not summon Liu Shuang immediately. Instead, he sat in silent meditation before the pagoda tree for ten days, bringing himself to a calm state, devoid of joy or sorrow. Only then did he ask Yu Lian to call Liu Shuang up the mountain.

Liu Shuang arrived on the mountain when the sun was high in the sky. Wang Ping first had lunch with her, then brought up his plan as they were having tea afterward.

The plan Wang Ping described must have been utterly unexpected for Liu Shuang. At first, she seemed at a loss for how to respond and simply remained silent. After Wang Ping finished speaking, she took a long time to process it all on her own.

"Master, people like that... are actually not hard to find."

Liu Shuang chose her words carefully. "There are plenty of people down the mountain who can’t survive. Countless more sell their own children. Sickness, starvation, the calamities of war... any of these can make it impossible for a family to go on. As long as we lend a hand at the right moment, they’ll sell their lives to..."

She trailed off, feeling that her master might not like such a topic.

"Continue," Wang Ping said, maintaining his calm, detached state.

"Yes, Master!"

Liu Shuang felt a sense of unfamiliarity from her master at that moment. She paused, then continued, "This is especially true in regions plagued by war or controlled by powerful landlords, like over on Mozhou Road... However, the human heart is the most difficult thing to fathom. Finding someone truly dependable requires a great deal of patience, as well as the right methods."

"They also need to have a clean background, one that won’t raise suspicion under investigation..."

She rattled off a series of suggestions, one after another. It was clear that in her decade-plus of worldly experience, she had seen and met many people. These encounters had already formed a fixed set of beliefs within her own path of cultivation.