activa-t Chapter 282: Defeat in One Move
Chapter 282: Defeat in One Move
The violent storm slammed against the window lattices, making waves of heart-pounding noises. Gao Xingchen's face was solemn, and the black letter in his hand seemed to weigh a thousand pounds. The content of the letter was simple and direct, but it revealed a chilling murderous aura:
"Hand over Gao Xingchen within one month, otherwise, I will raze Xingchen Pavilion to the ground."
At the signature, there was only a bright red seal, and no information could be seen.
"Master, this..." Xuanfeng stood aside, his tone full of worry.
Gao Xingchen took a deep breath and handed the letter to Nan Li, "What do you think?"
Nan Li took the letter and read it carefully. No emotion could be seen on her stern face. "They are not kind. This letter of challenge is more like a declaration. They have no intention of leaving us any room for maneuver."
Gao Xingchen nodded. Nan Li's judgment coincided with his. Although Xingchen Pavilion was developing rapidly, it would inevitably attract some malicious eyes. But who was this mysterious force, and why did they want to kill him?
The news quickly spread within the Xingchen Pavilion, and for a time, there was a lot of discussion and panic among the people.
The atmosphere in the meeting hall was solemn and depressing.
"How dare these rats be so arrogant! Let's fight them!" A burly man slammed the table and said angrily. He was a veteran of Xingchen Pavilion, who had followed Gao Xingchen through life and death and had a deep affection for Xingchen Pavilion.
"Master Zhao, please be patient," said Li Fushang, standing up and bowing to everyone. "This letter of challenge came at an odd time. We don't know the details of the other party yet. If we start a war rashly, I'm afraid it will play into their hands."
"Mr. Li is right," said an older man, stroking his beard. "What's more, our Xingchen Pavilion has just started on the right track and cannot withstand the turmoil of a major war!"
Everyone expressed their opinions and the dispute was endless. Some people advocated a direct fight to show the strength of the Star Pavilion and to deter the villains; others believed that peace should be the most precious thing and that the issue should be resolved through diplomatic means to avoid unnecessary casualties.
Gao Xingchen and Nanli sat in the main seats, listening to the discussion quietly without saying a word. They knew that this was a difficult choice, and no matter what decision was made, it would have a profound impact on the future of Xingchen Pavilion. Gao Xingchen and Nanli exchanged glances, and each saw determination in the other's eyes. They knew that blindly giving in would only encourage the other party's arrogance, and only by showing enough determination and strength could they win bargaining chips.
"I already know your opinions." Gao Xingchen slowly stood up, looked around, and said in a steady and powerful tone, "I have made up my mind. I will use courtesy before force."
His eyes swept across the crowd and finally landed on Xuanfeng. "Xuanfeng, you lead a team of envoys to the enemy camp and make sure to find out their background and the real purpose of their trip."
"Yes, Pavilion Master!" Xuanfeng took the order, turned around and walked out of the conference hall and began to make preparations.
"Master Zhao," Gao Xingchen turned to the burly man, "The safety of Xingchen Pavilion is now in your hands. Strengthen patrols and be on high alert. Don't let the villains take advantage of you."
"Master, rest assured. I will do my best to protect the safety of the Xingchen Pavilion!" Master Zhao clasped his fists and accepted the order, with a determined light flashing in his eyes.
After arranging everything, Gao Xingchen and Nan Li returned to the secret room. The secret room was located deep underground in the Xingchen Pavilion, where the two usually practiced and discussed important matters.
"It seems that a big battle is inevitable." Nanli walked to the table, picked up the teapot, and poured two cups of tea.
Gao Xingchen took the teacup, took a sip, and said with a wry smile: "Yes, the tree wants to be still but the wind does not stop. We just want to develop in peace, but there are always people who want to put us to death."
"If enemies come, we will fight them with our soldiers; if floods come, we will block them with earth. I believe that as long as we unite as one, no difficulties can stop us from moving forward." Nan Li said in a firm tone, with a strong confidence in his eyes.
At the same time, Xuan Feng had led a team of messengers towards the camp of the mysterious force. However, what greeted them was a closed camp gate and a cold blade.
"Who are you? This is a forbidden area, leave immediately!" The guard at the gate spoke in a cold tone, his eyes full of hostility.
"We are the envoys of the Star Pavilion. We have come to visit your Excellency. Please inform him." Xuanfeng stepped forward and said with a fist.
"My master said he won't see any guests, so you can go away!" The guard was unmoved and brought the blade in his hand even closer.
The negotiations seemed to be at a stalemate from the beginning, and the air was filled with a tense atmosphere...
The atmosphere in the Xingchen Pavilion was solemn. Master Zhao directed his disciples to set up defensive fortifications in various places in the pavilion. Towering arrow towers rose from the ground, and sword arrays flashing with cold light were scattered all over the main roads. The originally peaceful and tranquil Xingchen Pavilion seemed to be covered with a layer of steel thorns. The disciples looked serious and hurried. Everyone felt as if a huge stone was pressing on their hearts, making them feel suffocated.
"Master Zhao, double the number of guard posts at each location and patrol day and night without any mistakes!" Master Zhao's voice was loud and powerful, echoing over the martial arts field, revealing a solemn and murderous aura before a battle.
"Yes!" the disciples answered in unison, with a hint of nervousness and determination in their voices.
At the same time, Nan Li was flipping through the information in her hands in the secret room. The flickering candlelight illuminated her cold face, and her brows were slightly furrowed. It was obvious that this information made her feel very difficult.
"Xuanfeng reported that those people were ruthless and well-trained, and they were definitely not just a mob." Nanli put down the intelligence in his hand and said solemnly, "Moreover, I secretly investigated their background and found that they had a close relationship with a prince in the court."
"The imperial court?" Gao Xingchen raised his sword-like eyebrows, a cold light flashed in his eyes, "It seems that this matter is not simple, someone wants to kill someone with a borrowed knife!"
"Yes, we must respond carefully, otherwise we may be attacked from all sides." Nan Li walked to the window, looked at the dark night sky outside, a trace of worry flashed in his eyes.
Just as the Star Pavilion was preparing for battle, a mysterious figure quietly arrived at a mountain near the Star Pavilion. He was wearing a black cloak, standing tall on the top of the mountain, as if blending into the night.
"Xingchen Pavilion, Gao Xingchen..." The mysterious man looked in the direction of Xingchen Pavilion with a playful smile on his face, "I hope you won't let me down..."
His true identity and what changes his appearance will bring to the Star Pavilion are still unknown.
The atmosphere in the meeting hall of the Xingchen Pavilion was completely opposite to the tense outside. Gao Xingchen was sitting at the desk with a frown on his face and a few thin pieces of paper in his hands. They were the information collected by Xuanfeng about the challenger's tactics.
"They are making a feint to the east and attacking in the west, surrounding a point and attacking reinforcements. This group of people is quite interesting." Gao Xingchen slapped the intelligence on the table and sneered, "It seems that they want to end the battle quickly and not give us a chance to breathe."
"Their target is very clear, which is the foundation of the Star Pavilion. They want to defeat us in one fell swoop." Nan Li stood aside and analyzed calmly, "We must find a way to delay time and find their flaws."
"Delay time?" Gao Xingchen raised his head, a gleam in his eyes, "Yes, we can't be led by their pace, we have to disrupt their plan."
He stood up, walked to the huge map hanging on the wall, pointed to the location of the Star Pavilion on the map and said, "They want a quick victory, but we won't let them have their way. Master Zhao!"
"I'm here!" Master Zhao, who had been waiting outside the conference room, immediately pushed the door open upon hearing the voice, and knelt on one knee with his fists clasped.
"Pass the order down, shrink the outer defense forces, concentrate superior forces, and defend the core area of the Star Pavilion. Without my order, no one is allowed to attack without authorization!"
"Yes!" Hall Master Zhao took the order and left, quickly passing it on.
Gao Xingchen looked at the map, his eyes gleaming with confidence, "If you want to eat us up in one bite, you don't have to worry about breaking your teeth!"
Just as the Star Pavilion was making intensive preparations to meet the challenge, the mysterious ally who had been hiding in the dark and providing intelligence to the Star Pavilion suddenly sent news. This news was like a stone that stirred up ripples on the calm lake, making the situation of the Star Pavilion even more complicated.
"What did you say? Say it again!" The teacup in Nanli's hand slipped and fell to the ground with a crisp sound, but she didn't care. Her beautiful eyes opened wide and she looked at Xuanfeng in front of her in disbelief.
"Alliance leader...he...he is actually..." Xuan Feng lowered his head, his tone full of disbelief and a hint of fear, but he finally gritted his teeth and said the name.
This name was like a thunderclap, exploding in the ears of Nanli and Gao Xingchen, making their brains go blank in an instant.
The true identity of the mysterious ally turned out to be him?! What does this discovery mean to Xingchen Pavilion? Is it help or destruction?