Chu Li smiled. “Surprised?”

　　“How could there be so many?” Chen Siyu furrowed her eyebrows while looking at him. “Especially this, Chen Xue…”

　　Chen Xue was Chen Siyu’s valued confidant. He was originally loyal to her husband and later turned to her after he died. He was agile as a worker and cautious as a speaker. Ever since Chen Siyu was appointed as the Association Leader, she had entrusted him with heavy responsibilities and wanted to train him up.

　　She never thought that his name would be on this list!

　　‘Chen Xue.’ Chu Li thought for a moment. “He wasn’t aligned with the Equal of Heaven Association, it was the Rockwell Association.”

　　“The Rockwell Association…” Chen Siyu’s eyebrows knitted together even tighter. “The Rockwell Association of Cloud Town?”

　　“Must be it,” said Chu Li. “He’s a spy of the Rockwell Association. He has been undercover for a long period of time and has been waiting to reach the Startling Cloud’s upper ranks to deal fatal damage to the association. Is there a deep animosity between the Startling Cloud Association and the Rockwell Association?”

　　“It was 20 years ago, the Rockwell Association was originally a faction in the Cloud State Town.” Chen Siyu recounted. “They were defeated by the Startling Cloud Association and were forced to leave the Cloud State Town as well as go to Cloud Town. I’ve never thought that they still had not given up yet.”

　　They are farsighted and prudent.” Chu Li let out a sigh of praise. “This Rockwell Association cannot be underestimated. Hai… we really can’t belittle people with talent!”

　　“They, as a foreign faction, can gain a firm foothold in the Town of Clouds—they’re incredible.” Chen Siyu nodded her head lightly.

　　She was an Association Leader, thus, she knew how difficult it was for a foreign faction to gain a firm foothold within a local area. Cloud State Town often had foreign factions, the Startling Cloud Association would suppress and drive each one of them out, and in the end, none gained a foothold.

　　“It’s a pity.” Chen Siyu eyed Chen Xue’s name.

　　Chu Li asked, “Is he really a talented guy?”

　　“He’s shrewd, sharp, tactful, and possesses strong ability.” Chen Siyu sighed. “I favored him and was going to promote him to Clan Leader, but who would’ve thought…just thinking of it makes me feel terrified.”

　　Chen Xue hid his true colors too well. If Chen Siyu had promoted him to Clan Leader and he rebelled, the Startling Cloud Association would have weakened considerably and foreign factions would have been able to take advantage of the Association’s poor state. It would have been the end of the Startling Cloud Association.

　　Chu Li pondered. “If he’s indeed talented, we should make him change sides!”

　　“Change sides?” Chen Siyu frowned. “Can you use him without worry?”

　　Chu Li laughed. “Human beings have weaknesses. Once we seize his weakness, he will devote himself to us!”

　　“What’s his weakness?” Chen Siyu asked. “I expect Rockwell Association had seized his weakness, otherwise, he would not have devoted himself to them. Chen Xue had been in in the Startling Cloud Association for eight years now. He can be regarded as an old member.”

　　Chu Li searched his memories and said slowly, “He has a sister. They depended on each other for survival when they were young. She married a Clan Leader of the Rockwell Association. Thus, if we want to make Chen Xue change sides, we need to start with his brother-in-law.”

　　“A Clan Leader…” Chen Siyu shook her head and said, “It’s impossible to bribe him.”

　　These kind of people who were in high positions were difficult to bribe. He was already a clan leader and if they did not have enough bargaining chips, what could make him transfer his allegiance to the Startling Cloud Association. His foothold in the association would be unstable. Moreover if a position higher than Clan Leader was available, it still would not be given to him.

　　Chu Li said, “We don’t have to rush, Rockwell Association has no intention to strike at the moment. We’ll just pretend that we don’t know of their plan and continue to utilize him as usual. When I come next time, I will go and take a look at him, we’ll definitely be able to find a weakness.”

　　“Good.” Chen Siyu scoffed. “If we can make Chen Xue change his allegiance to us, we will be able to snuff out the Rockwell Association!”

　　She set her eyes not only on Cloud State Town but also Cloud Town and Ascending Cloud Town. If they wanted to make the Startling Cloud Association grow, they cannot confine to Cloud State Town. Instead, they need to go out of the town and expand their territory.

　　Chen Siyu lowered her head and continued reading the name list. “Chen Hao is the traitor this time?”

　　“Yes, he’s an informant of the Equal of Heaven Association.” Chu Li sighed. “The Equal of Heaven Association has made a great sacrifice this time. They enlisted the help of a top-notch martial arts master to kill you.”

　　“Who is it?”

　　“Flaming Sun Palm—Luo Feng!”

　　“Flaming Sun Palm?” Chen Siyu sucked in a breath of cold air. “No wonder!”

　　Chu Li was surprised too. He never thought that the Rockwell Association would have been able to enlist the help of the Flaming Sun Palm. They really could not be underestimated.

　　Since the last time he returned to the Public House from this place, he had been gathering intel on the martial arts world. He was well-aware of the happenings in the martial arts world. Flaming Sun Palm was a well-known Innate Master. People did not know his face, but they were aware of the Flaming Sun Palm’s formidable power. There were famous people too who died under the Flaming Sun Palm.

　　Chu Li was curious: Cloud State Town was just a medium-sized town and it was located in the Chong Ming Road. The Chong Ming Road was located in the far east of the Great Ji, thus its location was very remote. The Flaming Sun Palm was usually active in the Central Plains and rarely came here.

　　Chen Siyu looked up at Chu Li.

　　Chu Li smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle him!”

　　“It is said that he’s very cunning.” Chen Siyu frowned. “You can barely catch a glimpse of him, it’ll be difficult to find him.”

　　The Flaming Sun Palm has killed many people and has numerous enemies. Therefore, to still be alive till this day, he must be a prudent, cunning and wary person. Almost nobody can find him.

　　Chen Siyu suddenly clapped her hands. “Shall we lure him out again?”

　　“He’s cunning and wary, he won’t take the bait that easily,” Chu Li said. “Mobilize our informants in the Equal of Heaven Association.”

　　Chen Siyu grinned. “How’d you know I have informants in the Equal of Heaven Association?”

　　“Planting spies in each other’s forces—isn’t this what the factions in the martial arts world always do?” Chu Li laughed. “I’m sure that you have informants in other factions. Otherwise, your association wouldn’t be the number one association in Cloud State Town!”

　　Chen Siyu chuckled. “It’s just as you said… Jiang Chunyue!”

　　Jiang Chunyue came at the sound of her name. “Yes, my Lady?”

　　“Go and find the informants in the Equal of Heaven Association, tell them to help me find the location of the Flaming Sun Palm!” Chen Siyu instructed.

　　Jiang Chunyue hesitated. “How many informants does my Lady wants to mobilize?”

　　“Two,” Chen Siyu said. “Tell them to be careful!”

　　“Yes,” Jiang Chunyue Er answered and left quietly.

　　Luo Feng was a haggard looking middle-aged man with a sickly and tired face. His face, however, still retained remnants of his youthful look, thus he was still quite handsome.

　　He sat in an inn in the Cloud State Town. On the empty second floor of the inn, there was no one else except a beautiful maid who stood behind him. She poured him some wine from time to time.

　　He held the silver cup in his hand and gently swirled the fine wine in the cup, its aroma was appealing. He sat near the window, looking at the people on the streets of Cloud State Town who came and went. He had a the-world-was-drunk-but-I-was-still-sobered kind of prideful feeling.

　　Whenever he made a move, he covered his face with a black cloth, but normally, he would take it off. This was so that no one would ever think that this sickly man was the top-notch martial arts master in the martial arts world. Unbeknownst to everyone.

　　He looked at the streets below for a moment, and sighed. “Wine!”

　　“Master, you should drink less,” the beautiful maid advised softly.

　　She knew that the Master’s body was not in its best condition, it would be inappropriate to drink more than three cups. If he drank excessively, it would be detrimental to his health.

　　“This girl, such a killjoy!” Luo Feng gave her a resentful look.

　　The beautiful maid’s translucent and bright eyes were delicate and charming. “You really can’t drink anymore. You should take care of your own body!”

　　Luo Feng shook his head in frustration. “Fine. Fine. I will listen to you!”

　　The beautiful maid gave a charming smile and took away his cup.

　　“After eating this meal, we will leave.” Luo Feng took a deep breath and said seriously, “We shouldn’t stay here for too long!”

　　“In this place there is nothing for Master to worry about.” the beautiful maid laughed. “There are no top-notch martial arts masters here at all.”

　　“Don’t be careless.” Luo Feng shook his head. “They aren’t that easy to deal with. Being able to become the number one association in this town, they must have an ace up their sleeves. We should keep our guards up.”

　　“Yes, Master.” the beautiful maid giggled. “I admire Master’s wariness!”

　　“You only know how to say flatteries!” Luo Feng looked askance at her. “The most ludicrous people are those who think they’re invincible. There are countless of martial arts masters in this world and none of them can say that they are invincible!”

　　“Master, where should we go?” the beautiful maid asked with a smile.

　　It was mid-afternoon and only the two of them were in the inn, so they were not afraid that any outsiders would hear their conversation.

　　“We’ll go to Cloud Town to take a look first.” Luo Feng scoffed. “I have an enemy there!”

　　The beautiful maid asked, “Shall we go now?”

　　“It can wait until we’ve had our fill of food and drinks.” Luo Feng patted the beautiful maid’s small waist then he scoffed. “That guy has weakened over the past few years. It will be very easy to deal with him!”

　　The beautiful maid gave him a flirtatious look and twisted her slender waist.

　　A blue shadow flashed and Chu Li suddenly appeared behind Luo Feng.

　　Luo Feng’s hair stood on end. He promptly pulled the beautiful maid into his arms, banged open the window and shot out.