Chapter 228: Xiao Kui Alliance
In the dark center of the main altar, a stone pavilion stands alone, as if it is the only focus of light and shadow in this endless darkness.

The pavilion is simple yet elegant, with a few cushions next to a small stone table.

Xiao Qingfang sat facing south, and Kui Wenzhong sat opposite her, their figures elongated in the dim light.

Xiaomei put on a veil and returned to Xiao Qingfang's side. The evil spirit also stood behind Xiao Qingfang, looking at Kui Wenzhong provocatively with a burning desire to fight.

Kui Wenzhong looked at Xiao Qingfang with a smile on his face, his sarcasm evident in his words.

I just don't know whether he was laughing at Xiao Qingfang for not knowing people well and mistaking Xiaomei for her confidante; or at her for sitting facing south and being arrogant.

As for the provocative look of the demon spirit, Kui Wenzhong simply ignored it. Such a clown was not worthy of his ridicule.

Xiao Qingfang took Kui Wenzhong's disrespect into her eyes, but she was not angry at all. Instead, she picked up the teacup on the table and said, "Wenzhong, we haven't seen each other for many years. Today, I will offer you a cup of tea instead of wine!"

Hearing this, Kui Wenzhong slowly raised his teacup and said, "Big sister, you are too polite. You are the master of the Snake Spirit, and Wenzhong is just a killer under your command. How dare I accept your courtesy?"

Kui Wenzhong's words seemed respectful, but his tone was actually unfriendly. It seemed that he wanted to embarrass Xiao Qingfang by relying on her failure in Pingzhou and his support from the elders.

Seeing this, Xiao Qingfang still put on a smile and said, "Wen Zhong is exaggerating. You are a Snake Spirit elder, with unparalleled martial arts skills. Who dares to take you lightly?"

Kui Wenzhong drank the tea in one gulp and said in a deep voice: "Big sister, I, Kui Wenzhong, am a straightforward person and I don't speak in secret. You invited me back to the headquarters. What do you want to talk about? Please speak frankly!"

When Xiao Qingfang heard the words "a frank man does not speak in secret", she curled her lips in disdain. A killer who always uses hidden weapons to hurt people still said something frankly, which was quite shameless.

Kui Wenzhong turned a blind eye and said to himself: "If elder sister still wants to do things like before, colluding with foreign aggression and endangering the country, I'm sorry Wenzhong can't obey you!"

He stood up suddenly: "I have heard about what happened in Pingzhou. In recent years, Snake Spirit has become more and more extreme in its actions, unable to distinguish right from wrong, and has long deviated from its original intention."

"It's needless to say for the enemies. Anyone who hinders the action will be killed. But it's the same for the people of the Snake Spirit. How can such an approach convince the people?"

"In the Pingzhou operation alone, the number of brothers and sisters who were killed in the various Snake Spirit Altars, I think hundreds of people is not enough, right? Humph! Once a Dongling, one of the six great snake heads, loses its usefulness, it will be discarded like a worn-out shoe. Not to mention Qiu Jing, Su Honghui and the like."

"This behavior is truly chilling! I'm afraid that one day, Xiaomei and Mo Ling will suffer the same fate!" Kui Wenzhong shook his head the more he spoke, seeming very dissatisfied.

Xiaomei watched Kui Wenzhong's performance, and she understood that Kui Wenzhong was just putting on airs and this attitude was a pretense for a plan.

Xiao Qingfang was furious when she heard Kui Wenzhong's accusations. She could tolerate his disrespect, but she would never allow him to sow discord.

She immediately responded, "Great! I didn't expect that Wen Zhong, who lives thousands of miles away, still knows everything about Pingzhou. From what you said, you want to learn from Hu Jinghui and Su Xianer and betray the Snake Spirit!"

Kui Wenzhong did not show any weakness and retorted: "I did not mean that. I was just advising my elder sister, the master of the Snake Spirit, not to deviate from the original intention of the old master to establish the Snake Spirit!"

Hearing Kui Wenzhong mention Yuan Tiangang, Xiao Qingfang was no longer anxious: "Oh? Old master? If I told you to come back because I want to find a way to rescue the old master, wouldn't you be willing to help?"

When Kui Wenzhong heard this, his momentum suddenly weakened: "Are you really willing to rescue the old master?"

Xiao Qingfang readily agreed: "Of course, I am also your student after all. Besides, you and I both know about the miraculous things in Luohe."

"The teacher has a rough plan for this matter, which he left to you and me. But the specific date of the most crucial Luo River miracle is only known by the teacher himself. Therefore, we must rescue the teacher."

Kui Wenzhong stared at Xiao Qingfang warily: "Are you really willing to rescue the old master?"

Xiao Qingfang nodded, and said helplessly: "My efforts in Pingzhou failed, and the snake spirit also suffered heavy losses. If I want to succeed again, there is no other way except to save the old master."

"Are you willing to cooperate? Or do you, who claim to be the most loyal to the old master, have other thoughts?" Xiao Qingfang looked at Kui Wenzhong with interest. Seeing this, Kui Wenzhong frowned and said coldly: "Don't judge others by your own standards! I have no second thoughts towards the old master!"

Xiao Qingfang used a provocative method: "Everyone can talk, but the key is to take action. I heard that you have found the location where the old master is imprisoned, in the Hanguang Temple in Luoyang?"

Kui Wenzhong suddenly looked up at Xiaomei, looking very dissatisfied, thinking that she had stolen the secrets: "So what? Are you really willing to help rescue the old master?"

Xiao Qingfang felt that she had Kui Wenzhong in her grasp, and smiled, "Of course, and I already have a foolproof plan, but I don't know if you agree to it?"

When Kui Wenzhong heard what Xiao Qingfang said, he smiled slightly.

A smart hunter often appears as prey, and Xiao Qingfang took the bait.

Kui Wenzhong remained calm and said, "Of course I agree, but I don't know what tricks you have, elder sister?"

Xiao Qingfang responded calmly: "Every year during the Yulan Festival, Wu Zhao would go to the Hanguang Temple to worship Buddha, but her actual purpose was to see the teacher. On that day, I would like you to assassinate Wu Zhao!"

"In this case, Wu Zhao will be in a state of panic and think that Hanguang Temple is no longer safe. If we move the teacher, we can let Huan Bin kidnap the teacher halfway! What do you think?"

Kui Wenzhong fell into deep thought, and then questioned: "Why wait until July? If we organize assassins to enter Hanguang Temple now, can't we also alert the enemy and force Wu Zhao to transfer her teacher?"

Xiao Qingfang was stunned and frowned.

Back then, Yuan Tiangang had specified that he must be rescued before August. Xiao Qingfang certainly didn't want to rescue him too early. She was not afraid to wait until July 31st!

What if after rescuing the old guy, it is still too early for Luo He to perform his miracle and he refuses to tell the date. After a few months, he uses his prestige to take back the power of Snake Spirit. Then what will Xiao Qingfang do?
After coughing twice, Xiao Qingfang evaded the question by saying, "I have been with Wu Zhao for many years, and I know her too well. If we sneak into Hanguang Temple to rescue people directly, it will alert the enemy. Wu Zhao may be fooled, or she may be cruel enough to get rid of her teacher directly."

"But assassinating her in Hanguang Temple is different. This is an indirect attack. She doesn't know our direct purpose, but she will feel that Hanguang Temple is unsafe and will be more likely to act according to our expectations."

"To save the teacher, it's better to be safe. If you fail, there will be no second chance! What do you think?"

Kui Wenzhong frowned, and seemed unable to refute Xiao Qingfang's words: "This... what elder sister said makes some sense."

Xiao Qingfang struck while the iron was hot and said, "Teacher, the plan to use Luohe's magic, dig the secret passage, replace the prince, and dispatch personnel will all take time."

"We have been well prepared in the past six months. When the time comes, we will rescue the teacher and act according to the plan at any time. The teacher will be pleased!"

Kui Wenzhong nodded thoughtfully, "Yes, that's the truth. Well, big sister, it seems that this plan is feasible, I am willing to cooperate!"

Seeing that she had convinced Kui Wenzhong, Xiao Qingfang was overjoyed and held out a hand: "Okay, it's a deal!"

"It's a deal!" Kui Wenzhong also stretched out a hand, and the two of them shook hands to form an alliance.

After the oath, Kui Wenzhong changed his face to a gentle one: "Sister, I haven't seen Mr. Lu for many years. I want to visit him. You won't mind, right?"

Xiao Qingfang readily agreed: "Of course, such a big thing should also be told to him. Mr. Lu has some misunderstandings about me, please help me explain a little!"

"Of course. Big sister's actions today have impressed me. I will explain it to him clearly. Goodbye!" Kui Wenzhong bowed and retreated.

As she watched Kui Wenzhong leave, the smile on Xiao Qingfang's lips became increasingly difficult to control.

(End of this chapter)