179: Chapter 179 The Key Figure: Lu Zheng

A man's voice suddenly rang out.

It immediately drew everyone's attention, and the moment Zhao Mengzhu heard the voice, her body stiffened for an instant.

She quickly pulled back from her position near the door, putting a significant distance between herself and Lu Zheng, and then looked at Senior Brother Li Hongyi, who had just appeared.

She cursed inwardly, "Why did he have to come so quickly?"

"As if I'd want to have 'in-depth communication' with you! If I were to communicate with you, it would be a miracle if you didn't devour me whole and leave nothing behind."

Although she thought this, her face wore a charming expression.

"Sure!"

"However, that person did say not to 'communicate' indiscriminately with colleagues, so this little woman is afraid she cannot comply."

Zhao Mengzhu's sudden change left Lu Wen and her mother standing there, stunned.

"Senior Brother!"

Lu Zheng called out. Senior Brother Li Hongyi nodded and slowly walked over to Lu Zheng's side.

"I have some matters to discuss with her. You all should go back inside first."

Senior Brother Li Hongyi said. Lu Zheng didn't say anything; he simply nodded and led his mother and sister back into the house, while Lu Wen looked on with a face full of curiosity.

"Is this also a disciple of Grandmaster Jiquan?"

"That woman came on quite aggressively; it didn't look like she was here for anything good. But since your Senior Brother is here, it should be resolved."

Lu Wen breathed a sigh of relief as she said this; her brother's Senior Brother had arrived just in time.

Lu Zheng, however, felt a bit helpless. If his sister knew that his Senior Brother and that woman belonged to the same faction, she probably wouldn't be smiling.

Meanwhile, outside the house, Senior Brother Li Hongyi and Zhao Mengzhu had reached the rooftop. Zhao Mengzhu spoke with a playful tone.

"What's the matter? You want to protect your Junior Brother?"

"That's not what you said back outside the city. Could it be that you actually still have feelings for your so-called master?"

"Don't forget, you were the one who personally pierced through your master's body. To them, you are an enemy."

Upon hearing Zhao Mengzhu's words, Senior Brother Li Hongyi didn't react much; he simply turned his head to look into the distance.

"There is no need to test me."

"With your strength, it wouldn't be very difficult for me to kill you."

"The only reason I stopped you is that I have already made contact with Jianghai City and gained their trust. The prerequisite for our cooperation is to resolve the problems that Jianghai City is currently facing."

"Lu Zheng is the key to what happens next, so you cannot take action against him for the time being."

"Oh? I find it hard to believe that Lu Zheng could be the key to anything. Don't go spouting nonsense."

Zhao Mengzhu said skeptically. Senior Brother Li Hongyi seemed to have anticipated this and proceeded to explain.

"I hadn't expected things to be so simple either."

"I have already deduced that the Holy Spirit Sect is behind the current anomalies in Jianghai City, and it is inevitably linked to The Great Tomb."

"Aside from the Holy Spirit Sect, I cannot think of anyone else capable of causing such an anomaly at The Great Tomb."

"I'm sure Chang Yingwei, the Lord of Jianghai City, suspects this as well, though he cannot be certain."

"Even if I didn't mention it, Chang Yingwei would have brought it up eventually. To resolve the problems currently facing Jianghai City, a confrontation with the Holy Spirit Sect is inevitable."

"I had already prepared myself to clash with the Holy Spirit Sect."

"The only reason I made contact with my Junior Brother was to see just how talented the disciple that old man took in really was."

"But just a moment ago, I encountered someone. After following them, I discovered that the faction behind them was none other than the Holy Spirit Sect."

"And you two didn't start fighting?"

Zhao Mengzhu asked, feeling curious.

"That individual is a bishop of the Holy Spirit Sect, and their strength exceeds mine."

"However, they were also unwilling to engage with us before The Great Tomb opens, so I spoke with them and learned something."

"It turns out that apart from The Great Tomb, they have another target: Lu Zheng."

"Lu Zheng?!"

Zhao Mengzhu exclaimed in surprise. She couldn't fathom why Lu Zheng would be a target for the Holy Spirit Sect, let alone be mentioned in the same breath as The Great Tomb.

"Indeed! That is why I made a deal with them."

"The deal is that I will hand Lu Zheng over to them, and in exchange, the Holy Spirit Sect will cease their operations and live in peace with us until The Great Tomb opens."

Upon hearing Senior Brother Li Hongyi's words, Zhao Mengzhu was stunned, unable to process it immediately.

"It's that simple?"

Although the Dreamers were neutral, the Holy Spirit Sect was a bunch of lunatics. Would they really agree to such a condition?

However, seeing Senior Brother Li Hongyi's reaction, Zhao Mengzhu knew it was all true. Still, this arrangement was acceptable—until The Great Tomb opened, both sides would refrain from attacking each other.

"So, when do you plan to hand Lu Zheng over to them?"

"Your Junior Brother probably doesn't know yet that his Senior Brother has already sold him out."

"There is no rush. We can wait until the Holy Spirit Sect stops their activities."

Senior Brother Li Hongyi said slowly. Zhao Mengzhu immediately thought of something.

"I have to admit, your master's judgment is truly excellent."

"Actually, before you arrived, I had already made a move on Lu Zheng, but my usual methods had no effect on him."

"It must be due to his Physique."

"No wonder he was able to reach a Breakthrough to the Third Stage of Martial Dao at such a young age."

"But there is no point in dwelling on that. Regardless, once he falls into the hands of the Holy Spirit Sect, it is highly likely he won't survive."

"In that case, let's proceed according to your plan. Once the unrest in Jianghai City settles, we will hand him over."

"However, I will be keeping a close watch. I don't want any more complications, so I need to oversee everything related to Lu Zheng for the time being."

Upon hearing Zhao Mengzhu's words, a complex expression flashed in Senior Brother Li Hongyi's eyes. He had just lied.

The reason he had brought Lu Zheng to his side was not for the reason he had just stated; he had other motives.

At first, he had merely been intrigued by Lu Zheng's talent.

To have achieved a Breakthrough to the Third Stage of Martial Dao at such a young age—it was even more impressive than himself. If he could make that talent his own, it might help him with his own Breakthrough to the Fourth Stage.

However, he later found that his Junior Brother was quite to his liking, so he had never taken action.

That was until he encountered the people from the Holy Spirit Sect.

He was not omnipotent and did not know everything. After this incident occurred, he changed his mind and decided to hand Lu Zheng over.

Having said their piece, the two slowly walked back down. Now, they only needed to wait for the Holy Spirit Sect to cease their actions.

During this time, they intended to stay with Lu Zheng to prevent him from being discovered and taken away by the Holy Spirit Sect first.

Pushing open the door, they found that Lu Zheng had already settled his mother and sister.

At this moment, Senior Brother Li Hongyi and Zhao Mengzhu were already waiting outside the residential complex.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting."

Lu Zheng appeared before them and spoke. As for what they had been discussing, he was not curious. Senior Brother Li Hongyi and Zhao Mengzhu stood before Lu Zheng, remaining silent.

For not far from them, a man slowly appeared.

"Do you not believe me? Or are you planning to take action?"

Watching the man appear, Senior Brother Li Hongyi's eyes narrowed slightly.