Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 344: Chapter 344. An Invitation from a Past Acquaintance

In the past few months, Amon’s mastery of the art had improved. His mastery was now at the skilled level. If he used this art with its intended weapon, a sword, he could make a longsword fly. Since he used a much lighter knife, he had enough power to control two knives instead of one. But of course, the concentration needed to control two items instead of one was more taxing. It was not a problem for Amon, though.

His skilled mastery gave his flying knives a decent speed. At least with this speed, he could start to use this art in combat. His control at this level also allowed his flying knives to travel five meters away from him, slightly further than before.

He continued to practice the Flying Sword art using his two new knives, which he called the Alpha Flying Knives. The two knives danced around him with complex maneuvers.

He combined the movements of these knives with the swan dagger, which he controlled using the Xian Cloth. With this trick, he had three weapons that could hit his opponents from mid-range with highly adaptable and varied strikes.

He ended his training when he was notified by the enchantment of his residence that someone was requesting permission to enter. He came out of his house to meet the guest. It was Xin Wuming, who lived five houses below. Amon hadn’t set the enchantment in this new house to let Xin Wuming enter as he wished.

”Do you need something?” Amon asked.

”Pai Wang gave a letter to one of our members. He requested that I give this letter to you,” Xin Wuming replied.

Amon opened the letter and read it. After reading, he told Xin Wuming, ”Send a reply to him. I will be on the second floor of Deep Flavor Restaurant in the Swirly Street District tomorrow morning. I will meet them there.”

*

The next morning, Amon was drinking tea at one of the tables on the second floor of Deep Flavor Restaurant. The rest of the tables on this floor were also occupied. This restaurant was a favorite, after all.

”You asked to meet in this crowded restaurant. Is it because you fear I might do something if we meet somewhere quiet?”

Amon turned to the person who spoke. It was an elderly man. Pai Wang was accompanying this elder.

”Senior Pai Kuan, long time no see. Please, sit,” Amon greeted while gesturing for them to take the seats on his table. ”I’m surprised to receive your invitation. Do you have any particular purpose for visiting Qishurg City?”

”I’m here to check how the disciples we sent to the Royal Academy are doing. I must say, I’m rather disappointed,” Pai Kuan said. He glanced at Pai Wang during his last sentence. Pai Wang lowered his head with an apologetic expression. Pai Wang had again failed to enter the top ten ranks for the senior students.

”The competition is fierce. You shouldn’t blame your disciples,” Amon said.

”You are truly kind. You should thank him for his words, Pai Wang,” Pai Kuan said.

”Tha... Thank you, Brother Lin Mo,” Pai Wang said.

”Disappointment aside, I’m rather surprised to learn that you are the first ranker in the freshman and junior years,” Pai Kuan told Amon. ”Although you have fallen to the second rank in these senior years, that is still impressive. Please allow me to toast you on both your graduation to the senior class and your rank achievement.”

”You are too kind, senior Pai Kuan,” Amon said. He accepted the toast.

After emptying his cup, he put it down and said, ”Forgive me, but I do not enjoy wasting time. Time is precious. I know you don’t invite me only to congratulate me or for small talk. Please, get to the topic.”

”How dare you to be disrespectful!” Pai Wang exclaimed.

”Silent, Pai Wang. It’s not your turn to speak,” Pai Kuan admonished.

”Forgive me,” Pai Wang apologized.

Pai Kuan turned to Amon and said, ”You are right. Let’s not beat around the bush. I invited you because I get the impression that you no longer seem to show any sign of upholding our agreement before you came to this city.”

Amon snickered. An agreement made under the threat of life shouldn’t be considered a true agreement. However, he didn’t say that outright. He said, ”We agreed that we would cooperate after I graduate from the Royal Academy and become an influential person in the kingdom. Before that, there is not much I can do to benefit the White Cloud Sect.”

”That might be true, but as I said, you no longer show a sign that you will honor that agreement.”

”Why do you come to that conclusion?” Amon asked.

”First, you refused to join the faction inside the Royal Academy, which our disciples are mostly members of. Second, you repeatedly refused Pai Wang or our other disciples’ request for working together during your time in the academy.”

Amon chuckled. ”Our agreement never said I should cooperate with your disciples in this academy. We agreed that I would help you stay as the number one power in White Cloud City once I have the influence, not before. It is folly if I sacrifice my advancement in this academy for the sake of assisting a group of mediocre students who provide me with no benefits. Doing what you suggest will just hamper my development.”

Pai Wang took a deep breath after hearing that. He very much wanted to scold Amon for that remark, but he controlled himself.

”Heh. You truly don’t mince words. I still remember how you chose your words carefully when we talked in White Cloud City,” Pai Kuan said. ”Perhaps you think you no longer have a reason to fear us?”

”The order of power changed with time,” Amon said. ”I admit the way I view you now is no longer the same as when we saw each other the last time. However, I still respect you and the White Cloud Sect in general. There is no reason for you to throw away our relationship simply because of a suspicion.”

”You are right. Your choice of forming your own faction instead of joining the one our disciples are in, though baffling at first, has proven to be justified. From what I heard, your faction has become the most prominent inside the Royal Academy. I can accept that, but there was one incident in White Cloud City that caused my sect master to question my decision to let you go years ago.”

”What incident was that?” Amon asked.

”The decimation of the Wei Clan,” Pai Kuan answered.

”What does that have to do with me?”

”Don’t play coy. I know there is no evidence, but anyone with a brain and knowledge of your past knows you have something to do with that incident, even if you weren’t involved directly.”

Amon didn’t respond. He simply poured tea into his cup and slowly drank it.

The silence ticked Pai Kuan off, but he forced himself to remain calm. He slammed his hand on the table and asked, ”What we like to know is why you cooperate with the Lei Clan.”

Amon chuckled. ”I see. With the Lin and Wei Clans gone, your sect must compete directly with the Lei Clan. Unlike the past, where you can pit the clans against each other and let them weaken themselves while you reap the benefit.”

”Do you think I’m afraid of doing something to you in this city?!” Pai Kuan exclaimed. He slammed the table another time and stood up in a menacing posture.

The moment he did, the entire people on the second floor also did. They rose and looked at Pai Kuan with menacing glares.

This took both Pai Kuan and Pai Wang aback. They thought these customers were just bystanders. They realized now that it was not the case.

”Sit down,” Amon said softly.

Everyone sat back in their chairs, except for Pai Kuan, who displayed an expression of disbelief. ”They... They are all your people?” He asked.

”They are,” Amon answered. ”You might be a Spirit Stage, so they are not your opponents. However, they are willing to die for me. You won’t be able to kill me with them in the way. I can get to the city guards while you are occupied and report your conduct. So, sit... down... please.”

Amon’s tone was commanding at the end of his sentence. Pai Kuan eyed Amon with mixed feelings. He knew Amon was exceptional. That was why he targeted Amon in the past, but this still exceeded his expectations.

Pai Kuan sat down.

”Why did you think I am in league with the Lei Clan?” Amon asked.

”Isn’t it obvious? The Lei Clan went to raid the Wei Estate right after they were massacred. They must have had prior information about the incident.”

Amon smiled. ”Thanks to the treasures from the raid, the Lei clan grew in power. Without another clan to keep them in check, your sect is feeling restless about the situation. I can understand your situation. However, please don’t blame your sect’s incompetence on me.”