Starting as a supporting character in Doupo

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When Ling Feng left, his gaze towards Zhan Tailing was one of inquiry as to whether she had been coerced because of Xiao Fan and the other's formidable strength. If she had indeed been coerced, the first thing Ling Feng would have done after leaving was to send Zhan Ziyu away from Zhan Yun City, at least to ensure that Zhan Tailing would have no worries in the face of any unforeseen events.

"Hehe, this person is not bad."

Xiao Fan nodded indifferently upon hearing this. Although Ling Feng's strength was only at the peak of the Dou Shi level, his aura was powerful, and he was probably not far from becoming a Da Dou Shi. Moreover, judging from his age, he was probably only in his early twenties. Such talent was already extremely good in a place like Zhan Yun City.

More importantly, during the time when the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect controlled Zhan Yun City, Ling Feng remained loyal to the Zhan family. After the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect was defeated, he came to rescue Zhan Tailing immediately, which is the most valuable thing.

Hearing Xiao Fan's words, Zhan Tailing smiled and nodded. Ling Feng was a promising talent he had his eye on.

While Xiao Fan and Zhan Tailing were talking, the three of them arrived at Zhan Tailing's study.

After entering the study, Zhan Tailing took a deep breath before turning to look at Xiao Fan and the other person, her face showing a solemn expression.

"Gentlemen, how do you intend to deal with the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect?"

Upon hearing Zhan Tailing's words, Xiao Fan exchanged a glance with Yun Yun, smiled, and then said, "We've already ruined such a huge plan by the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect. Do you think we can still coexist peacefully with them?"

Upon hearing Xiao Fan's words, Zhan Tailing gave an awkward smile, then cupped her hands in a gesture of respect to Xiao Fan and said with a smile, "I'm sorry, I didn't think it through."

After all, Xiao Fan and Yun Yun had just ruined the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect's plan to massacre the city and offer sacrifices, so asking such a question now was really a bit thoughtless.

"It's just that your positions are too important to me, which is why I asked such a foolish question."

Zhan Tailing explained to Xiao Fan again before speaking, "You two should have already met with the Sikou family, right?"

"You still have connections with the royal family?"

Upon hearing Zhan Tailing's words, Xiao Fan asked in surprise, then suddenly realized that the reason why the Zhan family's general was demoted back then was not because the royal family didn't want to protect him. Now it seems that there are probably more hidden stories behind this.

"Yes."

Zhan Tailing nodded, then said to Xiao Fan, "Our Zhan family was demoted here because, on the one hand, the pressure from the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect was too great, and the situation within the empire was turbulent, so His Majesty had no choice but to agree; on the other hand, it was also an arrangement made by His Majesty to completely eradicate the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect."

"Back then, the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect disregarded our objections and recklessly started a war between the two countries. During the war, they even sent many poison masters to infiltrate the battlefield and human lives to experiment on the battlefield and human lives, constantly researching the toxins they fused, causing my Izumo Empire's army to bear a lot of blame."

As Zhan Tailing spoke, her face turned angry and her tone became much more somber. After all, all the things that the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect had done had been attributed to the Izumo Empire, ruining its reputation.

"During the war between the two countries, the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect took the opportunity to eliminate countless forces that had any opinions against them. They treated human lives as nothing. Tianrong City was full of Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect spies. There was basically no place that the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect could not find. There was no other way, so His Majesty sent the Zhan family here to cultivate their strength outside and try to overthrow the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect."

"Just you?"

Xiao Fan frowned slightly upon hearing Zhan Tailing's words. If the royal family of the Yun Empire intended to overthrow the Wanxie Sect by relying on the power of the Zhan family, then Xiao Fan had to admit that the royal family was far too naive.

"of course not."

Hearing Xiao Fan's disdain, Zhan Tailing felt no dissatisfaction. After all, the person in front of her was a Dou Huang expert, and he was qualified to say such things. Besides, what Xiao Fan said was true. The strength of the Zhan family was not enough to cause any ripples. Therefore, Zhan Tailing had no reason to refute it.

“I am not qualified, but my son is.”

Speaking of her son, Zhan Tailing looked very proud.

Upon hearing Zhan Tailing's words, Xiao Fan suddenly remembered that he had heard during his previous inquiries that Zhan Tailing's son, Zhan Zi'ang, had gone on a journey and had not yet returned.

Now it seems that this was probably one of the backup plans prepared by the Izumo Empire's royal family.

Seeing Xiao Fan's expression, Zhan Tailing paused and continued, "However, I cannot tell you the specific details involved. I can only tell you that the royal family is determined to eliminate the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect and is willing to do whatever it takes."

Xiao Fan nodded upon hearing this, but then sighed, "Is this all the information you have?"

Xiao Fan could guess that the Izumo Empire's royal family had a backup plan, but what he originally wanted to know was not this worthless information.

"Forehead......"

When Zhan Tailing heard Xiao Fan's words, a look of surprise appeared on his face. He thought that Xiao Fan had come to him to find out the royal family's backup plan.

In Zhan Tailing's view, Xiao Fan and Yun Yun must have been courted by the royal family, but were still hesitant. After all, the Wanxie Sect was powerful, so it was understandable that Xiao Fan and Yun Yun hesitated. That's why Zhan Tailing revealed part of the royal family's trump card.

In Zhan Tailing's view, since Yun Yun is there, the royal family is probably trying to win over the power of the Jia Ma Empire. However, although the royal family is trying to win over the Yunlan Sect of the Jia Ma Empire, if they can really overthrow the Wanxie Sect, it is not unacceptable to rely on the power of the Yunlan Sect.

At this moment, Zhan Tailing was unaware that Yun Yun in front of him was no longer the sect leader of Yunlan Sect.

"What you want to know is..."

Looking at Zhan Tailing's expression, Xiao Fan sighed helplessly and then said, "I want to know if you know anything about the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect's trump cards, methods, or if you have discovered anything strange about them."

Upon hearing Xiao Fan's words, Zhan Tailing's face lit up with realization. She had been mistaken. After pondering for a moment, Zhan Tailing suddenly raised her head and said to Xiao Fan, "I remember now. Before my grandfather was demoted to this place, he told my father something."

Chapter 35 Leafless Fruit, Mysterious Man

"Oh?"

Upon hearing Zhan Tailing's words, Xiao Fan raised an eyebrow and then asked, "What is it?"

Zhan Tailing recalled for a moment before speaking: "Before my grandfather was demoted to Zhanyun City, he participated in the battle between the Jiama Empire and the Chuyun Empire. According to my father, my grandfather looked a little strange when he came back one time."

“My father initially thought he was injured, but after my father kept asking, my grandfather finally told my father what had happened.”

At this point, Zhan Tailing hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath, a look of relief on her face, before continuing to speak to Xiao Fan and the other person:

“My grandfather overheard about the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect’s plan to massacre and sacrifice a city within the Gama Empire. However, at that time, we needed the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect’s help to defeat the Gama Empire. In addition, my grandfather also thought that since this matter was happening within the Gama Empire, it would not have any impact on the Izumo Empire. Although he hesitated, he ultimately did not intervene to stop it.”

Upon hearing Zhan Tailing's words, Yun Yun frowned. Any remaining goodwill she had towards the Zhan family vanished completely.

Although the Zhan family did not lead this matter, Zhan Tailing's grandfather knew about it but did not report it, which was tantamount to aiding and abetting evil.

Regardless of whether those people were actually citizens of the Izumo Empire, Yun Yun believed that Zhan Tailing's grandfather, as a general of a nation, disregarded the lives of innocent civilians and was therefore unworthy of being a commander.

While Zhan Tailing was telling this story, he had been paying close attention to Xiao Fan and Yun Yun's expressions. When he saw Yun Yun's face darken, he lowered his head in shame before continuing, "Later, my grandfather also regretted it."

"But by then, the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect's plan had already begun, and the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect elder in charge of this matter had already entered the Jia Ma Empire. In addition, the war between the two countries was at a fever pitch, and my grandfather had no energy to spare any more attention."

After briefly recounting his grandfather's story to Xiao Fan and the other person, Zhan Tailing continued, "However, after the war ended, my grandfather remained resentful about this matter. In addition, the Wanxie Sect's behavior became increasingly absurd, so he wrote to His Majesty, hoping to severely punish the Wanxie Sect. It was precisely because of this matter that the Wanxie Sect began to target the Zhan family."

Without pausing, Zhan Tailing continued, "Later, my grandfather was demoted to Zhanyun City and was depressed all day long. Even on his deathbed, he still couldn't let go of this matter, so he told my father about it."

"Moreover, when he told my father, he also mentioned a mysterious person."

"Mystery man?"

Upon hearing Zhan Tailing's words, Xiao Fan's eyes lit up with curiosity.

"Ah."

Zhan Tailing nodded and then said, "Back then, many people in the army were my grandfather's confidants, so he could basically keep anything from them, big or small."

"After his confidant reported to him, he personally witnessed the people of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect coming into contact with a figure shrouded in black mist. Moreover, judging from the attitude of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect members, they were extremely respectful to that mysterious person."

"There's nothing wrong with that, is there? Within the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect, both Scorpion Mountain and Scorpion Biyan hold absolute authority. What's so strange about this?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Fan frowned. He had originally thought he would gain something from this trip, but now it seemed that he had probably just been disappointed.

"Not really."

Upon hearing Xiao Fan's words, Zhan Tailing retorted before continuing, "When that mysterious person appeared, Xie Biyan was leading a group of elders from the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect to besiege a force in the Chuyun Empire that was opposing the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect—the Poisonous Serpent Sect."

"The Poisonous Serpent Sect has many powerful members, which is why Scorpion Biyan personally took action to destroy it. It was from that time that the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect became the largest force in the Chuyun Empire. Therefore, it is impossible for Scorpion Biyan to appear in the army."

"According to my grandfather, the aura emanating from that mysterious person was even stronger than that of Scorpion Mountain. Moreover, the elders of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect addressed that mysterious person as 'Master,' and their attitude was even more respectful than when they faced Scorpion Mountain."

Upon hearing Zhan Tailing's words, Xiao Fan frowned, trying to guess the identity of this mysterious person.

According to Xiao Fan's memory, the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect in the Chuyun Empire was connected with the Soul Palace.

However, the reason why the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect and the Soul Palace joined forces at that time was because of the appearance of the Poison Sect of Little Fairy Doctor. The Soul Palace approached Little Fairy Doctor, hoping that the Poison Sect could help the Soul Palace kill Xiao Yan, the leader of the Flame Alliance. However, after Little Fairy Doctor refused the Soul Palace's offer, the Soul Palace approached the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect again, persuading Scorpion Bi Yan on the condition that he help the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect destroy the Poison Sect.

Could it be that at this time, the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect has become involved with the Soul Palace?

"Did your grandfather mention anything special about this mysterious person?"

Unable to come up with a solution, Xiao Fan asked Zhan Tailing, since what he had just said was of no use at all.

"Something else?"

After hearing Xiao Fan's words, Zhan Tailing pondered for a moment before speaking, "By the way, my grandfather also said that he had vaguely detected the scent of the Leafless Fruit on that mysterious person."

"The Leafless Fruit is a special fruit within the Izumo Empire. Its growing conditions are extremely demanding, and it can only grow in certain special regions in the southeast of the Izumo Empire. It is impossible to cultivate it in other places. Moreover, the Leafless Fruit has a very faint taste. Unless one is in contact with it for many years, one will not be able to smell the Leafless Fruit on their body."

Seemingly noticing that Xiao Fan and Yun Yun were unfamiliar with the Leafless Fruit, Zhan Tailing offered them a brief explanation.

"My grandfather was also because his mount, the Red Horned Horse, loved to eat leafless fruit. However, he tried to grow it many times but failed. So he would buy a lot of leafless fruit every now and then. Therefore, he was extremely sensitive to the taste of leafless fruit, which is why he was able to detect this aura on that mysterious person."

"However, it's probably because the other party was careless and didn't notice this at all, which is why my grandfather found the clues."

"Leafless fruit..."

After listening to Zhan Tailing's description, Xiao Fan frowned slightly. Although the leafless fruit was not a particularly precious medicinal herb, it had a very special characteristic.

The reason why the leafless fruit is called leafless fruit is not because it has no leaves, but because during the growth process, after the fruit begins to grow, the leaves of the leafless fruit begin to nourish the fruit, continuously pouring the energy from the leaves into the fruit. Eventually, the leaves, having lost their energy, gradually wither and fall off. This is why the leafless fruit has no leaves after it matures.

The reason why Xiao Fan cared so much about the Leafless Fruit was because the Leafless Fruit had a special feature.

When the leafless fruit seedlings are young, different toxins are injected into their several rhizomes. As the fruit grows, the leaves absorb these toxins from the rhizomes, resulting in each leaf containing a different toxin.

When the leafless fruit begins to grow, it absorbs all of these toxins.

If it were any other medicinal herb, injecting so much toxin would probably only result in death and withering. However, the special thing about the leafless fruit is that after all the toxins are absorbed by the fruit, the characteristics of the leafless fruit will also change.

This transforms the originally harmless leafless fruit into a highly poisonous substance containing various strange toxins.

Based on Zhan Tailing's description, the leafless fruit that his grandfather mentioned as feeding the red-horned horses should be the most primitive leafless fruit. After all, the most primitive leafless fruit has a sweet and delicious taste, and it is used as a thirst-quenching fruit in some noble families in the Izumo Empire.

Could it be that this leafless fruit has some magical properties?

Xiao Fan did not believe that Zhan Tailing's words were completely useless. After all, the characteristics of the Leafless Fruit were indeed as Zhan Tailing described, and the taste was very faint. If one had not been in the environment where the Leafless Fruit grew for a long time, it would have been impossible for one's body to have the taste of the Leafless Fruit.

Moreover, judging from Zhan Tailing's description, since the mysterious person's strength was above Scorpion Mountain, he must have been at least a Dou Zong expert. What would a Dou Zong expert be doing with the Leafless Fruit all day?

After pondering for a moment, Xiao Fan couldn't find anything special about the Leafless Fruit within the knowledge he already possessed from the Old Medicine Master's teachings, so he had to leave it at that.