Chapter 147: What a Bargain!

“Master Dao is right.” Black Peony gave a dry laugh.

She agreed with her mouth, not her heart. You call this making friends? You’re smashing people with money!

This was the first time she had ever met someone like him. Everywhere he went, he kept talking about making friends. He had released Cui Yuan and Yao Youliang and called it making friends. He had thrown a pile of money at Yun Huan and called that making friends too. What kind of friends were these? Could any of them really be called friends?

In truth, there were even less reliable “friends” she knew nothing about. Chen Guishuo, whom Niu Youdao had released back in Jinzhou, was another man he had spoken of as a friend.

But whatever else might be said, after watching Niu Youdao plunge headfirst into Duyun Mountain, fool around recklessly, become sworn brothers with Yun Huan, and then stroll back out with ease, Black Peony had truly felt it this time. Master Dao possessed uncommon nerve. He was extremely skilled at moving freely amid danger.

The moment the two returned to the group’s hiding place in the woods, the others immediately gathered around them. Seeing both return safely, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Yuan Fang asked in surprise, “Master Dao, you’re back already? Everything all right?”

They truly had returned quickly. From departure to return, only roughly two hours had passed. Black Peony did not know whether to laugh or cry.

Quick?

There had been something even quicker. From the moment they met Yun Huan, it had taken less than half an hour before Master Dao and the man in charge of Duyun Mountain had sworn brotherhood and started calling each other brothers. It had been like children playing house.

If she told people about it, they probably would not believe her.

“Nothing happened. Let’s keep moving.” Niu Youdao waved to the group.

Yuan Fang gave an “Oh.”

As long as nothing had happened, that was enough. Niu Youdao’s instructions before leaving had made him uneasy. Now that Master Dao had returned safely, the weight on his heart finally lifted.

The group returned to the official road and once more thundered away...

On a cliff in Duyun Mountain, the ceremonial table and everything connected with it had already been cleared away.

Higher still, atop the peak above, Yun Huan sat beside a stone platform beneath an ancient pine, drinking alone.

Hou Qingtian’s figure swept up through the air and landed nearby.

“Master, business has come to our door.”

Yun Huan slowly lifted the wine pot and poured himself another cup. “What business?”

“Someone wants to buy a life. The price isn’t low—twenty thousand gold coins. Five thousand up front as a deposit, then another fifteen thousand after the job is done.”

Yun Huan asked, “Whose life is worth that much? I’ve told you before: don’t accept work beyond our ability.”

Hou Qingtian replied, “The buyer didn’t reveal the target’s identity. But the intermediary guaranteed the target’s cultivation is no higher than the Foundation Establishment Realm. The target has five companions, whose strength is also estimated to be no higher than the Foundation Establishment Realm. They further guaranteed there’s no powerful faction behind the target.”

“The target’s identity wasn’t revealed?” Yun Huan lowered the wine cup he had raised to his lips. “How are we supposed to act without knowing who the target is?”

“The intermediary said they’ll guide us to the target. We won’t need to search for anyone ourselves.”

“Today really is full of strange affairs.” Yun Huan muttered to himself.

After hesitating for a while, he said, “Negotiate again. Tell the intermediary that concealing the target’s identity increases our risk. Add another ten thousand. The deposit becomes ten thousand as well. If they refuse, we don’t take the job.”

Then he reconsidered.

“Of course, mind how you handle it. If the other side truly won’t agree, you can give ground. Twenty thousand is still twenty thousand. You handle it yourself. Be careful.”

He waved a hand.

“Understood.” Hou Qingtian cupped his hands and flashed away.

Yet before Yun Huan had drunk even half the wine in his pot, another subordinate named Zhu Changgui swept up the peak and strode over.

“Master, someone has forced his way into the mountain.”

Yun Huan abruptly turned. “Who?”

“They identified themselves as disciples of the Liuxian Sect, Fuyun Sect, and Lingxiu Mountain. They say they’re pursuing a criminal and want us to make things convenient for them.”

“So that brat really did lure them here?” Yun Huan muttered.

His cheek twitched. He had no intention whatsoever of honoring the promise he had made Niu Youdao.

With complete lack of ceremony, he waved a hand. “Tell them the person they’re looking for isn’t here. And Duyun Mountain isn’t somewhere they can search whenever they feel like it. Tell them to get lost!”

“Yes!”

Zhu Changgui cupped his hands, leapt from the peak, and glided away on controlled qi.

He cut through layer after layer of mist until he reached the outer reaches of Duyun Mountain, where he landed in a valley locked in confrontation.

The unexpected visitors were none other than Gao Sucong, Wu Qianhao, Liao Sen, and the others who had followed the trail all the way here. At the moment, dozens of demon cultivators had them surrounded.

Zhu Changgui landed among the demons and called out, “We already asked on your behalf. You came to the wrong place. The person you’re looking for isn’t here. Hurry up and get lost!”

Gao Sucong said in a deep voice, “Whether he’s here or not, surely we should at least be allowed to search before deciding.”

Zhu Changgui sneered. “Is this a place you can search whenever you please? How about we visit the Liuxian Sect another day and search your grounds? Would your Liuxian Sect agree to that?”

“If there were genuine evidence proving something, whether to allow a search could naturally be discussed.”

“Then what evidence do you have that the person you want is in Duyun Mountain?”

“Bring it here!” Gao Sucong called over his shoulder.

A disciple stepped forward. Gao Sucong reached into the birdcage on the man’s back, pulled out a chirping Scent-Seeker, and held it up for the other side to see.

“Do you recognize this? We followed the Scent-Seeker all the way here. There can be no mistake. The scent-bait trail is still present. Does that count as evidence?”

A moment earlier they had actually been following another Scent-Seeker. Unfortunately, when that bird flew into this area, a brilliantly colored venomous snake coiled around a tree suddenly struck with its head. The Scent-Seeker failed to evade the attack and was swallowed.

Zhu Changgui said, “Perhaps the scent bait is on the far side of Duyun Mountain. A Scent-Seeker taking the shortest path during pursuit is perfectly normal.”

Liao Sen cut in. “We followed the trail all the way here. We know perfectly well what the situation is.”

“I’ll ask you only one question now. Is Duyun Mountain determined to make an enemy of our Fuyun Sect, Liuxian Sect, and Lingxiu Mountain?”

“If so, and if you have the authority to make that decision, we’ll leave immediately. We can settle this account another day!”

Once the other side elevated the matter to opposition against three entire sects, Zhu Changgui no longer had the authority to decide for himself. He tilted his head toward someone beside him. That demon immediately turned and flew away. Before long, Yun Huan arrived with a group behind him.

Landing opposite the three sects, he glanced at the Scent-Seeker in Gao Sucong’s hand and more or less guessed what had happened.

There was almost no chance someone could enter Duyun Mountain and plant scent bait without his people noticing.

Nine times out of ten, that bastard Xuanyuan Dao had casually dropped a pellet while entering the mountain.

And Niu Youdao had explicitly told him beforehand that these three sects would come.

It was difficult not to conclude the bait had been Niu Youdao’s doing.

“Master Yun.”

Gao Sucong, Liao Sen, and Wu Qianhao all cupped their hands.

Star-Plucking City was not far from here, and Yun Huan occasionally visited the city. The three had long been stationed there. They could not really be called acquaintances, but they had seen Yun Huan before.

“I hear Fuyun Sect, Liuxian Sect, and Lingxiu Mountain want to make trouble for my Duyun Mountain?” Yun Huan asked coldly.

Gao Sucong replied, “Master Yun puts it too strongly. We have had no grievances in the past and no enmity of late. How could we speak of making trouble?”

“But a suspect tied to an extremely serious matter has indeed fled into Duyun Mountain. We only ask Master Yun to give us some face and allow us to continue the pursuit.”

“I can give you face, but threats are useless.” Yun Huan’s tone remained cold. “I’ll ask only one thing. On what basis should I let you in?”

Gao Sucong nodded slightly. “Well said, Master Yun. Do you know the identity of the man we’re pursuing?”

Yun Huan’s heart stirred. So these people knew that fellow’s true identity.

He sneered. “Go on, then. Let me hear it.”

“This man killed Song Long, an envoy of the State of Yan in Jinzhou. His name is Niu Youdao, a wanted criminal of the court of the State of Yan!”

“...”

Yun Huan instantly went somewhat blank.

Xuanyuan Dao...

Niu Youdao...

It was not that Niu Youdao’s personal strength was famous enough to shake the world.

Killing the envoy of a state, however, was no small affair.

After Niu Youdao killed Song Long, his name had spread beneath Heaven. The matter was being discussed throughout all seven states, and he had become famous in both the secular world and the cultivation world.

Unless someone’s access to news was extremely poor, very few people had not heard of him.

In that instant, Yun Huan had an urge to start cursing.

Never in his dreams had he imagined Xuanyuan Dao was Niu Youdao.

How could he possibly have guessed that a wanted criminal of the State of Yan would come running to Duyun Mountain, casually throw down two hundred thousand gold coins, and then somehow leave Yun Huan muddleheaded enough to become sworn brothers with him?

He truly had not expected the man he casually swore brotherhood with to possess such a resounding name.

Niu Youdao’s strength and power might not compare with his, but his fame was unquestionably far greater. Yun Huan had thought he was taking advantage. What a bargain he had landed himself!

Several men behind him had personally witnessed his sworn-brotherhood ceremony with Niu Youdao earlier. Cold sweat almost broke out on their foreheads.

If word spread that the man in charge of Duyun Mountain was sworn brothers with Niu Youdao, who knew whether the court of the State of Yan might set its sights on this place?

The cultivation forces a state court could mobilize were no trivial matter.

Yun Huan understood the implication behind Gao Sucong’s words as well.

This was no longer merely about the Liuxian Sect, Fuyun Sect, and Lingxiu Mountain.

They were invoking the court of the State of Yan to pressure him.

He was not exactly afraid. Duyun Mountain lay inside the State of Zhao, after all. But neither did he want to invite unnecessary trouble.

“So that’s how it is.” Yun Huan’s voice turned cold. “Fine. Whether what you say is true or false, I’ll give you this face.”

“But Duyun Mountain’s face isn’t something you can trample casually either. I can allow you to search, but if you fail to find the man you want, you will owe me an explanation!”

Liao Sen asked, “What explanation does Master Yun want?”

“Those who trespass against Duyun Mountain die. Leave your lives behind!”

Yun Huan sneered. He was trying to force them to retreat in the face of difficulty.

The expressions of Gao Sucong, Liao Sen, and Wu Qianhao sank.

Before pursuing the trail into this place, the three had already made a judgment.

If Niu Youdao could hide inside Duyun Mountain at all, then he had almost certainly gained its protection. Otherwise, how could someone casually trespass into a place where demons gathered? Finding him here was unlikely.

Even so, they still had to force themselves to press inward.

If they did not make every effort, they would have no way to explain themselves to their sects.

They also knew that after causing such a commotion, if Niu Youdao truly had dealings with Duyun Mountain, he had probably already heard the news. Whether he had fled or not was one thing.

Duyun Mountain certainly would not let them find him and thereby establish proof that it had sheltered a wanted criminal of the State of Yan. Yet this was precisely the explanation the three men needed.

They had pursued the trail all the way here, with the Scent-Seeker sometimes detecting traces and sometimes losing them. They already knew they were being played. Now things were simpler. They had their explanation.

It was not that they had failed to make every effort. Duyun Mountain had interfered.

Their side was too weak here and was no match for Duyun Mountain.

Gao Sucong gritted his teeth. “Fine. We’ll remember this debt!”

Yun Huan scoffed. “Spare me that nonsense. You don’t even have confidence in your own guess. You can’t even be certain the man is in Duyun Mountain, and you still dare try to frighten me?”

“We’re leaving!”

Gao Sucong barked the order, turned, and led the group away at speed. Duyun Mountain did not stop them.

It merely sent people to follow and watch until they had truly left.

Yun Huan slowly turned and swept his gaze over everyone around him. His expression turned vicious.

“Remember this well. Not one word about anything that shouldn’t be said is to leak outside. Anyone who talks dies by my hand!”

Those who knew the truth nodded. They understood exactly what he meant. His sworn brotherhood with Niu Youdao.

[End of Chapter 147]