Chapter 237: A Viper’s Heart

Lou Ji left the following day. Before leaving, she cheerfully declared, “Your big sister is borrowing this for now. I’ll return it someday.

Then she promptly made off with the black eagle pavilion Xu Yuan had only just acquired.

Five days later, negotiations with the Myriad Manifestations Sect also came to a temporary close.

Beyond the terms agreed upon at the outset, Xu Yuan had used troop withdrawals, town-defense equipment, and a whole series of follow-up issues to painfully squeeze another 9 million taels of silver from the sect’s upper echelons.

Supposedly, more than half of that sum had been raised through donations from ordinary disciples. The great clans within the sect had contributed only around twenty percent.

Then there was the additional 400,000 taels in formation expenses that Xu Xinyao, that prodigal woman, had given away for free.

Unfortunately, Xu Yuan never saw so much as a copper coin of it. The money was divided up by the pack of ravenous higher-ups before it ever reached his hands.

Another morning arrived.

A fine spring rain enveloped the entirety of Myriad, drowning it beneath a hazy curtain of mist and water.

Under the gloomy sky, droplets rolled from the eaves like falling pearls, scattering ripples across the puddles below.

Yuan Hao stood inside the room and cupped his hands with a smile. “…That is roughly the full plan for our gradual withdrawal. I came to see you today, Third Young Master, because I also wished to bid you farewell.”

Xu Yuan raised his eyes and glanced at him. “You’re heading to the northern frontier?”

Yuan Hao made no attempt to hide it and nodded. “General Zong specifically requested that I go.”

Xu Yuan instinctively wanted to ask why he had not traveled there with Lou Ji, but immediately realized what a stupid question that would be.

The Blackscale Army held a very special position within the Chancellor's Manor. Apart from the Calm Sky Martial Halls, which supplied its recruits, it was essentially forbidden from having dealings with any other faction.

Unless Xu Yinhe personally issued an order, everyone else in the Chancellor's Manor would deliberately avoid suspicion by keeping their distance from the Blackscale Army and all its officers.

Putting those thoughts aside, Xu Yuan smiled faintly. “Fighting barbarians does sound like a job suited to your particular talents.”

Those humanoid creatures were not suitable as slaves, even when captured alive. They were immensely strong and possessed intelligence, but they were bloodthirsty by nature.

Unfortunately, this world did not appear to have invented anything as miraculous as slave crests. At most, a high-level cultivator could implant a source qi bomb inside a captive’s body, but the cost was far too high.

And so, the Great Flame Empire’s standard policy toward barbarians was simple. Leave none alive.

“Those barbarians have no value as prisoners, after all.” Yuan Hao laughed at the teasing remark, a trace of helplessness appearing on his refined face. But then he shook his head. “It’s a pity we’re only fighting barbarians.”

“You know, it might not be only barbarians.” Xu Yuan smiled.

After spending these past few days with Yuan Hao, he had gained a very clear understanding of the man. He was a lunatic, but not entirely mad. There was no harm in letting him glimpse a little of what lay beneath the surface.

Yuan Hao’s eyes sharpened. He rubbed his hands together almost unconsciously, lowered his voice, and spoke directly through a voice transmission. “Young Master, what do you mean by that?”

Xu Yuan waved a hand, offering no further explanation. “You’ll understand once you reach the northern frontier. I’m sure Mister Zong should explain the details to you.”

Yuan Hao could hardly conceal the excitement in his eyes. Even without the clearance to access truly classified intelligence, he had seen enough reports on the war in the northern frontier to piece together a rough picture. If he lacked professional ability, the Chancellor would never have gone out of his way to pull him from prison.

The Third Young Master’s words had all but confirmed his suspicions.

Yuan Hao cupped his hands and was about to take his leave when something suddenly occurred to him. “Right, Third Young Master. About Wang Jiadian…”

“Hmm?” Xu Yuan looked mildly surprised.

General Wang had originally intended to come to the Myriad Manifestations Sect and stake his life at its gates to demand justice for Sageridge. But by the time he reached Myriad, the Blackscale Army had already held the eastern district for nearly five days.

Under those circumstances, he naturally remembered what Young Master Zhou had told him… and how the man had departed early, as though he had known what was coming. So naturally, he sought out the Blackscale Army.

When Xu Yuan met him, he naturally revealed his identity and attempted to recruit him, promising that one day he would destroy the Myriad Manifestations Sect and avenge Sageridge.

However, General Wang had not agreed on the spot.

Thinking back on it, Xu Yuan asked, “What about him?”

Yuan Hao lowered his voice. “He asked me to tell you that if you ever march against the Myriad Manifestations Sect, the Sageridge border army will gladly serve you with all their strength. Beyond that, the only repayment he can offer is his life. He still wishes to challenge the gates of Myriad Manifestations Sect.”

In other words, he would go to his death willingly, sparing Xu Yuan the trouble of dirtying his hands.

Xu Yuan tapped a finger against the desk, a little disappointed. “So that counts as a refusal?”

Yuan Hao offered no further explanation. He simply asked, “Third Young Master, how do you intend to deal with him?”

Should we kill him?

Rain pattered steadily outside. For a time, the only sound within the room was the breathing of the two men.

After a long silence, Xu Yuan sighed. He waved a hand. “Let him return to Sageridge. There’s no need for him to throw his life away at the sect gates.”

Yuan Hao did not try to persuade him. He cupped his hands, turned, and left. As he stepped out, he happened to run into Ran Qingmo, who had come looking for Xu Yuan.

Yuan Hao immediately bowed to her as well. “Third Young Madam.”

Ran Qingmo studied the military officer for a moment before giving him a small nod. “…Mhm.”

They passed each other, and she entered the side room.

Seeing Xu Yuan seated behind the desk with a faintly melancholy look on his face, Ran Qingmo approached and asked softly, “Xu Yuan, what’s wrong?”

Xu Yuan looked up and saw his big ice lump. His answer was blunt. “I tried to recruit someone, but he turned me down. I’m a little upset.”

Ran Qingmo’s steps immediately faltered. She glanced at Xu Yuan’s lips, tightened her grip around the sheathed ink black sword, and regarded him warily.

Xu Yuan stared at her, speechless. Then he broke into a helpless laugh and pointed toward the chair beside him. “Come sit down. I wasn’t asking you to comfort me. Besides, I more or less expected this.”

Ran Qingmo gathered her skirts and sat. After thinking for a moment, she asked, “General Wang?”

Xu Yuan nodded, his voice tinged with resignation. “He’s drawn an imperial salary for decades and defended Sageridge for just as long. Expecting a man like that to come work for me was rather wishful thinking.”

This was the first time he had ever failed to recruit someone. Even after saving the man’s life, even with his status as the Third Young Master of the Chancellor's Manor, even with the promise of a brilliant future, he still could not make the man bow his head and pledge allegiance.

The most General Wang was willing to offer was his life in repayment.

Ran Qingmo thought quietly for a moment. Glancing at her sword, she asked, “Wouldn’t leaving him alive put you in danger?”

Xu Yuan shook his head. “A man like him wouldn’t betray me, just as he would never betray the principles he’s spent his life defending.”

“Oh,” Ran Qingmo said.

Xu Yuan asked gently, “What did you come to see me about?”

“Xinyao said we can leave now.”

“For the Imperial Capital?”

“Mhm. Back to the Imperial Capital.”

??

A bolt of thunder tore through the darkened sky, briefly illuminating a pitch-black cave deep within the Myriad Ascents Mountains.

Li Erzhu sat curled up silently in one corner, wiping the sword in his hands. His lowered eyes were filled with confusion. He had no idea what he was supposed to do now. Return to the sect? The sect had treated him with kindness as heavy as a mountain. It had taken him from an ignorant village boy and raised him to his present cultivation. He had to repay that debt. But the things the sect had done left him completely at a loss. He had wanted to die, but had somehow failed at that too.

Surrounded by a horde of demonic beasts, he had comprehended Dao Essence and broken through to the third rank. That was how he survived.

Then, after he escaped from the beasts, some Grandmaster had tried to kill him for no apparent reason.

So Li Erzhu killed him instead.

He scratched his head. “Maybe I should go back to the sect first and ask Xiaohe what she thinks…”

SCREECH! Amid the silence, a piercing eagle cry rang out from the sky.

Li Erzhu instinctively tightened his grip on his sword. The next moment, however, a woman appeared at the mouth of the cave.

She walked inside, her figure full and alluring, every step carrying a seductive charm. Amusement colored her voice. “Well, fancy finding a cave all the way out here.”

At the sight of her, Li Erzhu hurriedly averted his eyes. He slapped the dust from his backside and scrambled to his feet.

“Miss, if you’re here to shelter from the rain, you can have the cave. I’ll head outside right now.”

Hidden within the darkness, the alluring woman’s emerald eyes arched slightly.

She giggled. “Are you Li Zhu?”

Li Erzhu froze halfway toward the entrance. He turned to stare at her in confusion. “Ah? Yes, that’s me. I’m Li Zhu.”

“Then I’ve found the right man.” The woman gave another charming laugh, turned around, and walked away without hesitation. “You seem like a decent enough fellow, but for my Changtian’s sake, I’m afraid I’ll have to apologize~”

Li Erzhu blinked, staring blankly at her retreating back.

“M-Miss… I…” He raised a hand, wanting to ask what she meant, but his mouth had already gone numb. Immediately afterward, he lost all control of his body.

He instinctively tried to circulate his cultivation art, only to discover that some unknown substance had already latched onto the meridians throughout his body.

The moment his art began to circulate, the substance spread everywhere at once. It felt warm. Comfortable, even. Like lying beneath the sun on a pleasant afternoon.

Wrapped in that soothing warmth, Li Zhu’s consciousness faded. His entire body toppled stiffly onto the cave floor.