Young Master Bai — Chapter 68

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Chapter 68: The Little Fox Wants to Haggle

While Bai Chen was fending off his man’s perverse attempt to bury his face in his fur, the first letter had already been delivered by Ying Xiong to the Myriad Treasures Hall’s secondary residence.

That blockhead did not disappoint Bai Chen. He didn’t care whether the disciples of the Myriad Treasures Hall would accept the letter or not — he simply slapped it down on their table and considered the task complete, turning to leave without even giving them a chance to refuse. Faced with such behavior, the guards of the Myriad Treasures Hall dared not act rashly, and could only hand the letter over to Lin Xuan, leaving all decisions to the hall master.

The Myriad Treasures Hall originated from merchants. Though it ranked as the second seat of the Heaven’s Way Alliance and was a powerful sect, its internal structure still resembled a business guild. Ten shareholders were elected to manage affairs, with stewards, shopkeepers, accountants, clerks, and guards beneath them.

Unlike normal cultivation sects, which recruited only young disciples to be trained from childhood, this hall did things differently. Whenever a position opened, they would post the requirements publicly and recruit through interviews. They would even poach talent from other sects, full of worldly pragmatism. No wonder the martial world said the Myriad Treasures Hall wasn’t formed by cultivators suddenly deciding to dabble in trade, but by merchants who trained themselves into formidable cultivators for the sake of doing business.

Such a sect acted with less aloofness than aristocratic clans. Lin Xuan, the hall master, received the letter and read it carefully. Seeing that Bai Chen sincerely invited the Myriad Treasures Hall to discuss business, his expression gave nothing away. He only asked the guard who had delivered the letter: “Did he invite only our Myriad Treasures Hall?”

Though Busi belonged to the Unknown Truth sect, it wasn’t hard for the major sects to gather information. The guard promptly answered with respect: “There were two other letters — one sent to Azure Heaven Manor, and one to the Endless Longevity Academy.”

Lin Xuan had expected Bai Chen would not invite only them. The Great Snow Mountain and Azure Heaven Manor were contending over Yonggu Mountain, and since Bai Chen had detained disciples of the Endless Longevity Academy, it was natural to include them as well. What surprised him was the absence of the Hidden Wisdom Sect. Could it be that this fox demon was sparing Bu Tiange for fear of gossip? If so, Bai Chen could be considered rather righteous.

Yet the word “righteous” sounded like a joke when paired with a fox demon. Lin Xuan thought so in his heart, but as he set the letter down, he sighed softly. “The yao have come with great momentum — it seems their ambitions are not small.”

He was sitting with his family in the courtyard at leisure. Yue Xingshi, resplendent in fine dress with her dark hair coiled into a bun, was arranging flowers like an ordinary housewife. But at his words, a sharp glint flashed through her eyes as she snipped a flower stem clean. “Whatever schemes they have, what is there to fear? Even if war breaks out, the Heaven’s Way Alliance has nothing to fear.”

This current mistress of the Illusory Moon Villa had always acted more decisively and ruthlessly than men. Even in marriage she showed no softness. Elegant pursuits like flower arranging became to her hands like “ruthless destruction of blossoms.” Lin Xuan, long accustomed to his wife’s temperament, only gently reminded her: “The Illusory Moon Villa is in charge of hosting the yao. Keep a close watch when they go out. If they injure anyone or damage anything, the blame will inevitably fall on you.”

That was indeed a serious matter. Yue Xingshi finally lifted her gaze to her husband, who was obstructing her sword practice, and said, “This disaster stems from Kaitian freely giving the Myriad Treasures Hall’s token away. As his mother, it’s only right I clean up the mess.”

Lin Xuan was satisfied with even that one glance from her. Noticing that their son Lin Kaitian was being forced to sit and drink tea and was already yawning, he turned to ask, “I heard that Tingyun secretly sought you out in Yinrong? What did she say to you?”

The marriage alliance between the Myriad Treasures Hall and the Illusory Moon Villa was a long-standing tradition: each hall master would wed the villa’s master. Now Lin Kaitian, their only son, would one day inherit his father’s shares to become the next hall master. Yue Tingyun, chosen by Yue Xingshi as her successor, had naturally become his fiancée.

However, Yue Tingyun strongly resisted this marriage. Not long ago, she had secretly gone to Yinrong to negotiate breaking off the engagement with Lin Kaitian. Defying the Illusory Moon Villa’s will, she had traveled discreetly, staying in a shabby inn to avoid notice — until Bai Chen stumbled upon her.

Of course, this was only a side story. Lin Kaitian, recalling it, merely yawned and answered lazily: “What else could she want? Just to break off the engagement.”

The moment those words left his mouth, Lin Xuan frowned. “You didn’t agree to it, did you?”

Though a bit of a playboy, Lin Kaitian still respected his parents. Even though he disliked this marriage, when faced with his father’s stern question, he straightened up and replied perfunctorily: “No. I told her I’d marry anyone, but if she doesn’t want to be my wife, then let her resign her position as the young villa mistress. That way I can get a gentle and lovely wife instead.”

Such talk made Lin Xuan slam the table, uncharacteristically angry. “What nonsense is that?”

“That woman clearly doesn’t want to marry me. Am I, the dignified young master of the Myriad Treasures Hall, supposed to insist on her? If I’m to live my days with her, I’d rather go be a cut-sleeve with the Nine-tailed White Fox!”

As their only child, Lin Kaitian had been spoiled since birth. Hearing his father’s sharp tone, he grew sulky and blurted out his true feelings.

Any parent would be furious at a son who would rather be a cut-sleeve than marry properly. Though Lin Xuan knew his son was only speaking in anger, he couldn’t help but feel stung. “And I haven’t even brought up the fact that you already have a fiancée, yet you still went to the yao’s matchmaking banquet! With such debauchery, if I were a woman, I wouldn’t want to marry you either!”

But Lin Kaitian was unrepentant. Handing his father a cup of tea to calm him down, he stubbornly said, “The engagement is only to maintain ties between the Myriad Treasures Hall and the Illusory Moon Villa. If she refuses to recognize reality, then Mother can simply appoint another capable disciple to marry me and inherit the villa mastership. Why stir up so much trouble?”

Reasonable as it sounded, Yue Tingyun was Yue Xingshi’s most cherished disciple, raised by her side since childhood, treated in every way as equal to Lin Kaitian, her own son. How could she easily be replaced as heir?

Lin Xuan couldn’t say this aloud. At this moment, Yue Xingshi, who had been silent, finally raised her eyes. She made no comment about the broken engagement, only said calmly: “For now, don’t let Kaitian have further contact with the yao. Rumors are fiercer than tigers. If he continues to be entangled with talk of cut-sleeves, then even if it isn’t Tingyun, no respectable family will want to give their daughter to him.”

Her unusually calm tone made Lin Xuan quickly hold back his son from retorting. “You hear that? I’ll handle business with the yao. You just leave Busi to organize the auction. Stay away from the Nine-tailed White Fox.”

Bai Chen’s romantic reputation was mostly tied to Bu Tiange, but Lin Kaitian had unfortunately been dragged into it as well. Worse yet, he had it worse than Bu Tiange: the headmaster of the Hidden Wisdom Sect had openly competed with Li Wuming for the Nine-tailed White Fox, while Lin Kaitian had silently fallen for him at first sight in Yinrong, doomed to a love without a future due to his engagement, able only to help his fox from behind the scenes.

Those who spread the rumors clearly understood people’s love of gossip. The fabricated stories wove detailed accounts from first meeting to deep affection. If Lin Kaitian hadn’t been directly involved, even he might have pitied the tragic young man. But as the subject himself, when he heard rumors that matched the times and places of his meetings with Bai Chen yet twisted their content beyond recognition, he immediately sensed foul play. “Father, don’t you think these rumors are too precise? They even know how many times I met Bai Chen, what tea we drank, and what dishes were on the table. Someone is orchestrating this!”

“What do you know? Someone used a recording stone to capture you and Bai Chen laughing and chatting, then spread it everywhere. If not for Bu Tiange taking the brunt of it, you’d have had a much harder time.”

The martial world was full of idle rumors. If it were merely fabricated, how could they spread so widely? It was because these stories were seven parts true and three parts false, with the unverifiable parts involving dealings between hidden powers — making them almost impossible to refute.

The greater trouble was that every publishing house in the land was managed by the Unknown Truth Sect, while the teahouses and taverns were controlled by the Myriad Treasures Hall. Without the approval of either sect, such rumors should never have spread — unless there was an insider.

Lin Xuan, having led the Myriad Treasures Hall for over a century, immediately sensed that this matter was not simple. Though he didn’t spell out the dangers, Lin Kaitian also realized something. “Recording stones have long been restricted by the Unknown Truth Sect. Only our hall’s favored customers can even obtain them.”

And every such customer was an influential figure. If any were implicated, chaos would follow. With year-end approaching, all branches of the hall were finalizing accounts, and in Lin’an City, preparations for the grandest auction in history were underway. Lin Xuan knew this was no time for rash action. He pressed down his son’s urge to act and instructed: “Your mother and I will investigate this. From today, you’ll stay at the auction house. Never be without attendants. Make sure the whole of Lin’an sees you busy with business and not mingling with the fox. Once the yao depart, the rumors will collapse on their own.”

The older generation was indeed more experienced. Rumors without follow-up would naturally fade away. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. Lin Kaitian, already frustrated after being scorned by Yue Tingyun, only curled his lip at this advice. Hmph, he would deliberately seek out the White Fox. If he cemented his reputation as a cut-sleeve, that damned woman would be forced to end their engagement for good.

The Myriad Treasures Hall’s residence bustled with activity, while Bai Chen’s side received its first guest.

The visitor wore a plain Daoist robe, held a horsetail whisk, and had neatly tied hair beneath a crown. His features were refined, his polite smile tinged with aloofness. Who else could it be but Bai Hangshou, the head of the Endless Longevity Academy?

Bai Chen had intended to consult him regarding the ambush, but before Chenzui, who had been sent with the letter, could even return, the invited guest had already arrived. Bai Chen quickly smoothed the hair Li Wuming had tousled, then came to the main hall to greet him with a polite smile. “I didn’t expect you so soon. My invitation was just sent, and yet the academy master has already come uninvited.”

No fox liked to bind up its fur, and even in human form, Bai Chen always wore his hair loose. Having just been sparring with Li Wuming on the bed, a few strands still hung loose over his cheek. Combined with his delicate, alluring features and naturally seductive eyes, he seemed every inch the bewitching fox spirit. Bai Hangshou, catching only one glance, quickly shifted his eyes to a hanging scroll on the wall and replied in a flat tone devoid of warmth: “Young Master Bai took away my Endless Longevity Academy disciples stationed in Dongling. As their head, it is only proper I come to demand an explanation.”

Bai Chen felt rather wronged in this situation. The fox’s eyes were simply born this way — if humans found them seductive, that wasn’t their fault. Besides, foxes often licked and groomed each other with their partners, rubbing their noses all over. If those Daoist moralists ever saw such things, they might die on the spot from rage.

Though he was displeased, the other party was one of the Ten Seats of the Heaven’s Way Alliance, so Bai Chen showed not the slightest lack of courtesy. He ordered a little yao to bring tea and pastries, invited him to sit, and then answered his question: “It’s not that my Great Snow Mountain seeks to cause trouble for the Endless Longevity Academy. It’s just that someone used disciples of your sect to ambush me and Yunce. I had no choice but to detain them temporarily to investigate.”

Bai Hangshou had clearly asked about the situation in Dongling before coming. When he heard this, not even his brows twitched. He only said flatly, “The Academy disciples you captured number fifteen in total. The highest among them is no more than Nascent Soul. I doubt they could so much as harm a single fox hair of yours or Yunce’s.”

Bai Chen had no yao core, and without Yunce at his side, these people really could have captured him. Still, he did not believe it was a simple assassination attempt. Every one of those Endless Longevity Academy disciples had fallen victim to the Mind-stealing Technique, and that technique was the exclusive secret art of the Great Snow Mountain. Other than the Bai family fox yao, no other yao clan practiced it. Suspicious by nature and already prejudiced against the yao, Bai Hangshou might well take them back and then accuse the yao of staging the whole incident just to detain his disciples. Explaining it away would be difficult.

So long as the Mind-stealing Technique remained unresolved, Bai Chen would never release them. His response was steady and unyielding: “That’s why I suspect this is a conspiracy. I must keep them a few more days for investigation.”

The Endless Longevity Academy was a sect that had only risen in the last hundred years and had no past enmity with the yao. Bai Hangshou considered it unreasonable that his disciples would attack the Yao King. Seeing Bai Chen refuse to release them, his gaze hardened. “I’ve heard fox yao are adept at bewitching hearts. You’re not planning to do something to my disciples, are you?”

It was indeed a troublesome matter. He could not send the captives back, yet making enemies with the Endless Longevity Academy was hardly wise either. Bai Chen felt troubled, but kept his tone courteous: “You are overly worried. I promise they will not be harmed in the slightest. They’ll be well fed and cared for, and once the truth is clear, I will return them unharmed.”

For Bai Hangshou to come personally as headmaster to reclaim his disciples was already giving face to the yao, yet Bai Chen still refused. The Endless Longevity Academy was, after all, among the Ten Seats. If they could not even protect their own disciples, how would they maintain standing in the jianghu? His expression immediately darkened. “They are disciples of the Endless Longevity Academy. Even if they erred, they should be handed over to our Discipline Hall for judgment. To forcibly detain them is unreasonable.”

A major sect losing disciples without a word truly would lose face. Bai Chen knew Bai Hangshou would not easily back down. If not for the Mind-stealing Technique, he would have released them. But the matter was complicated, and the yao could not risk rash moves so soon after arriving in the human realm. Thus he did his utmost not to oppose him directly, explaining calmly: “I mean no slight to the Endless Longevity Academy. Precisely because I respect your sect’s reputation, the Great Snow Mountain must investigate thoroughly, so both sides may be cleared of suspicion.”

For the Yao King to speak so was already lowering himself. Bai Hangshou’s expression softened somewhat, though he still would not relent on retrieving his disciples. “You are a guest from afar. Such a troublesome matter should not fall on you. Hand them over to me, and the Endless Longevity Academy will conduct the investigation and give the yao an explanation.”

At this point, Bai Chen was truly caught between a rock and a hard place. He frowned, when suddenly a savior interrupted the tense exchange. From outside the hall came Yunce’s voice, utterly disregarding the atmosphere: “Little Uncle, this one from Azure Heaven Manor followed me straight back. Do you want to see him or not?”

Qiu Xiaohan’s way of handling matters was indeed beyond ordinary reason. The letter had barely reached him before he came along with Yunce without even glancing at it. Yet his arrival at this moment broke the tension perfectly. Bai Chen relaxed, smiling at Bai Hangshou. “It seems the Heaven’s Way Alliance leaders are all impatient sorts. I can hardly refuse Manor Master Qiu. Sect Master, would you care to wait in the side hall?”

Bai Hangshou was always careful never to leave others an opening. Even when reclaiming disciples, he had first sent a visiting card, and his speech and manner had been impeccable. Now, of course, he would not hinder Bai Chen from meeting Qiu Xiaohan. He replied readily, “The Heaven’s Way Alliance is of one spirit. Why should I avoid him?”

Avoiding sensitive topics suited Bai Chen just fine. He nodded to Yunce. “Invite Manor Master Qiu in.”

Azure Heaven Manor had once been an ordinary cultivation sect. Only after Qiu Xiaohan took over did they begin developing puppet-armor techniques. He accepted many disciples born with bodily defects, and even changed the sect robes to plain, durable black cloth. The simplest way to recognize them now was by their wooden prosthetics and the ancestral wheelchairs issued to new disciples upon joining.

Azure Heaven Manor disciples never left their wheelchairs behind, and as manor master, Qiu Xiaohan was no exception. The youth seated in a blackwood chair was famed in the Heaven’s Way Alliance for his striking looks, yet his face carried none of the vitality of the living — more like a meticulously carved puppet. Pushed into the hall by his disciple, he ignored Bai Hangshou completely and spoke directly to Bai Chen: “You called me here for Yonggu Mountain?”

The Heaven’s Way Alliance truly was full of all sorts. Bai Chen had not expected such bluntness, and after a pause he chuckled lightly.

“Manor Master Qiu truly is straightforward. Mountain God Luo has already submitted to the Great Snow Mountain, so naturally his true body should accompany us.”

Spirits were consciousnesses born of spiritual veins. Only by moving the veins themselves could Mountain God Luo truly settle in the Great Snow Mountain. Bai Chen made his determination clear, but Qiu Xiaohan remained unmoved. “That place belongs to Azure Heaven Manor.”

“But the mountain has its own will.”

Bai Chen argued firmly. Qiu Xiaohan did not dispute, but replied coldly: “And how do you know I cannot change its will?”

Sure enough, none of the Ten Seats were easy to deal with. Mountain God Luo had only agreed to follow Bai Chen so the mountain spirits could live freely. If Qiu Xiaohan promised them peace in the human world, he might well persuade the mountain god.

This strike was a ruthless one. Bai Hangshou, who had been watching with cold amusement, laughed when Bai Chen faltered. “Do not take offense, Young Master Bai. Asking for an entire mountain right away — even Azure Heaven Manor cannot afford such a loss.”

Their earlier conversation had not gone well, so Bai Hangshou was happy to see Bai Chen stymied. But he forgot that Manor Master Qiu treated everyone this way. At the unexpected interjection, Qiu Xiaohan looked over in puzzlement. “You’re here too?”

“I’ve been sitting here all along.” With Qiu Xiaohan already a Wandering Immortal, Bai Hangshou could not believe he had not noticed him — this arrogant brat had clearly chosen to ignore him.

Qiu Xiaohan confirmed his suspicion without hesitation. “Oh. I ignored you.”

What could Bai Hangshou say to that? He could only down his tea furiously and, in his heart, swear a venomous oath: if he meddled in Azure Heaven Manor’s affairs again, he was a dog!

Their exchange gave Bai Chen time to think. True to the cunning reputation of the Nine-tailed White Fox, he found a new angle and probed: “Azure Heaven Manor devotes itself to puppet-armor research, consuming tens of millions of spirit-trees each year. I imagine Manor Master occupies Yonggu Mountain for the spiritual cypresses there?”

Qiu Xiaohan was indeed forthright. He admitted openly, “Yes.”

“But Mountain God Luo has kept the mountain sealed. You haven’t been able to cut down a single tree.”

Azure Heaven Manor wanted the spirit-wood, but Mountain God Luo permitted no humans on the mountain. To them, Yonggu Mountain was a burden.

Qiu Xiaohan knew this well. Were it not so, he would never have agreed in the Heaven’s Way Alliance council to trade it away. But since the yao were desperate for the deal, as the seller he felt no concern. “I simply hadn’t had time to speak with the mountain god.”

Azure Heaven Manor was vast and busy. Neglecting Yonggu Mountain was only due to being occupied with other matters. If Qiu Xiaohan had gone earlier, the yao would never have had a chance. Bai Chen knew they had taken advantage as hosts and did not press the point. Instead, he continued along the line of spirit-wood: “Azure Heaven Manor has held ownership of Yonggu Mountain for five years now. If you still haven’t negotiated, it must be that the cypress there doesn’t meet your standards.”

No one leaves good resources untouched. Five years of neglect meant the mountain was not so important to them.

Sure enough, Qiu Xiaohan nodded. “That wood burns too easily. Useless for forging.”

He was not one for wasted words. Bai Hangshou hadn’t expected Azure Heaven Manor to forgo such a bargaining chip, and couldn’t help but interject, “Little Qiu, you can’t be too honest in negotiations.”

As for his earlier oath, unspoken vows didn’t count. Not at all.

Heaven bear witness, this time he truly spoke only to keep a fellow from losing out. But he earned only Qiu Xiaohan’s cold gaze. “Am I close with you?”

Once again Bai Hangshou nearly ground his teeth to dust. Tugging his horsetail whisk hard to stay calm, he said, “Manor Master Qiu, I only wish to prevent you from suffering a loss.”

But the unfeeling Qiu Xiaohan gave only one word: “Oh.”

At that, Bai Hangshou could only clutch his empty teacup and swear his second venomous oath of the day: never again would he meddle in Azure Heaven Manor’s affairs! This time he meant it. Should he break it, may this brat anger him to death!

The Heaven’s Way Alliance was certainly interesting. They claimed to fight and scheme, yet in the face of outsiders they defended one another. Still, once the foreign threat was gone, their infighting flared all the hotter.

Watching these two, Bai Chen knew it was delusion to think he could use internal strife against the Alliance. Confronted with Qiu Xiaohan’s demand for more, he softened. “Since Yonggu Mountain is of little interest to you, exchanging it with us yao would be better.”

Qiu Xiaohan was not particularly attached to Yonggu Mountain. “I never said I wouldn’t trade. But the price must go up.”

“Three yao cores with a century of cultivation each, and the bones of a fox with three or more tails — is that not enough?”

These were the terms already agreed upon with Feng Shiqi. The items were ready in his storage ring, awaiting only Qiu Xiaohan’s nod to exchange mountain for goods.

But Qiu Xiaohan shook his head. “The Unknown Truth Sect is researching the ancient yao. I won’t compete with Feng Shiqi.”

In other words, that share belonged to the Unknown Truth Sect. Azure Heaven Manor wanted another.

The Great Snow Mountain had few yao cores and bones older than a century. Every trade had to be carefully measured. They could not afford such waste. Bai Chen hesitated. “You mean Azure Heaven Manor requires an additional yao bone?”

Qiu Xiaohan, direct as ever, cared nothing for appearances. “Three cores and one bone — that’s nothing to the yao.”

The yao seldom used artifacts, so yao bones were of little use to them. But Bai Chen still refused. “Yonggu Mountain may be worthless to you, but to me it is essential. Likewise, though our yao bones and cores may pile up like mountains, in the human realm they are treasures beyond price.”

These words made Qiu Xiaohan lower his gaze in thought, but he still shook his head. “Territory and yao bones are not the same. If the price is too low, it’s like ceding land — a loss of face.”

This deal had been made when Feng Shiqi, overstepping, spoke for him. Agreeing now would mean Azure Heaven Manor admitted the Unknown Truth Sect could dictate their territorial rights. For a great sect, that was humiliation. If there had been even one villager on the mountain, Azure Heaven Manor would never have yielded it, even at the cost of war.

Only then did Bai Chen realize why Qiu Xiaohan refused. He also understood why Feng Shiqi had dared promise it — because he never expected Bai Chen to actually move the mountain. Bai Chen hurried to explain: “We only intend to relocate Yonggu Mountain. The land beneath remains. Your territory will not shrink. In fact, once the barren mountain that no one can set foot on is gone, what remains is fertile plains for farming. It will benefit the locals.”

This was something Qiu Xiaohan had not considered. For the first time, his cold gaze held a trace of interest. “Do the yao truly possess the power to move mountains and seas?”

He had long been fascinated by yao abilities. Seeing his attitude soften, Bai Chen seized the chance and warmly invited: “If Manor Master agrees, in three days we will demonstrate it for you.”

Mountain God Luo would never allow humans to cut the cypresses. Rather than forcing them to keep a useless mountain, better to turn it into farmland. Qiu Xiaohan did his own accounting. Since his territory would not diminish, his pride would remain intact. At last, he relented. “I want the bone to study how the yao hunt. A living one is better reference than a dead.”

That was as good as agreement. Bai Chen smiled in relief, the burden in his heart finally lifted. “We will be staying in Busi for some time. Manor Master is welcome to visit and exchange knowledge at any time.”

Qiu Xiaohan was decisive. Once a deal was struck, he never regretted. “Three days from now, move the mountain. I will attend.”

Bai Hangshou knew his temperament. Deals succeeded or failed in a single talk — Qiu Xiaohan would not waste time on a second. Who would have thought this Nine-tailed White Fox was so shrewd, seizing this one chance to finalize the trade in such a short time? Clearly, this new Yao King was not to be taken lightly.

He grew wary but did not forget his own purpose. As Qiu Xiaohan prepared to leave, he reminded Bai Chen: “Young Master Bai, now that you’ve settled with Azure Heaven Manor, you must also give me an answer about releasing the captives.”

This was no casual remark. The Heaven’s Way Alliance truly was of one breath. However rude Qiu Xiaohan was to him, when he heard this, he halted his wheelchair. “You mean he captured your people?”

The old fox knew well — let the Great Snow Mountain complete an important deal, then press Bai Chen with Qiu Xiaohan’s presence to force his hand. Seeing Qiu Xiaohan pause, he pressed more firmly. “The yao seized Dongling’s guards. Among them is a student of Elder Qin, the foremost of the Seven Elders.”

As headmaster, Bai Hangshou stood at the top. Beneath him were the Seven Elders, and Elder Qin as their leader held great authority. So the sole Nascent Soul among the captives was Elder Qin’s disciple — no wonder Bai Hangshou was so anxious.

In this matter, Azure Heaven Manor would certainly side with the Endless Longevity Academy. The very trade just agreed might even unravel. Bai Chen now truly felt a headache coming on. “I said already — something strange is afoot. We must investigate carefully.”

His firm refusal to release them only made Bai Hangshou more certain of foul play. “That so-called ambush is only your yao’s one-sided story. If there’s something suspicious, release them first. Once we confirm their safety, my elders will bring them back for your questioning.”

The problem was, those guards and disciples lay comatose under the Mind-stealing Technique. They could hardly be called safe. More baffling still, even with Yunce’s cultivation, the spell could not be broken. Who knew what sort of master had laid it?

Bai Chen was troubled, searching for a way to delay, when Qiu Xiaohan suddenly said, “I buried a Recording Stone in Dongling’s streets. Everything that happened will be visible.”

A Recording Stone captured all nearby events until its spiritual energy was exhausted. It was a vital tool for intelligence gathering. If Qiu Xiaohan truly had one in Dongling, it was a godsend for Bai Chen.

Bai Chen's face lit with joy, but Bai Hangshou frowned. “You planted a Recording Stone in Endless Longevity Academy’s territory?”

Spying on another sect’s lands was hardly honorable, but Qiu Xiaohan’s expression did not change. “Dongling was originally Azure Heaven Manor’s territory. You stole it.”

Territorial disputes were common in the Heaven’s Way Alliance. Indeed, Dongling had been seized by the Endless Longevity Academy, which explained Qiu Xiaohan’s rudeness toward him. Still, Bai Hangshou had not expected him to have left such a hidden trick. “You never mentioned such ‘surprises’ when handing over the city.”

Qiu Xiaohan remained matter-of-fact. “You never asked.”

Qiu Xiaohan’s manner was enough to infuriate both enemies and allies alike. Bai Chen, seeing Bai Hangshou nearly tear out his whisk by the roots, quickly intervened before they started fighting under his roof. “Since we have evidence, why not go together to see it, Sect Master?”

The existence of a Recording Stone in Dongling was an unexpected blessing for Bai Chen. If it proved the ambush, so much the better. And if it revealed the white-clad man’s face, it would be an even greater help.

This suggestion Bai Hangshou readily accepted. He stopped quibbling with Qiu Xiaohan and said, “Very well. I also want to see who dared offend the Endless Longevity Academy.”

~ Chapter End ~ 

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