Nan Zhu shook his head repeatedly as he listened. “Old Fifteen, your reasoning can be argued any way you like, but the reality is right here. Relying on us to assassinate Wang Xueting is unrealistic. The success rate of fleeing back to Youjiao Port is much higher. Old Nine, I think we should return to Youjiao Port. What do you think?”
He looked towards Mu Aotie, hoping to take a vote, hoping to resolve this by the method of the minority obeying the majority.
Mu Aotie was silent for a moment, and finally said, “It is indeed very difficult to succeed. If we fail, it will be even more dangerous. I also think we should return to Youjiao Port. Old Fifteen, let us go back. Once we have a place to survive, we can plan slowly. It will not be too late.”
Yu Qing’s brows rose. He hated the minority obeying the majority the most. Whenever this was done within the sect, he never gained any advantage. He was always on the minority side.
He believed he was the sect leader. Everyone could discuss matters, but how to decide still required him to make the final call. It could not be decided by others. Otherwise, what was the point of him being the sect leader?
He immediately said straightforwardly, “Fine, I will not force you. You go back first. I will stay here to handle things. I can also attract Wang Xueting’s attention and create convenience for your escape.”
“You…” Nan Zhu was speechless, realising that this fellow Old Fifteen was starting to be unreasonable again. He exchanged a glance with Mu Aotie, and they could both see the headache in each other’s eyes. They both thought that Old Fifteen was a typical case of youthful arrogance.
They both thought that if it were not for Old Fifteen’s reckless actions, insisting on diving into that earth spring at the Golden Ruins, everyone would not have ended up running to the Sea Market in this state.
But what could be done? With Old Fifteen’s temperament, he could not be persuaded to turn back. Knock him out and carry him out?
This was unrealistic. Times were different now. The conditions were not the same. Even if they knocked out Old Fifteen, they might not be able to escape.
Knowing persuasion was useless, Nan Zhu asked in a muffled voice, “What do you plan to do?”
Yu Qing raised his hand to undo the clasp of his cloak, his eyes showing a rare depth, and said slowly, “I want to find Wang Xueting and talk.”
Nan and Mu were both stunned at the same time. Mu Aotie said in surprise, “Talk with him? What is there to talk about?”
Yu Qing: “I want to know what his attitude really is. I want to confirm whether he really must kill me or not. If this matter can pass, then so be it. If it must be a fight to the death, then it can only be a matter of who dies first. Why should we only be beaten and not fight back?”
Nan Zhu sighed, “It is good to talk first. When will you talk?”
Yu Qing: “No rush. Make some preparations first. It will not be too late to talk when ready.”
Nan Zhu: “What preparations?”
Yu Qing: “You two first make a hard trip to run some errands. Find out where he lives first. We need to first understand his living environment and see if there is an opportunity to strike before making a decision. With his wealth and power, he probably will not stay in an ordinary place. You will not be wrong to inquire at top-class inns. If you really cannot find him, I will ask Qing Ya. He definitely knows.”
Compared to what needed to be done, running errands was a small matter. Nan and Mu did not delay, turned around, and left.
Yu Qing walked to the balcony and watched the disappearing figures of his two senior brothers, then immediately fell into deep thought…
Wang Xueting stood with his hands behind his back before the window, facing the garden full of moonlight, yet his face was full of melancholy and sorrow.
The nobility before others seemed somewhat powerless at this moment. He discovered that to some degree in this life, he could hardly hide his desolation. The sect seemed prosperous, but his family was in complete ruin. Of three sons and two daughters, now only one son and one daughter remained. His only son was also not far from death. His only daughter was like an enemy, not even informing him when she married.
The door opened, and Tu Xiukui quickly entered, walking to his side to report, “Big Brother, received news. That Tanhu Lang did not leave and returned to the Aerial Pavilion where he is staying.”
Wang Xueting turned around, surprised, “He did not leave? Was it not said that he was leaving?”
Tu Xiukui: “That is correct. At first, looking at his situation, he indeed seemed to be leaving. Even Qing Ya was urgently informed, estimating that he was leaving. Who knew that when he reached the seaside, he came back again. I do not know the situation. Now I also do not know whether he will leave or not.”
Wang Xueting: “Are the outside arrangements all set?”
Tu Xiukui: “The Xingluo Islands side is already in place. No matter on which island he appears, he cannot escape our eyes. Sea demon cultivators have also been arranged in the sea there to guard against his water escape. The periphery of Youjiao Port is also gathering manpower for arrangements. As long as he leaves the Sea Market, we will certainly make it so he cannot escape even with wings.”
Wang Xueting turned again to face the moonlight pouring down like mercury outside. “Not leaving? Then think of a way to scare him, to find a way to frighten him away. Is that Qing Ya not a local boss? Does he not habitually do such things? Let him think of a way. I still say the same thing. Do things cleanly. Try not to leave any handles.”
“Understood.” Tu Xiukui acknowledged, but when he turned to leave, he could not help but secretly sigh.
He was the one who personally arranged and deployed everything. He deeply knew that just the external arrangements this time cost a huge sum. But there was no way around it. There should be quite a few people watching that Tanhu Lang, and those capable of watching him were probably not ordinary people. They really could not act here easily. Otherwise, if someone with ill intent caught hold of it, it would be very troublesome. Did people really think no one coveted the wealth of Zheluo Mountain?
The son of a wealthy family does not sit beneath a hall’s eaves. There was no need for them to bear that risk. This was also the reason why previously Wang Wentian only dared to find ways to humiliate him and did not dare to directly kill that person.
…
Sunlight first shone. The bustling Sea Market was another new day.
Langhuan Residence. Yu Qing had long admired its great name, but truly entering was the first time.
From the moment he entered the main gate, his eyes could not help but look everywhere, like a country bumpkin entering a city for the first time.
There was no kind of extremely gorgeous magnificence, only an indescribable sense of luxury everywhere. It could be described in two words: elegant!
For such a large inn to give people this feeling was not easy. It could only be said that the builder possessed an extraordinary aesthetic ability.
Before even crossing the main hall, Yu Qing could not help but stop before a wall, seeing a piece of calligraphy. It was precisely one of his examination papers from the capital, but he could tell at a glance that it was an imitation. However, the imitation was quite good.
Following Nan Zhu all the way forward, turning east and west and then going upstairs, the three senior brothers entered a large suite with a low-key luxurious feeling. The various furnishings looked like nothing special, yet they always attracted people to examine them closely. This was inevitable for people who rarely came to such places.
On the room wall, there was similarly a piece of calligraphy imitating the Tanhu Lang’s writing.
After entering, Mu Aotie immediately inspected every corner of the room. This was his habit.
At first, it was to prove his experience before Yu Qing, but later it gradually changed flavour, becoming a habitual duty. No matter what was done, he could not come up with good ideas, nor could he say much with his mouth. He could only try to do more things within his power. It could be considered sharing the burden.
After Nan Zhu closed the door, he immediately quickly walked to Yu Qing, who was looking around, and stretched out five fingers. “Fifty thousand taels! This inn has gone mad wanting to earn money. Staying one day actually costs fifty thousand taels. Can staying here increase cultivation or what? If taken to the mortal world, how many common people could it support?”
Then he took out from his sleeve the receipt filled out when checking in and showed it to Yu Qing. “Look clearly. This is the price. They said there is no bargaining here. Not even one tael of silver less. I did not overreport.”
Yu Qing looked at the room’s environment and asked, “Are you sure it is exactly the same as the room Wang Xueting is staying in?”
“Rest assured, absolutely the same. I said it was to entertain Wang Xueting. The inn repeatedly guaranteed it. Even the furnishings are exactly the same. If there is any discrepancy, they will definitely refund. I inquired. This inn is good in this regard. Its reputation is absolutely unquestionable.” Nan Zhu walked to the window and pushed it open, pointing to the opposite side. “Across the garden, Wang Xueting stays there. Even the floor is the same.”
Only then did Yu Qing reach out and take the receipt from his hand to look at it. He looked carefully, turned it over and over, and even held it up to the outside light to look at it. He was afraid the fatty would submit false accounts and embezzle his money. After confirming there was no problem, he took out banknotes and counted out fifty thousand taels to give to the other party.
Fifty thousand taels was not a small sum. He also did not want to pay this money, but he had no choice. The fatty definitely would not agree.
Nan Zhu, having received the money, breathed a sigh of relief and felt at ease. While putting away the banknotes, he cursed, “You did not see the faces of those people when I came to book the room. Hearing that I wanted to stay in this Heaven-grade suite, they actually repeatedly confirmed with me, as if I could not afford it. They even asked if I wanted to change rooms. It was only when I slapped the banknotes on the counter that they changed their faces. We have at least earned over a hundred million taels in a day. A bunch of snobbish things. Later, I will definitely make them work harder.”
Shortly after, Mu Aotie walked back, nodded towards the two, indicating there was no problem.
Yu Qing also began to look around the room everywhere, with a pondering expression on his face.
Nan Zhu followed behind him with a look of wanting to speak but stopping, but ultimately could not hold back, and said in a low voice, “This is Langhuan Residence. The background of Langhuan Residence is no small matter. It is the business of the Fifth Grotto Master of Qianliu Mountain. Causing trouble here is seeking death. Do you really want to strike at him here?”
Yu Qing: “Once he moves, we do not have the financial resources or the manpower to arrange things. We can only find opportunities where he is relatively fixed.”
Nan Zhu reminded again, “Old Fifteen, listen to me. I urge you to think carefully again about the consequences.”
Yu Qing: “I have thought it over repeatedly this whole night. I said I want to find him and have a good talk. If he is willing to let it go, I will lower my head. Even kneeling to him is fine. If he insists on putting us to death… I have thought carefully. To win against him, it can only be that the barefoot are not afraid of those wearing shoes. Do what he dares not do. Do what he thinks we dare not do. Only then is there a chance. In the Sea Market, we are instead more likely to succeed. If we leave the Sea Market, we truly do not even have the qualification to get close to him.”
“Sigh!” Nan Zhu let out a sigh and said no more.
Mu Aotie, leaning against the door frame not far away, looked this way. He could understand Old Seven’s mood. Facing this Old Fifteen who could not be persuaded or pulled away, what else could be done? They could only work together with one heart.
The two of them also knew that if it were not for truly needing reliable helpers, Old Fifteen would probably send the two of them away.
After fully understanding the indoor environment, Yu Qing walked from the inner room to the outer hall and called out, “Old Nine stays behind to act according to signals. Old Seven comes with me. Let us go pay a visit to that local boss.”
Nan Zhu did not understand, “What are we looking for him for?”
Yu Qing: “The same opportunity will not come a second time. What if Wang Xueting puts on airs and refuses to see us? Let that local boss be the mediator.”