As Zhuang Xun had expected, with Xue Shiyu vigorously recruiting people to join the mountain-climbing expedition, the disciples' attention shifted from Yan Pingsheng to this matter, and they scrambled to sign up.
Later, he heard from the fat merchant that at its peak, the number of disciples seeking out Xue Shiyu in a single day exceeded a thousand.
A few days later, upon receiving Xue Shiyu's notification, Zhuang Xun arrived at the agreed-upon gathering spot outside the Posuo Courtyard.
Sweeping his gaze over the crowd, he noticed that there were nearly fifty people in the expedition this time. He secretly guessed that Xue Shiyu was probably about to reel in his net.
Sure enough, he saw Hu He standing quietly in a corner.
Time to slip away, boys... While Zhuang Xun controlled Yi Wangyou to rush over, he also steered Yan Pingsheng toward Xue Shiyu.
“Senior Brother Xue, I'm truly sorry, but I'm afraid I won't be able to go up the mountain with everyone today.”
“Oh? What's the matter, Junior Brother Yan? Did something happen? Tell me, perhaps I can help you resolve it,” Xue Shiyu said, his voice sounding warm on the surface.
In secret, his heart sank. He wondered if he had exposed a flaw somewhere, allowing Yan Pingsheng to notice something amiss.
Or is it just his good luck, and he simply has something to do today? Remembering Yan Pingsheng's mysterious fortune, a second thought popped into his mind.
At this moment, Huang Renyong stepped out of the crowd and said to Yan Pingsheng with an unfriendly look, “Junior Brother Yan, we agreed on this beforehand. It's not very appropriate for you to back out now, is it?”
“Senior Brother Yan! You're so slow! Hurry up!” Suddenly, a voice called out from above.
“Heave-ho!”
A good-looking child, about 1.4 meters tall, leaped down from the terrifyingly high steps. Running straight up to Yan Pingsheng, he stood with hands on his hips and chest puffed out, snapping at Huang Renyong:
“What's it to you? Keep running your mouth and I, the Little Overlord, will beat you up!”
Huang Renyong's expression turned ugly, but he remained silent.
“Senior Brother Yan, ignore him. Let's go.” Yi Wangyou walked backward, dragging Yan Pingsheng toward the Posuo Courtyard.
“My apologies, Senior Brother Xue, Senior Brother Huang, I...”
Xue Shiyu waved his hand repeatedly at Yan Pingsheng, who was trying to speak, and smiled. “It's fine, Junior Brother Yan. If you have urgent matters, prioritize your own business. Don't worry about us.”
“Thank you for your understanding, Senior Brother Xue.”
“Haha, it's nothing. My expedition team never strictly required everyone to come every single time. Don't worry, Junior Brother Yan, I'll keep a spot for you next time. After all, you are everyone's 'Koi'!”
Xue Shiyu let out a sigh of relief as he watched Yan Pingsheng's departing figure.
It seems it was purely luck. Still, having luck to this extent is truly exaggerated. He can even sense danger and avoid it... If I run into Yan Pingsheng in the future, I should try to stay on his good side and avoid making an enemy of him.
But it's fine that he left. With that kind of luck, if he came along, he might have ruined my plans instead...
Xue Shiyu glanced at Huang Renyong's clenched fist hidden beneath his sleeve, a faint trace of mockery appearing on his face.
At the same time, many disciples in the expedition felt regret as they watched Yan Pingsheng walk away. Ah, the Koi is gone. We might return empty-handed from the mountain this time.
On the other side, Zhuang Xun had already steered Yi Wangyou and Yan Pingsheng back to the Posuo Courtyard, laughing to himself.
A million-dollar extraction success!
He took control of the Debt-Lending Bladesman, a clone he had created long ago. Spotting Xue Shiyu's group passing by the teahouse in a grand procession, he put on his bamboo hat, pulling the brim down to cover his eyes as he stood up. Stepping outside, he flickered a few times and vanished.
...
The Formless Courtyard, a private residence.
Xu Jianxing put his all into practicing every stance and movement of the Formless Method. His gaze was as fierce as a wolf's and as sharp as an eagle's. Even sweat dripping into his eyes could not make him blink in the slightest.
He steeled his resolve.
I must break through to the Fourth Rank before Yang Ling!
I am Senior Brother's most capable subordinate! His most valued confidant! His most trusted right-hand man!
Yang Ling, Yan Pingsheng—hmph! You will only ever rank below me!
“Senior Brother Xu!”
A hurried voice suddenly came from outside the door, and a short figure burst into the courtyard.
Xu Jianxing slowly pulled back from his stance and asked, “Xiao Liu, what is it?”
“Our subordinates have discovered traces of the Shengxue Cult!”
Hearing this, excitement flashed in Xu Jianxing's eyes.
The time to earn merit for Senior Brother has come!
Quickly throwing on his outer robe, he instructed, “Gather our men immediately. Do not alert Yang Ling's people.”
As for your standing in Senior Brother's heart, just wait to be left far behind... With a mocking sneer on his lips, he strode out.
...
“Oh no! It's the Dreamlike Flower! Everyone, quickly... hold your... breath...” The speaker's voice grew weaker and weaker until his body swayed a few times and collapsed to the ground, his eyelids growing heavy.
Around him, dozens of disciples lay scattered in all directions.
Directly ahead of them, a cluster of pinkish-white flowers was dispersing pollen.
As their final consciousness slipped away, many disciples felt deep regret.
We should have realized! The Koi suddenly had something else to do and couldn't come because this trip was dangerous!
Unfortunately, by the time they realized this, it was already too late. The moment the thought flashed through their minds, they blacked out completely.
About ten minutes later, Xue Shiyu slowly got up, a casual smile playing on his lips.
“Time to reel in the net. Ah, this moment always gets the blood pumping.”
“Brother Huang, as we agreed before, Hu He goes to me, and the rest are yours... Sigh, Brother Huang, you still can't cure your impatience.”
Xue Shiyu shook his head as he watched Huang Renyong, who was already searching the bodies of the fallen disciples on the ground, and walked slowly toward Hu He.
“Let's see what kind of fortune you have on you...” He searched Hu He's body. His hand paused as it brushed past the chest, and then he pulled hard, retrieving a cicada as blood-red as jade.
“Sure enough, it's the Summer-Winter Cicada, ranked seventh on the Xietian Mountain Range's Rare Beast Ranking!”
An excited gleam flashed in his eyes. Just as he was about to tuck it into his robes, a calm voice reached his ears.
“Brother Xue, there are only a little over seven hundred taels.”
Xue Shiyu paused, then said casually, “That's normal. Who would carry that much silver on them when going out?”
Huang Renyong said seriously, “But my investment alone was that much.”
“Oh? Then search their gear. Selling all of it should bring in another thousand-odd taels.”
“Even then, it's only a thousand-odd taels. Excluding the costs, my labor, and the risks we have to bear afterward, the profit isn't much.”
Xue Shiyu fell silent for a moment, then smiled. “Brother Huang, you're still not satisfied with over a thousand taels?”
Huang Renyong said calmly, “Brother Xue, if you give me what you just got your hands on, I'll be satisfied.”
Xue Shiyu slowly stood up and turned to look at Huang Renyong. With a strange smile, he asked, “Brother Huang, are you sure? Have you ever considered whether you can even hold onto this thing? Can you handle the aftermath?”
“I don't know, but I can handle you right now!”
Huang Renyong suddenly pulled out an exquisitely crafted, lotus-shaped bronze pestle and repeatedly pulled the trigger at Xue Shiyu, his expression appearing exceptionally sinister beneath his calm facade.
Rate on N.U.
