A ten meter pavilion rested on a tall peak, with a cloud dancing around it. A youth in soft black clothes sat at the table, partaking in tea. Though his twisted smile ruined his good image, turning it sinister.
Like a viper about to strike.
Whoosh!
A light trailed the skies and landed right before the youth. It revealed an old man in white with golden edges holding a horsetail whisk, the very picture of an immortal.
The youth laughed and waved, âMystical Heaven Sectâs Xuan Jianfeng, have you been well these years?â
âXie Wuyue, we hardly interact and thereâs nothing cordial between us. Why the sudden invitation then? What are you up to?â Xuan Jianfeng snorted and took a seat.
Putting on a vague smile, Xie Wuyue shook his head, âTo discuss important business of course. Though itâs too soon to tell. Thereâs still one person leftâŚâ
Whoosh!
Another light appeared and the immense power swept the peak. Even the two of them jerked for a moment there.
Xuan Jianfeng cried, âSect Leader Ren, what are you doing here?â
It was a middle-aged man with sharp features, his expression bitting and resolute. Sparse hair grew on his chin, giving him a wild look.
âSect Leader Ren, greetings.â This time Xie Wuyueâs evil smile turned respectful, bowing at the man.
Xuan Jianfeng did the same.
Grinning, the man flicked and spoke with valor, âPlease, Sect Leaders, Iâve only come here to talk business. Donât stand in ceremony for my sake, ha-ha-haâŚâ
The two had known Sect Leader Ren for a long time and sat right away.
Sect Leader Ren took a seat as well, looking at Xie Wuyue with a cold glint, âSect Leader Xie, is what you said true? Yuwen clan has the gall to play dirty tricks behind our backs?â
âI never make light of such grave matters, Sect Leader Ren.â Xie Wuyue nodded.
Xuan Jianfeng was stumped, âSect Leader Ren, what is going on?â
âYou donât know, Sect Leader Xuan?â Sect Leader Ren eyed Xie Wuyue and asked, âSect Leader Xie didnât explain it in the sending jade? Yuwen clan sold a tenth of Tianyu to Quanrong.â
[What?!]
Xuan Jianfeng shuddered, turning shocked to Xie Wuyue, âIs this true? Are they that outrageous? And why didnât you tell me sooner?â
âI told you now, didnât I?â Xie Wuyue snorted.
Xuan Jianfeng glared at him.
[The punk is messing with me. Calling for a meeting without stating why.] These two sects werenât exactly friends and now Xie Wuyue was playing deaf, letting him get duped.
Sect Leader Ren was the head of the empireâs three guardian sects, Heaven Trailing Sectâs Sect Leader. [By showing indifference in such a grave matter, it would only strain the relations between me and Sect Leader Ren.]
And this was where Xie Wuyue succeeded. He had forced Mystical Heaven Sect to come without explaining anything to Xuan Jianfeng.
[You didnât say a word, it would be this big!]
The two sects had a competitive relationship, so why would anyone come just because the other said so?
[But from the looks of it, the matter isnât that graveâŚ]
Xuan Jianfeng wiped his brow and glared at Xie Wuyue. The youth found it more interesting to enjoy the scenery with a cold smile.
Sect Leader Ren knew everything but laughed instead, âAlright, itâs just Sect Leader Xie forgetting to mention. Sect Leader Xuan neednât mind it. What is important is understanding the situation and its causes before settling it.â
Sect Leader Ren smiled, âSect Leader Xie, since you found out, you must have done something before calling this meeting.â
âSect Leader Ren is wise beyond his years. I indeed acted the instant I became aware of it. Now everything is settled. Though it will require all three of us if we want to take it out on Quanrong and Beast Taming Sect.â
Xie Wuyue explained the entire chain of events.
Pa!
Xie Wuyue placed a gourd on the table, âHere are the three Beast Taming Sectâs eldersâ souls. We can use them to strike a blow at the Beast Taming Sect but weâll need Sect Leader Ren to consider what might we get out of it.â
âHumph, what else is there? Quanrong live in the mountains and forests with rich lands, plenty of mines and are filled with herbs. Iâve been waiting for ages to get my hands on it.â
Sect Leader Ren snickered, âDidnât they want a tenth of Tianyu? This time weâll have them bleed instead!â
Xie Wuyue nodded, âRightfully so. I am in full accord with Sect Leader Renâs idea. Weâll send a team of experts to Beast Taming Sect for compensation!â
âUnderstood!â
Sect Leader Ren laughed, âItâs only a matter of time before our shares increase, ha-ha-haâŚ.â
The others laughed as well.
Xuan Jianfeng and Xie Wuyue werenât always on the same page but were content when both sides had a bite.
Though Xuan Jianfeng frowned, âThe foreign matter is resolved but that still leaves the internal one. Due to its outrageous attempt, Yuwen clan is unfit to lead Tianyu. We need someone else, someone to guarantee our interests.â
âNo need to worry, Sect Leader Xuan, isnât the choice clear as day?â Xie Wuyue grinned.
Xuan Jianfeng jerked, âYou mean⌠the Luo clan? No. Everyone knows youâve got their steward Zhuo Fan to join you. Making them our choice will elevate your prowess.â
âXuan Jianfeng, why be so petty? The Luo clan and Demon Scheming Sect do have some ties, but itâs nothing to fuss over. Iâm not one to affect the sectsâ interests and earn Heaven Trailing Sectâs ire over some crumbs. Do you take me for some narrow-minded and ignorant fool?â
Xie Wuyue bowed, âThe usual distribution was Heaven Trailing Sect getting a third, each other sect a fifth and the remaining was left to Tianyu. But with Luo clan being Tianyuâs representative, an extra tenth will be divided among us, leaving it with only a fifth.â
Sect Leader Ren lit up and nodded, âThis is everyoneâs share. No matter who controls its distribution, it will be a gain for all. All that matters is paying the tribute on time and not skimming the top.â
âExactly so!â Xie Wuyue chuckled and gave Xuan Jianfeng a taunting look.
Xuan Jianfeng saw Sect Leader Renâs smile and the eerie chill behind it.
He nodded too, âBut Sect Leader Ren, we now have a new representative so what do we do with the old one?â
âYuwen clan has ruled Tianyu for a millennium, its roots are deep. Moving against them will throw the lands in chaos and affect our shares. When Tianyu was founded, it needed a hundred years to attain peace, a time during which the seven houses were at war and the people were struggling to survive. How could the empireâs resources be extracted in such desperate times? We were left with meager profits then. No, Tianyu must not fall into anarchy.â
Sect Leader Ren said, âSect Leader Xie, is your representative confident in controlling the Yuwen clan, and grasping the entire imperial familyâs power?â
âHa-ha-ha, Sect Leader Ren, heâs doing it as we speak. And besides, doesnât he have Demon Scheming Sect in case of hiccups?â
Sect Leader Ren nodded, âSect Leader Xie, so young and promising. Iâll leave it to you. Goodbye.â
Sect Leader Ren vanished.
Xie Wuyue bowed.
Xuan Jianfeng stared at him, âXie Wuyue, you sure looked big in front Sect Leader Ren. But I am warning you, you better not have your representative controlling Tianyu be up to something. If anything happens to Mystical Heaven Sectâs shareâŚâ
âYes?â
Xie Wuyue raised an eyebrow, âItâs not my fault Tianyuâs representative is in my court. When I took the kid in, all you knew was how to mock. Now look at what he has turned into. While that lass of yours hasnât done anything, ha-ha-haâŚâ
Xuan Jianfeng clenched his fists but opted to snort and left Xuan Jianfeng with, âDonât get too cocky. That kid is more than you can handle. You will be sorry!â
âHumph, useless talents are of no danger. I like the kids with some bite. But no matter how dangerous, he still wonât escape my grasp.â
Xie Wuyue snorted and clawed the air with a vicious lookâŚ