Apocalypse: Grinding EXP through Hunting

The two generals still wanted to shake their heads.

Having been a trade team leader for many years, Qian Sanduo understood. The other party was presenting conditions and continually lowering their demands. Simply refusing outright was not a solution.

He gave a soft cough and asked, "Miss Bai, since it has come to this, why don’t you first explain the details so we can make a proper decision?"

General Zhao also said, "Rest assured, Miss Bai. Regardless of whether we cooperate in the end, we will not breathe a word of this."

Bai You Ruo wasn’t too worried about leaks.

She summarized, "The task is to enter Ganshan City, secretly find something, and then bring it out."

"Is it that simple? In that case, all you need to do is write a letter, provide a token, and we can send someone to retrieve it for you. If you’re not comfortable with that, you can send one of your own people along with them."

Bai You Ruo gave a bitter smile. "Of course, it’s not that simple. I was attacked outside the city because someone doesn’t want me to get that item. I can’t say what the current situation is with my Bai Family’s original contact in Ganshan City. I’m afraid that if someone goes in with my token, they’ll be captured immediately!"

The waters were indeed deep.

Someone dared to harm Bai You Ruo, which meant they were an enemy of the Bai Family.

And with the Bai Family being so powerful, how could their enemies be minor characters?

The two generals focused their thoughts, but lacking key information, they couldn’t come to any conclusion.

They only knew that this matter was extremely risky.

Qian Sanduo thought for a moment, combining his own speculation and experiences from his time as a merchant. He probed, "The enemy knew your itinerary and manpower, Miss Bai, allowing them to set up an ambush with ease. The time and place were chosen so precisely. Could the enemy be from within the Bai Family?"

Bai Ying and Bai Xue’s expressions turned hostile.

Bai You Ruo sighed, which was a tacit admission.

Qian Sanduo continued, "I’ve heard that the old Patriarch of the Bai Family is over a hundred years old. He has many children, and several of his sons are said to be exceptionally talented."

The atmosphere became delicate.

Bai You Ruo looked at Qian Sanduo with an icy gaze.

However, he was not intimidated.

Instead, he was certain he had guessed the truth!

’It makes sense when you think about it.’

What kind of status did a Miss Bai from White Stone City’s Bai Family have?

After losing two Extraordinary experts and escaping a perilous situation, shouldn’t her first thought be to return to White Stone City and bring back more masters to crush her enemies?

Why had she been lingering in their small, shabby camp for several days?

And now she wanted to borrow the strength of their Flame Camp?

Even if this place was too far from Sanlian City—a journey of over a year for an ordinary trade team—with just three Sand Wolves as mounts, traveling day and night, the return trip would be very fast!

But clearly, she didn’t want to go back like that. She was determined to accomplish something first.

She wasn’t asking her family for help, instead wanting to use an external force to strike at her opponent.

This was illogical.

Unless her enemy was also from the Bai Family, and held a high position.

Otherwise, no matter who tried to assassinate Bai You Ruo, the Bai Family would have to retaliate.

If not, where would their prestige be?

Qian Sanduo said bluntly, "So, it’s the young masters of the Bai Family competing for the position of City Lord."

The two Bai maids’ expressions changed. They were about to rebuke him when they saw their mistress raise her hand. "Commander Qian has guessed correctly. My mother and my seventh brother’s mother are biological sisters. My seventh brother is vying for the position, so as his younger sister, I can only help."

Qian Dong, half-drunk, thought with envy, ’A pair of sisters! Their father is truly a lucky man.’

"I see." General Zhou’s brow relaxed. "Miss Bai, you must retrieve the item from Ganshan City using your own power to show the old Patriarch. But Ganshan City is full of experts. We are far too weak; I’m afraid we can’t be of much help."

"Don’t be so quick to refuse, General Zhou. I’ve thought about it. This matter can also be accomplished through cunning. If a young, talented Martial Artist with exceptional combat power were to infiltrate Ganshan City, get close to the target, and scout the situation, it should be possible."

Bai You Ruo refused to give up.

In truth, she couldn’t give up. In the struggles for succession in major powers, once you’re on the boat, you can’t get off!

For her, her only path was to help her seventh brother secure the position of the next City Lord.

Only then could she have a good life in the future.

If they failed, the best outcome for Bai You Ruo would be to spend the rest of her life guarding some family property in a remote place.

’Find someone? Use cunning?’

It seemed this was the reason she kept looking for Tang Wen.

Understanding this point, Qian Sanduo felt a surge of delight.

General Zhou and General Zhao naturally thought of it too.

Qian Dong, seventy percent drunk, suddenly slammed his cup down and straightened his back.

’Cunning, young, exceptional combat power, a genius Martial Artist!’

’Isn’t that just describing me?’

’What are the two generals thinking about? For the sake of the camp, I, Qian Dong, am willing to give it a try!’

’Send me on one dangerous mission in exchange for an incredibly precious Spiritual Meditation Method. It’s a guaranteed win...’

’Huh?’

’Uncle Qian, what’s with that expression?’

’General Zhao, why are you glaring at me?’

Qian Dong looked at General Zhou, but the latter didn’t even acknowledge him.

All three of them knew clearly that the person Bai You Ruo wanted was Tang Wen.

Bai You Ruo continued, "Flame Camp saved my life, and I will naturally repay that debt. Regardless of whether this mission succeeds, I will offer fifty revolvers and three thousand bullets."

After making her promise, she gave them no chance to speak before continuing, "If my seventh brother becomes the next White Stone City Lord, my status will rise accordingly. At that time, let alone Firearms and Elixirs, it wouldn’t be impossible to build a factory here and help Flame Camp escape the dangers of natural disasters!"

Escape the dangers of natural disasters?

This temptation was simply too great. It struck the soft underbelly of everyone in Flame Camp.

Qian Sanduo was the first to ask, "The person you want, Miss Bai, is it Tang Wen?"

"Correct!"

General Zhao sighed, "Miss Bai, anyone else would be negotiable, but I watched Tang Wen grow up. He’s the recognized number one genius of our camp. If anything were to happen to him, we would be losing our future!"

Commander Qian chimed in, "That’s right! If Commander Tang Wen just practices martial arts steadily for ten years, he’s certain to achieve King-level Combat Power! We can’t agree to this! How about someone else? Qian Dong, what do you think of young Qian Dong? As long as you nod, I’ll send him on his way tonight!"

Qian Dong, who had just heard his name and was about to feel smug, shivered from the cold shock of that last sentence. It scared him half-sober!

General Zhao quickly agreed, vigorously promoting Qian Dong.

Commander Qian and he sang his praises in chorus, praising Qian Dong to the heavens.

But Qian Dong didn’t even dare to lift his head.

Miss Bai felt her temples throb. ’Who said the people in these remote factions were all simple and honest?’

’It’s all rumors!’

’Whoever said that has definitely never dealt with Flame Camp.’

To her, the words of General Zhao and Commander Qian could be summed up in a single sentence:

"You want Tang Wen? You’ll have to pay more!"

Suppressing her irritation, she took out a light blue Jade Token from her robes.

The Jade Token was translucent and clear, without a single impurity, and was engraved with complex symbols.

"This Jade Scroll contains a Spiritual Power Meditation Method. Both Martial Artists and the Extraordinary can practice it. As long as Tang Wen goes, this is the reward, regardless of success or failure!"

The room instantly fell silent. You could hear a pin drop.

It was as if a massive tornado had swept through the minds of the men from Flame Camp.

It blew away all their thoughts of haggling.

A Spiritual Meditation Method, as the name implied, could strengthen one’s Spiritual Power.

It made breakthroughs easier for Martial Artists, and the same was true for the Extraordinary.

"Miss! This...?"

Bai Ying and Bai Xue grabbed Bai You Ruo’s arms, looking like they wanted to dissuade her but didn’t dare.

They seemed to be saying, ’This price is no good, we’re taking a huge loss! We’ll go broke doing business like this!’

"For real?"

"Of course. And upon success, an even higher-level Spiritual Meditation Method will be presented!"

"Only Tang Wen?"

Bai You Ruo didn’t speak, her gaze firm.

Commander Qian and General Zhao were very tempted and looked at General Zhou in unison.

The latter spread his hands helplessly. "But, Miss Bai, Tang Wen is my own niece’s fiancé! I can’t bring myself to send him to such a dangerous place, much less explain it to my poor niece."

Bai You Ruo’s eye twitched. "As far as I know, they’re still just engaged, aren’t they?"

"Engaged, yes, but they’ve been living together for a long time. Their bond is incredibly deep. Ai!"

General Zhou let out a long sigh and closed his eyes, his helplessness plain to see.

’So greedy!’

’These guys are too greedy!’

Bai You Ruo had a mind to stand up and leave, but while leaving was easy, her mission would then be impossible to complete.

The room fell quiet again. After a moment of stalemate, she sighed, "At most, I can add a Breath Concealment Technique..."

The group talked from noon to evening, and from evening into the night.

Finally, the camp sold Tang Wen for a good price.

After Bai You Ruo and her two attendants left, General Zhao realized something was wrong.

"We sold that boy Tang Wen... but I don’t think we told him?"

General Zhou’s smile vanished as he tightly gripped the blue Jade Token on the table.

Qian Sanduo, ever the Trade Team Leader, chuckled and said, "They may have paid a deposit, but if Commander Tang Wen really doesn’t agree, we can just return it."

General Zhou: "Alright. I’ll head back to enter seclusion now."