Chapter 274 - 254: The Deal
"Sect Leader Yuan actually recognizes her?"
Chen Ming noticed the trace of scrutiny in Yu Haitang’s eyes and felt a chill in his heart. She was truly too perceptive. His face showed a hint of just the right amount of surprise, "Miss Yu, could it be that you recognize this Miss Huo?"
"Of course, I recognize her."
Seeing her reaction, the scrutiny in Yu Haitang’s eyes disappeared, and she smiled, "Junior Sister Huo is my husband’s junior sister, so she can also be considered my junior sister. Junior Sister, you don’t seem to be looking well, did something happen?"
Chen Ming said, "Such connections indeed. What a coincidence. While I was on my way here, I saw Miss Huo being interrogated by people from her sect in collaboration with those from the White Feather Sect. In desperation, she was about to draw her sword to commit suicide. I couldn’t stand by, so I rescued her."
"Such a thing happened!"
Yu Haitang was furious, "I think the Xiaoshui Sect must be tired of living to dare treat Junior Sister Huo like this. Luckily, you are unharmed; otherwise, I would make sure that not a single soul from the Xiaoshui Sword Sect is left."
Huo Qianqian quickly said, "Miss Yu, please calm down. Senior has already punished them. After all, they are of the same sect; I hope Miss Yu will not make it difficult for them."
"You are just too kind-hearted, which is why they dare to bully you recklessly. When my husband was around, they held you in high regard. Now that he’s gone, they turn their backs, trampling you into the mud. These fair-weather friends, it would be simpler to just kill them all."
Huo Qianqian was startled when she mentioned killing people with such calmness, knowing she meant what she said. She quickly pleaded, "Please, Miss Yu, on account of Senior Brother Chen, do not harbor a grudge against the Xiaoshui Sect."
As she spoke, she bowed deeply.
Yu Haitang’s eyes flashed with a hint of a mischievous smile, "If you call me Senior Sister-in-law, I’ll agree not to trouble them."
Huo Qianqian was taken aback, her mouth slightly open, but she couldn’t bring herself to say the words ’Senior Sister-in-law.’
"What, even now, you don’t wish to acknowledge me as your Senior Sister-in-law? Fine." Yu Haitang shook her head with a laugh, "Speaking of which, it was my oversight that led to your plight. It’s because of Li Jinchuan, isn’t it, that they forced you?"
Huo Qianqian lowered her head and simply nodded.
Yu Haitang said, "Li Jinchuan is just next door, do you want to see him?"
"What? You rescued Junior Brother Li?"
Huo Qianqian was both surprised and delighted.
She had very few relatives left, and in Jiangzhou City, the only person connected to her was Li Jinchuan. So knowing he was safe, she naturally felt happy.
"He is someone my husband valued. How could I let him be captured by those White Feather Sect people? What, do you think someone as selfish and malicious as me would actually offend a sect to save someone?"
Huo Qianqian felt embarrassed, "Miss Yu, you’re too harsh on yourself. I’ll go see Junior Brother Li."
After speaking, she quickly left as if fleeing.
Chen Ming watched from the side, shaking his head inwardly. Whether in terms of strength or verbal sparring, Huo Qianqian was no match for Yu Haitang.
In the room, only the two of them remained.
Yu Haitang said, "Thank you, Sect Leader Yuan, for saving her."
"It was nothing."
He did not continue on that topic and began to discuss the main matter, "I came so abruptly, actually, I have something to ask."
"Oh?"
Yu Haitang’s eyes playfully fixed on him, teasing, "Oh? Sect Leader Yuan, esteemed as you are as the head of the Golden Jade Hall, with so many talented subordinates, actually seeks help from a woman like me confined to the inner chambers. Isn’t that a bit far-fetched?"
Chen Ming got straight to the point, "You should know clearly what kind of Sect Leader I am, Miss Yu. I won’t play word games with you. I want to ask for your help to kill someone with me."
Yu Haitang laughed, "You don’t mean to make me go with you to kill Sun Chuxian, do you? I’m just a small Third Grade, how could I be his match?"
"It’s not him, it’s someone else. Someone whose strength might even surpass Sun Chuxian."
"Could it be the First Grade expert who chased you and Jiang Family’s Xiaojiu that day?"
"Exactly."
"That’s a First Grade Purple Robe from the Six Gates," Yu Haitang looked at him as if he were a madman.
It’s important to know that the top person in Jiangzhou, Pan Zhiyuan, is a First Grade Purple Robe. This person is of the same rank as Pan Zhiyuan. Even if not a state-level official, he is a high-ranking member of the Six Gates.
Even if the two of them could manage to kill this person, the consequence would be landing on the Six Gates’ wanted list, perhaps even attracting a Super-class Red Robe elder monster.
Seeking death isn’t done like this.
Chen Ming said, "Rest assured, since I dare to kill him, I’m naturally not afraid of the Six Gates’ pursuit. To be honest, he recently made a big mistake on a mission, causing the deaths of four Third Grade Golden Robes. He even tried to kill me to silence me. Soon, he will be dismissed and investigated. Killing him could even earn a reward from Xiazhou."
Yu Haitang, after hearing this, remained noncommittal, lazily saying, "Killing him, what’s in it for me?"
"Whatever Miss Yu desires, as long as I have it, I’ll offer it with both hands."
"What if I want Sect Leader Yuan’s Taiyue Sword?"
"You can have it!"
Chen Ming, without any hesitation, tossed the "Taiyue Sword" over.
Yu Haitang instinctively caught it, her eyes showing a moment of surprise, losing her composure for the first time before him.
Her gaze fell on the "Taiyue Sword" as a cover, saying, "You’re rather generous. Offering an unparalleled divine weapon just like that."
After speaking, she tossed the "Taiyue Sword" back, shaking her head, "What use do I have for an unparalleled divine weapon that’s already recognized its master?"
Generally speaking, an unparalleled divine weapon would only have one master at a time. Unless the master dies, it would not acknowledge anyone else as its master.
To some extent, the primordial spirit of the Unparalleled Divine Weapon and its owner share a symbiotic relationship.
Yu Haitang’s expression became more serious, and she said, "Since you are so sincere, it would be somewhat pretentious of me to refuse again. Forget about the Taiyue Sword; as long as you can help me obtain one thing, I will do this favor for you."
"Alright."
"Won’t you even ask what thing you need to get? Agreeing so readily?"
"Miss Yu can tell me now."
"It’s not something extraordinary, just a piece of yellow soil stolen by Jintai from a reclusive family years ago. It is now hidden under the main hall where Master Yuan lives daily."
"..."
Chen Ming said with a somewhat peculiar tone, "So, I have to return to the Golden Jade Hall once more?"
Yu Haitang nodded, "It’s best to make it quick; if you delay further, I’m afraid Sun Chuxian will return. All you need to do is lift the rosewood board where you usually sit, and you’ll see a keyhole. The Taiyue Sword is the key to the underground passage."
The more Chen Ming listened, the more he felt something was off. Not only did she know Sun Chuxian’s whereabouts, but she also knew exactly where he usually sat.
It turned out she had planted a spy in the Golden Jade Hall, and the level of the spy was undoubtedly high.
Yu Haitang said, "Whenever you hand that item over to me, I will join you in killing that First Grade Purple Robe of the Six Gates."
"Alright, it’s a deal."
"It’s a deal."
...
Before leaving, Chen Ming went next door to tell Huo Qianqian to stay here for the night and to find her the next day.
By the way, he took a look at Li Jinchuan. His injuries were severe but fortunately not fatal. With Doctor Sun treating him, he should not have any lingering problems.
Chen Ming then left with peace of mind.
Upon returning to the Golden Jade Hall, he couldn’t help but feel emotional. He initially thought he would never return here, yet he had to come back after just a few hours.
Before Sun Chuxian returned, he ordered everyone not to approach after entering the hall and closed all the doors and windows tightly.
Only then did he move the wooden board he usually sat on.
Chen Ming discovered that the floor was made of a solid piece of iron, with a circular plug on it. Removing the plug revealed a hole.
He pulled out the "Taiyue Sword," inserted it with the sheath, and it fit perfectly.
With a strong twist, the sound of gears turning was heard. The floor cracked open, the gap widening, soon revealing a pitch-black passage with a staircase winding down out of sight.
Chen Ming descended the stairs, and the further he went down, the denser the earth-elemental power became.
"So, the main hall above is isolating the elemental power of the underground."
He now realized the purpose of the hall.
In reality, the underground was where Jintai trained daily.
"The treasure Tang Yaoyang mentioned probably is the same as what Yu Haitang described."
Chen Ming thought of this and suddenly a thought flashed through his mind: Could Tang Yaoyang be Yu Haitang’s spy in the Golden Jade Hall?
It was a real possibility.
He thought about it and finally reached the bottom. It was an enormous stone chamber, with dozens of Luminous Pearls inlaid on the walls and ceiling, illuminating the entire space.
It looked like it was carved out of a massive rock.
"Where is that piece of yellow soil?"
Chen Ming’s gaze swept across the stone chamber, eventually focusing on the stone platform in the center of the room.
There, the earth-elemental power was most concentrated. Almost comparable to the fire elemental power at the depths of the leyline in the Fire Element Secret Realm.
For someone who practiced the "Profound Earth True Skill," this was a training sanctuary.
"It seems that the yellow soil, like that Golden Flame, is one of the keys guarded by the earth-loving family to unlock the Longevity Mysterious Tomb."
Who knows what experiences Jintai went through to acquire the "Profound Earth True Skill" and this piece of yellow soil.
With Jintai’s death, these past events have faded into the wind.
"Now that the Golden Flame has been mostly consumed, with only a wisp left in my Sea of Qi, who knows if it can still be used as a key."
If the Longevity Mysterious Tomb can never be opened again, it would be considered a good deed, right?
After all, once the Longevity Mysterious Tomb emerges, it won’t be long before the Longevity Sect produces a Demon Venerable who will bring chaos to the world.
Thinking of this, Chen Ming approached the stone platform, which should have been where Jintai trained. The stone’s surface had been smoothed over time.
He reached out to move the stone platform.
If he guessed correctly, the yellow soil should be under this stone platform.
Just as his hand touched the stone platform, a small yellow snake slithered out from beneath and bit his wrist.
Ps: Third update request for votes.