160: Chapter 159 Taking Money to Do Things

The man fell silent.

He remained suspended in mid-air, staring at Xiao Wangzhou for a long time.

Xiao Wangzhou's back was drenched in sweat; his robes were soaked through and clung to him uncomfortably. He didn't dare wipe it, didn't dare move, and didn't even dare breathe too loudly. He knew the temperament of such people. After staying in a place like Wanze True Mansion for a long time, they saw everyone as ants and everywhere else as the countryside. A small, humble Sect like the Tianshui Sect didn't even count for a fart in their eyes. The fact that he was willing to come was giving Face to Wanze True Mansion. Now that he had arrived and the matter was finished, for you to say it wasn't enough when he was ready to leave—wasn't that a slap in the Face?

“Where is that Yao Beast?” the man finally spoke, his tone very impatient. “Speak quickly.”

He looked around, his gaze sweeping over the Tianshui Sect's low-lying halls, dilapidated Alchemy Rooms, and sparse spirit fields. His lips curled downward, making no effort to hide his disdain. He wanted to resolve this quickly and head back. This impoverished backwater didn't even have any benefits to offer.

Xiao Wangzhou understood. Benefits. This man didn't want Face; he wanted substance.

He gritted his teeth and pulled a Storage Pouch from his sleeve, offering it up with both hands. “Senior has come from afar, and this Junior has prepared a small gift as a token of respect. Please rest for the night, Senior; it won't be too late to seek out that beast tomorrow.”

The man took the Storage Pouch and weighed it in his hand.

His Divine Sense swept inside. One hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones.

His hand paused, and he weighed it again to confirm he hadn't miscounted. One hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones was equivalent to one million Low-Grade Spirit Stones. His mouth twitched slightly, and though he quickly composed himself, his gaze clearly softened. “Fine,” he said, tucking the Storage Pouch into his sleeve. “I'll rest for one night. We'll talk tomorrow.”

Xiao Wangzhou's heart was bleeding. One million. This was the result of pooling every Spirit Stone in the treasury and selling off several heirloom Magical Artifacts. The Tianshui Sect's centuries of savings were emptied in a single day. But he didn't dare not give it. If he didn't, this lord would turn around and leave. With no one to handle that beast, he wouldn't even be able to sleep peacefully. Giving it up at least bought a few days of stability. It was worth it.

The man stayed.

He stayed in the best guest room, drank the finest wine, and ate the best food.

The Disciples of the Tianshui Sect served him with extreme caution, not even daring to speak loudly.

Xiao Wangzhou accompanied him through the night, a smile constantly plastered on his Face until his facial muscles grew stiff.

There was no other way; he himself was not skilled in combat. Despite having his cultivation, when one needed to beg for help, one had to have the attitude of a beggar.

The man, however, was not polite at all. He ate and drank as he pleased, and once satisfied, he went to sleep, not waking up until the sun was high in the sky.

After getting up, he didn't mention the Yao Beast. Instead, he took a stroll around the Sect, looking here and there with disdain before slowly walking toward the exit.

Xiao Wangzhou saw him to the gate, and the man waved his hand. “Alright, no need to see me off. Leave that beast to me.” Having said that, he transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into the horizon.

Xiao Wangzhou stood at the gate, watching the light fade into the distance, and let out a long sigh.

He knew that from now on, the Tianshui Sect would have to tighten its belt for several years. But at least he was still alive. The Sect still remained.

The man flew very fast.

His escape light cut across the sea's surface at a speed so great that even sea birds could not keep up.

As he flew, he felt the Storage Pouch in his sleeve and weighed it again, feeling quite good. One hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones. He truly hadn't expected a small place like the Tianshui Sect to have so much to offer. Had he known, he should have asked for more. But never mind, there would be another chance next time.

He flew in the direction Xiao Wangzhou had indicated for about half an hour until he reached a remote stretch of sea.

This was already very far from the Tianshui Sect, surrounded by nothing but deserted islands and reefs, with not even a fishing boat in sight.

He stopped, suspended in mid-air, and spread out his Divine Sense, taking in everything on the sea's surface for a hundred miles around.

There was nothing.

No aura of a Yao Beast, no signs of combat, no abnormalities whatsoever.

The sea surface was clean, the water clear and calm; he couldn't even see a large fish.

He flew another circuit.

Still nothing.

He frowned. Xiao Wangzhou wouldn't dare lie to him. Those two Elders had indeed died in this area, and Xiao Wangzhou's people had indeed found the bodies nearby.

But where was the Yao Beast? Had it fled? Or had it been killed?

He thought about it and felt both were possible.

If that Yao Beast really had a Golden Core Stage cultivation, its intelligence wouldn't be low. It would be normal for it to flee after killing someone.

As for it being killed—the person capable of killing a Golden Core Yao Beast in this stretch of sea hadn't even been born yet.

He flew one more circuit, yet still found nothing.

Just as he was preparing to leave, he suddenly spotted a few black dots in the distance.

They were a few islands, not large, scattered across the sea.

On the largest one, he could vaguely see houses and cooking smoke.

There were Mortals.

His eyes lit up. These Mortals made their living from the sea all day; perhaps they had seen something. Asking them would be better than searching blindly.

He changed direction and flew toward those islands.

He was already calculating that after asking his questions, he would leave and return to Wanze True Mansion to report. As for where that beast actually was, what did it matter to him? In any case, the Tianshui Sect's problem was already "resolved." He had come, the Yao Beast was "killed," and the Spirit Stones were taken. Perfect.

The islands grew closer.

He saw the sandy beach, the coconut groves, and the massive banyan tree at the village entrance.

He also saw the cooking smoke, the fishing boats, and the children playing on the beach. It was an ordinary fishing village, no different from the other islands he had seen along the way.

He was about to fly over when he suddenly stopped.

He didn't stop of his own volition.

Someone was blocking his path.

That person descended from the sky and landed right in front of him, less than thirty feet away.

He wore moon-white robes, his long hair was tied up, and he had a youthful Face that made it impossible to tell his age.

There was no Spiritual Pressure, no killing intent, nothing at all. He just hung there, quietly looking at him.

The Golden Core Deacon of Wanze True Mansion's pupils constricted slightly.

He had just swept this sea area with his Divine Sense and found nothing. When did this person arrive? Where did he come from? How had he not noticed him at all?

He instinctively took a half-step back.

Yun Ming spoke, his voice very calm. “Fellow Daoist, please return. There is nothing here.”

Qian Jin hung in mid-air, looking at this young man who had suddenly appeared, his brow furrowing slightly.

He had indeed found nothing when he swept the area with his Divine Sense earlier.

But where had this person popped out from? How had he not sensed him at all? He felt a bit uneasy, but he didn't let it show. Having served in Wanze True Mansion for so many years, what kind of scenes hadn't he witnessed? Could an Early Golden Core Stage Cultivator really turn the heavens upside down?

“Nothing here?” Qian Jin sneered. “Fellow Daoist's words aren't very clever. I have come by order of Wanze True Mansion to investigate the matter of a Golden Core Yao Beast. You tell me to go back and I just go back? Who do you think you are?”

He revealed the medallion at his waist, the insignia of Wanze True Mansion glinting coldly under the moonlight. “Wanze True Mansion Deacon, Qian Jin. I am acting on orders. If Fellow Daoist insists on obstructing me, you will be making an enemy of Wanze True Mansion. Think carefully before you speak.”

Yun Ming sighed.

He could tell that this man wasn't just trying to intimidate him; he truly believed that with Wanze True Mansion backing him, he could walk over anyone in this sea area.

Perhaps he really could.

The name of Wanze True Mansion was more effective than anything else in these waters.

But that was for others.

It didn't work on him.

“Fine.” Yun Ming nodded. “You may investigate. I will stay by your side. This archipelago is my territory, and Mortals live here. I do not wish for them to be disturbed.”

Qian Jin was stunned for a moment, then he laughed.

That smile carried a bit of surprise, a bit of amusement, and a bit of something unidentifiable. A Golden Core True Person caring about the lives of Mortals? And calling it "his territory"? This archipelago was so poor that the Spiritual Qi was as thin as if it didn't exist; what could possibly be worth a Golden Core True Person guarding it? His mind whirled through several possibilities, and the more he thought, the more suspicious he became. This person was definitely hiding something. Perhaps he had already killed the Golden Core Yao Beast and taken its Golden Core. Perhaps there was something good on this island that he had discovered. Perhaps— He glanced at Yun Ming and made up his mind to agree for now and see after the investigation.

“Fine,” Qian Jin nodded, his tone slightly more polite than before, but it was a very perfunctory politeness. “Since Fellow Daoist puts it that way, I won't be formal. I'll leave as soon as I'm done investigating and won't disturb your peace.”

Yun Ming said nothing more.

He stepped aside and followed behind Qian Jin, neither too far nor too close, maintaining a distance of about thirty feet.

Qian Jin flew ahead, his Divine Sense spread out, scanning the islands inch by inch.

First were the outer reef islands, barren and empty. Further in was a small island covered in shrubs, a deserted fishing village, half-collapsed houses, and yards overgrown with weeds—nothing. Then he reached the largest island. Qian Jin flew very slowly, his Divine Sense scanning from one end of the island to the other, then back again.

Beach, coconut groves, banyan tree, houses, fishing boats, nets, vegetable plots, chicken coops, pigsties. He scanned once—nothing. Scanned twice—still nothing. Scanned three times—he even counted the chickens, ducks, geese, and dogs on the island, and found nothing.

No Spirit Stone mines, no Spiritual Veins, no Spirit Medicine, no Yao Beasts, nothing worth a Golden Core True Person guarding.

Poor.

Dirt poor.

He even scanned the belongings of the Mortals—a few old men cooling off under a tree, several women weaving nets in a courtyard, and some children picking up shells on the beach. They wore coarse cloth clothes, lived in thatched huts, and ate salted fish and coconuts. They were as poor as could be.

Qian Jin's brow furrowed even tighter.

Refusing to give up, he flew another circuit, this time lower, his Divine Sense probing deeper, not even missing the cracks in the island's rocks.

Still nothing.

He looked back at Yun Ming; Yun Ming followed behind him, expressionless and quiet, showing no flaws whatsoever.

Qian Jin withdrew his gaze.

He felt something was wrong, but he couldn't say what. He had traveled these waters for so many years; what strange things hadn't he seen? He had seen too many "nothing to see here" scenes.

The more you say nothing is wrong, the more likely something is.

The more you say don't investigate, the more it needs investigating.

But the problem was, he had checked, and he had found nothing.

This was awkward.

He flew another circuit. Still nothing.

He hung in mid-air, silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Has Fellow Daoist ever seen a Golden Core Stage sea demon? A crab type, covered in a shell, quite large. Also, two Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators from the Tianshui Sect died near here. Has Fellow Daoist seen them?”

Yun Ming thought for a moment and said, “I have.”

Qian Jin's eyes lit up. “Where?”

Yun Ming pointed into the distance. “That way. They went that way. They didn't come to my place.”

Qian Jin looked in the direction he pointed.

That way was exactly the direction where the Tianshui Sect had found the two bodies.

His brow relaxed slightly, then furrowed again.

He couldn't say if he believed it, but the answer at least made sense.

The Yao Beast had killed the people and fled into the distance.

And it hadn't come here.

Because there was nothing here.

It was logical.

Qian Jin stared at Yun Ming for a good while; Yun Ming just stood there, letting him look, calm and patient, with no expression on his Face.

“Fine,” Qian Jin finally said. “I've noted Fellow Daoist's words. Farewell.”

He turned and transformed into a streak of light, flying off toward Wanze True Mansion.

Yun Ming watched the light disappear into the horizon, then turned and returned to Wanghai Peak.