14: Chapter 14 Come in and Talk

The black bone nail still carried the heat from within the Demon Mastiff. Sect Master Di Kun held it between two fingers, and the blood droplets dripping from the nail tip splattered onto the scorched scales.

The Yao Beasts outside the mountain gate were in complete chaos.

Having lost the Split-Back Demon Mastiff to anchor their formation, the low-level Yao Beasts were like creatures whose bones and tendons had been extracted. Some fled toward the valley entrance, while others crashed into the still-burning fire trenches. Their fur ignited, and they rolled down the mountainside, dragging charred trails behind them.

"Do not pursue," Sect Master Di Kun said, handing the bone nail to the Life-Skill Player. "Wrap it up, and don't touch it with your hands."

The Life-Skill Player pulled a piece of clean herbal cloth from his medical kit. Just as he was about to take it, he flinched slightly when the corner of the cloth touched the bone nail. He switched to two layers of cloth and used wooden tongs to hold it, the look of relief from surviving the ordeal instantly tightening on his Face.

"This thing doesn't look like a Yao Beast bone."

"Collect it first," Sect Master Di Kun said. "Collect the corpses as well. Separate the Yao cores, animal tendons, and intact bone spikes. Do not waste the fire oil residue."

The Tower Defense Youth was squatting beside a half-collapsed corridor, using his hands to dig out a crushed old crossbow. Hearing this, he looked up and shouted, "Sect Master, it's blown to pieces like this, but the crossbow arm can still be repaired. There are three and a half rolling logs left, and the stone ropes are all snapped."

"Put it on the account."

"What's the use of putting it on the account?"

Sect Master Di Kun jumped down from the Demon Mastiff's spine, his knees sinking slightly as his feet hit the ground. He used his scabbard to brace against the ground to steady himself. "For collecting debts in the future."

The Tower Defense Youth grinned, causing black soot to fall from his Face. "I like hearing that."

The Sect Protection Elder walked to Sect Master Di Kun's side. Seeing the bloodstain on his chest spreading, he furrowed his brows. "Sect Master, get bandaged first."

"It's not quiet down the mountain yet."

"The leader of the Yao Beast tide is dead. The remaining small beasts cannot form a formation," the Sect Protection Elder said, looking up at the valley entrance. "At least we can catch our breath."

Before he could finish speaking, the sound of rhythmic footsteps came from below the valley path.

It was not the sound of hooves, nor the vibration of Yao Beasts crashing about. It was the sound of Cultivators' boot soles stepping on stone stairs, one step pressing after another, the rhythm uniform. The shouting of the Taichu Sect members was cut off as if by a knife. The laborers moving Yao Beast corpses by the fire trenches stopped, their grappling hooks suspended in mid-air.

Sect Master Di Kun turned around.

In the dust at the valley entrance, five Cultivators wearing red short robes climbed the mountain, snake patterns embroidered on the corners of their robes. The person at the lead held a small flag; the Face of the flag read "Assisting in Suppression." The characters were written neatly, but the base of the flagpole was wrapped with a freshly sharpened scabbard cord.

The Red Snake Sect Deacon walked in the lead.

On his Face were still the bruises from his last defeat, and a plaster was stuck below his right ear, the smell of medicine drifting up mixed with a fishy snake scent. The man twirled a red copper snake ring between his fingers; when calm, the snake ring spun around his fingers, emitting a faint rubbing sound.

When he saw the ground covered in Yao Beast corpses, the snake ring paused for an instant.

His gaze swept over the charred corpse of the Split-Back Demon Mastiff and then over the blood at Sect Master Di Kun's feet. The corners of his lips slowly lifted, and the snake ring began to spin again.

"Sect Master Di Kun, the Red Snake Sect heard that the Black Mist Yao Beast tide was attacking the mountain, so we came specifically to assist." He handed the flag behind him. "It seems we have arrived at just the right time."

The Sect Protection Elder stepped forward, his old iron sword raised just half an inch.

Sect Master Di Kun raised a hand to stop him.

"Just the right time?" Sect Master Di Kun glanced at the Yao Beast corpses at the valley entrance. "The Demon Mastiff is dead, and you have come to clean up?"

The Red Snake Sect Deacon's smile did not fade. "Cleaning up is also Karma. The Taichu Sect has a thin foundation; having barely held on through one battle, someone must handle your mountain gate array artifacts, Disciple medicine and food, and Yao Beast corpse materials for you."

A Cultivator behind him used the tip of his blade to pick up half a Yao Beast bone spike from the ground and clicked his tongue. "This Demon Mastiff was of decent quality; the bone spike could be refined into a weapon. It's a pity it's burnt."

The Chuunibyou Youth was hugging half a wooden sword and looked about to speak, but the Tower Defense Youth covered his mouth and dragged him back. The Dark Souls Youth was leaning against a broken wall, his eyes still unfocused; upon hearing the words 'Red Snake Sect,' his fingers slowly fumbled toward his broken wooden sword, only to grasp at empty air.

Sect Master Di Kun returned his old sword to its scabbard, his movements a beat slower. The blood cloth on his chest was tugged, and the blood seeping out became brighter.

The Red Snake Sect Deacon's gaze fell upon the blood cloth, and the snake ring spun even faster.

"Sect Master Di Kun, the Red Snake Sect is not unreasonable." He took two steps forward, his boot soles stepping through Yao Beast blood, leaving red-black footprints. "Hand over the sect leader token, hand over the Spirit Field land deeds, and our sect will take over the mountain gate and the Yao Beast corpses. Your new Disciples have strange Aptitudes, so I will take them back to register. The Red Snake Sect can leave you a position as an Outer Courtyard retainer."

The Sect Protection Elder was so angry his beard trembled. "You—!"

"Elder," Sect Master Di Kun interrupted him.

The curse was stuck in the Sect Protection Elder's teeth, the veins on the back of his hands bulging.

Sect Master Di Kun looked at the Red Snake Sect Deacon and tapped his fingertips on his scabbard twice. "It is chaotic outside the mountain gate; talking while standing is not proper etiquette. Come in and talk."

The five members of the Red Snake Sect paused slightly.

The Tower Defense Youth was also stunned for a moment. He looked at Sect Master Di Kun, then followed the corner of Sect Master Di Kun's eye toward the inner side of the Outer Courtyard—the narrow corridor, old side rooms, side courtyard door frame, and half-collapsed water channel that the Yao Beast tide hadn't reached yet—and the corners of his mouth under the black soot slowly pressed down.

The Speedrun Youth was already gone.

Sect Master Di Kun did not look in the direction he had disappeared, only pressing his hand against the wound cloth on his chest, blood staining between his fingers. He turned his head to the Life-Skill Player and said, "Bandage it. Do not let the guests think the Taichu Sect has no one to host them."

The Life-Skill Player stepped forward carrying the medical kit and skillfully cut open the blood cloth. When the wound was exposed, one Red Snake Sect Cultivator raised an eyebrow, and another straightened his sword hilt, revealing a hint of relaxation.

The Red Snake Sect Deacon took in all these reactions. He did not enter the gate immediately; first, he raised his hand and gestured to the Cultivators behind him.

Two Cultivators separated and walked along both sides of the mountain gate, their blade tips pushing aside charred wood, oil jars, and broken ropes, checking for traces of the remaining array. Another person stood by the Deacon's side, a tiny talisman needle sliding out of his sleeve, the needle tip swaying lightly toward the Inner Courtyard.

The talisman needle did not light up.

Only then did the Red Snake Sect Deacon smile. "Sect Master Di Kun is thoughtful; the Red Snake Sect will naturally give you this Face."

He stepped across the mountain gate.

When the five entered, the Taichu Sect Disciples automatically made way. The Chuunibyou Youth hunched his shoulders and led the laborers toward the backyard, muttering, "Retreat, Mortals, retreat! Do not let the evil snakes defile this seat's array eye."

A laborer asked in a low voice, "Does this count as fleeing?"

The Chuunibyou Youth lowered his voice. "This is called battlefield clearing. Be professional."

The ground of the Outer Courtyard was full of cracks, with broken tiles, snapped beams, and Yao Beast corpses piled on both sides. The Red Snake Sect Cultivators looked around as they walked, their eyes lingering on beast cores, bone spikes, and crossbow remnants. Someone kicked a wolf Yao Beast corpse; the wolf Yao Beast's belly had been blown open by fire oil, and the semi-molten Yao core inside revealed a faint dark red light.

"Good luck," that Cultivator said in a low voice. "Dragging this pile of stuff back will be enough to trade for a batch of Spirit Stones."

Sect Master Di Kun sat on the crack-riddled sect leader throne in the Outer Courtyard.

The sect leader throne was originally placed in the main hall, but now the main hall was half-collapsed, and the chair had been moved under the corridor. The back of the chair had two cracks, and there were Yao Beast claw marks on the armrests. When Sect Master Di Kun sat down, the wooden chair let out an unbearable creaking sound, and the newly bandaged herbal cloth on his chest was still seeping blood.

The Red Snake Sect Deacon stood three steps away, not sitting. His snake ring spun between his fingers, the sound exceptionally clear in the ruined courtyard.

"Sect Master Di Kun, you are a smart person," he said. "After the Yao Beast tide, the Taichu Sect cannot hold the mountain. The Red Snake Sect taking over is not a bad thing for you or these Disciples."

Sect Master Di Kun leaned against the back of the chair and tapped his fingertips on the armrest. "Only the five of you came?"

The snake ring paused.

The Red Snake Sect Deacon stared at him. "Are five not enough?"

Sect Master Di Kun's gaze swept over the communication talisman on the other's waist, then fell back to his Face. "The Red Snake Sect never takes only one path when doing things. Are there people down the mountain?"

A Red Snake Sect Cultivator stepped forward half a step. "Why ask so much? Hand over the token!"

The Red Snake Sect Deacon raised his hand to stop him, and that snake ring began to spin again.

"Sect Master Di Kun is heavily injured, yet his mind is still clear," he laughed. "We left reinforcements down the mountain to prevent the Yao Beasts from counter-attacking. Rest assured, once the sect leader token is in hand, they will come up to help you count."

Sect Master Di Kun tapped the armrest.

From behind the courtyard wall came the extremely faint sound of a wooden bolt latching, like the wind blowing an old door.

The Red Snake Sect Deacon's eyes shifted.

Sect Master Di Kun lifted his eyes. "The sect leader token cannot be handed over."

The temperature in the courtyard plummeted.

The smile on the Red Snake Sect Deacon's Face slowly faded, and the snake ring stopped spinning, clenched into his palm. The edge of the red copper pressed into his flesh, leaving a circle of red marks.

"Di Kun." For the first time, he addressed him by name. "Do you think that by killing one injured Yao Beast, you can negotiate terms with the Red Snake Sect?"

Sect Master Di Kun did not reply.

The Red Snake Sect Deacon drew his blade.

As the blade left the scabbard, it brought out a streak of red light. The Yao Beast blood on the ground was swept up by the blade wind, splashing in front of the crack-riddled sect leader throne. The five Red Snake Sect Cultivators dispersed simultaneously, blocking the corridor entrance, side door, and the path to the backyard.

"Today, the Taichu Sect must change masters." The Deacon raised his blade, the tip pointing at Sect Master Di Kun's chest. "If you do not hand it over, I will take it myself."

Sect Master Di Kun retreated half a step, the legs of the chair dragging across the ground with a harsh sound. The corners of his mouth curved slightly.

"Since you have come in, don't think about going back down the mountain."

Veins bulged on the back of the Red Snake Sect Deacon's hand, and the red blade tore through the air, slashing toward the sect leader throne. The first wooden beam in the shadows under the corridor vibrated gently in response.