Everyone Was Here

...Regarding the insect-like demands, you can't say they're asking for a share, but there's some Chou Wuyuan to it. He remained silent throughout, his face expressionless; when had he ever been threatened like this? Dongfang Changao asked expressionlessly, "How many people are there in total? Tell me, and I'll try replying to the Cultivation Alliance again."

"Six hundred and thirty-two people. As long as we get the money, we guarantee we'll get there immediately without missing a single one. Don't worry. We mean what we say."

"Alright!" Dongfang Changao readily agreed. The two returned and relayed the Rogue Cultivator's demands again. Although the various sects were furious upon hearing the news, they were glad that they had managed to poach all of Yue Qianchou's subordinates, leaving him all alone.

So they ordered the people in Hundred Flower Valley to raise the money and give it to Dongfang Changao and his companion. The various sects didn't believe these people would take the money and run away, infringing on their interests. Although the six hundred or so early Tribulation stage were powerful, they couldn't withstand the wrath of the entire Huaxia Cultivation World.

Inside the Cultivation Alliance headquarters, Chou Wuyuan, holding Storage Bag, sneered, "Now that the Spirit Stone are ready, let's see what tricks they can pull. Unless they want to oppose the entire Cultivation Alliance!"

Dongfang Changao frowned slightly. Yue Qianchou two days. It was as if this matter had nothing to do with him. Could he really hand these people over so easily?

"Have you noticed that Yue Qianchou is acting a little strange?" Dongfang Changao asked.

Hmm! This kid never does anything that puts him at a disadvantage, which makes me a little Chou Wuyuan.

"There's always something fishy going on if things seem unusual." Dongfang Changao pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Forget it. In this matter, the Cultivation Alliance was in the wrong first. We've done our duty as messengers. Sigh! Let's go again!"

As the two left the headquarters of the Cultivation Alliance, they saw that white banners for summoning souls were hung in front of the shops of various sects, and many people were dressed in mourning clothes. There would be a memorial ceremony tonight, naturally to commemorate the disciples of each sect who had died.

Seeing this, the two felt a little heavy-hearted. Fu Xianwu and Myriad Demon Palace had also lost many disciples. Passing by Hundred Flower Inn, Yue Qianchou was chatting and laughing with Hundred Charm Demoness at the upstairs window, a cup of tea in hand. Seeing the two pass by, he waved a friendly greeting, and the two nodded slightly in return.

She watched the two leave Hundred Flower Valley. The Hundred Charm Demoness turned back and laughed, "Little fox, what mischief are you up to now? Can you tell me a little something?"

Yue Qianchou shook his head innocently and sighed, "I've been living a peaceful life here. How did you come to the conclusion that I'm up to no good? Alas! I offered my heart to the bright moon, but the bright moon shines on the gutter!"

"Oh! I'll wait and see. Hopefully, she won't reveal her true colors one day," the Hundred Charm Demoness chuckled. The Ziyi, standing nearby, sadly realized she seemed somewhat superfluous.

Outside Hundred Flower Valley. Chou Wuyuan frowned and said, "I'm a little curious, how could that woman Hundred Charm Demoness, who has been hiding for so many years, end up with Yue Qianchou?" "You can go ask her and see if you can find out the truth," Dongfang Changao, throwing down a sentence before getting up and flying towards the hiding place of the Rogue Cultivator. Chou Wuyuan glared at him and followed. Since that great battle, the two had become much more harmonious.

It was still that secluded, dimly lit valley. The two looked around at the damp, gloomy environment and were truly amazed at how these people could hide here every day without moving. After a tired-sounding coded signal, the group reappeared. Dongfang Changao tossed the Storage Bag in his hand to the leader of the Rogue Cultivator, saying, "Sixty-three million two hundred thousand high-grade Spirit Stones, not a single one missing. Count them."

After the masked rogue Rogue Cultivator led the way, he nodded and said, "Alright, tomorrow morning, we will gather outside Hundred Flower Valley and immediately head to the shores of the East Sea."

Dongfang Changao and Chou Wuyuan exchanged a glance. Clearly, they hadn't expected the other party to agree so readily. Chou Wuyuan said in a deep voice, "I've given you the Spirit Stone; I hope you'll keep your promise. I don't want any of the 632 people to be short of [a certain number]."

"Elder Qiu, you can rest assured. Tomorrow you will see that all 632 Rogue Cultivator were present outside the Hundred Flower Palace last time will appear outside the Hundred Flower Valley for you to count. I will never break my promise," the masked Rogue Cultivator in charge solemnly assured.

"That's very good, but I hope you all remember this: never do anything like running away with the money. The consequences of that are something Yue Qianchou ca Chou Wuyuan warned.

The meaning is clear: we have already determined that you are Yue Qianchou's people. You ran away, Cultivation Alliance will not only look for you, but will also settle accounts with Yue Qianchou.

He suspected that the most likely thing these people would do was take off their masks and disappear. These were clearly not the original Rogue Cultivator; nobody recognized them, and if they ran away, it would be difficult to settle accounts with them.

"Thank you for Elder Xie's advice. See you tomorrow!" The masked Rogue Cultivator in the lead sneered, waved his hand, and the group disappeared back into the shadows.

That night, the moon shone brightly. The once brightly lit market of Hundred Flower Valley was now closed, and the cleared square was piled high with firewood, flames shooting into the sky. People from various sects sat cross-legged in circles around it. Many held a wooden board, writing the names of their sect's fallen disciples on it, before throwing these boards into the raging fire. This was a unique ritual in the Huaxia Cultivation World.

There were no elaborate ceremonies, no one spoke; it was very quiet, save for the roar of the burning fire and the crackling of burning wood. As wooden plaques bearing names were continuously thrown into the fire, the deceased disciples were finally severed from this world. Tonight, those from various sects present will sit silently all night in mourning.

Hundred Charm Demoness brought up wine and dishes from downstairs, glancing around the room, only to find that Yue Qianchou was no longer there. Only Ziyi was leaning against the window, gazing at the square where the memorial ceremony was being held. Judging from her expression, she seemed somewhat curious about this ceremony of burning offerings in mourning.

"Where did Yue Qianchou go, you girl in Ziyi?" Hundred Charm Demoness asked as she walked over.

The Ziyi raised her hand and pointed to the rooftop opposite, saying, "There." The Hundred Charm Demoness peered out the window and looked in the direction he was pointing. There stood Yue Qianchou, hands behind his back, staring blankly at the bright moon, lost in thought.

"Let's go up too, Hundred Charm Demoness said, glancing at the wine collection on the tray in her hand. Ziyi nodded and darted onto the opposite rooftop first, while Yue Qianchou glanced back slightly at their arrival, somewhat indifferent. He then turned back to look at the blazing plaza. The two didn't disturb him. Hundred Charm Demoness gave Ziyi a wink, handed her the tray, and then turned and darted back into the opposite building. The two women had spent a few days together and had gradually become more understanding of each other.

A moment later, the Hundred Charm Demoness returned, carrying a low table that had been placed on the couch. She bent down and set it up on the roof, then gestured to Ziyi. Ziyi's eyes lit up; she understood. The two quickly took the wine and dishes from the tray and arranged them on the low table.

Hundred Charm Demoness poured a cup of wine, walked to Yue Qianchou's side and laughed, "So engrossed, what wicked scheme are you plotting now?" Ziyi glanced at the two of them, then looked at the big moon above her head, picked up her chopsticks with a hint of delight and started eating, seemingly for the first time eating under the moon.

Yue Qianchou shook his head slightly. He said calmly, "Think about how many people will remember these people after they die. If I, Yue Qianchou, were to become like them one day, how many people would remember me?" As he finished speaking, several old doves flew over the Yue Qianchou moon, leaving behind a few piercing "caw-caw" cries.

In this day and age, the old dove was considered an ominous symbol. Just as Yue Qianchou uttered these words, Hundred Charm Demoness looked up, her expression changed slightly, and she said coquettishly, "What nonsense are you talking about!"

Yue Qianchou smiled faintly, casually took the wine cup from her hand, and brought it to his lips, then paused slightly. Hundred Charm Demoness followed his gaze and saw that the Hundred Flower Fairy Hundred Flower Palace to the square, blocking the gap left by the various factions surrounding it.

"I heard that those six hundred-plus Rogue Cultivator have already received the decree of the Cultivation Alliance and are heading to the East Sea coast tomorrow. If Yan Bugui brings people to forcibly welcome Guan Muxue and her daughter again, who here can stop them?" Hundred Charm Demoness withdrew her gaze, not without worry.

"Don't worry, they suffered a great loss this time and won't be coming back anytime soon. Even if Yan Bugui come, those foreign cultivators wouldn't risk their disciples' lives for his personal desires again. After all, the lessons of the past are still fresh and should be enough to scare them for a while. Yan Bugui would be even less likely to act rashly. "Yue Qianchou smiled confidently, downing his wine in one gulp, exuding an air of self-assurance.

Hundred Charm Demoness stared at him, slightly taken aback, a complex look flashing in her eyes. She took the wine cup from his hand and said, "You seem to have a very clear understanding of everything. I just don't believe you would really give those people to the Cultivation Alliance for nothing?"

Yue Qianchou smiled noncommittally; this woman always seemed to veer towards this topic after only a few sentences. He changed the subject, saying, "Palace Mistress Ye, after the Illusion Demon Palace was defeated, did you also hold a similar memorial ceremony for your fallen disciples?"

Upon hearing this, the Hundred Charm Demoness's expression changed. Her smile vanished, replaced by a dazed look as she gazed at the raging flames engulfing the plaza. She sighed softly, bowed, and placed her wine cup on the low table. She sat cross-legged on the rooftop, took out a plain zither from her Storage Bag, and began to play. The mournful tone of the music was overwhelming.

The sudden sound of a zither attracted the attention of everyone in the square. Upon seeing the three of them, they silently withdrew their gazes and continued to sit quietly. However, the gazes of the Hundred Flower Fairy and her daughter lingered on Yue Qianchou for a moment longer. The woman in Ziyi, biting her chopsticks, glanced at the Hundred Charm Demoness, paused, and then continued eating.

Having escaped the Hundred Charm Demoness's questioning, Yue Qianchou gazed at the swaying white banners in the square. Thinking of his six hundred-plus men who would be departing tomorrow, and wondering what their ultimate fate would be, his spirits sank. But then, remembering the nearly ten thousand troops of Utopia poised for battle, his spirits soared once more.

Listening to the enchanting, mournful zither music of the Hundred Charm Demoness, he suddenly felt a surge of heroic spirit, a desire to defy fate. He turned, picked up the wine pot and cups, poured himself a cup, drank, then poured another. After a moment's hesitation, he gazed at the moon, shook his head, and, channeling his inner energy, True Essence and clearly recited, his voice rising in time with the zither's melody. "Facing the wine, let us sing! How short is life? Like morning dew, the days gone by are many. With a sigh, I express my sorrow, for my worries are hard to forget. What can dispel my sorrow? Only wine. The green of your collar, soothes my heart. For your sake..." He continued, reciting each word clearly in the square. The crowd, somewhat surprised, looked again. The recitation and the mournful zither music, which should have seemed incongruous, surprisingly created a different kind of beauty, a perfect harmony. Absolutely exquisite.

The Hundred Charm Demoness stopped playing in surprise. Staring blankly at him, she found this man increasingly unfathomable. He seemed frivolous at times, yet possessed profound strategic acumen. His ability to play the zither and compose music was already astonishing, but to suddenly create such exquisite lyrics was truly remarkable. He was undeniably a Cultivation World talent. Even outside the cultivation world, someone like him would be famous in the mortal realm...

The woman in Ziyi stuck her chopsticks in her mouth again, staring at him with wide eyes. She realized that she could understand him less and less.

The audience silently savored the poem. "Facing the wine, let us sing, how few are there? Like morning dew, so fleeting. The days gone by are many. Let us be generous and magnanimous, for sorrow is hard to forget. What can dispel sorrow? Only wine. The green of your collar, so dear to my heart. For your sake, I ponder until the very end."

After reflecting on it, looking at Yue Qianchou, one can't help but feel a deep sense of emotion. Literally, it seems to be a lament about life, a longing for someone; it's practically a perfect eulogy.

The Hundred Flower Fairy stared at Yue Qianchou his cup to invite the moon on the rooftop, and nodded slightly. She glanced back at her daughter and, seeing that she was somewhat out of sorts, silently closed her eyes.

The music stopped, Yue Qianchou suddenly realized he had been lost in thought, so he looked up and finished his drink. He then slipped back to Hundred Flower Inn.

The next day, Dongfang Changao and Chou Wuyuan arrived early at the entrance of Hundred Flower Valley to wait. As the sun rose, the masked Rogue Cultivator arrived as promised. They gathered from all directions before the two, and the leader stepped forward, cupping his fists and saying, "We are ready. Please give us your passage tokens."

During this crucial period of war, all factions have dispatched people to constantly patrol and search for suspicious cultivators. Without the Cultivation Alliance's pass token, there could indeed be some trouble, and misunderstandings might even occur.

Dongfang Changao and Chou Wuyuan slightly after checking. They were indeed all cultivators at the early Tribulation stage Realm; no one had been haphazardly assembled.

But the two of them immediately frowned, Chou Wuyuan shouted, "You received 63.2 million high-grade Spirit Stones, so there should be 632 people. Why are there two missing?"

"Elder Qiu, there's no need to rush. We keep our word. Two more people should be arriving soon; just wait a moment," said the masked cultivator in the lead.

Chou Wuyuan had just snorted coldly when he heard someone shout, "They're here, they're here! Oh dear! I almost overslept." The voice sounded so familiar. He turned around and saw Dongfang Changao and his face were both...

Yue Qianchou chuckled and cupped his hands in greeting to the two. Turning back to the group of Rogue Cultivator, he smiled and said, "Is everything ready? I borrowed ten large flying magical Law Artifact from the shops of the Four Great Families, which should be enough to take us there."

Dongfang Changao frowned, Chou Wuyuan said in a deep voice, "Yue Qianchou, what are you doing here again?"

"Huh!" Yue Qianchou turned around and said in surprise, "Ziyi and I are both Rogue Cultivator. Yesterday, we each received 100,000 high-grade Spirit Stones, so naturally we have to go to the East Sea coast to participate in the battle according to the agreement we made with you Rogue Cultivator."

The Hundred Charm Demoness nearby exclaimed in surprise, "Yue Qianchou, are you and Ziyi also going to the East Sea coast? What about me?"

Yue Qianchou chuckled and said, "You're not Rogue Cultivator, and you didn't get any money, so naturally you'll stay here."

He hadn't told her, partly because he was afraid of being exposed, and partly because he wanted to find a reason to dump her. With her around, he couldn't do many things freely. Actually, he hadn't told Ziyi either, but he was sure she wouldn't question his decision.

"You want to dump me and leave me here all alone?" the Hundred Charm Demoness shouted.

Dongfang Changao frowned and said, "Yue Qianchou, the Cultivation Alliance did not issue a decree summoning you. What were you doing there?"

"That's not right! The Cultivation Alliance allocated 63.2 million high-grade Spirit Stones. There were exactly 632 rogue Rogue Cultivator outside the Hundred Flower Palace that time, including myself and Ziyi." Yue Qianchou waved his hand and pointed at the masked Rogue Cultivator, "Although they didn't mention my name, they didn't mention theirs either! But they've already paid me, so isn't this asking me to go too? Do they expect Ziyi and me to wear masked clothes as well? Fine, luckily I have a few extra sets here."

As he spoke, he actually pulled out two sets of masked robes embroidered with the words "Rogue Cultivator" from his Storage Bag, tossed one set to Ziyi, and then put it on in front of everyone. Ziyi glanced at him while holding the robe and followed suit, putting on the masked robe as well.

After they finished dressing, the two immediately stood among the group of Rogue Cultivator. The masked Rogue Cultivator who was leading them stretched out his hand and said, "All 632 Rogue Cultivator have arrived. Please give us your passage tokens, elders, so that we can report back to the Cultivation Alliance as soon as possible."

Ran Fangchangao and Chou Wuyuan glances. It turned out Yue Qianchou had tricked them here. All the sects had assumed Yue Qianchou represented Rogue Cultivator, but they hadn't realized he was Rogue Cultivator himself. In fact, not only the major sects, but the two of them had also overlooked this. Now they were in deep trouble. No one had told them that these Rogue Cultivators would be scattered and assigned to various sects after arriving at the East Sea coast. The plan was to divide them up again upon arrival by assigning tasks. Yue Qianchou had taken them with him; who among the sects could possibly poach them from him? This guy was ready to fight or scold them at any time, especially with so many loyal followers; he wouldn't be afraid of anyone. They were finished; the sects had been swindled out of over 60 million!

"Yue Qianchou, what exactly do you want to do?" Chou Wuyuan, his face ashen.

"What do I want to do?" Yue Qianchou scoffed, pulling off his mask and coldly snorting, "I am naturally following the decree of the Cultivation Alliance to go to the East China Sea coast to participate in the war. What? Did I say something wrong?"

"You!" Chou Wuyuan speak. If they really sent this guy away, the various factions would not only fail to recruit him but also lose a lot of money. They would definitely come after him and Dongfang Changao Chang'ao! (Weakly pleading for monthly votes!)

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