Ya Fei was highly efficient. As soon as she had finished writing the letters, she sent servants to deliver them. That afternoon, both the Misty Cloud Sect and the Jia Ma Imperial Family received the invitations Zhang Nian had sent.
Looking at the plain letter in his hand, Yun Shan wore a conflicted expression. He was glad the other party had taken the initiative to invite him into the sect for a talk, but worried that this trip might be more perilous than not. Who could predict the temper of a Dou Sheng Expert? To put it bluntly, if the other party really decided to attack, there would be nowhere to run...
"Sect Master, what's wrong?"
Yun Yun had just finished her training and happened to arrive in the sitting room, where she saw Yun Shan looking troubled. She couldn't help asking.
"Take a look." Without saying more, he set the letter on the table. Yun Yun glanced at it, quickly grasping its general meaning. She also understood why Yun Shan was so troubled, and then said, "Sect Master, I don't think you need to worry at all. From what I've seen, this Dou Sheng expert may act as he pleases, but he values rules. When he took the sect from you, he gave you something in exchange. He doesn't seem like a truly wicked person. Besides, if he really wanted to attack us over the Snake-People Tribe, we'd have been reduced to dust long ago. After all, he's a Dou Sheng expert."
Yun Yun's words put Yun Shan somewhat at ease, but they also made him all the more determined to send her into the sect. If Yun Yun could obtain some unparalleled opportunity and share a portion of it with him, then forget Dou Zong—even Dou Zun might be within his reach.
Thinking of this, he looked at his former beloved disciple with a gaze that gradually softened. "I've made you suffer. Your master wasn't capable enough. From now on, both the vast Misty Cloud Sect and I will have to rely on you..."
If Zhang Nian had been there, he would definitely have mocked the old man. Wasn't this just workplace manipulation, Dou Qi Continent style? He dressed it up in grand words, but what he really meant was that he was selling his disciple's charms to secure an opportunity for himself.
At the same time, in Jia Ma Imperial City.
"Ugh..." Jia Xingtian was in much the same position. Faced with Zhang Nian's sudden invitation, he had no idea what to do. Yao Ye was still training at the border of the Jia Ma Empire, and he had already sent someone to hurry her along, but the round trip would take at least a month. Thinking it over, when the Snake-People first appeared, he should have discussed the matter with Yao Qi, the current head of the Imperial Family. Now, it seemed the problem had come knocking at their door.
With that thought, Jia Xingtian quickened his pace. Before long, he arrived at a side hall. A middle-aged man in a black robe was looking over letters sent from various cities. When he saw Jia Xingtian enter, he immediately stood and bowed respectfully. "What brings you here? Has there been any news from Misty Cloud Mountain?"
"You'll have to put that matter concerning the Snake-People Tribe on the agenda as soon as possible." As he spoke, Jia Xingtian tossed the letter from Misty Cloud Mountain onto the table. He had never understood what those so-called civil officials were good for. Was it really so difficult to assign a city to the Snake-People Tribe? Did they have to wait until the slap landed before they would do anything?
"This..." Yao Qi skimmed the letter. Its meaning was perfectly clear: it invited Jia Lao to Misty Cloud Mountain the following day for a meeting, and made no mention of anything else. He wondered if Jia Xingtian was being a little too sensitive. "Jia Lao, why don't you go tomorrow and sound them out first? You know that although I'm in charge, assigning an entire city is a major matter that requires discussion with several parties. Besides, it would affect certain people's interests..."
Jia Xingtian shot a glance at Yao Qi's troubled expression and felt speechless. He stopped trying to reason with him and retorted bluntly, "You only realize it hurts when the stick lands on you. I'll go this time, but the Empire has been dragging its feet on this matter. Don't wait until they resort to force. A Dou Sheng Expert can shake the heavens and earth with a wave of his hand. Surely you've seen the strange celestial phenomena these past few days. Don't tell me you think he has no temper?"
"Then what do you think..."
"Don't ask me. You're the one who thought it was nothing, weren't you? But I'll tell you this: do you think the Misty Cloud Sect didn't receive an invitation too?" With that, Jia Lao turned and left. He didn't expect any danger on this trip to the sect, but he needed to sound them out about Yao Ye—and bring some gifts while he was at it.
Jia Lao silently weighed his options. Two hours later, a servant who had received a reply returned to the sect and explained the situation to Ya Fei. Ya Fei then went to where Zhang Nian was resting.
"Knock, knock."
The knock sounded dully through the room. A voice came from inside. "Come in."
"Creak~"
It was Ya Fei. She took a few graceful steps toward Zhang Nian. As a waft of fragrance drifted past, her skirt lifted slightly with her movements, revealing the pale, slender calves beneath. Zhang Nian couldn't help feeling distracted. Her alluring voice sounded by his ear.
"Lord Saint, the Misty Cloud Sect and the Jia Ma Imperial Family have both agreed to come tomorrow as scheduled. Is there anything you'd like me to arrange in advance?"
"No need. By the way, what's that girl Zi Yan doing? Call her over." Zhang Nian waved a hand. The Jia Ma Imperial Family wasn't worth treating with great ceremony. A powerful person ought to have some presence, right? If he asked them to do something, that was their privilege. Besides, although his Dou Sheng Experience Card had expired, he was already the strongest person in this region, and he would only grow stronger over the next few days. There was no need to show them any consideration.
"Yes..." Ya Fei nodded in acknowledgment. Zhang Nian's reaction was about what she had expected. She was just about to turn around when she heard his voice behind her. She froze, her heart suddenly filled with dread.
Oh no, oh no...
Was this guy finally going to make a move on her?
She wasn't ready yet!
Wait...
Someone else would be here to take her place tomorrow. Couldn't he wait just one more day? You scumbag! You lecher!
A thousand furious thoughts raced through her mind, but they did her no good. Ya Fei kept her expression calm, raised an arm, and closed the door. Then, as if resigned to her fate, she said, "What is it you want to tell me?"
Hmm?
What was with that tone?
Why did she sound like he owed her money? What was wrong with this woman today?
In fact, Zhang Nian wanted to see what kind of reward he would unlock if he took Ya Fei as his disciple. That dog of a system only gave him a prompt when he had the intention of accepting someone as a disciple.
"You've done fairly well lately, and you've been steady in every respect. Your cultivation aptitude isn't very good, but there may still be a way to help you. I'm thinking of taking you as my disciple. Are you willing..."
As Zhang Nian finished speaking, the system's pleasant, familiar notification rang in his ear.
[ Ding! The host intends to take Ya Fei as a disciple. Triggering in progress... Displaying attribute panel...]
[Name: Ya Fei]
[Age: 17]
[Strength: 5th Stage of Dou Qi]
[Disciple-Acceptance Reward: Intelligence and Assassination Organization 'Ye You' (comes with ten Nine-Star Dou Zong experts skilled in assassination and intelligence gathering)] ```
"Ugh..."
Just as he'd guessed, this Ya Fei really was...
No, he absolutely had to take her in!
Experts skilled in intelligence gathering and assassination were rare, and these were Nine-Star Dou Zong experts at that! With a little training, he could have ten Dou Zun experts!
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