Scheming (Part 1)

Chapter 37: Schemes (Part 1)

Midnight.

Ning Ye arrived at the meeting spot and saw that Wang Sen was already there.

Wang Sen sounded somewhat impatient: "What do you want with me?"

Ning Ye said: "I still owe you a life, so I wanted to ask if you have any need for a killing recently."

Hearing this, Wang Sen chuckled: "I've seen plenty of people dodging debts, but this is the first time I've seen someone rushing to pay one back."

Ning Ye went straight to the point: "Just tell me if you have a target or not."

Wang Sen thought for a moment and replied: "There is one, though I'm not in such a rush right now."

"Who?"

"My senior brother, Li Baidao."

"What is his cultivation level?"

"He is my master's eldest disciple, having just reached the mid-stage of the Hualun Realm. He practices my master's Soul-Severing Demon Blade and is the disciple my master values most. If he doesn't die, it will be hard for me to get ahead."

"But he has other disciples."

"Doesn't matter. He is the only rival I have right now."

Ning Ye shook his head: "That doesn't align with our agreement."

The original agreement was to help Wang Sen eliminate rivals within the Cang Xiang Realm, not the Hualun Realm, especially not the mid-stage.

There was no qualitative difference between the early and mid-stages of the Hualun Realm, but there was a quantitative one. Even if he had only just reached the mid-stage, it was not something Ning Ye could hope to contend with—his current strength, combined with Tianji, could at most handle someone at the early Hualun stage.

"You were the one who insisted on paying back the debt," Wang Sen sneered.

Looking at the expression in Wang Sen's eyes, Ning Ye suddenly realized that this was likely a deliberate move by Wang Sen.

He was testing his strength.

Realizing this, Ning Ye said: "Wait for me."

Ning Ye vanished as he spoke.

A moment later, he reappeared and said: "I can help you eliminate him, but you must provide compensation."

As he spoke, he tossed out a piece of paper. Written on it were various special resources, some for assisting cultivation and others being lethal poisons.

These resources were quite valuable to a disciple in the Cang Xiang Realm, but to the Wood Puppet Sect, they were truly nothing. Wang Sen could even satisfy the request out of his own pocket, which showed that Ning Ye's demands were not excessive.

What truly shocked him was that Ning Ye had actually agreed!

In other words, this person really did have someone backing him? Perhaps not at the level of a peak Wanfa Realm expert, but at least someone capable of dealing with the Hualun Realm?

The immortal sects always held a deep-seated belief that the strong were kings. Even in the realm of espionage, they believed that only the strong could obtain the most valuable information.

Ning Ye's performance finally made Wang Sen take him seriously.

The resources were a trivial matter, so he agreed immediately: "Fine."

"Give me his information."

Li Baidao was the chief disciple of Chang Duanhun.

He was called "Hundred-Blade" because he enjoyed torturing his victims; if an opponent died in fewer than a hundred cuts, it was a failure in his eyes.

When not cultivating, Li Baidao liked to seek pleasure at the Qianxiu Pavilion in Chess Player City.

Qianxiu Pavilion was one of the largest brothels in Chess Player City. True to its name, it housed a thousand beautiful women, with every shape and size available for one's choosing.

Since it was a brothel, it naturally had its top stars.

Every year, the Qianxiu Pavilion would select three to five "Flower Queens." The reason for this specific number was that Flower Queens were often taken by emperors; since immortals were the emperors of the mortal world, those with a penchant for beauty would often pay the ransom to take a Flower Queen away.

Li Baidao was clever. He knew he couldn't compete with those powerful experts and high-ranking immortal masters, so he didn't target the Flower Queens, but rather the candidates for the title.

Sometimes, when emboldened by drink, he would boast that he had slept with such-and-such Flower Queen, claiming that he was a brother-in-law to some great immortal, some mountain hermit, some venerable master, or some lord or demon.

However, once sober, he would kill everyone who had heard those words.

As time passed, no one dared to go near Li Baidao when he was drinking.

The candidate Flower Queen Li Baidao had his eye on recently was named Ding Xiaoxiang, a delicate and charming girl who evoked a sense of pity.

Li Baidao liked girls of the delicate type because it stoked his protective instincts and made him feel powerful and formidable—he enjoyed the look of admiration in their eyes when he bragged about his exploits, even though he knew that look was nine times out of ten just an act.

But what did that matter? As long as he was happy.

So, when Ning Ye stepped into the Qianxiu Pavilion and specifically requested Ding Xiaoxiang, the madam was in a difficult position. According to Li Baidao's habits, he would arrive in about half an hour.

Ning Ye gave the madam a reassurance: "Don't worry, half an hour is already too long. I won't need that much time."

There were many people who bragged about their prowess, but it was rare to meet someone so modest.

For the sake of the money, the madam agreed: "Do not delay! That great person has a rather bad temper."

Ning Ye smiled: "My temper, however, is excellent."

Ding Xiaoxiang watched Ning Ye with great interest.

Having spent a long time in the brothel, she had seen all kinds of people.

There were those impatient ones who would jump straight to... others who feigned refinement to sit and chat, those who showed off by reciting poetry, and even those who drank too much and fell asleep without doing anything at all.

However, someone like Ning Ye—who showed no interest in beautiful women, no interest in conversation, no interest in song and dance, and simply buried his head in his drink while staring blankly—was a rare sight indeed.

Ding Xiaoxiang couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle: "Young Master, could it be that you have no peace at home, and thus came here seeking it?"

Ning Ye laughed: "Indeed. Upon seeing you, my once troubled heart has calmed down. I feel refreshed and serene, to the point where I wish I could take you home to look at day and night."

Ding Xiaoxiang pouted adorably: "Young Master, your words lack sincerity."

Ning Ye sat down: "Oh? Why do you say that?"

Ding Xiaoxiang pointed at his face: "Young Master, you won't even show your true face, so how can you speak of sincerity?"

Ning Ye was wearing a mask, a very ordinary one that could fool a money-grubbing madam, but not this young girl who had seen countless men.

Ning Ye touched the mask on his face and smiled: "I am too ugly; I fear I might frighten you."

Ding Xiaoxiang replied: "In our line of work, there is no reason to dislike a guest for being ugly. Besides, looking at your elegant demeanor, you don't seem like an ugly man."

Ning Ye chuckled and shook his head, raising his cup: "I toast you, miss."

Seeing that he was adamant about not removing his mask, Ding Xiaoxiang didn't press the matter and drank with him.

The two of them went back and forth, cup after cup, until the madam knocked on the door. Only then did Ning Ye stand up: "Thank you for your hospitality, miss. I have an item here to gift you."

As he spoke, he picked up a packet of powder and handed it over.

"This is..." Ding Xiaoxiang was slightly surprised.

Ning Ye smiled without answering and had already departed.

A moment later, Li Baidao entered.

By this time, Ding Xiaoxiang had tidied everything up and was waiting for Li Baidao.

Li Baidao looked around and frowned: "Someone was in this room not long ago. Didn't I instruct you to avoid taking other guests on the days I visit?"

Ding Xiaoxiang's little face drooped: "The guest was generous, and the madam couldn't bear to turn away the money. What could I do? But rest assured, Master Li, that guest only sat and talked with me; he didn't touch me."

Hearing this, Li Baidao began to inspect the room.

He was a cautious man, knowing he had committed many murders and had many enemies. He had to be especially vigilant in places he frequented often.

After checking around and finding no traps or mechanisms, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Ding Xiaoxiang said aggrievedly: "Are you at ease now, Master?"

Li Baidao smiled: "It is lonely at the top; one must be careful."

Ding Xiaoxiang cursed him inwardly—What 'lonely at the top'? You don't deserve to say such things—but on the surface, she continued to cater to his whims.

Just then, Li Baidao spotted something and picked it up, asking: "What is this?"

"It was left behind by the previous guest. He said it was a gift for me. Is there a problem?" Ding Xiaoxiang felt a bit nervous.

Li Baidao carefully opened it to look, his tense mood relaxing: "Heh, so it's Bliss Powder. This is good stuff. It's rare that the man was so generous as to give you such a large packet."

"Bliss Powder?" Ding Xiaoxiang had heard of the reputation of Bliss Powder. It was said that those who used it felt as if they were in paradise, experiencing immense pleasure. If used during intimacy, it was even more effective.

After inspecting the Bliss Powder and confirming it was non-toxic, Li Baidao said happily: "Since we have this, there is no need for us to be reserved."

As he spoke, he poured the Bliss Powder into their wine cups and shared it with Ding Xiaoxiang.

Everything before his eyes became blurred. In Li Baidao's vision, Ding Xiaoxiang seemed to have transformed into a celestial maiden, peerlessly beautiful. With a roar like a tiger, he lunged forward...