Negotiations

At dawn, Fang Huai stood by the fence at the edge of the marsh, admiring the scenery of the South Marsh.

The sun had just risen, all things were stirring back to life, and the rippling water reflected flecks of golden light.

Fish leaped from the water one after another, splashing crystalline droplets into the air.

Though he had not slept all night, he felt no fatigue at all. On the contrary, his heart was at ease, and the worries and frustrations of recent days had vanished into the clear blue sky.

He had been in this world for a long time, yet this was the first time he had simply stopped to admire its beauty. He found himself entranced.

"Senior Brother, what are you thinking about?"

Liu Xiange stepped out through the door, her jade feet touching the ground as she landed lightly beside Fang Huai.

She had just woken up. Her eyes were slightly puffy at the corners, and her disheveled hair fluttered in the breeze.

After tying her hair into a bun, she took out the Spirit Beast Bag and patted it a few times. Little Red, the Blood Gu Centipede, crawled out.

After being confined in the Spirit Beast Bag all night, Little Red had grown hostile toward Fang Huai. It swayed its body, baring its teeth at him.

Liu Xiange soothed it for a long while before it reluctantly crawled onto her head and burrowed into her bun.

"This little fellow is quite protective of its master," Fang Huai said with a laugh.

"Maybe the Spirit Beast Bag doesn't block sound very well. It probably thought I was in danger."

"Then it must have had a rough night. It was probably worried sick the whole time!"

Understanding passed between them, and they exchanged a smile.

"I was thinking, it would be wonderful if I could always bask in the sun and enjoy the scenery here," Fang Huai said wistfully.

"If you like it here, Senior Brother, I can ask Senior Brother Lin to let us stay a few more days."

"A few more days?" Fang Huai sighed. "We've enjoyed plenty of benefits, but what about the Zheng Family?

"Not only have they spent a fortune trying to accommodate us, they've also had to let the women of their clan sacrifice their beauty. I can't bear to make them keep putting themselves through this."

Liu Xiange fell silent, then said, "Then tell me, do you think we'd be better off in the territory of the Mystic Sword Sect?"

Fang Huai shook his head. "Do you remember Jin Xiaoxiao? She was born into a wealthy family, too, and lived in a mortal town in the Mystic Sword Sect's territory. But overnight, every resident of the town was slaughtered by the Mystic Sword Sect."

"How did you find that out, Senior Brother?"

"I heard it by chance..."

"..."

Even with the system, and despite considering himself a chosen one of destiny, Fang Huai was constantly in danger, living each day uncertain whether he would see the next.

Whether it was being with Liu Xiange or listening to Jin Xiaoxiao recount her past, most of what Fang Huai heard was about the dangers of the cultivation world.

Once you joined the Corpse Sha Sect, your life was no longer your own.

When you would die, how you would die, and even whether your soul would be allowed to reincarnate were all unknown.

Given their circumstances, Fang Huai and the women understood one another without saying a word. They kept things to fleeting encounters, like dew.

Each took what they needed, indulged in pleasure, and avoided entanglements and lingering attachments.

After that, Fang Huai and Liu Xiange drank and admired the scenery, Wu Sanli reveled in sensual pleasures, and Lin Qian plundered the Zheng Family's vitality without restraint.

In the end, the Zheng Family couldn't take it anymore.

After the evening banquet that day, Zheng Fengzu dismissed the singing and dancing girls, then said:

"Immortal Masters, you've come to collect the annual tribute, haven't you? I prepared it long ago. Why not take a look?"

Lin Qian nodded. It had not been easy for the Zheng Family to keep them entertained for so long by lowering themselves, and it was time for him to reveal the purpose of their visit.

Seeing Lin Qian agree, Zheng Shuzu clapped his hands.

Five youths at the First Layer of Qi Refining entered through the door.

"These are the Outer Disciples we're submitting to the sect."

Lin Qian glanced over them and said, "Their aptitude is average, but they barely meet the requirements for joining the sect. What about the Spirit Stones?"

Zheng Fengzu ordered someone to bring over a pouch and place it before Lin Qian.

Lin Qian opened it, examined its contents with his divine sense, then set it down and said coldly, "Not enough!"

"Not enough?" Zheng Fengzu was taken aback. "Immortal Master Lin, are you sure you didn't miscount? There are a full one thousand and fifty Spirit Stones in the Storage Bag.

"One thousand are the annual tribute. The remaining fifty are a token of appreciation for your efforts."

"I said it's not enough, so it's not enough!"

Lin Qian sneered and sent a letter flying toward Zheng Fengzu. "I'm not deliberately making things difficult for the Zheng Family. Read it yourself."

Zheng Fengzu read the letter. His face turned deathly pale, and his hands trembled uncontrollably. "Two thousand Spirit Stones? Ten disciples? Are you trying to drive us to our deaths?"

Lin Qian said, "Family Head Zheng, don't make reckless accusations. The sect has its reasons.

"The Corpse Sha Sect has protected the Zheng Family for many years. Now, the sect is at a critical point in its war against the Mystic Sword Sect. It's time for you to repay the sect."

"Don't push us too far!"

The Zheng Family clansmen glared at them furiously. "Every Zheng Family clansman at the middle and later stages of Qi Refining has already died on the battlefield supporting the Corpse Sha Sect. Now you're taking advantage of our misfortune. What are you after?"

"Don't think the Zheng Family is made of paper. If we can't survive, we might as well fight to the death."

"Fight to the death?" Wu Sanli sneered, and Poison Sha shot toward the speaker. "You think you're worthy?"

"Golden Light Talisman!"

Zheng Shuzu's expression changed drastically. He flashed in front of the clansman and summoned a shield of light around the two of them.

Poison Sha struck the barrier, and cracks appeared in it.

Zheng Fengzu shouted angrily, "Immortal Master, my clansman merely spoke a few words of justice. Why unleash such a vicious attack on him?

"If I hadn't reacted quickly, he would have been killed on the spot!"

"Sha-Breaking Sword!"

Lin Qian drew his Spirit Sword and cut the Golden Light barrier to pieces. The blade stopped less than an inch above Zheng Fengzu's head.

Seeing the beads of sweat on Zheng Fengzu's forehead, Lin Qian sneered. "You spoke treasonously and meant to rebel! With my fellow disciples here as witnesses, there'd be nothing wrong with wiping out the Zheng Family!"

Fang Huai said nothing. Lin Qian was arrogant, but what he said was true.

If the Zheng Family clansman's words were scrutinized, they could indeed be treated as treason against the sect.

The two sides stood at an impasse for a moment. Zheng Fengzu sighed and said, "Immortal Master, we can provide ten disciples, but we truly can't scrape together two thousand Spirit Stones. Would you be interested in a Water Spirit Pearl?"

"Oh? What kind of demonic beast produces the Water Spirit Pearl?"

"An Azure Wave Jade Carp!"

"Water Spirit Pearls come from demonic beasts in the later stages of Qi Refining. They're the unfinished product of a demon core. They can help disciples with Water or Ice Spirit Roots cultivate, and they also have a calming effect. The Corpse Sha Sect does need them, so valuing one at five hundred Spirit Stones is reasonable."

"Five hundred Spirit Stones? Something this rare would fetch a thousand on the market, and buyers would be fighting over it!" one of the Zheng Family clansmen protested indignantly.

Zheng Fengzu waved a hand, signaling for the clansman to be quiet. "That is reasonable, but the Immortal Masters would have to kill the demonic beast themselves."

"You old fool, are you toying with us?" Wu Sanli cursed. "If we could kill a demonic beast in the later stages of Qi Refining, would we still be wasting our breath here?"

Lin Qian's face darkened further, and he was about to erupt when Zheng Fengzu hurriedly explained:

"The Zheng Family used to live about two hundred li north of here, protected by a formation left behind by our ancestors.

"Ten years ago, an Azure Wave Jade Carp accidentally entered our protective formation and became trapped there.

"To keep the demonic beast from breaking through the formation and harming people, the entire Zheng Family moved here.

"The demonic beast was originally at the eighth layer of Qi Refining. After more than ten years of being worn down by the formation, it's now far weaker than before."

Seeing that no one responded, Zheng Fengzu stood up. "If the Immortal Masters aren't willing to take the risk, I'll go sell everything we own. No matter what, I'll scrape together the remaining Spirit Stones so you can return and report back."

Lin Qian grabbed his wrist, his eyes flickering with unconcealed greed. "Family Head Zheng, how can you guarantee that this demonic beast definitely has a Water Spirit Pearl?"

Zheng Fengzu said, "Over the past ten years, countless clansmen have seen this demonic beast spit out Spirit Pearls and absorb the essence of the sun and moon. If what I've said is false, the Immortal Masters may slaughter the entire Zheng Family."