A Fine Line Between Life and Death

"When did this old man get behind me? He comes and goes without a sound."

Hearing Uncle Mute's sinister, terrifying voice behind him, Yang Xiao's scalp instantly went numb. He felt the crisis of death.

"Boy, honored as you are to be a waiter, you've run to this filthy, stinking back courtyard of the kitchen three times in a row, and pretended to glance at this old man by accident a total of five times, adding up to thirty breaths."

"Speak. Just what exactly are you intending to do?"

"If you cannot give this old man a satisfactory explanation today, then this old man..."

Uncle Mute narrowed his eyes. Holding to the notion that he would rather kill a thousand by mistake than let a single one slip through, he was about to strike and kill Yang Xiao.

Smack!

The heavy sound of a slap rang out abruptly.

"You... dare hit this old man?"

Clutching his burning cheek, Uncle Mute looked at Yang Xiao, his gaze instantly filled with disbelief.

"A mere old mongrel of a menial dares speak to a noble waiter like me this way? Who gave you the courage!"

Yang Xiao pointed "furiously" at Uncle Mute's nose and launched straight into a scolding. "What, still not convinced? What are you staring at? Do you know who my big brother is?"

"Then why don't you tell me just who your big brother is?"

Seeing that Yang Xiao's loud voice had drawn quite a few curious menials to look over, Uncle Mute forced down the killing intent in his heart, narrowed his eyes, and gave a cold, sinister laugh.

"Old thing, what, not convinced?"

"Listen well. I am surnamed Zhang, given name Long, and I am the attendant of private room Ding 527!"

"Thanks to the favor of Wang Yulang, Young Master Wang, son of the Marquis of Champions, once the Grandmasters' Dao Debate begins six days from now, Young Master Wang will redeem me from servitude!"

Yang Xiao was panicking badly inside, but on the surface he was stern in voice and expression, acting extremely unruly and forceful.

"So you are an attendant Young Master Wang has taken a liking to. This old man had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai. Today my dog eyes were blind. Brother Zhang, please be magnanimous and do not lower yourself to this old man's level."

Uncle Mute instantly put on a fawning smile, hurriedly took out a heavy ingot of silver, and silently stuffed it into Yang Xiao's hand.

"Just this little bit? Old dog, are you trying to send off a beggar?"

Yang Xiao shouted angrily.

"Yes, yes, Brother Zhang, you are right. This old man was muddled, muddled."

Uncle Mute pulled all the silver ingots from his sleeve in one go and handed them all to Yang Xiao.

"That's more like it!"

Hmph!

Yang Xiao quit while he was ahead. Only then did his expression ease slightly, and he leaned close to Uncle Mute's ear, lowering his voice.

"Old man, relax. Since I, Zhang Long, have taken your money, you can keep pretending to be mute. I won't tell anyone."

"But I advise you to keep your hands and feet cleaner from now on!"

"Recently, the swill being sold outside the city hasn't had enough oil in it. The people above suspect someone is secretly stealing and selling the swill, so they secretly had me investigate."

"Count yourself lucky, old man. Good thing you ran into me, Zhang Long. If it had been someone else, it would be the law-enforcement disciples looking for you right now, not me!"

So that was it?

Uncle Mute's heart shivered. Only now did he realize he had misunderstood Yang Xiao.

Come to think of it, this old man's disguise is so hidden. How could a mere ordinary waiter from Vermilion Bird Tower see through it?

"Brother Zhang, rest assured, this little old man will be careful in the future. Please put in a few good words for me in front of Uncle Liu, and do not let him blame me over the swill."

As Uncle Mute spoke, he took out another banknote and ingratiatingly stuffed it into Yang Xiao's hand.

"Old man, what are you saying? I, Zhang Long, have been appreciated by those above; how could I take money and tell lies?"

Yang Xiao's mouth was filled with righteous words, but his hands moved lightning fast. He swiftly put away the banknote, then left in a cloud of dust without looking back.

Uncle Mute was dumbstruck. Honored as he was as the great elder of the Peace Sect, he had seen countless people in his life, yet he had never seen someone so thick-skinned.

"Master, this Zhang Long is truly hateful. Why doesn't your disciple kill him tonight?"

A middle-aged menial carrying swill walked over, coldly staring at Yang Xiao's departing back, a trace of viciousness flashing in his eyes.

"Forget it."

Uncle Mute shook his head. "Six days from now is the Grandmasters' Dao Debate. Grandmaster Yao is of vital importance. At this critical juncture, there is no need to create complications over a petty, money-grubbing man."

"Yes, sir!"

The middle-aged menial looked unwilling, but did not dare defy Uncle Mute.

"Enough. There are too many eyes and ears here. In the future, unless necessary, do not meet this old man inside Vermilion Bird Tower."

Uncle Mute said in a low voice.

"Master, your disciple came here today to tell you that six days from now, at the Grandmasters' Dao Debate, the Sixth Princess will also come in secret. What do you think about this matter..."

The middle-aged menial lowered his voice, his face filled with worry.

"No matter."

"The Sixth Princess's unexpected arrival was outside the plan, but it does no harm. On the contrary, it will make the grandmasters' debate on the Dao even more interesting. You may withdraw."

Uncle Mute waved a hand indifferently.

"As you command."

The middle-aged odd-job worker bowed again, lifted the heavy swill bucket, left Vermilion Bird Tower through the small gate in the kitchen courtyard, and came to a narrow alley.

With practiced ease, he poured the swill into the large barrel on the wooden handcart. Then the middle-aged odd-job worker pushed the single-wheeled cart along, deliberately panting as if exhausted, and slowly left.

"Zhang Long, this old man will spare your dog life for now. Six days from now, at the grandmasters' debate on the Dao, this old man will make you—wish you were dead!"

Uncle Mute stared coldly in the direction where Yang Xiao had disappeared, a flash of killing intent vanishing from his eyes.

Ding Pavilion.

Outside private room Ding 527.

Yang Xiao stood in the corridor, pretending to look down from above at the main hall on the first floor.

Only after standing there for a long while did Yang Xiao's violently pounding heart slowly calm down.

That had been too thrilling!

Yang Xiao had not expected that he would actually be able to turn danger into safety. Not only had nothing happened to him, he had even extorted a large sum from Uncle Mute.

"Fairy Bai tipped me ten taels. I gave Ye Feng six, spent a little, and with the money Uncle Mute gave me added in, I actually still have a full hundred-plus taels left!"

"Unfortunately, though this money came quickly, I shouldn't drive things to the absolute limit. Otherwise, once Uncle Mute can't endure it anymore, he'll most likely silence me."

Yang Xiao was deep in thought and suddenly failed to notice.

In the hall on the first floor, a graceful figure was glaring at him coldly.

Yang Xiao had stood in the corridor for a long time. At first, Xiao Zhao had thought Yang Xiao was entranced by her beauty.

But very quickly, Xiao Zhao discovered that Yang Xiao's gaze was still fixed on the Painting of the Luo Goddess behind her!

What the hell!

Was this young lady not beautiful enough?

While Xiao Zhao was getting angry, Yang Xiao suddenly turned and left. From beginning to end, his gaze never once fell on Xiao Zhao, not even for a single glance.

"Damn brat. You'd better not fall into this young lady's hands!"

Xiao Zhao's pretty face turned completely dark.

And Yang Xiao knew nothing of any of this.

"Brother Yang!"

Yang Xiao had just reached the door of the private room when Ye Feng came out carrying the heavy swill bucket and hurriedly bowed to him.

"Little Ye, we're brothers. From now on, just call me big brother. No need to add the surname. How's that?"

Yang Xiao smiled.

"Big brother!"

Ye Feng did not quite dare to, but seeing Yang Xiao insist, he could only change how he addressed him.

"Since you've called me big brother, take these twenty taels. Don't rush to refuse. Consider this money a loan from me. Once you succeed in blood exchange and become an iron-token waiter, I'll be demanding double interest. Any problem with that?"

Seeing that Ye Feng was about to refuse, Yang Xiao immediately smiled and said this.

"Big brother, thank you!"

Ye Feng's voice choked. He lowered his head, forcing himself not to cry, then carried the swill bucket and hurried away.

"Right, Little Ye. If anyone asks for big brother's name, just say my name is Zhang Long. Don't let it slip."

Before he left, Yang Xiao's voice suddenly sounded by Ye Feng's ear.

Ye Feng froze when he heard it. Though somewhat confused, he did not think too much about it. He quickly nodded and hurried away.

Done!

Only then did Yang Xiao's hanging heart temporarily settle.

Ye Feng was an honest man. Faced with Yang Xiao's nested schemes, he had clearly already fallen in. Even if beaten to death, he would never leak the secret.

"I have to raise my strength as quickly as possible and strive to complete one blood exchange. That way, six days from now at the grandmasters' debate on the Dao, even if something unexpected happens, I'll at least have a little power to protect myself."

Yang Xiao stood at the door of the private room and practiced breathing, no longer wasting even a sliver of time.

Very soon, footsteps sounded.

In the distance, an extraordinary-looking old man in white robes, hands clasped behind his back, slowly walked toward private room Ding 527.

Yang Xiao only glanced at the white-robed old man, and his eyes instantly widened.

He saw, above the white-robed old man's head, a cluster of green light shoot into the sky. The brilliance of that light was so intense that it was a full—seven inches!