Recruitment

At this moment, Cheng Rong explained why they had come. "Some time ago, Shi Yatou happened to discover this 'Hidden Skin.' She said she wanted to take its shed skin as a birthday gift for the sect master, so I guided her as she temporarily learned the Soul Tethering Curse and used it on this snake. Today, she sensed the snake climbing toward the valley rim and dragged me here to have a look. I never expected to run into you, Fellow Daoist."

After a brief pause, he gently stroked the little girl's head. An ill-fitting wry smile appeared on his face. "Actually, the snake itself is nothing. She understands the principle of first come, first served. It is only that she is young, and she suffered quite a bit while learning the Soul Tethering Curse, so she cares about it all the more. Fellow Daoist Yu, please be magnanimous."

Yu Ci naturally would not quarrel with a child. Since this encounter had merely been a coincidence, he had no wish to linger. With Xu Lao Er's matter hanging between them, he and the Wanling Sect could never share any deep friendship. Just as he was about to cup his hands and bid farewell, he saw that although the little girl said nothing, she was glaring at him from behind Cheng Rong. Clearly, she was still unconvinced.

Her expression made Yu Ci smile again. His gaze flicked across Cheng Rong's face, and something suddenly stirred within him.

He could not be blamed for thinking one layer deeper. These past days, the Wanling Sect had clearly taken considerable interest in him. Even if Cheng Rong's arrival was coincidental, such a warm and amicable attitude might not be so simple.

His thoughts made a circuit in his mind, and he suddenly smiled at the little girl. "Is the Soul Tethering Curse difficult to learn? How does it work?"

The little girl shot him an enormous eye-roll and ignored him.

Yu Ci turned to the adult beside her instead. Cheng Rong froze for a moment, then grinned. "It truly is not easy. This spell lets the caster know the general state of activity of its target. Even from several hundred miles away, one can still sense it faintly... Of course, it has no other use."

"That is precisely it."

With a smiling face, Yu Ci said to Shi Xin, "You only used the spell to keep watch on it. You did not capture it or put a rope around its neck. If merely knowing its location means the snake is yours, that would be absurd... Why not ask the elder beside you? These past few days, you have released hawks and flown eagles, so you must know very clearly where I have been. Does that mean I am a member of your Wanling Sect?"

There were needles and barbs in his words. Not only Cheng Rong, but even the little girl sensed them. She turned back in astonishment, but Cheng Rong had no time to mind her and hurriedly shook his head.

"Fellow Daoist, you jest. The situation around here has been tense lately. Releasing hawks and flying eagles to scout intelligence is merely routine business. There was absolutely no intention to slight or harm you. Since Fellow Daoist has raised the matter in person, our sect will certainly restrain our people and not let them disturb your peace! Then again, if a talent such as yourself were willing to join the Wanling Sect, our sect would welcome you with the utmost sincerity. Even Sect Master Shi would put on his shoes backward to welcome you."

The words were pleasant to hear, but they went a little too far. More importantly, what sort of talent did he think Yu Ci was?

Yu Ci felt even more certain that something was amiss, though his reply remained mild. "A drifting cloud and a wild crane like me can only manage things such as digging stones and gathering herbs..."

At that point, a flash of insight struck his mind. He abruptly asked, "Bai Ri Mansion has already posted a notice to apprehend me?"

The leap in thought was too abrupt, yet it was a surprise force thrust forth, striking directly at the crucial point. Cheng Rong was choked badly by it. Only after staring blankly for a while did he force a bitter grin. "I had just intended to mention it, but I did not expect Fellow Daoist to have already guessed. Bai Ri Mansion sent out word five days ago: alive, they wanted to see the man; dead, they wanted to see the corpse. Fellow Daoist's name has spread throughout the lands within ten thousand miles of Juebi City. You must be careful."

Sure enough, the Wanling Sect's consecutive days of tracking had borne fruit. His identity had probably been turned inside out. Of course, Bai Ri Mansion's actions were even more infuriating. What did they take him for, a fugitive?

Yu Ci was displeased, but he merely offered a quiet word of thanks.

Cheng Rong did not dare accept it. "Why thank me? Our sect has long had many frictions with Bai Ri Mansion. We are accustomed to handling such matters. However, my earlier words were not mere politeness, Fellow Daoist. A talent like you is outstanding even within the ten-thousand-mile region surrounding Juebi City. Bai Ri Mansion has eyes but fails to recognize Mount Tai, while the Wanling Sect has always thirsted for worthy talent. Fellow Daoist may wish to consider it carefully."

His words were quite frank and his tone deeply sincere, yet Yu Ci became even more certain of his guess. Perhaps today's meeting had been accidental, but the Wanling Sect had probably long been waiting for such an accident to happen, so they could establish contact with him. This was not recruitment—it was truly "making a connection"!

Yu Ci could be certain that news of what had happened at Zhixin Temple had already spread.

He had been rather high-profile at Zhixin Temple. In such a crucial place, with dozens of visiting Daoists and a mixed assortment of people, how could there be no spies within? The rumors that had stirred the temple into an uproar would sooner or later reach the ears of those with intentions. Whether the Wanling Sect had learned early or late about his clash with Bai Ri Mansion and its cause, as a great power that had been suppressed by Bai Ri Mansion for decades yet brimmed with ambition, it would have been truly bizarre if they did not want to make something of it.

Yu Ci could not be bothered with these schemes of human hearts and ghostly domains, but that did not mean he failed to understand them.

Yu Ci considered himself unskilled at intrigue and strife. If asked to lay ambushes and traps step by step, leading people around by the nose, he could not do it. Yet he had two strengths. First, he was skilled at reading expressions and gauging the human heart. Second, he excelled at creating false appearances and inviting the gentleman into the urn. Both had been honed during his time in the Twin Immortals Sect, then slowly refined to maturity during twelve long years of wandering. These two strengths often allowed him to seize the initiative in face-to-face confrontations, and this moment was no exception.

Once he understood what Cheng Rong was thinking, the initiative was firmly in his grasp. All he needed to do now was spread out the gambling table, place down the stakes, then hold his own hole card tight and force his opponent to reveal his hand first. Naturally, before that, he needed to create a few false appearances.

"Your sect's goodwill leaves me humbled. Unfortunately, I have already settled on a place to stay these past days, and for some time to come I will be busy searching for items and gathering herbs. I fear I must disappoint your generous invitation."

With that, he cupped his hands, letting his intention to leave show. Cheng Rong had no idea his thoughts had already been seen through. He hurriedly asked him to stay, naturally following the opening Yu Ci had left in his words as he asked with great concern.

"What does Fellow Daoist require? You may as well tell me. If we exchange what each has and what the other lacks, perhaps our sect may have some in reserve."

"Mostly medicinal herbs and ores."

Yu Ci had spoken lightly at first, but then he gave a bitter smile. "Some are for my own use, so they are easy enough to find. But among them are several medicinal herbs assigned by an elder. He stated clearly that they are rare and difficult to locate, found only in remote parts of Sky Rift. Juebi City has none."

His tone was certain and his claim grand, but Cheng Rong had already reached his conclusion and was not surprised. He only needed Yu Ci to say it aloud.

Yu Ci went with the flow and named one herb from the jade slip Yu Zhou had given him. Cheng Rong became somewhat awkward; the Wanling Sect certainly could not produce it. Yet he was now riding a tiger and could not dismount, so he could only let Yu Ci continue. Yu Ci was delighted to watch him make a fool of himself and listed the herb names one by one. The earlier ones were all much the same, but when he reached the last one, "Ghost Appearance Flower," Cheng Rong suddenly rejoiced and slapped his palm hard.

"We have it!"

"Oh?"

Yu Ci was surprised, while Cheng Rong felt as though a heavy burden had been lifted. It did not matter if he embarrassed himself, but if the Wanling Sect were looked down upon because of him, that would be his fault.

Hearing these obscure and strange herb names made Cheng Rong even more certain that the information from that side was reliable. He knew he could not let this opportunity slip away no matter what, and his face became as warm as a spring breeze. "What a coincidence. Some time ago, our sect obtained a medicinal formula, and Ghost Appearance Flower was one of its main ingredients. We put considerable effort into gathering it. As far as I know, our sect has at least three plants in storage. If we take one out and give it to Fellow Daoist, I believe even the sect master would gladly agree."

This was something Yu Ci had not expected. Still, learning of Ghost Appearance Flower here was an unexpected delight. Yet he maintained some reserve and shook his head. "That is for your sect's medicine refinement and cannot be moved lightly. Besides, though I, Yu, am no perfect man, I still possess some sense of shame. I understand the principle that one should not accept reward without merit."

Cheng Rong repeatedly tried to persuade him, while Yu Ci refused no matter what. Amid the string of refusals and concessions, the Shi family girl could only swing her little head back and forth, utterly bewildered.

At last, Cheng Rong was forced into having no choice but to cry out, "Fellow Daoist says you have no merit, but for the Wanling Sect, forcing Bai Ri Mansion into such a sorry state is the greatest merit of all! The sects of Juebi City have suffered under Bai Ri Mansion for too long. Yet because it holds the Exclusive Handling Authority with the Li Chen Sect, we have had no recourse and could only play along falsely. Now, with a single ichthyosaur, Fellow Daoist shamed Jin Huan into covering his face and leaving. If such a feat is not merit, then what is?"

Oh, oh, he had said it!

That was precisely the sentence Yu Ci had been waiting for. A strange expression appeared on his face. "Your sect knows of this matter as well?"

Cheng Rong's expression was exceedingly awkward, but from this moment onward, the two would have to speak far more openly.

Yu Ci had once seriously considered why his transaction with Daoist Yu Zhou had provoked such an enormous reaction from Jin Huan. Later, he understood.

It was because of the "Exclusive Handling Authority."

The "Exclusive Handling Authority" naturally carried profit, but direct benefits were merely its most insignificant aspect. Its true value lay in establishing a bond between Bai Ri Mansion and the Li Chen Sect. Even the later arrangement to send the two young men, Jin Chuan and Kuang Yanqi, into the Li Chen Sect for short-term cultivation had been made for the same purpose. Once the bond was secure, they would let everyone see it, ideally leading them to believe that Bai Ri Mansion and the Li Chen Sect had already become one whole.

Then Bai Ri Mansion's position would become unshakable.

If Juebi City were a treasure trove, then Bai Ri Mansion was the heavy gate sealing it shut, while the "Exclusive Handling Authority" it had cultivated through the Li Chen Sect was the great lock upon that gate. With this link in place, even a force like the Wanling Sect, one capable of threatening Bai Ri Mansion, would have to walk in proper order no matter how fiercely it coveted the treasure trove, lest it anger the colossal Li Chen Sect.

Originally, this "lock" had been exceedingly difficult to break. Yet Yu Ci had leapt out of a stone, using a single ichthyosaur to directly establish a connection with the Li Chen Sect and even possibly ascend to the heavens in a single step. Before a heavenly treasure such as an ichthyosaur, the so-called "Exclusive Handling Authority" looked more like a joke.

For Yu Ci himself, breaking the great lock of the "Exclusive Handling Authority" brought no benefit beyond making an enemy of Bai Ri Mansion. But for an ambitious sect like the Wanling Sect, if they could attach themselves to Yu Ci, then once he became a disciple of the Li Chen Sect, would that not mean the Wanling Sect had seized a direct connection to the Li Chen Sect?

It was like bypassing the main gate and directly opening a hole in the surrounding wall. If developed to the utmost extent, they might even replace the original main gate and monopolize Juebi City's enormous treasure trove!

To accomplish all this, the first requirement was that Yu Ci could enter the Li Chen Sect, and the second was that Yu Ci was willing to stand up for the Wanling Sect. The former was uncontrollable, but the latter was not impossible through effort. At least, that was what the Wanling Sect's upper ranks believed.

To put it plainly, all the recruitment and gratitude were false appearances. Establishing ties and cultivating friendship were the truth. The Wanling Sect simply wanted to make Yu Ci a "friend." They did not need heart-to-heart trust, but they did need exchanges of mutual interest. At the root of it all lay nothing but their ambition toward Juebi City, that great treasure trove.

Yu Ci believed that even if he told them Xu Lao Er had died by his hand, the Wanling Sect would pretend not to have heard, so long as sufficient benefits lay before their eyes.