"Junior Brother Chu, it's been half a year, yet you're as impressive as ever."
Jiang Yunya spoke with easy familiarity, the same gentle smile still on his face. It seemed that no situation could ever change his demeanor.
I haven't come looking for you, but you've come knocking first. Chu Mo was puzzled, but his expression betrayed nothing as he replied:
"You flatter me, Senior Brother Jiang. I can't compare to your carefree life. I spent my days running about, and only enjoyed a few comfortable days thanks to High Person Yuanbai's favor."
He had barely advanced to the outer sect and spent only a few days in his new cave abode before being forced to leave the sect and lie low. Only after Zhou Huan went to the small world had he dared show himself openly.
All thanks to this fellow.
"Ah, you're mistaken, Junior Brother." Jiang Yunya's expression remained unchanged, as though he could not hear the barbs in Chu Mo's words. "For you to catch the High Person's eye, you must have something extraordinary about you.
"I was too eager before. Seeing that you were a piece of unpolished jade, I wanted to bring you into the Upper Mound Commerce Association before examining you closely enough."
"Fortunately-most fortunately-you gave no definite answer at the time. Otherwise, wouldn't I have stolen someone the High Person cherished? I nearly made a terrible mistake." As he spoke, he gave an embarrassed smile.
"Please just tell me why you've come, Senior Brother." Chu Mo refused to take the bait and spoke bluntly.
"You certainly are forthright, Junior Brother." Jiang Yunya paid no mind to his coldness. Instead, his smile grew a little warmer.
"I was indeed too hasty before. I thought only of recruiting someone as talented as you as quickly as possible, and neglected your feelings. That was my fault."
As he spoke, he took out a jade bottle and placed it on the stone table. "These are [Blue Water Pills]. They offer some benefit to your cultivation progress. Please accept them as a small token of my apology, Junior Brother."
His words were earnest and his manner proper, as though he truly had come only to apologize. He was so sincere that Chu Mo "almost" believed him-if not for the red name above his head.
[Level 8 · Deliverance Sect Grunt (red name)]
The name was vividly colored, so red it almost dripped blood. No matter how he looked at it, this was not someone who had come with friendly intentions.
I really want to hit this shameless bastard with a Life-Ending Curse right now. Chu Mo suppressed the thought.
Although there was a very good chance he could blast Jiang Yunya to death, if anyone knew the man had visited his cave abode, it would be difficult to explain even with the Mind-Cleansing Mantra.
After all, this man was no ordinary disciple without connections.
Chu Mo's gaze darkened as he thought, If I'm going to kill him, I'll have to do it outside... With that thought, his expression grew somewhat eager.
"This... this is far too precious. Azure Cloud Pills are first-tier, upper-grade pills. I hardly deserve such a gift."
Unaware of Chu Mo's thoughts, Jiang Yunya continued, "You must accept them, Junior Brother, or I won't be able to rest easy.
"Now that we each serve our own master, it would be unfortunate if a few past misunderstandings left resentment between us and hindered our service to the High Person.
"If certain troubles can be nipped in the bud, that would be a blessing for both of us. What do you think, Junior Brother?"
After speaking, he fixed his eyes on Chu Mo, his gaze sharpening. His words contained both an apology and a veiled threat.
"Hahaha, you're making too much of it, Senior Brother." Chu Mo suddenly laughed aloud, breaking the slightly heavy atmosphere.
"That little incident? If you hadn't made a special visit, I would have forgotten it long ago."
His tone was relaxed, as though he truly did not mind at all. "Rest assured, Senior Brother. From now on, we'll each fulfill our duties and serve the sect. Let's turn the page on those little misunderstandings."
Jiang Yunya carefully studied Chu Mo's expression. Seeing his open, hearty smile, which did not seem feigned, his own smile deepened. "Your generosity of spirit is admirable, Junior Brother. In that case, I won't trouble you any longer."
The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before Jiang Yunya rose to take his leave, thoroughly satisfied.
Only after that blue-clad figure receded into the distance and vanished completely from his range of perception did Chu Mo turn back into his cave abode and shut the stone door.
With a turn of his hand, the Profound Scenery Refining Truth Banner suddenly appeared. A banner spirit manifested and cupped his hands. "Greetings, my lord."
Chu Mo took out several spirit talismans he had prepared long ago. "These are [Hawk Eye Talismans]. They greatly enhance the user's eyesight.
"Remember that man's appearance. Lie in wait far from his cave abode and record his daily travel habits in detail. Make sure he doesn't discover you, or else..."
He was not worried that Jiang Yunya would discover the banner spirit. Apart from the original three souls, all the others came from the Turbid Abyss Sea. Jiang Yunya would have no way to trace their origins.
Moreover, he had absolute control over every banner spirit. Even torture could not make them betray him.
"As you command." The banner spirit accepted the spirit talismans, turned into a wisp of blue smoke, and vanished.
"Heh, you actually dared come knocking again to threaten me." Chu Mo picked up the pills Jiang Yunya had left on the stone table, his eyelids half lowered.
Once the banner spirit had figured out the man's movements, he would have to treat him to a Life-Ending Curse.
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
After Jiang Yunya left Chu Mo's cave abode, the gentle smile instantly vanished from his face, replaced by gloom.
He sped along on a cloud, thoughts churning in his mind. I never imagined the High Person would really take a liking to him.
If not for that, he would simply have killed Chu Mo on the spot. Why would he ever have shaken hands and made peace with him?
That damned bastard made High Person Yuanbai take notice of me.
Jiang Yunya's eyes were dark. He had only wanted to ease Martial Uncle Zhou's burdens. Who could have known Chu Mo would stumble into such dogshit luck?
I'll let him gloat for a while. Once Martial Uncle Zhou returns... hmph!
A short while later, his cave abode came into view. He gathered his thoughts and put that gentle smile back on his face, as though none of what had just happened had ever occurred.
With Martial Uncle Zhou Huan absent and High Person Yuanbai watching, he had to keep a lower profile.
He felt he had handled things reasonably well today. He had offered pills and made the stakes clear in his words. Unless Chu Mo was truly an idiot, he would not dare openly fall out with him anytime soon.
Over the following days, Jiang Yunya went about his business as usual.
He either went to the Scripture Repository to issue loans or did the same at the Merit Hall. Occasionally, he left the sect to seize some disciples and bring them through its gates, expanding his pool of borrowers.
What he failed to notice was a ghost secretly watching from far beyond his cave abode.
That day, Jiang Yunya rode an auspicious cloud leisurely between mist-wreathed peaks, intending to inspect some newly discovered "promising talents."
Several recent batches of new disciples had shown excellent "aptitude," allowing him to issue quite a few "cultivation technique loans." The generous commissions had put him in a very good mood.
Just as he passed over a deep gorge, it suddenly began to churn.
A black shadow burst out, moving as swiftly as a phantom. Bearing a terrifying aura, it charged straight at him with unmistakable purpose!
It was so fast that even he, a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, could not fully react in time!
"Who's there?!" Jiang Yunya barely managed a sharp shout before a five-colored barrier sprang up in response.
But the black shadow gave no answer. The instant it drew near him, its form swelled explosively!