Bargaining

"But we still need to plan this carefully."

With Cao Jinxing on board, Lu Kunlun felt more confident and laid out everything he knew:

"This operation is tightly sealed. I've been here almost a month and bought wine four times. That gave me four chances to trace it back to its source, but I failed every time... It might be one person, or it might be an organization."

"One person is more likely."

Cao Jinxing answered without hesitation. "If it really were an organization, they wouldn't sell it through a little wine shop like that. They could open their own restaurant, sell to the rich and powerful, and charge even more."

"That makes sense."

Lu Kunlun said, "Old Zhou keeps his mouth shut. He never reveals who supplies his goods. Besides, his martial arts are formidable. That old bastard came from the Starry Sea and is poisonous from head to toe. Unless we have to, we'd better not provoke him."

Cao Jinxing was surprised. "He practices poison arts? And you still dare drink his wine?"

Lu Kunlun laughed. "He's been running his shop here for twenty years. He has quite a reputation. I reckon that's why the winemaker chose to work with him."

Cao Jinxing said, "Then why not just follow him? They must meet up."

"It's not that simple."

Lu Kunlun shook his head. "First, that old bastard knows the Starry Sea's exclusive movement technique, Bone-Shadowing Step. He's incredibly fast and can create three doubles to confuse anyone watching, so he's very hard to follow. Second, he also knows the lost Thousand Transformations Divine Art, which lets him alter his features at will. He can change faces in the blink of an eye. Third, aside from selling wine at the Ghost Market every three days, his movements are unpredictable. He wears all kinds of faces while buying supplies everywhere, and nobody can find him... How do you think he's managed to run his shop peacefully for twenty years?"

"..."

That's airtight!

Cao Jinxing felt helpless. "Then do you have any leads? How are you planning to investigate next?"

"Heh heh!"

Lu Kunlun gave a sly grin. "Last time, he fooled me with a double. This time, I spared no expense-when I asked him for a bowl earlier, I secretly sprinkled a handful of luminous powder specially made from Dongting Pearls on his back! Once the market closes and he steps into the dark, he'll stand out like a firefly! Let's see him shake me off now!"

"Clever!"

Cao Jinxing gave him a thumbs-up. "I'll wait for your good news!"

"Just you wait!"

Lu Kunlun thumped his chest, brimming with confidence. "Once I find Peach Blossom Spring, there'll probably be a nasty fight. When that happens..."

Cao Jinxing answered at once. "I'll definitely be there! Once this job is done, I should at least get a few days to slack off... They can't keep squeezing me alone dry! When I have time, just call and I'll come. Even if I have to skip work, I'm drinking flower wine and eating immortal peaches!"

I want heavenly treasures too!

So what if my luck is lousy?

I've got dreams too, damn it!

"Good!"

Lu Kunlun laughed heartily. "I guarantee you'll get your wish and eat your fill!"

Cao Jinxing didn't linger in the Ghost Market. The long journey had exhausted him in body and mind, and he needed to go home for a proper rest and some recovery.

He still had to report for roll call tomorrow.

-Other officials had scheduled days off. The Embroidered Uniform Guard could only rotate their shifts, and they still had to answer any urgent summons.

-They were essentially the emperor's household retainers, obliged to put his assignments first at all times.

He returned to his little courtyard.

A package of sixth-rank heavenly treasures sat outside the main room.

Cao Jinxing smiled and carried the package inside.

He slept very soundly that night.

Xuan Yuan Fourteen curled up under the covers, relaxed and sprawled out. The familiar scent of home was reassuring after all.

Early the next morning.

Cao Jinxing put on his Flying Fish Uniform, fastened Snow Soul at his waist, and left Ming Shi Ward. On the way, he bought three red bean paste pies from a newly opened pie shop and munched on them all the way to the Pacification Commission.

Baihu and General Banners were already coming and going there. The moment they spotted him, they hurriedly averted their eyes.

Overnight, word had spread of Cao Jinxing's earlier feat of escorting the Millennium Fire Tortoise single-handedly.

His battle record was downright terrifying!

The Twelve Xiantian Assassins, all with "mysterious backgrounds" and varied abilities, had been reduced to a lone survivor by him and Lu Kunlun!

Lu Kunlun had killed only two. Cao Jinxing had dealt with the other nine all by himself!

And he had done it while surrounded, fighting many opponents alone and hacking out a bloody path!

According to merchants and officials who had witnessed the fight, everyone had died to a single sword strike except the most troublesome leader, who had lasted one move longer!

It was absurd!

In less than a month, his strength had soared. He had gone from a fifth-level Houtian nobody to an expert who slaughtered Xiantian opponents.

Under those circumstances, anyone who dared give him attitude would only be asking for trouble.

Moreover, the emperor had personally praised his efficiency. With his meteoric rise all but assured, nobody outside a few particular groups dared touch him.

They all lowered their eyes obediently, meek as quails.

Cao Jinxing acted as though he hadn't noticed.

"Sir."

"Sir."

Beside the vermilion gates, Su Yunsheng and Sun Lang hurriedly saluted when they saw him.

Cao Jinxing glanced over them. He hadn't seen them for a few days, and both had made considerable progress in their martial arts. He nodded. "Not bad. You've improved."

They answered in unison, "It's all thanks to you, sir."

"No need to flatter me."

Cao Jinxing said, "You earned it."

He walked through the gates and headed straight for the inner hall.

Su Yunsheng and Sun Lang followed close behind.

At the head of the inner hall, Liu Zhenyuan sat behind his desk, reading official documents while eating a pastry.

"Want some?"

Without looking away, Liu Zhenyuan nudged the food box toward him. "I swiped these from Commander Lu. Made by the imperial chefs. Hazelnut pastries and dragon beard pastries. They're quite good."

"..."

Cao Jinxing gave him an odd look. He hadn't expected this imposing Grand Protector to have such a side to him.

Let's try some!

Cao Jinxing didn't stand on ceremony.

He didn't like sweets and couldn't appreciate the cotton-candy-like dragon beard pastries, so he picked up a hazelnut pastry instead. It tasted excellent, just as one would expect from an imperial chef, and he couldn't resist taking another two.

"Leave me some!"

Liu Zhenyuan looked up and glared at him irritably. "I was busy dealing with your affairs until midnight, while you apparently went gallivanting around the Ghost Market last night?"

That damned intelligence network!

Cao Jinxing rolled his eyes. "I just had a little wine with a friend."

"That Beggar Gang disciple?"

"Yes."

"The Beggar Gang is fine."

Liu Zhenyuan said, "You need to remember your position. There are some people you absolutely must not associate with. Don't give anyone ammunition against you."

"Yes."

Cao Jinxing nodded. "I understand. Someone from the Five Poisons Cult is fine, right? They aren't orthodox, but they aren't evil either."

Liu Zhenyuan frowned. "The native chieftains in Miao territory have been restless. They've caused plenty of trouble over the years, and some have even dared incite rebellions and plot insurrection! It's easy to draw connections between the two. If you can avoid getting involved, do so."

"All right, I understand."

"Good."

Liu Zhenyuan put away the documents and called, "Someone!" An attendant immediately came in carrying a brand-new official uniform. This time, it was a silver-gray Flying Fish Uniform of Qianhu rank, with more elaborate ornamentation, though it had fewer jade cloud decorations and silver bands than a full Qianhu's.

"Your uniform is ready..."

As Liu Zhenyuan spoke, he glanced at Cao Jinxing's waist and raised an eyebrow. "Fine sword... Where's your saber?"

"It broke."

Cao Jinxing sighed. "It had been working pretty well, but I didn't expect it to snap after just one hit from the White Dragon Gu. Without this sword, I probably would've needed another two [Fortune Creation Pills] to make it back."

Liu Zhenyuan said, "A Baihu's saber is only made of refined steel. Even a Qianhu's wouldn't compare to that sword of yours. It suits you extremely well... Are you switching to sword arts?"

"If I have something better, of course I'll use it."

Cao Jinxing spoke as though it were obvious. "Besides, using a sword as a saber is easy. [Snow Soul] isn't a slender sword. Its blade is an inch and a half wide, more than enough for Tyrant Saber and Xinyou Saber. I can't be bothered carrying two weapons."

Easy...

The corner of Liu Zhenyuan's eye twitched.

Tyrant Saber was fierce and forceful, while Dark Yin Sword was light and agile. How could the two be treated as interchangeable? Without sufficient understanding, transitions between moves would inevitably become stiff. The saber arts would lose their character, as would the sword arts, leaving both unable to unleash their power and instead giving the opponent an opening.

In a duel between experts, victory and defeat hinged on a single instant!

Still.

Cao Jinxing truly had the right to say that.

Even with Liu Zhenyuan's experience, he had never seen anyone with such extraordinary talent.

His control over his power had already approached exquisite precision. The weapon's influence could practically be ignored.

"Suit yourself."

Liu Zhenyuan tossed him a token. "A Deputy Qianhu may study one fifth-rank technique. Once you're done, go guard the Imperial Prison!"

Guard the Imperial Prison?

Cao Jinxing's eyes lit up.

The Imperial Prison was heavily guarded and filled with mechanisms. That assignment was basically-a long vacation!

Others might see it as being sidelined, but Cao Jinxing knew perfectly well that even if he wanted to guard the Imperial Prison for a long time, Liu Zhenyuan wouldn't agree. He was simply giving him a chance to rest after all his recent hard work.

"Thank you, sir."

Cao Jinxing had thought this man was a ruthless taskmaster, piling one assignment on top of another. He had even been ready to request a shift rotation. Who would have guessed he could be so considerate?

"Heh."

Liu Zhenyuan glanced at him with a faint, ambiguous smile. "How long do you want to guard it?"

"A month, I suppose," Cao Jinxing blurted out.

"In your dreams!"

Liu Zhenyuan glared at him. "Seven days!"

Cao Jinxing protested, "What can I do in seven days? Twenty!"

"Eight days!"

"I dropped ten days, and you only added one! Is that fair?"

"Keep haggling and I won't add a single day!"

"..."

Cao Jinxing took a deep breath. "Fifteen days, then. Practicing a fifth-rank martial art takes time too. This would be a good chance to work on it properly."

Liu Zhenyuan's mouth twitched.

You need fifteen days?

Even fifteen quarter-hours would be too much!

Forget it.

Liu Zhenyuan could also tell the brat had something to do. He decided to let him have the full favor and said through gritted teeth, "Fifteen days it is. Besides, the Qianhu currently assigned there won't need to rotate out. I'm giving you time, so practice. Properly!"

What did it mean to leave the existing security force unchanged and add a few idle men?

It meant he was being sent there to enjoy himself!

If something urgent really came up, even if he left the Imperial Prison to handle his own affairs, it wouldn't affect the overall situation.

Cao Jinxing was satisfied.

"Thank you, sir!"

He sounded especially sincere.

Liu Zhenyuan, however, only thought the bastard deserved a beating. He waved irritably. "Get out!"

"..."

For the sake of his vacation, Cao Jinxing decided not to argue. He took the uniform, turned, and left, shooting out of the inner hall like a flash of lightning. "You two go on guard duty at the Imperial Prison. I'm heading out... I'm going to the Secret Vault to read."

"Yes, sir."

The voices outside faded away.

Liu Zhenyuan couldn't help chuckling.

"That brat..."