Heroes gathered inside the Mountains and Seas Tower, whispering among themselves as they waited.
Xie Jinhuan and Sister Guo, dressed as a Witch, sat beside a tea table, waiting for someone from the Mountains and Seas Tower to appear. Instead, old Lü Yan ambled over, sat in a chair beside them, and stroked his beard as he said quietly:
"You certainly schemed well, young friend Xie. To get your hands on the Immortal Artifact, you actually used this Daoist to draw attention away from yourself. Luckily, I was one move ahead, spotted the signs, and didn't take the bait. But I really am curious. If I'd opened the chest that day and even taken it out of Dragonbone Shoal, how would you have gotten it back?"
Xie Jinhuan's plan at the time had been to let Lü Yan draw the fire, then secretly protect him and collect a protection fee. Naturally, he couldn't sound quite so wicked when speaking face-to-face:
"Old Lü and I became acquainted through a fight. Whichever of us carried it out, it would still be in the hands of the Righteous Path, and its ownership could be discussed afterward. That would be better than fighting each other openly and in secret, only for neither of us to get it."
"Oh?"
Lü Yan had seen how greedily Xie Jinhuan grabbed his share and didn't quite believe this nonsense. Still, he didn't expose it, merely changing the subject:
"Whatever you say, this Daoist did help provide cover. Now that you've acquired such a treasure, about the payment for helping you out of trouble last time, could you-"
Xie Jinhuan raised a hand slightly. "I'm still in Dragonbone Shoal, so I can hardly say I've acquired it yet. Those on the path of cultivation should support one another. If