Chapter 27: Jiang Hanshan’s Deal

“Quick! Bring me my finest wine and prepare a banquet to properly welcome Lord Jiang!”

As soon as Duan Xinyuan heard that Jiang Hanshan had arrived, he hurriedly gave orders.

The Tianshui Sect instantly became a flurry of activity, and Duan Xinyuan himself followed the gray-robed elder down the mountain in haste, preparing to meet this distinguished guest from Yizhou.

Liangzhou and Yizhou were neighboring regions, and the various powers within them often interacted.

Therefore, Duan Xinyuan knew well who Jiang Hanshan was.

If he were merely the governor of a single province, it wouldn’t warrant such attention from the proud Duan Xinyuan.

Beyond his outward identity as Yizhou’s governor, Jiang Hanshan also served the current Yan Emperor.

For him to suddenly visit Tianshuimen of Liangzhou at such a time might very well mean he was acting under the Yan Emperor’s orders—how could Duan Xinyuan not take this seriously?

Duan Xinyuan descended the mountain and met Jiang Hanshan in a pavilion.

Jiang Hanshan was tall and thin, resembling a sickly bamboo stalk.

There was always a false smile on his face, and his pair of “Yin-Yang Eyes” were as unfathomable as a deep pool.

His “Yin-Yang Eyes”—one black, one white—did not possess any mystical powers.

The white eye was a false eye he had fitted after going blind in one eye.

One of his arms was also an artificial limb, moving rather unnaturally.

Even so, Duan Xinyuan dared not show the slightest disrespect to Jiang Hanshan.

He stepped forward and greeted him respectfully.

“Tianshuimen’s Duan Xinyuan greets Lord Jiang!”

“Sect Master Duan, your reputation precedes you.”

Jiang Hanshan rose and returned the gesture, speaking politely.

“I’ve heard that Tianshuimen has been rising in strength lately, with a faint trend towards dominance in Liangzhou. Congratulations, Sect Master Duan.”

“Not at all, not at all. Tianshuimen is not an old power in Liangzhou—we certainly must show respect to our fellow seniors and have no claim to sole dominance.”

Duan Xinyuan answered smoothly, then naturally shifted the topic.

“May I ask what brings Lord Jiang to Liangzhou this time?”

“Sect Master Duan, I’m not one for unnecessary words, so I’ll get straight to the point.”

Jiang Hanshan smiled.

“I came here personally to ask you for someone.”

“Someone? Who?”

“The disciple of Lady Demon Yu Yi Jue—Su Cheng.”

At these words, Duan Xinyuan was startled, but quickly regained his composure.

Unexpected, yet not unreasonable.

Jiang Hanshan would not have come to Tianshuimen without purpose, so his target being Su Cheng was not surprising.

“And Lord Jiang seeks Su Cheng because…”

Duan Xinyuan asked tentatively.

Before he could finish, Jiang Hanshan’s smile turned cold and sharp.

“Sect Master Duan, there are some questions best left unasked. As long as you understand, that’s enough.”

Duan Xinyuan swallowed.

Jiang Hanshan had indeed come on the Yan Emperor’s orders to seek Su Cheng.

But what did the royal family of Yan want with Su Cheng?

Duan Xinyuan did not dare show any speculation before Jiang Hanshan, so he quickly said,

“This… Lord Jiang, to be honest, Su Cheng is not currently in Tianshuimen.”

“Oh?”

Jiang Hanshan narrowed his eyes.

“Where did she go?”

“I… I don’t know.”

Duan Xinyuan replied.

He was lying.

Earlier, he had learned from the gray-robed elder about Su Cheng’s reason for leaving.

He dared not tell Jiang Hanshan because Su Cheng had gone to abduct someone—if such matters were revealed, wouldn’t it damage Tianshuimen’s righteous reputation?

However, Jiang Hanshan saw through Duan Xinyuan at a glance.

“Sect Master Duan, lying is not a wise choice.”

He shook his head, the unnatural smile remaining on his face.

“How about we make a deal?”

“What kind of deal?”

“Sect Master Duan, I can help you get rid of Su Cheng.”

Jiang Hanshan’s gaze suddenly turned cold, filled with killing intent.

Duan Xinyuan froze, murmuring.

“But… wasn’t it Su Cheng you wanted?”

“That’s right. But did I ever say she had to be alive?”

The killing intent vanished from Jiang Hanshan’s eyes, replaced by a smiling expression.

“I know she gives you headaches, Sect Master Duan. Someone with ambition—if not eliminated early—will become a major threat sooner or later, wouldn’t you say?”

Duan Xinyuan realized the other party had come prepared.

Jiang Hanshan, and the power behind him, had long since investigated the situation in Tianshuimen thoroughly.

Everything was for Su Cheng!

“How do we make this deal?”

Duan Xinyuan lowered his voice.

“I can lend you some of my people. After it’s done, you bring Su Cheng back to me. Whether it’s a living person or a corpse depends on your mood, Sect Master Duan.”

Jiang Hanshan smiled.

“Of course, if you wish for Su Cheng’s death, I ask only that you keep her body intact.”

Duan Xinyuan pondered for a moment, then nodded.

“Deal.”

“Excellent.”

Jiang Hanshan smiled with satisfaction, then clapped his hands.

“Come out.”

As his words fell, more than a dozen martial cultivators stepped out from the nearby woods, each armed.

At the sight of them, Duan Xinyuan broke out in a cold sweat.

He had not noticed their presence at all.

Each of these people was a master.

Duan Xinyuan understood clearly that had he not cooperated honestly just now, he would already be a pile of bones.

He examined their attire and recognized them as being from the Cold Sword Sect and Wanhua Hall.

Yizhou was larger than Liangzhou, and the Cold Sword Sect and Wanhua Hall, as two leading great sects, were far more powerful than Tianshuimen.

“Don’t be nervous. While they indeed harbored killing intent toward you just now, they now act at your command.”

Jiang Hanshan patted Duan Xinyuan’s shoulder.

“These are the elite among the elite of the Cold Sword Sect and Wanhua Hall. With their help, Sect Master Duan surely won’t let me down, will you?”

His words were layered, pressing down on Duan Xinyuan.

But with the assistance of elite disciples from the Cold Sword Sect and Wanhua Hall, dealing with Su Cheng would not be difficult.

“Rest assured, Lord Jiang. I have always valued my word in business.”

Duan Xinyuan’s lips curled upward.

“Within three days, I will bring Su Cheng’s corpse to Yizhou to pay my respects in person.”

He could not contain his excitement.

“Su Cheng… Su Cheng… I can’t wait to see that arrogant, detestable face of yours crying for mercy beneath my feet, hahaha—”

***

Yu Yi sat atop the Flying Chariot, parting the thin veil as she enjoyed the wind swirling through her hair and took in the scenery around her, perfectly at ease.

Riding a Flying Chariot was truly an exhilarating experience.

Wei Ying’s hometown, Jintang County, lay within the borders of Yizhou and wasn’t far from Among the Colorful Clouds.

Not long after the three of them boarded the Flying Chariot, they were close to arriving.

If they were to enter Jintang County aboard the Flying Chariot, it would draw too much attention.

Before understanding Su Cheng’s intentions, to avoid alerting their enemies, Yu Yi stopped the chariot ten li outside the county.

The Flying Chariot descended slowly, and the three of them returned to the ground.

Then the chariot rose into the sky again, melding with the wind, and vanished from sight.

When they needed it again, they could simply summon it.

“Wei Ying, you’ll lead the way from here.”

Yu Yi instructed Wei Ying.

“Yes.”

Wei Ying nodded and moved to the front.

But just as she took her first step, Huang Doudou blocked her.

“Hey, don’t be so reckless.”

Huang Doudou glanced around warily.

“Something’s off nearby.”