Chapter 155: The Fourth Great Protector |
Although only Bei You, Ban Ruo, and Blood Countenance were conversing, a multitude of demonic Messengers had already gathered around the clearing to spectate. Yet, when the three Great Protectors spoke, they even held their breaths, terrified of drawing the attention of these powerful figures. These ruthless madmen, who knew no law outside, had learned their first lesson on Shu Road Mountain: to be humble in the face of superior force.
But even with their utmost caution, when they heard that Tu Nüxia actually dared to demand compensation from Blood Countenance, some still couldn't help themselves.
"She's courting death!" someone whispered. "Blood Attendant's corpse isn't even cold yet, and she still dares to ask for compensation?"
"Lord Blood Countenance will surely kill her."
"Didn't you hear Lord Bei You and Lord Ban Ruo are protecting her? No matter how formidable Blood Countenance is, would he dare offend two Great Protectors?"
"A Rainstorm Messenger truly is precious. If only I could..."
"Then you'd be dead. Several Rainstorm Messengers have appeared on Shu Road Mountain, but only Lord Ban Ruo has mastered that power."
"How could Blood Countenance compensate them? This little girl is mad; does she truly believe Blood Countenance wouldn't dare strike?"
"Wait, the two Great Protectors only said they'd protect the Rainstorm Messenger, not the three-turn Messenger beside her..."
Neither Bei You nor Ban Ruo spoke, merely sweeping their gaze over Tu Nüxia. Silence was the best reply.
"If I heard correctly, sirs, you have a request for this esteemed hero." Tu Nüxia said leisurely, "No matter what help you wish from me, if I'm unwilling, what can you do?"
"You will be willing." Bei You stated calmly, without any overt threat. Yet, based solely on his identity, that single sentence was enough to evoke images of all the world's wickedness.
Tu Nüxia: "First, a question: You should be well-informed about outside news, right? You wouldn't be like frogs at the bottom of a well, completely ignorant of major events happening outside, would you?"
"Changle City sees trade from the three kingdoms; we receive news even faster than the emperor," Bei You replied.
"Then do you know what recently happened in the Roaming Abode Forest?"
"Of course. The mysterious maiden Jiang Shi is well-versed in the secrets of the Roaming Abode Forest. She is suspected of having obtained a legendary longsword from within the forest, slaying two three-turn Messengers, and successfully escaping a full-power attack from a Foundation Establishment Messenger." Ban Ruo looked at their confident expressions, dimly realizing something. "The item Jiang Shi used to escape, it seems to be—"
Tu Nüxia, with a flick of her right hand, conjured a token out of thin air. Etched upon it were the words 'Regression'.
"A Regression Order." She said languidly, "I was actually planning to leave just now. Anyway, everyone who needed to be killed has been, and I'm tired of playing. But hearing that you seem to have a request for this esteemed hero, I've graciously decided to listen to your plea."
A collective gasp echoed among the mountain stronghold's residents. Not just the other demonic Messengers, but even the three Great Protectors couldn't conceal the greed in their eyes as they gazed at the Regression Order.
Yaoshi Yuan, for her part, understood them well. Who wouldn't want a life-saving item like a Regression Order? At a crucial moment, it meant an extra life!
No one would question if the token was fake; even Blood Countenance fell silent.
Because this explained the point they had never been able to comprehend: Why did these two girls dare to kill their way into the mountain? They even killed Blood Countenance's younger brother right in front of him, without the slightest apprehension. Even courting death couldn't explain their actions.
But with a Regression Order, everything made sense. They could leave at any time, so naturally, they wouldn't care about any consequences or threats!
Slaying their way through Shu Road Mountain was just entertainment, a challenge, to them. Even if they failed, they had no fear. This was the confidence the Regression Order granted them!
More importantly, Ban Ruo and Bei You didn't dare gamble that the token was fake, nor did they dare to rashly offend them. If it were real, they would genuinely have missed out on a Rainstorm Messenger comparable to Ban Ruo.
Threatening Tu Nüxia with Yaoshi Yuan was even more fanciful; if the smaller one had a Regression Order, surely the older one did too?
"Young ladies," Bei You's tone softened. "To be frank, we indeed have a certain opportunity that requires your assistance."
"Then let me first see your sincerity." Tu Nüxia tapped the Regression Order against her palm. "Blood Countenance's younger brother gathered so many people to try and rob me. If I hadn't bravely intervened and promptly prevented Zhong Ji from living, imagine how bad that would have been for Shu Road Mountain."
"What the young laywoman says is reasonable." Ban Ruo also politely asked, "May I inquire what compensation the young laywoman requires? Spiritual Jade?"
"Do I look like someone who lacks Spiritual Jade? Xìnwù, secret technique scrolls, or skill manuals would do. Bring a list. If the compensation doesn't satisfy me, I'll just leave." Tu Nüxia said. "Blood Countenance even attacked me just now, startling this esteemed hero so much I almost left. Shouldn't that also be compensated?"
"Compensate, all can be compensated." Ban Ruo turned to Blood Countenance. "Blood Countenance, since this matter was caused by your people, you must take responsibility."
Blood Countenance's hands trembled with rage. "I'm already giving you face by not attacking them; now you want me to compensate? My third brother—"
"I know your brother died, which is why I haven't pursued the matter further," Bei You said coldly. "To be coveting wealth in Changle City, then ambushing in the wilderness—was your brother an uncultured barbarian? He was a Protector under your command, and he deliberately broke the rules. We merely chose not to interfere, but that doesn't mean your brother shouldn't have died!" "Exactly, exactly, he deserved to die." Tu Nüxia nodded repeatedly as she listened. "But if Blood Countenance still insists on attacking us..."
"Absolutely impossible!" Bei You immediately declared.
"Don't rush, it's not like I'm forbidding him from seeking revenge." Tu Nüxia said, hands on her hips. "But he can't just attack when he wants and leave when he wants, right? At the very least, he should apologize or swear an oath? When I mess up, I at least promise it won't happen next time."
Bei You and Ban Ruo immediately looked at Blood Countenance. Blood Countenance's face alternated between green and pale. After a brief silence, he said hatefully, "I promise—"
"Swear on your brother's corpse." Yaoshi Yuan suddenly interjected. "The more important the oath that is violated, the more difficult it will be to achieve Foundation Establishment in the future."
Blood Countenance suddenly calmed. He deeply scrutinized the two young ladies, then pointed at Zhong Ji's corpse and said, "I swear on my third brother's honor, that during the period you assist us, I will not lay a hand on you. Should I violate this oath, may I die without a burial place!" With that, he turned and left, cradling Zhong Ji's corpse.
"Hey, don't you still owe us one Spiritual Jade and a bitter gourd!" Tu Nüxia called after him.
Soon, Ban Ruo and Bei You delivered two Xìnwù and fifty thousand and one Spiritual Jade. Yan Qing was surprised to find that while these two Xìnwù were only of rare quality, they could significantly increase attack speed, perfectly suiting a Rainstorm Messenger.
A thought stirred in his mind, and he guessed that these two Xìnwù were likely prepared for a Rainstorm Messenger all along. But if he hadn't deliberately threatened them, the three Great Protectors might not have been willing to give them away so readily, let alone the fifty thousand and one Spiritual Jade.
This was why Yan Qing had intentionally exposed the Regression Order. Some trump cards need to remain unknown to achieve surprise, but others, like the Regression Order, achieve their maximum value by being revealed.
Just now, Tu Nüxia's main objective was to find an opportunity to show off the Regression Order. The experience itself was quite thrilling: slaying her way through Shu Road Mountain, forcibly killing the Blood Attendant, asserting dominance over Blood Countenance, and subduing the Protectors. Thinking of how formidable his alternate character was, even Yan Qing couldn't help but proudly puff out his chest.
Now, even if they entered the mountain stronghold, Yan Qing was certain they wouldn't dare act recklessly. However, there was no need to put others at risk, so Tu Nüxia said to Yaoshi Yuan, "You should make a trip back to Changle City."
Yaoshi Yuan understood in her heart that this was for her to settle Wu Qiu and Shi Dong in Changle City before returning to the mountain stronghold—in truth, Yan Qing didn't want her to return, but he also knew that Yaoshi Yuan was an extremely strong-willed person whom he couldn't easily sway.
At this moment, Ban Ruo suddenly spoke, "Are you intending to bring the two young ladies from down the mountain up? There's no need; this humble monk has already sent someone to fetch them. Look, they're almost here."
Tu Nüxia and Yaoshi Yuan turned, and in the distance, they saw the figures of Wu Qiu and Shi Dong appearing on the mountain path, surrounded by a group of demonic Messengers. The four reunited, and Yaoshi Yuan stepped forward to check on their condition: "You're all right, aren't you?"
Wu Qiu shook her head. "They said, 'Miss, you've taken a seat of power on the mountain,' so they escorted us up. They took us directly from our room; we couldn't even run... Miss, did you really take a seat of power?"
"Of course!" Ban Ruo suddenly declared loudly. "From now on, you are the Fourth Seat of Power on Shu Road Mountain, the Fourth Great Protector! You shall jointly govern the Secret Realms with us and share in the profits!"
"You can recruit your own forces, or you can simply enjoy the benefits; Changle City will allocate ten percent of its profits to you." Bei You added. "As a three-turn Messenger, you are fully qualified to become the Fourth Great Protector. What do you say?"
The demonic Messengers present erupted in a clamor, discussing amongst themselves, but no one dared to openly question the two Great Protectors. Everyone looked at Yaoshi Yuan with eyes full of envy, jealousy, and even hatred. Some were already calculating how to pledge allegiance to the new Great Protector; doing so now would be like providing charcoal in winter, surely making them trusted confidantes.
Holding Wu Qiu and Shi Dong hostage to bring them up the mountain was a show of might, while appointing her as the Fourth Great Protector was a show of favor!
Yan Qing watched, amazed. He hadn't expected these two to change their strategy so quickly. They had even realized that Yaoshi Yuan was the key, as Tu Nüxia was too young and too... peculiar. By comparison, Yaoshi Yuan seemed much easier to win over.
Earlier, when Blood Countenance had made a move against Yaoshi Yuan, Tu Nüxia had immediately used the Regression Order as a threat, indicating Yaoshi Yuan's importance in Tu Nüxia's eyes. Bei You and Ban Ruo were not ones to hesitate; having decided to win her over, they immediately invested heavily!
After all, it was all coming out of Blood Countenance's share.
Yaoshi Yuan exchanged a glance with Tu Nüxia, and seeing the latter's subtle nod, Yaoshi Yuan also took a deep breath. She wasn't unaware of the dangers within the mountain stronghold, but her journey here was originally for Si Wuxie's inheritance. Accepting the title of Great Protector would be of immense help to her subsequent actions!
"May I ask your esteemed names?" Bei You inquired.
"Heroine." Tu Nüxia proudly announced her full name: "Tu Nüxia!"
Yaoshi Yuan instinctively wanted to reveal her true name; she had always been proud of her family name. But now, she wasn't inheriting the title of Duke of Jin; she was becoming a Great Protector of Shu Road Mountain.
"Wolf," Yaoshi Yuan enunciated each word slowly. "Wolf Master Yao."
"Please, come in."
Watching Yaoshi Yuan and her three companions follow Bei You and Ban Ruo into the mountain stronghold, the surrounding demonic Messengers felt as if they were dreaming. Never before had anyone joined Shu Road Mountain and immediately become a Great Protector, nor had anyone ever been personally led in by two Great Protectors.
Shu Road Mountain had welcomed its Fourth Great Protector—Wolf Master Yao!
Comments 6