Chapter 200: Guan Julan and Su Feibai’s Invitation
Chapter 200: Chapter 200: Guan Julan and Su Feibai’s Invitation
"Harmony brings wealth?" Su Feibai was the first to sneer. "Yan Liyuan, have all those books rotted your brain? With a Spiritual Object right in front of us, you want to talk about harmony?"
Yan Liyuan’s expression didn’t change as he said calmly, "Brother Su, the Star Anise Tree only has four fruits. There are eight of us, and with Brother Zhu, that makes nine. If we fight senselessly, I fear we’ll all end up wounded, and no one will benefit."
"Brother Yan, what are you suggesting then?" one of the scholars asked, watching him with keen interest.
"We split them."
Yan Liyuan smiled. "Four fruits, nine people. Obviously, we can’t split them equally. But we can negotiate a method of distribution that everyone can accept."
"Those who get a fruit will compensate those who don’t with something else."
"This Star Anise Fruit is highly beneficial for those of us who follow the Confucian Dao, but for Miss Guan and Brother Su, it’s not quite as crucial."
Yan Liyuan’s gaze swept over the crowd as he continued, "The Star Anise Fruit is excellent, but its main effects are enhancing Literary Energy and nourishing Divine Sense. It’s a supreme treasure for followers of the Confucian and Immortal Daos, but for those of the Martial Dao or Thief Dao, its usefulness is significantly reduced."
Guan Julan pursed her lips. "So what you’re saying is, we of the Martial Dao should just go home empty-handed? That’s not happening. And I, for one, am not pleased."
"Of course not." Yan Liyuan shook his head. "That’s why compensation is necessary. Those who receive a fruit will give something of equivalent value to those who don’t. That way, no one loses out."
A short, stout man rubbed his chin, his eyes narrowed as he asked, "What’s the standard for compensation? And who gets to decide?"
Yan Liyuan smiled.
"We can all decide together, or we could ask a respected elder to act as an arbiter."
As if on cue, everyone’s gaze fell upon an old man.
The old man had been keeping his eyes closed, as if asleep. Only now did he slowly open them, a sharp glint flashing through his murky pupils.
"I will not be your judge," he said, his voice raspy and flat. "Fight if you want to fight, make peace if you want to make peace. Just leave me out of it."
With that, he closed his eyes again.
The crowd looked at each other, at a loss.
Zhu Ge, however, was studying the Wood Daoist with a hint of curiosity.
’This man probably isn’t on the Sheji Chart, but his aura is obscure. He’s undoubtedly a Third Realm existence.’
Just then, the scholar-like young man spoke up. "Since the Wood Daoist is unwilling, let’s do as Brother Yan suggested. We’ll compete based on our own abilities. Whoever gets a fruit will compensate those who don’t. The amount of compensation can be negotiated between the two parties. If you can’t agree, you can find someone else to mediate."
"Now that’s more like it," the short, stout man nodded.
"I have one more question." The woman in black suddenly spoke, her gaze landing on Zhu Ge. "This Brother Zhu... what are his origins? By what right does he get to participate in the distribution?"
As soon as she said this, everyone’s eyes once again focused on Zhu Ge.
Zhu Ge’s expression remained unchanged as he said coolly, "Because I can fight."
"You can fight?" The woman in black chuckled. "Who here can’t? But we’ve never heard of a new assassin joining the Sheji Chart."
’From the way she speaks, it seems she isn’t an assassin, but someone from the Thief Dao.’
"Then let’s test that." Zhu Ge stood up and brushed the dust from his robes. "You and me, one-on-one. If I lose, I’ll turn and leave. If you lose, stop asking such pointless questions."
"Oh?" The woman in black’s gaze sharpened. Her heart thumped in her chest as she sensed his aura—it was indeed Blood Qi.
’The Three Realms of the Thief Dao!’
She stuck out her delicate pink tongue and licked her lips, her eyes scanning the vital points on Zhu Ge’s body—his neck, heart, armpits, and groin.
"That’s enough," Yan Liyuan interjected. "I can vouch for Brother Zhu’s strength. And he is not an assassin, but an orthodox Body Refining Martial Artist."
As he spoke, he looked toward Zhu Ge.
’Last time, Zhu Ge said he didn’t belong to any sect or school, that his aura concealment technique was something he developed on his own.’
’Yet this time, he’s casually dropping the name of a "True Monarch".’
’Either Zhu Ge was lying to them last time...’
’...or he wasn’t lying, and he really is a Loose Cultivator who just happened to meet this True Monarch under other circumstances.’
’To be able to attract the attention of a True Monarch, to the point of becoming an acquaintance—Zhu Ge must be extraordinary.’
This made the way Yan Liyuan looked at Zhu Ge even more amicable.
"If you don’t believe me, feel free to test it for yourself," Zhu Ge said plainly, his hand gripping the Purgatory Star Rod.
But then, the Martial Arts Heart in his chest began to beat, producing a deafening, thunderous roar that echoed across the area.
At this, the others averted their gazes.
Just by the sound of his Martial Arts Heart, they knew that Zhu Ge had to be a prodigy.
A prodigy of this caliber was indeed qualified to be one of them.
In truth, Zhu Ge felt he had no other choice.
’I don’t have Divine Sense, so I can only use my Martial Arts Heart to prove that I’m not weak.’
’It’s not that I wanted to do this.’
’After all, for everyone here, the strength of one’s Divine Sense is the basic way to judge their approximate level of power.’
’Those with strong Divine Sense possess greater power when they achieve a breakthrough.’
’Conversely, those without it are naturally not as strong.’
’But using the sound of my Martial Arts Heart to display my strength isn’t a bad alternative. It’s just a bit more of a hassle.’
"Brother Zhu." Yan Liyuan flew over at that moment, landing on the ground to stand with Zhu Ge. He offered a cupped-fist salute. "It’s only been a few days, and yet you seem to have acquired a bit of a scholarly air?"
Though phrased as a question, Yan Liyuan’s smile held a sense of certainty.
Zhu Ge didn’t try to hide it. He returned the salute and said, "Indeed. Brother Yan, is there something you’d like to ask?"
He actually felt that this Yan Liyuan was a decent person, a true gentleman.
’If it hadn’t been for Yan Liyuan last time, I probably would have seized Guan Julan’s Elemental Level Spring Eye.’
’Guan Julan would have been surrounded, and even if she hadn’t died, she would have been gravely injured.’
’But because of Yan Liyuan’s appearance, Guan Julan was fine, and both Su Feibai and I were persuaded to back down.’
’Of course, that Elemental Level Spring Eye of Guan Julan’s was still incredibly tempting to me.’
"Hey, you bastard!" Guan Julan called out to Zhu Ge. "How about I give you the Elemental Level Spring Eye, and you help me out in a bit?"
Zhu Ge shot her a glance.
’This girl is actually quite something. She’s good-looking, comes from a wealthy family, and is supposedly some kind of Eldest Senior Sister.’
’Too bad she was born with a mouth but not a brain.’
"No deal," Zhu Ge shook his head. "If I don’t get a fruit, I can help you. But if I do, the deal’s off."
"Oh-ho?!" Guan Julan rubbed her chin. "You’ve got some nerve, you little thing, huh?"
Zhu Ge felt exasperated.
’This girl’s nuts!’
Just then, Su Feibai also spoke up, "Brother Zhu, we could be considered acquaintances. If the opportunity arises in the future, how about you help me assassinate someone?"
’Assassinate someone?’
Zhu Ge shook his head. "I’m not an assassin. I don’t do that kind of thing."
’Assassins have always been infamous.’
’No one wants an enemy lurking in the shadows, ready to appear at any moment.’
"I’ll pay you three Elemental Level Spiritual Objects," Su Feibai said, holding up three fingers.
"Still no," Zhu Ge shook his head. "My Martial Arts Heart won’t allow me to do such a thing."
’If I took this job, I might be hunted down and eliminated in the future.’
’Besides, since I’ve already revealed my name is Zhu Ge, it could implicate the Six Paths Palace.’
’Doing something like that just isn’t worth it.’