Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 346 - 346 345 A Small Change

346: Chapter 345: A Small Change 346: Chapter 345: A Small Change Bai Qingqian knew this person was still talking nonsense.

If one could really vent their anger by killing without being punished, the Jiedu Mansion would have closed down long ago.

But what concerned her most was, “Sir, with Zeng Ji killed and Lu Shilun demoted, Bai’s Trading Company…”

Hou Niao smiled, “The debts Bai’s Trading Company owed to Fuyunlai have all been transferred to me, so you have nothing to worry about.

Later, I will select the Thunder Attribute Artifacts that are of use, and the rest can be sold; some will be utilized, some will be used for cash flow.

I hope this becomes a beneficial cycle, one that neither occupies Bai’s resources, affecting your operations, nor prevents me from obtaining the Artifacts I need at the most economical prices.

You must remember, cooperation will only last when it’s mutually beneficial, not when one side is giving unilaterally.

No one is anyone’s vassal; it’s only by maintaining independence that one can gain the greatest respect.”

Bai Qingqian nodded, she understood the principle, but was maintaining independence really that easy?

This sir was good at preaching principles, but when it came down to it, wasn’t it still the law of the fist, with killing as one pleased?

“Please come with me, sir.

In these three to four years, I have also collected dozens of Thunder Attribute Exotic Treasures, and I’m not ashamed to say that it almost brought down Bai’s Trading Company.

It won’t happen again in the future.

Only by maintaining normal business operations can we ensure long-term success; however, with the debts no longer pressing, I think Bai’s will have no trouble surviving this ordeal, although in the future it will become increasingly difficult to collect Thunder Attribute Artifacts.

There are hardly any left in the Mirage market, so I’ll have to start looking beyond our region…”

Hou Niao didn’t rush her, “It’s best to go with the flow.

With these items, I have enough to last me for a while, there’s no need to force it; let chance take its course.

Also, your company has a wide network and quick information, could you help me look out for any treasures with Primordial Magnetic Attribute on the market?”

Bai Qingqian was somewhat surprised; this sir’s approach to Skill was indeed peculiar, leaping wildly in its logic, but she didn’t want to pry.

In the way of cultivation, everyone has their own ideas.

“Alright, slow down the collection pace, focus on Primordial Magnetic Artifacts…

However, sir, you should know that Primordial Magnetic Artifacts are even scarcer than Thunder Attribute ones, so it may take some time to find any.

Often it’s a matter of luck, and you should be prepared for that.”

Hou Niao nodded, conveying understanding.

He had his own thoughts about these Artifacts and did not need to explain too much; if one had to personally collect such items, it would be taxing, tedious, and not very effective.

Having a trading company at his service was the best solution.

The two returned to Bai Qingqian’s secluded abode to start checking the Thunder Attribute Artifacts she had collected.

Sensing the moment, Bai Qingqian tactfully excused herself, leaving him space to be alone; she had to admit, the woman was considerate.

With her around, the minutiae were always well organized.

Hou Niao, while inspecting the Thunder Attribute Artifacts, reflected on his actions since his return, feeling a wave of emotions.

The return journey took half a year; it wasn’t that the distance was truly that far, but the road was fraught with difficulties, with constant complications.

He spent much of it matching wits and courage with the flying birds of the Lizhi Sea and even had to jump into the sea at his most desperate to save himself.

Two thousand li beyond the Lizhi Sea marks the start of the Blue Sea, an area not easily entered by Tongtian three-realm cultivators.

Here, a minor cultivator like him was mere prey.

On his return, he estimated that Blue Mountain Island was about eight thousand li from the continental shelf.

Any further and it would be the deep sea, a habitat for Nascent Transformation Sea Clan and even higher Realm demons—if indeed it was as such, he feared he might not have made it back.

Luckily, Blue Mountain was still within the Blue Sea, a realm dominated by Demon Cores, Sea Demons, and Bird Demons, where hunting was their nature.

There was nothing to complain about.

He had hardly spent a single peaceful day on this journey.

While he could act proud and aloof in the human world of Mirage, life out at sea required him to keep a low profile, presenting another kind of living.

Ups and downs were only natural.

In the most dangerous moments, he couldn’t even care about direction.

When encountering a Bird Demon, he would lure it into the sea; when facing the Sea Clan, he’d fly up into the sky.

The goal was to incite conflict between the Sea and Bird Demons, then take the opportunity to flee.

The journey was fraught with peril, like treading on thin ice.

Fortunately, he was lucky.

Alongside frenzied demons, he also met kindhearted friends.

Throughout this ordeal, he managed to survive relatively unscathed.

He didn’t hold grudges against the demons that pursued him—it was their instinct.

What was it to them if he strutted around in their territory and they took a few shots at him?

Those who helped him became friends.

With such a mindset, he also made some winged companions in the sea, leading a pleasurable life, spirited and unrestrained, gaining much in the process.

It was the best way to apply what he had learned to practical situations.

Without being pushed to the brink, one never knows the depth of one’s potential.

Regarding the incident from three years ago, he had his own judgment and would often ponder, discovering three oddities.

First, the timing of the Demon Whale herd’s intrusion was off; in the history of the Lizhi Sea, similar Sea Clan disruptions usually happened within the first ten days of the shell-picking season.

Any later, and humans would have already taken most of their catch, so causing trouble would be pointless.

Yet, this time the Demon Whale herd chose the end of the shell-picking month, which was baffling.

Second, if several Tiger Demon Whales divided their attack among three people, why did he alone get targeted by three while both Lu Shilun and Zeng Ji faced only two each?

This made no sense, as Zeng Ji was the one who first alerted everyone, and it was Lu Shilun who took charge of the negotiations later.

He never even spoke up, just playing the part of an extra.

He didn’t believe that his presence was so imposing as to command such attention.

So why was he so highly regarded?

Had the intelligence of Sea Demons reached this degree?

Finally, when he lead the charge against the leader whale into the sea, why were the other four Demon Whales, who had been confronting the other two people, able to arrive so swiftly, without any delay?

Normally, one would aim to take down the mount before the rider, capturing the king to defeat the enemy—simple logic for cultivators.

It was unthinkable that beings at the Tongxuan Realm would not understand this.

If a comrade hunted the leader whale, even if the others couldn’t help, they should at least be holding the current adversaries at bay.

How could they let them enter the sea?

As these three questions unfolded, there was no need to contemplate what it all meant.

This was why Hou Niao began his killings upon his return.

No investigations, no interrogations, no confrontations.

Kill first, question later!

Zeng Ji was a high-profile figure with many opportunities to show his face, but Lu Shilun, being an official, had been very discreet, making him hard to find.

The banquet at Zhaoyang provided him the opportunity,

so he was grateful for Bai Qingqian’s unwitting cooperation.

Being able to adhere to one’s principles even in dire straits, not compromising, showed a deep understanding of the situation, and such resolve was commendable.

He liked partnering with someone who had such determination—it gave him peace of mind.