Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 250 - One Hundred Ninety-Four: Viper and Scorpion

Chapter 250: Chapter One Hundred Ninety-Four: Viper and Scorpion

A day later, Lou Ji left.

Before she left, she said, "Sister will borrow this for a while, I’ll return it to you later," and took away Xu Yuan’s newly acquired Xuanying Attic.

Half a month later, the negotiations with the Myriad Manifestation Sect also temporarily came to a close.

In addition to the items initially agreed upon, through a series of follow-up negotiations involving troop withdrawals and city defense weapons, Xu Yuan painstakingly squeezed nearly nine million taels of silver from the upper echelons of the Myriad Manifestation Sect.

It is said that a large part of it was donated by the disciples of the Myriad Manifestation Sect, and the inner sect families contributed only about twenty percent of it.

Besides, there were the four hundred thousand taels for the formation expenses generously given away by Xu Xinyao, that wasteful woman.

However, Xu Yuan didn’t get a single penny of this money; it was all divided up by the high-level officials, resembling wolves and tigers.

Another morning arrived,

The drizzling spring rain soaked the entire Wanxiang City in a curtain of mist, making it hazy and indistinct.

Under the gloomy skies, raindrops fell from the eaves like pearls and jade, splashing ripples in the puddles.

Yuan Hao stood inside the room, smiling as he cupped his hands in greeting:

"...The plan for the gradual retreat is mostly this, and my visit today was also to bid farewell to the Third Young Master."

Xu Yuan looked up at him and asked,

"Are you heading to the Northern Frontier?"

Yuan Hao did not hide the truth and nodded:

"The commanding officer has personally summoned me."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan instinctively wanted to ask why he did not go with Lou Ji, but then he immediately realized that the question was foolish.

The Black Scale Army held a special status within the Prime Minister’s Mansion; aside from the source of troops which was the Tian’an Martial Hall, they generally couldn’t have any intersection with other forces.

Unless Xu Yinhè, the Prime Minister, issued an order, others within the Prime Minister’s Mansion would also avoid contact with any of the Black Scale Army’s officers to prevent any impropriety.

Gathering his thoughts, Xu Yuan smiled slightly:

"Fighting the Barbarian Tribes should be right up your alley, shouldn’t it?"

These humanoid creatures, even when captured, are not suitable for slavery.

They possess great strength and intellect, but are naturally bloodthirsty.

And as for slave marks, those divine artifacts don’t seem to have been invented in this world; at most, high-level cultivators can embed Origin Qi bombs in their bodies, but that is too costly. Hence, Dayan generally doesn’t leave any survivors when dealing with the Barbarian Tribes.

At Xu Yuan’s teasing, Yuan Hao also laughed, his handsome face showing a trace of helplessness:

"After all, those Barbarian Tribes have no value as prisoners."

But immediately after, he shook his head:

"It’s a pity it’s only against the Barbarian Tribes."

"Commanding officer Yuan, it may not be just the Barbarian Tribes."

Xu Yuan said with a slight smile, having gained a clear understanding of Commanding Officer Yuan over these past days.

He was a madman, but not entirely mad.

So, telling him a bit of the underlying truth was no great harm.

Yuan Hao’s eyes narrowed, and he subconsciously rubbed his hands together, lowering his voice as he transmitted,

"Young Master, what do you mean by that?"

Xu Yuan waved his hand, avoiding details:

"You’ll understand once you get to the Northern Frontier. Mr. Zong should explain the specifics to you."

Yuan Hao’s eyes could not conceal his excitement.

About the warfare at the Northern Frontier, even though he couldn’t access some classified intelligence due to his insufficient status, he could already deduce some clues from what he was able to see.

If he wasn’t competent, the Prime Minister wouldn’t specifically bring him into the loop.

And now, the words of the Third Young Master nearly confirmed his speculations.

He cupped his hands in farewell, ready to leave, when Yuan Hao suddenly remembered something and asked in a low voice:

"By the way, Third Young Master, about Wang Jiadian..."

Colonel Wang?

Xu Yuan was slightly surprised at the mention.

Colonel Wang was preparing to come to the Myriad Manifestation Sect to demand justice for Shengshan County with his life, but by the time he arrived at Wanxiang City, East City had already been under the control of the Black Scale Army for nearly ten days.

In such a situation, Colonel Wang naturally thought of the words of Young Master Zhou who had spoken to him earlier, and the latter’s act of leaving early.

Therefore, he naturally sought out the Black Scale Army.

After meeting him, Xu Yuan naturally revealed his identity and tried to recruit him with the promise of avenging Shengshan County by eradicating the Myriad Manifestation Sect in the future.

But Colonel Wang did not agree immediately.

Thinking this far, Xu Yuan asked,

"What about him?"

Yuan Hao spoke softly,

"He asked me to tell you that if you, Young Master, decide to wage war on the Myriad Manifestation Sect, his Shengshan army is willing to serve diligently. Besides that, he can only repay with his death; he is willing to go to the Myriad Manifestation Sect’s gate."

To take the step himself, so as not to dirty your hands.

Xu Yuan tapped on the desk, somewhat disappointed:

"Is that his way of rejecting the offer?"

Without discussing too many details, Yuan Hao simply asked:

"Third Young Master, what do you plan to do with him?"

Do you want to have him killed?

The sound of the rain outside continued incessantly, and for a moment, only the breathing of the two men filled the room.

After a long pause, a sigh was heard.

Xu Yuan waved his hand:

"Let him go back to Shengshan County. There’s no need to advance on the Sect’s gate."

Yuan Hao did not try to persuade him, but simply cupped his hands and turned to leave.

As he was leaving, he happened to encounter Ran Qingmo coming to find Xu Yuan, and Yuan Hao also took the opportunity to give a greeting:

"Madam Third Young Master."

"...."

Ran Qingmo watched the military officer hesitate for a moment before nodding to him:

"...Yes."

As they brushed past each other and entered the side room, Ran Qingmo approached Xu Yuan, who sat behind the desk looking somewhat despondent. She asked in a soft voice:

"Xu Yuan, what’s wrong with you?"

Xu Yuan looked up to see Big Ice Lump and spoke quite bluntly:

"I tried to recruit someone, but was rejected, and I’m feeling a bit down."

"..."

Ran Qingmo unconsciously paused in her steps and glanced at Xu Yuan’s lips, her grip on the sheathed Ink Sword tight, her eyes wary.

"......" Xu Yuan.

With a wry smile, Xu Yuan gestured to a seat nearby:

"Come over and sit down. I didn’t ask for your comfort, I had anticipated this might happen."

Ran Qingmo tucked her skirt and sat down. After thinking for a moment, she asked:

"Was it Colonel Wang?"

Xu Yuan nodded, his voice laden with melancholy:

"Colonel Wang has eaten the Emperor’s grain for decades and defended Shengshan for just as long. It was rather wishful thinking to expect him to serve under me."

This was his first failure in recruitment.

Even with great favors, even with the status as the Third Young Master of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, even with a promised bright future, it was not enough to make someone bow in allegiance.

At most, they offer their lives in repayment.

Ran Qingmo thought quietly for a moment, glancing at her own Ink Sword, and asked:

"Isn’t it dangerous for you that he’s still alive?"

Xu Yuan shook his head:

"People like him won’t betray me, just like the way he holds onto his own steadfastness."

"Oh..." Ran Qingmo.

Xu Yuan asked softly, "What did you come to find me for?"

In a gentle voice, Ran Qingmo said:

"Xinyao said we can set out now."

"Back to the Imperial Capital?"

"Yes, back to the Imperial Capital."

...

...

"Boom—"

A thunderclap tearing through the night sky illuminated a dark cave within the Wanxing Mountain Range.

Li Erzhu sat curled up quietly in a corner of the cave, silently wiping his sword, his downcast gaze filled with deep confusion.

He didn’t know what to do.

Return to the Sect.

The Sect had shown him great kindness, transforming him from a mountain boy to his current level of cultivation. He owed them his gratitude.

But the actions of the Sect left him bewildered.

He wanted to die, but had failed to do so.

He had comprehended the Dao Charm amongst a horde of Demonic Beasts, broken through to the Third Grade, and thus, he survived.

After surviving the Demonic Beasts, a Great Grandmaster mysteriously tried to kill him, and he killed him instead.

Li Erzhu scratched his head:

"Maybe... I should go back to the Sect first and ask Xiao He..."

"Screech—"

In the silence, a clear eagle’s cry echoed from the sky.

Li Erzhu instinctively tightened his grip on the sword, but the next moment, he saw a female figure appear at the entrance of the cave.

She walked towards the cave with a seductive sway, her movements exuding allure, her voice tinged with mirth:

"Is there actually a cave here?"

Li Erzhu quickly averted his eyes and hurriedly stood up, patting off his behind:

"Miss, if... if you need shelter from the rain, I’ll give it to you, I’ll just go outside right away."

The seductive woman’s eyes, hidden in the dark, twinkled as she chuckled:

"Are you Li Zhu?"

Li Erzhu paused mid-motion, looking at the woman with a puzzled expression:

"Ah... Ah! Yes, I am Li Zhu."

"That’s correct then."

The woman laughed coquettishly and turned to leave immediately: "You’re not bad, but for the sake of my Changtian, I must apologize, oh~"

"...."

Li Erzhu was stunned for a moment, his gaze confused as he watched the woman’s retreating figure.

The next moment,

"I... I...."

He raised his hand wanting to ask something, but his mouth had already gone numb, and soon after, his body lost control altogether.

He instinctively tried to circulate his Cultivation Technique, but found that something unknown had attached itself to the meridians within his body. As he circulated his technique, the substance spread throughout his entire body.

It was warm and comfortable, like basking in the sun.

In the enveloping warmth,

Li Zhu’s consciousness blurred, and he collapsed rigidly onto the cave floor.....