Chapter 267 - 114: Corpse Hair Wind! The Secret Treasury of a Qi Cultivator Sect

Chapter 267: Chapter 114: Corpse Hair Wind! The Secret Treasury of a Qi Cultivator Sect

The Zhou Residence.

The study.

Lin Yi stepped inside, led by the butler.

Several people were already gathered in the room.

Besides Zhou Tiankuo, there were four other Martial Artists, each with a distinct aura.

Lin Yi recognized one of them. It was Zhao Zhuo, his teacher Zhang Quan’s senior apprentice-brother.

The other three had intimidating presences.

One was a bald, burly man of terrifying size, an iron tower of a man standing nearly two meters tall. His granite-like muscles bulged, stretching his custom-made leather armor so taut it looked ready to burst, hinting at the explosive power contained within.

Another was a woman of about thirty. She was beautiful, but her eyes held a viciousness that belied her appearance. She wore tight leather clothes designed for mobility, outlining her athletic figure. A long, slender scimitar hung at her waist.

The last was a slender, pale-faced, middle-aged man in a dark gray bodysuit. A row of strangely shaped throwing knives was fastened to his waist. His gaze was shifty, as if constantly scanning the shadows, giving him a cold and slippery aura.

Lin Yi’s calm gaze swept over the group, finally resting on Zhou Tiankuo and Zhao Zhuo. He cupped his fist in greeting, his voice clear. "Uncle Zhou, Martial Uncle Zhao."

A smile appeared on Zhou Tiankuo’s face as he beckoned him over. "Xiaoyi, you’re here? Come, come."

He waved Lin Yi closer, then pointed to the giant, bald man, his tone becoming serious.

"This is Lei Gang, the ’Violent Bear,’ a low-tier Fourth Grade master! His body-hardening techniques are superb, and he has the strength to uproot mountains. He’ll be our front-liner."

Next, he pointed to the pale, middle-aged man.

"This is Du Qi, ’Ghost Shadow.’ He is also a low-tier Fourth Grade, specializing in stealth, assassination, and traps. He’s the team’s scout and point man."

Finally, he introduced the beautiful woman.

"She is Liu Mei, the ’Poison Maiden,’ a low-tier Fourth Grade. She is an expert in poisons and close-quarters combat, and she’ll be one of our main attackers."

"As for your Martial Uncle Zhao, you’re already acquainted, so I won’t waste words."

With the introductions finished, Zhou Tiankuo walked to Lin Yi’s side, faced Lei Gang and the other two, and said sternly:

"Everyone, this is Lin Yi. He will be joining our exploration team for this mission."

He deliberately stressed his words, his gaze sweeping over the three of them. "Lin Yi may be young, but I have personally verified his strength. He is by no means an amateur. On this journey, I expect you all to support each other and cooperate fully."

"A pleasure to meet you, Seniors." Lin Yi’s expression remained unchanged. He once again cupped his fist to the others in the room, executing a standard Martial Artist’s salute with a steady, self-possessed bearing.

"Hah!" Lei Gang was the first to speak, his rough voice like rumbling thunder, laced with undisguised contempt and anger. "Boss Zhou! That damn third level is a place that gives even me the creeps! And you’re shoving a wet-behind-the-ears kid in with us? You think we’ve lived too long, or are you in a hurry to find him a nice burial plot?"

He was clearly furious that Zhou Tiankuo had recruited this "kid soldier" onto the team.

Du Qi let out two sinister, low chuckles but said nothing. However, his gaze, slithering over Lin Yi like a viper, was filled with dismissal. He clearly held Lin Yi in equal contempt.

Liu Mei, however, covered her mouth with a delicate laugh, her eyes twinkling as she swept a look of playful pity across Lin Yi’s handsome face.

"Hee hee hee... Boss Zhou, this little brother is certainly a pretty one, so fair and delicate. What a pity. This sister is just giving you some kind advice: don’t risk all of our lives as collateral just to repay some favor."

The trio’s attitudes were clear: open disdain and rejection.

In the eyes of these desperadoes who lived on the edge, a "paratrooper" this young was, without a doubt, the biggest liability and a potential source of danger.

The ancient tomb was incredibly dangerous. Bringing along someone who would just drag them down was tantamount to gambling with everyone’s lives!

Lin Yi’s expression was placid. He turned a deaf ear to their taunts.

His gaze remained fixed on Zhou Tiankuo, as if everyone else was just part of the background.

He didn’t speak, merely stood there in silence.

Zhou Tiankuo’s brow furrowed.

The reactions from Lei Gang and the others were within his expectations.

But Lin Yi’s composure and indifference, so far beyond his years, actually helped to calm Zhou Tiankuo’s nerves.

He took a deep breath, his voice suddenly deepening with unquestionable authority.

"Enough! Time is short, so cut the crap! I, Zhou Tiankuo, personally invited Lin Yi! I have seen his strength with my own eyes and tested it with my own hands. He will not be a burden to this team!"

His gaze was like lightning as he swept it across Lei Gang, Du Qi, and Liu Mei, enunciating each word.

"This time, I, Zhou Tiankuo, will be entering the tomb as well! Do you think I would gamble with my own life?!"

"Hmph! Fine!"

Seeing Zhou Tiankuo’s resolute stance, Lei Gang could only suppress his fury and growl a harsh warning.

"Since you’ve put it that way, Boss Zhou, we’ll accept it! But let me get the ugly part out of the way first: if this kid really screws up down there and gets us all killed, don’t blame me when I turn on him and forget all about the respect I owe you!"

Although Du Qi and Liu Mei also looked displeased, they were constrained by Zhou Tiankuo’s status and their contract with him. They could only snort coldly, tacitly accepting the arrangement and dropping the subject of kicking Lin Yi off the team.

Zhou Tiankuo ignored them, turning to pick up a thin, specially-made tablet computer from his desk and handing it to Lin Yi.

"Xiaoyi, before we enter the tomb, sign this employment contract first. As per the rules, the Zhou family will take fifty percent of all profits from this venture. The remaining five—you, Brother Zhao, Brother Lei, Brother Du, and Liu Mei—will each receive ten percent. Any objections?"

Lin Yi took the tablet. His finger swiped quickly across the screen, and he unhesitatingly signed his name in the designated spot. The motion was crisp and decisive.