Chapter 2241 - 1200: Return to the Homeland (2)

He was also one of only two people in recent years who managed to withstand the pressure and pass the High Priest’s test, and the other one who cleared it was himself.

Under Yang Xiao’s gaze, Ye Yin appeared completely open and straightforward. He took the initiative to raise his glass and gestured to Yang Xiao:

"Brother Dachaya, may our foster father’s courage and valor protect you. I wish you all the best. I’ll be waiting for your good news."

"Many thanks, foster brother!" Yang Xiao also raised his glass and drained it in one go.

Halfway through the farewell banquet, two more people joined them, a man and a woman. Yang Xiao was surprised to find that their figures and looks were close to those of people from Hua Country, rather than Myanmar and Thailand people.

Later the High Priest introduced them: these two were also elders of their Esoteric Sect, carrying some Hua Country blood in their veins.

Because they had been stationed outside for long periods, even within the Esoteric Sect not many people recognized them. This time they’d been specially transferred back, and in the afternoon the two elders would depart together with the convoy escorting them.

Once Yang Xiao heard this, he understood at once: these two were exactly the elders the Cannibal Buddha was preparing to station at Yiling Academy. After Dean Sheng took back the Academy, they would be permanently based there.

To throw people off the scent, they deliberately chose two elders whose looks were close to those of his own countrymen, so as not to attract too much attention.

The names of these two were also interesting: the man was called Zhou Shen, the woman Yao Yun.

At exactly two in the afternoon, the convoy was already prepped and waiting outside. Yang Xiao and Sheng Yanlin had both changed into Esoteric Sect robes. Sutana was reluctantly saying goodbye to Yang Jing, crying her eyes out.

If the High Priest hadn’t personally ordered it, Sutana still wouldn’t have been willing to let Yang Jing go, and judging by Yang Jing’s expression, he didn’t seem to want to leave either.

After all, Sutana treated him much better than Yang Xiao treated him.

Of course, Yang Xiao did not acknowledge this point. He prided himself on being a competent father; between him and Yang Jing it was all fatherly kindness and filial piety, close as can be.

"Dachaya, come back and visit when you have time. This is your home." The Cannibal Buddha, the High Priest, was also reluctant to see Yang Xiao leave.

On one hand he valued Yang Xiao’s noble character; on the other, Yang Xiao was indeed a rare talent.

This morning Elder Kunpa had brought over several heads responsible for Alchemy, Artifact Refining, and for finance and logistics within the Esoteric Sect to report to the Cannibal Buddha.

Elder Kunpa, his tone excited, reported to the Cannibal Buddha that they had held an overnight meeting last night, discussing the practical feasibility of implementing the plan provided by Yang Xiao.

Although they had joined forces to veto more than two-thirds of the proposals, the remaining less than one-third of the plan was enough to bring enormous benefit to the Esoteric Sect.

According to incomplete estimates, if they started following Yang Xiao’s plan from now on, by the latest at the end of this year their net profits were expected to double.

The surprises Yang Xiao brought them didn’t end there. His sudden appearance had opened the door to a new world for these elders who had spent half their lives studying such matters.

When Elder Kunpa took out the little notebook recording Yang Xiao’s notes, these elders unanimously believed they had intercepted intelligence from the Black Buddha Mother Sect.

After learning that this commercial plan had been devised by their Esoteric Sect’s newly promoted young priest, the elders were unanimous in believing that they should conduct a secret investigation into Yang Xiao.

They strongly suspected that Yang Xiao had connections to the Black Buddha Mother Sect behind the scenes; for all they knew he might be a senior figure of the Black Buddha Mother Sect, a plant sent by the Buddha Mother to infiltrate their Esoteric Sect.

At the banquet, Elder Kunpa recounted this as a funny anecdote to everyone, intending to liven up the atmosphere, but no one noticed that Yang Xiao’s smile was a little stiff.

That was close. Yang Xiao hadn’t expected his true identity to almost be exposed; come to think of it, he’d received the Black Buddha Mother’s invitation while on Esoteric Sect turf.

Oh, what she’d promised him was the Great Saint Bodhisattva Position—that’s not a low rank.

The Esoteric Sect’s transport convoy wasn’t very large, only seven vehicles, consisting of four off-road vehicles and three small trucks.

Yang Xiao and Dean Sheng sat in the third off-road vehicle, while Elders Zhou Shen and Yao Yun were in the vehicle ahead of them.

As the convoy started up and drove out of the Secret Teaching Royal City Jia Zhan, Yang Xiao still hadn’t sensed the aura of any real powerhouse within the group.

The strongest in the convoy was Dean Sheng, followed by those two Esoteric Elders.

The first of the two, Elder Zhou Shen, had the strength of a Half-step Nether Realm; Yao Yun was somewhat weaker, but her strength still surpassed the Peak of Ghost Level.

In truth, that level of strength wasn’t bad, but considering that this trip was about returning to the country to reclaim the Academy, and they might well be ambushed on the road, this combat configuration was far too thin.

Originally Yang Xiao had imagined there would be other Esoteric Sect experts accompanying them. After all, back then the Patrol General Bureau, in order to ensure his safety, had dispatched two full Netherworld Envoys as Bodyguards to escort him all the way until he boarded a smuggling ship to cross the border.

Once the convoy had left Royal City Jia Zhan far behind and it was no longer visible, Yang Xiao couldn’t hold back any longer. He lowered his voice and asked:

"Elder Sheng, is there a Netherworld Envoy hidden within the convoy, or following nearby?"

"None. In this whole convoy only I am in the Netherworld Realm." Sheng Yanlin sat with eyes closed, resting calmly as he replied.

"Wait, just you alone? If we get ambushed, won’t we be completely screwed?" Yang Xiao was nowhere near as composed as Sheng Yanlin; he was all too aware how dangerous this trip was.

What’s more, before they set out, his foster father had clearly told him not to worry, that the Esoteric Sect would guarantee their absolute safety along the way.

"Elder Sheng, could foster father be using us as bait, while he secretly follows behind our convoy?" Yang Xiao asked tentatively.