Dual Cultivation God Returns - Chapter 1037 -

After the meeting with Old Yen where he discussed their strategy of investigations into the Northern Ridge Sect and Pale River Hall’s presence on the continent, Wu Long went out with Xue Bing to the Silver Wing City.

During the meeting he received a report from the Thousand Eyes Palace that one of the cases for Sowing Karma that Wu Long was keeping a close eye on was becoming active, and possibly reaching a critical point they could move in on.

It was in the main courtyard of one of the more remote inns. There were inns that sprang out in this more quiet part of the city, as people bought out previously vacant large mansions left from the more glorious era of the city, and transformed them into inns that suddenly were a lucrative business due to the influx of the outsiders that only intensified with the announcement of the arena tournament, that attracted a different public from those interested in the auction.

The situation revolved around two young men, but included a lot of their followers.

“What is the meaning of this, Brother?”, one of the young men spoke with a slightly indignant but vigilant look as he turned to the sides.

There were men in uniform armor around them, about 80 in total, though there were also a few people in matching robes more resembling servants, and older men in luxurious robes numbering only 6.

Only 4 of the men in armor stood behind the one who just spoke, along with two servants and one middle-aged man in luxurious robes, while the other young man had around 40 men in armor, a dozen servants, and 2 men in luxurious robes.

The others were haphazardly around them, seemingly taking no sides, but there was one middle-aged looking man in luxurious robes who everyone seemed to be keenly aware of, as sometimes glances were thrown at his expression to gauge what the situation looked like to him. Two more men in luxurious robes stood respectfully behind him.

“I was wondering where you went last night, it turns out you sneaked out for one of the minor auctions”, the other young man who had the upper hand with subordinates didn’t answer straight, taking the conversation into his own hands instead, “Don’t you think it is inappropriate and irresponsible to do that? We are here to acquire the Heaven Turning Pill for our Father who desperately needs it. And you are out here spending money on some trinkets”

“Don’t twist things, I spent my personal money”, the first young man finally had a realization of what was happening on his face, though it did not seem to make his heart any lighter.

“You seem to not understand how auctions work, Lian Yu”, the second one shook his head, “We need every little bit to outbid everyone else. And yes, if the money brought from the Manor is not sufficient, to pool even our personal money if need be. Don’t you know that even the Imperial Princes are now interested in the auction? You must’ve seen one of them yesterday. That means our task is becoming hard even without your frivolous expenses. Don’t you think so too, Steward Lee?”

The young man turned to the middle aged man who stood to the side, though the latter remained quiet and seemingly impartial to this discussion.

“My name is Jian Yu, Brother Hao”, Jian Yu replied, “And, if you insist on that argument, you seem to be leaving out of this discussion all the money you spent and are still spending on renting out this entire luxury mansion-inn despite my proposal for a more humble and reasonable accommodation in the outskirts, or at least to rent a small part of the mansion-inn, not the whole thing”

“Haa~, your insistence on calling me Brother despite not having the qualifications to do so aside, I am calling you by your commoner name because you act like a commoner, Lian Yu”, the man who seemed to be called Jian Hao from his brother’s words before, sighed, shaking his head again, “Spending money on accommodation has different meaning. We have to protect the status and standing of our proud Crimson Arrow Manor, we can’t afford to sully our Father’s name by staying in a shabby place, especially since the three big Sects and even the Imperial Delegation is here”

Xue Bing who stood next to Wu Long with Fen Baihu on his shoulder, standing on one of the roofs as mysterious mist swirled around them, spoke with realization, “I see why you were personally interested in this one. It is a long-standing Noble Family of Bow Masters retaining a personal force of bowmen”

“Yes. Though… it may certainly be a climax but I don’t know if there will be sufficient buildup for us to step in this time. This looks like it will just conclude as a verbal exchange”, Wu Long sighed, “Perhaps I may need to simply approach them without waiting for a specific opportune moment”

“I am surprised you didn’t already”, she said while Fen Baihu thought that she didn’t look too surprised, or impressed, or feeling about this one way or another altogether… though Wu Long seemed to easily read her thoughts, reactions and emotions somehow.

“The investigation into their family was incomplete, I was waiting for more information to come in to see if they’re a good fit for us”, Wu Long chuckled, while rubbing Fen Baihu’s fluffy fur.

This made the Mythic Beast forget to be grumpy about her usual monopoly on this time with Wu Long being interrupted by another beauty. That grumpiness was not even really directed at Xue Bing specifically. Fen Baihu took her appearance as a sign of a broader change, that things would be different in that regard going forward. After all, she was simultaneously everywhere, and certainly heard the conversation of the beauties that Xue Bing left behind in the gazebo. She knew this time would arrive and did not worry about it that much or seriously oppose it, she was just a bit cranky in the immediate aftermath of the realization.

Meanwhile, Wu Long continued, “I wouldn’t mind it if it’s just simple Sowing Karma or gaining an ally, but for absorbing a force into the core of our Sect we have to become more picky the further along we go, plus there have to be certain conditions that would allow for seamless absorption, so all in all I needed to understand them more. I sent out some people to the outside of the continent to start gathering intel on them”

“That’s the jade slip you were reading during the meeting earlier?”, Xue Bing turned her eyes to him.

“Mm, the reports came in last night, so I was going through them”, Wu Long nodded.

“Since you’re here it seems their family fits the vision you have for them”, Xue Bing nodded as she was already once again watching the scene below that, as he said, seemed to have just turned into a verbal spar. She then asked, “They appear to be in the middle of a succession battle as well. An opportune time for us to try and gain influence and eventually control. Did you plan to step in on the side of the younger of the two brothers? Or the older one?”

“Younger one since he has weaker standing as an illegitimate child, and thus easier to offer help to. Besides it’s not like we’ll lose out picking him over those with better positions, since he seems to have better aptitude for bowmastership than his brothers, or simply more diligent in his training and efforts, it is unclear which of the two it is from the information we have”, Wu Long smiled, “What do you think? Do you have a preference which side we pick?”

“My preference is irr-…”

“Matters”, Wu Long interjected, turning to her “It matters to me what you think. It’s not irrelevant. There are logical reasons to do things about the Sect, yes. But I want to hear your thoughts and feelings on what we should do as well”

She looked into his eyes for a few seconds, and a very light blush appeared on her cheeks, just like the one that she had when she was leaning on his chest sitting on his lap in the meeting before, as she turned back to the scene below, her eyes seemingly as icy and cold as before, and her tone as monotone, only that lingering blush reminding that she was feeling bashful at this moment, “In that case, I agree with you on the younger illegitimate one. He seems to have a more upright character, I would not be comfortable with the other one entering the Eternal Duality Valley and being around you, his mind is loud, obnoxious and irritating even when he doesn’t speak a word, but he speaks on top of that”

“Hahaha”, Wu Long laughed at the merciless assessment of the older legitimate heir that came from her sensitivity to emotions and character of people, although he agreed with it from his own assessment as well, “What do you think, Baihu?”

“You seem to have already decided among yourselves”, the little fox yawned, genuinely not much interested in the little drama going on below to begin with, but not missing an opportunity for a snarky comment.

Wu Long made a wry smile, rubbing the fur on her back, “Come on, I know you wanted to comment something before, you think I didn’t notice?”

“Hmm~… I simply thought… isn’t it easier to just approach that guy over there?”, Fen Baihu, who closed her eyes from how good it felt, opened one up to look toward the impartial Sterward Lee, “He seems to hold more power in that house than either of the two heirs anyway. Look how calm and laid back he looks standing there while the two are bickering like old hags at a market”

“That is certainly also an angle”, Wu Long chuckled, nodding.

At this point in time, their conversation halted as there was development in the courtyard down below. After a prolonged verbal spat that turned very personal with insults toward the younger illegitimate heir’s origins, he responded with a verbal lash that hit where it hurt, accusing the older brother of having inferiority over their skill in bowmanship. This prompted an argument that quickly turned into a challenge of skills, which required a change of scenery.

The Crimson Arrow Manor members then collectively moved out toward the outside of the City, in search of places with vast territories and Demonic Beasts who would become targets for the challenge.

They were followed closely and still slightly above to maintain a bird-eye view of the group, by Xue Bing and Wu Long with Fen Baihu on his shoulder.