Dual Cultivation God Returns - Chapter 970 - 970: Bridge in-between

“Ahaha, Fellow Daoist, what my dear client is trying to say is that we can talk it out”, Zhao Biren chimed in with a slightly nervous yet amicable, almost servile attitude – a perfect representation of a local guide who is just trying to make some money and doesn’t want to get into any trouble, thus eager to diffuse any potential conflicts.

“And you are?”, the Elder turned his gaze to him.

“Hehe, nobody, really. Just one of the many, who guide people as a way to earn a coin on the side”, Zhao Biren’s smile grew wider. His slightly fidgety attitude, coupled with the very obvious attempts to be as servile as possible instantly triggered disgust and contempt in the eyes of the Righteous Path Sect’s Disciples.

“Ah, a fixer, there’s a welcome sight”, the Elder, on the other hand, chuckled with quite genuine delight, sensing a reasonable man to talk to.

“You didn’t answer me yet, do you want stronger pincers to bite your enemies?”, Wu Long asked in a more neutral tone than when he was talking with the Elder, looking at Changsun Yong while ignoring the Elder and Zhao Biren.

The Elder’s tone became a degree colder as he noted to Zhao Biren, “Your client seems quite determined to get into trouble, Fixer”

“Ahaha”, the latter let out a dry and slightly silly, helpless laugh, “I-It’s just a misunderstanding, Fellow Daoist, a misunderstanding. It’s just a harmless conversation…”

He proceeded to babble on half-drunkenly to try and diffuse the situation.

Meanwhile, Changsun Yong who took a moment to size up the masked man who nearly permanently broke all of his previous efforts narrowed his eyes, “What good is it to you to help me? Don’t take it the wrong way, I’m grateful for any help, but…”

“It’s normal to be suspicious, but you don’t really have that luxury now. You have to make a quick decision, and you don’t have much time to think”, Wu Long raised his hand dismissing the Elder – who, talking through the noise of Zhao Biren’s word salad, tried to butt into their conversation with something like “Hey now, listen here youngster…” – continuing to look straight at Changsun Yong, “What I’m offering you specifically is two things, a chance to get out of this situation, and a chance to get stronger so you can actually do some damage to your enemies instead of a desperate bite – the first one is certain, the other depends on your effort and determination”

“And in return?”, the latter asked, suddenly filled with a strange feeling that there was a lot more to the masked man he was talking to than initially seemed.

“You already know”, Wu Long’s tone was still neutral, as if in a casual conversation about weather, “It’s the only thing you can offer anyone right now. It might be more valuable to you than your life, but you were already willing to exchange it for a chance to bite your enemies before dying, why not exchange it for a chance to bite them to death without even needing to sacrifice your life?”

Changsun Yong clenched his jaws. Of course he knew, he knew even while he was asking that question.

If someone made this exact offer, he likely would’ve never even considered it, but for some reason he was overwhelmed by a feeling that this was some kind of divine chance. His instincts told him against all odds that the decision in front of him right now was a crucial turning point.

“I’m warning you-…”, the Elder saw this was going in a wrong direction, and tried to intervene again, but was cut off by Changsun Yong’s voice.

“I agree”

“Wise choice”, Wu Long nodded and turned to the Elder, his tone of voice becoming lighter again, “See? There wasn’t any need to be so anxious to talk to me while I was busy, you could’ve just waited patiently – once he took the deal we would’ve been talking anyway, since now you can’t touch him without picking a fight with me”

The Elder’s grim expression was only exceeded by the outright hostile looks of the Disciples he was leading, especially the one who previously was in charge. The spectators, on the other hand, became a bit giddy, as snickers and mild trash-talk directed at the Righteous Path Sects’ members could be heard from the crowd all around.

“D-dear client…”, Zhao Biren nervously spoke up again, his eyes darting between Wu Long and the Elder on the street below.

“Ah, just the man for the job of bridging the gap in understanding, our dependable guide”, Wu Long chuckled, “I’m counting on your help to settle this dispute amicably – my proposal is to part ways here”

“Haha… ha… I’m flattered by your trust”, the one known here as Drinking King was sweating profusely while visibly racking his brains of how the hell he was supposed to do that.

At this point, it was not even completely an act, since from Wu Long’s words he received direct confirmation of what he only inferred before, that it really was a tentative task he was given – to somehow make the other side back down without a fight.

It was one of two reasons Zhao Biren jumped into the conversation with the Elder of the Righteous Path Sect to begin with – the first reason was to create a kind of disruptive noise in the coversation and, using it, distract the Elder enough to give Wu Long room to have a talk with Changsun Yong, the second reason was to identify himself as a bridge in-between and a reasonable actor that could be useful for resolving the conflict between both sides without a fight.

After all, Zhao Biren knew who Wu Long was quite well at this point.

He was certain Wu Long wasn’t really afraid of this confrontation – just preferred to not stir unnecessary trouble with the Crow King’s Nest because they still haven’t looked into the matter they came here to begin with.

So the task he gave him wasn’t a ‘this cannot fail’ mission, but rather ‘see if you can do it’ kind of assignment.

Yet he knew that it was much more preferable if he succeeded, even in his own view. He really didn’t want to deal with a complicated mess that would follow if this situation devolved into a fight – more so because Wu Long’s concern about the Protective Formation in this place was still ringing in his ears.

‘Alright… first of all – a crucial first step’, Zhao Biren thought and upended his drinking gourd, chugging big gulps of wine.