Chapter 868 - 121: Schemes on All Sides

Inside the Hundred Objects Box.

Looking at that Quenching Crystal Sand, Lu Feng was stunned at first, then moved.

The Hundred Objects Box was indeed missing a few things, but counting everything together, none of it was worth as much as this Quenching Crystal Sand.

Obviously, Brother Fang had never planned on taking his things, but seeing Lu Feng determined to refuse and unable to be talked around, he used this method to put him at ease.

"Brother Fang treats me like this; I must settle this matter for him."

Lu Feng also made up his mind. No matter what, he had to get his own master to step in, negotiate with that Lotus Island Island Master, and make Chen Shan hand over the person.

...

...

Yin Chenliang listened to his Disciple’s request, stroking his beard and pondering.

Back when he took Lu Feng as a Disciple, it was because the Lu Family had prepared a generous gift for him, and he had also considered that the Lu Family’s business in Guangwu City was doing well; if he took Lu Feng as a Disciple, the Lu Family would keep honoring him.

He didn’t think too highly of Lu Feng. Among his nearly a hundred Disciples, Lu Feng was just one ordinary Disciple.

At Lu Feng’s age, having cultivated to the Innate Second Realm was considered extraordinary talent in outsiders’ eyes, but Yin Chenliang knew very well that Lu Feng was able to reach the Innate Second Realm so quickly because the Lu Family had poured the strength of the whole clan into his training.

Besides that, Lu Feng had also overdrawn his potential.

In this life, Lu Feng’s limit was the Innate Second Realm.

This was precisely why he didn’t value this Disciple Lu Feng: a Disciple without the potential to break through to the Innate Third Realm was nothing to him.

In contrast, that Xu Siyuan at Lu Feng’s side had pretty decent talent, but unfortunately Xu Siyuan’s family circumstances were poor and didn’t meet his standard for taking Disciples.

"Lu Feng, you should know the Lotus Island Island Master has a very explosive temper, and that Chen Shan is his beloved Disciple. Your friend offended Chen Shan; I’m afraid the other side won’t let the person go easily."

"Master, the conflict between my friend and Chen Shan isn’t so deep. If you were to step forward, how would the Lotus Island Island Master dare not give you face?"

Lu Feng finished speaking and offered up a jade box, placing it on the table with great respect.

"Master, my friend knows he has no way to get the person back from Chen Shan’s hands, so he came to me. This is the fee my friend is giving you for making a move."

Lu Feng understood his own master very well. Although he had little true teacher–Disciple feeling for them, on the surface he still had to maintain the illusion of deep affection. If Lu Feng prepared a gift in his own name, he would probably get a scolding and then be rejected.

So he simply gifted it in Brother Fang’s name; that way it wouldn’t affect his master’s image, and there’d be no need for hypocritical back-and-forth. The matter would instead be easier to settle.

Yin Chenliang didn’t reach out to take the jade box Lu Feng offered; instead, his Divine Thought swept over it, and in the next instant, a sharp gleam flashed through his old eyes.

"Since this is your friend, Lu Feng, I’ll write a letter to the Lotus Island Island Master. But whether he’ll sell me this favor and let the person go—that, I cannot guarantee."

"With your reputation, Master, Chen Shan is certain to let the person go."

Lu Feng flattered him with a line, and in his heart he thought the same. If they had offended the Lotus Island Island Master himself, then his master’s face would be useless. But the one offended was Chen Shan, merely the Island Master’s Disciple. No matter how highly the Lotus Island Island Master regarded Chen Shan, he was still just a junior.

He could go back and inform Brother Fang, and let Brother Fang wait for good news.

...

...

On Lotus Island, Hu Tingchun finished reading the letter in his hand, a thoughtful look in his old eyes.

Among the nearby islands, Yin Chenliang’s name was quite well-known—not because Yin Chenliang was particularly formidable, but because his way of taking Disciples had spread throughout the Innate Circle.

Yin Chenliang, like himself, was at the Innate Third Realm, but his background was inferior. In order to gain enough cultivation resources, this fellow had actually taken the path of taking Disciples to amass wealth.

Ever since he stepped into the Innate Realm, he began widely accepting Disciples, not looking at talent, only background. As long as they offered a large enough apprenticeship gift, he’d take them. In the end, the Disciples counted under his name numbered well over a hundred.

"Master, you called for me!"

At the great hall entrance, Chen Shan strode in.

"I hear you brought back a little girl?"

"Master, how did you find out? Could it be that person really has some background?"

Hearing his master’s words, the first thought that popped into Chen Shan’s mind was that the man surnamed Fang had some backing and connections and had already come looking through his master.

"What ’that person’ and ’this person’... Tell me clearly what happened."

Hu Tingchun frowned and glared at Chen Shan. Chen Shan, however, didn’t shy away and recounted what had happened at the auction house. Only, out of his mouth, the part where he suffered a loss at the auction house became the two of them fighting to a draw, and the reason for his anger was merely that he hadn’t been carrying enough Flame Coins at the time, and Lin Chen mocked him over it.

"So you were the one who lost out to the other side?"

Still, how could Hu Tingchun not know his Disciple’s temperament? If he’d simply been short on Flame Coins, with his Disciple’s status he could have put it on credit. The only possibility was that he’d been overpowered by the other side in terms of momentum.

"How old is this person?"

"Around fifty."

Hearing "around fifty," Hu Tingchun relaxed as well. An Innate Second Realm Martial Artist of about fifty wouldn’t have too big a background; that was why he had gone to ask Yin Chenliang to intervene.

"Were you able to learn that person’s background from the little girl?"

"No, once this Disciple captured the little girl, I just had her locked up."

"Foolish!"

This time Hu Tingchun was truly enraged. Chen Shan looked completely baffled, not understanding why his master suddenly lost his temper.

"I’ve told you several times: once you decide to make a move, you must first get a clear picture of the other party’s details. According to what you said, that person shouldn’t be familiar with Lu Feng either, so why would Lu Feng go to Yin Chenliang for his sake? Yin Chenliang’s attitude toward Lu Feng is nothing like mine toward you."

"And you’ve had that little girl locked up for more than half a month now. What has that person been doing during this half month? You didn’t bother to investigate?"

"Di...Disciple didn’t think that far. I only thought that once we caught the little girl, that person would definitely come to Lotus Island, and then we could just take back our face."

Chen Shan explained gloomily. Hu Tingchun’s turbid eyes narrowed. "Taking back our face" was just an excuse; his Disciple had taken a fancy to that person’s Quenching Crystal Sand and wanted to force him to hand it over.

A common man is not guilty, but carrying a jade makes him a target.

When you run into someone with no apparent background, his Disciple’s actions weren’t wrong.

The mistake was not investigating the other party’s details before acting, nor tracking him afterward.

"Now, you are to investigate this person’s background immediately. Focus on where he went during these ten-plus days. You can look into it through the Lu Family. I estimate that his disappearance during these days should be related to the Lu Family."

"Yes, Disciple will go investigate at once. And the little girl?"

"Continue to keep her confined. As for Yin Chenliang, this old man will write and say you haven’t been on the island recently, and that you’ll release her once you return."

Hu Tingchun’s eyes narrowed slightly, a calculating glint within them. His instructions weren’t out of concern that the man had some powerful background, but because he had thought of another possibility.

Clearly unfamiliar with the Lu Family, yet after disappearing for over ten days the Lu Family came forward on his behalf and even appealed to Yin Chenliang—there’s likely something hidden inside this.

Auctions, withdrawing from sale, attracting...cooperation...

In that brief moment, a carousel of possibilities flashed through Hu Tingchun’s mind...

His Disciple only saw the Quenching Crystal Sand, not realizing there might be an even greater harvest.

...

In the standalone courtyard behind the restaurant.

Lin Chen finally received the good news that Lu Feng had brought.

"Brother Fang, the Island Master of Lotus Island has replied. Chen Shan is currently not on the island. Once Chen Shan returns, he will release the little girl Yueyue. All we need to do is quietly wait a few days."

"Good. I’ll stay here and wait a few more days, then. I’ve troubled you with this matter, Brother Lu."

"It’s a trivial matter, not worth mentioning."

Lu Feng waved his hand. As for Lotus Island demanding a dou of Quenching Crystal Sand, he chose not to tell Lin Chen.

After sitting in the courtyard for half a two-hour period, Lu Feng took his leave. Once Lu Feng departed, Lin Chen did not turn around, but spoke blandly: "If you have something to say, just say it outright."

Yu Jin had been distracted the whole day, clearly burdened by something.

Hearing Lin Chen’s question, Yu Jin fell silent for a few breaths, as if making up her mind about something. "My lord, the day before yesterday and yesterday, people came to my Yu Family looking for this slave. Both groups tried to pry from me your background, my lord, and your movements these past days. Before leaving, both groups threatened this slave not to reveal anything."

"Two groups, asking about my background and my movements these days?"

Lin Chen’s eyes narrowed, and for the first time a cold gleam appeared in them. He could guess the identity of one group, but who was the other?

"I understand. Here—this is your reward."

Lin Chen lifted his right hand, tossing a money pouch toward Yu Jin. Yu Jin reached out and caught it. Feeling its weight, her pretty face changed; she hurried to explain, "My lord, this slave told you this not to seek your reward, but out of gratitude for your mercy in sparing my life."

"Just keep it. These Flame Coins don’t mean much to me."

Lin Chen did not give Yu Jin the chance to refuse; unable to decline, she could only accept.

"You should go back as well. Just act as though nothing ever happened."

"Yes."

Watching Yu Jin leave, a cold smile appeared on Lin Chen’s face. One of those two groups probing his background and movements should be Chen Shan’s people.

Looks like Chen Shan’s ’leaving the island’ is a lie; he’s deliberately stalling for time while he digs into Lin Chen’s details.

If Chen Shan fails to uncover his background and movements, he’ll likely start pressuring Yin Yue.

He could no longer sit and wait!

If he went to Lotus Island and revealed his true identity, the Island Master would certainly release the girl, might even send him compensation—but once that happened, the fact that he was keeping Yin Yue by his side could no longer be hidden.

His original destination had been the Eastern Sea; that giant within the Moon Soul had been able to deduce that much. Even though Yin Yue’s appearance had changed somewhat, as long as he showed himself in the Eastern Sea and word spread that there was a little girl at his side, the Moon Soul Race would definitely grow suspicious of him.

"Lotus Island’s Island Master, Chen Shan..."

A cold light flickered in Lin Chen’s eyes. He did not want to clash with an Innate Third Realm expert, but that didn’t mean he was truly afraid.