195 A Bargain (1/2)
The dwarf's death remained vivid in Gu Shenwei's mind. Gu Shenwei was not intimidated by that terrifying visage's deceiving words. He was also unmoved by Immortal Peng's enrapturing influence. ”Let him come to the window.”
Gu Shenwei would not walk into the trap.
There was no response coming from the window on the third floor. The disciples who were drinking tea on the first floor had just walked out. Some of them carried weapons in their hands. They looked up and saw the two killers on the wall.
Gu Shenwei decided not to confront the group alone. He glanced at Maid Lotus and the two were prepared to escape into the peach forest.
The window on the third floor revealed another face. It was that white-robed elderly man with a long beard. He had once tried to take revenge for Immortal Peng. ”Leave.”
This order was uttered for his own people. The disciples obeyed and returned to the teahouse. After a while, one hunched disciple with a heavily pitted face walked out. He dragged a tray that was carrying tea and leaped up the wall. He did not spill the tea. Later, he retreated and turned to face Joy Pavilion. He raised his two hands high and was about ten steps away from the killer.
The white-robed elder jumped out from the window on the third floor. He landed beside the hunched disciple. His qing gong was very good. However, what surprised everyone was that he was very slow and did not seem to have ”jumped” but rather he had ”floated”. His entire body seemed to be as light as a feather.
”Please drink some tea.”
Gu Shenwei shook his head. He was wary of the elder. In his heart, he made plans to escape. He was here to negotiate but he had to prepare for the worst.
The elder did not seem to have noticed the killer's movements. He raised his hand to tap lightly on one teacup. The teacup flew out and drew a beautiful arc in the air. It bypassed Gu Shenwei and arrived beside Maid Lotus.
Maid Lotus reached out to catch the cup. Her body shook a little.
The elder flicked a second cup and it flew directly towards Gu Shenwei.
Like Maid Lotus, Gu Shenwei reached out to catch the tea cup. His body did not shake but his heart was pounding fiercely. The elder's Internal Strength was very deep. He was a rival to be reckoned with.
”There aren't many cups left of this fine Tianshan snow tea. Please have some.”
”I'm not here to drink tea.” Gu Shenwei did not know the kung fu of flying teacups. He loosed his grip immediately and the teacup dropped to the floor. It was still inches from the top of the wall when Gu Shenwei raised the tip of his feet to catch it gently. The teacup dropped to the ground. The tea was still in it.
”You are a fine tea master.” The white-robed elder smiled faintly and took a sip of his tea.
”You know why I came.”
”I was waiting for you.”
The white-robed elder had the killing desire. However, this time, he seemed to have thought things through.
”Let's talk then. I don't want anybody to suspect me of stealing any 'treasure' from Immortal Peng.” Gu Shenwei did not believe in coincidences. Rumors must have originated from someone. Joy Pavilion could not be innocent in this matter.
”I don't want anyone to claim that an Immortal was killed. Immortals never die.” The elder looked at Gu Shenwei and laid out his request pointedly.
In order to stop one lie, another lie had to be said. Gu Shenwei couldn't help but cleared his throat. ”So you got yourself another Immortal Peng?”
”No. Immortal soul-delivering. This means they will abandon their flesh and enter into a new body.”
”So you're the new Immortal Peng.”
”There's no old or new. I'm Immortal Peng.”
The white-robed elder's expression was serious when he said this. Gu Shenwei even felt a tinge of admiration for him. This was what commandant Zhong Heng meant by ”solving the problem”. ”So, I'm just a small fry who was used by Immortal Peng- I mean you- to complete your soul transfer?”
”Yes.”
”So, it's impossible for me to steal your treasure?”
”That's correct.”
It seemed that this was a deal that would benefit both sides. Gu Shenwei smiled. ”Immortal Peng has made a great calculation. I'm humbled.”
”Your Excellency's swordcraft is divine. This immortal is also humbled.”
”Joy Pavilion is still Joy Pavilion.”
The new Peng Immortal nodded his head. ”Tomorrow noon the immortal will rise to heaven in his flesh. Sir, please refrain from coming to the scene.”
”Definitely.”
The white-robed Immortal Peng did not do anything. The hunched man rose up and walked beside Gu Shenwei. He raised his teacup and with a shake of his body, bypassed the killer and arrived beside Maid Lotus.
Maid Lotus didn't know how to flaunt her kung fu. She placed her teacup in the tray honestly.
The white-robed Immortal Peng ”floated” to the third floor. Gu Shenwei saw clearly that there was a long and almost transparent long chain in the immortal's hand.
”See you tomorrow.”
Since there was no mortal danger and Gu Shenwei did not want to leave so quickly, he said. ”I want to meet Tang Ji.”
Tang Ji was the supervisor of the first floor of the teahouse. His kung fu was lowly. In Joy Pavilion, he was only a servant. The white-robed Immortal Peng certainly did not anticipate this killer's request. He blinked and did not say anything. He turned and vanished. Not long after, Tang Ji walked out from the back door.
Compared to the disciples of Joy Pavilion, Tang Ji, whose face was smeared with rouge, seemed relatively sadder towards the death of Immortal Peng. The scars made by the tears streaming down his face were visible. His animosity towards the killer on the top of the wall was also clear. They looked at each other in anguish and did not say a word.
”I want to ask you about something.”
”I won't tell you anything.”
”This isn't very good.” Gu Shenwei said. However, that person had already jumped down from the top of the wall and come up to Tang Ji. ”I had just spoken to Immortal Peng about a transaction. I don't want to talk about the conditions so quickly.”
Tang Ji understood what the killer meant. Joy Pavilion had just changed its owner. He didn't want to get into trouble and after thinking for a moment, said stiffly: ”You can ask me about it but I might not know.”
”Are there people in Hope Alley who are particularly familiar with the Ninth Young Master from Stone Castle?”
”What do you mean?” Tang Ji's expression changed. ”What do you take me for?”
”Someone who is very familiar with Hope Alley.”
”Go ask the Ninth Young Master himself.”