20 The Game Plan. Shared Profits (1/2)
Yun Yang looked at the man lying unconscious on the bed. He was a giant of a man, brawny and broad. From the length of the bed that he occupied, it could easily be surmised that he would be a valiant mortal of Herculean strength. Yun Yang performed a thorough inspection, and could not help letting out a deep sigh. For the man to have survived until now was no mean feat.
At least a fifth of his bones had been broken, and a large portion of his internal organs had been damaged. His dantian had shattered; it was obvious that he had received blunt force trauma judging by the dent in his skull. His back was laced with endless scratches, each cut bone-deep. To top it all off, there were two separate sword wounds that had pierced his chest and gone through his back.
“He managed to retain consciousness despite his severe injuries, and only collapsed when he reached Tiantang City…” Yun Yang frowned. “This would make him an expert, in all likelihood on par with Lao Mei, or perhaps higher.”
Placing his hand on the unconscious man’s pulse, he called out softly, “Emmie!”
Instantly, a refined air of vitality gushed out from the Lotus of Endless Fate through his hand and into the man’s body. After the initial torrent, Emmie cut off the supply, like stopping a bottle of gushing wine. Swaying softly, it adamantly refused to deliver more, despite Yun Yang’s cajoling. It could almost be heard saying, “Enough, that’s really enough…”
“Not only are you a thief, you’re a stingy miser as well!” Yun Yang said in disgust.
Admittedly, the air of vitality that poured forth from Emmie was immensely potent. Even though it was only a sliver, Yun Yang could sense the man’s labored breathing had become easier and his pulse strengthen. His pallor had also improved within that short span of time.
While waiting for the man to regain consciousness, Yun Yang cultivated. The Thousand Illusion Monkey and five kittens ambled over to his side while he went through the motions. A monkey, one Lightning Cat, and four higher level mystical beast babies squeezed together, looking for all the world like a united and harmonious family.
It was some time later when the man on the bed asked in a weak voice, “Where… is this?”
Yun Yang stopped his practice and looked over. The man was already awake and had his eyes opened, his gaze moving about with difficulty to take in his surroundings.
“This is my home. You have been heavily injured. Rest well, since you have just woken up,” Yun Yang replied.
“Thank… you!” the man gasped.
“No worries.” Yun Yang stood up. “I perform but a small kindness. Be at ease.”
He then left the room. Although he knew that this person could be an expert, Yun Yang was unwilling to let his guard down before knowing this mysterious individual’s name or background.
…
Under the flower canopy, Yun Yang sipped slowly at his cup of tea.
Lao Mei was cultivating in the room by the side, as mystical Qi could be felt wafting into the air in gentle waves. The sun hung low in the evening sky, the setting ball of light painting the land in brilliant crimson. A gush of wind brought about a fresh fragrance, as Ji Ling’s slim silhouette appeared beside Yun Yang. She looked at him curiously, “Are you brooding all by yourself out here?”
Yun Yang replied, “Yes, because I knew you would seek me out.”
Ji Ling chuckled after a momentary loss of speech at his audacity, “It’s still acceptable if you claimed that you were watching over your manservant who is cultivating. To say that I must be looking for you? Why, Young Master Yun, you’d have to polish up your lying skills.”
Yun Yang remained stoic as he asked, “If you were not looking for me, why are you here at this hour?”
Ji Ling stomped her foot in exasperation, “Fine! I was indeed looking for you.”
Yun Yang’s eyebrow rose. “What is it?”
Ji Ling brows furrowed in confusion as she said, “There are a few things that I don’t quite fathom.”
Yun Yang replied, “Correct me if I am wrong, but is it not true that there are three separate conundrums that you can’t make sense of?”
Ji Ling retorted in disbelief, “Oh? You know what it is that I don’t understand?”
Yun Yang pursed his lips before responding, “First, you are wondering why did I get into a conflict with Ximen Wandai. Based on my acute judgment, experience, and intelligence, it was impossible that I didn’t know who he was before he introduced himself. Why then did I still decide to take him on?”
Despite herself, Ji Ling nodded in agreement. “Exactly! You are certainly not a brash person.”
Yun Yang smiled knowingly and continued, “Second, you are wondering why I did not back down, even after Ximen Wandai asserted his identity, and even made matters worse by claiming my prizes and further offending the Ximen family.”
Ji Ling was increasingly amazed. “Yes, yes!”
“Lastly, it is obvious that I do not own a ninth level mystical beast offspring, but I said otherwise to Ximen Wandai and got myself into a wager. As a result, plenty of people now think that I possess a ninth level mystical beast and some of these are dangerous men. The Residence of Yun and I might be placed in a situation of extreme danger, at the heart of the maelstrom. You must be curious as to why I did that.”
Yun Yang’s tone was calm and collected as he rattled off what he knew was on Ji Ling’s mind.
“These people who think I own a ninth level mystical beast would definitely think of ways and means to take it away from me, while my abilities are depleted so badly that I would never be able to fight them off if they tried. I may have endangered my entire family, and you would like to know why I would do such a thing.” Yun Yang said with a hint of a smile. Under the illumination of the moon, his smile actually looked as untainted as moonbeams.
Ji Ling was flabbergasted, “Spot on! You knew all this, and yet you went ahead and did it! How could you defend yourself against the top eight families? Are you a madman who has a death wish?”
Yun Yang only smiled and kept silent.
“Well, why did you do it?” Ji Ling was growing increasingly perplexed; she had always figured that Yun Yang acted with an underlying motive. However, despite wracking her brain to the point of insensibility, she still could not reason out what drove Yun Yang’s actions, and how he planned to manage the aftermath. Dignity lost to overwhelming curiosity, and she had come over to find out what she could. Who would have known that this man could be so reticent; she had half a mind to clobber that smug smile off his face!
“If I can’t take it, there’s still you, isn’t there?” Yun Yang smiled.
“I won’t care!” Ji Ling eyes were dangerously narrowed, “Stop beating around the bush, speak the truth.”
“Do you really wish to know?” Yun Yang finally turned around and gazed at her with brevity.
“Yes!” Ji Ling, yelled in frustration.
“In that case, I won’t be telling you...” Yun Yang beamed affably.
“You!” Ji Ling finally exploded, sending a stone stool flying with a well-placed kick. “Argh! You are going to be the death of me!”
Yun Yang laughed out loud at her response. To Ji Ling, it was the type of laugh that begged for a strategic blow right between the eyes.