187 Bargain (1/2)

”We were successful,” Xue Wei said tentatively. He waved his hand and the snow jade box appeared in his palm.

”Let us discuss the reward,” he continued confidently.

”Initially, we were promised riches and honor when we agreed to go on this mission... but what we really want is to be able to leave this city alive,” he said with brutal honesty. Wan Qiang's eyes shone brightly in response.

”You are trading the Seven Star Nightflower for your lives?” he asked curiously. Xue Wei nodded his head.

”If I knew that this would happen, then I would not have returned to fulfill my promise, but I cannot change the past and now I am here. I have responsibility for my friends as well and I cannot allow them to be implicated.”

”Outrageous!” one of the elders exclaimed in anger. ”You killed human experts like they were weeds during the tournament! Someone like you is not worthy of living in this era where we humans stand united!”

”If you didn't want anyone to die, then why did you encourage us to kill one another?” Xue Wei retorted. He did not sneer, nor did his killing intent flare up, but a cold gleam shone in his eyes. He felt aloof from the world, but in the way an emperor feels upon being slighted by his inferior.

Xue Wei could see that this elder was willing to kill him no matter what he said, but he had to try and convince the other elders that it was not his fault.

”We did it to allow the younger generation to feel the pressure of life-and-death crises, but for you to actually go the extra mile and kill them – it is unacceptable!”

”It is not my fault they were as weak as paper tigers, unable to persist against a single attack from me,” Xue Wei said with a shrug of his shoulders. ”If they cannot handle even me, how would they ever be able to handle a Primordial Beast? Instead of sending them to their slaughter where their corpses will be mauled and destroyed, I did them a favor.”

What Xue Wei said was extreme. Calling it a favor to kill them was a little over the top, but the other side could say nothing. The elder knew how dangerous Primordial Beasts were, so what Xue Wei had said was not completely ungrounded.

”Elder Gao.” Wan Qiang spoke with a smile on his face, but there was a chilling undertone in his voice. Xue Wei could feel a sudden increase in the air pressure descending in the room.

”This young man has just gone on a long mission for our sake. For us, he entered a danger zone to get his hands on a herb we needed. Without his help, we would have been powerless and without the herb.”

”Now that he has produced such outstanding achievements, you do not want to praise him and reward him, but instead cannot wait to rip him to shreds? Could this be because of your relationship with the Crimson Sunshine Sect, which lost members to him?”

Elder Gao frowned. ”No, it is not like that, Elder Wan,” he assured him, but he could not help but curse in his mind. According to what Wan Qiang had said, he really was doing something vile. If anyone else had said that they wanted to kill this young man, they would turn into ungrateful bastards. No one wished to be seen as such.

Wan Qiang nodded his head. ”Young man, you have done us a great service,” he said, ignoring the ugly expressions on a handful of the elders. ”I will guarantee that you and your friends will be able to leave this fortress alive, and I will personally accompany you until you leave the Skyward Empire,” he said.

The fact that he was going to such lengths for Xue Wei caused mass-confusion among the elders. This was especially so for Xue Wei himself, who was already on alert when it came to Wan Qiang, but right now he could not refuse the offer.

Otherwise, he and his friends would die faster than he could blink if the elders were allowed to act out their hostility.

”This young one appreciates Elder Wan's efforts and magnanimity. We are very grateful for Elder Wan's care and consideration.”

Under usual circumstances, Xue Wei would have said something along the lines of carving the gratitude into his heart and remembering it, but considering it was a transaction, he felt that he had already done his part by giving them the Seven Star Nightflower.

Not to mention, he did not wish to actually owe this Elder Wan anything. He was simply too mysterious.

Elder Wan seemed to have guessed his thoughts, but instead of feeling insulted, the smile on his lips grew larger. He was definitely pleased with Xue Wei being stingy.

”Well, in that case, you and your friends are welcome to stay in my manor until we're ready to leave. At that time, I will follow you.”

”However, you have to wait a week until then,” Wan Qiang said. ”I have something I need to do with the Seven Star Nightflower, which will take a week's time.”

”We can wait a week,” Xue Wei said with a nod. Wan Qiang gestured with his hand and a servant stepped out from the corner of the room.