Chapter 222 - Compromise (1)

The packet containing the inventory list was a little over a dozen pages long.

With time so tight, Xu Yuan had not been able to have it recopied into a uniform document. The handwriting differed from page to page, each one detailing the Myriad Manifestations Sect’s major holdings in one of Westmarsh Province’s key prefectures or commanderies.

The information had been hastily compiled that very afternoon by Blackscale Guard agents stationed throughout the province.

At Xu Yuan’s request, the assets in each region had been divided into several broad categories, then further sorted into numerous smaller subcategories.

Despite the sheer amount of information, it was easy enough to read at a glance. The list covered everything from farms, workshops, and mineral veins catering to ordinary commoners, to taverns and entertainment houses inside the towns and cities, large merchant associations and banks, and even a section in the master index devoted to formation-inscription techniques unique to the Myriad Manifestations Sect.

In silence, the Sect Master and the Grand Elder skimmed through the catalogue.

They exchanged a glance. Both saw the same trace of anger and helplessness in the other’s eyes. The catalogue included 70% of the Myriad Manifestations Sect’s holdings in Westmarsh Province, and more than 90% of those holdings were currently profitable.

The Sect Master drew a deep breath and said quickly, his voice low, “Young Master, the assets listed here are worth far more than 90 million—”

Xu Yuan cut him off halfway through. He casually filed one of his nails and replied, “Relax. I know these holdings are worth much more than the total compensation you owe. We were pressed for time, weren’t we? It’s only been a little over half a month since the incident in Sageridge. This catalogue merely lists the assets that interest us. Agree to the terms first. Later, specialists will sit down with you and slowly work through the precise valuations.”

The Sect Master fell silent.

Xu Yuan’s meaning could not have been clearer. Don’t try padding the payment with worthless assets that lose money. We have already investigated everything.

While the Myriad Manifestations Sect’s senior leadership had been running around like headless chickens, shoving responsibility onto one another, the Chancellor's Manor had already begun preparing these tedious little details.

Without another word, the Sect Master and the Grand Elder rose almost simultaneously.

The Grand Elder cupped his hands. “Young Master, this matter is too significant for us to decide here. We must return to the sect.”

They might have been the Sect Master and Grand Elder, but even they lacked the authority to make a decision involving such an enormous sum.

Many of the businesses listed in the catalogue belonged to other great clans within the sect.

“Of course.” Xu Yuan shrugged and gestured for them to do as they pleased. Then, under the two men’s watchful eyes, he turned to Xu Xinyao behind him and instructed, “Xiaohe, come clean up the fragments of that communication crystal.”

The message was obvious. Discuss it all you like, but do remember that the Blackscale Army will begin its assault on Myriad in half an hour.

The Grand Elder’s brows drew together at once. “Young Master, could you grant us a little more time?”

Xu Yuan shook his head and answered with a helpless expression, “Grand Elder, military orders are no laughing matter. I might be perfectly willing to change my command on a whim, but you know how it is. A general in the field doesn’t always obey orders from afar...”

Neither old man said another word. After giving him a final salute, the two carried Zhou Xiaohe’s corpse out of the black eagle pavilion, transformed into two streaking afterimages, and sped toward the depths of the sect grounds.

Once the two men disappeared from sight, Xu Yuan sighed and sank back into the cushioned couch behind him. “Tell the men up front. We’re taking a detour straight to the eastern district.”

“What?” Xu Xinyao spoke for the first time since entering the room. After a moment’s hesitation, she asked,

“We... aren’t staying here to wait for them?”

Xu Yuan rolled his eyes. “There’s no reason for us to stay. If they agree, they’ll naturally come find us in the eastern district. If they don’t... then staying here would be waiting around to die.”

With that, he waved her off.

“Go.”

Xu Xinyao fell silent for a moment, dipped into a slight curtsy, then turned toward the door.

Watching her slender figure retreat, Xu Yuan suddenly called out, “Xinyao, do you finally see the sects’ ugly side for what it is?”

Xu Xinyao stiffened slightly.

Xu Yuan burst out laughing. “All right, you don’t have to answer. It’s enough that you know the answer in your own heart.”

Without a word, Xu Xinyao left the pavilion.

The door closed behind her. A moment later, Xu Yuan felt the cushions sink beside him, and that intoxicating floral fragrance drifted over once more.

Lou Ji crossed her long, half-concealed jade legs and sat with one knee over the other. One delicate foot peeked from beneath her dress, the high heel of her lotus boot swaying idly in the air. “Changtian, do you think they’ll agree?”

Breathing in her perfume, Xu Yuan chuckled. “Of course they will. 90 million isn’t enough to shake their foundations. Even if a few of them want to fight to mutual destruction, the rest of the sect won’t let them.”

Lou Ji smiled and lowered her gaze, idly admiring her long, razor-sharp nails. “You’ve certainly thought everything through. But Changtian, that order you gave just now was meant for Yuan Hao, wasn’t it?”

Xu Yuan glanced sideways at the old auntie and smiled faintly. “Are you worried Yuan Hao won’t obey?”

Lou Ji nodded, still smiling sweetly. “With your order in hand, that fellow will probably be beside himself with impatience. To him, Myriad right now is like a naked courtesan standing before a lust-crazed old lecher.”

Xu Yuan shook his head. “He might be a little mad, but he still knows what he’s doing on the battlefield. Even with my order, he has to wait for the reinforcements behind him to enter Myriad. No matter how much he rushes, it’ll still take at least half an hour.”

At that, he grinned. “Besides, aren’t I already heading toward the eastern district?”

Lou Ji narrowed her phoenix eyes. “So everything you said just now was merely to frighten those two old men?”

Xu Yuan was silent for a moment before letting out a sigh. “Not entirely. But if a war can be avoided, then avoiding it would still be best.”

“Because you can’t bear to see people die?” Lou Ji asked with interest.

Xu Yuan did not answer immediately. He gently rubbed his knuckles, and only after a long while did he shake his head. “There’s no point discussing such things. But... I suppose that is part of the reason.”

Lou Ji raised a hand and gently stroked his head, her voice soft and tender. “My, Changtian really is such a kindhearted boy.”

Xu Yuan gave a quiet snort. He lowered his gaze to his own hand, his voice betraying no emotion. “No. The main reason I don’t want to fight is that the returns would be too low. Our plan has progressed this quickly largely because we caught the Myriad Manifestations Sect completely unprepared. If they resist to the death, they’ll smash everything to pieces, and our casualties will rise sharply.

“Even if we win, Myriad will be reduced to a battlefield ruin. And if they decide to take us down with them, they’ll most likely burn the treasuries inside their mountain stronghold before we can seize them. Besides... even with ample justification, exterminating the Myriad Manifestations Sect would still affect how the sects across the realm view us. Showing restraint, on the other hand, will make them lower their guard.”

With that, Xu Yuan raised a hand and rubbed between his brows. When he glanced sideways, however, he found Lou Ji staring at him without blinking. “What? Did I say something wrong?”

Lou Ji’s beautiful eyes curved into twin crescents. “Changtian, you really have grown more handsome.”

Xu Yuan rolled his eyes. “You can see my face through the mask?”

“Your big sister was talking about the way you handle things.” Lou Ji spoke in a faint, languid voice, then suddenly asked, “By the way, Changtian, why were you so determined to kill the Sect Master’s daughter?”

“To make the Sect Master feel pain,” Xu Yuan answered without the slightest hesitation.

Lou Ji nodded in wholehearted agreement. “Fair enough. Your big sister didn’t care much for the way he spoke about commoners either.”

Xu Yuan gave her a peculiar look.