Zhao Changhe didn’t know how Ying Wu had found the space or what he considered "obtaining" it. Surely, it wasn’t simply posting guards there...
And even if he had "obtained" it, how could he link them together? It wasn’t like assembling blocks.
Perhaps he had his own unique method, which naturally was inconvenient to inquire about, as others might not be willing to divulge such information.
From the perspective of this cooperation alone, there seemed to be no problem, so Zhao Changhe said, "By cooperation, do you mean we share information about secret realms? I tell you what I know, and I can freely access your intelligence in return?"
"As long as it’s related to secret realms, it can all be shared with Young Master Zhao. Even secret realms that we have discovered in the past are open for you to explore if you’re interested."
Zhao Changhe expressed his approval, "Lord Ying is straightforward."
Ying Wu chuckled, "But I see that Young Master Zhao isn’t too interested in merely visiting. After all, any treasures or secret books are already taken by us, and just an empty space is something you’ve always discarded... however, the spoils we’ve obtained before are definitely not for you."
"That’s your discovery, why would I have the audacity to claim it? As for the space, there may indeed come a time when I will trouble you." Zhao Changhe was in a good mood and asked, "Having explored so many places, Lord Ying must be clearer about ancient secrets than anyone else, right? Could you share some of that?"
"These secrets are part of the unique advantages that set us above the other powers... Whether we share them depends on the future relations between us." Ying Wu smiled amiably, "If we’re true friends, anything can be discussed. Even if there’s some treasured item we want that happens to conflict with a friend’s interests, negotiation is possible, let alone some ancient secrets, right?"
Of course... despite Ying Wu’s amiable smile, their cooperation had only just begun, and a deep relationship was not yet established. Zhao Changhe felt this was quite normal and readily responded, "A gentleman’s agreement, let our cooperation begin."
Ying Wu smiled even more joyfully, eyes squeezed together with merriment. Suddenly, he pulled out a blood-colored token and handed it to Zhao Changhe, "Here, a small token of our meeting. It’s nothing much."
As the token was brought out, vicious energy filled the room, triggering the evil Qi within Zhao Changhe’s body and nearly turning his eyes blood red.
He quickly suppressed it and took a deep breath, "Is this the item that Lord Ying said differs from the Cui Family’s medicine and would be sold to me for a mere penny?"
"Correct, the noble Cui Family doesn’t have such bloody and fierce items. We businessmen, however, can deal in anything." Ying Wu spoke nonchalantly, "Cui Wenjing can help heal your injuries and provide guidance for your Mystical Gate Ninth Layer and even pointers to discover secret treasures, but they can’t offer the vicious energy required for Blood Evil Skill cultivation. Have you prepared yourself for the immense energy and Blood Evil Qi needed to advance from the Eighth Layer to the Ninth Layer?"
Zhao Changhe looked down at the blood-colored token, feeling its aura to be very similar to the bead he had obtained from Maitreya, but of a higher grade and with a more concentrated vicious energy.
If the bead from Maitreya was simply a small embedded piece of a Blood God Array Plate, then this blood token could very well be a core component.
This item was indeed crucial for him!
Only someone like Ying Wu, who seemed to treat all kinds of secret realms as his own living room, could produce such a thing with ease. Xia Longyuan probably didn’t have as many rare and strange items, not to mention Cui Wenjing.
He looked up at Ying Wu, who was still smiling, "What do you say?"
Zhao Changhe unapologetically tucked the token into his bosom, "This really is quite useful to me, I won’t stand on ceremony with you, Lord Ying."
Ying Wu laughed heartily, stood up to leave, and said, "I’ll instruct my people that from now on, when Young Master Zhao visits our places, information will be shared directly and there will be no riddles to solve. That’s all for now. I look forward to the results of our future collaboration, farewell."
"Eh, wait a moment." Zhao Changhe called after him, asking, "Lord Ying, have you ever heard of the Dragon Elephant Blood Ginseng?"
Ying Wu looked intrigued, "Heard of it, never seen it. I only know it’s from ancient times, nonexistent in this epoch. If you’re looking for it, you’d have to search some secret realms. Isn’t this our next collaboration project? We didn’t even know where to start and now we have a direction."
Zhao Changhe also found this amusing, "I will likely trouble Lord Ying quite a bit in the future."
Ying Wu waved his hand and left leisurely.
When he was far from the guest pavilion, Sha Qi, who should have been in Sword Lake City, suddenly appeared by Ying Wu’s side and asked in a low voice, "Lord Ying, how come it looks like we’re at a loss in this cooperation? Even if he has some connection with secret realms, how much can he really have? Shouldn’t we set a benchmark, like a certain amount he needs to achieve annually to be reasonable..."
Ying Wu replied, exasperated, "Do you think this is just like setting profit targets for your gambling parlors?"
"Ah well, it just feels like a loss..."
"In business, apart from buying and selling, there is another strategy called investing. Do you get that?"
"The most convenient ones for such things are emperors who rule over everything. But Xia Longyuan not only doesn’t search for them, but he’d rather the spaces continue to be divided, and have everyone fight like dogs. Hence, we do not share the same path with him, making him an obstacle. But can’t you place your bets on the next emperor?"
"I’m not interested in his current abilities, but what he can achieve in the future. If we only cooperate when everything is already set in stone, it would be like racing to eat shit while it’s still warm," Ying Wu said, glancing outside the corridor where Huangfu Yongxian was approaching. "Look, who’s here?"
Sha Qi turned his head to look, "This is Huangfu Yongxian’s territory, of course he would come to see his guests. Oh right, Fifth Master, I heard you used to fancy Vermilion Bird, have you ever thought that his daughter might be...?"
Ying Wu took a deep breath, his veins bulging, "Is that what I asked you to think about?"
Sha Qi replied, "Isn’t it? But come to think of it, you’re almost an entire epoch older than Vermilion Bird, and it doesn’t really matter who he is anymore—she won’t like you, old and fat..."
"..." Ying Wu fell silent for a moment, "How’s your swordsmanship coming along?"
"Not quite to my taste..." ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel★fire.net
"Maybe switch to a dagger in the future, it suits you better than wielding a sword."
"Why? I’ve been practicing the sword for so long."
"Because with a dagger, you could be called ’Sha Dagger’." Ying Wu walked away, "Make your own excuse for Listen to Snow Pavilion, reputation is not something you play with. Do it again and it won’t just be dismissal, it’ll be decapitation!"
Sha Qi silently pondered for a while, feeling there was no real difference even if his head was ’daggered’ off.
Meanwhile, Huangfu Yongxian knocked on Zhao Changhe’s door, "Has Zhao Gongzi retired for the night? Huangfu was delayed by war affairs. How is your injury?"
Zhao Changhe had just crawled up from the chair back into bed to examine the Blood Token and reluctantly sat back down, "Do not be so formal, General. Please come in."
It’s like a bustling marketplace here, you really don’t treat me like an injured person, and the injured need rest...
But even if he would refuse Ying Wu, he would not refuse Huangfu Yongxian. Anyone would hold respect for such an old general who dedicated his life to the frontier and whose family was loyal to the death.
Not to mention, his daughter was the Miss Winged Fire Snake.
Zhao Changhe thought about how to ingratiate himself with the old general... The Imperial Concubine Huangfu Qing may have some significance for the Four Symbols Sect in keeping an eye on Xia Longyuan’s state and actions, and perhaps also facilitates the Sect’s political schemes. From Huangfu Yongxian’s point of view, it may also hold political significance, but in reality, it truly means nothing.
He wondered if he could discuss a plan with the old general to end this farce... Otherwise, with the identity of the Imperial Concubine, even if Xia Longyuan was just watching the show, he would never get a chance to be intimate with her.
As he was pondering, Huangfu Yongxian entered, holding his helmet, and knelt on one knee, bowing his head, "Your Highness."
His mind went blank, and he quickly jumped up from the chair, "Don’t! I’m really not!"
Huangfu Yongxian lowered his head, "Your Highness’s lone endeavor into the dragon’s den was filled with life-threatening peril, an oversight on this old servant’s part."
Zhao Changhe felt his head splitting. You couldn’t even tell if the man was blindly loyal or truly terrified that Xia Longyuan would blame him for this.
To follow an Emperor is to walk with a tiger; even after winning a battle, you can’t be sure it’s a good thing.
Zhao Changhe hurriedly helped him up, "I said I’m not the prince! Xia... I assure you he won’t make an issue out of this!"
But in helping him up, he found the old general as immovable as if rooted to the spot.
Huangfu Yongxian, ranked ninth on the Earth List, advanced to eighth after He Lei’s death.
He was no old general on his last legs.
However, as immovable as he initially seemed, when Zhao Changhe finished his sentence, the old general’s eyes shone with mirth, and he stood up on his own, whispering, "If Your Highness assures it, then this old servant believes you."
"..." Zhao Changhe realized he had been trapped.
You’re not the Prince, what assurance can you give?
By daring to make such an assurance, wasn’t he revealing the truth?
In fact, whether he admits it or not, this wasn’t even an issue at this point, the real problem was—if the old man truly believes you’re the Prince, what about the Imperial Concubine?