Translator: CinderTL
After leaving the Pill Cauldron Pavilion, Song Wen toured the entire ghost market, including the scattered stalls on the mountain.
However, he found nothing of interest.
Song Wen left the ghost market and circled Shangchu City to ensure he wasn't being followed before entering the Elegant Music Pavilion.
In a private room on the top floor, he met Jiang Yushan.
"Yang Yu, how did it go? Did you find out the whereabouts of the Withered Essence Grass?" Jiang Yushan asked eagerly.
Song Wen replied, "I'm glad to say I succeeded. I've obtained the Withered Essence Grass."
Jiang Yushan's eyes lit up with surprise.
"What! You've obtained the Withered Essence Grass!"
Jiang Yushan only knew that a Withered Essence Grass had appeared in the Heavenly Fate Ghost Market months ago. He had hoped Yang Yu could at least gather some clues about it, making the night's trip worthwhile. He never expected Song Wen to actually acquire the grass itself.
"Where is it? Quickly show it to me," Jiang Yushan said.
With a thought, Song Wen summoned a floating jade box that drifted toward Jiang Yushan.
Jiang Yushan took the jade slip, examined the Withered Essence Grass inside, and was greatly satisfied.
"Yang Yu, you've done an excellent job. I will reward you handsomely. How many spirit stones did you spend on this Withered Essence Grass? I am not one to take advantage of others. I will reimburse you for the spirit stones you used to purchase it."
"It's my honor to serve Second Young Master like a dog or horse. I wouldn't dare presume to ask for a reward. However, the Withered Essence Grass was rather expensive. I spent all my spirit stones and even had to part with a high-grade magic treasure." As he spoke, Song Wen's face was flushed with shame.
Jiang Yushan, in high spirits, waved his hand dismissively.
"Tell me exactly how many spirit stones you spent. Since you were working for me, I won't let you suffer any losses."
"The Withered Essence Grass cost five hundred and thirty high-grade spirit stones. The seller, seeing how determined I was to get it, raised the price on the spot," Song Wen said, his voice tinged with anger toward the seller.
Jiang Yushan replied, "That price is a bit steep. But five hundred-odd high-grade spirit stones are nothing to me."
With a slight movement of his finger wearing the Storage Ring, a large wooden chest materialized out of thin air.
"Here are six hundred high-grade spirit stones. The extra is a reward for you."
Song Wen quickly stowed the chest, his gratitude overflowing.
"Thank you, Second Young Master, for your generosity."
Jiang Yushan asked, "Did anyone follow you after you left the black market?"
Song Wen replied, "Absolutely no one was tailing me."
"Good," Jiang Yushan said.
With that, Jiang Yushan and his two guards departed.
Song Wen met Jiang Yushan again half a month later.
Jiang Yushan had taken the initiative to invite Song Wen to meet at the Elegant Music Pavilion.
"Take a look at this," Jiang Yushan said, holding out a jade bottle to Song Wen.
Song Wen glanced inside and saw only some white powder, seemingly ordinary.
"Is this Withered Essence Frost?"
Jiang Yushan nodded, his face flushed with barely concealed excitement.
"Congratulations, young master, on successfully refining the Withered Essence Frost," Song Wen immediately flattered.
"I called you here today because I need your help coming up with a plan to poison Ye Bing," Jiang Yushan said. Since Song Wen had successfully obtained the Withered Essence Grass, Jiang Yushan now regarded him as a trusted confidant.
Song Wen frowned slightly, lost in thought.
"This won't be easy. Though the poison is colorless and tasteless, Ye Bing won't casually touch or consume anything of unknown origin. Unless she has a compelling reason to do so."
Jiang Yushan asked, "What do you mean?"
Song Wen said, "Mix this poison into something she values deeply. Or, lure her to a deserted place, break through her Mana Shield, and then sprinkle the poison."
"You have a point. We definitely need to lure her to a deserted place first. This can't happen near the Jiang Family or Shangchu City. Where do you think would be suitable?" Jiang Yushan, though audacious, hadn't completely lost his mind. He knew this matter must remain secret.
Song Wen replied, "Naturally, the more remote, the better. Somewhere like the Rotting Miasma Ridge would be ideal, where no outsiders could discover us."
"The Rotting Miasma Ridge? That's indeed a good place. But luring her there might be tricky," Jiang Yushan murmured.
After a moment of silence, Jiang Yushan's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Ye Bing still holds a grudge against Jiang Chao for killing her son and has been seeking revenge. But Jiang Chao mysteriously died in the Rotting Miasma Ridge over a decade ago. Perhaps this young master can use that incident to his advantage."
"It seems young master already has a brilliant plan," Song Wen flattered with a fawning smile.
"Hahaha..." Jiang Yushan suddenly stood up, throwing his head back and laughing as if he could already see Ye Bing lying helpless and furious at his feet, utterly defenseless.
"Yang Yu, you've never met Ye Bing, so you can't appreciate her peerless beauty and elegant charm. Women like Dong Xue and Xia Qing are mere fireworks compared to her. Just wait for my good news. Even if you don't get to eat the meat, you'll at least get a feast for your eyes. Hahaha..."
Amidst his laughter, Jiang Yushan left the Elegant Music Pavilion with his two guards.
Song Wen frowned slightly. He had already handed Jiang Chao's divine soul to Ye Bing, and he wasn't sure if Jiang Yushan's scheme would succeed in luring her out.
Song Wen didn't care whether Ye Bing would fall for Jiang Yushan's trap. What mattered to him was whether Jiang Yushan would actually go.
The reason Song Wen had deliberately mentioned Rotting Miasma Ridge in front of Jiang Yushan was because, during their month-long acquaintance, the second young master had never stepped outside Shangchu City, giving Song Wen no opportunity to kill him.
The Rotting Miasma Ridge was far from Shangchu City, making it convenient for Song Wen to strike. Moreover, the ridge was shrouded in dense miasma that hindered Divine Sense, providing Song Wen with an easy escape route should anything go wrong.
Despite his concerns, Song Wen could do nothing but let events unfold naturally.
To his surprise, three days later, Jiang Yushan sent him a message: Ye Bing had taken the bait and agreed to go to the Rotting Miasma Ridge. Jiang Yushan instructed Song Wen to wait for him east of Shangchu City, where they would travel to the ridge together.
Song Wen waited in the sky outside the city for about fifteen minutes before a Giant Flying Ship approached. Onboard were only Jiang Yushan and his two guards; Ye Bing was nowhere to be seen.
"Second Young Master, why isn't Senior Ye Bing here?" Song Wen asked softly after boarding the ship.
"How could this young master possibly leave the city with her? If only I returned alone later, while she vanished without a trace, wouldn't that raise suspicions? I used a little trick to convince her to leave the city separately."
Jiang Yushan wore a smug expression, as if everything was under his control.
(End of the Chapter)
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