Chapter 95: "Capable Assistant" Medusa
Black Seal City, Thousand Medicine Pavilion.
An elder surnamed Li handed a jade box to Fan Ling, who took it without a word, turned around, and left with his subordinates, no longer paying attention to Lu Bu. Though Lu Bu was somewhat surprised by this, he didn't dwell on it and instead focused on examining the jade box in front of him.
"Green Soul Fruit… Snow White Orchid… Jade Bone Flower… Not bad…" Lu Bu nodded slightly. He hadn't expected the Thousand Medicine Pavilion to gather all the ingredients for two sets of six tier pill recipes, but he wasn't too disappointed with what they managed to provide.
"What do you think, sir?" The elder surnamed Li asked with a cheerful smile.
"Not bad. Let's settle the bill."
"Hehe… that will be 6.73 million gold coins," the elder said with a grin, rubbing his hands together.
"That's too expensive!" Lu Bu scoffed bluntly. "This price is far higher than in other empires."
"Sir, what do you mean by that? Our Thousand Medicine Pavilion has always been honest with all our customers!" The elder's face twitched, and he immediately refuted the claim. If he hadn't realized that Lu Bu wasn't an ordinary customer, he might have already smashed his cup as a signal to call in reinforcements and deal with this pretty boy.
"Jie…" Lu Bu chuckled softly. The idea of someone from the Black Corner Region claiming honesty amused him.
"How about this: answer some questions for me, and I won't haggle over the price," Lu Bu proposed.
"Ask away, sir! I'll answer to the best of my ability!" The elder immediately brightened at the prospect, his face brimming with enthusiasm.
"When does the Black Seal City auction start?"
"Well…" The elder smacked his lips. "In about a month. There'll be quite a few good items in this auction."
"Do you have a catalog of the items?"
"Of course!" The elder chuckled and pulled out a hardcover catalog with gold inlays. "Our Thousand Medicine Pavilion has even entrusted a few herbs to the Eight Gates for auction."
Since the Black Seal City's Eight Gates operates openly, auction catalogs are made available to attract buyers and sellers alike.
Lu Bu took the catalog and skimmed through it, recognizing several familiar items. Among them were advanced fighting techniques like the Earth Tier "Three Thousand Lightning Movement," flight techniques like the "Thunder Bat Sky Wings," and rare herbs like the Core Flame Ganoderma. However, there was no mention of the Yin Yang Mystic Dragon Pill.
It seemed the Eight Gates had deliberately kept it hidden.
Lu Bu didn't dwell on the other items but focused on a detail in the lower right corner of the catalog. Hidden under a less conspicuous section, there was an image of a yellowed piece of parchment no larger than a palm part of the Demon Saint's Map.
Lu Bu's heart raced. This was exactly what he was after!
Taking a deep breath, Lu Bu suppressed his excitement, quickly paid the bill, and left with his goods.
"Jie… this auction is certainly garnering a lot of attention…" The elder stroked his beard, chuckling as he watched Lu Bu leave.
...
Outside, as soon as Lu Bu stepped out of the Thousand Medicine Pavilion, he felt someone observing him.
The gaze was faint and intermittent, but with his current level as a Tier 7 Alchemist, his spiritual perception was unparalleled in the Black Corner Region only the two reclusive elders of the Jia Nan Academy could match him. To Lu Bu, this covert surveillance stood out as clearly as a firefly in the night sky.
"Looks like someone's taken an interest in me…" Lu Bu's expression remained calm as he sneered inwardly and strolled away nonchalantly.
On a nearby rooftop, Fan Ling sat on a golden velvet chair, his face pale, casually playing with a jade ring.
"Young Sect Master, Elder Han has locked onto the target…" said a white haired elder seated cross legged on the floor. Blood mist swirled around him, a clear sign he was using some kind of secret technique.
"Keep following him and report back immediately if anything happens," Fan Ling said indifferently, barely glancing at the elder.
"Young Sect Master, provoking others like this… might not be wise. We can't afford complications during this trip…" The elder hesitated for a moment before voicing his concern.
"He's just a teenage boy. What could he possibly do?" Fan Ling dismissed the worry with a wave of his hand. "Besides, I've only asked Elder Han to track him, not to harm him. What's there to fear?"
The elder's face remained uneasy. Though Fan Ling's words made sense, there weren't many in the Black Corner Region who would tolerate being followed such actions were almost universally seen as provocative.
"Relax. Elder Han is at the Dou Ling level. Even if there's danger, he can escape easily. Jie…" Fan Ling chuckled, clearly unconcerned. After all, who would dare provoke the Blood Sect? Did people really think the Blood Sect's Young Master Fan Ling was an easy target?
...
Meanwhile, Lu Bu strolled leisurely along the streets, seemingly unaware. Several dozen feet behind him, a dark shadow occasionally writhed, faintly surrounded by blood mist.
"Why is the Young Sect Master interested in this kid?" Elder Han of the Blood Sect followed at a distance, perplexed. Apart from being handsome, the boy didn't seem exceptional in any way.
However, just as Elder Han raised his head, he suddenly realized the figure he had been following had disappeared.
"What?!" Elder Han's heart skipped a beat. He abandoned all pretense of stealth and dashed forward in the direction the boy had gone.
He understood his Young Sect Master's methods all too well brutal and unforgiving. If he messed this up…
The thought of enduring the agony of his blood being drained drop by drop made Elder Han shudder uncontrollably.
After weaving through several alleys, Elder Han found himself in a dead end alleyway. But the place was completely empty.
"Damn it! Where is he?" Elder Han broke out in a cold sweat, nervously glancing around.
"Looking for me?"
A calm voice suddenly sounded from behind him. Elder Han felt his scalp tingle and a chill run down his spine as if ice water had been poured over him.
This person… not only knew he was being followed but had also managed to turn the tables and corner him!
"Sir…" Cold sweat dripped down Elder Han's back as he cupped his hands in a gesture of respect. "I am Han Yingyang of the Blood Sect…"
He didn't know the other's exact strength, but it was likely superior to his own. Even if it wasn't, the gap couldn't be large. Fighting was out of the question his only choice was to stall for time and rely on the Blood Sect's reputation to intimidate his opponent while waiting for the Young Sect Master to arrive.
"I know," Lu Bu said calmly, his tone carrying a hint of indifference. "I also know it was Fan Ling's order, wasn't it?"
"You... you… how did you know?" Elder Han's face was full of shock. Could it be that Lu Bu had known he was being followed from the very beginning?
"Tsk... I initially thought he was a smart man. Now it seems I overestimated him." Lu Bu spoke casually, his hand suddenly gripping a dagger that appeared as if by magic. He casually tossed it up and down in his hand.
"You dare attack me?" Elder Han roared, his voice trembling with fury. "I am a member of the Blood Sect! Our Sect Master is a Four Star Dou Huang, ranked fifth on the Black List! If you kill me, aren't you afraid of the Blood Sect's revenge?"
As he shouted, Elder Han unleashed his Dou Qi, a blood red energy that carried a pungent, iron like smell.
"Annoying," Lu Bu sneered coldly. His dagger flashed with a dazzling chill, and the burst of pressure from his attack instantly suppressed Elder Han's Dou Qi.
"No "
Pfft!
Crimson blood sprayed through the air.
…
In the loft where he had been meditating, the white haired elder's body shuddered violently. The blood mist surrounding him dissipated, and a bright red flush surged onto his aged face.
"Pfft… Young Sect Master, Elder Han… Elder Han has been killed!" The white haired elder spat a mouthful of blood and shouted.
Fan Ling, who had been toying with a jade ring, immediately turned grim. His face darkened as he barked, "Go check Elder Han's body!"
Without delay, Fan Ling led three or four men to the scene, following the white haired elder's directions. But when they arrived, they were utterly stunned. This wasn't the aftermath of a battle it was just an ordinary street.
Elder Han's corpse was pinned to the ground by several daggers and short blades, his neck arteries slashed open. Crimson blood had pooled everywhere.
His face was ashen, his body drained of blood. He had died with his eyes wide open in despair.
"Well, well…" Fan Ling trembled all over, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "That little brat sure has guts! He dares provoke the Blood Sect? It seems our reputation isn't frightening enough!"
"Young Sect Master, calm yourself!" The white haired elder urged anxiously. "We cannot afford to lose any more men!"
Whoever could so easily kill Elder Han had to be at least a Dou Ling level expert. Such power was rare even within the Blood Sect.
"Hmph, I know." Fan Ling snorted through gritted teeth, his expression twisted with rage. "But I won't let this matter slide. I, Fan Ling, have never been humiliated like this before!"
"Young Sect Master, what are you planning?" The elder's heart raced as he sensed Fan Ling's growing hostility.
"That pretty boy must die! There's no way I'll let him go. But… the process will change. There are ways to deal with him."
"What… what do you mean?"
"Nothing much. Just setting a tiger against a wolf," Fan Ling said coldly.
…
In the inn.
Lu Bu had just returned to his room when Medusa opened her eyes from her cultivation. Her expression remained indifferent as she asked, "How did it go?"
"Not bad." Lu Bu smiled faintly and took out several jade boxes, placing them before Medusa.
"There's even more than I expected," Medusa said with a hint of surprise on her delicate face. She opened the boxes one by one, noting that some contained ingredients for Soul Fusion Pills, while others were unrelated.
Although Medusa wasn't an alchemist, she had studied the pill recipe and recognized some of the necessary materials.
"These herbs… Are you planning to refine other pills?" Medusa couldn't help but ask.
"Yes, Breaking Sect Pills," Lu Bu replied with a smile. "I'm preparing them for Yun Yun. With Senior Yun Shan's guidance, I believe she'll attempt a breakthrough to Dou Zong within a few years."
"The ingredients for Breaking Sect Pills are numerous and rare, so I'm preparing them in advance to avoid scrambling later."
"…" Medusa remained silent as she closed the boxes. If she were the one attempting a breakthrough… hmph, Breaking Sect Pills? They were nothing special!
Using pills to advance was, in her eyes, a shortcut a less stable foundation compared to enduring hardships and breaking through naturally. She scoffed inwardly. So what if Yun Yun needs pills to break through? This queen has no reason to be envious!
Medusa sneered silently to herself, pushing the jade boxes aside as she prepared to resume her cultivation.
Just then, a knock came at the door. Medusa's eyes instantly sharpened, and she exchanged a cautious glance with Lu Bu. Both recognized the alert in each other's expressions neither of them had friends in this place.
Lu Bu extended his spiritual sense and swept it over the hallway. It was just an inn servant.
Frowning slightly, Lu Bu opened the door and stepped outside. "What is it?"
"Sir, there is an honored guest who wishes to meet you. They ask that you come down to the main hall," the servant said respectfully.
"An honored guest wants to see me, and they expect me to go to them?" Lu Bu's expression turned strange. Was this guest a bit too full of themselves?
"Lead the way," Lu Bu said, gesturing with his chin.
Behind him, Medusa frowned but said nothing. This kid's combat strength wasn't below hers. If something went wrong, she could deal with it later. If he vanished without a trace… well, following after him wouldn't help.
Not long after, with the servant guiding him, Lu Bu arrived at the main hall and saw the person waiting for him.
It was Fan Ling, his face pale and his expression filled with malice.
Lu Bu narrowed his eyes slightly. What was Fan Ling up to now?
"Mr. Lu, I am Fan Ling, Young Sect Master of the Blood Sect. I was blind earlier and offended you. Please forgive me!" Fan Ling suddenly cupped his hands, bowed deeply, and apologized loudly.
The entire hall fell into stunned silence. Everyone was dumbfounded by the scene. Fan Ling, notorious for his arrogance, bowing and apologizing? When had such a thing ever happened?
"This is my token of apology!" Fan Ling said as he took out three jade boxes from his storage ring, opening them and offering them with both hands. His posture was incredibly deferential.
Lu Bu's eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced at the boxes. Inside were three herbs with cold attributes. Their rarity was above average and worth noting.
"What does this mean, Young Sect Master Fan Ling?" Lu Bu frowned. He couldn't believe Fan Ling would act like this. Half an hour ago, he had killed a Blood Sect elder and dumped the corpse in the street.
No one should be able to tolerate that.
"Earlier, I had someone follow you, which was indeed an offense on my part. Disturbing you was my mistake. Please accept my gift as an apology," Fan Ling said, holding up the jade box above his head and speaking solemnly.
Lu Bu was momentarily speechless. Such direct and sincere words left him unsure of how to respond. This didn't match the typical behavior of villains on the Dou Qi Continent!
But for now… Lu Bu's eyes flickered. He raised his hand and took the box. "Go ahead, state your purpose."
"I would like to invite you to join the Blood Sect as one of our honored elders. Our sect is willing to offer you the treatment of a Tier 4 Alchemist," Fan Ling said loudly.
At these words, those watching nearby were utterly shocked. The treatment of a Tier 4 Alchemist? Was the Blood Sect planning to open another alchemy hall? Could this boy truly be so capable?
"I'll accept your apology gift, but as for joining the Blood Sect no thanks, I'm not interested," Lu Bu replied casually and started walking away.
"Sir, I won't give up. This is my father's command!" Fan Ling shouted after him, but Lu Bu didn't even look back. His voice echoed as he disappeared into the distance.
Fan Ling shrugged, his face showing a hint of regret as he led his men away.
"What does this mean, Young Sect Master?" the white haired elder couldn't help but ask. He couldn't understand Fan Ling's approach. With the arrogant and domineering nature of their Young Sect Master, wasn't the usual course of action to gather their men, block the inn, and hack the boy to death?
"Hmph… There are always those in this city who can't stand to see us doing well," Fan Ling said with a cold smile. "They wouldn't dare target me, the Young Sect Master of the Blood Sect, but they'd certainly try to make a move against a mere boy."
"Pitting a tiger against a wolf… I see now," the white haired elder murmured in realization.
"Let's go. The next part is just watching the show," Fan Ling sneered. "Anyone who thinks they can take something from this Young Sect Master so easily… is courting death!"
Soon, news of the incident spread throughout Black Seal City, stirring up quite a storm.
"The Blood Sect and Eight Gates are at odds... Green Bull, doesn't this sound entertaining? Should we go check it out?" a booming voice came from one room.
"No. Too much trouble," Green Bull replied indifferently.
"What are you afraid of? Is there anyone in Black Seal City who can match us? And even if there is, if we can't beat them, we can still run!"
"Hmm? That sounds familiar. Didn't you say the same thing back in the Tagore Desert?"
"..."
In his room, Lu Bu frowned deeply, puzzled by Fan Ling's actions. While they posed no direct threat, they left him feeling uneasy.
"From the look on your face, it doesn't seem like you fought with anyone?" Medusa asked with some curiosity.
After a moment's hesitation, Lu Bu recounted everything that had transpired between him and Fan Ling, including his doubts and confusion.
When he finished, Medusa's brows also furrowed slightly. "In your opinion, how much of Fan Ling's words were sincere?"
"None," Lu Bu replied. Back at the Thousand Medicine Pavilion, Fan Ling had been arrogant and overbearing. Then, without any valid reason, he had someone follow Lu Bu, clearly with ill intentions.
For someone like that to suddenly admit fault? Jie, what wishful thinking!
Medusa thought for a moment before speaking slowly. "The Eight Gates and the Blood Sect don't get along. Not long ago, one of the Eight Gates' elders was captured by Fan Ling and tortured to death using a secret technique."
Lu Bu raised an eyebrow. "Then how does he still dare to show his face here?"
"The leader of the Eight Gates, Yuan Yi, is a Two Star Dou Huang ranked ninth on the Black List, while the Blood Sect's leader, Fan Lao, is a Four Star Dou Huang ranked fifth. The Blood Sect's overall strength is slightly stronger than the Eight Gates," Medusa explained.
"The Eight Gates can't vent their anger on the Blood Sect, but you, a newcomer, are a different story. Borrowing a knife to kill someone this is a well played move," she added with a smirk, her expression filled with schadenfreude. Whether she was laughing at Lu Bu for being caught in this mess or at the impending conflict between the Eight Gates and the Blood Sect, it wasn't clear.
Lu Bu was momentarily stunned. He couldn't help but feel his heart skip a beat Medusa's smile was… rather captivating.
"What are you staring at?" Medusa's expression instantly hardened, and she snapped coldly.
"Cough, cough… Let's stay on topic," Lu Bu said, snapping out of it. He cleared his throat awkwardly and asked, "How do you know so much about this?"
"Hmph, do you think this queen only knows how to swing a sword?" Medusa sneered.
"These things are common knowledge. You could ask anyone and get the same answers. Besides, you're lingering in Black Seal City, which means something here has caught your attention. After some thought, it's obvious you're here for the auction in a month. Even if it's not the auction itself, it must involve the Eight Gates, the city's most prominent power."
Ah… so that's it. Lu Bu suddenly understood.
"Tsk, clever woman…" Lu Bu muttered with some dissatisfaction. He didn't like being seen through so easily. "But being too smart doesn't make you likable."
"Hmph, this queen has led the Snake People Tribe for over fifty years. Since when have I ever needed a man's approval?" Medusa shot back with a cold smile, utterly disdainful.
"Oh~ fifty years…" Lu Bu dragged out the words, his tone tinged with mild surprise.
"You brat! You're looking for death!" Medusa suddenly raised her hand and sent a fierce palm strike toward Lu Bu's annoyingly handsome face.
Lu Bu laughed heartily and countered with a palm strike of his own. With a loud boom, the resulting gust of wind wreaked havoc in the room, leaving everything in disarray.
However, neither caused any real damage. Both were Dou Zong level experts, and their control over their strength was precise enough to avoid any unnecessary destruction.
"Hmph!" Medusa shook her hand in irritation. This time, she was the one left feeling annoyed. "So, what's your plan? Go have a friendly conversation to clear up misunderstandings and resolve things peacefully?"
As if! How could Lu Bu, of all people, do something so cowardly?
"You already know my goal, don't you?" Lu Bu smiled, picking up the auction catalog that had fallen to the side. He waved it in front of Medusa and said, "If he wants to borrow a knife to kill someone, then I'll turn the tables. I'll draw the snake out of its hole and have a chat with the leader of the Eight Gates. I think he'll be happy to lend me what I'm looking for."
"Your Majesty, when the time comes, I'll need you to act as my secret weapon. People in the Black Corner Region are slippery don't let him escape."
"This is the first time we'll be teaming up. Don't mess it up," Lu Bu said with a faint smile.
"Hmph!" Medusa replied curtly, her words as few as ever.
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