Chapter 667: Will you dare to bet?

"Ye Qin, this matter is my fault; I apologize to you. From now on, we go our separate ways, how about that? I, Xu Wei, swear I will never provoke you again."

Seeing Ye Qin temporarily loosen his grip, Xu Wei hurriedly patted his chest and promised: "Wherever you are, I will stay far away and absolutely never appear before you!"

Perhaps fearing Ye Qin wouldn't agree, he raised the stakes even higher.

But now Ye Qin had lost interest, and he casually said: "Do whatever you want. However, next time you might not be so lucky."

After saying that, a hint of killing intent flashed in his eyes.

Afterwards, whether it was Xu Wei or the people around him, they all quietly stepped back a few paces, intending to stay farther from Ye Qin to avoid collateral damage.

Naturally, Ye Qin was thus isolated in the center by them. This could be considered a kind of ostracism. However, no one dared provoke him anymore, after all Xu Wei's precedent was still fresh before their eyes.

As for this situation, Ye Qin didn't care either way. As long as no one came to bother him, staying low-key was the proper way. Perhaps later he would even get a chance to play the pig to eat the tiger.

He even secretly thought: "Forget it, let the isolation be. It's no big deal. Others' opinions and attitudes can't sway me, nor can they bring me any benefit."

Since that's the case, he had no need to care about others' opinions.

But at that moment, a tone of contempt sounded. Even Xu Wei, upon hearing it, was startled and involuntarily thought: "This voice sounds so familiar. It's Zhao Mo, that famous genius. It's said he had already reached Foundation Establishment, he just never took the assessment. However, I've heard this person is arrogant and overbearing; although he's still an outer disciple, he regards himself as an inner disciple. Moreover, he has family backing him!"

These matters had long been spread far and wide. Anyone from the Zhao family among the outer disciples, no one dared provoke them—not even the arrogant and overbearing Xu Wei.

Xu Wei only selectively stepped on some people. He knew his own strength and talent were nowhere near enough to rival Zhao Mo. He had also heard Zhao Mo's great name among the outer disciples. This is a Zhao family genius, after all.

Completely different from Zhao Ke.

Zhao Ke had average talent, but Zhao Mo was different.

"Yo, you guys are still causing trouble?"

A gloomy voice came. Zhao Mo first glanced at Xu Wei, then his frivolous and indifferent gaze fell on Ye Qin, revealing a hint of unusual color.

In that gaze there was both expectation, as well as contempt and coldness.

In his eyes, Ye Qin seemed no more than that—nothing worth paying attention to, nothing to care about.

Ye Qin looked at Zhao Mo and secretly startled: "Strange, how does this person resemble Zhao Ke so much? Could it be..."

If Ye Qin weren't certain that Zhao Ke had been completely eradicated by him, he would almost suspect Zhao Ke had been resurrected.

Their styles were utterly different, yet their appearances were strikingly similar; Ye Qin would not naively think this was mere coincidence.

He secretly thought: "It seems this guy and Zhao Ke likely come from the same family, perhaps even brothers."

He didn't know Zhao Mo's name, nor did he want to.

Zhao Ke died at his hands; if Zhao Mo discovered this, the consequences would be unthinkable.

"Forget it, I won't think about him. I currently have no connection with him; just don't let him discover any clues." Ye Qin silently murmured in his heart.

Anyway, Zhao Mo and he currently have no conflict, and he isn't the type who likes to stir up trouble.

His gaze was calm and tranquil like water, and he didn't deliberately pay attention to Zhao Mo. But in his heart he thought: "This guy looks even more arrogant than Xu Wei; did I not check the almanac today, why do I keep running into these troubles?"

Moreover, they all came to cause him trouble.

He hadn't actively provoked anyone, yet trouble kept coming to his door over and over, truly giving him the urge to kill.

Just as Ye Qin intended to continue staying low-key, Zhao Mo not far away spoke: "Kid, you've got some guts, daring to talk back to that Xu Wei guy—you're quite interesting."

Ye Qin: "……"

He didn't respond, just stood there casually, as if he hadn't heard, neither minding nor paying attention.

But Zhao Mo had no intention of letting him go, continuing: "You have great potential; I'm Zhao Mo, pleased to meet you. How about we become friends? Or you could simply follow me—I guarantee you'll eat well and drink well, receive resources for cultivation every month, of course, provided you work for me."

His words sounded like both self-talk and speaking to Ye Qin, his tone calm and indifferent, yet his eyes revealed strong interest.

His expression looked very calm.

However, Ye Qin suddenly said: "I have no interest; find someone else."

He simply didn't care about these things; a petty Zhao Mo was not enough to make him seek refuge or pledge loyalty, even for resources.

No matter what Zhao Mo had in mind, he would not agree.

Then Ye Qin said again: "If there's nothing else, I won't disturb Young Master Zhao."

The meaning of these words was clear—he didn't want too much involvement with Zhao Mo. He and the Zhao family would eventually clash swords; from the start they were opposed.

Therefore, Ye Qin felt no fondness for Zhao Mo; he was merely a self-conceited genius.

Perhaps he had exceptional abilities, but Ye Qin also considered himself extraordinary. He possessed the mysterious Vajra Bracelet; he would go farther and climb higher—no need to follow Zhao Mo.

At that moment, Zhao Mo suddenly said coldly: "Have you thought it through? Following me brings many benefits—spirit stones, elixirs, cultivation methods—surely these are what you crave?"

The benefits he promised seemed truly tempting.

On the path of cultivation, without resources, even the highest talent and hardest effort are in vain.

Those around hearing this were all stirred; if it were themselves, they might have already agreed. After all, on the Qingxuan Continent, resources are everything.

Without resources, it's like a river without water.

"No thanks."

Ye Qin gave a light smile, the corner of his mouth curling with a playful grin: "Young Master Zhao, with your great family and business, you ought to look down on someone like me who has no power or influence. Could it be just because I talked back to Xu Wei earlier?"

He was referring to the situation just now when he dealt with Xu Wei.

But this argument doesn't hold water; a momentary performance doesn't indicate great potential. Given Zhao Mo's vision, it shouldn't be that narrow-minded.

"Could it be that he discovered something about Zhao Ke's affair?"

Ye Qin secretly pondered: Was Zhao Mo's behavior a probe, imagination, or merely a provocation toward him?

He wasn't clear on Zhao Mo's thoughts.

"Zhao Ke didn't come today; judging from the similarity of Zhao Mo's and Zhao Ke's faces, they must be relatives. So he should have gone to find Zhao Ke to come together, but now only he came alone, indicating he discovered Zhao Ke is missing."

"Given the Zhao family's influence in the Haoran Immortal Sect, they would surely discover that Zhao Ke once had grudges with me. So..."

"All this makes sense. Zhao Mo has no evidence; he's here to test the waters."

"Thus Ye Qin understood why Zhao Mo, as soon as he appeared, paid attention to him and even said such things about following him—he obviously wanted to see his reaction, and perhaps even keep him nearby for observation and investigation!"

"In an instant, everything became clear. Ye Qin calmly said: 'Young Master Zhao, don't dwell on these matters—the assessment is about to begin.'"

A faint remark came out, making Zhao Mo feel uneasy: "This kid seems not to follow the proper path. I don't know if my older brother's sudden disappearance is related to him." Although it was just suspicion, he still felt there might be some connection between Ye Qin and his cheap older brother.

As for what it is, it's still unknown.

He looked at Ye Qin and said again: "I think you have potential to be my lackey; you'd better follow me. Otherwise..."

At that moment, Ye Qin raised his eyebrows and asked lightly: "Otherwise what? Make it impossible for me to stay in the sect, or something else?"

Zhao Mo's faint threat in his words didn't bother him. To him, whether it was humiliation or slaughter, he didn't care.

Because the one who dies will only be someone else, never him.

"Otherwise, just as you imagined." Zhao Mo said lightly, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

His tone revealed a hint of iciness and chill.

That meaning seemed as if something unexpected would really happen; he paid no attention to the threat against Ye Qin, not taking it to heart at all.

It seemed as easy to crush Ye Qin as to crush an ant.

However, Ye Qin didn't care, smiling lightly: "The assessment test is about to start; everything will be decided soon."

With his cultivation level, he believed he could become an inner sect disciple. By then, even if Zhao Mo wanted to strike him, there would be great restrictions; inner sect disciples of the Haoran Immortal Sect are not allowed to be arbitrarily killed—this is the sect's rule.

Outer sect disciples might not care, because outer sect disciples are not the core, nor the future.

But the inner sect disciples of the sect are the core, the hope for the future.

"You're right, but as fellow outer sect disciples, I must remind you that some things aren't as simple as you imagine. For example, my Zhao family also has some say in the inner sect. So..."

Zhao Mo's meaning was clear; he also knew he was threatening someone.

His words revealed coldness and indifference.

He was probing Ye Qin, wanting to see this guy's reaction.

But Ye Qin was unusually calm, responding flatly: "So you want to persuade me to agree to be your lackey and then follow you, is that it?"

He gave a light smile, not waiting for Zhao Mo's reply, then said coldly: "Alright, since you keep insisting, if I refuse I'd seem unfeeling. However, I have a condition."

Ye Qin's sudden change surprised everyone, Zhao Mo included.

How did this guy suddenly change his mind? Is he no longer insisting?

Zhao Mo stared, then after a while asked: "What condition?"

"I want five hundred low-grade spirit stones; is that unreasonable?" Ye Qin said offhandedly.

However, to Zhao Mo it sounded like a joke. He asked coldly: "Are you crazy poor? Besides, what value do you have that's worth me giving you that many spirit stones?"

At that moment, no one noticed a flash of triumphant scheming in Ye Qin's eyes.

Ye Qin's face sank, and with a hint of mockery he said: "Didn't you say I had potential before? Now are you lacking confidence in yourself, or were those earlier words just you spouting nonsense?"

He skillfully threw the question back at Zhao Mo, not intending to easily take the bait.

His voice was icy as ice; without waiting for Zhao Mo's reply, he continued: "You just said following me would get you spirit stones, but now you're unwilling to produce five hundred—looks like Young Master Zhao is using this to deceive people."

Ye Qin's words were full of contempt, and he didn't bother to hide it, causing those around who knew Zhao Mo to stare, then unconsciously distance themselves, fearing involvement and trouble.

Everyone wondered, "What if I also get scammed? Then I wouldn't get any spirit stones either."

Turns out this Zhao family genius was just deceiving people.

Once Zhao Mo's reputation is ruined, no one will be fooled again—after all, nobody's a fool; who in this world is that pure?

"'Tsk, if Zhao Mo has always been deceiving, then those who follow him would be working for nothing, getting no resources—yet he actually has this talent."

"'From now on we have to be careful; if one day we get scammed and still lend money to others, that would be terrible."

People whispered among themselves, regardless of whether Zhao Mo heard; from this moment on they became wary of him, resolving never to believe what he says in the future.

Zhao Mo's face instantly turned grim; he coldly told Ye Qin: "I do have five hundred low-grade spirit stones, but you must prove to me you're worth that price."

He didn't want to waste spirit stones on a useless person.

His earlier remarks were merely a test of him, wanting to see Ye Qin's reaction; naturally he couldn't therefore conclude Ye Qin was worth five hundred spirit stones—he still knew the score.

Of course, if Ye Qin truly were worth five hundred spirit stones, that would be another matter.

Ye Qin showed a cold smile and jeered: "If you don't give me five hundred low-grade spirit stones, I won't be your lackey, nor follow you; this is just a transaction—whether you're willing to pay the price is up to you; I don't need to prove anything to you, what do you say?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Mo instantly flared up, his face worsening: "If you don't follow me, you indeed don't need to prove anything to me; but if you want to follow me, you must prove your worth..."

His meaning was clear: he won't keep worthless people around, as that's just wasting time.

"'That's for you to consider, after all following you was your suggestion, not mine; whether I follow or not is irrelevant to me—if unwilling, then forget it."

Ye Qin shrugged, his expression calm and composed, as if being or not being Zhao Mo's lackey didn't matter—anyway he could get by fine.

He said it lightly and casually, but Zhao Mo didn't see it that way.

In his view, Ye Qin was obviously playing the rogue—"Bastard!"

The situation left him somewhat embarrassed; he wanted to keep Ye Qin nearby to observe, even to find out why his older brother Zhao Ke disappeared, but Ye Qin was like an immovable object, giving him a headache.

He wanted to retain someone, yet didn't want to pay too high a price; now Ye Qin also refuses to prove his worth, which puts him in a dilemma. (End of chapter)