Chapter 623: The Joker Was Beside Me (5/10, for 'Ruichi Tianxia')

"In that case, I'm relieved. When Master Ye arrives, name your terms—I'll give him a response that satisfies him!"

Fang Yue smiled and nodded: "Good!"

The joker was beside me. jpg

Use your brain—look at our worth, look at our skills—could we possibly settle for your tiny caravan?

Other noble ladies are willing to drag an entire caravan just to investigate the Phoenix Organization, and on top of that, Fang Yue just entered Chunuan City and needed a place to stay.

Otherwise, Fang Yue's goal, even if not to infiltrate a major caravan and live in hardship as a spy, was to join at least a second-tier caravan with more resources, making it easier to investigate the Phoenix Organization.

As for fourth- or fifth-tier fox caravans… come on, where did you get the confidence to recruit me??

Of course, on the surface, Fang Yue could never show this, so the tent was filled with laughter and harmony.

At this moment, Fang Yue asked out the several questions prepared by Hai Guanjia.

The fox caravan's expression stiffened slightly, then answered each one in turn.

After Hai Guanjia's questions were done, Fang Yue began probing indirectly for traces of the Phoenix Organization or An Dong'er, in his own way.

But all of it ended in nothing.

Helplessly, Fang Yue stood and took his leave—besides the first fox caravan, he still had the Old City Caravan and the Empty Mountain Caravan to visit.

Running through them all would still leave him pressed for time.

Lao Huli sadly saw Fang Yue off outside the tent and ordered others to escort him out.

Amid the gritted teeth of the short-tailed gang girl and the others, Fang Yue was safely escorted out of the fox caravan's territory.

But after leaving the fox caravan, he saw at the end of the street a swordsman with closed eyes, holding his blade, leaning against the wall, as if waiting for someone.

At this moment, the blind swordsman with the sword stood out, utterly out of place among the bustling crowd passing by.

Sunlight spilled down, giving off a strong sense of a fallen swordsman abandoned by the world—depression washed over him.

Too bad it wasn't sunset—otherwise this scene would've been even more poignant.

Fang Yue watched this scene and thought the blind swordsman with the sword looked cool and handsome—he silently gave a thumbs-up, then walked past him without even saying hello.

A defeated opponent isn't worth a second thought—everyone else thinks he's a master, but as the victor, walking past him wouldn't embarrass him.

Fang Yue was so considerate that the blind swordsman couldn't help calling out: "Wait!"

Fang Yue kept walking with his group.

"Wait! Master Ye!"

Huh?

Fang Yue stopped in his tracks.

He turned back and saw the blind swordsman who had just chased after him now leaning against the wall again, instantly slipping back into character, speaking with poetic flair: "Master Ye, in our earlier duel, do you feel you truly won?"

"Of course I did! If you'd waited another second to surrender, I'd have chopped off your head and kicked it like a ball."

"..."

Can you even chat? Can you even chat!!

His expression froze; the blind swordsman cleared his throat: "Beyond heaven lies higher heaven, beyond people lie greater people. I possess a peerless sword technique, but its cost is too great—I dare not use it. That's why I lost to you by just a fraction! Thus, Master Ye, you haven't truly defeated me! Between us, who is stronger remains undecided."

"Oh, then keep that technique well—hide it right inside your coffin. That way, no one will ever know."

Fang Yue rolled his eyes and kept walking.

"Wait!"

The blind swordsman suddenly blocked Fang Yue's path.

"What now?"

"Though our strengths are evenly matched, you narrowly bested me just now, so I hold great respect for you, Master Ye. I heard you serve as the Supreme Guest of the Great Sun Caravan? Could I perhaps join as well? Then, should I gain any sword insights, I could exchange martial arts experiences with you."

Fang Yue froze.

He suddenly understood what this blind swordsman was trying to do.

He'd lost face and wanted a chance to win it back.

But… Fang Yue sized him up.

The guy had real strength—at least a Xiantian Realm martial artist. And he likely knew plenty of secrets from the fox caravan.

Take him back to show the young mistress—maybe she'd be willing to take him on?

"Fine, tag along. When we return to the Great Sun Caravan, I'll ask the young mistress if she'll take you on as a Guest."

Fang Yue would leave the Great Sun Caravan sooner or later—he was here to rescue someone, not to build his career.

The Great Sun Caravan had treated him well; in a way, they'd helped him a lot. Helping him find a reliable backup Guest was a small favor.

Whether the young mistress accepted him or not? That wasn't his concern.

"By the way, the fox caravan said you had twenty-seven straight wins against challengers—why do you seem so mediocre?"

"My sword's power is only visible to those who understand it. You didn't see me draw—how can you judge my strength?"

"Didn't you almost get your head chopped off?"

"... But I hadn't drawn my sword yet!"

"Oh… so you mean I had to give you time to draw for it to count? Then why did you start by saying 'Please, attack'? Just come at me already."

…If I'd known you were this strong, I'd have ambushed you from the start!

The blind swordsman opened his mouth but didn't say it.

Besides… the so-called twenty-seven straight wins? He'd paid actors to pretend to challenge him. Who could really defeat twenty-seven opponents without a single loss? That reputation alone would attract serious rivals.

And sure enough—it drew in that freak just now.

Good thing he'd had enough of the soft comforts—it was time to challenge higher peaks!

Should his next target be the newly emerged heavenly daughter of the Extreme Ice Sect 【Tail】, or the rising Talented Woman of Qing Cheng 【Mu Liu】?

Indeed, setting goals at the peak gives you more drive. But the Extreme Ice Sect is still a bit intimidating… the Talented Woman is easier to fool…

"By the way, I haven't yet asked Lord Ye's given name."

"Ye Niuniu."

The Blind Swordsman's eyes lit up.

"What a coincidence—my name also has the character 'niu' in it. I'm called Mang Niuzi!"

"……"

……

After Fang Yue and the other left, the leader of the Fox Merchant Caravan had his men stand guard outside, while he himself sat in the room, writing something.

When he finished writing, he took out a golden-threaded toad from the box beside the bed and stuffed the written letter into the golden-threaded toad's mouth.

The golden-threaded toad's belly immediately swelled, and then…

Croak!

With a pop, a blood blister rose on the back of Lao Huli's hand and burst outright; the back of his hand was instantly drenched in fresh blood.

Lao Huli gritted his teeth against the pain, put the golden-threaded toad back into the box beside the bed, then bandaged the wound on the back of his hand.

However, not long after, fresh blood began to seep from his body. His face changed. Lao Huli took off his clothes, and one could see that his upper body, previously wrapped by his garments, was densely covered in wound marks resembling those left by burst blood blisters—ghastly to behold.

"Lord Ox-Constellation… whether our clan can rise depends entirely on your grace…"

(End of chapter)