Volume Two: Winds Rise in Anxi Prefecture Chapter 163: Impossible to Communicate

It's over, communication is completely broken.

For the first time, the big black dog felt that even speaking could be this exhausting.

"Master Black, I brought some roasted chicken from outside. Would you care to try some?"

The one-armed ruffian emerged from the room, holding a whole roasted chicken, and placed it right in front of the big black dog. "If you ask me, that Ninth Master is rather vicious. He threatens you with a knife at the drop of a hat. Your temper is much better, truly."

The big black dog narrowed its eyes. This fellow was clearly trying to drive a wedge between him and Lu Jiuzhang.

"And what is your meaning?"

Instead of reprimanding the one-armed ruffian, the big black dog played along with his words.

"In my opinion, the two of us should find a place to set up camp and go back to being bandits," the one-armed ruffian said. "Ninth Master—uh, I mean, you are a mighty demon of the eighth rank of the demon path. Who would ever dare to provoke us?"

"By then, we can settle down as kings of our own domain, robbing travelers along the way and easily making hundreds of thousands of taels of silver."

The big black dog asked, "And what about Ninth Master?"

The one-armed ruffian lowered his voice. "That Ninth Master has such a violent temper, always hitting people and threatening them. Master Black, someone with that kind of temperament won't live long. He might just drop dead any day now."

"We aren't in the same camp as him anyway. It would be best for you to distance yourself from him sooner rather than later."

As he spoke, the one-armed ruffian even leaned close to the big black dog's ear. "Besides, I heard that someone is actively asking about Ninth Master's whereabouts, looking to take his life."

"I just overheard this, mind you, and I don't even know if it's true. All in all, cutting ties early has its own advantages."

The big black dog narrowed its eyes. This one-armed ruffian had quite a few schemes up his sleeve.

Acting as a spy was one thing, but intentionally trying to sow discord?

Utterly shameless!

"Is that information reliable? If it's unreliable, leaving Ninth Master won't do me any good. I'm living quite well following him, eating the best and drinking the finest!" the big black dog remarked.

"This..." The one-armed ruffian was placed in a difficult position. "Master Black, if we don't follow Ninth Master, can't we still eat well and drink fine wine?"

"If you want me to leave, it depends on how much silver is on the table," the big black dog said slowly. "I am a divine beast, after all. Even though I am currently at the eighth rank of the demon path, ordinary seventh-rank experts wouldn't necessarily be able to take me down."

"As for the silver..." The one-armed ruffian pondered for a moment. "Master Black, I can tell you also have the intention to leave Ninth Master. Let's be frank—the matter of silver is negotiable."

"However, I'll need to go ask about that. I can't make the final call myself."

Things had reached this point; keeping up pretexts was clearly no longer appropriate.

It was better to admit it openly and straightforwardly, striving to lure the big black dog away from Lu Jiuzhang's side.

The big black dog was an eighth-rank demon. Ordinary mortals naturally believed that demonic creatures were far more terrifying.

If they could draw the big black dog away from Lu Jiuzhang, whoever was targeting Lu Jiuzhang would surely have a better chance of success.

"Hurry along then. Remember, my asking price won't be low," the big black dog chuckled. "Ten thousand taels of silver, and I'll walk!"

"Ten thousand taels? Hiss..." The one-armed ruffian sucked in a sharp breath of cold air. "I reckon the person behind the scenes won't agree to that. That's a hundred gold liang!"

Damn it!

So stingy?

"Here's what we'll do. You go talk to him first. If he doesn't agree to ten thousand taels, drop it to fifty thousand—wait, fifty thousand is still too much—drop it to five thousand—no, five thousand is too low! Make it fifty thousand taels at the bare minimum! If it goes any lower, don't blame Master Black for refusing to cooperate!" the big black dog demanded.

Fifty thousand taels of silver was the big black dog's bottom line.

Leaving Lu Jiuzhang was definitely out of the question.

As a divine beast, the big black dog knew that Lu Jiuzhang possessed immense fortune, and staying by his side brought far too many benefits.

Just look at how little time had passed, and it had already returned to the eighth rank of the demon path.

First, it would fleece the other party of fifty thousand taels of silver and see how they reacted.

If there were no issues, it would raise the price on the spot and extort even more silver from them.

Having struck a deal with the one-armed ruffian, the fellow departed, presumably to report back to the mastermind behind the scenes.

The big black dog sat beneath the large tree, enjoying the roasted chicken the one-armed ruffian had brought back.

The taste wasn't half bad!

The mere thought of scamming fifty thousand taels of silver put the big black dog in an even better mood.

***

"Bang, bang, bang..."

Not long after the one-armed ruffian left, a series of knocks sounded at the front door.

"Sister Bai, open the door!"

The big black dog called out, "I'm a divine beast, and I don't have hands. Ninth Master could open the door, of course, but with his temper, I doubt he'd answer even if he heard it. It's all up to you, little sister."

Bai Xiaoli was much easier to boss around. Hearing the call, she obediently opened the courtyard gates.

Standing outside was a rather shrewd-looking fellow.

He wore coarse cloth garments and possessed a sturdy, broad-shouldered build.

"Who are you looking for?" the big black dog asked.

"Might I ask if Mr. Lu Jiuzhang is in?" the man inquired.

"Ninth Master, someone is looking for you!"

The big black dog turned its head and shouted toward the house.

The moment its voice trailed off, Lu Jiuzhang's figure appeared in the doorway.

"It's you? Didn't you already flee?"

Gazing at the man before him, Lu Jiuzhang felt a mild surge of surprise.

The man standing there was none other than the proprietor of the Hundred Flower Brew, and he was also a member of the Earth Alliance.

Back when Lu Jiuzhang had gone looking for him, the proprietor had already been frightened into running away.

"I received a secret letter concerning Mr. Lu."

The proprietor of the Hundred Flower Brew stepped into the courtyard and produced a sealed letter from his sleeve. "This missive was passed down to me by those above, with strict instructions that it must be delivered directly into your hands."

A secret letter?

What kind of secret letter could possibly be more important than his own life?

One had to realize that coming to find Lu Jiuzhang meant the proprietor was once again exposing himself to the watchful eyes of the mastermind behind the scenes.

Every single movement of his would be monitored.

"My task is complete, so I should take my leave. I am truly leaving for good this time," the proprietor muttered under his breath.

Damn it all to hell! He had almost successfully made his escape, too.

Muttering complaints, the proprietor hurried out of the courtyard.

After he departed, Lu Jiuzhang broke the seal on the letter. Inside was a single sentence: [During the upcoming demon-suppressing campaign, find a way to refuse participation!]

[If refusal is impossible and you encounter danger, seek out a man named Yuan Butang and relay this secret phrase to him: "Beneath the radiance, shadows endure forever."]

The secret letter contained only these two brief sentences.

Refusing to join the demon-suppressing campaign was certainly not an option.

Lu Jiuzhang had used precisely this excuse to leave Changshui County in the first place.

As for this person named Yuan Butang, why seek him out?

Could he too be a member of the Earth Alliance?

Would he be able to help?

The letter failed to explain any of that.

Furthermore, who had sent this secret message?

He remembered that back in Changshui County, he had also received a secret letter.

The sender had urged Lu Jiuzhang to leave Changshui County as quickly as possible because it was far too dangerous there!

And Lu Jiuzhang had followed those instructions, departing as soon as he finished handling matters in Changshui County.

Now, yet another secret letter!

It seemed this upcoming campaign to suppress demons was destined to be turbulent indeed!

Whether it was Chen Xuanfeng or the person behind these secret letters, both were issuing stern warnings to Lu Jiuzhang.

"Master Black!"

Lu Jiuzhang called out to the big black dog. "Follow him and find out who he meets!"

Having more work dumped on it put the big black dog in a foul mood.

When help was needed, it was called Master Black; when help wasn't needed, a blade was held to its throat.

Being a divine beast was truly miserable—nobody appreciated it!