Chapter 107: Chapter 106: Luring the Snake Out of its Hole

The next day, at the first light of dawn, Lu Zhao left his residence and went straight to the side hall of the Yuan Family Marketplace’s General Affairs Hall, where Yuan Feiyan was.

Yuan Feiyan was buried in a pile of Jade Scrolls and account books. Seeing Lu Zhao enter, he set down the Jade Scroll in his hand and put on his usual, somewhat formal smile. "Steward Lu, you’ve come. What can I do for you? Spiritual Materials, Pills, or arranging for manpower—just say the word."

Lu Zhao cupped his hands in a salute and got straight to the point. "Steward Yuan, I do have a matter I’d like to ask your family for a small favor with."

Yuan Feiyan’s smile didn’t waver, but a flicker of scrutiny passed through his eyes. He picked up the Spirit Tea beside him and slowly blew on the surface. "Oh? Please, Steward Lu, feel free to speak. It’s just..." He paused, looking up at Lu Zhao, his tone laced with just the right amount of difficulty. "The Yuan Family’s affairs are numerous, and we have set procedures for deploying our people. If it’s too troublesome or involves getting in too deep, I’m afraid..."

Lu Zhao naturally heard the evasiveness in his tone. He calmly replied, "Rest assured, Steward Yuan, it’s not a difficult task. I just want to ask your family to help me gather some information, find someone, and then spread a rumor."

"Gather information? Find someone? Spread a rumor?" Yuan Feiyan’s brow furrowed slightly. He set down his teacup and leaned forward a little, showing a hint of seriousness. "What information does Steward Lu want to gather, specifically? Who are you looking for? And what rumor do you want to spread?"

Unhurried, Lu Zhao also picked up the Spirit Tea an attendant had served him. He took a light sip, feeling the gentle Spiritual Qi dissolve in his throat before he slowly said, "The information I want is when that ’Qian Yuan’ next appears in the area around the Yuan Family’s territory. This man is active in this region year-round. Though his movements are secretive, with the Yuan Family’s eyes and ears, I imagine finding out his general whereabouts wouldn’t be too difficult, correct?"

Yuan Feiyan pondered for a moment, his fingers tapping lightly on the tabletop. "Qian Yuan... That man is indeed a persistent pest, constantly preying on the trade routes on the outskirts of my Yuan Family’s lands. While it would take some effort to track his general movements, it’s not impossible. However, the man is cunning, so the information might not be accurate in real-time."

After saying this, Yuan Feiyan paused before speaking again. "As for finding someone, who might Steward Lu be looking for?"

"I’m looking for someone who values Spirit Stones more than their own life." Lu Zhao put down his teacup, his gaze fixed on Yuan Feiyan. "There shouldn’t be a shortage of such people among the Wanderers, right? Their Cultivation doesn’t need to be too high—Mid-stage Qi Cultivation is enough. But they must be bold, willing to take risks, unafraid of death, and... desperate enough for Spirit Stones."

A flash of understanding lit up Yuan Feiyan’s eyes, and a meaningful curve played on his lips. "Among the lower-level Wanderers, there are indeed many who trade their lives for Spirit Stones. Finding such a person won’t be difficult."

Finally, Yuan Feiyan said, "And as for the rumor... what does Steward Lu want to put out?"

At his words, a faint smile also appeared on Lu Zhao’s lips, one that held a sharp, insightful quality. "I’m sure Steward Yuan already has his suspicions, doesn’t he?" He paused, waiting for Yuan Feiyan to nod slightly before continuing, "This man has been robbing Wanderers and merchant caravans for years. The frequency suggests he is extremely short on Spirit Stones, and perhaps even has some debt he urgently needs to pay off."

"If he were to learn that a ’fat sheep’ of a Wanderer with a low Cultivation level, but carrying a hefty sum of Spirit Stones, has appeared in his area of operation... and this ’fat sheep’ just finished a good deal in a place like Black Cloud Mountain Marketplace, a den of all sorts, and is now heading home alone with the Spirit Stones... what do you think a man of Qian Yuan’s character would do?"

A sharp glint flashed in Yuan Feiyan’s eyes. He clapped his hands and sighed. "Brilliant... brilliant! If such easy prey were delivered right to his doorstep, with Qian Yuan’s greed and viciousness, he would naturally never let such a ’windfall’ go."

"Steward Lu, your plan is to lure the snake from its hole!" He then frowned slightly. "However, while finding a suitable Wanderer willing to take the risk won’t be hard, and spreading the rumor isn’t difficult—my Yuan Family has its own channels to quietly circulate it among the Tribulation Cultivator circles, ten days or so will be enough."

"The trouble is twofold. First, how can we ensure Qian Yuan receives and believes this information? Second, his Escape Technique is strange. The moment he senses trouble, he flees with incredible speed. Even if we set an ambush, we might not be able to stop him. Given his cunning, if we fail, we won’t get a second chance anytime soon."

Lu Zhao’s expression remained unchanged, his voice carrying a calm confidence. "Whether the news reaches Qian Yuan’s ears and whether he believes it—that will depend on the Yuan Family’s skill in spreading it. I trust that with your family’s methods, it won’t be difficult to let the news of a Wanderer who ’accidentally’ came into a windfall ferment in the right circles. As for his Escape Technique..." A cold glint flashed in Lu Zhao’s eyes. "You need not worry about that, Steward Yuan. I have my own way of dealing with it."

Yuan Feiyan stared at Lu Zhao’s calm yet sharp gaze. Recalling the man’s sophisticated and composed demeanor from the day before, he judged that Lu Zhao was no idle boaster.

He pondered for a moment before finally offering a solemn salute. "Very well! Since Steward Lu is confident, I will take on this matter! Eliminating a scourge like Qian Yuan will also be beneficial for my Yuan Family’s outer trade routes."

"This person’s attacks follow a pattern. Based on past records, we should hear news of him striking again in half a month at the earliest, or a month at the latest. As for the Wanderer, I can find a suitable candidate by the end of today. The rumor will begin to show results within ten days."

"My thanks, Steward Yuan." Lu Zhao stood and returned the salute.

Yuan Feiyan watched Lu Zhao’s departing figure and thought to himself, ’It seems the Bixia Sect is serious this time. They’ve sent a Steward with remarkable strength and temperament to deal with Qian Yuan... But is his Escape Technique really that easy to counter?’ He shook his head, put the thought aside, and turned to arrange for the necessary manpower.

「Half a month later.」

A Communication Talisman flew quietly into Lu Zhao’s room. Lu Zhao crushed the Talisman, and Yuan Feiyan’s voice echoed in his Sea of Consciousness: "Steward Lu, news came two days ago. Near Black Wind Ridge, a Wanderer at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer was ambushed by a Tribulation Cultivator. The methods were vicious, and the residual aura and Magical Power fluctuations at the scene are extremely similar to Qian Yuan’s past crimes. We’re eighty to ninety percent certain it was him."

’The target has appeared!’ A cold light flashed in Lu Zhao’s eyes, and he set off immediately. He didn’t head directly for Black Wind Ridge. Instead, he first went to the Yuan Family Marketplace to find the Wanderer that Yuan Feiyan had recommended.

When he first saw the Wanderer, Lu Zhao saw an old man who looked to be in his eighties or nineties. His face was weathered and gaunt, etched with deep lines that spoke of a long, hard life and endless fatigue.

His Cultivation was just as Yuan Feiyan had said, not high—only at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer. Upon seeing Lu Zhao, an Outer Sect Steward from the Bixia Sect with a profound aura, the man became extremely nervous, unconsciously wringing the corners of his robe with his hands.

"S-Sir," the old man’s voice was dry and hoarse, trembling noticeably. "S-Steward Yuan... said... said you had... a... a job?" His murky eyes were a mixture of fear, hope, and a hint of desperate resolve.

Lu Zhao got straight to the point. "Yes. I need you to act out a part. You will go to Black Cloud Mountain Marketplace and serve as bait to draw out a Tribulation Cultivator. The risk is not small. You could die."

The old man’s body trembled, and the fear in his eyes intensified, but it was quickly replaced by a wave of desperate resolve. He licked his chapped lips, his voice hoarse. "Steward Yuan... mentioned it. My Cultivation is low, and my Lifespan is short. If... if Senior can advance me thirty Spirit Stones... this old life of mine is yours to buy, Sir!" He looked up, his murky eyes filled with pleading and a craving for the Spirit Stones.

’In the lower rungs of the Cultivation Realm, a life is as cheap as grass. Thirty Spirit Stones to buy a life is a fair trade.’ He gave a slight nod. "Acceptable. If you’re tough enough to survive this, there will be an additional reward afterward." He still added that last part.

Hearing this, the old man’s eyes erupted with a brilliant light, like a drowning man grasping a final straw. He bowed repeatedly. "Thank you, Sir! Thank you, Sir! I will do my utmost!"

The next day, Lu Zhao took the Wanderer, who was using the alias "Old Wu," and quietly arrived at the outskirts of Black Cloud Mountain Marketplace, in a relatively deep part of the mountain forest.

Lu Zhao looked up and saw ancient, towering trees with lush foliage. In the distance, the hustle and bustle of the Marketplace could still be faintly heard.

Lu Zhao didn’t enter the Marketplace. Instead, on the main path connecting Black Wind Ridge to Black Cloud Mountain Marketplace, he found a ravine with a wide field of view that was easy to hide in.

"Do you know what to do?" Lu Zhao asked, sitting down cross-legged and turning to the uneasy Old Wu beside him.

Old Wu took a deep breath, trying his best to calm himself. He nodded. "Steward Yuan explained everything. I will enter Black Cloud Mountain Marketplace and pretend to sell a batch of ’Ancient Cultivator’s Relics’ that I came across by chance. I’ll exchange them for a large sum of Spirit Stones, then ’accidentally’ flash my wealth in the Marketplace and stay for three days. After three days, I’ll leave the Marketplace alone, follow this road toward Black Wind Ridge, and... and lure the potential Tribulation Cultivator to you, Sir."

"Very good." Lu Zhao closed his eyes. "Go. Remember, be natural. Don’t be too obvious. From the moment you step into that Marketplace, your life is in your own hands."

Old Wu’s body trembled again. He gave a heavy nod, then turned toward Black Cloud Mountain Marketplace. His steps were somewhat unsteady, yet he walked with an air of grim determination.

Lu Zhao, meanwhile, released the Flowing Cloud Sparrow Puppet, controlling it to ascend high into the sky. Its sharp, compound eyes were like a celestial eye, taking in the dozens of miles of forests and roads below. No disturbance, however small, could escape its surveillance.

Three days passed slowly as Lu Zhao sat quietly meditating and the Flowing Cloud Sparrow patrolled silently. There was no unusual activity from the direction of the Marketplace, nor were there any suspicious figures in the forest. Old Wu, following the plan, had safely passed three days after "flashing his wealth" in the Marketplace.

On the morning of the third day, Old Wu’s figure appeared in the Flowing Cloud Sparrow’s field of vision right on schedule. He was alone, his steps hurried. His face was tense and wary, and he kept looking back over his shoulder as he walked quickly toward the ravine where Lu Zhao was waiting in ambush.

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