Chapter 96: Escape (Part 1)
"You're back. And from the looks of you, it seems you've already obtained the Dragon Pill." Yun Che stood before them, his expression calm.
But Xiao Tiannan and Xiao Baicao could not calm down at all. Xiao Tiannan said excitedly, "The senior's intuition was indeed spot on. The Black Moon Merchant Guild actually did have a Dragon Pill, and its grade was as high as King Xuan! When I first proposed buying the Dragon Pill, they completely denied its existence. But the moment I took out the Violet Gold Card the senior gave me, their attitude completely changed. Not only did they voluntarily produce the Dragon Pill, but they also gave us an extremely low price. However, they insisted that we must not leak any information about this Dragon Pill."
At this point, Xiao Tiannan and Xiao Baicao's admiration for this Evil Heart Saint Hand was like a surging river. They had never dreamed in their lives that they would personally witness a legendary King Xuan Pill, let alone hold it in their hands. On the way back, the two of them had rushed at top speed, alternating between excitement and caution. As the undisputed rulers of New Moon City, they still found themselves feeling apprehensive.
"How much did they charge?" Yun Che asked.
"Six hundred thousand Violet Mysterious Coins," Xiao Tiannan quickly replied. He knew in his heart that without that Violet Gold Card, even six million Violet Mysterious Coins would not have been enough to buy such a pill anywhere in the Cang Feng Empire. Although this had almost drained all the available funds of the branch sect, he still felt they had gotten an incredible bargain.
Yun Che's brow twitched uncontrollably a couple of times... This Black Moon Merchant Guild was damn shady! They bought it from me for fifty thousand, and then sold it for six hundred thousand... And judging by the look on these two, this price seemed like they had practically gotten it for free!
"Bring me the Dragon Pill so I can see it."
Having said that, Yun Che took the King Xuan Dragon Pill that Xiao Tiannan handed him, examined it with an air of authority for a moment, and then nodded. "Indeed, it is a genuine King Xuan Dragon Pill, and it comes from an adult Flame Dragon, extracted within the past two months. Excellent. With this King Xuan Dragon Pill, allowing Xiao Luocheng's Mysterious Veins to recover and directly reach the Earth Xuan Realm after restoration will be a piece of cake."
Xiao Tiannan was overjoyed. Six hundred thousand Violet Mysterious Coins to create an unprecedented genius who was barely sixteen years old and already at the Earth Xuan Realm... There was simply no cheaper deal in this world.
Yun Che returned the Dragon Pill to Xiao Tiannan and instructed, "Keep it safe. Do not let anyone else know of its existence. Otherwise, 'an innocent man may cherish a jewel but incur guilt.' Any sect in the entire Cang Feng Empire with some capability might come knocking on your door. Your main sect will definitely come demanding it at the first opportunity."
"Yes, we will definitely not reveal it to anyone." Xiao Tiannan naturally understood the gravity of the situation. He pondered for a moment and then tested the waters, saying, "However, the aura of this King Xuan Dragon Pill is too unique. If an expert encounters it, they might recognize it from a great distance. As they say, 'a long night brings many dreams.' I wonder if the senior could immediately begin working on Luocheng... um... that..."
Yun Che's expression turned serious. After a brief pause, he slowly nodded. "'A long night brings many dreams'... Well said. Very well, let's put the repair of the Mysterious Veins on the agenda. We'll start tomorrow. However, to achieve 'destruction before reconstruction,' a single King Xuan Dragon Pill is not enough. Some other special materials are required, and these special materials are not found in your sect's treasure vault. However, the Black Moon Merchant Guild should have them in stock. How about this, Sect Master Xiao, have someone take me to the Black Moon Merchant Guild. For such a heaven-defying method, the requirements for the materials are extremely strict. I must go personally."
Xiao Tiannan was thrilled and quickly said, "Alright, I'll accompany the senior myself. With me there, no one in New Moon City will be able to harm a single hair on the senior's head."
"No, it wouldn't be appropriate for you to go." Yun Che shook his head and said calmly, "As the Sect Master, if you accompany me personally, it will inevitably draw attention to my identity. Previously, I traveled far and wide, so it didn't matter if people knew who I was. But now, I must stay here to heal your grandson Luocheng's injuries. It is absolutely critical that no one knows I am here. Sect Master Xiao, find someone trustworthy who isn't too conspicuous to go with me."
"The senior's consideration is indeed thorough." Xiao Tiannan fully agreed with Yun Che's words. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Then I will arrange for Zaihe to go with the senior. Although Zaihe is still young, he has already entered the Spirit Xuan Realm. Even if something unexpected happens, he will definitely be able to protect the senior."
Soon, Xiao Zaihe was summoned, and he led Yun Che down the mountain.
---
New Moon Mystic Palace.
Yun Che had been missing for three days.
Although Yun Che had left a note before leaving, telling Xia Yuanba not to worry about him, how could Xia Yuanba not be worried? In three days, he had scoured almost the entire New Moon City but found no trace of Yun Che, nor anyone who had seen him. Meanwhile, Lan Xueruo appeared just as anxious as Xia Yuanba and had searched the entire city with him.
By this day, she could no longer wait.
"I have to go to the Xiao Sect! After asking around for so many days, not a single person in New Moon City has seen him. That's highly unusual. I suspect he was secretly taken by the Xiao Sect. That's basically the only possibility." Lan Xueruo said with a cold expression.
Qin Wuyou sighed and said, "Alas, I think so too. However, first, we have no evidence, and second, it's been three or four days. He crippled Xiao Luocheng, and Xiao Tiannan hates him to the bone. If he fell into his hands, by now he should have long since..."
Lan Xueruo bit her lip and said firmly, "Dead or alive, I want to see the body! If he's still alive, we have to find a way to rescue him."
Qin Wuyou was startled and said, "Your Highness, why do you value this Yun Che so highly? Not to mention that you've only been in contact with him for a single day. Even in terms of talent, Fen Juechen of the Cang Feng Mystic Palace is close to his age but surpasses him by nearly two major realms. Aside from Fen Juechen, there are countless people in the Cang Feng Mystic Palace who surpass Yun Che. Why are you so fixated on him?"
Lan Xueruo closed her eyes slightly and said softly, "I did consider Fen Juechen back then. But... although he defected from the Fen Tian Sect, he was born into the Fen Tian Sect and is the Sect Master's own son. Even if he joins the Imperial Clan, it would invite criticism. Moreover, you know his temperament best—taciturn, almost emotionless, and as proud and arrogant as a wolf. Because of that pride, he even defected from the Fen Tian Sect. How could he willingly pledge loyalty to the Imperial Clan? In this world, no one can truly tame him."
"As for Yun Che... Palace Master Qin, have you ever heard of someone who, despite a gap of an entire major realm, can cripple an opponent in a single move? I have cultivated the Imperial Heart Art since childhood and am skilled at reading minds. Even Fen Juechen cannot escape my eyes. But when facing Yun Che, I cannot see through him at all. I think you, Palace Master Qin, must have felt the same way when you faced him. Someone like him is the first of his kind I have ever seen. What's most frightening is that he is only sixteen years old."
Qin Wuyou said, "Your Highness is right. His depth is unfathomable. From his eyes, I only see what he wants me to see. I cannot detect a trace of what he does not want me to see. However, a man like this is destined to be far harder to tame than Fen Juechen."
"No, it's different." Lan Xueruo shook her head. "What I need is not to tame him. I just hope that, when the time comes, he can represent the Imperial Clan and do me this one favor. At the banquet that day, when Xia Yuanba was injured, he flew into a rage on the spot and did not hesitate to strike heavily against the one who hurt Xia Yuanba in full view of everyone. That proves he is a man who values loyalty. As long as I treat him sincerely, he will reciprocate. Besides, he is currently adrift like a floating weed with nowhere to go. After he comes with me to the Cang Feng Mystic Palace, everything will fall into place naturally. And right now, this is a perfect opportunity. If he is truly in the hands of the Xiao Sect and still alive, rescuing him will make him remember this debt of gratitude. At that critical moment, he will certainly not refuse."
Even after hearing Lan Xueruo list various reasons many times, Qin Wuyou still could not fully understand where her emphasis and confidence in Yun Che came from. After all, although Yun Che's performance was extremely astonishing, his cultivation base was far too low. A sixteen-year-old at the first level of the Xuan Entry Realm was considered above average in New Moon City, but on that stage... it was utterly insignificant.
And the time for that was also very close. In such a short period, how could he possibly reach the expected height?
Perhaps it was something her "Imperial Heart Art" had sensed.
"Since it is Your Highness's decision, I naturally won't oppose it. If Your Highness insists, then I will go to the Branch Sect with you." Qin Wuyou said somewhat helplessly, although he knew that if Yun Che had truly fallen into the hands of the Xiao Sect, he was most likely in grave danger.
"No need. It's best not to involve the New Moon Mystic Palace in this matter any further. I'll go alone. When necessary, I will reveal my identity."
Qin Wuyou hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
---
Yun Che and Xiao Zaihe had been gone for about two quarters of an hour. By Yun Che's calculations, they should have already left the sect. Xiao Tiannan had been holding the red-glowing King Xuan Dragon Pill in his hands the entire time, not daring to let go for even a moment. At that moment, something suddenly occurred to him, and he slapped his forehead and said, "Baicao, hurry to the treasure vault and bring that box made of Snow Mountain Cold Jade!"
Xiao Baicao acknowledged the order and left... Not long after, he came stumbling back, almost rolling and crawling, his face pale and terrified, as if he had seen a demon in broad daylight. He threw himself down in front of Xiao Tiannan and said with a trembling voice, "Sect... Sect Master! The treasure vault... the treasure vault is empty... empty... empty!!"
"Empty? What's empty?" Xiao Tiannan's heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, he didn't fully react.
Xiao Baicao swallowed hard and said with difficulty, "There's nothing left... There's nothing left in the treasure vault... Nothing at all!!"
"Wh... what?!" Xiao Tiannan was shocked. He stood there dazed for a moment, then rushed madly toward the treasure vault.