Chapter 126: The Rogue Cultivator Alliance, Qingzhou Chief Envoys

Ye Qiuyue had heard of the Rogue Cultivator Alliance, but it had no branch in Qingzhou.

The headquarters of the Rogue Cultivator Alliance was in Central Province, and it could be considered a first-tier force, though it was the weakest among first-tier forces. After all, the Rogue Cultivator Alliance consisted of various rogue cultivators banding together, yet its membership was vast. Except for Qingzhou, all other provinces bore traces of the Rogue Cultivator Alliance to varying degrees.

“Yes, Senior, we’re from the Rogue Cultivator Alliance. We came to invite young friend Qin to join us. We accept all kinds of rogue cultivators, as well as many disciples cast out by sects and other factions. We can protect him.”

Seeing that Ye Qiuyue seemed to recognize the alliance, the leader quickly offered an explanation.

“Do you have proof? What are your names and positions? Tell me the truth. I’ll have someone check.”

Ye Qiuyue remained cautious. She did not wish to act rashly; if their claims were true, the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion could not afford to provoke such a faction at present.

“We’re the Qingzhou Chief Envoys sent by the Rogue Cultivator Alliance. Here’s our token. I’m Zhang Zuo, and he’s Li You. Our names led us to become sworn brothers. You may examine it, Senior.”

Zhang Zuo flicked a token straight toward Ye Qiuyue.

Ye Qiuyue caught the token and examined it. It was clearly no ordinary object and seemed to be a Dharma Treasure used as a credential.

“The token doesn’t tell me much. Wait while I check your story.”

After returning the token, Ye Qiuyue began sending a voice transmission to Ye Tianyi, instructing her to purchase information from the Immortal Dao Merchant Association. Since the association also originated from Central Province, it should be well-acquainted with the Rogue Cultivator Alliance, and intelligence trading was part of its normal business.

“That doesn’t sound right. The Rogue Cultivator Alliance’s Chief Envoys are Great Ascension experts, or at least at Body Integration. You two are only at Soul Formation. How could you be Chief Envoys?”

Yun Man caught the inconsistency in their words and immediately chimed in.

“Well, it’s a little embarrassing. We were Hall Masters in a Central Province city. For certain reasons, the Administrative Elder sent us here as Qingzhou Chief Envoys. There’s no branch here yet, just us two. He ordered us to establish one within five years, so we’ve been searching everywhere for talent.”

Zhang Zuo explained with a hint of awkwardness.

The Alliance’s hierarchy was simple. After the Alliance Leader, the Elders held the most authority. Then came the Chief Envoys of provincial branches, followed by District Envoys. Below them were the city halls, headed by Hall Masters.

These two brothers had been directly promoted from Hall Masters to Chief Envoys. On the surface, it was a promotion, but in reality, they had been banished to Qingzhou to build a branch from scratch. They were given no personnel, no funds, and a strict five-year deadline.

Soon, Ye Qiuyue received the reply transmitted by Ye Tianyi.

“So they really are from the Rogue Cultivator Alliance?”

After reading the intelligence report, Ye Qiuyue finally confirmed their identities.

In the past, major powers had always looked down upon a barren backwater like Qingzhou. Furthermore, local factions were deeply entrenched, with sects and aristocratic families having long since monopolized the local talent pool. Coupled with the presence of the Supreme Heavenly Dynasty’s City Lord, it was virtually impossible for external forces to gain a foothold. New chapters come out on novelping.com first.

Only a trading organization like the Immortal Dao Merchant Association had a presence in every province. That was why the Rogue Cultivator Alliance had never established itself in Qingzhou. These two brothers had offended the Administrative Elder and been exiled here to start a branch.

“So, what are you offering to recruit me?”

Qin Xiao grew interested and asked.

“Well, we can’t offer anything right now. Our salaries were stopped when we were sent here. But don’t worry. The Elder said we’d receive all the back pay once we established the branch. We may have nothing to give you, but the Alliance’s name is enough to keep you safe. The Tianyuan Sect’s Great Elder won’t dare attack you again.”

Zhang Zuo attempted to use the alliance’s reputation as bait. After all, the Rogue Cultivator Alliance was a first-tier force-far beyond what the Tianyuan Sect could afford to offend.

“If you join us, I can also make you Qingzhou’s Eastern District Envoy. How about it? You’d be in charge of the whole eastern district.”

Sensing that mere reputation might not be enough, Zhang Zuo hastily added the position of Eastern District Envoy to the offer.

“Seniors, after all that talk, is this just a feast of empty promises?”

Qin Xiao wasn’t interested at all. A whole feast of empty promises, without even a drop of water to wash them down. He couldn’t swallow them. Simply couldn’t.

“How about this, two Seniors? What was your monthly salary when you were Hall Masters in Central Province? I’ll pay you double if you act as my bodyguards. You’re idle anyway.”

Qin Xiao had planned to find two bodyguards from the start. He had no interest in joining the Rogue Cultivator Alliance.

“What is the meaning of this? Are you trying to humiliate us?”

Zhang Zuo was getting annoyed. I kindly invite you and offer protection, and you turn around and mock me?

“Big Brother, wait.”

Li You took a more practical view. Forget the branch for now. They had few resources left. Perhaps they could earn some Spirit Stones first.

“Second Brother, what do you mean by this?”

Zhang Zuo asked, looking puzzled.

“Big Brother, we don’t even know where to start with the branch. Why not earn some Spirit Stones first? How can we recruit people without them? We’ll have no salary for five years. Do you really think the Administrative Elder sent us here to develop a branch? We were exiled here to atone for our mistakes.”

Li You hastened to persuade him. His elder brother was too straightforward and truly thought they had been given an important task. Better to get some Spirit Stones first.

“So, Second Brother, you’re saying we should agree to be this kid’s bodyguards? Can he even afford our price?” This chapter was copied from novelping.com without permission.

Zhang Zuo was tempted too. They really hadn’t saved much. Before, their monthly salaries and hall business had kept them well supplied with Spirit Stones, but they had spent freely. Sent to Qingzhou with little to begin with, they had less and less left.

“Leave it to me, Big Brother. If he can’t afford our rates, we can simply refuse. The other party has a Body Integration stage cultivator backing him; it’s best not to make an enemy of him.”

Seeing his elder brother relent, Li You took charge of the negotiation.

“Young friend Qin, we may only have been Hall Masters in Central Province, but our monthly salaries were in the millions. It isn’t poor like Qingzhou.”

Li You spoke up.

“I know. So how much were your salaries? Several million each?”

Qin Xiao was hardly short on Spirit Stones at the moment. What did a few million matter?

“Our monthly salary was two million five hundred thousand each, totaling five million. But considering this is Qingzhou, we won’t demand such a steep price. If you pay us four million combined each month, the two of us will agree to serve as your bodyguards temporarily. How about it?”

After brief consideration, Li You named his price.

“Second Brother, when did we get paid that much? We only made a little over a million a month! How can you say it was over two million?”

Startled by the figure Li You quoted, Zhang Zuo hastily sent a voice transmission, accusing him of talking nonsense.

“Big Brother, he said he’d pay double, so naturally I calculated it based on double. Just leave it to me; I’ve had my eye on this Qin Xiao for a while. He can afford it.”

Li You hurried to reply by voice transmission, afraid his elder brother would give them away.

Qin Xiao didn’t answer at once. He thought the price was too low, not too high. For so little, would they sincerely protect him? Should he offer more?

“Of course, if that’s difficult for you, young friend Qin, we can lower it a little. Three million eight hundred thousand, then.”

Seeing that Qin Xiao had not immediately answered, Li You assumed he was hesitating and obligingly shaved off two hundred thousand.

“Let’s do it this way. I said I’d double it, so I’ll double it. I’ll give the two of you ten million combined. But let’s make one thing clear: you must protect me with your lives. No slacking off, no fleeing at the first sign of danger, and absolutely no selling me out.”

After pondering for a moment, Qin Xiao decided to up the ante. If he spent too little, he wouldn’t feel secure. Besides, he currently possessed more Spirit Stones than he could possibly spend; he might as well pay for true peace of mind.

Language Note

Zuo and You, the given names mentioned here, mean left and right.