Chapter 50: A Deal Is Struck, a Successful Escape

Fan Hongfei might not care much that a young ape had died, but the giant ape did.

Its roar expressed both anger at Qin Xiao and displeasure with Fan Hongfei. Human and ape shared a Symbiotic Relationship and could communicate through their minds. Even knowing what Qin Xiao was scheming, the ape was furious to see its own descendants killed.

Fan Hongfei hurried to soothe it, but it did not seem willing to listen. It wanted its descendants back.

“Fine, kid, I agree. You and your dao companion can leave. Release these apes, and you can go.”

Seeing he couldn’t calm the giant ape, Fan Hongfei could only agree to Qin Xiao’s terms.

“Senior, do you take me for a fool? If I let them go now, getting ten zhang away alive would be a feat. Don’t try to trick me. If you really agree, we can talk about how to make the exchange.”

Qin Xiao was no fool. If he released them now, he would be dead the next second.

“Fine, speak.”

Fan Hongfei hated him enough to grind his teeth, but he had to hear Qin Xiao’s terms first.

“Master, can we bring that person from the Immortal Dao Merchant Association?”

Just as Qin Xiao was about to speak, Yun Man whispered.

“Do you know that person?”

Qin Xiao asked with some curiosity.

“Master, that’s Sister Ling’s older brother, Ling Wushuang.”

Yun Man had already put on her veil by now and explained softly.

“Ah, so that’s it. No wonder you put on a veil whenever you meet someone you know. All right. If I can save him, I will.”

Hearing it was Ling Ruoxue’s older brother, Qin Xiao thought saving him was acceptable. He could even use this as an excuse to extort the Immortal Dao Merchant Association later.

“We can talk, but release those three to me first. Otherwise, there’s nothing to discuss. At worst, we’ll all go down together.”

His gamble had paid off, so Qin Xiao intended to get everything he could out of it. If he was saving one, he might as well save three.

“Kid, don’t push your luck.”

Fan Hongfei had his own reasons for keeping the three alive. Why would he let them go so easily?

“You won’t agree? Then I’ll kill another monkey. I’ll keep killing until you say yes. Disciple, get ready.”

Qin Xiao was making a threat. That was why he had told her to prepare, rather than to strike at once.

Yun Man understood. She raised her sword, ready to strike, and waited for his order.

“Stop, I agree.”

Seeing the giant ape beneath him about to go berserk again, Fan Hongfei could only agree.

He and the ape were symbiotic partners; he did not enslave it. He had to respect its wishes. If it went mad and forcibly broke their bond, both of them would die.

The Demon Beasts released the three captives. Ling Wushuang, the least badly injured, supported Cang Xing and Su Lin as they came over to Qin Xiao.

“Thank you for saving us, brother. May I ask your name?”

Ling Wushuang asked quite politely. This chapter was copied from NovelPing without permission.

“Qin Xiao, Peak Master of the Tianyuan Sect’s Seven Stars Peak.”

Qin Xiao quickly replied, stating his position.

“How is that possible? Rumor has it the Tianyuan Sect…”

Su Lin broke off, seeming to realize he had said something he should not. He immediately fell silent.

“Brother Qin, I didn’t mean that.”

Su Lin hurried to explain himself.

“No problem. I just didn’t expect my reputation to have spread so far; it’s truly an honor.”

Qin Xiao looked helpless, but inside he was cursing. Who had such a big mouth? Who was spreading his embarrassing business everywhere?

“Alright, kid, I’ve already released the people. What else do you want?”

Fan Hongfei interrupted their pleasantries. Right now, he just wanted to save the monkeys and their young to calm the giant ape. It had already eaten plenty of people; these few did not matter much.

“Take us to the first layer’s entrance. I’ll release the monkeys there. If I let them go now, I still can’t escape. What would all this have been for?”

Qin Xiao had already worked out his plan. He spoke slowly.

“No. How do I know you’ll keep your word? What if you kill my monkeys and their young, then escape? You’d have made a fool of me. You don’t trust me, and I don’t trust you.”

Fan Hongfei rejected his proposal.

After that, both sides were at a stalemate, neither willing to concede.

“Brother Qin, I have an idea.”

Seeing the stalemate, Ling Wushuang whispered in Qin Xiao’s ear.

“Brother Ling, you’re too polite. Calling me Brother Qin feels a bit strange. Just call me Qin Xiao. What’s your idea?”

Qin Xiao quickly asked.

“These are Mother-Child Pearls. We each take one and can speak through them within a thousand li. The first layer’s entrance is only a few hundred li away, so they’ll work. This is my personal token. It carries a coordinate linked to another Dharma Treasure I have. I’ll stay here and hold them off while you head to the entrance. Once you’re sure you’re safe, I’ll release the apes and join you.”

They could not remain deadlocked forever. Ling Wushuang could only suggest this plan.

“Are you sure?”

Qin Xiao accepted the two items. He liked the plan, but was still a little worried.

“Don’t worry, I’m confident.”

Ling Wushuang said firmly.

“Since that’s the case, then let’s do it this way.”

Qin Xiao trusted Ling Wushuang’s character. Earlier, he had chosen to hold off the giant ape alone. He was clearly someone who could lead.

“Senior, how about this? We’ll leave one person here. Once we’re sure we’re safe, he’ll release your monkeys and their young. If you try anything, we’ll all die together.”

After thinking for a moment, Qin Xiao said to Fan Hongfei.

“Fine.” You are reading on novelping(.)com, the official source.

Fan Hongfei agreed at once. He did not want the deadlock to continue, and the giant ape seemed to be getting restless.

“Brother Ling, wait for my message. If he goes back on his word, put Spiritual Qi into the rope and it’ll kill these apes instantly. Don’t get nervous. If you accidentally kill them all, we’ll all be in trouble.”

Qin Xiao handed him the rope and gave the instructions loudly, for Fan Hongfei’s benefit. Then he flew away with Yun Man.

Su Lin supported the one-armed Cang Xing as they followed Qin Xiao.

“Master, isn’t this just an ordinary rope? Why did you say that? What if an accident happens? Wouldn’t Big Brother Ling be in trouble?”

Only after flying quite far away did Yun Man softly voice her confusion.

“It was a bluff to scare him. I had to fool Ling Wushuang too. If he gave it away, none of us would escape. We aren’t strong enough to bargain with that man. All we can do is trick him.”

Qin Xiao had been gambling all along. If Fan Hongfei did not care about the apes, he would have had to accept his fate. He had no way to fight a Soul Formation cultivator. Fortunately, his gamble had paid off.

Fan Hongfei didn’t play tricks either. The four of them arrived at the entrance of the first layer without encountering any Demon Beasts, and the Demon Beasts that had been stationed there before were all gone.

“Brother Ling, it’s safe.”

Qin Xiao quickly contacted Ling Wushuang via the Mother-Child Pearl.

Meanwhile, Ling Wushuang looked calm, but sweat had soaked his back. With so many Demon Beasts surrounding him, it would be a lie to say he was not afraid.

Now he knew what it meant for a day to feel like a year. Why was it taking so long to fly a few hundred li? It felt as though hours and hours had passed. Why hadn’t a message come yet?

“Brother Ling, it’s safe.”

At last, a voice came from the Mother-Child Pearl in his hand.

“Boy, I know you can teleport at random. Do you think that means you can escape? Let’s make a bet. Once you teleport, which of us will be closer to the exit?”

Fan Hongfei did not mind that Ling Wushuang was the one staying behind. He had seen him teleport during their previous clashes. It was random, and he had worked out something about it: unless Ling Wushuang teleported straight out of the layer, he would fall into Fan Hongfei’s hands again.

“Then let’s bet. Farewell.”

After Ling Wushuang finished speaking, his body disappeared.

“Immediately seal off the entrances to the first and third layers.”

Fan Hongfei directly issued the command through the giant ape.

Not long after Qin Xiao sent his message, Ling Wushuang appeared in front of him.

“Damn, it can do that?”

Qin Xiao was envious. That was incredible.

“Hurry back to the first layer.”

The moment he appeared, Ling Wushuang urged them to hurry.

They knew it was urgent. Without another word, they passed through the entrance and returned to the first layer.