69novels 553. Exchange Costs
553. Exchange Costs
"Is it really like this?" Xiao Yan muttered to himself. This was the worst-case scenario he had anticipated. If Tianming Sect had obtained Yi Xu, it meant that the Nine-Section Jade Bamboo Heart was now in Ling Zhuo's hands. If it were someone else, it would be fine; they could simply trade for it. But if it was Ling Zhuo and he didn't specify a price, it was highly likely that he wouldn't be willing to trade at all.
"I've already spread the word, and I'm using your name. It's up to him whether he's willing to take the bait," Wei Jiangyuan instructed.
"That's the right way." Xiao Yan nodded in agreement. If someone else asked for it, Ling Zhuo wouldn't care at all. If he made the request himself, although he might be schemed against by Ling Zhuo, at least there was still a high chance that Ling Zhuo would come out after he found out.
"If Ling Zhuo appears, I'll snatch him!" Lei Jingxiao's eyes were full of confidence; he didn't care at all about Ling Zhuo's identity or strength.
"Robbing them isn't the problem. The most important thing is that we don't know where they are right now, so we can only wait for them to show up." Xiao Yan waved his hand helplessly. This passive feeling was not good at all.
"Let's go to the location of the Mist Mountain. We still need to have a backup plan. If they are willing to trade, we will trade. If they are not willing to trade, then we will have to try our luck in the last Mist Mountain."
No one objected to this, and they followed the instructions on the jade tablet.
……
Just before the last misty mountain was about to appear, Ling Zhuo and his group finally received news; to be precise, someone had specifically come looking for them.
"So you were all waiting here, to make a deal?" Cao Ying appeared before the four with a smile.
"Where is Ling Zhuo?" Xiao Yan asked, his soul perception spreading out to search for possible reinforcements behind Cao Ying.
"Mr. Xiao Yan, rest assured, this time it's just me, Ying'er, who came alone, without any other help."
"Why didn't Ling Zhuo come?" Lei Jingxiao asked, dissatisfied.
Cao Ying's gaze swept over the three of them, and she said with a smile, "The three of you are all Dou Zun experts, and your combat power is extraordinary. Ling Zhuo naturally wouldn't dare to risk his life to come here, so he can only ask me, a mere woman, to come and discuss things with you."
Wei Jiangyuan joked, "Such composure is really unlike Ling Zhuo's style."
"He wasn't discouraged by the two of you. He wasn't even prepared to compete with you at the last Misty Mountain in the first place." Cao Ying's voice had a seductive quality, but she finally got to the point: "You're looking for the Nine-Jointed Green Bamboo Heart, right?"
Xiao Yan nodded: "That's right, that thing is in Ling Zhuo's hands?"
A knowing glint flashed in Cao Ying's foxy eyes: "Yes, and it's a nine-section green bamboo heart that's over a thousand years old."
Xiao Yan nodded and said directly, "Miss Cao Ying, to be honest, I must get this herb no matter what. Ling Zhuo sent you here, so he must be preparing for a transaction, right? What are his conditions?"
"Mr. Xiao Yan is indeed straightforward, but Ling Zhuo's tone is quite arrogant. He intends to take all the herbs from this last misty mountain."
"If he's asking for such an exorbitant amount, why doesn't he just rob us?" Lei Jingxiao said, dissatisfied.
"It seems Lingzhuo is really planning to rip you off badly," Cao Ying said calmly. "So, what are your opinions? Do you want to make a deal?"
"want!"
"want!"
Two voices rang out at the same time. It turned out that Wei Jiangyuan and Xiao Yan spoke at the same time. After exchanging a glance, Xiao Yan took the initiative to say, "It's okay to give him the herbs, but I also ask Miss Cao Ying to make it clear that I must guarantee that the Thousand-Year Nine-Jointed Green Bamboo Heart is genuine and there is no tampering involved."
Xiao Yan had experienced this before, so he was especially wary of this at the moment.
Cao Ying nodded: "You can definitely put some thought into this during the transaction, and if you two are really willing to do that, I think Ling Zhuo should actually take the initiative to maintain the deal."
Finally, the group reached a preliminary consensus. Cao Ying did not leave, explaining that she needed to act as a witness for the Spirit Clan and ensure that Xiao Yan and the others received enough herbs.
Xiao Yan was still slightly uneasy about this, after all, he always felt that Cao Ying was not a simple woman. He also gave her a tactful reminder: "Miss Cao Ying, you can stay, but I hope you won't do anything unnecessary."
"Mr. Xiao Yan, with my meager strength, what can I possibly do under your noses?"
"I can vouch for that. Sister Cao Ying doesn't seem to have any ill intentions towards us," Wei Jiangyuan said, taking the initiative to speak, based on his previous experience of being let go by Cao Ying along with Yao Qingyu.
"Sister Cao Ying, Ling Zhuo probably hasn't treated you well either. How about we trick Ling Zhuo into giving him half of his things, and we'll keep the rest for ourselves? Of course, you'll get your share in the end."
Seeing this, Cao Ying's eyes became even more alluring: "It's not that we can't discuss it, but if Ying'er encounters any situation in the future, could you please ask Young Master Wei to lend a hand?"
Wei Jiangyuan's eyes darted around, and he readily agreed, "Of course, of course..."
What was said in jest was taken seriously by the listener; Wei Jiangyuan's behavior drew a cold snort from Yao Qingyu, who was standing to the side.
Wei Jiangyuan also realized what was happening at this moment. With Yao Qingyu beside him, he immediately straightened up and said, "Hey, the prettier the woman, the more likely she is to lie. Sister Cao Ying, I'll be keeping an eye on you."
"Young Master Wei, please make yourself at home."
After Cao Ying finished speaking, she sat down next to Yao Qingyu. Yao Qingyu was quite grateful to Cao Ying. Taking advantage of the fact that there was nothing else to do, Cao Ying took the initiative to say to Yao Qingyu, "You are very lucky."
Yao Qingyu looked at him with a hint of doubt: "Hmm?"
Cao Ying glanced at Xiao Yan and Wei Jiangyuan, who were already preparing for the Fog Mountain operation, and said, "They probably want the Nine-Section Green Bamboo Heart because of you, right?"
"Don't get me wrong, I just guessed. After all, all three of them are full of energy and vitality, so they shouldn't need those rare and precious medicinal herbs that are so focused on healing."
Yao Qingyu nodded: "You guessed right, what's wrong?"
"That's why I said you're very lucky to have men who would do anything for you, and there are two of them at the same time. Isn't that lucky enough?" Cao Ying said with emotion.
"Don't you have one? Your reputation as a vixen is known throughout the Flower Sect, and you have no shortage of admirers."
Upon hearing this, Cao Ying gave a rare bitter smile: "How can such people be compared to truly sincere people? Most people are only after my looks and the power of the Cao family. When faced with a real weighing of pros and cons, they might abandon me without hesitation. Even if there were a hundred such people, it wouldn't make a difference."
Yao Qingyu fell silent. Being a perceptive person, she naturally understood the bitterness in Cao Ying's words. However, in this matter, there was nothing she could do to help Cao Ying…