Chapter 294: Isn"t It Merely Ten Years of Service?
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Such havoc!
This was the two words that hung at the lips of the pract.i.tioners of Tianxuan Continent’s martial world at this time.
Legend had it that when the Four Seasons Tower had had just come into being back in the day, a man had brought his three subordinates to a.s.sault the martial arts world; wherever they had gone, even the mightiest among the opposed would have succ.u.mbed. They were invincible!
After some time, the Four Seasons Tower was officially established and began spreading its name; this was where the legendary litany "subdue the world by force" came from.
Later, the Four Seasons Tower had successfully wiped out three of the nine top sects – a true period of bloodshed in the martial world. It was also then that the Four Seasons Tower’s infamous reputation was earned.
After several hundred years, it seemed that these people had been replaced by another batch of leaders who poised to take the martial arts world by storm.
Then, it was called the Twelve-Year Bloodbath of the Martial World! Within the twelve years, the Four Season Tower’s experts had subdued the world by force once again, causing ma.s.sive losses in the martial arts world.
The peerless expert of the martial world had been annihilated by the Four Seasons Tower’s big boss himself.
Anyone and everyone, forces who were dissatisfied, had an opinion against or conflict with the Four Seasons Tower was completely uprooted.
For that twelve years, the entire martial arts world was terrorized, petrified the moment they heard of the Four Seasons Tower’s name.
For the next three hundred years, no one dared call themselves the Unrivaled Expert.
It was only until Dugu Chou’s rise that a new legend graced the martial world – there was a new ‘unrivaled’, a new ‘top one in the world’!
Somewhere along the way, the Four Seasons Tower had begun to work in secrecy; no one knew if there were any more battles… However, Dugu Chou had also gone into seclusion once he had triumphed in the world, halting before ascending to the heavens.
Then along came Ling Xiaozui, the acknowledged Unrivaled Expert who had even gone against the Four Seasons Tower head to head. They had fought for over a hundred years, give or take a few years; despite the fact that the Four Seasons Tower seemed to be at a disadvantage, no resolution to the conflict was ever revealed. There was no saying whether the Four Seasons Tower had lost or Ling Xiaozui had won.
Things had finally come to a head.
The legend of the Four Seasons Tower and its intimidating might seemed to have faded from everyone’s sight but at this point in time, this mysterious organization that had long lurked in the dark and had almost been forgotten by the world had reemerged once more without warning. It came at the entire martial arts world forcefully, baring its fangs.
No one knew the reason behind the Four Seasons Tower’s reappearance but everyone chose to, wisely, avoid it.
It was simply because the words that were being bandied around, "subduing the world by force" and "bloodshed of the martial world" were too terrifying to accept.
There was only one Dugu Chou, there was also only one Ling Xiaozui; there were a lot of overconfident people in the martial arts world but there was truly none who dared to say that they could compare with these two.
…
Yun Yang cultivated every day. The news of current events was being sent to him incessantly as well.
Once Shui Wuyin received the information, he came in search of Yun Yang immediately.
"Young master, the Four Seasons Tower has started its grand machinations."
"Are you prepared?"
"I am always ready."
"Good! Leave at once."
"Yes."
Shui Wuyin had disappeared from the Residence of Yun from that day onwards.
This was a plan both of them had come up with a long time ago.
Before the Four Seasons Tower decided to lash out, the Nine Heavens Dictum could still be of use and operate in its current state. Once the Four Seasons Tower executed their revenge, the Nine Heavens Dictum would have to immediately go from operating in the dark to entirely being obscured underground!
Other than urgent situations, the Nine Heavens Dictum would not have any activities in this short period of time! Any form of carelessness could bring about grave consequences.
Shui Wuyin had been making preparations for a long time.
Any Nine Heavens Dictum member who could be contacted were put into obscurity; waiting for new a.s.signments; those members who could not be contacted were put aside for now.
All the strings and codes related to them, in addition to contacts from all aspects, were chopped off to ensure their safety.
Aside from that, Yun Yang had one more request for Shui Wuyin.
"Wuyin, it is my hope that you can build the world’s top underground intelligence organization using this opportunity. I don’t mind the t.i.tle, in particular, being used for this intel organization but the complete control must be in our hands – it cannot be pa.s.sed to anyone else!"
"I will do so."
Shui Wuyin then vanished.
…
Bai Yixue pushed Yun Yang’s door open with a loud bang.
His face was pale and his lips quivered when he looked at Yun Yang; his gaze was fixed.
The current Bai Yixue was devoid of his usual grace; his boring gaze was not much better than a person with an affliction.
"What, again?"
Yun Yang asked in surprise, "Right. Why aren’t you leaving yet, Bai Yi? Didn’t you say you’re leaving today? The past is in the past, we don’t owe each other anything now; haven’t I given you everything I should? The deal is done, the silver taels paid; if you linger here any longer, it will be in your head!"
Bai Yixue watched Yun Yang for a long, long time with trembling lips; finally, he whined in a teary voice, "Yun Yang, you have dug one pit after another; your incessant manipulation is simply vicious! I have finally come to terms with the fact that once I"ve fallen into one of your pits, there is no getting out of it."
Yun Yang replied in feigned shock, "How could you say that? Where do we begin? Although we’re already friends, you can’t simply say such things; I would feel overly proud if you praise me like this!"
Bai Yixue’s expression grew uglier as he began to sob. "Forget it, forget it. Feel proud, be proud of it all you want! Anyway, even if you’ve dealt with the end of this appropriately and have long calculated to put yourself out of this mess, it will not be of use now…"
"Why not? Spit it out, let"s see if I can handle it!"
"The Four Seasons Tower has announced their Cosmo Edict on me – an absolute kill order on Bai Yixue!"
Bai Yixue felt like all hope had dimmed within him. "From now on, I am the martial arts world’s public enemy…"
Yun Yang, shocked, sighed heavily, "Truly, that is a brutal situation to be in."
He sighed again. With a wave of his hand, Lao Mei came in with a tray as Yun Yang said sincerely, "Bai Yi, I know you are ambitious and have your heart set in the martial world. I would like to think that we have become friends throughout all the trials that we have been through. Now that you’re leaving, please take these along with you."
Bai Yixue"s eyes widened and he stared at Yun Yang in disbelief.
"Here is one million silver taels worth of banknotes, five hundred pieces of mystical stones, eighty pieces of precious metals and ten pieces of high-quality jade." Yun Yang smiled amicably as he said, "A small token of my appreciation. Brother Bai must not think too little of it. The future is vast, I am certain we shall meet again."
He was actually chasing the man away.
Bai Yixue’s face twisted with confusion. "Leave? Where do you want me to go to?"
Yun Yang gestured negligently with his hand as he said, "The world is your oyster. With Brother Bai’s skill, where can’t you go? We’ve helped each other through our hard times, this shall not be forgotten within the martial world; we shall meet again."
Bai Yixue snorted and said decisively, "I am not leaving! It"s just too convenient, throwing me away after using me. I didn’t know you are such a callous person!"
Yun Yang was flabbergasted.
"You’ve turned me into the world’s enemy and seeing that the absolute kill order has fallen on me, you’re chasing me away?"
Bai Yixue continued in irritated tones, "Do you think that you will be safe after I leave? You can only hope. Let me tell you, the Four Seasons Tower’s absolute kill order sweeps up everyone related to the target. Anyone who aids the target against the tower"s wishes will have their family wiped out and have disaster fall upon nine familial generations! You will never be rid of this problem!"
Yun Yang frowned. "Brother Bai, you’re incorrect. Your mission has been completed, we have no relations anymore. You are currently a freeloader here who refuses to leave. How can it be said that I am helping you? Please do not speak nonsense, someone might die from your claims of relations.h.i.+p… Besides, your host has run out of funds. I’ve already given you so much travel allowance, isn’t it enough?"
Bai Yixue replied resolutely, "Whatever you say now will not change my mind; I’m not leaving either way. I belong to the Residence of Yun from now on. Lao Mei and Fang Mofei can be your guards, I should be even more qualified than them! Don’t even think of disa.s.sociating yourself from me – I am yours, from now on!"
Yun Yang looked awkward. "Is Brother Bai somewhat condescending? It’s easy to say you’re my man, but can I forcefully make you stay when you leave without a care afterward?"
"It is decided. I shall leave it to you to decide if you want me to be your guard or butler, I’m not leaving anyway," Bai Yixue said.
Yun Yang snorted, "If I have a guard like you, my lifespan will definitely be shortened by a few years! It is so exhausting!"
Bei Yixue retorted in mocking tones, "You are exhausted? I’m absolutely expended! Having a young master like you, my life might just end tomorrow!"
Yun Yang replied quietly, "Since it causes so much exhaustion, why tire everyone, why wear out our physical and mental energy? Leave quickly! It’s so chaotic now…"
Bai Yixue replied coldly, "You don’t have to push me away with your words, I won’t leave for sure. I’m all in to become the Residence of Yun’s man! As for the Four Seasons Tower’s absolute kill order, the Residence of Yun is included in its scope! Disaster upon nine familial generations!"
Yun Yang scoffed and said, "Do you wish to follow me that much? It’s fine if you really want to be a part of the Yun Family but you have to make an oath first."
Bai Yixue glared at him and with a sudden stomp of his foot, he said, "Do you think that I am afraid to take an oath? I shall be your guard wholeheartedly for the next ten years!"
Obviously, Bai Yixue had long decided on this plan; he had precisely calculated his stance.
A duration of ten years was neither long nor was it short. If he had roamed alone in the martial arts world as long, his death was imminent. After all, the Four Seasons Tower’s absolute kill order was the most effective in the martial world; on the other hand, there was still a chance of survival in the Residence of Yun.
Not only was the Residence of Yun a force to be reckoned with in Tiantang City, Yun Yang himself was a master of tricks too; his fate at chances and destined luck far exceeded that of an ordinary person. For example, when he was injured and he returned to his residence, his recovery was rapid beyond belief.
Besides, ever since Bai Yixue arrived, the improvement of his cultivation base improved by tenfold. Such a speed was even more efficient than the few and rare gifts he had received in the past.
Summarizing all the points above, it was a steal to buy his life with a decade of service.
If the Four Seasons Tower found him and wanted to kill him within these ten years, then it was his fate. After all, his death was definite without a dash of hope if here to go against the tower now.
However, with the buffer of ten years, his ability might hike to the point of being able to protect himself sufficiently!
The Four Seasons Tower could probably not do much to him when he left then.
As for being Yun Yang"s guard, what were a few years of service?
As Bai Yixue continued to calculate quietly, he began to feel increasingly certain that he had gotten the sweet end of the deal.
Isn"t it merely ten years of service?