Chapter 33 – Asking The Tiger For Its Skin*
Edited by Owner
(Cuppa: It originates from 与狐谋皮 aka ‘Asking the fox for its skin’, it meant asking a bad/evil person to act against their own self interests. Using Tiger instead of Fox could be a.s.sumed that it refers to asking a powerful person, or organization in this case, to act against their self interests.)
The second night, the person in black once again appeared within Su Chen’s room.
Su Chen was already waiting inside, and seeing him appear, he pointed at the tea beside him, saying, “Come have a drink. I have been warming it up for you, its top quality Purple Cloud Green.”
The person in black, upon seeing it, did not hesitate and walked over to enjoy the tea.
Seeing his actions, Su Chen’s felt half relieved. He knew that a deal was likely halfway there now.
Indeed, after the person in black drank the tea, he said, “Your terms were too outrageous, the higher ups did not agree. However, regarding your journey into the Deep Red Mountain Range, we have some suggestions. If you are willing to cooperate, we will not reject helping you.”
“What of it?”
The person in black poured another cup of tea and drank it before he continued, “The organization would not be giving you Origin Armaments for free just like that. However, considering the danger you would be facing in the Deep Red Mountain Range, we can temporary loan some pieces to you for use, but you wouldl have to return them after you come back.”
“Okay. However, won’t your expense be too little?”
The person in black snorted. “Kid, do not be too greedy. Do you think that we won’t incur any risk just by lending you Origin Armaments? If you were to die in there, wouldn’t we also not be able to collect them back?”
“Then you should be more generous, why not give me some good lifesaving items as well? Since your esteemed organization has big forces and a large amount of wealth, there must be some things that were useless to you guys. And it seems throwing them away would just be a shame; just give them to me. And who knows? These items might come useful.”
The person in black paused for a moment, “To think that you managed to guess correctly.”
And then he threw a bundle on the table.
After opening it, there was an armor, a battle blade, a black stick, a pair of boots, a bunch of potions, some black marbles, and a bag of Low Grade Origin Stones.
“These vials are healing potions. As long as it isn’t a lethal injury, drinking it will heal and recover you. However, these vials were all failed products. Although they retained their healing abilities, but they also cause some minor side effects to your body. As for what sort of side effects, it varies for each bottle and could not be described properly. You might have diarrhea, or you might feel weak for a few days, but you will surely not die…even failed products have their pride too*.
(Cuppa: Right… this should refer to the pride of not killing its user despite being a healing product but won’t feeling weak be lethal too in Su Chen’s upcoming trail…)
“The black marbles are called Soul Rending Spell Marbles. They can release a mental shock and directly attack the mental consciousness of the target. However, these were also failed products, and they still possess their mental attack capabilities, only they will also affect its user…it won’t distinguish between enemies or allies.
“This Purple Crystal Battle Armor is a special armor made from Purple Crystal Rocks. Once activated, it can create an energy barrier. Even if the energy barrier was shattered, the to
ugh nature of the material itself can also protect you. However, this is a defective product, its chest area is damaged, therefore, the protective barrier created would be incomplete. It can shield the back of the wearer but not the front.
“Hunter’s Firearm, this is another failed product, one of a delusional person. The original idea was a special crossbow that uses Origin Energy as propulsion to consecutively shoot up to eight black iron bullets. However, after it was created, the item not only created a large amount of noise, it also had an astonishing recoil; but the most annoying fact was that it’s range was very short, basically inaccurate if the range exceeded 30 meters. A long range weapon that could only be used in short range, it could be rated as the worst kind of Origin Armament.
“The Cloud Stepping Battle Boots possess an Origin Skill. When activated, it can increase your speed, allowing you to move quickly. This item isn’t damaged nor spoiled, but it is too old and can no longer handle too much stress. It is estimated that it won’t be long before it becomes unusable.
“That battle blade is called Ink Patterned Blade, a Cloud Ink Pattern that uses Cloud Ink, a substance created from the blood of beasts, to inscribe onto the blade, it records a certain type of powerful Origin Battle Technique called Blood Slaughter. Its destructive power can become exceptionally formidable once it is activated. It is also the only Eighth Grade Origin Armament here. The blade was damaged during a fight, and although it’s still functional, it will drain a large amount of the user’s stamina every time it is used. Something not suitable for drawn-out fights.”
“Is your organization treating me as a garbage disposal site? Giving all your trash to me?” Su Chen laughed chillingly. “Of all the things you brought, is nothing proper?”
“There is, Origin Stones.” The person in black replied.
“……”
Origin Masters were required to allow an Origin Armament to display it’s real abilities. Su Chen’s cultivation hadn’t reach that level yet, and therefore, he could only use Origin Stones as a subst.i.tute.
Origin Stones could store Origin Energy and be used to control all sorts of Origin Armaments; it could also be used to restore Origin Energy within the body. However, due to the impurities within the energy stored with the Origin Stones, it could only be used for recovery and not possible to a.s.sist in improving one’s cultivation.
Origin Stones weren’t naturally formed in nature but created by injecting your own Origin Energy into a special type of mineral ore – its purpose in the beginning when first discovered was to be simply to be used for stockpiling Origin Energy.
Because of this reason, Origin Stones could be produced by all Origin Masters.
A piece of Low Grade Origin Stone would require a low-level Energy Guiding Origin Master to spend one whole day to fill up, therefore, it became the definition of the value for the minimum amount of labor of a low-level Energy Guiding Origin Master. On top of that, with the wide applications of Origin Stones, it was slowly developed into the currency commonly used between Origin Masters, while Low Grade Origin Stones became the most basic unit of said currency.
There were a hundred pieces of Low Grade Origin Stones in the bag. If used sparingly, it should be enough. It was also considered the most valuable of the items given by the organization.
Although they]re were mostly damaged and failed good, Su Chen also was content. Origin Armaments weren’t cabbage after all. If it weren’t for the fact that these were defects, it was likely that the other party would not have given him so many Origin Armaments in the first place.
That night, while Su Chen was preparing for his journey tomorrow in his room, the back of his hand suddenly felt warm. A small little red snake emblem began to shine on the back of his hand.
This was the Vapor Snake mark that Gu Qing Luo gave Su Chen. It didn’t have any major function, just the ability to allow individuals possessing the same mark to be able to sense each other within a certain range. Gu Qing Luo especially made this for Su Chen.
Seeing the shining mark, Su Chen knew that Gu Qing Luo was here.
He opened his door and head towards the back mountain.
When he reached the spring, he saw Gu Qing Luo sitting down with her chin on her knee and with an extremely bored expression, not one could tell what she was thinking about.
Seeing Su Chen approaching, Gu Qing Luo jumped up in excitement, and went to him. “You finally arrived.”
“What’s the matter, looking for me at this time?” Su Chen asked.
Gu Qing Lou mysteriously got close to Su Chen. “I finally found out who Yue Wu Ti is.”
“Oh?” that got Su Chen’s interest. “who?”
Gu Qing Lou turned her body and walked a few steps with her hands behind her back. “Do I have to tell you just because you asked? This lady spent a lot of effort to obtain this information and you did not even mention a word of thanks.”
Su Chen smiled. “The great Young Mistress Gu possessed great abilities. This sort of small issue is nothing to you, just another easy pickings.”
Of all things in the world, flattery was still the most effective. Gu Qing Lou revealed a cheerful smile and turned her head back at Su Chen: “At least you know how to speak well.”
She jumped towards him and whispered to his ear, “I heard that this Yue Wu Ti is actually the Head Commander of the Heavenly Moment Guards of Chang Pan City.”
Head Commander of the Chang Pan City’s Heavenly Moment Guards?
This work/translation is property of © Fantasy-Books and unless it"s one of the approved sites listed in Approved List- then this work has been stolen; reading this work on a stolen site is a clear disrespect to the content creators. Thank you.
Su Chen was shocked.
Chang Pan City was the capital of Long Sang Country while the Heavenly Moment Guards was a unit that was given special rights and powers by the country. They were tasked with performing missions that would affect the country such as information gathering, a.s.sa.s.sination, monitoring, national safety etc., possessing a powerful influence. This also reflected how powerful and great one was if you were the Head Commander of that unit. They were essentially an important officer of the government.
It was unexpected that Yue Wu Ti held such a powerful position, yet, this mysterious organization dared to a.s.sa.s.sinate him. Their power and boldness had greatly exceeded Su Chen’s expectation.
Cooperating with such an organization was as good as asking the tiger for its skin!
Yet Su Chen could no longer retreat.
Putting it another way, from the moment he heard their plan, he no longer had a choice. It was either he destroyed the other party or he tries his best to protect himself and use his opponent for his own gains.
Gu Qing Lou continued, “This group of people actually plans to a.s.sa.s.sinate the Head Commander of the Heavenly Moment Guards, they aree very daring.”
“Indeed very bold, however, since they dare to make plans, they will likely have their methods. Qing Lou, you better send a secret letter to warn this Lord Yue when you return home.”
“There’s no need for that. As the Head Commander of the Heavenly Moment Guards, there are many people trying to a.s.sa.s.sinate Yue Wu Ti every year. If it could be done so easily, he would no longer be still alive. Writing a letter will not increase his guard but would only attract trouble to us instead.” Gu Qing Lou shook her head. “It might even lead to a whole bunch of Heavenly Moment Guards investigating and interrogating us on how you obtain this information. Were you working with the people who were planning the a.s.sa.s.sination? Once word travelled and fell onto the ears of that organization, you would be in danger.”
Gu Qing Lou was born in a reputably large clan and was familiar with the inner workings of the people in the upper echelons of the society. She knew that the other party would not simply believe the contents of a letter. Sending one would only bring trouble to oneself.
Only now did Su Chen realized this. “I have overlooked the fact that it makes no difference to Yue Wu Ti if he was warned or not.
“However…” Su Chen suddenly thought of something: “If that’s the case, then why did the organization not just remove this enemy? Even choosing to accept my extortion?”
Gu Qing Lou heard what Su Chen said, and paused in wonder after listening him.
The two of them began to think deeply.
After a moment, Su Chen began, “Can it be that, what they truly cared about wasn’t Yue Wu Ti keeping up his guard against them? But…”
Gu Qing Lou’s eyes faintly shined. “But something to do with that Spirit Burial Altar?”
a.s.sa.s.sination wasn’t their goal; that Spirit Burial Altar is.
“So in the end, what is that place?” the two of them asked this question at the same time.