Boss Gui & Cao Yun kept talking for a while to craft a contract. Basically, the Blazing Swallow would become an official partner to Boss Gui's slave trade. As much as the idea was revolting to Cao Yun, he accepted because it aligned with his plans. As he was signing the contract with his own blood, the young human felt something stir within him. Once again, it was the Stinking Lungs. Because Cao Yun felt as if he was corrupting his morals, the related Turbid Demon was active.
In a sense, it was a contradiction between Cao Yun's view of himself and his actual actions. That contradiction caused a backlash. Thankfully though, Cao Yun knew how to handle it. It had been a very good idea to start on Stinking Lungs. But working on two Turbid Demons at once was a bit too much, even for him. So he would be careful and wouldn't work on a third Turbid Demon right away.
After they were done, Boss Gui & Cao Yun called Miss Wo and Xixue back inside. Miss Wo was focused on the two intruders as she wanted to make sure her mistress was safe. In her mind, Cao Yun was as strong as Boss Gui, even maybe a bit stronger because his martial arts were very good. Of course, he wasn't on Boss Gui's level at all. But none of them knew it, not even Xixue. Even now, he had maintained his image of a 2nd-grade Accomplished Demon. Otherwise, things would have gone down in a very different way.
"Miss Gui, I expect to see some of your warriors in my own courtyard before the sun is set. I will start working on improving your blood mixture as soon as I can. But I might also be useful on another front."
"Do tell."
"I saw that you were trying to teach them battle formations. Truth be told, they are terrible at it. And although this isn't my area of expertise, I am confident I can improve on that. In fact, I could even improve their martial arts along the way."
"Indeed, your technique was very good. It almost felt like you had mastered the Sword Aura."
"Unfortunately, I have not yet reached such proficiency in the sword. However, I am certain that I can push your warriors to higher limits. In order to prove myself, I suggest that I start with a single unit of your warriors. In fact, choose the one who performs the least well."
"Fine, we'll try it out. I'll also send you a few instructors. If your training is on par with your promises, they will see firsthand how it's done. Like that, it would be easier for me to implement changes in my overall plan."
"Then, everything is set."
Cao Yun looked at Xixue who had put back her mask as she had exited the building. Despite her mask, he could tell by her demeanor that she was still shaken. Learning about her sister being sold to the Sisters of the Abyss had taken a toll on her. But this piece of news didn't mean that her sister was necessarily dead. After all, the Sisters also used slaves as new sisters. If she had been a boy, the Sisters would have killed her for sure as no man was allowed to join their order. However, girls had a chance to survive as Blood Daughters. From the few things Cao Yun knew, the order considered that all its members were related by blood. Apparently, there was some kind of ceremony where they would share the same blood.
Despite his best efforts, Cao Yun had not learned many things about the Sisters as almost no one knew too much. The only thing he knew was the common knowledge around them. For example, he knew how they behaved in public, what kind of jobs they would take and a bit about their religious views. Even those were not too well known to the public. They only knew the gist of it. In simple terms, Blood was both the blood flowing in their veins allowing life and strength, but also their link to their ancestors. Blood, seen as some form of metaphysical thing rather than just the red liquid, was sacred and should not be spoiled by anything. Everyone should thrive to strengthen their Blood in order to get stronger but also to honor their ancestors. Among those ancestors was their progenitor, the Weaver of Souls.
Unfortunately, even Dian Mo didn't seem to know anything about this Weaver of Souls. Apparently, he was a lieutenant under Demon God Da Mo. And he had died on this very continent during the Great War. In fact, the Desolate Dune Desert was thought to be the vestige of the fight during which he died. Even the Divine Blood Ocean had been named because the Weaver of Souls' blood had flowed in it. According to the legends, the ocean itself had turned red with blood. Thus, it had strengthened the demonic beasts within. And it explained why crossing this vast expanse was so fraught with danger.
Whatever the truth was, Cao Yun didn't have enough knowledge to see through it. But there had to be some truth to those stories at the very least.
"Miss Gui, since you're the City Lord, you might be better at getting the answers I seek. Please, try to find out where Xixue's sister is."
Cao Yun bowed. Seeing him lower himself for her, Xixue immediately joined him and kowtowed much lower than he did. In fact, Xixue's forehead hit the ground. In front of them, Boss Gui waved her sleeve.
"Mister Mo, no need for that. I will do my best. My relationship with the Sisters is rather good, but don't expect any miracle. What happens within their rank is of utmost secret. Getting any information out of them on the matter will be extremely difficult. At the very least, I'm confident I can learn whether she still lives or not. But I can't even promise that."
"So long as Miss Gui does her best, I can't ask for anything more."
"Thank you, Boss Gui."
Miss Wo was still wary of Xixue. But she remarked her sincerity. Of course, she wouldn't forget that she had initially been sent to kill her mistress. So she would do everything to keep her away from Boss Gui. Cao Yun was not much of a problem in her eyes. Like her mistress, Miss Wo was now convinced that he had not come from the Desolate Sepulcher. Although the two women still harbored some doubts, they were convinced of that fact, no matter how much Cao Yun could deny it. In fact, it was serving him as they were now convinced that he had no ties with anyone else in the Nalupu Kingdom. So he couldn't be a spy or an assassin.
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Cao Yun and Xixue took their leave. Before they crossed the outside courtyard's door, Xixue whispered a few words only Cao Yun could hear.
"Thank you."
There was some tremor in her voice as she was very emotional. Considering his own history, Cao Yun could understand her very well. In fact, he also became a bit emotional but was better at hiding it. Besides, because of her mask, Xixue could let her emotions out without being seen so she didn't try too hard to control them.
-
In a very different part of Duma City, Weiji Nian was venting her anger on some slave in her residence. The poor man was being beaten with a bamboo stick for a very minor offense. But Weiji Nian's mood was so sour that she was almost ready to beat him to death for any reason at all. In fact, she had become worse than ever in the few previous days. Obviously, it was because of Cao Yun.
Not only had she failed to buy the slave she wanted for her son, Cao Yun had mocked her in public. And when she had hired a few people to get the slave back, Cao Yun had sent their heads back to her. As much as she wanted to attack his residence and flay him alive, she couldn't. First of all, she was not a fighter and her cultivation had been achieved through pills and blood given to her by others. In other words, she was rather weak for her cultivation that wasn't very stable or firm either. Of course, had she known that Cao Yun was only a mere Golden Blood Child, she would have not feared him at all.
Usually, she could have hired stronger cultivators to capture him so she could torture him to death. However, her brain wasn't completely rotten yet. She knew that Cao Yun, as an alchemist, had a high importance. Her husband was working for City Lord Sihe and was out of town while her uncle was a general in the Nalupu Kingdom army. Usually, their status would mean that she could do anything. But they also meant that her actions would have consequences for them too. Even if she could kill Cao Yun, there would be dire consequences on her entire family. Thus, she first had to contact them both to get their permission, and hopefully their help.
"Mother, stop terrorizing our help."
While she was beating on the exposed spine of her slave, a young man entered the room. He was dressed in extravagantly expensive clothes. He was around fifteen or sixteen years old with the cultivation of an early Blood Child. Most likely, he was either a 2nd-grade or a 3rd-grade Blood Child. To be honest, there wasn't anything extraordinary about him. The young man was even a bit plump for his young age and had a very banal face. Apart from his clothes, he didn't look exceptional at all. In the street, he would have looked like any other demon.
As soon as she saw him, her mother dropped her blood covered bamboo stick and ran to him to hug her child.
"Bao'er, you shouldn't concern yourself with those slaves."
"Mother, they're so afraid that they can't do a good work anymore. If you want to vent your anger, just buy a useless slave to beat up. This shouldn't be too expensive. Our servants are well trained, you're just wasting money at this point."
Weiji Bao's tone was completely detached, as though he was talking about mere furniture. But it was how he perceived slaves. As far as he could remember, his household had been filled with slaves bending to his every whim. Even his mother was always dotting on him and everyone else in Duma City was treating him with both respect and fear because of his family. Of course, such an upbringing wouldn't create a very thoughtful individual. In fact, even his father didn't like how his mother was treating Weiji Bao. Unfortunately, he was barely there and any tutor he had tried to hire had met with disaster because of the duo formed by this mother and her child.
By now, Weiji Bao's father had accepted that his son would be a useless boy for a long time. Hopefully, he could still teach him some sense in the future...
"Bao'er, how is the girl I bought for you?"
"Humph. She can't keep up at all. Besides, her bloodline is very poor and I can't cultivate very well with her. I think I'll just use her to give me baths and massages, she's just too boring."
"I'm sorry about that, son. If only that bastard had not... Anyway, I promise I'll find you a suitable dual cultivation partner."
"Thank you, Mother, I know I can count on you."
In Weiji Nian, there was a deep love for her son, especially when he thanked him. She had to be able to give him the world. And the world included the slave bought by Cao Yun. Somehow, she had to get that girl. Of course, Weiji Nian didn't know that she had left town since Cao Yun had done everything to protect her. However, she knew that Cao Yun had gone to Boss Gui. Thus, she decided to visit her as well. Although she didn't like Boss Gui too much because of her status, Weiji Nian hadn't a bad relationship with her. In fact, she had almost no interaction with Boss Gui. In her eyes though, Boss Gui was a pathetic woman who had stumbled upon some money. That poor Weiji Nian had a delusion about her own status apparently.
-
Boss Gui received a letter from Weiji Nian. Basically, it was asking - no demanding - that she didn't associate with Cao Yun as he was a despicable character who didn't know about the proper etiquette. Since rituals and traditions were very important in the Nalupu Kingdom, it was a somewhat big accusation. Of course, Boss Gui didn't care in the slightest. Besides, she knew why Weiji Nian was upset and she couldn't care less. First of all, Weiji Nian was always throwing around her uncle in order to be respected. But her husband was also working for City Lord Sihe, Boss Gui's worst enemy right now.
Still upset after learning about how City Lord Sihe had planned to have her killed, Boss Gui wrote a letter back to Weiji Nian. The content was very short.
"Miss Weiji, I understand your situation. After all, your son couldn't get it wet without paying or forcing a woman. But I can suggest a solution. If you like him so much, you could dual cultivate with him yourself. Since your husband is absent so often, it might even help get rid of your terrible attitude as well. But be assured that if you touch Lord Mo Yun in any way, I won't touch you at all. However, I will skin your son alive in front of you before I take out his manhood and his eyes. Don't worry though, I wouldn't kill him of course. I know how to flay someone without killing them. And I'm sure Lord Mo Yun would have pills to grow back his skin in a record time. However, I'm not too sure about his other appendages. But, do as you wish, Miss Weiji."
Miss Wo was watching as her mistress was writing her letter. Clearly, she was very upset as she seldom wrote such crude things. But that woman was especially annoying and her husband was plotting with the man who wanted her dead through despicable plans. Of course, she was quite mad even if she was able to hide it very well. At least, she was usually able to hide it. In that letter though, she wasn't trying to hide her disdain.
Miss Wo wanted to convince her mistress not to send the letter but she knew that it wouldn't work at all.
When Weiji Nian received the letter, she almost fainted from rage and humiliation.