Wayfarer

Chapter 439: Negotiations at Mao's Capital

In the capital of Mao, outside the Yanluo Court, Xiao Nanfeng descended alone. He was surrounded by rabbit-headed humanoids all around him, some of whom were Heaven Immortals. Like a leaf floating down the rapids, he seemed as though he would capsize and submerge at any moment.

After Xiao Nanfeng landed, he didn't panic. He eyed Lady Yaoguang and motioned for her to relax, then turned to the Rabbit Yanluo.

Behind the Rabbit Yanluo stood Lan Jiguang and his wife, but Xiao Nanfeng was aware that they had long since been forged into the Rabbit Yanluo's avatars. Beside them were Yin Tianci and his subordinates.

"I greet the Rabbit Yanluo." Xiao Nanfeng gave her a brief bow.

The Rabbit Yanluo smirked coldly. "Lad, it's only been two days. I'm shocked you dared to return. Did you find some support for your cause? Which Yanluo Lords did you reach out to?"

The Rabbit Yanluo had ruled the world for many years, and she naturally guessed what gave Xiao Nanfeng the courage to seek her out. Beside her, Yin Tianci frowned. He had been planning to jeer at Xiao Nanfeng, not having realized that Xiao Nanfeng could have found another backer.

"You saw through my efforts at a glance, Rabbit Yanluo. That's right. I did summon two Yanluo Lords to help guard me. The Monkey and Rooster Yanluos are waiting outside the city."

The Rabbit Yanluo narrowed her eyes. That was precisely what she had expected. Given the current distribution of power in the Netherworld Palace, only those two Yanluo Lords would be willing to cooperate with him and give him the strength he needed to strike.

"Oh? Are they here to guard you, or here to kill me?" the Rabbit Yanluo demanded.

The rabbit-headed humanoids all around began to snarl in a nasty fashion. Only Lady Yaoguang seemed worried.

"Right once again. I invited them here to cooperate to kill you." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

"Insolence!" the rabbit-headed humanoids all around roared.

Yin Tianci and his subordinates gaped. Was Xiao Nanfeng sick of living? Why would he admit to the Rabbit Yanluo's face that he was scheming to kill her?

The Rabbit Yanluo waved her hand, causing the rabbit-headed humanoids to fall silent.

"And why should they listen to you?" she demanded.

"I hired them for the price of two Yanluo Courts. Once they kill you, they'll have three Yanluo Courts and your cursed spiritual avatar. They wouldn't need to worry about other Yanluo Lords then."

The Rabbit Yanluo's face turned dark. This would indeed be sufficient incentive for the Monkey and Rooster Yanluos.

"Did you come here and tell me all this because you want to die even more quickly?" the Rabbit Yanluo asked, her tone chilly.

"No, of course not. As I told your subordinates, I'm here to ransom Lady Yaoguang."

"Ransom her? With what?"

"The two Yanluo Courts in my possession, of course."

"Didn't you hire the Monkey and Rooster Yanluos with them?"

"I haven't handed them to them yet. I've changed my mind. I'd like to use the two Yanluo Courts to ransom Yaoguang. Would you do me this favor, Rabbit Yanluo?"

"On what grounds?"

"On what grounds? That's irrelevant. I'm here to offer you a choice. If you're willing to ransom her, we'll all be satisfied. You can gain two Yanluo Courts, and I'll have Yaoguang back. Otherwise, I'll kill you and take Yaoguang away."

All the cursed effigies present sucked in a deep breath. They had never seen anyone so bold. Was Xiao Nanfeng crazy to dare to threaten the Rabbit Yanluo face-to-face?

"Rabbit Yanluo, he's crazy! If we kill him, the two Yanluo Courts would both be yours!" Yin Tianci shouted immediately.

Xiao Nanfeng smirked. "And what makes you think I'd keep the Yanluo Courts on hand? Would I make such a low-level mistake given the danger I'm in?"

Yin Tianci frowned.

The Rabbit Yanluo exuded killing intent. "Are you threatening me?"

Xiao Nanfeng sucked in a deep breath. "Threatening you? No. You've kidnapped someone dear to me, and I'm negotiating with you."

The cursed effigies all around gave Xiao Nanfeng a strange look. Wasn't Xiao Nanfeng supposed to be the one under duress? Why did it feel like the tables had turned?

"Show me your sincerity. I could kill you at any time," the Rabbit Yanluo said.

"You won't be able to do so. I have two Yanluo Lords guarding me, and they'll strike the moment I shout."

"Try it, then."

Xiao Nanfeng fell silent. Then, he took a deep breath. "Rabbit Yanluo, there's no reason for the two of us to feud. Why threaten each other with death? You want my two Yanluo Courts, and I want Yaoguang. We could part amicably."

"No reason for the two of us to feud? I possessed your woman's parents. Don't you think that's sufficient cause?" the Rabbit Yanluo replied disdainfully.

"So we have a reason to hate you, but you don't have a reason to hate us. Our hatred pains us, but it doesn't affect you. Why take it into account?"

The Rabbit Yanluo: ...

What sort of logic was this? Wasn't a one-sided feud still a feud?

"You surely can't be worried that Yaoguang and I will seek revenge. As the Rabbit Yanluo, what do you have to fear? Do you think I could beat you?" Xiao Nanfeng continued.

The Rabbit Yanluo pursed her lips. Xiao Nanfeng's words were reasonable piecemeal, but why did the conclusion he drew feel so strange?

"As for that cursebane sword, you wouldn't be able to claim it regardless. It's a peerless treasure of the Shangqing holy land, and has already attuned to its owner. It would be useless in your possession, and you're currently limited on time. You need to grow stronger immediately, rather than waste your time on a single sword. If you obtain the two Yanluo Courts right now, then win against the other Yanluo Lords in the melee to come, you should be able to break through the restrictions by the mouth of the abyss and make your way out—and you'd rule the world once more. All manner of treasure would be yours to claim. Would you even want the cursebane sword then? Why get so hung up about it?"

The Rabbit Yanluo gave Xiao Nanfeng an odd look, because what he said was... surprisingly reasonable.

"Don't listen to him, Rabbit Yanluo! He's lying to you!" Yin Tianci shouted.

"Rabbit Yanluo, considering how wise you are, I'm sure you can tell who's really trying to trick you. This group of cultivators by your side is nothing but trash, and they couldn't even take me down in the outside world. Surely you haven't been tricked by them?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.

"Xiao Nanfeng, who are you calling trash?" Yin Tianci demanded.

"You, of course. In the outside world, you didn't even dare to refute my words. In here, I killed three of your number as a lowly Earth Immortal. You're so afraid of me that you didn't dare face me head-on; you went and allied yourself with the Rabbit Yanluo to take advantage of her to deal with me. Isn't that so?"

"Liar! You're only an Earth Immortal. Why would we be afraid of you?" Yin Tianci roared.

The Rabbit Yanluo pursed her lips in disbelief. "Xiao Nanfeng, you're the one trying to sow discord."

"I'm not boasting to you, Rabbit Yanluo. They're well aware of the truth of my claim. If their group of Heaven Immortals really was all that strong, why would they have to ally with you? Why wouldn't they take me on themselves?"

"Rabbit Yanluo, he's crazy! All he says is nonsense. Of course I'm selfishly motivated. I asked for your cooperation because I knew how sly Xiao Nanfeng is, and I worried that he would escape from my grasp if I were to strike alone. I had no choice but to ask for your assistance because I knew that you were in possession of Yaoguang's mother's body. You would surely be able to fish them out. We wanted to cooperate with you to take on the other Yanluo Lords; our arrangement is for mutual gain," Yin Tianci immediately countered.

"Rabbit Yanluo, you don't truly believe them, do you? How can this group of trash assist you in taking down the other Yanluo Lords? What a joke. They can't even beat me! Rabbit Yanluo, I would be a stronger ally than they are. All they can do is brag about themselves!"

"Die, Xiao Nanfeng!" Yin Tianci roared.

The Rabbit Yanluo scoffed. "Xiao Nanfeng, aren't you the one boasting here? They're all Heaven Immortals. How strong could you be? Are you relying on that armor? They have that armor, too."

"Rabbit Yanluo, I know that this group of trash is particularly skilled at deceiving others, and they've deeply ingrained the notion that they're strong and have a powerful background. How about this? Why don't I fight them now? You can see the results for yourself. If they win, I'll hand you the two Yanluo Courts directly. How's that?"

"You intend to challenge them?" the Rabbit Yanluo asked, surprised.

"Indeed. Actions speak louder than words. They claim to have the backing of a divine empire, but they're only a group of ostracized cultivators. Otherwise, why would they have come into the Netherworld Palace with such a small group?"

"Liar! Xiao Nanfeng, you're the one without any backing!" Yin Tianci thundered.

"See? He's worried that I'm going to reveal the truth," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Yin Tianci: ...

Of course he would deny such accusations!

"Rabbit Yanluo, the analysis isn't complicated. Lan Jiguang and his wife have been loyal officials of the divine empire of Dayin, and have guarded the Immortal city of Fengdu loyally for the bulk of their lives. They bear incredible merit. Would an ordinary crown prince of that empire cooperate with you to take down these loyal officials? If word of this were to spread to the capital, there would be an uprising against him. The fact that he dared do all this means that he has no other choice; his reputation is worthless. He's attempting to seize what benefit he can here in the Netherworld Palace, and you've become his target."

"Kill him!" Yin Tianci roared.

"Understood!" The Heaven Immortals prepared to strike down Xiao Nanfeng.

"I'm talking with the Rabbit Yanluo. How dare you interfere? Do you think nothing of the Rabbit Yanluo's reputation? Do you think her subordinates nothing more than props?" Xiao Nanfeng bellowed.

The rabbit-headed humanoids fell silent. They had no interest in being commandeered by Xiao Nanfeng, but it was true that they had to protect their king's dignity and image of strength. They had no choice but to draw their weapons and point them at the Heaven Immortals, forcing them to step back.

The Rabbit Yanluo demanded coolly, "You claim that they're trying to trick me, but why does it feel like you're the trickster instead?"

"In that case, why don't you allow me to fight them, Rabbit Yanluo? You'll be able to determine their strength for yourself. If they can't even beat me, surely they won't be able to assist you. You'd know that they're a group of liars then."

"Rabbit Yanluo, let us take him on!" Yin Tianci gritted his teeth.

The Rabbit Yanluo narrowed her eyes and considered her options. Eventually, she nodded. "Very well. A trial it is."

Xiao Nanfeng's eyes lit up. The first stage of his plan was a success.