As for whether these two seeds would sprout and bear fruit? He wasn’t particularly worried. The world was vast, but once one reached a certain level, it became small again. Whether it was Wan Wan or Shi Feixuan, the levels they occupied and the things they cared about—Li Daoqiang now had enough leverage to influence. Before long, he would wield even greater influence. Strong enough to make them choose to yield. The only drawback was that it required time. He absolutely couldn’t rush. Otherwise, not to mention affecting their temperament, potential, or cultivation speed, the beings behind them alone wouldn’t be easy to deal with. So he couldn’t rush; he had to take it slow. The real purpose of this deliberate trip to find them was to say those words. To let them know his intentions. To make them understand that no matter what happened, there was still the path of Li Daoqiang open to them. At the same time, it was also to state his stance in advance. He wanted to marry them, but without romance. By lowering their expectations and demands of him early on, he could handle things more easily later. Besides, he was a young, promising, unparalleled powerhouse. He didn’t believe the Yin Gui Sect and the Buddhist Sect wouldn’t be tempted. By doing this, he was actively giving them a chance to court him—in other words, he was practically shouting for them to come and recruit him. He looked forward to the surprises the Yin Gui Sect and the Buddhist Sect would bring him. Of course, such surprises weren’t simple. They usually came wrapped in sugarcoated bullets, like Wang Chongyang inviting him to the Hero Conference at Dasheng Pass. So he had to be careful, just as the great man said. Keep the sugarcoating and eat it, but send the bullet back. Li Daoqiang had already begun mentally simulating what sugarcoated bullets the Buddhist Sect and Yin Gui Sect would use to win him over, and how he could carefully eat the sugarcoating while sending the bullets back.
“Chief.” After walking quietly for a while, Ding Chunqiu spoke up, looking loyal and offering advice. Li Daoqiang, undisturbed by the interruption, glanced at him calmly and gestured for him to continue.
“Chief, I once heard that the last worldly representative of the Cihang Jingzhai was called Bi Xiuxin, and she later married the Evil King Shi Zhixuan. I believe the Chief could emulate Shi Zhixuan—perhaps then Shi Feixuan would willingly marry you,” Ding Chunqiu said, his eyes seemingly gleaming with wisdom, his expression one of utmost loyalty. The others listened intently, their thoughts varied. Some felt envy, jealousy, or disdain; others were unconvinced. But no one dared to interrupt, and a few seriously pondered whether they could derive a better method from this.
“Go on,” Li Daoqiang said with an approving look.
“Yes.” Ding Chunqiu acknowledged respectfully, then said confidently, “Moreover, emulating Shi Zhixuan’s approach could be used to have Wan Wan marry you. Propose a marriage alliance to the Yin Gui Sect—you marry Wan Wan, with the betrothal gift being assistance with some of their affairs. I believe Zhu Yuyan would likely agree. Seeing this, the Cihang Jingzhai, the Yin Gui Sect’s sworn enemy, would surely not remain indifferent. Shi Feixuan might then take the initiative to marry you, preventing you from favoring the Yin Gui Sect.”
“Haha, not bad, not bad. If handled well, it could achieve multiple goals at once,” Li Daoqiang praised. Ding Chunqiu smiled and nodded repeatedly.
“But this method is a bit troublesome,” Li Daoqiang said, his tone shifting calmly. “As long as I’m strong enough, the Yin Gui Sect and Cihang Jingzhai will come to me on their own. Why should I take the initiative to seek Wan Wan’s hand? I’m not in a hurry.” Besides, if that kind of operation went wrong, it would cause plenty of trouble. In truth, Ding Chunqiu’s method was largely similar to what he had in mind, except it added the step of proactively proposing marriage and taking Wan Wan as a wife. But that single step would change many things. In such matters, waiting was better than acting. He would patiently wait for the right moment to come.
Suddenly, Li Daoqiang gave Ding Chunqiu, who had dropped his smile, a deep look. Could this guy be deliberately trying to get me into trouble? It was possible. But... Glancing at the others, he said with a smile, “Though I won’t use this method, your loyalty is commendable. I’ll reward you with a thousand taels of silver.”
“Thank you, Chief!” Ding Chunqiu immediately beamed and bowed. A thousand taels of silver might seem insignificant and useless to him. But without the Xingxiu Sect, he had no money at all. In Black Dragon Stronghold, silver was the best currency. It could buy all the martial arts manuals and elixirs in the stronghold’s martial academy. Some of those manuals and items were things Ding Chunqiu himself coveted. Lately, the reason he could gather people around him again, aside from his own strength, was that he had sold much of his knowledge for silver and used it to pave the way. A thousand taels wasn’t much, but it was Li Daoqiang’s first reward of silver to him—a good start.
“Let’s go. It’s almost time to see this rare Hero Conference,” Li Daoqiang said, changing the subject.
“Yes.” Everyone responded. Those who had other ideas about this matter held their tongues. They were all smart enough to see that Li Daoqiang clearly didn’t want to discuss it further. They’d have to find another opportunity later. As long as their methods were good, they wouldn’t lack rewards.
A few days later. In a remote village south of Dasheng Pass. Li Daoqiang and his group stayed there, as the Hero Conference was about to begin. They couldn’t just head straight to Dasheng Pass; they had to wait in this out-of-the-way place until the day of the conference to go watch. There was another reason as well.
That night, without bringing anyone, Li Daoqiang left the village alone. Over half an hour later, he arrived outside another remote village. In a wooded area. After waiting a while, a figure approached nervously. Seeing Li Daoqiang, he immediately bowed respectfully: “Greetings, Chief!” His face was pale and handsome, with a hint of lechery in his brow—it was Bian Bufu.
“Brother Bian, long time no see. I thought you might have forgotten about Black Dragon Stronghold,” Li Daoqiang said with a smile, though his eyes held no warmth. Only a cold authority, an unyielding presence. Fear gripped Bian Bufu’s heart. Without an order, he dared not straighten up, remaining bent over in awe: “Chief, please understand—I am utterly loyal to you. I never forget that I am a man of Black Dragon Stronghold.”
“Oh, is that so? I’d like to believe you, Brother Bian, but a little guarantee would make me trust you more.” Li Daoqiang chuckled, flicking his finger. Thin ice formed in the air and shot into Bian Bufu’s body before he could react.
“Chief, my loyalty to you is as clear as the sun and moon!” Bian Bufu cried out in terror, swearing like an oath.
“No need to worry, Brother Bian. I believe in your loyalty. That thing just now is called the Life-and-Death Talisman. As for its effects... you’ll find out soon enough,” Li Daoqiang said with a serious smile. Bian Bufu’s face changed again at the mention of the Life-and-Death Talisman. Before he could speak, an unbearable itch and pain surged within him. Then it spread like a flood, unstoppable and fierce.
“Ahhh~!” A scream tore out, his aura flaring uncontrollably, his face twisting in agony. In the next instant, Li Daoqiang reached out and immobilized him completely, saying gently, “Don’t scratch. If you leave marks, it’ll be bad if Chief Zhu finds out.”
“Chief! Ahhh—mercy! Chief, have mercy! Ahhh~!” Bian Bufu’s face was contorted with terror and pain, his skin trembling beneath the surface, his whole body shaking, but he couldn’t move, only screaming in a frenzy.
“Don’t rush. Wait a bit longer. Only by truly experiencing the Life-and-Death Talisman will you know how to act in the future,” Li Daoqiang said calmly, as if it were a trivial matter. Bian Bufu’s screams continued. The unbearable itch and pain, combined with his immobility, made him wish for death. The man before him seemed like a demon.
“Chief, I was wrong, wrong! Chief, spare me—just this once! Ahhh! Spare me!”
“You can scream all you want. The sound is sealed off by me, so go ahead,” Li Daoqiang said with a faint smile.
“I was really wrong, wrong! I have... urgent news to report! Spare me this once... Chief!” Bian Bufu’s veins bulged, blood vessels visible, a terrifying sight. This was one of Li Daoqiang’s minor tweaks—accelerating the Life-and-Death Talisman’s effects. Smiling again, Li Daoqiang said unhurriedly, “You might have heard of this Life-and-Death Talisman. It cycles for eighty-one days, its effects increasing each day, then starting over. Under heaven, no one but me can undo it. Brother Bian, do you remember?”
“I... remember... Ahhh! It itches!”
Li Daoqiang watched silently for a few more breaths, then flicked his finger, sending a force into Bian Bufu’s body and releasing his restraint. Bian Bufu collapsed to the ground, drenched in sweat, his clothes soaked, his face pale as death, his expression dazed.
“Brother Bian, clean yourself up. Don’t let anyone see anything amiss,” Li Daoqiang said lightly. Bian Bufu shuddered, casting a terrified glance at Li Daoqiang before lowering his head, not daring to look again, nodding frantically.
“Is there nothing else you want to say?” Li Daoqiang’s tone grew heavier.
“I have urgent news to report!” Bian Bufu snapped back to reality, speaking rapidly. Swallowing hard, he hurried on: “Recently, the Yin Gui Sect has learned that the Heshi Bi is likely in the Jingnian Temple.” Stealing a glance at Li Daoqiang’s unchanged expression, he continued, “And the Yang Gong Treasury—it contains vast amounts of gold and treasure, along with the legendary Evil Emperor’s Relic.”
“Go into detail,” Li Daoqiang said calmly.
“Yes.” With a respectful nod, Bian Bufu spilled everything he knew. That sensation—he never wanted to experience it again in his life. The man before him... His heart trembled, and he dared not think further.
(Chapter 3, request for subscription. Novel group: [Xingchen Yu Novel Chat Group], newly established. Feel free to join if interested.) ......