Chapter 84: Chapter 84: This Might Not Be Appropriate Now! (Four Updates)
Dafang Mansion.
Xiaonanyu Mountain Stream.
The disciples of the Nine Heavens Alliance searched relentlessly within the stream, not daring to miss an inch or a speck.
Cui Shengshu gazed upon the tranquil beauty of the mountain stream, a sense of worry in his heart. If nothing is found, this trip will have been in vain. To be toyed with by a junior—if word got out, I, Cui Shengshu, would be utterly humiliated.
Cui Wenzheng searched amidst the crowd, his expression far more urgent than anyone else’s.
After all, this was one of the Nine Dragon Keys; finding it would bring the Nine Heavens Alliance one step closer to the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure. With the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure ahead, who wouldn’t wish to obtain it? The elusive Nine Dragons Secret Treasure, without a trace for three hundred years, has finally revealed itself in our era. Who would want to miss this opportunity?
"Found it!"
From above the mountain stream, a Disciple exclaimed, holding up a Long Saber with a mysteriously purple blade, slender and elegant.
No one knew what material the Long Saber was made of. In fact, no one knew what exactly the Nine Dragon Keys were crafted from. But if the Nine Dragon Keys were separated, they were each a weapon unparalleled in the world. Whoever held one in hand would surely become famous.
Cui Wenzheng, hearing the cry, leaped up at once, utilizing his lightness skill to jump beside the Disciple and snatched the Purple Dragon Long Blade to examine it.
The bewitching purple of the Blade made him shiver uncontrollably. The handle’s patterns, resembling dragon scales, felt bone-chillingly cold to the touch. The Blade emitted a frosty aura that inspired fear.
Cui Shengshu also arrived on the scene and took the Purple Dragon Long Blade from Cui Wenzheng’s hands to inspect it.
There is no mistake! I am the owner of the Red Dragon Sword, the one most qualified to discern its authenticity. This Purple Dragon Long Blade is indeed one of the Nine Dragon Keys we were searching for! Xu Nian did not deceive us. The Purple Dragon Long Blade truly was without a master and was indeed within this very mountain stream.
"Father, we now have two of the Nine Dragon Keys. We can completely ignore that Xu fellow," Cui Wenzheng said from the side. "Why don’t we take care of him and spread the message that the Profound Yellow Sect has one of the Nine Dragon Keys? We can watch from the hill as the tigers fight and then take the opportunity to claim the Black Dragon Dagger in the chaos!"
Now, he was completely blinded by the allure of the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure. Having obtained two of the Nine Dragon Keys, we hold the initiative! Others possessing Nine Dragon Keys will certainly have to choose to cooperate with our Nine Heavens Alliance to find the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure! We already have a significant advantage!
Hearing this, Cui Shengshu shook his head, explaining, "We shouldn’t. We don’t know the whereabouts of the remaining Nine Dragon Keys; do you think they will agree to cooperate? Xu Nian still has his uses. Since he sought our collaboration, we’ll trust him this one time. Let’s leave the Red Dragon Sword with him for now. For us, the Purple Dragon Long Blade also gives our Nine Heavens Alliance great confidence. As for later, we’ll see how he performs. The kid’s not simple. We can kill him after we find the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure. It won’t be too late then."
Upon hearing these words, a malicious glint flashed through Cui Wenzheng’s eyes but disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.
Cui Wenzheng nodded slightly, smiling. "Father means to continue using him?"
"He still has his uses. Let’s head back and discuss further," Cui Shengshu said, adding with a concealed smile, "This time, if all the Nine Dragon Keys come to light, and if the Imperial Court can still sit back and do nothing, then things will truly become interesting."
「Three days later.」
Xu Nian had been fishing within the Nine Heavens Alliance for three days, and he was restless from the idleness.
I have to admit, this feeling of being under house arrest is terrible. Junlin and his team can log off and go clubbing, but what about me? I can only fish here.
Moreover, during these three days, Cui Yuan’er hadn’t shown him a hint of pleasantness, fully adopting the airs of an Eldest Miss.
She acts as if she’s the most important person under heaven, second only to heaven itself. Cui Shengshu really had his work cut out for him, raising a daughter like that.
As Xu Nian sat fishing by the lakeside, Cui Shengshu and his men also returned to the villa.
At this moment, Cui Shengshu’s face was creased with smiles, almost forming wrinkles. The smiles he had shown on this trip far exceeded any from before.
Seeing Xu Nian fishing, Cui Shengshu hurried over and said, "Brother Xu, you are truly a good brother of mine, hahaha..."
Xu Nian was speechless. Heh, so finding a Nine Dragon Key makes me his ’good brother.’ What if you hadn’t found it? I bet you’d be showing a completely different face right now, wouldn’t you?
"It seems Alliance Leader Cui has found it. I congratulate you, Alliance Leader Cui," Xu Nian said, setting down his fishing rod and making a fist-and-palm salute.
"Ah, Brother Xu, you’re too formal. I am a few years older than you; just call me Brother Cui, no need to be so estranged!" Cui Shengshu said with a smile. "Our alliance is definitely working out. I have already obtained the Purple Dragon Long Blade, and I can give you the Red Dragon Sword right now. The rest is up to you, Brother Xu. If there’s a need, just contact my Nine Heavens Alliance."
As he spoke, he took off the Red Dragon Sword from his waist and handed it directly to Xu Nian.
This was what they had previously agreed upon. The Purple Dragon Long Blade was a pledge of allegiance. He also needed to temporarily hand over the Red Dragon Sword to Xu Nian until the matter of the Nine Dragon Keys was settled, after which the Red Dragon Sword would still belong to Cui Shengshu.
Xu Nian didn’t hesitate to take it. After all, I came here for the Red Dragon Sword. Now that Cui Shengshu is proactively offering it, wouldn’t it be a waste of his kindness not to accept?
"We will still need Brother Cui to secretly spread the news," Xu Nian said as he took the Red Dragon Sword. "I will list the names of all the Nine Dragon Keys. Have someone secretly spread the word. At the same time, announce that my Profound Yellow Sect is holding a martial arts conference to join forces with others in the Jianghu to unlock the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure!"
Upon hearing this, Cui Shengshu’s expression slightly changed.
Hold a martial arts conference? Does the Profound Yellow Sect even have the qualifications for that? And with the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure involved, the Imperial Court surely won’t sit idly by; they might even intervene. If the Imperial Court sends troops to suppress this, the whole affair might be over before it even begins!
"Brother Xu, I’m afraid this isn’t appropriate!" Cui Shengshu said, shaking his head. "A martial arts conference must be led by a top Sect. Moreover, if the news gets out, the Imperial Court will also have its eyes on your Profound Yellow Sect."
"It’s that troublesome? Then forget the conference," Xu Nian said, his mouth twitching as he sighed. "Let the news spread first. We need to test the waters and see the reactions of those who possess the Nine Dragon Keys. If anyone traces it back to you, Brother Cui, just tell them I was your source."
I had planned to make a big deal out of this and then fish in troubled waters. Looks like that’s impossible now. If I can’t cause a big stir, then I’ll just have to force the holders of the other Nine Dragon Keys to come to me. As for the one hidden in the Imperial Palace treasury... that one seems like it’ll be the hardest to get my hands on.
Cui Shengshu was more than willing to let someone else take the blame. It was a matter that would draw the attention of both the Jianghu and the Imperial Court, and he didn’t want to get involved. Now that Xu Nian was volunteering to take the fall, he could extricate himself.
Later, I can push all the responsibility onto Xu Nian and just be a hands-off manager. That wouldn’t be bad at all!