Chapter 50: The One at Fault Is This World

Clearly, Mo Lin heard the flattery in Xu Jiaren’s words, while the Bear Demon heard the hidden malice within them.

All that talk about thanking Lord Python for saving his life, all that talk about repaying Lord Python’s kindness—

It was nothing more than Xu Jiaren’s attempt to win over Mo Lin.

After all, when Mo Lin had slipped into the Bandit Chief’s bridal chamber back then, he had truly intended to kill Xu Jiaren.

Yet in Xu Jiaren’s mouth, the killing intent Mo Lin once revealed had been quietly concealed beneath his flowery rhetoric, turning instead into a touching tale of a python and a man.

Even Mo Lin faintly felt a sudden illusion: indeed, he did seem to have a “life-saving grace” toward Xu Jiaren, and perhaps they even shared a certain connection.

Even knowing Xu Jiaren was trying to win him over, Mo Lin still found the words quite pleasing.

At the very least, compared to that two-faced Bear Demon, the Lotus with a Handle was far easier to foster goodwill toward.

Of course, mere flattery alone was not enough to make Mo Lin lose himself.

To him, what was more important was Xu Jiaren’s declaration of his identity.

“Chairman Dong Li of the Yongzhou Chamber of Commerce?”

Mo Lin naturally did not know who this so-called Chairman of the Yongzhou Chamber of Commerce was. But if what Xu Jiaren said was true, then cooperation with him would certainly be more reliable than with the Bear Demon.

First, working with the Bear Demon to obtain the Earth Vein Yin Marrow from the Mountain Lord meant they had to take down the swordsman Shi Yi.

Even if Shi Yi was severely wounded after fighting the Mountain Lord, he was still at the Earth-level realm.

Mo Lin could not be sure if Shi Yi had some life-risking trump card.

Second, Mo Lin harbored prejudice toward the Bear Demon.

Even if they did take Shi Yi down, he would still suspect that the Bear Demon would try to play tricks.

Third, even if they offered Shi Yi to the Mountain Lord, there was no certainty the Mountain Lord would reward them with the Earth Vein Yin Marrow.

After all, although Shi Yi and the Mountain Lord had clashed, they did not necessarily bear deep hatred.

No one could say for certain if the Mountain Lord would be willing to hand over such a precious treasure on account of Shi Yi.

Or worse, the Mountain Lord might choose to give a reward, but not the Earth Vein Yin Marrow.

Mo Lin would have no way to object.

And if the Mountain Lord turned out to be cruel, perhaps he would feast on Mo Lin and the Bear Demon together.

If possible, before he possessed enough strength to protect himself, he did not wish to be remembered by the Mountain Lord, Master of the Thousand Mountains.

In contrast, working with Xu Jiaren suited Mo Lin much better.

First, Xu Jiaren gave him a far better impression than the Bear Demon.

Second, the Mountain Lord’s whereabouts were still unknown, while Xu Jiaren had already given a concrete promise.

Third, even if Xu Jiaren regretted his decision after leaving the mountains, Mo Lin would not be in as much danger as he would be facing the Mountain Lord.

After weighing it over, Mo Lin made his choice between Xu Jiaren and the Bear Demon.

The Bear Demon, seeing the situation turning against him, spat disdainfully.

Now that Mo Lin already had the intention to cooperate with Xu Jiaren, the most dangerous one among the three was none other than the Bear Demon himself, the only one not injured.

The Bear Demon stepped back two paces and chuckled:

“Buddha just remembered he hasn’t been back to the Mountain God Temple for a long time. I’m afraid the fruit offerings there must have rotted by now.”

“Buddha wants to go back to the Mountain God Temple and have some fruit, so I’ll take my leave first.”

“You all seem to be chatting quite merrily. Continue your talk. No need to see me off. The mountains and rivers are vast—we’ll meet again another time.”

With that, the Bear Demon picked up the unconscious Second-in-Command and Third-in-Command from the ground and turned to leave.

Mo Lin did not “keep him,” since he planned to find the Bear Demon later anyway.

Once the Bear Demon left, the atmosphere between the two remaining parties turned subtle once more.

Now that the Bear Demon was gone, their common enemy had disappeared.

Would Xu Jiaren’s earlier promise still stand?

Just then, Xu Jiaren took the initiative to walk toward Mo Lin:

“Hehe, I wonder if Lord Python is satisfied with my earlier proposal?”

Seeing Xu Jiaren so tactful, Mo Lin narrowed his eyes in satisfaction. Yet he still asked:

“The Bear Demon is gone. Do you still need to win me over?”

Xu Jiaren shook his head:

“A favor is a favor. I chose to repay Lord Python’s life-saving grace—how could I go back on my word simply because Lord Bear is gone?”

“I wonder, what exactly is it that Lord Python needs?”

Mo Lin calculated for a moment, then decided that revealing part of his needs to Xu Jiaren would not pose much danger. So he said:

“A pound of Earth Vein Yin Marrow.”

Xu Jiaren was surprised upon hearing this:

“Earth Vein Yin Marrow? So that is what Lord Python desires.”

“Though rare, it is not priceless. Once I and Uncle Shi descend the mountain, it will not be long before I can deliver it to you.”

Mo Lin nodded. “Very well.”

After confirming some of the finer details, they agreed to meet here again in one month.

Then Mo Lin turned and left.

With both the Bear Demon and Mo Lin gone, Shi Yi finally relaxed.

He turned to Xu Jiaren:

“Young Master, forgive me. I was late in coming to your rescue. Just now, to conceal your identity, I lied and claimed you were my nephew. Truly, I…”

Xu Jiaren waved his hand:

“Uncle Shi, please don’t say that. I already call you ‘Uncle,’ so naturally I could also be considered your nephew.”

But the rigid Shi Yi clearly did not see it that way.

He knew well that, even as an Earth-level swordsman, Xu Jiaren was far above him, not someone he could presumptuously cling to.

However, Xu Jiaren seemed unconcerned. Instead, his curiosity turned to another matter:

“By the way, Uncle Shi, how did you know I was in the Black Wind Stronghold?”

Shi Yi explained:

“After my battle with the Mountain Lord, my men scattered or were gravely injured. To find you, Young Master, I lingered in the mountains.”

“Just now I heard much commotion here, even a number of people fleeing, shouting things like ‘Pearl is dead.’ So I stopped them to ask about your whereabouts.”

“From their words, I learned that half a month ago someone had been taken by the Chief of the Black Wind Stronghold. From their description, I guessed it was you, Young Master. So I rushed here, only to see that Bear Demon trying to kill you.”

“I was late in coming to your rescue. I beg your forgiveness.”

Xu Jiaren helped Shi Yi up.

He knew Shi Yi’s character well, so he did not dwell on the matter:

“No matter. Since you are here, Uncle Shi, let us descend the mountain quickly. But before that, there is one more thing I need your help with.”

Hearing this, Shi Yi stood, cold light flashing in his eyes.

Having captured some bandits earlier to ask about Xu Jiaren’s whereabouts, he already knew what the Black Wind Stronghold had planned for him.

After all, Xu Jiaren still wore the red wedding robe.

Thinking of how his Young Master, son of Xu Yuan and leader of the Red Turban Army, had almost been violated by a worthless bandit, Shi Yi felt a chill run through his whole body, rage boiling within him.

“Young Master, I understand. The bandits of this Black Wind Stronghold dared abduct you and even plotted vile acts—they deserve death! Allow me to slay them all!”

But Xu Jiaren shook his head:

“No, Uncle Shi. Thanks to the Python Demon’s intrusion and your timely arrival, though I suffered some humiliation, the bandits did not truly abuse me.”

“From what I’ve learned, most of the bandits here were forced into this life because they could not survive in the lowlands.”

“The ones at fault are not them, but the Great Qian Dynasty—this entire world.”

“What our Red Turban Army must do is change this world, this system, from top to bottom.”

“Now that the strongest fighters of the Black Wind Stronghold—the Black Eagle and Pearl—are dead, the stronghold is but an empty shell. Once we descend the mountain, we can have Dong Li send a troop to arrest the bandits.”

“Even though the Great Qian Dynasty is rotten to the core, the blame lies with the rulers and officials, not with the common people or the soldiers. Their guilt is not for us to decide.”