CHAPTER 117: NEGOTIATIONS AMONG 117 PLAYERS

Silver relayed Lin Bai’s message to the Players in the front courtyard through team voice chat after running a few steps.

The Lonely Old Man faltered for a moment, then promptly understood Lin Bai’s intention.

This was Lin Bai’s test for them.

Ultimately, they were still mired in their old gaming habits, resorting to violence at the first sign of trouble. Subconsciously, they still didn’t perceive this as a real world.

A flurry of rapid exchanges filled the team’s voice chat.

Then, before Zhao Yi and the others who had come looking for trouble, the Players, who had been ready for a fight, quickly sheathed their weapons and dispersed.

"What just happened?" Peng Ze from the Medicine King Valley was somewhat puzzled by the sudden change in the Players. "Are they planning to run away?"

"Where could they possibly run?" Daoist Qingming of Return to Dragon View scoffed. "Their only ally is Lin Bai. Once Lin Bai dies, unless they wish to live in the secular world forever, they’ll still have to find a Sect to take them in."

"..." Jiang Qingqin clutched her sword, her mind wandering.

Lin Bai’s words kept echoing in her mind. Ever since she entered the Hundred Flower Valley, she’d been taught that the regulations of the Seven Orthodox Sects were correct and that abiding by them would ensure everyone could live well. But what happened at the Supervisory Immortal Office today left her feeling particularly uncomfortable. Lin Bai had merely established the Beggar Gang and hadn’t done anything to offend the Seven Orthodox Sects, yet their members were now at the Beggar Gang’s doorstep, seemingly hellbent on exterminating him. Just because Lin Bai’s Beggar Gang had intercepted a divinely descended person from ""Basic City""? But from Lin Bai’s perspective, he had done nothing wrong; he didn’t even know the rules of the Seven Orthodox Sects... How were their current actions any different from those of the Evil Sects who robbed divinely descended people? No. There was a difference. Compared to the Evil Sects, Lin Bai was just an individual. His obscure origins from the Righteous Door Sect meant his death would have no major ramifications. But offending the likes of the Blood Shadow Sect could ignite a war between the orthodox and evil factions. Ultimately, it all boiled down to Lin Bai being weak. Moreover, after learning from her that Lin Bai hadn’t achieved Core Formation, Return to Dragon View had deliberately sent a Golden Core practitioner to oversee things. Disgusting!

...

While they were speaking, the Players returned to the front courtyard.

Tables were brought out and arranged in the courtyard, with tea and snacks placed upon them. Banners were erected around the courtyard. Those banners, taken from the carts, were marked with either the character for ’Beggar’ or ’Milk’...

"What are they up to now?" Peng Ze was flabbergasted, watching the Beggar Gang Disciples busily setting out tea and snacks. He couldn’t understand why they had suddenly made such a drastic change.

"They’re just showboating," Zhao Yi frowned.

Daoist Qingming frowned repeatedly, his gaze involuntarily shifting to Jiang Qingqin.

"Elder Qingming, they’ve always been like this." Somehow, as the Beggar Gang began setting out tea and snacks, the worry Jiang Qingqin had felt for Lin Bai suddenly vanished. She said hesitantly, "They were even more outrageous in Jiamucheng."

"High-quality Mu Ming milk! The Beggar Gang welcomes all Immortals for guidance!" Once all preparations were complete, Crispy Rice stepped forward from the crowd, smiling at the five people standing in a row. "I am Crispy Rice, Gang Leader of the Beggar Gang. My apologies for our earlier discourtesy."

"Stop this nonsense! Where’s Lin Bai?" Zhao Yi scowled. "Get him out here."

"Mr. Zhao, Lin, the Storekeeper, is a guest of the Beggar Gang. May I ask why you are looking for him?" Crispy Rice asked with a slight smile, looking at Zhao Yi.

"You..." Zhao Yi began to speak.

Suddenly, one of the Beggar Gang Disciples blurted out, "Enjoy the fine life, brought to you by Mu Ming milk!"

"..." Zhao Yi froze on the spot.

Daoist Qingming and the others were also somewhat baffled.

Only Jiang Qingqin, who had experienced this before, couldn’t help but chuckle. Noticing her teammates’ disapproving glares, she awkwardly explained, "They’ve always been like this. When we encountered the Blood Shadow Sect on the road, they said the same things..."

"Immortal Jiang is correct," Crispy Rice said with a slight smile. "This is our livelihood, so we ask for your understanding, esteemed Immortals. The Beggar Gang has been commissioned by Mu Ming Milk to promote their products. You can ignore them; they won’t interfere with our conversation. It’s getting late, and since you are our guests, why don’t we all sit down and talk?"

"..." Daoist Qingming’s brow twitched a few times. He felt things were spiraling out of his control. In his mind, the tense confrontation just moments ago was how things should be. The easiest and quickest method was to deal with Lin Bai decisively in front of these divinely descended people, demonstrate his capabilities, and then take them to the Supervisory Immortal Office to be divided up.

"Where is Lin Bai?" Zhao Yi asked, his patience wearing thin.

"Try something new to lead tomorrow! Mu Ming Milk reminds you: a glass before bed aids calcium absorption for a good night’s sleep!" Suddenly, another voice boomed with the slogan.

... Zhao Yi tightly gripped the sword in his hand, almost losing his composure and striking the Beggar Gang Disciples shouting slogans. They must be doing this on purpose! Otherwise, why do they interrupt me every time I speak? But ultimately, Zhao Yi refrained from acting. He knew that if he struck them, he would have thoroughly lost. The divinely descended people wouldn’t die, but their impression of him would hit rock bottom. They would probably never choose the Morning Yuan Sword Sect again. Even now, he was utterly disgusted with this group of divinely descended people from Jiamucheng. He had escorted divinely descended people from ""Basic City"" before. While they also said some bizarre things, they were at least respectful—not at all like these detestable ones from Jiamucheng. It must be Lin Bai directing them to do this...

"Immortal Jiang, we’ve traveled quite a way together. Why don’t you take a seat first? Set an example for them!" Crispy Rice glanced at Zhao Yi, then smiled warmly at Jiang Qingqin.

Having no desires makes one strong.

The Players had Lin Bai backing them and weren’t afraid of death. When facing these NPCs, they truly felt fearless and secure.

In their hearts, these NPCs were much easier to deal with than Lin Bai.

When facing Lin Bai, it felt as if he could see through their every move and thought; they were always at a disadvantage.

Crispy Rice didn’t feel that way at all when facing the people from the Seven Orthodox Sects.

This was especially true since he knew the people before him were in a critical phase of competing with the Evil Sects for the divinely descended people, which made him care even less about them.

The team voice chat was their ultimate exploit.

It appeared as though Crispy Rice was dealing with Daoist Qingming and the others alone, but behind the scenes, a whole group of Players was chattering away, brainstorming strategies.

"Okay." Jiang Qingqin hesitated for a moment, then actually nodded. She walked forward two steps and sat on a stool by a tea table, where a Player immediately refilled her cup with hot tea.

...

"She really sat down!"

"Could Jiang Qingqin actually be interested in Lin, the Storekeeper?"

"Perhaps."

"We can’t let our guard down. Continue the soft approach, play dumb, and prevent them from resorting to force."

...

"May I ask your Daoist name?" Crispy Rice naturally turned his gaze to Daoist Qingming and asked with a smile.

"Qing Ming, of Return to Dragon View," Daoist Qingming replied coldly.

"Greetings, Daoist Qingming." Crispy Rice bowed to him again.

Daoist Qingming frowned but returned the salute.

"Lin Bai, come out and face me! Hiding behind these divinely descended people—what kind of skill is that?!" Zhao Yi again used his sword-voice technique, his sharp voice reverberating throughout the Beggar Gang Branch.

"Mu Ming Sour Milk, your sincere companion every day!" Yet again, an advertisement jingle rang out.

Crispy Rice just smiled. His gaze swept past Zhao Yi as he invited Daoist Qingming, "Daoist, I know why you’re here. Let’s sit down and discuss this calmly. I am the Gang Leader of the Beggar Gang. Lin, the Storekeeper, is merely a wandering representative of the Righteous Door Sect.

"Indeed, the Beggar Gang was formed under his guidance, but essentially, we are not affiliated with him. We, the divinely descended people, manage the affairs of the Beggar Gang ourselves.

"Immortal Jiang and the City Lord of Jiamucheng are aware of this. We have always addressed him as Lin, the Storekeeper, while I have always been the Gang Leader.

"If you intend to trouble Lin, the Storekeeper, for supposedly violating the Seven Orthodox Sects’ regulations, I’m afraid that will be difficult to justify. Besides, the Seven Orthodox Sects have no rules stating that divinely descended people cannot establish their own Sects."

"..." Jiang Qingqin’s eyes suddenly brightened.

Daoist Qingming’s expression turned extremely grim in an instant.

Crispy Rice sighed softly. "Daoist Qingming, you are the eldest among them. So, allow me to be frank. The divinely descended people are all interconnected. Our interests may not align, but if you try to force us to join the Seven Orthodox Sects, you will likely face a strong backlash from all divinely descended people. It’s even possible we might collectively join the Evil Sects."