The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS
Chapter 447 - 259: Reach an Agreement

Chapter 447: Chapter 259: Reach an Agreement

The mountain wind howled, Qing Yu’s words had not come for a long time.

The longer the wait, the better Lu Qifeng’s mood became, at least from this point, it could be seen that Qing Yu actually valued Li Xin or his identity very much.

However, for some reason, Lu Qifeng still felt a hint of unease in his heart.

As time passed, this unease grew increasingly intense.

’Not right, with Qing Yu’s temperament, there wouldn’t be such prolonged hesitation.’ Lu Qifeng decided in his heart, about to speak out to probe.

Just at that moment, a message eagle cried out and soared through the sky.

"Sir, it’s a message eagle from the Six Gates," Teng Rui reported to Lu Qifeng after watching the message eagle.

"I know," Lu Qifeng said, his eyes filled with solemnity as he watched the message eagle.

After the appearance of the message eagle, for some reason, he felt even more uneasy.

"Call it down."

"Yes, sir."

Teng Rui curved his fingers to his lips and whistled. Hearing the whistle, the message eagle immediately flew down and landed on Teng Rui’s outstretched arm.

After removing the small message tube tied to the eagle’s leg, Teng Rui respectfully handed it to Lu Qifeng, saying, "Sir."

"Mhm," Lu Qifeng nodded slightly, took the rolled parchment, and unrolled it to read.

Upon reading it, his face showed no change of expression, but Teng Rui, who was in close proximity, noticed that Lu Qifeng’s hand was tightly clutching the parchment, his veins bulging.

"Divine Constable Lu, after reading this letter, do you still insist on your previous demand?" Qing Yu’s voice arrived belatedly but gave the impression that he was waiting for this very moment.

"Were you waiting for this letter?" Lu Qifeng lifted his head to gaze into the whistling midspace of the mountain wind as if Qing Yu was standing right there.

"Naturally," came a light chuckle in the wind, Qing Yu said, "Without corresponding capital, how could negotiations proceed?"

"Divine Constable Lu, you have made your demands, now I’ll make mine. One for one, exchanging your beloved disciple for my subordinate, fair isn’t it?"

Qing Yu’s proposition traveled with the mountain wind, followed by another silence.

But this time, it was Lu Qifeng who became silent.

"Luo Yan is still within the Daqian Realm, with the power of the Six Gates, digging three feet into the ground wouldn’t be impossible to find Luo Yan," Lu Qifeng said coldly.

After Yuan Jianyi captured Luo Yan, he handed him over to the people of the Azure Dragon Association who came for support.

Thus, the Six Gates couldn’t demand Luo Yan from the Sword Palace. But the Azure Dragon Association had little power in the Northern Zhou and couldn’t hide him for long.

"That is true. The precondition is that I have not sought help from others. They cannot intervene on that side, but providing a safe location is still no problem. Moreover, as our negotiations are happening right now, if we cannot agree, I will use Luo Yan’s life as a companion burial for Li Xin," Qing Yu continued, his tone light yet carrying an ease that was sharper than swords and knives for the current Lu Qifeng. The failure of the plan on that side put his beloved disciple in danger.

Lu Qifeng’s face turned an iron blue again, and he burst with Qi Force, tearing the newly received letter into shreds.

"Even if we exchange Luo Yan for Li Xin, your secret is still in my possession."

His tone remained firm, but this did not change the underlying weakness in Lu Qifeng’s speech. Qing Yu had seized his vulnerability, and he had begun to compromise.

"Keeping a secret will only prolong the peace between us a little longer. Divine Constable Lu, you know as well that this so-called secret no longer poses any real threat to me. Why persist in this entanglement?"

"Again, unless you die, how else can I prevent the spread of this so-called secret? But there is really no need to threaten me with this."

The situation began to reverse, and without realizing it, the initiative in the conversation seemed to fall into Qing Yu’s hands.

"So, what is your choice? Divine Constable Lu, my patience is limited. If you do not give a response within a quarter of an hour, I will send a message to take Luo Yan’s head. I mean what I say."

Compared to the previous Lu Qifeng, Qing Yu now directly set a time limit. After a quarter of an hour, if the negotiation failed or broke down, Luo Yan would die.

Lu Qifeng felt the ruthlessness in Qing Yu’s words.

This was the real Qing Yu, ruthless and decisive.

Lu Qifeng would not doubt Qing Yu’s determination because he knew that there was an eight or nine out of ten chance that the other party was serious.

Even if it was false, Lu Qifeng dared not gamble.

It had to be said, Qing Yu had truly grasped Lu Qifeng’s vulnerability. Having spent time with Luo Yan before, Qing Yu clearly knew the bond between master and disciple. With Luo Yan in hand, the probability of Lu Qifeng agreeing was nearly one hundred percent.

"I agree to your terms." In less than half a quarter of an hour, Lu Qifeng compromised.

"Li Xin is right in this cabin, and I can hand him over to you immediately."

"I don’t want to fall out with you at the moment. You needn’t worry about me going back on my word." In the mountain breeze came Qing Yu’s anticipated voice.

"I hope so."

Lu Qifeng nodded tersely, "Let’s go."

He led the Six Gates members away cleanly, not looking back, appearing to truly give up.

But...

"One li away, Lu Qifeng had vanished from sight; it seemed he chose to lie in wait, following Li Xin to find me, or perhaps..."

A cold glint flashed in Qing Yu’s eyes.

Lu Qifeng obviously harbored ulterior motives, still wanting Qing Yu’s life to solve the problem fundamentally.

On Li Xin’s end, Qing Yu also had a bad feeling.

His figure suddenly became vague and disappeared, as he, using "Harmonizing Light with Dust," entered the open-doored cabin without a sound.

The members of the Azure Dragon Association outside, and Lu Qifeng hiding one li away listening in, did not sense Qing Yu’s traces at all, allowing him to enter the cabin.

Upon entering the cabin, Qing Yu finally saw Li Xin after a long absence.

As Qing Yu had anticipated, Li Xin was at death’s door, barely able to speak, and even opening his eyes was a struggle.

’Indeed...’ Qing Yu had an epiphany. If Li Xin hadn’t sustained such severe injuries, Qing Yu wouldn’t have failed to sense the Qi within the cabin.

True Qi suddenly expanded, Circulating Eight Forces formed a unity, isolating inside from outside. Qing Yu looked at Li Xin, who was on the verge of death, and sighed, "I’m responsible for your plight."

After Six Gates captured Li Xin, how could they not have interrogated him?

Let alone severe torture, Qing Yu deduced that Six Gates must have also used Soul Search to read memories. Li Xin, who hadn’t reached Divine Origin, suffered great mental trauma after the Soul Search, and his mental state was nearly shattered.

Qing Yu took out the Nine Springs Green Blood Jade Leaf Flower from his chest, plucked three Jade Leaves, and directly refined their medicinal powers with a secret technique unique to the Yin Yang Family, then transmitted the True Qi into Li Xin’s body.

The Nine Springs Green Blood Jade Leaf Flower, once fully bloomed with nine leaves, possesses a potency close to bringing the dead back to life. Although there are limitations to this revival, after all, the Nine Springs Green Blood Jade Leaf Flower only has an Evaluation of three and a half stars, it was more than enough to save Li Xin at the Innate Realm.

However, Qing Yu had no way to heal the mental damage.