“Two Jars. Not three!”

(Three Jars or I won’t)

Xin Ruo and Ikasa watched an amusing scene of a Fox and a thin girl with dirty brown hair negotiating play out before them.

“Who knew Cai Yi was an actual Whisperer!”

Xin Ruo excitedly murmured in Ikasa’s ears. She was talking about the thin girl, who was supposedly a Beast Whisperer who could talk to mice in the slums.

Ikasa agreed with her and looked on with joy as one more confirmed specialty was added to his budding pool of talents.

Though the two watching were happy, the fox was driving a hard bargain. Despite her best efforts, Cai Yi couldn’t get him to lower his fees for imitating each beast.

The thin girl got up from the ground and patted her hair in place. She conveyed the fox’s last offer to the two.

“It is refusing to go lower than three jars of Energy-infused Water.”

She said, throwing a resentful glance at the fox. This was the first time Ikasa had requested her service and she wanted to leave a good impression. The reward of 10 Gold was another motivating factor.

And yet this stubborn little shit refused to settle for the two Jars limit that Ikasa had given her.

Sensing her gaze, it turned its nose up at her and began to thump its tail on the ground.

Ikasa snorted at the little critter’s antics and patted the young girl’s head.

“You did well, Cai Yi. Follow Uncle Chu for now. He will give you the Cultivation Manual and the promised gold reward.”

Cai Yi’s face lit up. She immediately bowed and expressed her gratitude.

“Thank You, Brother Benefactor!”

Ikasa accepted her bow and then asked, “Can it make replicas now or does it need some time to prepare?”

Cai Yi answered without a delay. The Fox had revealed its skills to get the best price.

“The Fox says as long as you show it the picture, it can imitate the beast.”

Ikasa passed her the pictures of the three beasts and proceeded to explain their abilities as mentioned on the parchment.

“Can you get it ready in the next few hours? We need to leave before the Moon shines in the sky.”

Cai Yi looked at the setting sun and accepted this heavy responsibility. Ikasa smiled at her and turned to leave with Xin Ruo.

‘Thus, the Operation Nightmare is set in place.’

The young man thought with a smirk on his face.

__

Snore!

In one of the large rooms of the Herb Garden, the team from City Guards were resting after a long day of grueling practice under Feng Yan. Their three commanders were also bunking together with the troops.

“Ungh!”

Vice commander Zhou groaned as something tickled his nose. He swatted at air and changed sides to continue sleeping.

A few seconds later, he felt something soft slide on his ear. The strange sensation awakened him. His eyelids flew open and he searched for the offender in the dark of the night.

As he scanned the room, his body became alert due to an unusual chill in the air. And there in one of the corners, he saw the silhouette of the One-Eyed Chimp!

“Attack! We are under attack!”

His loud yell woke up his sleeping comrades. They had no time to light up torches before the Shadow Chimp began to attack them.

They spent a few seconds in panic, gathering their wits. At the end, their training from the City Guards and Feng Yan kicked in.

“Focus on the eyes! Don’t keep looking at its gruesome face!”

Someone, probably Commander Lu Shao shouted, getting everyone’s attention. In the dark of the night, the shadow chimp moved unrestricted among the guards.

It scratched, punched and kicked but not a single attack caused a grievous wound. Attacks aimed at the Chimp mostly missed as the Guards couldn’t find it.

Except for Lu Shao, the only Sense Realm cultivator, others could only see it when it moved near the moonlit windows.

At last someone managed to light a torch. The Flames lit up the room and to everyone’s surprise there was no Chimp in the room. They were in arms against nothing!

Vice Commander Zhou and others scratched their heads. Only Commander Lu had an inkling of what might’ve happened. Still he kept quiet when he saw how much this sudden attack helped glue the team together.

In the building opposite to where the guards were housed, Cai Yi opened a jar of Energy infused water for the Fox to drink from. Feng Yan smilingly added, “Well Done the two of you.”

Herb Garden was not the only place awake in the moonlit Birch City.

On the Northwestern side of the City, a tunnel slid open and a buxom figure covered in black emerged from it. She made her way to the Villa that formerly belonged to the Xue Family.

Sneaking into the study, she found a paper and quill and started to jot down the latest events, fresh in her memories.

“An Expert has arrived at the Monstrous Flame Sect….”

Her mind wandered to the scene she had seen hours ago as she wrote down her words.

At the main entrance of this small sect, every elder and Sect Master awaited the arrival of their guest. Their bright red robes distinguished them in the sea of dark brown color.

In her short stay at the Sect, she had never had a glimpse of an Elder or the Sect Master. And here they were, gathered together to welcome a guest.

And then she saw the unbelievable sight. A human had floated down from the air. She saw his soles emitting fire as he touched the ground.

The jet blue flames contrasted against the dark night sky. She pinched herself to make sure she was not seeing things.

And no, it was not her imagination! His feet were indeed on fire as the ground was left scorched after he landed. The disciples gathered at the entrance gasped in shock and surprise.

If not for the Elders’ eyes trained on them, they would’ve started pointing and whispering.

After that incredible feat, Yin Ying expected the surprises to be over. However, the night of amazement had just begun.

When the man with graying hair and full white beard arrived before the dignitaries of the sect, they got on their knees and kowtowed to the Expert!

These were the supremos of this City, who never lowered their head to anyone. And they were on their knees, kowtowing to this figure.

Yin Ying understood how big of a deal this person’s arrival in Birch city was.

She moved closer through the horde of disciples and blended in with them. Once close enough, she tried her best to listen to the conversation between the respected guest and the Sect Master.

“…. I didn’t expect they would trouble you, Path Finder. I hope it has not delayed your breakthrough to the Chakra Opening realm.”

Sect Master humbly spoke, his actions reverent of this White bearded man.

‘Path Finder? He is a Chakra Sensing Realm Expert!’

Yin Ying hastily covered her gasping mouth as her eyes widened in shock. She was so astonished by this revelation that she almost missed the guest’s reply.

“My breakthrough can wait. This is the first time the Secular world has a chance to reemerge. Nothing must go wrong!”

The two entered the hall, leaving behind the disciples who were still awestruck by the heaven defying entrance of the Expert. The Fourth Elder stayed behind and dispersed the young men and women.

Yin Ying left the premises, looking at the closed door with longing. The hall they entered was the most secure one in the entire sect’s premises. There was no way for her to eavesdrop.

At this moment her man in the Monstrous Flame Sect arrived by her side. In a hushed tone he whispered, “Do you believe me now?”

Once they were a fair distance away from other disciples, she subtly nodded.

“The guest is someone from the Tier 1 City as I told you before. No one in this City can challenge him. Yin Ying, leave those guys and join this Sect. This Sect is the future!”

Zheng Fan persuaded, his eyes earnest as he held her arms and looked into her eyes.

Yin Ying knew the truth behind his words. She was tempted to say yes. But she had people who trusted her out there. Zheng Fan might’ve forgotten the bonds, she had not.

As the moments passed, the look of persuasion in his eyes changed to that of desire and possession. She knew she couldn’t make him wait for long. Saying ‘No’ and antagonizing him was out of the question when she was at his mercy in this hostile environment.

‘This Sect is the most dangerous entity with the least surveillance. If Ikasa and my men are to be safe, I need to be the one to take this risk.’

With a heavy heart, she came to a decision.

“Let me make a last report today and when I come back, I will join the Monstrous Flame Sect!”

She blinked her eyes as she was reminded of her current loactaion.

Remembering this promise, a lone tear drop rolled down her cheek and fell on the paper. It was not absorbed by her mask because for the first time, she stood in the study without it.

She had developed enough trust to expose her face to Ikasa…. And yet no one but the moon saw her face.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep