บท 24: Negotiations
It was not without reason that Bai Yun decide to introduce himself to the couple. He had no choice. He quickly realized a major flaw in his plan.
Bai Qing was on the seventh stage of qi condensation. It was already at the upper end of what Bai Yun could handle. No matter how much better the techniques he trained in was, it was impossible for him to fight anyone else while he was handling Bai Qing. After all no matter how powerful his battle techniques were, other than the Simple Sword, which did not increase his pure battle power only battle insight, he was not proficient in any other techniques at all. On top of this, all three of his cultivation techniques were ones that focused on building a perfect foundation to improve his strength much later down the road. Finally Bai Qing was a prince, and would definitely not be as stupid as Bai Shan and be much more powerful at the same cultivation state.
Bai Qing would definitely bring some of his followers with him. And his followers would definitely be much stronger than the morons that followed behind Bai Shan. Even if he would leave behind most of them in order to confuse people, he would bring at least a few sixth stage or maybe seventh stage qi condensation cultivators with him. And there would also be that Bai Hao who would be there to guide him. Based on the two in front of him, Bai Hao would be at the seventh stage of qi condensation also.
Even if he could get his hands on the supreme weed fruit while they were fighting the lava spiders Bai Qing's group would definitely come after him. It was easy to ditch the slow lava spiders. His chances of escaping from them successfully was not high. It would only get worse if Bai Qing put someone to be on the lookout. Basically his chances of escaping after stealing the fruit was much lower than he would like.
That was why he was forced to work with these two. If he could get their help in distracting the group after he stole the supreme weed fruit then he could easily escape from their hands and get the fruit. And he was certain that they would be more than happy to help him. After all there were three fruits and each of them could have one. There were no other way for them to get the fruits. Also they could get revenge on Bai Qing.
Of course Bai Yun wasn't simply going to accept them. What was coming was not only a negotiation but also a test. Working with them was only an option. If they proved to not be capable enough then he still had methods to get to the supreme weed fruit. It would just be more troublesome and dangerous. Besides the supreme weed fruit was not only the only thing in his mind.
The moment Bai Yun stepped into the clearing the two of them stood up and drew their weapons at him. Bai Yun smield at them. Of course it was hidden beneath his mask. He even put on a hood for good measure, and to look mysterious. He stood at the edge of the clearing, part of his body hidden by the weeds, so that he could step back and escape if the two of them were to attack him.
"Who are you." The woman asked.
Bai Yun was about to give his name when he stopped and realized that he was in disguise. He smiled. He knew what name to give.
"Call me Bai Long." He replied creating a name out of his past and present names.
"What do you want." The woman asked again.
Bai Yun understood their apprehension. If a stranger suddenly appeared while you were discussing such secrets you would be apprehensive too. Not only that there were stories of people being killed by strangers in the beasts garden recently.
"Don't you want to get the supreme weed fruit. You guys were talking about going there until just now."
The two of them tensed up immediately. The man stepped forward with his sword raised. Bai Yun raised his hands and held them open to show that he meant no harm, chuckled and said, "Hey I mean no harm. If I wanted to hurt you or find out the location of the fruit, I could easily do so, or simply follow you to the cave."
"No." The woman replied after a moment.
" I'm sorry." He asked.
"No we don't want the supreme weed fruit."
"Why not? Weren't you planning to to the cave to get you hands on the fruit."
"We have no desire to get the fruit. The few months of cultivation a supreme weed fruit can help us save is not worth making enemy of a prince." the man replied.
"Then why are you here. You were even thinking about going to the cave. Don't tell me all of that was for nothing."
"We were simply curious."
"Curious huh. Don't tell me your curiosity is bigger than you desire to live. The best thing to do would be to stay in the clan so that Bai Qing would not be able to kill you and you would be able to tell him that you had no desire to compete for the fruit."
The man didn't know what to say. They just stayed there in silence for a moment while Bai Yun waited for their answer. Then the woman replied.
"It's because of hope. Hope that maybe something happens and we can get a chance. There is no reason to do nothing and simply sit back."
Bai Yun grinned internally. This was what he was hoping for. He wanted someone who had the ambition as well as guts, but also had the self awareness to hold back when necessary.
"Then help me get the supreme weed fruits. There are three of them. We can easily split them between us."
"No" the woman replied.
"Just no. Don't you at least want to hear my plan."
"No. First of all you are going after the supreme weed fruit, which means that your cultivation is not higher than ours. Second you proposed splitting the fruit three ways, meaning that you are alone. Third the fact that you came to us means that you are not capable enough to do this on your own. Fourth, we don't know you, so we have no reason to trust you. Fifth the risk of offending a prince is not worth the reward at all for us. Sixth we are not involved in this at all and has no desire to change that." she continued.
Bai Yun chuckled "All excellent points. Except for the last one. You are already involved in this."
The two of them frowned.
"I already know that you know about the fruits location. So does Bai Qing. Even if you don't go to the cave where the fruit is, all I need to do is find Bai Qing and follow him. Then I can get to the fruit, and steal it while he is fighting the lava spiders. And since you are the only people who know the location of the fruit, he will definitely suspect you. You cannot escape this."
The couple started to panic. Of course Bai Yun was bluffing. He had no idea where Bai Qing was. He didn't even know what he looked like. It was impossible for him to find Bai Qing in the following time. But the couple didn't know that. They immediately assumed a battle stance.
Bai Yun chuckled. "If I have confidence in escaping from Bai Qing, I can escape from you two. Give up, you have no chance in stpping me. And as for trust-"
Bai Yun removed his hood. His face covered in a black mask came into view. The two of them were startled.
"Excuse me, but are you the guardian angel that everyone has been talking about." The male asked.
"People have taken to calling me that I suppose." Bai Yun said as he removed his mask. A never before seen face appeared in their view. This was the face Bai Yun had decided to use alongside the name of Bai Long.
"Showing us your face means means nothing. There are simply too many people in the Bai clan. With a face and a name, it is impossible for us to identify you." The man said.
"Maybe, then what about this." Bai Yun asked as he raised his palm. As he focused, a small gash appeared in his hand, and two drops of blood appeared above his palm. A few golden letters could be seen floating in the two drops of blood. "Don't dodge." He said before the two drops of blood propelled towards the couple. After the two drops left his hand he looked a bit pale.
Of course the couple tried to dodge the drops of blood, but Bai Yun used his soul tendrils to curve their trajectory, and the drops of blood entered their foreheads perfectly.
Bai Yun's father in his past life had created a very exhaustive collection of books in his library. He had referenced a great number of cultivation techniques in creating the Way of Harmony. All of these techniques were stored in the library. Not only that he had many disciples and friends who had also stored their techniques in his library. His collection of techniques were probably third only to that of the God of Death as well as the Dragon race.
Just now Bai Yun had taken two god level techniques from his memory and imprinted on the two drops of blood. Usually doing this would be impossible for someone at the first step of cultivation. But Bai Yun was able to use his god sense to write the cultivation techniques into his blood and them send them to others. Only in the higher realms would one be able to communicate with perception.
Of course Bai Yun did not give them complete techniques, but only the part related to the qi step, but even that would be far better than the techniques people in the bottom of the Bai clan was using. He watched as the two of them went through the two techniques.
"Tell me is this enough?" Bai Yun asked
"No. But what it represents is." The woman replied.
"Meaning?"
"This can't be just for the supreme weed fruit. What do you want?"
Bai Yun smiled. He liked talking to intelligent people. It made the whole process easier. "I spend most of my time in cultivation. So I need someone who can tell me of what is happening in the clan, and major events or rumors. And I want loyalty."
The two of them froze for a second. Bai Yun didn't mind that they took their time. He was not afraid that they would betray him. The technique could be considered as payment for the information. If they rejected his offer then it would end there. They had no idea who he was, and they would go their separate ways.
But things would change if they were to accept his deal. He had put a karmic spell in the blood. If they were to betray him later, then they would suffer the retribution of karma. It was the karmic spell that actually drained him.
The woman turned to him finally. With a resolute look on her face she said. "We accept."
Bai Yun smiled. Things had resolved as he hoped.
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