บท 9: Carrot and Stick
--- Chapter 8 ---
One year passed after the misunderstanding accident.
Silver Lake City exploded in popularity because Hayate introduced a hot spring with health benefits and a restaurant with foods people in the Blue Wind Empire hadn't seen before.
Kaiju is clearly involved with the hot spring, and new foods in the restaurant were from Hayate's last world.
An artificial volcanic area created by [Terra Turtle]. A peak B-Grade Chimera Kaiju with a gigantic turtle-like body, long swarthy neck, and fiery orange shell with random patterns like tectonic plates.
[Terra Turtle] was created with a C-Grade [Golden-Shelled Turtle] as a base, three C-Grade [Earth-Swallowing Snake], and four D-Grade [Volcanic Salamander] Kaijus.
It possessed exactly one ability, [Infernal Volcanic Domain], which created and controlled a volcanic area within a 400-meter square range.
Even though [Terra Turtle] possessed peak Earth Profound Realm's strength and could probably hold ground against low Sky Profound Realm cultivators. Hayate rarely uses this Kaiju by himself because of its slow mobility.
Hayate summoned the Gigantic Turtle Kaiju and commanded it to bury itself deeply under the ground, creating a volcanic area simply by existing.
[Terra Turtle] has a lazy nature in the first place, so Hayate's command really caused the Kaiju to be overjoyed.
He also told [Terra Turtle] to hide its presence from any powerful being or creature because this continent wasn't ready to witness Kaiju.
--- City Lord's Villa ---
Hayate witnessed a peaceful volcanic mountain a few hundred meters from Silver Lake City and smiled slightly.
He moved his gaze to the crowded City Center and commented, "Well, the progression is gone smoothly."
Hong Guan, who sat near him, giggled and replied, "You're amazing, young master!"
"I don't know you could summon-."
Hong Guan saw Hayate place his finger on the lips and nodded her head a little because it was their secret.
Hayate has reached the 7th stage of Earth Profound Realm and was confident he could defeat Chu Yueli next year. His cultivation grew tremendously in a year, but He had to use many resources to balance [Mystic Art of Body Cultivation and Profound Energy within himself.
Xia Qingyue also visited Silver Lake City with her brother once a month and sent a letter from Chu Yueli a few times, confirming if he was the one who opened all of her disciple's Profound Entrances.
Hayate obviously couldn't lie about this because Xia Qingyue herself is living evidence. He confirmed Chu Yueli's unbelief and made her question even more about who he was for a few months.
He had to pull a fake story on her, where he gained enlightenment from the Astral Teacher and some random bullshit about Heavenly Knowledge.
'It probably wasn't a lie on Heavenly Knowledge, though.' Hayate thought while thinking about [Titleless Medical Book], which contained knowledge beyond this world's standard.
However, Chu Yueli is a prideful woman, and she hasn't visited Silver Lake City by herself, knowing a miracle-performing doctor like Hayate exists. Nonetheless, she did still send several medicines to help him recover faster.
Frozen Cloud Asgard still regards Hayate as an important person because of his medical skill and young age. A few fairies of the sect even visited Silver Lake City sometimes.
Hayate tried to lay his hand on these fairies with his polite act and successfully planted some strings of affection. He treated them like genuine customers and opened some of their Profound Entrances.
He couldn't open all of their Profound Entrances at once because that would limit their visiting time. Since they helped him with information, he couldn't let them go away so effortlessly.
Frozen Cloud Asgard is one of the Four Major Sects within the Blue Wind Empire. It was founded one thousand years ago, located in the Snow Region of Extreme Ice, the extreme north of the Blue Wind Empire.
The sect only took in females, and they all had to remain pure to train the Frozen Cloud Arts, which was a facade because Hayate found out that they actually cultivated vital yin.
In short, a male cultivator could effortlessly learn/inherit Frozen Cloud Arts by simply consuming one's vital yin.
(An: Yes, Seg)
"What a flaw." Hayate understood why Frozen Cloud Agard declined any male who wanted to enter their sect. "I wonder why they agreed to let Qingyue marry that guy, especially Chu Yueli."
Xia Qingyue and Hayate visited each other for one whole year, forming a relationship like an older brother and younger sister. He always noticed her hesitation when talking about a young man from Xiao Clan.
It's not that difficult for Hayate to find out Xia Qingyue was engaged to Xiao Che, a disabled guy who couldn't cultivate Profound Way because he has broken Profound Veins.
When Xia Qingyue was small, Xiao Che's father saved her. Xia Hongyi felt indebted to his sworn brother's deed and promised to let his daughter marry Xiao Che at 16.
Since Hayate knew Xia Qingyue was a soft-hearted girl inside and never disobeyed her parents, she wouldn't oppose her father's will.
"You have to learn how to be a bad girl, Qingyue," Hayate commented with a sigh. Around this age, a teenager usually rebelled a lot against adults after all.
It would be a lie if Hayate couldn't sense Xia Qingyue's genuine feelings because Koyori and Coach Mei were undoubtedly similar to her, but love is such a complicated emotion.
"Young master?" Hong Guan tapped Hayate's shoulder.
"Do you need something?" Hayate asked back.
Hong Guan frowned at him and slowly crossed her arms under her bountiful breasts. "Did you forget about your meeting with Blue Wind Empire's Princess?"
"I thought it was supposed to be tomorrow..." Hayate laughed awkwardly because he usually lost in time.
Hong Guan pressed her forehead and replied, "You said that yesterday... Today is the tomorrow you talked about!"
Hayate shook his head and walked out of the villa, moving slowly to the [Medicine Hall] a few meters away from this place.
As he arrived at the VIP's room for noteworthy customers only, a beauty that could make one's heart tremble entered his vision.
"Welcome, Princess Cang Yue." Hayate greeted her with a smile.
Cang Yue is a beautiful girl with a pair of sparkling eyes, a gaze as soft as water, not containing even the slightest hint of arrogance.
She exudes a noble and graceful aura that amplifies her charm. Her cherry-colored lips have the luster of a smooth seashell. Her elegant eyebrows are crescent-shaped with beautiful pitch-black hair.
"You're the miraculous doctor?" Cang Yue questioned softly.
She didn't expect the rumored doctor to be a handsome young man, but then he could be a cultivator with a high cultivation realm.
"Yes." Hayate smiled and sat in front of her. "Are you surprised by my appearance?"
"Well, that's the most common reaction."
He stared at her calm eyes and commented, "So, what does the princess want from me?"
Cang Yua sighed in relief and slowly explained a few disease symptoms to Hayate.
"Hmm... It's not you who needed the treatment, right?" Hayate frowned slightly because this person had fallen ill for years yet not even recovered after being treated by a famous doctor.
Cang Yue nodded and replied, "Can you heal my father?"
"Wait, the emperor is the one who needed the treatment?!" Hayate couldn't help but be surprised.
Cang Yue sighed and sadly answered, "Yes."
'Heh, to think such a chance appears.' Hayate chuckled excitedly inside.
He put on a thoughtful expression first and watched Cang Yue's worried look.
A few minutes passed quickly, and the princess stared at him with a hopeful gaze.
"Let's clarify something first." Hayate opened his mouth.
"You said Gu Qiuhong treated Cang Wanhe for years, but his condition became worse instead, correct?"
"That's correct." Cang Yue was confused by Hayate's question.
"With those symptoms, the emperor is not sick but rather poisoned, or something disturbed his health," Hayate stated, which caused Cang Yue to mumble in disbelief.
Cang Yue thought about it and responded, "Poison... That can't be. The medical saint is treating father after all."
"Senior Quihong said we need Burning Soul Flower to heal him." She added with a desperate expression.
"I have that herb." Hayate casually answered.
"Eh? Really?" Cang Yue's face brightened, but Hayate laughed at her instead.
"Princess, you're naive." He mocked with a cold tone. "There is no such thing as a medical saint. I've treated a few people who got scammed by Gu Quihong."
"He's a disgusting bastard."
"Don't say something like that! Senior Guihong is..." Cang Yue noticed Hayate's golden eyes shone in dominating green luster.
Hayate sent powerful intimidation to strike Cang Yue's heart and suffocated her greatly. She was shivering violently and trying to fight him back so badly.
However, Hayate's aura was like an enormous wave that could destroy her instantly. Cang Yue slowly raised her head and felt a smack on her cheek.
PAK!
"Wake up to reality, Princess."
"You're here to seek my help, so you either listen to me or ignore it right away."
"I know other princes are fighting for the throne right now," Hayate commented indifferently because the third prince, Cang Shue, opposed his proposal in the past.
He was happy when Cang Ling, the crown prince, was supported by the Xiao Sect, but Cang Shuo firmly was supported by Burning Heaven Clan, which made them around the same water level.
The crown prince's opponent, Cang Shuo, is clearly against everything Hayate planned with Xiao Sect's help, Which is why Hayate doesn't want to let Frozen Cloud Asgard away from his grasp. He needed more backup for his plan.
He tapped his finger on the table and questioned, "Have you ever wondered why none of them worried about the emperor?"
"No, because they wanted him to die!"
Cang Yue was quiet and felt the pressure slowly leave her body. She watched Hayate's annoyed expression and felt awkward talking back.
She wanted to refute Hayate's statement, but all he stated about her royal brothers were true.
Hayate brought a jade case filled with Burning Soul Flower and threw it at Cang Yue, who caught it with a surprised expression.
"Take it. I bet Gu Quihong will tell you some lies about additional medical ingredients to heal your father." Hayate said while thinking about something.
He used the carrot and stick strategy against Cang Yue, which was a risky move. He waited for the princess's reaction and saw her bowing her head slightly.
"I'll ignore your slap..." She whispered calmly, but there was a nervousness in her tone.
"I might be naive..."
"Regardless of that, I'll keep your words in mind."
"Thank you." Cang Yue gratefully said and walked out of the VIP's room.
Hayate watched her with interest and looked at the ceiling, wondering if Cang Yue really was naive. She calmly reacted until someone important was insulted right in front of her face.
Hong Guan entered the VIP's room and said, "That was intense. I thought you actually were about to hit the princess a few more times."
"No, I'm not a savage." Hayate chuckled slightly. "I only want to wake her eyes up."
"Well, she is gonna come here again soon."
"Why are you so sure, young master?" Hong Guan tilted her head.
Hayate shrugged his shoulders and replied, "She's desperate."
A few hours passed, and the sun went down quickly, replaced by a beautiful white moon in the night sky.
Hayate was having dinner with Hong Guan in the villa and saw a maid approaching them in a hurry.
"The princess is at the front door." The maid said with a solemn expression.
"Young master," Hong Guan looked at Hayate and noticed a playful grin appeared on his face.
"No, let's make her wait for a few more hours outside." Hayate continued to eat his dinner.
"It's quite windy tonight, huh."
.
.
.
Hayate drank his tea and observed Cang Yue, who shivered outside because of the cold night wind. She waited at the front door with a resolute look on her pale face.
"Aren't you being too harsh, young master?" Hong Guan glanced at the princess with pity.
"Hong Guan, this is called carrot and stick," Hayate said with a smile on his face.
Cang Yue hadn't eaten anything today, and her body was exhausted after a long journey from Blue Wind Imperial City to Silver Lake City twice. Not to mention the night breeze attacked her body.
Crieek!
The front door opened slowly, and Hayate walked out with a gloomy expression.
"Aih... Why are you being hard on yourself?" Hayate pulled a warm coat and covered Cang Yue's body.
"Please help me..." Cang Yue felt warmth from Hayate's hand. "As you've said before, Senior Gu Quihong added a few more ingredients to heal my father."
Hayate smiled gently and answered, "Why don't you warm yourself inside first?"
"I'll prepare a warm tea for you."
Cang Yue sobbed a little and gratefully said, "T-Thank you."
"It's alright." Hayate brought her inside the villa with a slight grin on his face.
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