Chapter Twenty: Kill Two Birds with One Stone

Chapter 20: Killing Two Birds with One Stone

Lu Qingyun was momentarily stunned by his words. How did things suddenly take such a turn?

Filled with confusion, Lu Qingyun asked, “Lord City Chief, have I offended you? Why do you want to kill me?”

Hearing this, the City Chief waved his hand to halt the actions of his subordinates. His voice deepened as he spoke.

“What did I just ask you? Why did you not answer? You know I am the City Chief, yet you still defy my will—what are your intentions?”

“Since there can be no friendship between us, and it seems impossible for you to serve me, why should I keep you alive?”

The City Chief’s reasoning was not without merit.

Lu Qingyun naturally refused to accept this fate so easily. He responded decisively.

“I don’t even know why you brought me here. What intentions could I possibly have? Do the things they told me really matter to you?”

“Since you know of their existence and have such great power, why didn’t you inquire yourself?”

His words caused the City Chief to pause briefly, then slowly shake his head.

“Young man, you are indeed different from those I have met before. I will give you another chance!”

“Did you acquire something from the auction house yesterday? What did that old man give you?”

Lu Qingyun had suspected danger in this meeting, uncertain of the City Chief’s true motives or what he intended to do. Yet now, the City Chief was preparing to kill him, and seemed to be fully aware of his actions. Naturally, Lu Qingyun was deeply puzzled.

He never expected such a turn of events and his mind raced to find a way out.

In the end, he brought out a small wooden box he had not yet figured out and placed it on the ground before him.

“I studied this box all night and still don’t know what it is. It’s useless to me. If you want it, you can have it.”

The moment Lu Qingyun finished speaking, the system’s prompt sounded again.

[Ding! Worthless Fighter, the box holds great significance!]

But after this, the system offered no further clues.

Lu Qingyun felt even more puzzled. Looking at the box, he smiled faintly and shifted his tone.

“Though this thing is of little use to me, it was hard-earned, so I’m reluctant to give it to you...”

At these words, Lu Qingyun felt a bit embarrassed. He knew this was a strange thing to do, but he had no choice. The blame lay with the unreliable system! It had known he possessed this item long ago—why wait until such a critical moment to reveal it?

Reluctantly, Lu Qingyun retrieved the small box.

The City Chief, watching this, was momentarily at a loss for words.

“You…”

Lu Qingyun smiled awkwardly.

“Heh heh heh…”

This unexpected interlude shifted the atmosphere in the room.

After a brief pause for thought, Lu Qingyun chose to reveal what he knew about the Wind and Cloud Gorge.

“I did meet a mysterious old man there who took me to a palace, and I saw another person as well…”

Apart from that secret, he disclosed nearly everything else. It was necessary to do so; silence would only deepen the tension.

The City Chief furrowed his brows tightly.

“Bring him to the back palace. Prepare a banquet. Treat him well!”

Lu Qingyun’s confusion deepened. He could not understand what was happening. The City Chief’s mood had swung wildly—from threatening to kill him just moments ago, now to hosting a feast in his honor. It all felt surreal.

With no other option, Lu Qingyun followed the supervising military commander to the back palace.

Despite its grand scale, the palace remained dark and oppressive rather than resplendent with gold and jewels as one might expect. It felt more like a den of darkness than a royal residence.

Having just survived a crisis, Lu Qingyun was no longer concerned about further dangers.

He turned to the commander and asked seriously, “What exactly do you want from me? I don’t want to stay here!”

This place exuded endless menace. The deeper he went, the more powerless he felt. This sensation weighed on him, leaving acceptance as his only choice.

The commander wore a black mask, his murderous eyes visible behind it. Then, a chilling voice came from behind the mask.

“I only serve the City Chief. I don’t know his plans, nor do I have the right to. I do whatever he commands. You won’t get any useful information from me.”

“If you have questions, discuss them with the City Chief directly. I know nothing.”

Lu Qingyun could only nod slowly. Such a predicament only heightened his sense of danger.

Soon they entered the palace. Though the aroma of food and wine filled the air, the dark surroundings sapped any enthusiasm.

The commander led him to a table laden with dozens of dishes. Suddenly, over a dozen beautiful women in sheer silk garments appeared, their dazzling clothing starkly contrasting with the gloomy palace.

Music played, and the women began to dance.

Lu Qingyun looked on, thinking, “What’s the difference between this and a king’s court?”

Fine wine, sumptuous food, and dancing beauties—such treatment was rare even in his former life.

He watched the scene in bewilderment, unsure how to proceed.

The system could offer some help, but it did not possess clairvoyance.

Whatever the outcome, he thought, he would rather die fighting than starve to death.

As he prepared to eat and drink, four of the beauties surrounded him, serving dishes and pouring wine. Lu Qingyun allowed himself to relax for the first time in a long while.

Life is short; one must savor every moment.

Whether or not he would reach the pinnacle of power was another matter entirely.

After an indeterminate time, Lu Qingyun was full. Just as he began to feel drowsy, a tall figure entered through the door.

Why was the City Chief arriving now?

Instantly alert, Lu Qingyun forced out the alcohol on his breath but maintained a drunken facade.

As the City Chief entered, the music stopped abruptly, and the women ceased dancing, retreating quietly.

The massive City Chief sat opposite Lu Qingyun, his large eyes fixed intently on him.

“Have you eaten and drunk your fill? But are you looking for something? Is it this?”

The City Chief produced a golden key from his waist. The key was ancient and exquisite, inscribed with mysterious patterns that stirred curiosity about the secrets it guarded.

Lu Qingyun, too, was filled with curiosity. The City Chief seemed to possess mind-reading powers, knowing everything so precisely.

He spoke slowly.

“Yes, I do want this very much, but I don’t know what it’s for or what significance it holds.”

“The Grand Priest of Wind and Cloud Gorge only gave me a hint, and Xu Feng provided some leads…”

Before Lu Qingyun could finish, a familiar figure was brought inside.

Xu Feng?

“Why were you brought here too?”

Xu Feng shook his head slowly.

“I don’t know either…”

He was just as clueless, but upon seeing Lu Qingyun, he seemed to understand the situation better.

The City Chief pointed to the fine food and wine on the table and said slowly.

“This banquet is just to entertain you. Don’t be nervous. I want you to do something for me. Do it well, and you live; fail, and you all die!”

This was no request—it was a threat.

“Why should we help you?”

Lu Qingyun adopted a nonchalant attitude. If this opponent was not formidable, he would rather be killed. Better to live strong than die humiliated!

Xu Feng wanted to persuade him but didn’t know how to start.

They had reached an unspoken understanding—at this point, what else could they do?

What they hadn’t expected was the City Chief’s strength, far beyond their reckoning.

The palace doors opened again, and Wang Pangzi and Han Man were brought inside.

Lu Qingyun had never spoken of the women waiting for him at home. He did not want any leverage against himself—no weaknesses in others’ hands.

He never imagined that Han Man and Wang Pangzi, comrades through life and death, would become his current vulnerabilities.

Still, he had no regrets bringing them along. Everyone must choose their own path; the situation was just unusual.

“Why didn’t you leave?”

They wanted to, but all their movements had been controlled by the City Chief.

Fortunately, neither was injured—a small comfort.

The City Chief grabbed a wine jug and took a long drink.

“Are you ready to help me now?”

Though he sounded like he was negotiating, the pressure behind his words allowed no refusal.

Wang Pangzi and Han Man dared not speak further. Xu Feng stood silently by. Any rash act could bring disaster.

The entire Tianling Sect could face annihilation by a single decision of his.

Lu Qingyun spoke slowly.

“Your power is terrifying. What could we possibly do?”

He knew the City Chief commanded armies and ruled Bixiao City—what was there he could not accomplish?

The City Chief stuffed a huge piece of beef into his mouth, chewing slowly.

“Only those destined can meet them. I have no such destiny, so I know nothing of what they say. But I understand your thoughts better than anyone.”

“Your mighty Martial Soul is truly enviable. If only I had such a powerful Martial Soul…”

Suddenly, the City Chief revealed his Martial Soul: behind him appeared a vivid black fox with nine tails!

Given his massive frame, Lu Qingyun had expected a formidable Martial Soul. A fox seemed almost laughable.

Yet now, it made sense why he could read minds so well.

Lu Qingyun had no other thoughts. Perhaps the task the City Chief wanted was aligned with his own goals.

“What do you want us to do?”

With matters having come to this, Lu Qingyun had little else to say.

The City Chief finished the meat, wiped his mouth roughly with a huge hand, drained the wine jar, and said slowly.

“That fellow is cunning. He made you look for the key, but there are actually two—one gold, one silver. Only by obtaining both can that place be opened.”

“The other key is at the auction house, but I don’t get along with the old man there…”

Lu Qingyun glanced at Xu Feng, who shook his head. They had no idea what was truly going on.

They were clueless about how to proceed.

Lu Qingyun looked seriously at the key in his hand.

“The people there don’t know you have this key. We should use this one to draw out the other key and find a way to get it from the auction house. Am I right?”

The City Chief was surprised, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

“Brave and cunning—excellent!”

“I’ll give you this key, and I’ll prepare the spirit jade for you as well. In three days, I hope you won’t disappoint me!”

“Ha ha ha…”

With that, the City Chief suddenly transformed into a plume of black smoke and vanished.

Only the four of them remained, exchanging glances, unsure how to respond.

Lu Qingyun spoke slowly.

“Brother Xu, in three days, we must get the other key!”

A sly, wicked smile flashed across Lu Qingyun’s eyes.

Xu Feng stared at him wide-eyed, as if a thought had struck him.

“Brother Lu, you don’t intend to…”

Lu Qingyun smiled and nodded.

“What else?”

“Whether or not we succeed, staying here means death. Do you think the City Chief will let us go easily?”

“Killing two birds with one stone—isn’t that better?”