"There is no good banquet for no reason!"
Xu Liuqing stared at the teacup in his hand and shook his head slightly.
Anyone could see that the purpose of those gentlemen in the county yamen was definitely not as simple as holding a banquet.
If the deal was settled, it would naturally be a good banquet with fine wine and food. If it wasn't, it would probably turn into a Hongmen banquet.
Ji Yuan was certain that if Qian Ni Chang refused to back down and yield satisfactory benefits, these people would indeed dare to make a move.
After all, Qian Yu City was in chaos, and it had been completely sealed off. If the head of the Qian family met with an accident, they could blame it all on the mountain and swamp rogue cultivators.
He even suspected that these people chose to act at this moment not only because opportunities were dwindling but also because Elder Chen had left Qian Ni Chang's side.
At this critical juncture, Elder Chen suddenly disappeared from the city. Who knew what he was doing, but no matter what, it was not good for them.
However, Elder Chen, a third-realm martial artist, disappearing was not entirely bad. At least it gave the various forces in the county yamen the courage to directly flip the table.
With only Qian Ni Chang, a second-realm cultivator, if they were determined to make a move, even with one or two more helpers of the same realm, it would be useless.
Thinking of this, Ji Yuan also realized that at the banquet tonight, the other party probably never intended to talk openly. Instead, from the very beginning, their intention was to seize the opportunity to cause trouble.
"I'm afraid these people never intended for the patron to leave safely."
He snorted coldly, having guessed what those people were thinking.
It wasn't just him. Everyone in the room had thought of this, their faces growing more somber and serious.
However, this was not some conspiracy or trickery, but a real, open scheme. Even though they knew it was a bad banquet, they had no choice but to brace themselves and attend.
The other party's actions clearly showed that if they didn't come, they would completely tear down the facade. They might not gain any benefits, but Qian Ni Chang would also suffer a complete loss.
But if they really went, they might not be able to escape safely, emerging horizontally instead of vertically.
"I heard that wanted mountain and swamp rogue cultivators are causing trouble in the nearby towns, and Master Xu has already rushed over early."
Qian Ni Chang said with an uncertain expression.
Although this excuse was full of flaws, as a blade-wielder of the Ming Jian Division, even if Xu Lin knew it was a diversionary tactic, he had to investigate it without conclusive evidence.
However, this also meant that there was no one to deter them, making those people even more reckless.
"We definitely have to go. Otherwise, all our previous efforts will be in vain, and the hundreds of thousands of people in the city will suffer misfortune for no reason."
She sighed faintly.
If it were just her own affairs, it would be easy. If she didn't go, she didn't go. If they had the ability, they could come and attack her. Whether they lived or died would be known after a fight.
But the other party was clearly using the lives of hundreds of thousands of people as a threat. Once the plague spread uncontrollably, it would not only be one county town but also cities and towns within hundreds of miles that would be severely impacted.
By then, who knew how many people would suffer misfortune for no reason and lose their lives!
Putting aside other things, the lives of these hundreds of thousands of people alone would be a monstrous sin. Even a Golden Core cultivator presiding over an area would not escape being burned to ashes by karma fire.
"Aren't those people afraid of being burned by karma fire?"
As soon as Guo Tao heard about the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, he couldn't help but ask.
However, the few people just shook their heads. Finally, Xu Liuqing spoke in a deep voice, "Given their status, it is not difficult for them to know some secret methods to transfer sin or have others die in their stead."
Doing good is hard, doing evil is easy.
It is not easy to do good, but it is not difficult to do evil.
Let alone the powerful sects, even some mountain and swamp rogue cultivators possessed one or two special secret methods to transfer the incoming sin as much as possible, or to create a fake body to bear the sin.
Since these people dared to use hundreds of thousands of civilians as a bargaining chip for profit, they had naturally made thorough preparations to ensure that the sin that would descend from heaven and earth in the future would not fall on themselves.
At the very least, they could reduce the sin to a manageable level for themselves.
As long as they were not immediately burned by karma fire, there would be countless ways to cleanse themselves of this sin in the future.
"There are thirteen forces in total, plus Li Wenqing from the Prefectural Governor's Office."
Liu Ruyan pondered, "There are five second-realm cultivators in the open, three of whom are martial artists."
As for the first-realm cultivators and martial artists, there were as many as twenty, most of whom were martial artists and only a few were cultivators.
On the other hand, in Ming Xin Xuan, besides the disciples Wu Shan and Feng Xiao Xiao who did not know how to fight, and the old alchemist Cui Long, there were only five first-realm guards.
As for those with second-realm cultivation, there were only Qian Ni Chang and the old woman beside her.
If such a small group of people were to attend the banquet, they would be at a disadvantage if a fight broke out. Moreover, their strength in the dark was definitely not just what was visible on the surface.
After all, they were the representatives of various forces in the prefecture. How could they not arrange sufficient guard power?
"Since Elder Chen has not returned, going there is like a sheep entering a tiger's mouth."
Ji Yuan's expression was also a bit grim at this moment.
Under such circumstances, only by bringing Zhao Yuan Song and the couple Song He could they have a certain chance of leaving the banquet safely tonight.
However, this matter was ultimately unrelated to the three of them, and he could not make decisions for them on his own.
"How about this, I will go with you to the banquet tonight."
He sighed, looking somewhat helpless.
Originally, according to his nature, he would naturally stay far away from such matters and never get involved in any karma.
However, on the one hand, he could not stand by and watch the county town where he had lived for more than ten years be devastated, and hundreds of thousands of people die tragically.
On the other hand, he did not want his patron to be killed so soon after they met.
After all, the benefits promised by the other party had not been received, and the goods worth over a million taels of silver from a transaction a few days ago had not been obtained yet.
Therefore, both in terms of reason and emotion, he could not stand by and watch the other party be in danger.
"You don't have to go."
However, Qian Ni Chang shook her head and said, "I know you are very capable, but this trip tonight is extremely dangerous. You don't need to risk accompanying me."
She looked thoughtful, and after a moment, she added, "Don't worry, even if I don't come back alive tonight, Elder Chen will deliver the items between you and me to you without a single omission."
"..."
Ji Yuan hesitated for a moment. To be honest, he was a little tempted at this moment.
But he still shook his head, indicating that he was determined to accompany her tonight, and it had little to do with that transaction.
The determination in his eyes made Qian Ni Chang, the old woman behind her, and Xu Liuqing sitting beside them stir, and a sense of admiration arose in their hearts.
Only Liu Ruyan and Guo Tao, when no one was looking, couldn't help but twitch their mouths.
Immediately, Ji Yuan got up to bid farewell, claiming he needed to prepare some things, and then went downstairs with Guo Tao, heading straight to the backyard of Ming Xin Xuan.
"Can I borrow that jade pendant that can summon the elder from outside the city for a moment?"
He came to Jiang He and said directly.
Upon hearing this, the latter did not hesitate at all. He directly took out a jade pendant from his embrace and handed it over.
The jade pendant was entirely cyan. There were no excessive patterns on it, only a simple carving. However, as soon as it was held in hand, one could feel an extremely pure spiritual power.
Although this spiritual power was only a trace, it contained a heavy sense of oppression, clearly from a third-realm cultivator.
Even the person who injected this spiritual power into the jade pendant had at least a cultivation at the late stage of the third realm.
"Did you encounter any danger?"
Jiang He asked.
Silently sighing, Ji Yuan looked around to ensure there was no one else and then quietly told them about the matter tonight and its seriousness.
After a long time, everyone's expression became extremely solemn. Liao Qiming hesitated several times, wanting to speak but ultimately suppressing his thoughts.
The reason was none other than that with his current strength, if he really followed, he would not only be unable to help but would even become a burden.
Even Jiang He, after thinking about it, gave up the idea with a helpless expression. Although he was also a first-realm cultivator, his early stage enlightenment cultivation was also of no help.
At tonight's banquet, ordinary late-stage enlightenment cultivators would become mere background figures. Those who could truly play a role would have at least second-realm cultivation.
"If anything feels wrong, you must crush the jade pendant immediately!"
In the end, he could only say this solemnly.
Both publicly and privately, Jiang He did not want Ji Yuan to encounter any danger. He even wished he could summon the third-realm elder from the Nine Xuan Sect who was waiting outside the city at this very moment.
"Don't worry, I won't put myself in danger no matter what."
Ji Yuan laughed heartily.
However, no one present believed this. During the chaos a month ago, he clearly stood at the forefront, rushing towards danger wherever it was.
It was just that the few people could only hope that this time he would 'keep his word'.
"Be careful, you are extremely important to the Nine Xuan Sect!"
Jiang He thought for a moment and added, "You are even more important to us!"
Hearing this, Ji Yuan smiled knowingly and gently punched Jiang He's shoulder.
He suddenly remembered that in a casual conversation before, he learned that the young man in front of him was a few months younger than him.
"Don't worry, don't worry, I will."
He nodded solemnly and after saying two more words, he turned to leave.
However, this time he did not bring anyone with him, going to the county yamen to attend the banquet with Qian Ni Chang alone.
The outcome of this trip was ultimately unpredictable. Even though he had a jade pendant that could summon a third-realm elder from the Nine Xuan Sect, if he crushed it too late, his life would still be in danger.
And the Nine Xuan Sect was still unrelated to this matter. He couldn't summon that elder when nothing had happened.
After all, doing so would be dragging the Nine Xuan Sect into the mire, which went against his principles.
It was just that Ji Yuan did not know that after he got into the carriage and left with Qian Ni Chang and the old woman, someone also left Ming Xin Xuan and rushed to Xuan Tian Guan with all their might.
Although they had only been together for a little over a month, Jiang He understood him to some extent, knowing that he would not easily crush the jade pendant unless it was a matter of life and death, and would not easily involve the Nine Xuan Sect before Xuan Tian Guan had returned.