Chapter 331: Wan’er, surnamed Ye
A quarter of an hour ago—
Ye Anping and Feng Yudie, emerging from the tavern, seized the opportunity while the attention of passersby was diverted by Su Wan’er parading in the street. They stealthily made their way into a tent at the rear of the platform.
Inside the tent, Liang Zhu cloaked and standing before a long table, presided over a pale-faced corpse. At one side of the table, Su Wan’er, hooded and bound to a chair, hesitated as she cried out,
“Wah! Wah!”
Ignoring Su Wan’er, Ye Anping glanced at Xu Mo lying on the table and inquired, “All set!”
“Yep,” nodded Liang Zhu. Then, glancing at Su Wan’er, he pondered momentarily before remarking, “Though I reckon you’re going overboard. If you want her cooperation, just hold a knife to her throat and threaten her. At worst, I’ll find a practitioner skilled in binding techniques to restrain her.”
Though blindfolded, Su Wan’er could still hear.
Upon hearing Liang Zhu’s words, she cried out even louder,
“Wah!”
Seeing her reaction, Ye Anping felt a bit amused. He had already conspired with Liang Zhu beforehand.
Liang Zhu played the role of the good cop while he played the bad cop, employing a strategy of alternating roles to recruit Su Wan’er for their purposes.
Ye Anping knew well that loyalty obtained through threats could lead to betrayal. Su Wan’er’s mastery of the Star-Escaping Technique and Stealth Arts was arguably the best among cultivators of her level. Regarding the latter, she could effortlessly outpace cultivators even at the Core Formation stage. Such talent needed to be fully utilized.
“Liang, my friend, I don’t like commanding others through threats. Given the massive favor owed to Miss Su from the incident at the Celestial Sect, it’s only right that I repay her.”
“Hmph…”
Liang Zhu looked at him, then affixed the puppet talisman to the back of Xu Mo’s neck. With fingers forming a sword gesture at his chest, he closed his eyes, focused, and shouted,
“Arise!”
With a command, Xu Mo, previously lying on the wooden table, abruptly stood up and awkwardly climbed down from it.
Ye Anping approached, securing Xu Mo’s hands with the immortal rope. He then beckoned two Heavenly Execution disciples waiting outside the tent to escort Xu Mo away. Afterwards, he signaled Feng Yudie, still enjoying her roast chicken. She hurried to the door, cleared her throat, and gave a thumbs-up to indicate her readiness.
At that moment, the civil servant of the Heavenly Execution Court outside shouted, “Shoot the bow!!!” Ye Anping nodded to Liang Zhu and Feng Yudie.
Liang Zhu used the puppet talisman to manipulate Xu Mo’s corpse, causing it to raise its head and open its mouth. Feng Yudie, using her spiritual power to amplify her voice, shouted,
“In the name of Thief Immortal, may your legacy live in Tianxing Mountain!”
Immediately after, a “swish” sound was heard as a golden feather arrow from the Heavenly Execution Court pierced Xu Mo’s body. Liang Zhu controlled the corpse to struggle briefly before lowering its head and retracting his spiritual energy.
Ye Anping approached Su Wan’er, removing the hood from her head and pulling out the gag from her mouth, saying,
“So, Thief Immortal, you’re already dead. All your past crimes are forgiven, and no one will pursue you again. Miss Su, from now on, you can seek out a sect. With your star-picking technique and escape skills, obtaining the position of elder in a second-rate sect shouldn’t be difficult.”
Su Wan’er’s expression was bewildered as she stared blankly at Ye Anping’s face.
She understood the current situation. This Ye fellow had traded the prince’s death for her freedom and cleared all the stolen goods she had acquired.
But what she didn’t understand was…
“Tianxing Mountain! How do you know about Tianxing Mountain? Who told you?”
“Just like how I know you’re Thief Immortal.” Ye Anping shrugged slightly. “It doesn’t matter who told me. There’s no such thing as a secret that can’t be uncovered in this world. Just ask around, and you can always find out.”
“… …”
“The title of Thief Immortal originally came from your master to you, Miss Su. But now, through this incident, it has been passed on from you.”
Ye Anping shrugged slightly, walked behind Su Wan’er, and removed the fairy binding rope from her hands.
“You will no longer be the Thief Immortal from now on. The things you have stolen over the past few decades should be sufficient for your needs. You can settle down and find a peaceful place to leisurely practice and enjoy yourself. You no longer need to frequent the black market.”
There was a hint of apprehension in Su Wan’er’s eyes. Liang Zhu, on the side, also saw shadows of his past self reflected in Su Wan’er’s expression.
Ye Anping had also divulged some information to him in the past that he shouldn’t have known, leading him to suspect that there must be a powerful cultivator behind Ye Anping.
Su Wan’er was likely also suspecting that there was a highly experienced and formidable individual behind Ye Anping. Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to have such thorough knowledge about her, including her origins.
Seeing Su Wan’er’s silence, Ye Anping asked straightforwardly, “Miss Su, I have an important matter that I need your help with. If you agree, the reward will be substantial, and I can ensure your safety.”
Su Wan’er pursed her lips and asked, “What if I refuse to help? Will you impose restrictions on me? Threaten me with a sword?”
“Of course not,” Ye Anping shook his head. “I have already released you now. Once the spectators observing the execution outside have left, Miss Su, you can leave Tianan City without any interference.”
“Really!” Su Wan’er questioned.
“Indeed. Moreover, with your skills, if you wished to escape, you could have vanished from our sight the moment I untied the immortal binding rope.”
Seeing Su Wan’er frown and remain silent, Ye Anping ceased speaking and bowed respectfully. “Miss Su, take your time to consider. If you’re willing to join me, you can always find me. If not, you’re free to leave. That’s all I have to say. Senior Sister Feng, let’s head back.”
After saying that, he turned and walked out of the tent with Feng Yudie, descended from the execution platform, and strolled back towards the Western District.
After Ye Anping left, Su Wan’er glanced hesitantly at Liang Zhu beside her as if she wanted to ask something but couldn’t bring herself to say it.
Seeing her expression, Liang Zhu shook his head and retrieved a broken waist badge from his storage bag, saying,
“As you suspected, Miss Su, I was once involved in the black market. The Seven Killing Sect in the Western Domain, you must have heard of it.”
“The one that incurred the wrath of the Xuanxing Sect and was annihilated!”
“Yes,” Liang Zhu shrugged slightly. “I managed to escape. With nowhere else to go, I reluctantly followed Young Master Ye to the Hundred Lotus Sect. Life has been decent since then. Miss Su, consider it for yourself. And take this…”
With that, Liang Zhu flicked his finger and retrieved a jade token from his storage bag, tossing it into Su Wan’er’s hand.
Su Wan’er accepted it and examined it. One side of the jade token bore the double lotus totem of the Hundred Lotus Sect, while the other side was inscribed with the name “Ye Wan’er.”1
She looked puzzled and asked, “What’s this?”
“Young Master Ye gave it to me yesterday, but he had it prepared half a year ago,” Liang Zhu explained. “If you agree, this will be your identification from now on. If not, just destroy it and bid farewell.”
Su Wan’er stared at the jade token in her hand, astonished. “Prepared half a year ago!”
Did Young Master Ye anticipate this day half a year ago?
It was terrifying…
Su Wan’er bit her lip, recalling the conversations between Ye Anping and Liang Zhu in the alchemy room, and gradually decided.
Huff—huff—
At this moment, outside the tent, a disciple from the Heavenly Justice Sect reached out and pulled back the curtain, saying,
“Miss Su, Mr. Liang has arranged accommodations for you. Let me escort you…”
His words came to a sudden halt halfway through. The Heavenly Justice Sect disciple had been standing guard outside the tent. He saw Ye Anping, Feng Yudie, and Liang Zhu emerge, but upon entering, they found the tent empty except for a few tables and chairs.
“Hmm! Where did everyone go?”
…
