Chapter 139: Refusing to Trade Because It’s Not Worth It
This novel is translated and hosted only on BCatranslation
Yao Wuji’s frustration was palpable. She had been so close to securing the Purifying Lotus, but at the last moment, her Red Spider hesitated, allowing someone else to snatch the treasure. The defeat stung, and her anger burned brightly in her eyes.
On the other side, Mo Ci, Ji Han Zhou, and their companions stood tall, their expressions stern as they faced the opposing group. Led by Yu Zhao, they had barely exerted themselves in the previous battle, leaving them in top condition. Their eyes were cold and resolute, ready for whatever might come next.
The air between the two groups crackled with tension, like a storm on the verge of breaking.
“Hey, how about I trade those two for the Purifying Lotus?” Yao Wuji suddenly broke the silence, her voice sharp and cutting.
All eyes turned to her, and for a moment, the two figures huddled in the corner, almost forgotten in the chaos, were brought back into focus.
Fang Cheng Lang’s heart sank as Yao Wuji proposed trading him and his brother for the lotus. His face flushed with a mix of shame and anger.
“Little Six, don’t—”
“No trade.”
Fang Cheng Lang and Yu Zhao spoke at the same time, their voices slicing through the tension.
Fang Cheng Lang stared at Yu Zhao, a mix of shock and a flicker of hurt crossing his face. He didn’t want Yu Zhao to accept Yao Wuji’s offer, but her outright refusal still cut deep.
Yao Wuji was taken aback. “Why not? Don’t you know them?”
She had fully expected Yu Zhao to take the deal.
“I won’t trade because it’s not worth it. Who would make a losing deal?” Yu Zhao replied, her lips curling into a slight, almost mocking smile.
Fang Cheng Lang felt as if the ground had been pulled out from under him. The strength drained from his body, and his once proud posture wilted as a dim light settled in his eyes.
Yao Wuji glanced at Fang Cheng Lang before turning back to Yu Zhao, trying to negotiate further. “I don’t need the whole lotus. Just give me half of the lotus seeds.”
“No trade.”
“Three seeds… no, two. Two lotus seeds. That’s fair—one person for one seed.”
Yao Wuji, known for her dealings with poisonous insects, had a keen interest in various toxins. The lotus seeds from the Purifying Lotus were renowned for their powerful antidotal properties. If she were confident in overpowering Yu Zhao, she would have taken the entire lotus by force.
The others, who were unaware of the connections between Yu Zhao, Fang Cheng Lang, and Cui Jue, watched closely, curious to see if Yu Zhao would agree.
But Yu Zhao only repeated, “No trade.”
Yao Wuji’s temper flared, her eyes narrowing. “You never intended to trade with me, did you? You were just playing with me!”
The Red Spider beneath her tensed, its long legs lowering as if preparing to strike, ready to deliver a fatal bite to Yu Zhao.
“I’m willing to trade with you, but it has to be for something valuable—like the poisons you carry, not them,” Yu Zhao responded calmly, her tone measured. She had a simple plan. She would be visiting the Green Wood Sect soon and needed access to their alchemy rooms. Arriving with valuable gifts would demonstrate her sincerity.
Given Yao Wuji’s expertise in poisons, Yu Zhao was certain she possessed some exceptional toxins that could impress the alchemists at the Green Wood Sect.
After a moment of consideration, Yao Wuji nodded. The poisons she carried were painstakingly extracted from various venomous creatures, a process that was both time-consuming and labor-intensive. Still, with her experience, it wasn’t too much trouble. Trading them for the lotus seeds seemed fair.
Once the agreement was reached, Yao Wuji’s demeanor shifted. She directed her ire at the others, her fingers gliding menacingly over the Red Spider’s crystalline back. “The Purifying Lotus is ours. Leave now, or else…”
Her threat was clear; no further explanation was needed.
Despite their frustration, the others recognized that the situation was no longer in their favor. Reluctantly, they retreated.
As soon as they were gone, Yu Zhao and Yao Wuji began discussing the details of the lotus seed trade. Meanwhile, Ji Han Zhou confidently approached the corpse of the demonic beast that had accompanied them, eager to start dissecting it.
The female cultivators from the Hundred Flowers Valley noticed that Yu Zhao and Ji Han Zhou were busy, so they took it upon themselves to clean up the battlefield, tidying up with practiced efficiency.
As the scent of burning incense lingered in the air, Yao Wuji stared at the three lotus seeds in her palm. They had cost her dearly, and she shot Yu Zhao a resentful glare. “You’re a sly merchant.”
Yu Zhao wasn’t bothered in the slightest. The deal had been quite profitable for her.
Ji Han Zhou and Mo Ci approached her, signaling that everything needing handling had been taken care of.
Yu Zhao nodded to Yao Wuji before turning to leave with Ji Han Zhou and Mo Ci. But before she could take a step, Yao Wuji called out to her.
“My name is Yao Wuji. What’s yours?”
Yu Zhao paused, then answered, “Yu Zhao.”
Yao Wuji continued, “Will you be attending the Cultivation World’s Great Competition in a year?”
“I will,” Yu Zhao replied.
“Good. I’ll see you at the tournament.” Yao Wuji smirked and patted her Red Spider before walking away with a flourish.
Moments later, her voice echoed from afar, “Since you don’t want those two, I’ll leave them to their fate.”
Yu Zhao watched Yao Wuji’s retreating figure, a puzzled expression crossing her face.
From their brief interaction, Yu Zhao was certain Yao Wuji was a top contender for the Cultivation World’s Great Competition. Yet in her past life, she had never heard of Yao Wuji. Could something have happened later that prevented Yao Wuji from participating in the tournament? Would she still get the chance to meet her in a year?
“Senior Sister Yu Zhao, those two are injured. Should we…” Ji Han Zhou’s voice trailed off as he looked at the disheveled figures of Fang Cheng Lang and Cui Jue. As a fellow sword cultivator, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of kinship and pity for them.
Yu Zhao responded indifferently, “You can do whatever you like, but make it quick. We still need to collect the Celestial Orchid.”
Just because Yu Zhao didn’t want to associate with Fang Cheng Lang and Cui Jue didn’t mean she would stop Ji Han Zhou from helping them. Ji Han Zhou was his own person and shouldn’t be swayed by her decisions.
This novel is translated and hosted only on BCatranslation
“Understood.” Ji Han Zhou, pleased that Yu Zhao didn’t oppose his decision, quickly ran over to Fang Cheng Lang and Cui Jue. He began clearing the spider silk from their bodies and checking their conditions.
“Thank you,” Fang Cheng Lang rasped, a faint glimmer of hope returning to his eyes. He saw clearly that Ji Han Zhou was a companion under Yu Zhao’s protection. Did this mean that, despite her cold exterior, Yu Zhao still cared for them deep down?
As Ji Han Zhou examined Cui Jue, he was startled by what he found. Cui Jue’s condition was dire—completely unresponsive to the outside world, like a lifeless shell.
“Out here, we’re all friends. No need for thanks. You’ve both been poisoned. I have some antidote pills that can temporarily suppress the toxins, but to fully cleanse them, you’ll need to find another way. I can’t help with that,” Ji Han Zhou said, retrieving a few antidote pills from a bottle and handing them to Fang Cheng Lang with a hint of pity in his eyes.
The antidote pills would only work on Fang Cheng Lang. As for Cui Jue…
In Ji Han Zhou’s eyes, Cui Jue was as good as dead. Even if they managed to save him, he would be severely weakened, with injuries that might never fully heal.