Stranger Danger-Chapter 1303: Ye Qing Says

“Thank you, senior.”

Ye Qing asked after saluting Xiahou Zun, “Why aren’t you chasing after Xuanyuan Kun, senior? It’ll be so much harder to kill him if he manages to escape again.”

“Don’t worry. There’s no way he can escape with Lingxiao and Longbrow on his tail.”

Xiahou Zun said confidently, “Besides, he never recovered from his previous injuries in the first place, and we dealt him another grievous blow today. There’s no way he could do anything even if he somehow manages to slip away.”

“It’s the same for that Ghost Taisui, so don’t worry.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Ye Qing let out a sigh of relief before thanking him, “Thank you again. Please convey my thanks to the other seniors as well.”

“Why are you thanking us? We’re the ones who should be thanking you. If not for you, we would never learn that Xuanyuan Kun is still alive, much less in cahoots with that old bastard, Ghost Taisui.”

Xiahou Zun said honestly, “The consequences would have been unimaginable if Xuanyuan Kun manages to regain his strength. So, thank you.”

Li Qingping, Mei Qihe, Yuan Zhantian and Bai Huaxian looked surprised. Unless their ears were playing tricks on them, Xiahou Zun was saying that Ye Qing was the reason Ghost Taisui and the mysterious celestial was found out.

Xiahou Zun asked curiously, “Say, how did you know that Xuanyuan Kun was still alive, and that he would definitely show up today?”

That’s right. Ye Qing was the one who arranged for the Sages to show up. If he was the go player, then they, despite being Sages, were at best his go pieces.

Not long ago, he had suddenly received a letter from Ye Qing. It stated that Xuayuan Kun was still alive, and that Ghost Taisui was the one who saved him. It also stated that Xuanyuan Kun would definitely appear during the heroes’ arena at East Radiance Mountain, so he should head there, ambush Xuanyuan Kun, and end him once and for all.

Xiahou Zun wasn’t sure if he should believe Ye Qing, but Xuanyuan Kun was important enough that they should take action even if turned out to be a mistake. After all, if Ye Qing was right, then they would surely regret their inaction down the line.

Xiahou Zun did not think that Ye Qing was playing a trick on him. The young man would have to be suicidal to risk the wrath of a Sage as a Great Grandmaster.

Xiahou Zun wasn’t arrogant enough to think that he could end Xuanyuan Kun alone, so he informed Wan Lingxiao and Long-browed Divine Monk about the matter as well.

In the end, he was proven right, though the majority of the merit went to Ye Qing, of course.

There was one thing he couldn’t figure out though. Just how did Ye Qing figure out that Xuanyuan Kun was still alive, and that he had been rescued by Ghost Taisui? And how was he so sure that Xuanyuan Kun would definitely appear at East Radiance Mountain?

After all, if even they Sages did not realize that Xuanyuan Kun was still alive, how did Ye Qing, a mere Great Grandmaster, manage to find out?

“It was a guess, though not a baseless one.”

Ye Qing wasn’t stupid enough to divulge the whole truth and tell Xiahou Zun about the “Records of Laojun Studying The Dao On A Bull”, of course. Instead, he gave Xiahou Zun the explanation he had thought up a while ago, “You’ve heard of the ambush Taisui Mountain had prepared for me, right? While fighting against the Three Elders of Taisui, I found out by accident that Ghost Taisui had seemingly obtained the guidance of a mysterious celestial and recovered his strength. Not only that, his lifespan has dramatically increased as well.”

“As you know, Ghost Taisui was severely injured back at the Kunlun Ruins. This junior just couldn’t figure out how he was able to recover his strength in such a short time, much less become young again. When I wondered about this ‘mysterious celestial’’s identity, that is the moment that I realized that Xuanyuan Kun might still be alive.”

“Besides that, the Three Elders of Taisui Mountain had repeatedly mentioned that I am to be captured alive. Clearly, the Earthly Sovereign Bell isn’t their only target. I, myself, am their target as well. That is the moment I became certain that Xuanyuan Kun was alive.”

“What do you mean?” Xiahou Zun was becoming invested in the story.

“You do not know this, senior, but this junior obtained the Earthly Sovereign’s inheritance and became physically powerful all thanks to the Earthly Sovereign Bell. Back at the Kunlun Ruins, Xuanyuan Kun had expressed unusual interest in the Earthly Sovereign Bell and my physical body. In short, he wanted to capture me alive because he desires to possess me.”

Ye Qing continued his story of half-truths and lies after a brief pause, “Since Xuanyuan Kun desires to possess me, there is no way he would allow me to be killed by others. Therefore, I was certain that he would show up at the East Radiance Mountain not just because he wants to prevent others from killing me, but also because this is his best chance to capture me.”

“I see! No wonder he chased after you like a hound back at the Kunlun Ruins.”

Xiahou Zun accepted Ye Qing’s story and said, “Xuanyuan Kun is an old fox who had lived for over a millennium, and to think that he got tricked by a boy like you! Haha! It’s a pitiful fate even from my perspective.”

Ye Qing replied modestly, “I just got lucky.”

“Lucky? Luck is also a form of power.”

Xiahou Zun eyed Ye Qing with a smile that didn’t quite reach the eye. “Besides, you are a cunning fox yourself. You dared to use even us, after all. Xuanyuan Kun’s downfall is not undeserved.”

“I am innocent, senior! There is no one more honest and trustworthy than this junior! Do you know what they call me in the jianghu? The ‘Honest and Trustworthy Gentleman’ or the ‘Manly Man Who Values Bonds and Belittles Threats’! How can I be a fox?”

Ye Qing said while putting on the act of an honest, down-to-earth junior. “More importantly, I have definitely, absolutely, never thought of using you, senior!”

“‘Honest and Trustworthy Gentleman’? If these adjectives are alive, they would be crying in outrage right now,” Xiahou Zun said tauntingly. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re scheming, boy.”

“You woe me, senior!” Ye Qing put a hand to his heart.

“Did I? Allow me to make my case then.”

Xiahou Zun began his explanation while wearing a playful look on his face. “You set up this heroes’ arena and challenged the whole world not because you went insane, but because you were planning to kill four birds with one stone, weren’t you?”

“One, you wish to show off your strength and build your fame through this event. You want to make it so that no one would dare to challenge you anymore.”

Two, you wish to invite all the heroes under the heavens to your arena so you may hone your skill and temper your will. It is all to facilitate your breakthrough to the Half-Sage stage.”

“Three, you wish to turn us into your blade against Ghost Taisui and Xuanyuan Kun. You want to use us to take out some of your greatest foes.”

“And four, you want to put us in your favor and make it so that we couldn’t even send our juniors after you anymore, lest we bring shame to our own name. At the same time, you want to flaunt your connection with us and further intimidate the masses.”

“That abacus of yours is so loud even I can’t help but hear them from where I am, so tell me, which part of you can be ‘honest’ or ‘trustworthy’ again?”

When Xiahou Zun had finally reached the end of his explanation, the juniors were all staring at Ye Qing with widened eyes. Yuan Zhantian even gave Ye Qing a silent thumbs-up. It took balls to include not one, but multiple Sages into one’s scheme.

“Hehehe, your wisdom is boundless, senior.”

Ye Qing stopped pretending and admitted, “Yes, I had planned all this, but what can I do when my strength is paltry? I hope you’ll forgive me for this.”

“Hmph! I can tell there are more wicked schemes in your head than there are holes in a sieve! In the future, you should divert more of your time and energy on your personal strength. Conspiracies and schemes are ultimately just lesser, unworthy ways, so the less you waste your time on them, the better!”

Despite knowing he had been used, the thought of making Ye Qing pay never crossed Xiahou Zun’s mind. Sure, the young man had used them, but it did not change the fact that he had done them a favor.

“This junior will engrave your teachings to my heart, senior,” Ye Qing replied with a salute.

“I hope so.”

Xiahou Zun nodded before flicking two items into his hands. “Here’s a gift for you. The pill is a Dao Enlightenment Pill, and the fist is a fist martial arts manual. Also, the monk’s alms bowl is yours.”

“What is the meaning of this, senior?” Ye Qing wasn’t sure why Xiahou Zun and Long-browed Divine Monk were giving him these gifts.