Chapter 378 A Tune on the Leaf Flute, the Entire City Trembles
Night had fallen, and the Hundred Beasts City bustled with noise and clamor.
Inside the Thousand-Mile Trading Company, the elders sat around a round table, analyzing the current situation.
Though they bore the title of elders, aside from the withered, dying old man at the head seat, the rest were all remarkably young, hardly resembling elders at all.
“Second brother, which faction should we hand this hot potato to?”
It was a youth of seventeen or eighteen who spoke.
The one addressed as second brother was just past twenty, but compared to ordinary men his age, he carried more steadiness and maturity.
“Give it to the city lord’s mansion. But we must deliver it in front of everyone. Otherwise, it would be as good as giving it away for nothing.”
After speaking, second brother fell back into thought.
“Cough, cough…”
The old man at the head seat coughed lightly. “From what I know, the city lord’s birthday is in seven days. What if our Thousand-Mile Trading Company presents the treasure then?”
“Godfather, what foresight.”
Second brother’s brows instantly relaxed at these words. Indeed, the saying was true: having an elder in the family was like having a treasure.
It was all because of this treasure that their trading company had suffered such heavy losses. Few of the older generation remained, and even their godfather was left with only half a breath. Now, not a single cultivator capable of fighting at the True Fate realm was left in the company.
To outsiders, their trading company was nothing more than a fat piece of meat, free for anyone to bite.
“Cough… cough…”
The old man coughed again and said slowly, “What worries me most is that those hiding in the shadows will never give us such a chance.
It was our greed that sowed today’s disaster. If things reach an irreparable point, each of you must flee for your own lives.”
Second brother quickly said, “Godfather, it hasn’t come to that yet. As long as we stand united, we can overcome these trials.
At his words, a human cultivator dressed as an advisor quickly entered and bowed. “My lord, the sound is not coming from within the mansion. It seems to be coming from outside.”
“Hm?”
The city lord’s face showed doubt. Although the Hundred Beasts City had no curfew, no one would so brazenly reveal their strength in public.
He immediately released his spiritual sense to trace the source of the sound. What he found left him unsettled.
Just as his spiritual sense neared its origin, he suddenly saw a massive chessboard.
That chessboard was like a world of its own. Even he, a True Fate realm cultivator, would not necessarily gain any advantage if he entered it.
“A master has entered the Hundred Beasts City. I do not know if they have come for that item. Send people to keep a close watch on the Thousand-Mile Trading Company. Under no circumstances can the treasure fall into the hands of others.”
“Yes.”
The advisor acknowledged and quickly left the hall.
The leaders of the city’s factions made the same decision upon hearing the flute.
Thinking of that terrifying chessboard, they also took another precaution—informing the powers behind them of the disturbance in the Hundred Beasts City, requesting experts to guard the Wendao City.
At the inn, in the Heaven Room Number One.
Chen Qianqian stood by the window, lightly blowing her leaf flute. The melodious tune left Bai Qian beside her entranced.
After one song, Bai Qian could not help clapping. “Senior sister, that was beautiful. But your younger brothers and sisters—surely they haven’t forgotten this melody?”
Chen Qianqian laughed. “They should not have. It was our childhood promise. If they dare forget, I will give them a proper beating.”
Bai Qian grinned. “You and your siblings are really close. It’s a pity I don’t have any.”
“You have us, don’t you?”
Chen Qianqian stepped forward, ruffled Bai Qian’s hair, and the two sat at the table to sip tea.
In the courtyard outside the secret chamber of the Thousand-Mile Trading Company.
Second brother and ninth brother stood frozen long after the melody ended.
“Second brother, this sounds like the tune eldest sister taught us back then.”
A clear female voice cut through their shock, pulling them back to reality.
Second brother said, “Eighth sister, you’re right. It is indeed the tune eldest sister taught us. But isn’t she cultivating at the Wendao Academy?
“I heard that in the holy land, unless one enters the inner sect, one cannot descend the mountain. It’s only been a little over ten years—can eldest sister leave already?”
Eighth sister replied, “Why not investigate and find out?”
Second brother nodded. “That’s all we can do.”
Ninth brother’s eyes lit up. “Second brother, if eldest sister has come, then maybe we don’t need to hand over the treasure. With her here, who would dare bully us?”
“Silence.”
Second brother glared at him harshly. “Ninth brother, this is our business. We cannot drag eldest sister into it. Even if she really has come, you must not mention this matter in front of her.”
“I understand.”
Though he said so, ninth brother had his own little schemes in mind.
At dawn the next day, countless people in the city sought the source of the flute.
Soon, the sound rang out again, and the cultivators of the Hundred Tribes discovered that the leaf flute was being played by a young human girl.
In no time, news that the flute-player was staying at the Eight Directions Inn spread throughout the Hundred Tribes City.
The factions were all bewildered when they received the news. The girl was simply playing her flute, without any attempt to hide it.
Could it really be that she had no connection to the Thousand-Mile Trading Company?
Within the trading company, second brother and the others gathered once more to discuss how they should approach eldest sister at the Eight Directions Inn.
After much deliberation, they unanimously agreed to send eighth sister, disguised, to the Eight Directions Inn.
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