"Fellow Daoist!"
Yun Ze's heart trembled. He instinctively turned to flee, but quickly realized who was speaking.
Han Tie!
This kid hadn't left?
The other man directly approached, looking at Yun Ze with a smile, "Fellow Daoist, where are you heading?"
"It's none of your business."
Yun Ze replied calmly, but stopped moving forward.
One person was not a big target, but if Han Tie followed, it was highly likely to attract Su Huangjiu's attention.
Perhaps this kid had already joined forces with Su Huangjiu, waiting to exchange his information for spirit stones!
"How can it not be my business!"
Han Tie patted his chest and said, "You let me go last night, you saved my life! We cultivators value karma!
If I don't repay this kindness, I might be struck dead by heavenly tribulation when I face my next tribulation!"
Yun Ze had heard this kind of reasoning before.
But no matter what, he dared not let Han Tie follow him.
The risk was too high!
"You want to repay my kindness?"
Yun Ze glanced at the other person and pointed to the tower behind him, "Don't follow me. Just kowtow to the tower behind us nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine times."
"This... is that okay?" Han Tie hesitated.
He didn't refuse directly, but asked back with hesitation.
"It is!"
Yun Ze gave him a positive answer and was about to move on.
But Han Tie directly caught up and blocked Yun Ze!
"No!"
Han Tie looked at Yun Ze with a serious expression, "Fellow Daoist, I know you are very mysterious, and with your influence, you are probably not afraid of that old fellow Su Huangjiu. But I still want to contribute my humble strength.
Even if it's just to accompany you on this journey!"
Yun Ze frowned, looking at Han Tie. After a few breaths, he spoke, "Are you serious?"
"Of course!"
Han Tie patted his chest, "A man of his word!"
"But I'm afraid you'll betray me."
Yun Ze stared intently into Han Tie's eyes.
Since he couldn't find the answer to this question himself, why not throw it directly to the person who raised it?
If Han Tie's answer was satisfactory to Yun Ze, having someone to help would be even better!
"Ah?"
Han Tie let out a confused sound, as if he didn't understand why Yun Ze would think that, "Brother! You look down on me too much!"
"Since I, Han Tie, embarked on the path of cultivation at the age of twenty, cultivating for thirty years, and am now at the eighth level of Qi Refining, I have never done anything against my conscience!
Since you doubt me, then fine!"
Han Tie took a step back, raised three fingers to the sky, "I, Han Tie, swear by my true spirit, that I will protect Fellow Daoist Yun Ze's safety on this journey and will never betray him!
If I violate this oath, may I be struck by heavenly lightning, my soul return to the myriad hells, and be eternally unable to reincarnate!"
That was a poisonous oath!
Yun Ze had seen it in the ancient texts left by Senior Xiao. The oaths of cultivators were different from those of ordinary people. If the latter broke their vows, it rarely came true, but it was different for the former.
Cultivators were already stealing from heaven. Swearing by their true spirit was asking heaven and earth to bear witness!
If the oath was truly broken, the punishment would be severe!
"Fellow Daoist, what do you say?"
Han Tie looked at Yun Ze again, "Do you believe me now?"
"Brother Han, what are you saying!"
Yun Ze stepped forward, a slight smile on his face, "I am just being cautious. I hope Brother Han can understand."
"Let's not talk about this."
Han Tie's expression was clearly displeased, "Just tell me where you plan to go? I'll protect you for one day, and after one day, we'll go our separate ways!"
"One day is fine!"
Yun Ze's eyes flickered, and he leaned closer to Han Tie, whispering, "Brother Han, I won't hide it from you. I already know that someone is collecting materials for Earth Vein Foundation Establishment.
But I also want to achieve Earth Vein Foundation Establishment, so besides this Earth Soul Liquid, I am also secretly collecting eight other auxiliary materials.
Now my servant has found a clue to another auxiliary material, and I need to go and keep an eye on it personally, but Su Huangjiu is following me, so I can't go.
I want to..."
"You want me to lure Su Huangjiu away?" Han Tie frowned.
"Exactly!"
Yun Ze clasped his fists, "Brother Han, I know this is extremely difficult, and even life-threatening at any moment. If you are unwilling..."
"Who said I'm unwilling?"
"One thousand spirit stones!"
Yun Ze said no more, directly quoting a price, "Brother Han, let's not talk about repaying kindness. As long as you help me divert Su Huangjiu's attention, I'll give you a thousand spirit stones!"
Even if he swore an oath, Yun Ze dared not trust someone he had known for less than a day.
Especially a cultivator!
He had to leave himself a fallback!
That's why he fabricated an auxiliary material and promised Han Tie a reward of a thousand spirit stones.
As long as Han Tie didn't betray him, he would get the thousand spirit stones!
As long as he could return to the Immortal Gathering safely, the thousand spirit stones would be worth it!
"Brother, you look down on me, don't you?"
Han Tie frowned, "I, Han Tie, keep my word. If I say I'll help you, I'll help you to the end. Spirit stones are just external possessions!"
"Tell me, what do you want me to do?"
"Simple!"
Yun Ze said quickly, "You and I will go to the Immortal Gathering together.
At that time, you will wait for me at the entrance of the Immortal Gathering. I will go in to get the goods. When I come out, I will give you a fake auxiliary material, and you just need to take the item and flee the Tangshan Dynasty. I will handle the rest."
"This... it's that simple?"
Han Tie pondered for a few breaths and asked, "But how can you be sure that Su Huangjiu can be lured away by me?"
"My servant will handle it,"
Yun Ze bluffed, "He will let Su Huangjiu know that I have given you a real auxiliary material to deliver to someone else, while I will stay here to attract attention.
Since I am only at the third level of Qi Refining, they will not believe that I am collecting materials for myself. They will believe this excuse.
When they find you, you will confess everything and say that you are already my subordinate. They will not dare to touch you. By then, I will have already left the Tangshan Dynasty, and my servant will come to find you and give you the spirit stones!"
This was all fake!
It was a scheme Yun Ze came up with on the spot.
In fact, his only goal was to reach the Immortal Gathering safely!
"Okay!"
Han Tie nodded in agreement, "Then brother, shall we now..."
"Let's go, to the Immortal Gathering!"
Yun Ze turned and walked towards the Immortal Gathering.
The Misty Moon Alley in the early morning was completely different from the night.
At night, Misty Moon Alley was brightly lit, and the pavilions and towers were illuminated by candlelight, appearing like a fairyland. But in the early morning... only a desolate scene could be seen.
Yun Ze took a few steps, glanced back at the Shadow Qing Pavilion, a silhouette flashed in his mind, and then he quickly passed through Misty Moon Alley, without looking back.
He knew clearly that he didn't even have the qualification to know her name yet.
Why bother thinking about her?
He followed the route in his memory and headed towards the city gate.
Until he walked out of the city gate, he did not encounter a single cultivator along the way.
Not even outside the city gate!
Yun Ze turned and glanced at Han Tie. Han Tie was looking at him with a relaxed expression.
"Brother, why aren't you moving?"
"It's nothing, let's continue."
Yun Ze replied and continued on his way.
He had a hunch.
This Han Tie was definitely suspicious!
But now was not the time to talk about it. He had to return to the Immortal Gathering first.
The two of them walked at a leisurely pace and soon arrived in front of a small grove.
Just as Yun Ze was about to pass through the grove and enter the Immortal Gathering, another familiar voice rang out!
"Kid, you still dare to show up?"
Yun Ze looked in the direction of the voice.
He saw a figure in a black cloak leap down from a tree. His expression was hidden by the cloak, but anger could be heard in his tone!
Wasn't this the one who cost him six hundred thousand?
Yun Ze glanced at Han Tie and quickly shouted, "Brother Han, quickly! Stop him!"
"Fellow Daoist, stop pretending."
Han Tie's expression changed, a smile on his lips. He crossed his arms and looked at Yun Ze, "Do you think I don't know you're lying to me?
And you talked about another auxiliary material. Kid, you're just a rogue cultivator. You probably don't even know what nine materials are needed for Earth Vein Foundation Establishment, do you?"
Yun Ze frowned and soon saw another figure emerge from the other end of the grove.
It was...
Su Huangjiu!