Chapter Fifty-Five: Agreement Reached!

“You're mistaken!”

Fang Jinrui shook his head and said, “The young lord doesn't trust you; he suspects you of infiltrating his side with ulterior motives. Of course, it could also be jealousy of your youth and talent. But he would never suspect you of wanting to take his life. After all, you saved him. If you had wanted to kill him, you could have done it with a single blow at the time. As for the other side…”

Fang Jinrui smiled with a hint of amusement. “If the deed is done, what are a dozen Sea-filling cultivators? Even a dozen Purple Mansion experts would be nothing.”

Tu Lu fell silent.

“Let me think it over.”

“Very well. Once you’ve made up your mind, contact me.” Fang Jinrui stood up, handed Tu Lu a communication stone, and left the secret chamber.

After he left, Tu Lu’s expression immediately returned to calm.

He had already devised a plan, but whether he could put it into action would depend on the situation over at Purple Camel Peak.

In addition, he still needed to make some preparations.

As for Fang Jinrui, he hadn’t agreed right away—partly for the sake of appearances, and partly because he genuinely needed time to think.

After hearing about that agreement, he started to feel that something was off.

If Purple Camel Peak’s father had truly disappeared, he could believe that Purple Camel Peak had lost his mind and was courting death. But since he had not disappeared, things were not so simple.

A cultivator halfway to Deification couldn’t possibly have lost his mind as well!

Moreover, from any angle, once Purple Camel Peak left Huangyun City and lost the shelter of its city restrictions, it would be much easier to kill him. Yet these people insisted on making their move within Huangyun City—this was even more unusual!

Therefore, even if those above the Purple Mansion realm couldn’t take action, he didn't want to get involved in these muddy waters.

No matter what, his goal had always been only the Tricolor Cloud Flower!

If his plan succeeded, he could help neither side, obtain the Tricolor Cloud Flower directly, and perhaps even gain more benefits.

Having made up his mind, he picked up the communication stone and summoned Fang Jinrui.

“I can help you, but once the deed is done, the Tricolor Cloud Flower must be mine. Besides that, I need five Spirit Essences of Vegetation—and I want these before I act!”

Fang Jinrui’s face stiffened. The first demand was acceptable—the Tricolor Cloud Flower, though rare, could be given after success. But to demand five Spirit Essences of Vegetation before even moving—this was outrageous!

“Elder Fang, you said yourself that even the loss of a dozen Purple Mansion cultivators would be nothing if we succeed. So are the lives of a dozen Purple Mansion cultivators worth less than five Spirit Essences of Vegetation?!”

Fang Jinrui shook his head. “It’s not the same! The premise is that you succeed. Our young lord is already timid by nature, and after yesterday’s attack, he will be even more cautious. Even if he doesn’t guard against you, he may not let you get close so easily. We haven’t succeeded yet, and you’re already demanding five Spirit Essences of Vegetation—that’s too much.”

“Is that so?”

Tu Lu smiled faintly. “Then I suggest Elder Fang go back and reconsider.”

“Master Tu!” Fang Jinrui’s face darkened, and his tone was a shade colder.

But Tu Lu said nothing more, and after hesitating several times, Fang Jinrui finally left the secret passage in displeasure.

In the darkness, the eyes of Tu Lu’s doppelganger narrowed.

At the same time, the doppelganger of the Sunflower Spirit in the inn quietly slipped out, using the Nine-Lock True Spirit Art and the Heavenly Dragon Order to conceal its aura and disguise its identity.

Before long, Fang Jinrui appeared in the area.

But Tu Lu frowned this time—Fang Jinrui was even more cautious. As soon as he entered an inn, he pulled out his communication stone.

Though the range of the communication stones was limited, and the other party must be nearby, as long as they weren’t together, he had no way to collect evidence of Fang Jinrui’s contact with them!

And this was crucial to his plan!

Without definitive proof, at most he could make Purple Camel Peak suspicious of Fang Jinrui—which was useless!

Several hours later, Fang Jinrui left the inn and returned to his residence, where he reopened the secret passage.

“They’ve agreed to your terms, but they can’t produce five Spirit Essences of Vegetation at once. Even transporting them from a neighboring city would take time.”

“No matter. I can infiltrate the young lord’s side first, but I won’t act until you deliver the five Spirit Essences of Vegetation.”

Tu Lu smiled. “How about that?”

Fang Jinrui’s face was grim. “Fine!”

An incense stick’s time later, Tu Lu’s doppelganger burst out of Fang Jinrui’s residence, face pale, blood covering his features, his aura barely stable at late Sea-filling stage.

But as soon as he escaped, Fang Jinrui’s residence suddenly collapsed, and a giant hand reached out!

“Die!”

The enormous palm struck Tu Lu’s doppelganger, shaking the City Lord’s residence so violently that even the ornamental rocks shattered!

Tu Lu’s doppelganger spat out blood again, his body slammed backward.

“Fang Jinrui, how dare you harm me! I am the young lord’s savior!”

With all the commotion and his loud shout, the entire City Lord’s residence was alarmed; countless servants rushed over from afar.

“What happened?”

“It seems something happened at Chief Steward Fang’s place!”

“Hurry and check!”

Fang Jinrui’s expression changed, and the aura of a half-step Purple Mansion cultivator erupted as he struck out again.

“I’ll kill you!”

He roared, and in a flash of light, the giant palm swept through the air, even causing ripples in the void.

But Tu Lu gritted his teeth and summoned the Thousand Mechanisms Umbrella, a low-grade magical treasure. The black oilcloth unfurled between him and Fang Jinrui; the giant palm slammed into it, causing the umbrella to shudder violently and leaving a deep handprint in the fabric.

Tu Lu was sent flying dozens of meters by the impact, yet still managed to withstand the blow.

Foiled, Fang Jinrui’s anger flared, and he prepared to strike again!

But at that moment—

“Stop!”

A cold shout rang out.

Fang Jinrui’s face changed and his hand froze in mid-air.

The servants parted to make way.

Purple Camel Peak and Jin Donghe entered from outside.

Purple Camel Peak swept his gaze across the scene, and when he saw Tu Lu, his pupils contracted. He barked, “Elder Fang, what is going on here? Why has my savior been beaten so badly by you?”

“City Lord, you promised me a Purple Cloud Pill, but Fang Jinrui gave me a poisoned pill instead. I barely suppressed the poison, only to be brought to his residence. He first pretended to befriend me, then suddenly tried to kill me! If you hadn’t arrived in time, I’d already be dead!”

Tu Lu’s doppelganger stepped forward and spoke bitterly.

At these words, Purple Camel Peak’s face turned dark. “Elder Fang, do you have anything to say in your defense?”

“I have nothing to say.”

Fang Jinrui’s lips moved twice, then he lowered his head.

“Is that so? Then you’ll have to temporarily step down from your position as Chief Steward!”

All the servants were instantly in an uproar!

Fang Jinrui had been appointed by the former city lord and had held sway in Huangyun City for decades, his prestige far exceeding that of Purple Camel Peak—yet he was being dismissed?!

By now, Purple Camel Peak had rushed to Tu Lu’s side with concern. “Are you all right, savior? Elder Fang dared act without orders—I will punish him severely. Please come with me—I shall give you the best spiritual elixirs to help you recover as quickly as possible!”

“Thank you, City Lord!” Tu Lu replied gratefully, though his gaze, whether intentionally or not, kept falling upon Jin Donghe at Purple Camel Peak’s side.

From the moment Purple Camel Peak had appeared, this man had not left his side for a single step.