Chapter Ninety: Taking in a Servant

Seeing that Violet Manor was looking at him very seriously, Long Wei’s anger cooled at last. After a long hesitation, he said, “I’m afraid that if we really bargain with him, we’ll end up having to let him go. Then wouldn’t all our work today be for nothing? He’s harmed so many people. Letting a tiger return to the mountains is never a good idea.”

Violet Manor smiled. “Right now, White Brow’s meridians are completely shattered. It may not even be possible to save people with him.”

Though Violet Manor could no longer remember his past, he instinctively felt that in the world of cultivation there was no such thing as right or wrong, only whether something could be done. Whether White Brow lived or died had nothing to do with him. If all the wounded lying on the ground had to be saved one by one by Tang Wei, he would actually prefer to keep White Brow alive!

“So what exactly do you mean by that, fellow Daoist?” Long Wei was furious. Are you mocking me? Telling me he can’t help, then insisting I make him help? Do you really think I have such a good temper? But now that he had to ask for help, he could not simply disregard these people’s lives. In the end, he could only compromise.

Having succeeded in his scheme, Violet Manor smiled and set out the terms. “Chief Long, you saw it yourself. It isn’t easy for my senior sister to save even one person, is it? And there are so many people here. Who knows how long it would take to heal them all? Besides, we haven’t found my daughter here, and I still need to hurry somewhere else to look for her. Even if I wanted to save people now, I don’t have the time. Of course, I’m not the sort who stands by and watches people die. All I want is two people from you, and I’ll help you save every one of your men. How about that?”

Long Wei glanced at the injured men who had been dragged together by his subordinates; they were already arranged in a long row. He turned back, grinding his teeth. “Which two?”

Violet Manor smiled and, without the slightest courtesy, pointed at Long Three. “Him. How about it?”

“What do you want with Long Three? He may be young and his cultivation is not especially high, but his leadership is plain to see. If we lose him, our security department will suffer a great loss,” Long Wei said with a frown. Truthfully, Long Three had been raised under his own guidance. He was absolutely loyal, both to him and to the country. Even if he were ordered to die on the spot, he would probably not hesitate. He was practically one of Long Wei’s dead men, and Long Wei truly did not want to part with him.

“What do you care what I want him for? One man for a hundred. Isn’t that a fair deal?” Violet Manor pointed out the heart of the matter, leaving Long Wei no choice but to give in.

Most of the people lying there were his loyal subordinates. To save so many with Long Three alone was indeed worthwhile. Besides, Long Three had been trained from childhood. Long Wei was confident that even if Long Three were no longer at his side, he would never do anything harmful to himself. Thinking it through, Long Wei nodded. “Fine. I agree. Who is the other one?”

Violet Manor pointed toward White Brow. “What about him?”

“White Brow?” Long Wei repeated in confusion. When Violet Manor nodded in confirmation, his expression immediately turned solemn. “No. Anyone else will do, but not him!”

Violet Manor did not argue. He only said indifferently, “Actually, we don’t need him either. It’s just that if my senior sister has to save your people one by one like this, I’m afraid we won’t have enough time. I originally thought of a simpler method and wanted White Brow to help you save them, but since you refuse, then forget it. I still have to go look for my daughter. It’s not that I won’t help save your people; we’ll just have to wait until we have the time. Who knows whether they can last that long? Sigh. Never mind. When the time comes, we’ll save as many as we can.”

Long Nine, who had followed behind Long Wei, interjected, “Senior, why don’t our security department send people to look for Ya Ya, and you help us save the wounded?”

Violet Manor disliked him the most. Hearing him cut in, he snapped, “Nonsense. What are you people that you dare compare yourselves to my daughter? You’re not even worthy of carrying her shoes, and you still dare use her to bargain with me? If you keep babbling, I’ll slap you to death!”

Long Nine hurriedly explained, “Senior, I...”

Long Wei waved him off, cutting him short, and asked, “Fellow Daoist says White Brow’s meridians are shattered. How can he save anyone?”

“That’s precisely why I want him. If I’m going to use one of my pills to save him before he can help you, that pill is priceless. It was left to me by my master and can repair his damaged meridians. Isn’t that the same as saving his life? Of course I have to keep him by my side as payment. If you agree, then fine. If not, forget it! It’s not as though I absolutely need those two people!” Violet Manor was growing increasingly impatient. Talking to these people was truly exhausting. No wonder most cultivators were unwilling to deal with officials.

Long Wei did not dare make the decision alone. There were too many things to consider, so he stepped aside and called several people to discuss it over the phone.

Meanwhile, Tang Wei had already finished and stood up. Violet Manor quickly went over to comfort her. “Senior Sister, how is it? Tired?” His tone was completely different from before, so gentle it seemed ready to drip with water.

“Of course I’m tired. Nearly exhausted. If it isn’t tiring, why don’t you do it?” Tang Wei was truly worn out. That black mist was extremely troublesome, and merging it away took far too much time, making her furious. Now that he had come to her with this, wasn’t he asking for a scolding? Her tone was anything but pleasant, and she glared at Violet Manor with an especially fierce expression. It was all his fault, taking in some damned disciple and wearing her out to death.

Violet Manor hastened to flatter her. “I’m just not capable. If I had that ability, would I still need to trouble Senior Sister to take action?”

That pleased her. Tang Wei pinched his ear and said in a low voice, “Remember what you said today. If you dare mock me again next time for learning slowly, see how I deal with you. Everyone just has their own strengths; no one is born good at everything.” Smiling brightly, she lectured Violet Manor. After all, hadn’t he laughed at her yesterday for failing to learn sword flight right away? And he still remembered it now; he really was petty.

“When did I mock you? It was Little Spirit laughing, wasn’t it?” Violet Manor rubbed his ear and muttered, selling out Little Spirit.

Before Tang Wei could retort, Long Wei had already made his decision and came over to ask, “Fellow Daoist wants White Brow as payment. Can you guarantee that he will never again commit deeds that defy heaven and morality? He must also never use boys or girls for cultivation in those cruel, inhumane ways.” No matter what, this involved more than a hundred lives. How could he truly take it lightly?

“I can’t make that guarantee. You should ask him,” Violet Manor said. He did not want to bear this karma. The person concerned was right there; asking him would do. Still, this question was important to Violet Manor as well. He did not want to go to all that trouble saving someone only to rescue a wolf in sheep’s clothing. So he led Tang Wei over first.

In truth, White Brow had been pricking up his ears to listen to their conversation all along. Since it concerned his life and death, of course he would care. Seeing Violet Manor and Tang Wei approach first, he opened his eyes and said, “Senior, I heard everything you said. Today my life was saved by you, and from this point on, my life and death will be entirely at your disposal.”

“Your life and death don’t interest me. Without that magical artifact, you’re nothing but a little ant. Anyone could easily put you to death. If you want to live, then first think about how you’ll make them believe you,” Violet Manor said, uninterested in him. He had rescued him only so Tang Wei would not have to work herself so hard. From his understanding of Tang Wei, she would probably not be able to stand by and watch more than a hundred people die like this. Of course, he also could not allow White Brow to continue harming those children. But once White Brow fell into Violet Manor’s hands, he had all sorts of ways to control him.

In the end, White Brow swore before the Stone of Cause and Effect that he would never again do anything that defied heaven and morality. And for the sake of so many subordinates, Long Wei could only helplessly agree to give him a chance at survival.

Thus, after White Brow’s consent, Violet Manor set a master-servant formation within his spiritual altar. As the name implied, from this life onward White Brow would have no choice but to obey Violet Manor’s orders. On this point, Long Wei was quite satisfied. With someone helping to keep this thug in check, he felt much more at ease.

Afterward, Violet Manor tossed White Brow a pill and told him to remain where he was and repair his meridians first. The pill was from his own reserves in the spatial realm, not something refined by Tang Wei; she did not yet possess such skill.

Repairing White Brow’s meridians would take several hours. By then, Long Three had already awakened, and Long Nine had told him about Long Wei’s arrangement with Violet Manor. No one knew what he was thinking, for after waking he did not say another unnecessary word. Long Nine also could not read his thoughts, but he could not linger there forever; he still had more important things to do.

Long Nine often accompanied Long Three to the headquarters conference room to discuss matters, and he saw Long Wei frequently. Moreover, unlike Long Three, his nature was not so rigid, so his relations with Long Wei were rather good. Seeing that everyone remained silent, he walked over to Long Wei and reported, “Chief, I’ve already notified the brothers at headquarters. They’ll be here soon to take over. Would you like to return first?”

“No need. Since the two fellow Daoists are still waiting here, how could I leave first?” Long Wei rejected the suggestion without a second thought.

Long Three also came over and asked Long Wei, “Chief, what do you think about this matter? Who exactly kidnapped that girl?” So he had been silent because he was thinking about this. Long Wei had thought he was brooding over being sold out.

“Oh? Then what do you think?” Long Wei countered.

“I’ve thought about it for so long, but I still can’t determine whose hand was behind it,” Long Three said, shaking his head in bafflement.

Long Nine cut in, “Captain, I do have some ideas about this matter.”