ALL NOVEL
Chapter 68: Chapter 68 The Not-So-Intelligent Evil Cultivator
Zhang Rui was the name he had left for the straw-cloaked man that day.
The other party must be trying to track down this person with all their effort by now, and if these black-robed men were subordinates of the straw-cloaked man, they would certainly know this name.
As expected, the black-robed men paused noticeably in their actions upon hearing this name.
"Does the boss know Zhang Rui?"
The leading black-robed man's tone was slightly agitated.
"Indeed, I've met him a few times. Zhang Rui is quite capable, but it's a pity his character is too poor to make friends."
Li Xiaobai shook his head and sighed, and the black-robed men exchanged glances with excitement in their eyes.
"Please have some tea, boss."
The leading black-robed man passed over another bowl of tea, which Li Xiaobai drank down in one gulp. The attribute points for Blood Demon Corrosion on the System panel stopped fluctuating, indicating it was a bowl of antidote.
Li Xiaobai chuckled inwardly, finding these Evil Cultivators foolishly endearing as they kept offering poison and then antidotes, seemingly not the sharpest tools in the shed.
"Could the boss tell us about Zhang Rui? He owes us a significant amount of resources, and we have been looking for him to settle the debt."
The black-robed men passed over another bowl of tea, still an antidote.
Finding Zhang Rui was a major mission; whoever could find him was sure to be promoted and ennobled, and the achievement of becoming a major power was not beyond the realm of possibility.
These black-robed men were only at the Golden Core Stage in strength; originally, they were just trying to fish in troubled waters without expecting to actually find Zhang Rui. But now, it was different; they had stumbled upon someone who knew Zhang Rui.
The three of them instantly realized this was their chance; seizing it could mean they wouldn't have to worry about food and clothing for most of the rest of their lives.
They didn't dare to neglect the opportunity, offering bowl after bowl of detoxifying tea. They were genuinely afraid of accidentally poisoning Li Xiaobai to death. Compared to the Xia Family's trivial personal grudges, finding Zhang Rui was a matter of utmost importance.
"This Zhang Rui, ah, is a True Disciple of the Tianwu Sect. His strength is not to be underestimated. I heard that there's recently been a commotion in the Divine Beast Mountain Range, and he went to join in the excitement and got his hands on quite a few valuable items."
"Only, this man's character is too flawed; he always likes to trick and kill his opponents, seizing their Space Rings, which isn't a good habit. I've advised him many times to no avail; obsessed with wealth, he refuses to heed any advice. Do any of you hold a grudge against him?"
What Li Xiaobai said was logical and convincing, and the black-robed men were overjoyed in an instant.
A capable individual, recently seen in the Divine Beast Mountain Range, and also named Zhang Rui – there was no doubt that he was the very person their superior was searching for.
"Ah, it's not a big grudge. He took away our Space Rings, which contain the heirlooms left by our deceased father. We must get them back."
The men became even more enthusiastic, pulling Li Xiaobai into a wide-ranging conversation.
Through the conversation, Li Xiaobai determined that these three definitely belonged to the straw-cloaked man, who was making every effort to search for Zhang Rui.
The three black-robed men were likely Evil Cultivators from outside the city, associated with the Xia Family, and were regarded as honored guests by the family. The leader of the black-robed men was named Zuo Da, and the other two black-robed men were named Zuo Er and Zuo San; they were brothers.
Originally, they had come to kill him, but they hadn't expected that a casual mention of a name would not only eliminate their murderous intent but also cause them to become good friends with him.
Surely, the path of cultivation is deep and complex; even the allies of an enemy can become one's own brothers with the right manipulation.
"Ah, the more friends, the more paths. Well then, meeting is fate. I will help you find Zhang Rui."
"He's too fond of hopping around. It's good for you guys to teach him a lesson."
Li Xiaobai's gaze was profound, filled with infinite reflection as if reminiscing about an old friend.
Sorry, Zhang Rui, but besides you, I have no one else to blame, so please take on all the blame!
"Educating him isn't quite the word – we just want to reclaim what belongs to us," Zuo Da said with a chuckle.
For a moment, the atmosphere in the bathhouse was filled with harmony.
The other cultivators also relaxed when they saw this. The owner was right: there's nothing a good soak in the bath can't solve.
After soaking for a while and chatting, the black-robed figures transformed from menacing to amiable. The magic of a bath was truly wondrous.
The old beggar listened the entire time with rapt attention, the light in his eyes concealed. He heard some things that greatly piqued his interest.
"Who would have thought that after so many years, the Tianwu Sect still has such talent, reminiscent of my younger days."
The old beggar muttered to himself and comfortably dozed off.
The evil cultivators chatted for a while longer, then started to seriously cultivate.
This time they had a great haul. Not only did they discover an amazing bathhouse, but they also gathered some intelligence regarding Zhang Rui.
Li Xiaobai returned to the counter, gazing at the system panel in front of him.
[Ding! Host has unlocked an achievement: Cultivators of the World are One Family, Reward: One Justice Elixir, One Pill of Mischief.]
[Justice Elixir: After consumption, one's heart is filled with kindness, justice points skyrocket, and the mind is entirely focused on doing good deeds. One feels uncomfortable if not performing a good deed a day.]
[Pill of Mischief: After consumption, one's heart sets to creating trouble, evil points skyrocket, and the mind is filled with thoughts of causing mischief. One feels uncomfortable if not stirring up trouble for a day.]
[Note: Elixirs have no consumption restrictions and can be taken by all living creatures.]
These elixirs are interesting: one for justice, one for mischief. Definitely not for self-use, I'll have to find the right person for them later.
His eyes inadvertently swept towards Ergouzi, who was frolicking in the nearby pool, and the corner of his mouth lifted unconsciously.
This little wreck of a dog was shrouded in mystery. Despite its silly demeanor on most days, it demonstrated extraordinary strength at the Divine Beast Mountain Range. Giving it a Justice Elixir could assure its unwavering loyalty from here on.
Ergouzi seemed to sense something, shuddered all over, and stared at Li Xiaobai with guarded eyes, looking very wary.
It had a bad feeling about this.
"Ergouzi, come here, I've got something tasty for you," said Li Xiaobai, waving a pill in his hand and speaking cheerfully.
"Woof woof woof!"
The little wreck of a dog's fur exploded.
It had only stayed around Li Xiaobai for a few days because it was attracted by the scent of fragments. But it seemed Li Xiaobai treated it like a pet, casually naming it, and now was trying to trick it into eating some mysterious pills—definitely not a good sign!
Nicholas Ergouzi was not to be easily bullied.
The casually produced elixirs looked like shoddy goods to it; it had better treasures of its own and was preparing to share them with Li Xiaobai.
"Woof woof woof!"
Jumping down, Ergouzi shook off the water droplets and regarded Li Xiaobai with disdain, barking a few times.
Meaning that the pills weren't much and it had something better, as it indicated for Li Xiaobai to follow.
"You want me to go out with you?"
"Woof woof woof!"
"I'm here to make money, don't be a nuisance."
"Woof woof woof!"
"You've got treasure?"