Chapter 479: Who Is the Insider Mole

Chapter 479 Who is the Traitor

Sisi sprang to her feet as if startled, taking her place to stand honestly by his side, though in truth her heart was filled with a sudden urge to pull Yue Hongling into a tight embrace and kiss her.

This burst of temper could not have come at a more perfect moment! Had she thrown it earlier, Sisi would not have been forced to kiss him at all.

Though it was not as if they had never kissed before... Oh, right, that time it had been done using Yue Hongling’s own face!

In any case, neither occasion had allowed her to truly savor the taste... Sisi puckered her lips, suddenly feeling a faint, unexpected trace of regret; since the kiss had already been given, to leave without properly tasting it felt rather like a wasted favor, did it not?

Across from them, several clan elders fell as silent as cicadas in winter. Dammit, they had thought nothing of it when the male envoy demanded a woman right before her eyes without a word of protest from her, assuming they were clearly not a couple. This had made the elders all the more reckless, but what was this sudden stench of jealousy in the air now... Had they guessed wrong entirely?

Yue Hongling, however, did not press her anger further. Instead, she cast a slightly perplexed glance at Zhao Changher, finding his behavior rather strange and not at all like the man she knew.

Zhao Changher shot her a meaningful look, signaling that he had another plan in mind. In truth, from the very moment the banquet commenced, he had quietly loosened the spiritual pouch containing the gu insects, allowing the Corpse Demon to catch a faint glimpse of the world outside.

He wanted the Corpse Demon to witness firsthand exactly how the Spirit Race bowed and scraped under the oppressive weight of the "Forbidden Land."

Yue Hongling calmly nodded in understanding and said indifferently, "We bear a heavy responsibility and have no time to idle here for food and drink. At a gathering such as this, refreshment is secondary to the transaction of business. Do not truly believe yourselves to be drinking with courtesans."

The Grand Elder wiped the sweat from his brow. "Yes, yes."

Yue Hongling spoke coldly, "If you truly wish to indulge, go play after the banquet. This envoy has no leisure to sit here and watch."

So the implication was that they could still indulge, so long as proper business took precedence. The clan elders all breathed a sigh of relief, clearing their throats with a few dry coughs before saying cautiously, "The Holy Envoys have arrived somewhat earlier than usual this time, and our tributes are not yet fully prepared... If the Holy Envoys could linger here for another two days, we will certainly fulfill our duties with the utmost devotion..."

Yue Hongling instinctively wanted to say that doing their best would suffice, only to hear Zhao Changher cut in, "So you are saying this is our fault then?"

Yue Hongling: "..."

She had learned something new...

The difference between one human mind and another was truly greater than the difference between a man and a dog. To think Zhao Changher could play the rogue so flawlessly—he was clearly no saint himself, though now all his misdeeds were being laid entirely at Wang Daotong's door...

The elders were sweating profusely. "We meant no such thing, no such thing..."

Sisi looked askance at the pathetic display of the elders. Had these been the genuine Holy Envoys, she would have felt an overwhelming sense of disgrace; yet since it was Zhao Changher putting on this display of arrogance, she suddenly found it immensely satisfying and hoped he would trample them a few times more.

Taking advantage of the elders bowing their heads in apology, Sisi quietly sent a sound transmission: "The things you want can be demanded directly from them. Aside from young men and women, the tribute naturally includes all manner of goods, and the manifest changes every year. You can simply list what you need directly upon the manifest. Among them, the Cloud Yang Leaves are produced right here on our Holy Mountain and have always been part of the annual tribute. As for the Night Flowing Sand, I have never heard of it... Regarding the Juntian Blood Jade, it is one of our sacred relics. The Forbidden Land does not usually demand it by force, but if you insist, you can test their limits. Our clan has never known its true purpose, so they may not hold it in such high regard."

Zhao Changher's heart stirred slightly.

Originally, he had no desire to use the title of "Holy Envoy" to demand these things from the Spirit Race, as that would amount to extortion; he had hoped to conclude a fair exchange with Sisi. But now that Sisi herself was urging him to take them, the moral burden vanished.

If they chose to be willing slaves, then let them see what became of such servitude.

Sisi’s gesture was also rather intriguing... Was she not afraid that once he obtained what he desired, he would simply flick his sleeves and depart, leaving her without aid?

As the thoughts flashed through his mind, he spoke aloud, "Our early arrival this time is not only to apprehend the traitor, but also because the higher-ups require certain other matters for you to prepare. The tribute remains identical to last year's, with the additional requirement of one catty of Night Flowing Sand."

The clan elders were all taken aback. "Night Flowing Sand? This old man has never heard of such a thing."

Zhao Changher’s face darkened.

The Grand Elder offered his apologies, saying, "We have indeed never heard of this material, and we are by no means perfunctory with the Holy Envoy. To hide nothing from you, we possess many ancient texts, yet we have never seen any record regarding it."

It appeared the Night Flowing Sand was truly not with the Spirit Race... Since its whereabouts had been unknown from the start, Zhao Changher did not dwell on it. Maintaining his stern expression, he said, "Since there is no Night Flowing Sand, something else must be substituted. Otherwise, how am I to report back to my superiors?"

The Grand Elder immediately replied, "Whatever the Holy Envoy desires, pray speak of it freely, so long as it is within the possession of our Spirit Race..."

Zhao Changher took a sip of his wine, leaning back into Sisi’s embrace behind him, and crossed his legs. "I hear you possess the Juntian Blood Jade?"

How wonderful was this world without the rigid constraints of a modern brassiere; a single lean back provided the most comfortable cushion. Sisi was certainly not lacking in that department either... Serves you right for being so flirtatious.

Sisi’s face turned crimson as he leaned against her. For a moment, she could not tell whether he was acting or merely taking liberties, yet she could not resist and could only endure it.

Across the hall, the expressions of the clan elders grew awkward as they exchanged glances, all looking rather conflicted.

Just as Zhuque had conquered the Blood God Sect without ever touching their sacred array disk, the choice between wanting a pack of hounds to do your bidding or inciting wave after wave of rebellion lay entirely in whether one trampled upon their core interests.

Xue Canghai could endure anything else, but if you sought to seize his array disk and destroy the very roots connecting him to the Blood God, it would inevitably end in a bloodbath. Zhuque could destroy him, but what good would that bring?

With a people like the Spirit Race, so long as you did not touch the interests these elders held dear, they would naturally help you justify your actions. But the moment the sacrifice demanded was their very selves, this vast Spirit Race might not remain so submissive.

Therefore, the Forbidden Land would not lightly disturb such artifacts; there was simply no need.

Yet the status of the Juntian Blood Jade hung precisely on that delicate boundary... It lacked the vital significance that the Blood God Array Disk held for Xue Canghai. No one understood how to use it, rendering it a mere ornament; yet it was indeed an important sacred relic passed down from their ancestors. If some future generation were to discover its utility, perhaps the entire Spirit Race could rise to a greater height, or even surpass the Forbidden Land.

Of course, such a hope was rather ephemeral, and no one truly harbored great expectations for it. In the end, it was worshipped as an ancestral treasure; was it truly untouchable?

This was a boundary that could only be tested, a secret understood only by an insider.

Seeing the three clan elders hesitate, Zhao Changher roughly deduced the meaning behind their silence. His expression grew grim. "So, do you truly intend to leave this envoy unable to report back?"

The pressure was applied, leaving the elders with no choice but to bow in apology. "We pray the Holy Envoy will allow us a moment to deliberate."

Zhao Changher did not force them down completely, offering a slight nod to permit their discussion. As the three elders retreated through the side door, Zhao Changher let out a soft breath, still resting against that soft cushion.

Yue Hongling looked askance at him, squeezing a sentence through her teeth: "There is no one left. How much longer do you intend to lean there?"

Sisi’s eyes darted about. She had originally intended to pull away, but instead chose to remain where she was. As Zhao Changher attempted to move, she pressed his head back down, gently massaging his temples. "Look closely, this is how Sisi attends to her master. Next time you disguise yourself, you ought to learn..."

Zhao Changher: "..."

Yue Hongling did not know whether to laugh or cry. "I suppose I see what you two are playing at... Tell me, does this not count as digging up your own roots?"

Sisi replied indifferently, "Yet if they agree, then who is the one forced by the 'Holy Envoy' to surrender the sacred relic? It certainly is not me, Xiang Simeng. I rather hope they return with the answer: 'Our apologies, Holy Envoy, our clan cannot fulfill this request, pray choose another condition'... So, who indeed is the traitor?"

Yue Hongling nodded, then inquired further, "Did the previous envoys truly never solicit bribes or seek treasures for themselves? How strange."

Sisi said, "I heard that the god or demon behind Maitreya once struck from afar in Xiangyang, forcing back First Seat Tang. Which is to say, if their strength restores to a certain degree, even if they do not manifest in the world, they can still view it through another's eyes. Should they recover further, they can even strike across the void..."

Zhao Changher pressed his lips together, though it was not Maitreya he was thinking of.

Sisi continued, "Thus, the envoys of the Forbidden Land are very likely under the watchful gaze of the divine eyes. It may not truly be so, but believing it to be true, they would never dare act recklessly. They invariably get straight to the point, taking the tribute and departing. One of the reasons the gods and buddhas command such awe is precisely their reputation for omniscience."

Zhao Changher thought to himself that it would be wonderful if she could always converse with such seriousness...

Well, of course, if she were always so serious, he would not be enjoying his current comfortable cushion... It was truly a conflicting sentiment.

Yue Hongling pondered for a moment before asking, "We can feign being the Holy Envoys to demand treasures from them, but do we truly intend to demand young boys and girls as well? The mere thought of the weeping within those households is something I refuse to permit."

Sisi said, "We naturally do not have to do it. We can simply tell them shortly that since they are surrendering the Juntian Blood Jade, this year's tribute of youths may be waived. But Sister Yue, what happens when you leave? The true envoys will still come."

Yue Hongling murmured softly, "I was just thinking about that... I do not wish to leave. I feel I can do something, and that I ought to do something."

Sisi looked at her with a complex gaze.

No matter how many schemes others harbored, Yue Hongling alone possessed but a single conviction from beginning to end.

Zhao Changher said in a low voice, "Do not fret, I have some thoughts..."

Before his voice could fade, the three elders appeared to have finished their deliberations. Returning to the banquet hall, they bowed deeply. "Holy Envoy, we have discussed the matter. The Juntian Blood Jade may be offered to the Ancestral God, but we wonder if we might be granted the method of merging with the Beast Spirits..."

Zhao Changher was just about to say, "Are you bargaining with me?"

Yet before the words could leave his mouth, a violent trembling erupted within his ring. A gu insect clawed frantically out of the spiritual pouch, roaring in a towering rage: "I will slaughter you bastards! Every single one of you shall die!"

The Dragon Sparrow Saber pressed down firmly against the spiritual pouch, barely keeping it contained.

Zhao Changher's heart stirred, and he spoke in a deliberate, measured tone, "Then first lead us to behold the Juntian Blood Jade. I shall offer a prayer to the Ancestral God to see if he is willing to bestow what you desire."