Chapter 20: The Game Plan. Shared Profits

Yun Yang looked at the man lying unconscious on the bed. He was a giant of a man, brawny and broad. From the length of the bed that he occupied, it could easily be surmised that he would be a valiant mortal of Herculean strength. Yun Yang performed a thorough inspection, and could not help letting out a deep sigh. For the man to have survived until now was no mean feat.

At least a fifth of his bones had been broken, and a large portion of his internal organs had been damaged. His dantian had shattered; it was obvious that he had received blunt force trauma judging by the dent in his skull. His back was laced with endless scratches, each cut bone-deep. To top it all off, there were two separate sword wounds that had pierced his chest and gone through his back.

"He managed to retain consciousness despite his severe injuries, and only collapsed when he reached Tiantang City..." Yun Yang frowned. "This would make him an expert, in all likelihood on par with Lao Mei, or perhaps higher."

Placing his hand on the unconscious man's pulse, he called out softly, "Emmie!"

Instantly, a refined air of vitality gushed out from the Lotus of Endless Fate through his hand and into the man's body. After the initial torrent, Emmie cut off the supply, like stopping a bottle of gushing wine. Swaying softly, it adamantly refused to deliver more, despite Yun Yang's cajoling. It could almost be heard saying, "Enough, that's really enough..."

"Not only are you a thief, you're a stingy miser as well!" Yun Yang said in disgust.

Admittedly, the air of vitality that poured forth from Emmie was immensely potent. Even though it was only a sliver, Yun Yang could sense the man's labored breathing had become easier and his pulse strengthen. His pallor had also improved within that short span of time.

While waiting for the man to regain consciousness, Yun Yang cultivated. The Thousand Illusion Monkey and five kittens ambled over to his side while he went through the motions. A monkey, one Lightning Cat, and four higher level mystical beast babies squeezed together, looking for all the world like a united and harmonious family.

It was some time later when the man on the bed asked in a weak voice, "Where... is this?"

Yun Yang stopped his practice and looked over. The man was already awake and had his eyes opened, his gaze moving about with difficulty to take in his surroundings.

"This is my home. You have been heavily injured. Rest well, since you have just woken up," Yun Yang replied.

"Thank... you!" the man gasped.

"No worries." Yun Yang stood up. "I perform but a small kindness. Be at ease."

He then left the room. Although he knew that this person could be an expert, Yun Yang was unwilling to let his guard down before knowing this mysterious individual's name or background.

...

Under the flower canopy, Yun Yang sipped slowly at his cup of tea.

Lao Mei was cultivating in the room by the side, as mystical Qi could be felt wafting into the air in gentle waves. The sun hung low in the evening sky, the setting ball of light painting the land in brilliant crimson. A gush of wind brought about a fresh fragrance, as Ji Ling's slim silhouette appeared beside Yun Yang. She looked at him curiously, "Are you brooding all by yourself out here?"

Yun Yang replied, "Yes, because I knew you would seek me out."

Ji Ling chuckled after a momentary loss of speech at his audacity, "It's still acceptable if you claimed that you were watching over your manservant who is cultivating. To say that I must be looking for you? Why, Young Master Yun, you'd have to polish up your lying skills."

Yun Yang remained stoic as he asked, "If you were not looking for me, why are you here at this hour?"

Ji Ling stomped her foot in exasperation, "Fine! I was indeed looking for you."

Yun Yang's eyebrow rose. "What is it?"

Ji Ling brows furrowed in confusion as she said, "There are a few things that I don't quite fathom."

Yun Yang replied, "Correct me if I am wrong, but is it not true that there are three separate conundrums that you can't make sense of?"

Ji Ling retorted in disbelief, "Oh? You know what it is that I don't understand?"

Yun Yang pursed his lips before responding, "First, you are wondering why did I get into a conflict with Ximen Wandai. Based on my acute judgment, experience, and intelligence, it was impossible that I didn't know who he was before he introduced himself. Why then did I still decide to take him on?"

Despite herself, Ji Ling nodded in agreement. "Exactly! You are certainly not a brash person."

Yun Yang smiled knowingly and continued, "Second, you are wondering why I did not back down, even after Ximen Wandai asserted his identity, and even made matters worse by claiming my prizes and further offending the Ximen family."

Ji Ling was increasingly amazed. "Yes, yes!"

"Lastly, it is obvious that I do not own a ninth level mystical beast offspring, but I said otherwise to Ximen Wandai and got myself into a wager. As a result, plenty of people now think that I possess a ninth level mystical beast and some of these are dangerous men. The Residence of Yun and I might be placed in a situation of extreme danger, at the heart of the maelstrom. You must be curious as to why I did that."

Yun Yang's tone was calm and collected as he rattled off what he knew was on Ji Ling's mind.

"These people who think I own a ninth level mystical beast would definitely think of ways and means to take it away from me, while my abilities are depleted so badly that I would never be able to fight them off if they tried. I may have endangered my entire family, and you would like to know why I would do such a thing." Yun Yang said with a hint of a smile. Under the illumination of the moon, his smile actually looked as untainted as moonbeams.

Ji Ling was flabbergasted, "Spot on! You knew all this, and yet you went ahead and did it! How could you defend yourself against the top eight families? Are you a madman who has a death wish?"

Yun Yang only smiled and kept silent.

"Well, why did you do it?" Ji Ling was growing increasingly perplexed; she had always figured that Yun Yang acted with an underlying motive. However, despite wracking her brain to the point of insensibility, she still could not reason out what drove Yun Yang's actions, and how he planned to manage the aftermath. Dignity lost to overwhelming curiosity, and she had come over to find out what she could. Who would have known that this man could be so reticent; she had half a mind to clobber that smug smile off his face!

"If I can't take it, there's still you, isn't there?" Yun Yang smiled.

"I won't care!" Ji Ling eyes were dangerously narrowed, "Stop beating around the bush, speak the truth."

"Do you really wish to know?" Yun Yang finally turned around and gazed at her with brevity.

"Yes!" Ji Ling, yelled in frustration.

"In that case, I won't be telling you..." Yun Yang beamed affably.

"You!" Ji Ling finally exploded, sending a stone stool flying with a well-placed kick. "Argh! You are going to be the death of me!"

Yun Yang laughed out loud at her response. To Ji Ling, it was the type of laugh that begged for a strategic blow right between the eyes.

Inwardly, Yun Yang felt helpless too. It was indeed his intention to offend the Ximen family and spread the rumors about his ownership of a ninth level mystical beast.

However, his real motives had to be kept under lock and key for now.

...

"If I wanted to tackle something as titanic as the Four Seasons Tower, I would first have to step up my own game." Yun Yang had never wavered in this belief. Ever since he had learned of the existence of the Four Seasons Tower, and that his eight hundred subordinates and eight brothers had died as a result of its schemes, Yun Yang had decided on his next course of action.

Facing it head on was out of the question.

Even if the Nine Supremes were resurrected and gathered together to unleash each of their phenomenal powers, they would still be an unworthy opponent to this mysterious Four Seasons Tower. If the whole Empire of Yutang had united to attempt a strike on the Four Seasons Tower, it was still impossible to uproot this mysterious organization. Shrouded in secrecy and mystery, no one knew who belonged to the Four Seasons Tower.

Since then, Yun Yang had settled on his plan.

"My identity as Supreme Cloud can never be exposed. My life as Yun Yang, however, is remarkably peaceful. Therefore, I shall first place myself in a perilous situation."

"If I were to perish in the stormy waves, so be it."

"However, if I am able to emerge unscathed, I'd be all the stronger for it. Besides, 'ninth level mystical beast' - these four words alone would attract numerous influential families and invoke plenty of mayhem. I would then be able to utilize and manipulate these situations to my advantage!"

"It's up to me to use them in the best manner possible."

Yun Yang had a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

"Walking the tightrope is something I do too much of!"

...

On that very same night, seven young masters gathered in Yun Yang's courtyard. All had shown up with glee in their eyes, and their enthusiasm was unfeigned. It had become common knowledge that Yun Yang had amassed a respectable amount of fortune for himself.

"Brothers, I have called you all here to consider a deal," Yun Yang smiled and lifted his goblet. "Before we go any further, let us drink to bright future together!"

"Cheers!" All seven young masters roared in unison before draining their cups in a single gulp.

"As you must know, I have just won two seventh-grade mystical pills, five hundred mystical stones, and thirty mystical stones." Yun Yang counted them off one by one. "I wish to keep three hundred of those mystical stones, so I would naturally require the services of my brothers to trade the remaining two hundred stone. I would also like to keep twenty of the mystical crystals, and that would mean I would need your help with the remaining ten."

The seven young master's' eyes glinted collectively in avarice.

What a windfall indeed!

"For all of these, I only need three million gold taels. The rest of the profit from their sale, well, I suggest that it be divided among my seven brothers here." Yun Yang smiled ruefully, "In any case, I've blackmailed you all several times in the past, it would be about time that I let you in on the cut."

He didn't bother to sugarcoat his words, and oddly enough, his directness caused the gathered young masters' eyes to shine even brighter.

It would be totally worth it to have these things at their own disposal even if they did not manage to sell them off!

The two seventh-grade mystical pills alone would cost millions of gold taels, and that would be a prudent estimation. Two hundred mystical stones could go for ten thousand gold taels a piece, was the word was spread. As for the remaining ten mystical crystals, whatever profit they gained from the sale would be all theirs!

Yun Yang was practically giving each of them an opportunity to earn at least twenty million gold taels each, and that would only be a reserved approximation! When their initial surprise had passed, however, they began to scratch their head in confusion.

In all their years of knowing him, Yun Yang had never been this generous. Why the sudden change?

"Young Master Yun, why do you do this?" Young Master Ling had his mouth agape. "You'll definitely receive the short end of the stick!"

"Incorrect. We will all profit from this." Yun Yang smiled warmly, "Is it so surprising that I would wish to give something back, after all the things that I've taken from you in the past? There will be no such thing as a shorter end or loss. Of course, besides this, it'd be enough for me if your families' nexuses could do me a favor when I need it. Would you be agreeable to this?"

The seven young masters looked at each other, all of them knowing what was on the other person's mind and nodded simultaneously, "Deal!"

Although they all knew that Young Master Yun would never suffer losses in his dealings, this arrangement was still immensely desirable. He had only asked for a favor from their families' nexuses in return for giving out such a large portion of the pie!

Even if Yun Yang asked for a favor in the future that would far exceed the gain now, they would be true to their word and honor the request when the time came.

Yun Yang smiled in satisfaction.

"It's simple." Yun Yang explained "As for these three million taels of gold, there are two methods for you to provide recompense. First, you can give me part of the total and then the remainder of the amount only after you have sold the goods. The second method is simpler; all of your seven families can combine and return to me the full sum. As for how you sell the goods and how much you sell them for, it will no longer be any of my business!"

The seven young masters shared a look again. Yun Yang's suggestions held an underlying meaning. The first meant that he would be supervising; the second, he would let it all go.

Who would be willing to have someone monitor their every move?

"We choose the second option!" Young Master Ma jumped up, "Young Master Yun, we shall send the gold over to you this very night!"

"Splendid!"

How these seven families divided the resources was none of Yun Yang's concern. His only responsibility was to give them the goods. For the whole night, all seven young masters were engaged in a heated debate, each of them arguing and ultimately shaking hands with each other unwillingly. They then plastered on a simpering smile for Yun Yang and went back home to prepare the gold taels.

All their family guards were already marshaled in front of the Residence of Yun. They didn't' dare to keep such valuable gems in their pockets and walk home without any protection. Even if the world was at peace, the seven young masters would not have been able to muster up the courage, so splendid was their newfound wealth.

Before midnight came, three million gold taels had already been delivered to Yun Yang. They were all real gold, not the banknotes that Yun Yang had resolutely refused to accept.

The gold taels formed a large, glittering pile and the Residence of Yun's backyard was illuminated by the shimmering splendor of wealth!