Chapter 219: Why is the Smoke Black?

Yun Yang replied nonchalantly, "It's reasonable that Your Highness has heard of this person. This person is no ordinary scholar; he is the father figure of Empire of Yutang's literati and the assisting official for three generations of emperors - he is nothing if not well known!"

First Court King Qinguang looked at Yun Yang suspiciously, vaguely feeling like this fellow was digging a pit, waiting for him to jump in but he did not know where the pit was.

This He Hanqing as the leader of Empire of Yutang's literati and assisting official of three generations of emperor and whatnot was perhaps an impressive figure in the imperial court but he was an old scholar after all to First Court King Qinguang. What was so great about him!

"Let me go back and check with the Concourse of the Underworld's special class name list."

First Court King went about the matter carefully and replied, "As long as there's no problem with the crosscheck, I will undertake this job for you."

"Big brother, do you still have to check this petty matter? I thought it can be set right now and it'll be done when you leave later... Your Highness First Court King Qinguang, your daring resolution... tsk tsk, if this were to spread, it would sound rather poorly for you," Yun Yang said with a roll of his eyes.

King Qinguang actually blushed then, saying, "This is the Concourse of the Underworld's practice. No matter what mission we encounter, we have to check it first. This is an assassin's responsibility, to be safe when we do things; what's so embarrassing about it?"

"But as a legendary assassin, you still have so many apprehensions in accepting a small deal..." Yun Yang sighed saying, "First Court King Qinguang, I know an assassination organization requires absolute discipline and there are some prohibited figures or missions that can't be accepted."

First Court King nodded adamantly. "It's rare that Young Master Yun knows about it too; the rules of our expertise render us helpless sometimes. It's true that there are things we can't do and missions we can't accept, there are people who we can't kill as well. Once we so much as lay a finger on the person, it easily brings a load of trouble to our organization - perhaps a calamity that might even end us all."

Yun Yang replied, "But this list of names of these dangerous figures must be regarded highly by the Concourse of the Underworld. The higher-ups must be absolutely familiar with it."

"Of course," King Qinguang agreed.

"This means that the Concourse of the Underworld's leading figures such as the Ten Court Kings should always remember the list of names at any time, right?"

"I can take it as these people's names have all been memorized by heart and all of you will remember that they can't be accepted in a deal once someone mentions their names?" Yun Yang continued.

After some thought, First Court King answered, "Correct. There are only that handful of people we can't kill in this world; at least to the Concourse of the Underworld, they are few and far in between!"

As he spoke, a look of pride was etched on his face.

Yun Yang pursed his lips and said, "Then I'm curious... Your Highness First Court King Qinguang, as an absolute higher-up of Concourse of the Underworld, how can you not know if He Hanqing is in the list of names or not? Do you really have to go back to crosscheck? Or is my understanding flawed?"

First Court King Qinguang scratched his head. "That name is probably not there. I don't have an impression of that name indeed! I just thought it's rather familiar..."

"Is it? Since it's not on the list, he's someone you can kill. Is there a need to go back and verify it?" Yun Yang continued slowly.

King Qinguang shook his head then nodded dumbly.

"Since you know that the list doesn't have this name... and Your Highness King Qinguang says to go back and check instead..."

Yun Yang's expression turned cold and distant as he said faintly, "Your Highness, are you rejecting me in a roundabout way or do you not want to help at all? Perhaps you don't want to give me that discount and spoil the Concourse of the Underworld's other regulations?"

"Young Master Yun's words are too harsh. You and I feel like we've long been friends and I very much like you." First Court King scratched his head again.

Yun Yang waved his hands and said with a straight face, "Don't, don't say it so nicely. Since Your Highness King Qinguang can't decide on this, do take your leave soon then. I shall look for someone else. I hope Your Highness won't expose this matter with regard to the rules in the world of hired kills; I, Yun Yang, shall be immensely grateful then!"

King Qinguang's mouth was agape.

"Send the guest!" Yun Yang stood up coldly and raised his teacup. "I still have other matters to attend to, and as such, I wouldn't be good company. Please feel free to help yourself, Your Highness."

He left after finishing his words like he did not want to stay even a minute longer.

First Court King Qinguang felt his mind going blank.

Is this fellow being too practical? He was still negotiating the deal a moment earlier with smiles than when he heard I can't do it the next moment...

No! I didn't say I can't do it; I just said I have to check and verify it.

How can he turn hostile and start chasing me out!

Is your face a curtain? Pulling a long one whenever when you want to?

"Young Master Yun!" First Court King Qinguang 's pride was attacked pretty badly. With his status, how could he have been stepped over like this? His pride took over as he hollered, "We can still talk about this deal."

Yun Yang's steps did not halt. "For what? Since Your Highness can't decide, it's better for me to change to another organization, find someone who can decide when discussing the deal. Otherwise, we'll just be wasting each other's time. I'm a popinjay, it doesn't matter much to me but Your Highness is such a busy person, you have to verify information with a crosscheck; how dare I delay you?"

Can't I decide? What's there in the Concourse of the Underworld that can't be decided by me?

First Court King Qinguang felt anger rushing into him as he said loudly, "Deal! The Concourse of the Underworld will take up this deal!"

Yun Yang who was already a dozen steps away stopped at once and turned around; the smile he wore was gentle, friendly, and courteous. "Aye, if so, I'll first wish that we work together happily then. Yun Yang knew that Your Highness is an easygoing person. You didn't know it, you and I felt like friends for a long time; I took a liking to you the moment I saw you. This is probably what they say about feeling like old friends despite only a short encounter!"

King Qinguang's mouth was still agape, the cogs in his brain could not turn properly looking at Yun Yang.

What - what is the situation now? A few seconds ago, you were enraged and fuming, ready to leave; how can you talk about working together happily now?

He was indeed Tiantang City's Young Master Yun, the figurehead of a bustling city. Just his cultivation base of changing his face... If changing one's facial expression and emotion could be a mystical skill, this Young Master Yun must be peerless and at the top of the peak when placed in the martial arts world!

"Then let's talk about the price." Yun Yang's chortle was light and easy as he said, "It's one thing that we take a liking to each other - short reckonings make long friends. Just give me a price, Your Highness. I won't bargain no matter what the digits are just because you've been so easygoing!"

First Court King Qinguang scratched his head and said, "Under normal circumstances..."

"Does the discount Your Highness mentioned just now still apply?" Yun Yang asked grinning.

Discount... King Qinguang felt his brain slowly melting under the incredulity he was feeling.

You just said you won't bargain and here you are asking for a discount... What kind of person are you?

Sighing internally, First Court King said, "Although He Hanqing is an aged scholar, he's still a teacher to three generations of the emperor, a chief figure of the literati. Just from this, the Concourse of the Underworld will have to bear a huge risk and... face the Empire of Yutang's interrogation... This price won't be low."

The king made a mental calculation and said, "Back in earlier years, we accepted a mission to ambush one of the Empire of Ziyou's Presidents. We charged five hundred thousand silver taels then..."

Yun Yang hummed but did not say anything, his expression stoic.

King Qinguang clenched his teeth and said, "But so long has passed so the price will have already been raised. With reference to the price of assassinating the President of a nation... one million silver taels?"

Yun Yang snapped his fingers easily and agreed, "Deal! Eight hundred thousand silver taels it shall be! I will pass you the banknotes right now. An easygoing person, easygoing decision, and easygoing vibe - you're happy and I'm happy!"

"Eight hundred thousand taels?" First Court King Qinguang's eyes widened. He was suddenly confused. Did he say one million or eight hundred thousand just now?

Yun Yang smiled amicably. "Thank you for Your Highness' discount that saves me a whopping two hundred thousand silver taels! It'd be disrespectful of me to refuse but I find myself unworthy to accept it. How about this - I shall buy dinner tonight, what does Your Highness want to eat?"

His Highness King Qinguang's eyes were wide, unblinking as he really wanted to say that the one million silver taels he mentioned was already the discounted price.

Looking Yun Yang's sincerely beaming face, how could he still utter those words?

He accepted the payment in confusion and took out the Concourse of the Underworld's contract; upon signing their mark, a droplet of blooming blood turned into black smoke with the oath and soared into the sky...

The contract was immediately effective.

The corners of King Qinguang's lips were quivering as he looked at the black smoke rising into the sky.

This isn't right!

It was only a contract to kill an old scholar - why was Underworld's black smoke rising? This was a contract of a premium oath acknowledged by God's will and formed with a mystique method...

Logically, it should only be exuding a white smoke.

Even when he had accepted a mission to kill someone like Bai Yixue, the smoke was only green in color... Why was it black now?

Could it be that He Hanqing had another identity other than being the father figure of literati and assisting the officials of three generations?

The contract had already become effective though, no one could back away from it; otherwise, the heaven's punishment would fall upon the contract bearer. First Court King Qinguang grumbled in his heart and prayed silently, "Perhaps this person is too important to Empire of Yutang... Let's hope so!"

"Come, come, I shall be your host for tonight!" Yun Yang invited him with passion, "I know that Your Highness' status is unsuitable to have a meal in the public's eyes... Lao Mei, Lao Mei!"

"Go to the best restaurant, order the best dish, pick the best wine! I shall host His Highness King Qinguang tonight, we must have a good drinking session," Yun Yang said generously.

"There is no need for that."

First Court King Qinguang was already alarmed, impatiently wanting to return to crosscheck his list to see what sort of mission he had actually accepted. How would he have the mood to stay for wine?