Chapter 930: Bloodworms

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"So let me get this straight. Gu Yifan wants to make a deal with me, the Soaring Sword for his son. But since Shangguan clan has him confined, he sent you as messenger?"

Three days later, at the Flying Cloud manor, in the dazzling hall to be precise, Baili Jingwei was in the main chair, sipping his tea and muttering. His eyes shone while staring forward, Shangguan Feiyun and Danqing Shen at his sides.

A shivering, distraught and familiar guy, also covered with wounds, was fighting to keep his composure as he just stood there.

He kept on shivering and looking worried as he bobbed his head, "He really asked me to pass this message. Here's a jade slip he personally made if you don't believe me. It also holds his soul signature."

Shangguan Yulin presented it with shaky hands and Baili Jingwei casually took it. He nodded to Shangguan Feiyun, "It's Gu Yifan's alright. He wants us to meet up a hundred miles from here on Flourishing Mountain."

"Tch, what an utter waste of time. Back when he was here, he said he wanted to give the divine sword for his kid but then he just ran off. Now he makes the request himself? Humph, I can't tell if he's brilliant or boneheaded."

Shangguan Feiyun read the jade slip as well and just threw it to Danqing Shen.

It looked as if Zhuo Fan was giving up with this message, but only Baili Jingwei could read between the lines, "You can't say that, not when Gu Yifan is so sharp. A man of character doesn't take risks. With how we had them surrounded before, if the exchange took place, he'd never be at ease. He wouldn't accept it even if I came to another place. But then he comes back with this proposal which means he made himself an exit again; quite sensible. Now he must be thinking how to taunt both sides into fighting so he could slip away."

"Humph, as if that'll work. Hasn't he had enough toying with me and now he comes back for more?" Shangguan Feiyun mocked, his eyes spewing flames of rage. The humiliation of being made to play catch was still fresh in his mind.

Baili Jingwei had an explanation for that too, his eyes shining, "Sword King Feiyun, don't let emotions cloud your judgment. We're after the Shangguan clan in the end. Now we just have to get the Soaring Sword and there's no harm if he uses us once more. Not since it'll work in our favor, ha-ha-ha...

"Only..."

Baili Jingwei's collected smile showed his decision was made, but then his sharp eyes landed on Shangguan Yulin below, making him reel under the intense gaze. "There's something I can't figure out, young master Shangguan. Sure, asking for the Shangguan clan to release you sounds fair, but there's only bad blood between you two. Not even desperate times warrant him trustworthy. Does he actually trust you so much to send his message? This involves his son, after all.."

Shangguan Yulin grimaced, bowing before them with a distraught face, "Prime Minister is correct, the guy never trusted me. That's why he left something in my body. Look!"

Shangguan Yulin showed his arm.

The trio's eyes twitched at once, their heartbeat spiking. Shangguan Yulin's arm had something foul and vile wiggling under his skin, like hundreds of worms fighting to come out.

Shangguan Feiyun yanked his wrist and checked with his Yuan Qi, but the discovery had him gasping.

"Damn, you're a nest for worms now?"

Shangguan Feiyun's face shook hard, pointing at him, "This guy has thousands of bloody worms borrowed inside him that just won't die. Not even my Yuan Qi had any effect on them. This is freaky!"

The other two regarded him gravely.

Once the disgusting arm was back under wraps, Shangguan Yulin's pale face looked astonished. "Prime Minister, now you see why he let me come? He knocked me out throughout the process, only for me to wake up and realize my body was swarming with these putrid maggots. He told me they're Bloodworms, like Marrow Burrowing Maggots. Only he or my body's destruction will release me of these things."

"But giving up my body will mean a decrease in cultivation and halt in progress. He only had me deliver a message, something I found wholly beneath the worth of ruining my future. Now if you agree, I still have to get back with the answer. He only gave me ten days before the worms act up and feast on my blood essence. That'll ruin my body!"

Baili Jingwei nodded at Shangguan Yulin's whining like an old biddy, his doubts removed and now believing in the letter.

"Who'd have thought an alchemist like Gu Yifan would be capable of such nasty business." Shangguan Feiyun huffed.

Baili Jingwei nodded, "All men of renown have walked over thousands of corpses to get where they are since time immemorial. A true man knows when to act and be decisive. It'd be so much easier to handle Gu Yifan if he were kinder. At least we didn't need to be so wary of him."

"Young master Yulin, there's just something that evades my understanding. I hope you can clear it up for me."

Baili Jingwei began, "Since Shangguan clan let you go, they must've gotten ready for it. I'm sorry to say but they switched places the moment you left, since no one trusts you and all. So then, how are you going to get back to Gu Yifan?"

Shangguan Yulin bowed, "Prime Minister, I cannot find him, but we have a meeting spot where he can find me. He just has to pick up the reply I'll leave him there and he'll release control of the Bloodworms. As for removing them, that will have to wait for after the exchange takes place."

"That's quite cautious of him, unafraid you might botch it and even giving you a sliver of hope so you'd follow through. A truly pragmatic man who knows when to act in his benefit. His methods are terribly effective.

Baili Jingwei turned to his left and right, "Sword Kings, do you have any questions?"

Shangguan Feiyun and Danqing Shen shook their heads, speaking at once, "Prime Minister's decision is enough. We have nothing to add."

"Great, that settles it then. Regardless of the Soaring Sword's location and whether Gu Yifan's intentions are real in this exchange, I still want to try, ha-ha-ha..."

Baili Jingwei's eyes shone as he laughed. He took out a jade slip and put something in it before giving it to Shangguan Yulin. "Young master, here's my reply. Take it to Gu Yifan. I accept his offer and we'll meet in half a month!"

Shangguan Yulin gave a deep bow as he took it, though he looked hesitant standing in the same spot.

Baili Jingwei asked, "Aren't you on the clock? What's holding you back from finishing your mission?"

"Prime Minister, well, Gu Yifan has another matter for sending me. Its conclusion will decide whether Prime Minister's reply feels honest to him or not, if he would come or not."

"And what's that?" Baili Jingwei followed.

Shangguan Yulin began, "Prime Minister, I would like to see if his son is safe."

"Absurd! A felon like him will get his son only when he gives the Soaring Sword! Why on earth will I reveal his location to that bastard beforehand? You take me for a three-year-old, using slick words to get me to spill his location so you could bust him out?"

Shangguan Feiyun snapped in rage.

Shangguan Yulin sighed, "Uncle Feiyun, please don't be angry with me. I don't want to see the brat either. But that's what Gu Yifan said. If his son is dead, then the Soaring Sword exchange will go to the dogs."

"Goddamn it! Who are you calling a dog?"

"No, no no, uncle, that's not me, but Gu Yifan's words."

Shangguan Feiyun exploded in rage and power, making Shangguan Yulin shudder and turn frantic in explaining himself.

[Curse you, Gu Yifan! You have me go send a message and even mock the other. Now my head is on the line while you're just laid back home.]

[The only reason I'm doing this job for you is because of those damn Bloodworms!]

All he could do now was brace, "Uncle, please calm down. It's quite normal for a father to miss his son after such a long time and be concerned about him, ha-ha-ha."

Shangguan Feiyun sighed and nodded.

Baili Jingwei's eyes shone, never leaving Shangguan Yulin out of sight as his lips curled dangerously...