Stranger Danger

Translator's Note: So, I noticed that paragraphs - especially the dialogues - are clumped up together even though they are separated in GDoc. Unfortunately, I uploaded like a hundred chapters before I noticed something was wrong. I'm hoping that it would untangle itself when the chapter is published, but honestly I'm not feeling confident. If you guys notice something like that, please please please absolutely report it in the comments. I'm doing my best to untangle them but there's just so many. Apologies and thank you in advance!

A man was at his scariest when he hadn't taken action; his strongest when he was still an unknown.

Once his strength was figured out, then he would lose the veil of mystique. He would no longer appear mysterious, worrisome, or terrifying.

That was why Xuan Youxuan did not want to fight Wei Duanliu unless absolutely necessary.

"Brother Wei, everyone knows that Yuan Budong is already dead. Are you sure you're not mistaken about this?"

"Yeah, Brother Wei. Why cause all this tension when we can talk this out peacefully?"

"There must be a misunderstanding, Brother Wei. Let's all sit down and talk this out like gentlemen, shall we?"

......

It was at this moment five people riding auspicious clouds, gusts of wind, or rainbows flew over to them.

"Who are you people?"

Wei Duanliu looked at them and asked.

"I am Walking Panacea of the Divine Doctor Valley."

"I am Nine Blades of Sorrow of the Spirit Firmament Abode."

"I am Son of Five Sounds of the Palace Business Island. Well met, Islet Lord Wei."

"I am Disheveled Taoist. Well met, Islet Lord Wei."

"I am Tang Yuan. Well met, Islet Lord Wei."

The five men all saluted Wei Duanliu and revealed their identities and backgrounds.

Wei Duanliu was scratching his ear and looking distracted though. When they were finally finished, he said bluntly, "Never heard of you people."

"You—"

The five men looked like they had just eaten a fly.

Everyone in the Residence of Gods was at least a Trueman or Grandmaster. Naturally, these five men were no exception. Walking Panacea especially was a Great Trueman. They might not compare to Wei Duanliu, but they were definitely famous, recognizable people. They were not nearly as invisible as Wei Duanliu was pretending they were.

Clearly, Wei Duanliu was humiliating them.

"You're pushing it, Islet Lord Wei. We may not be as famous and recognizable as you, but that doesn't mean you may humiliate us as you please," Walking Panacea said coldly.

Walking Panacea looked to be in his fifties or sixties. His hair and beard were white, and he was dressed in rags. Despite this, his complexion was rosy, and his skin was smooth and supple like a baby's.

Maybe it was because he held an authoritative position for many years, but he naturally gave off an intimidating pressure when he was angry.

"So what if I'm humiliating you?"

Wei Duanliu wasn't afraid in the slightest though. "You are the valley lord of the Divine Doctor Valley, but instead of ruminating on how to serve humanity to the best of your abilities or slaying the Strangers of Rakshasa, you instead come here and spend all of your money on luxuries and debaucheries. Where is your shame, old man? Can you even get erect down there considering how old you are?"

"You... you... How dare you humiliate me like this! I will bring this up to Island Lord Nie for sure!"

Walking Panacea was so furious that his complexion was beet red, and his hair and beard were flapping.

Walking Panacea might look fifty or sixty years old only, but he was really one hundred and fifty six years old, meaning that he was older than Wei Duanliu and technically his senior. It was just that members of Divine Doctor Valley were very skilled in the art of maintaining one's health and youth.

Besides that, he was the valley lord of the Divine Doctor Valley. Although the Divine Doctor Valley was no match for top-tier factions such as the Southern Sea Sword Sect, Floating Light Celestial Island and so on, that didn't mean they were weak. In fact, they were affiliated with many factions and elite warriors because they were a medical sect. Most of the people he ever encountered treated him with the utmost respect, and they had definitely never insulted him like this. Naturally, Walking Panacea was feeling quite humiliated and furious.

That said, he wasn't stupid enough to attack Wei Duanliu. He was a medical practitioner, not a fighter. As if that wasn't enough, his cultivation level was inferior to Wei Duanliu's as well. To attack him was to attack himself.

"Hah. Another one? Do you think you're three years old or something?"

Wei Duanliu intentionally shot Star Harvester a look when he said this. "Fight me if you dare. If you win, then forget apologizing, you can even have my head. I swear I won't blink."

"You... you... Unreasonable! Simply unreasonable!"

Walking Panacea let out an angry shout and turned away. "I will remember this, Wei Duanliu. I will be sure to report to the Profound Alliance and make you pay!"

"Hahaha, sure," Wei Duanliu replied uncaringly. "Man, he truly has nothing besides his age. The older he got, the more childish he became."

He then looked at Star Harvester again and asked, "Say, do you want to go with Walking Panacea? You might as well keep each other company and discuss how best to sue me."

Star Harvester's face darkened as he looked away from Wei Duanliu.I don't care that you're insulting others, but why do you keep dragging me into it?

"What about you guys? Are you going to sue, or are you going to fight me?"

Wei Duanliu looked at the remaining four men, all of which were exchanging glances with each other. Although they were Truemen, they did not possess Walking Panacea's background or reputation. Now, Walking Panacea had stomped off because of Wei Duanliu. They did not think they could do better than Walking Panacea, so of course they weren't going to humiliate themselves.

Unfortunately, they couldn't just leave either. There was nothing more a member of thejianghuvalued more than their face. If they lose face, then it was akin to losing what made them humans.

In the end, it was the most appealing-looking one of them all, Son of Five Sounds, who forced himself to speak up, "We don't mean ill, Islet Lord Wei. We are simply trying to assist you in resolving the misunderstanding and keeping the peace!"

"Hmph! There is no misunderstanding. Also, this isourbusiness, not yours. Stop sticking your nose into matters you don't belong to if you don't want to be used and tossed away later."

Wei Duanliu huffed before turning his attention back to Xuan Youxuan. "Xuan Youxuan, for your sake, I'll repeat myself once more. Surrender Yuan Budong, or don't blame me for what comes next."

Xuan Youxuan's expression was no longer warm or kind. It had grown cold and murderous. "Must you become an enemy of the City of No Return, Islet Lord Wei?"

Wei Duanliu matched every Xuan Youxuan's increase in pressure every step of the way, not giving even an inch of ground. "I don't want to become an enemy of the City of No Return, nor do I care to. You are the ones who insist on skewering yourself on my fists."

The atmosphere was never more tense than it was now.

......

"Do you think a fight will break out?"

The City of No Return, Taotie Street, at a restaurant named Falling Snow Restaurant, Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou were sitting at a table and facing each other.

Falling Snow Restaurant earned its name because snow literally fell inside the restaurant. Those sitting in private or luxury rooms could sit around a red mud furnace boiling tea or wine while admiring the beautiful scenery outside their windows. It was a place where one could enjoy the beauty and comfort of winter no matter the season.

A good drink complemented by beautiful scenery, and a good dish complemented by an exquisite concept equaled sublime enjoyment.

But of course, the price was stupid expensive.

One pot of Snowfall Brew cost thirty gold pearls.

One plate of cedarwood mushrooms cost twenty gold pearls.

One plate of plum blossom pastry cost fifteen gold pearls.

......

To borrow Feng Qingyou's words, this wasn't food or wine they were consuming. It was gold. Shiny, valuable gold.

Right now though, neither man nor woman was paying attention to the delicious meal in front of them. Their attention was on the stand-off in the sky.

For those on the ground, they could barely see what was happening in the Residence of Gods due to the sheer distance between them. However, Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou could see them as clear as day.

This was what they were hoping to happen. It would be even better if they could start fighting already.

Feng Qingyou replied, "No, they won't. Not until they found Yuan Budong at least."

"A shame." Ye Qing sighed. "Should we enter the stage then?"

If a fight was on the horizon, then they could afford to wait a little more before taking action. But if a fight wasn't going to happen, then now was the best time to move. If the clown show finished before they could do anything, then they would have missed their best opportunity.