Ten days later, at the border between Heaven Dou City and the Kem Plain near Yunlin City, two black-robed figures arrived at the city gate. One of them looked up at the ancient walls. Moss clung to the stone, giving the city an air of long history. Yunlin City was merely a minor city in the ancient Lei Kingdom under Heaven Dou rule—barely known even within its own kingdom, let alone the empire. Yet it was one of Lin Yang's targets this time.
"Yunlin City. This is the place," he murmured. "Let's hope we find something worthwhile. Move."
The black-robed man behind him gave a low grunt that sounded like bones grinding.
They rested one night in the city. The next morning Lin Yang casually asked directions and headed east. Bai Family Village lay in the eastern suburbs. The scenery was almost identical to Hongfeng Village—neat fields, scattered houses, crisscrossing paths, the occasional crow of a rooster or bark of a dog, thin smoke rising from chimneys. An ordinary, slightly prosperous village. No one would ever guess a soul-master clan lived here.
According to the Ye family's intelligence, one of the four great factions of the Clear Sky Sect—the Speed Clan—had made Bai Family Village its base. Their situation differed from Shrek Academy's. Flender had chosen a cheap village because he was stingy and broke. The Speed Clan, however, had chosen poverty out of pride. They refused Spirit Hall subsidies and gradually isolated themselves after their entanglement with the Clear Sky Sect. Life was a constant struggle, yet still far better than that of ordinary villagers.
Lin Yang had come for one thing: the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng in Bai He's possession. Born at the eighth grade, it could evolve into a ninth-grade Ginseng King after ten thousand years.
He walked openly into the village. Villagers quickly noticed the strangers. A middle-aged man in his thirties or forties stepped forward, blocking the path. His steps were silent and traceless—clear proof of deep cultivation.
"Who are you? What business do you have in Bai Family Village?"
Lin Yang smiled and produced a card engraved with a butterfly emblem. "We are from the Butterfly House. We wish to pay our respects to the clan head and conduct a transaction."
Butterfly House? The man's expression shifted. Everyone knew the Butterfly House's reputation. "Soul Return" and "Soul Burn" potions were its products. It was allied with the Haitang Xi family and backed by a Titled Douluo. No one dared offend such power.
"Please wait. I will inform the clan head."
The man vanished in a blur—pure speed, not teleportation. Lin Yang clicked his tongue. "What a waste if someone that fast isn't a delivery rider."
The Speed Clan were the continent's finest scouts, yet Lin Yang had zero interest in cooperating with them. Their ties to the Clear Sky Sect and the Tang family were too delicate. He wanted nothing to do with political games. Besides, Kaigaku and Doma already had children carrying Demon blood. Absolute loyalty mattered; Wind Falcon scouts loyal only to him were far more useful.
Less than fifteen seconds later the man reappeared, face flushed with enthusiasm. "Please follow me."
They were led to a spacious courtyard in the village center. The guide announced their arrival. A strong, resonant voice answered from within: "Enter!"
Inside, an elderly man sat in the seat of honor—tall, thin, perfectly proportioned, snow-white hair cascading down his back, exuding an immortal, carefree aura. Beside him stood a tall, strikingly beautiful girl roughly Lin Yang's age. She stared at him openly, arrogance mixed with curiosity. She was not interested in Lin Yang personally—only in outsiders in general.
Lin Yang instantly recognized them: Bai He, clan leader of the Speed Clan, and his granddaughter Bai Chenxiang.
"Lieutenant Lin Yang greets Clan Leader Bai He."
The moment he heard the name, Bai He stiffened. "You… are Lin Yang?"
The Speed Clan had never completely cut ties with the outside world. They knew Lin Yang's Heaven Dou team had crushed the Spirit Hall squad at the Elite Tournament. Bai He had celebrated by eating an extra pig's trotter. He had never expected the boy to appear in person.
Lin Yang guessed his thoughts. Black light flashed; a flying sword appeared in his hand. Four soul rings—two yellow, two purple—rose beneath his feet. Sheath-type external soul bone, four-ring Soul Elder, Butterfly House affiliation—everything matched. But the soul-power fluctuation… had he already become a Soul King?
Bai He was inwardly shocked, yet his expression remained calm. "Please sit. Xiangxiang, serve tea."
Bai Chenxiang stared a moment longer, then poured tea. Lin Yang sipped the ordinary flower tea without complaint.
Bai He stroked his beard. "Young man, you said you wished to trade with me. Explain."
Lin Yang set down his cup. "Clan Leader Bai He, the Butterfly House and the Ye family currently enjoy a cooperative relationship. I heard from the Ye family that you are interested in selling high-quality ginseng. Our Butterfly House has built its fortune on medicine; we are always hungry for rare ingredients. If you are willing to part with it, I can offer a very satisfactory price."
Bai He understood at once. He had spread rumors before, but he had never imagined the Ye family would learn of them—or that they would reach Lin Yang. This youth was straightforward. He had traveled all this way for a simple transaction.
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