Path of the Lilies: Early Beginnings

The Village Head didn't immediately excuse them. He looked at the three of them one by one as if he was scrutinizing them.     

Ye Jiao didn't know what this Village Head wanted from them again. He was looking at the two of them.     

"Is there anything your friends want to add?"     

"No," Qi Huan shook his head while Ye Jiao didn't speak and just shook her head lightly, acting as if she was afraid of him.     

"Did you solve the problem of the Natural Eon Energy barrier?"     

Qin Zheng looked at the Village Head. "We manage to retrieve the array plate and plan on selling it…."     

"I'll buy it."     

"It's 100 middle grade Eon Energy Stone," Qin Zheng quoted his price.     

Both Qi Huan and Ye Jiao nearly floored when they heard the price. The two of them knew the price for the plate. Normally, it wouldn't reach 10 middle grade Eon Energy Stone because it was not too useful. Now, Qin Zheng just hiked the price by 10 times.     

"10."     

"99."     

"20."     

"95"     

It took them a long time before they settled the price on 70 middle grade Eon Energy Stones. The Village Head's face was slightly ugly, but he still forked the money and handed it to Qin Zheng.     

"Many thanks for your generosity," Qin Zheng smiled.     

The Village Head waved his hand. "You can go."     

"Please excuse us."     

After they got the permission, Qin Zheng led the two of them out. The guards followed them until the front gate. Afterwards, the three of them walked to the alleyway and disappeared from the view.     

Qi Huan frowned after they had gone from the view. "That Village Head is not normal. He's showing too much hostility to us."     

"This area is in the border between areas under Hua Shan Academy and Wang Luo Academy. For this term's Village Head, he's someone who favors Wang Luo Academy more, so it's not weird that he gives us a lot of weird gazes," Qin Zheng explained unhurriedly. "However, there's a chance that he might be the one who instigates the case."     

"Huh? You mean, he's the one who orders those white robed men?" Ye Jiao was stunned. The one who reported the case to the two academies was also the Village Head, right? Why should he create trouble for his own people?     

"It's possible," Qin Zheng glanced at Qi Huan. "You did see someone in that tunnel, right?"     

Qi Huan nodded. "Not exactly see, but I believe that a powerful expert is hiding there. I can't stay there for a long period of time because of my rank, but he seems to be capable of hiding there."     

"There are not that many experts at rank 5 in this village," Qin Zheng smiled. "There's only one person."     

"Who?"     

"Village Protector."     

Ye Jiao furrowed her brows. She had never investigated this area that deeply before, so she was highly unfamiliar with the terms. Looking at the way Qi Huan's face turned pale, she seemed to understand something.     

"They're planning on giving that stone to Wang Luo Academy under the guise of this mission."     

"Yes, but we're obstructing their path," Qin Zheng's eyes gleamed. "I believe it wouldn't be easy for us to get out of this city after this."     

Ye Jiao looked at Qi Huan, and the two smiled bitterly. They still remembered the hassle of having to stay in a locked up city because of Lu Wan. It seemed that they might need to find a way to get out of the city unnoticed.     

"But if it's truly theirs, we've just made them pay to get their own things, right?" Ye Jiao wanted to laugh when she recalled the face of that Village Head. Qin Zheng's way of negotiation was very capable of making someone vomit blood.     

"Serve him right," Qi Huan chuckled. His eyes glinted with ruthlessness for a split second, for he understood that he would die if that protector wanted to kill him back then. Not a single one of them was capable of fighting him.     

Qin Zheng smiled. "He won't dare to kill us unless he wishes to declare war on Hua Shan Academy. Our name is already more than enough to tell him who we are. If he didn't want to court death, he wouldn't touch us."     

As Elite Disciple of Hua Shan Academy, they possessed a bit of protection from this identity when they got out of the academy. Even though it was unknown to the outside world, it would give them enough protection in this area. If someone dared to harm them actively, they would be incurring the wrath of the Hua Shan Academy.     

"A background is also a form of power," Qi Huan shrugged. "But it won't be able to protect you forever."     

"Yeah," Ye Jiao nodded in agreement. Even though they have the identity as Elite Disciple, it would only help them to wander around this area for the time being. They were still not safe when they wanted to walk out in the world. Their rank was still at the lowest bottom.     

Qin Zheng glanced at the sun's position. "Let's eat first."     

"Where are they?" Ye Jiao asked.     

Qin Zheng took out a green jade and placed it near his mouth. "Cai, where are you at?"     

"In the West Restaurant. The name is White Steel, something."     

"Got it."     

Ye Jiao's eyes were looking at the jade in Qin Zheng's hand with curiosity. "Is that communication jade?"     

"Yes. You'll get it after your first mission," Qin Zheng nodded.     

"I see."     

Now, Ye Jiao felt even more excited to return back and finish their mission. It took them a few minutes to arrive in the restaurant that Lin Cai picked. When they got there, the food was already served on the table. There were meat dumplings, meat bun, dim sum, mapo tofu, and many others that were similar.     

Looking at the amount, Ye Jiao was stunned. Do they want to feed an entire village with this amount?     

"Let's eat!" Lin Cai beckoned excitedly. "Don't just stand there. The food is going to get cold."     

"Is it not too much?"     

"Nope, not at all. Let's eat as much as we want!"     

Lu Wan rolled his eyes. "Senior Sister Lin is a foodie. She insists on ordering every kind of food in this….ouch!"     

Lin Cai kicked Lu Wan's leg under the table. She smiled menacingly. "If you don't want to eat, you're free to get out."     

"I'm eating, I'm eating!" Lu Wan quickly pulled his legs to another side of the table if Lin Cai tried to kick him again. She was sitting right in front of him, so it was easy for her to kick him if she wanted to.     

"Cheers!"     

Ye Jiao started to try the food. They were all very delicious, so she just kept on filling her plate with more food. Not long afterwards, a waiter came with a bottle of wine. Ye Jiao's eyes widened.     

"Senior Sister Lin, that's wine, right?"     

"Yes," Lin Cai grinned. "Let's drink."     

"Wait, you're underage!"     

"No worry, no one will know."     

"I want to taste it too."     

"Xin Jie? You too?"     

"I'm already 16, so can be considered an adult," Mu Xin gave her excuse. Beside her, Wang Jun also took the wine.     

Ye Jiao's lips twitched. She turned her head to Qin Zheng, hoping for him to help her out. However, the man just shrugged and picked another meat dumpling. "Just let them be if they want to eat and drink."     

In the end, Ye Jiao just ate while watching her friends drink wine.