The years when I explored the fairyland.

Chapter 171 168: Peace Talks! (12)

Outside Anyue City,

The clouds cleared and the rain stopped, and bright sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining onto the earth and illuminating the ruins outside the city.

In the distance and near, on the treetops and rocks, countless warriors looked around, hoping to see the final outcome of this battle.
But the result is no result!

There were no bodies falling to the ground, no blood raining down, and suddenly, all movement disappeared.

Restlessness spread among the crowd, and many warriors' faces turned pale. Even someone like Cao Bao, who was in a very good mood, had a forced smile.

For example, Zuo Qiutong had already grabbed Cao Bao's arm unconsciously, with his nails almost digging into his flesh, but Cao Bao didn't react at all.

This battle not only determines the title of the number one sect, but also the ownership of countless interests, the rise and fall of the sect, and the life and death of many warriors.

In fact, on the city wall, the expressions of Zhu Xuan and the other two were not much better.

As confident as they were before coming to Tianquan County, they were now as nervous as ever.

They also found it a little difficult to understand why they encountered such a difficult problem in this county.

Even Zhu Xuan, although his analysis was very logical, was definitely as frightened as others at this moment.

It was also at this moment that he seemed to hear something, a voice coming from a distant place and falling into his ears.

It only took him a breath, and his complexion quickly looked better. After all, the worst outcome did not occur, which was a blessing in disguise.

After pulling the other two elders and explaining everything to them in a few words, they both relaxed.

They did not stop, but instead combined their internal energy and flew with the wind, floating out of the city.

All the warriors along the way retreated, making way for a passage until they reached Xu Cheng and his four companions.

Xu Cheng and the other three didn't waste any words. They displayed their domineering postures, their auras connected as one, appearing violent and restless.

The two sides were facing each other, and it seemed that the situation was tense. Everyone tried to avoid them and left a huge open space, for fear that if they started fighting, innocent people would be affected.

However, what no one expected was that the two sides met, chatted for a few minutes, and actually came together.

They each displayed their Qinggong skills and moved forward at an extremely fast speed, directly climbing onto the city wall of Anyue City and disappearing from everyone's sight.

At the side, Cao Bao, who had approached and was about to lend a hand, immediately relaxed, and then he felt a tingling pain in his arm.

When he lowered his head, he saw Zuoqiu Tong holding his arm, which was already bleeding.

"Let go, let go, do you have to be so cruel?"

Zuo Qiutong also reacted and quickly let go of his hand, saying, "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry."

Cao Bao stroked the blood on his arm, not caring about it, but he was unforgiving in his words: "Master Zuo, next time you should act like a little woman and pinch others, you can pinch yourself. If my wife sees my injuries when I go back, I won't be able to explain it clearly."

"You, Cao Bao, still care about this?"

"I, Cao Bao, am loyal and faithful."

"I……"

Zuo Qiutong had the urge to complain, but the worry in his heart replaced the desire to complain, and he hurriedly asked: "What's going on? How come they entered Anyue City together?

There is no result in this battle. Did we win or lose? What should we do next?"

"How to do?"

Cao Bao raised his chin and said, "Can't you see this? It must be a peace talk! No matter who wins or loses, as long as we don't want to lose everything, the next step is the negotiation.

As long as they don't break down the talks and compromise with each other, you and I, as the most loyal supporters of Xuanzhen Temple, will naturally be safe and may even gain some benefits."

"What you wanted to say just now was a running dog, right?"

"Whether he is a running dog or a supporter, Chu Zhou is growing too fast. We can still get some benefits from following behind."

"What if the talks fail?"

"Go ahead and fight! Anyway, you and I have made arrangements, but I don't want it to come to that."

"Me too!"

At this point, Zuo Qiutong's reason finally took over. He thought for a moment, then a smile broke out on his old face, and he said, "We should trust Taoist Chu. He has never been a person who likes to eat alone.

Now, all we can do is wait, wait for the final result, wait for everything to settle down."

Cao Bao asked: "Then where should we wait?"

"Let's go to my Tiger Demon Pavilion. It's close enough, but also far enough."

"That makes sense, let's go!"

"go!"

……

The war was over. No matter who won or lost in the end, it was at least over for the time being, and the warriors continued to disperse.

Some of the brave ones went to Anyue City, while more timid ones returned to Hongtu City and waited.

However, the various spies in Anyue City became active again, and even in the face of Wanxiangzhai's anger, they were still asking around for details.

at the same time.

The former site of Wenxiang Temple, which is now Wanxiangzhai, is located in the Bamboo Garden.

In the courtyard, under the big tree.

The master of Wanxiang Zhai slowly lay down on a recliner. His old body seemed to be completely relaxed. He couldn't help but let out a long sigh, and his face showed an abnormal flush.

Not to mention the injuries, for an old man like him, the battle between masters itself is extremely exhausting.

He is very impressive on the battlefield, but when he leaves the battlefield, he only feels the pain in his waist and legs.

Chu Zhou sat down on a recliner on the other side. He looked around with a look of emotion and melancholy.

Several more maids came in and placed fruits, snacks and two cups of tea on the coffee table between the two lounge chairs.

The aroma of tea curled up, and the smoke rose up, which was intoxicating. Seeing Chu Zhou looking around, Wanxiang Zhaizhu smiled and said, "I left this place here specially. It is said that Master Chu lived here when he came to Wenxiang Temple before.

So, nothing has changed, right? "

"Zhu Yuan is still the same Zhu Yuan, but the people are no longer the same people!"

Chu Zhou retracted his gaze and said, "Master, you are very clear about my investigation, right?"

"Only if you know yourself and the enemy can you fight a hundred battles without danger. Since we are facing Xuanzhen Temple, how can we do it without understanding the enemy?"

The Wanxiang Zhai master said this, and then said: "Drink tea, drink tea!"

He first picked up the teacup and took a sip. Chu Zhou didn't hesitate either, so he picked it up and took a sip.

Putting down the teacup, he asked directly: "Master, don't talk about other things. I just want to ask, is the drought in Tianyuan Prefecture true or false? What is the situation?"

The owner of Wanxiang Zhai did not hesitate. He took out a few pages of letter paper from his arms, picked out one of them and handed it over.

Chu Zhou took it, squinted his eyes and looked at it carefully, and found that what was written on it was indeed a record of the drought and refugee crisis in Tianyuan Prefecture.

On the side, the owner of Wanxiangzhai also explained: "Although I moved to Tianquan County and want a place of my own, it does not mean that I have to give up all the industries in Overlord City.

There are naturally reliable people staying there, and there are also complete information channels.

And this is what Putiandiao has just sent, and it can almost be guaranteed to be the latest news within five days."

Chu Zhou asked again: "Then why do you say that there are people behind the scenes fanning the flames?"

The Wanxiang Master shrugged and asked, "Isn't this a done deal?

I don't mean to look down on ordinary people, but a warrior can kill people as easily as chopping melons and vegetables. Do you think a group of farmers can cause such a big storm?
So, I don’t know who is behind, but there must be someone.”

After a pause, he continued, "Perhaps it is the Pure World Red Lotus Society, or perhaps it is the Xuanyue Sect, or it could be an ambitious person from a certain martial arts sect who is trying to rise.

It is even possible that other large sects of the same level as Ba Zong would intervene, or that the Dayun royal family might have some delusions.

There are too many such things. I can easily find seven or eight of them by flipping through the records of the sect's secret history. There are almost no shortage of such things in any period."

Chu Zhou did not deny that compared to the Master of Wanxiang Zhai, he had very little experience in this area.

After thinking for a moment, he asked again: "Then why do you think that the drought and refugees in Tianyuan Prefecture will affect us?

"Ba Zong is no pushover, how could he just let it go?"

The Wanxiang Zhai master smiled and asked, "When the Yunya Sword Sect and the Wenxiang Temple were fighting, the Tyrant Sect sent the Fenglei Academy Dean Gongye Wang to mediate.

Normally, a county would have such a reaction, so can we assume that Ba Zong's control over the two prefectures of Tianyuan and Chishui under its jurisdiction is far stronger than you and I imagine?

But the question is, if Ba Zong is so powerful, why can the drought spread across the five counties, causing a flood of refugees to attack cities everywhere?
Don’t you think this makes the point even more clear?”

Chu Zhou remained silent, accepting his statement, and then asked: "So, Master, what exactly is your rule?"

The master of Wanxiang Zhai also sat up straight and said, "I came here to seek long-term development, not to fight to the death with your Xuanzhen Temple.

Since I lost, the number one sect in Tianquan County will belong to your Xuanzhen Temple. I accept it."

"What about the requirements?"

“The right to free trade. Before my Wanxiangzhai was established in Overlord City, we didn’t have much land. We only operated shops, caravans, and wine businesses.

Our wine is the best in Chishui Prefecture. Yuye Niang is known as the best in Chishui. It is supplied exclusively to the royal family and is hard to come by.

Then there are horse racing and business, buying low and selling high, circulating what is available and what is not available, there are more than ten mature routes, covering more than ten prefectures in the entire Dayun Dynasty, with these alone, we are enough to support this huge sect. "

"Then why did you come to Tianquan County?"

"It's because Wanxiangzhai's development has reached a bottleneck. Only by having our own territory can we move to a higher level."

After a pause, Wanxiang Zhaizhu said, "Although we lost, with Anyue City, we have achieved our minimum goal.

As long as Taoist Priest Chu makes an announcement in the name of Xuanzhen Temple, granting Wanxiangzhai the right to trade freely, that will be enough.

As for the rest, I, Wanxiangzhai, will handle it myself, and there is no need for the temple master to worry about it."

The master of Wanxiang Zhai twisted his body slightly and looked at Chu Zhou seriously: "In this way, my Wanxiang Zhai gets some benefits, and your Xuanzhen Temple gets reputation and substance. Both sides will win-win cooperation. Naturally, Tianquan County will be able to maintain the situation.

until……"

Chu Zhou asked with a smile: "Until your Wanxiangzhai has accumulated enough strength and has the capital to challenge me?"

The master of Wanxiang Zhai raised his eyebrows and said: "That's too far, I think we should get through this hurdle first.

Master Chu, I know you may not believe me based on my speculation, but let us wait and see.

Who knows, there will be a day when Wanxiangzhai and Xuanzhen Temple will cooperate again!"

Chu Zhou smiled and also slept on the recliner, finding a comfortable position. He asked, "One last question. Was this peace talk a sudden idea of ​​the temple master? Or has it been planned for a long time?"

"I have many things to consider for the sect, and I have thought about the best case scenario and also planned for the worst case scenario.

As the saying goes, man proposes, God disposes. Who would have thought that I would meet a master like you in this small place?"

The master of Wanxiangzhai spoke frankly, paused, and then asked: "I also want to know, Master, did you come here with the intention of destroying my Wanxiangzhai?"

Chu Zhou put his hands behind his head and looked at the sky through the gaps in the leaves. He smiled and replied, "The Jianghu is not about fighting and killing, but about the ways of the world!

How can we expect this to last long if you want to kill the whole family at any time?"

"So, Master Chu agreed!"

"But I also have conditions!"

"You say?"

"Give me all the news about Tianyuan Prefecture you have, and it must be the fastest and most complete."

"Of course that's no problem. I'll give it to you even if you don't tell me."

　Let’s have an update first!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)