Chapter 294
After a series of negotiations that lasted only a few incense sticks’ time, 鈥楪reat Shu鈥�, which only had a few hundred soldiers, had successfully gathered the Miao and Yi tribes under its command.
Seeing this, Long Kongkong became wary of Xie Xiang.
Her Wuxian Sect had a supreme status among the Miao people, and she usually did not interfere in military or political matters. Therefore, although she knew that the Yi people had been dominated by Lady Xie Xiang in recent years, she did not take it too seriously. Today, after seeing Xie Xiang’s decisive and fierce demeanor, she realized that she was not someone to be trifled with.
Seeing Ye Guhong and Xiexiang exchanging glances, one saying 鈥淚 bet鈥� and the other 鈥淵ou’ll win for sure鈥�, Long Kongkong’s eyes twinkled as he suddenly walked up to the horse and said with a smile, 鈥淵e Lang, you’ve come to welcome the bride, but what exactly have you brought as a gift?鈥�
Ye Guhong said, 鈥淭he head of a Yuan soldier.鈥�
Long Kongkong shook his head and said, 鈥淚 don’t believe it. Even if you are not honorable, your master is the most honorable person. He would never allow you to fool us like this in such an important matter as marriage.鈥�
Ye Guhong blinked and smirked, 鈥淚 didn’t expect you to be my master’s confidant…never mind, in fact, although there is a betrothal gift, it is not something extraordinary. Our Emei Sect has always been poor and austere, and we don’t get involved in business dealings, so we don’t have the money to throw a big wedding.鈥�
Yuchen suddenly interrupted, 鈥淚 don’t want your family to be rich, just enough to eat.鈥�
Ye Guhong said, 鈥淵ou can eat as much as you want of vegetables and tofu.鈥�
Yuchen was worried, but Xuewu put his arm around her and laughed, 鈥淲e can go hunting ourselves. Meat from the mountains doesn’t cost money.鈥�
Yuchen was suddenly happy, 鈥淵es! You’re so smart. Have you ever eaten a monkey?鈥�
At that moment, on the Yangtze River, in the Wudang Sect’s boat, Mo Shengu suddenly got up and frowned, saying, 鈥淐an this boat go faster? I always feel that if we arrive late, something sad will happen!鈥�
In the Jiangnan region, in the group of Zhang Qubing, who was riding a horse and galloping furiously, Ahua suddenly poked her head out of Tang Gong’s arms, meowed, and roared, jumped off the horse, spread her legs, and started running. Su Qingmeng laughed and said, 鈥淎hua is homesick too? Ahua, don’t worry. We’ve accomplished our mission, and when we get back, Master will praise us for being capable.”
Old man Zhou, however, frowned and shook his head, saying, 鈥楴o, no, I have a bad feeling about this. Let’s hurry up and get going!鈥�
Naturally, the group at the foot of Wuxianling had no idea about this. They only saw Long Kongkong angrily say, 鈥滼ade Toad, what are you talking about again! Ye Kuhong, show me the betrothal gift. If you really intend to deceive me, I will not accept it.”
Ye Kuhong then lazily unfastened the package on the side of the saddle, and reached out to take out the divine wood cauldron.
Judging from its appearance, the cauldron was actually unremarkable. It was only five or six inches high, bright yellow in color, with a faint reddish sheen. Compared to a gold cauldron or a jade cauldron, it was extremely ordinary.
Long Kongkong frowned, thinking to himself, 鈥淭his brat really dares to fool me. Could it be that this is the guy who usually burns incense and worships Buddha to ward off calamity? Using this as a betrothal gift is a bit… Hey?鈥�
Before he could finish his thought, he suddenly felt that the tripod was somewhat familiar. He went over and took it, held it up and gave it a light sniff, and a flash of light shot through his eyes.
He sniffed it again hurriedly, looked at it for a long time, and exclaimed in surprise, 鈥淭his is the poison wood of the arrow that has lasted for ten thousand years? Then this object must be… the Sacred Wood Cauldron? You found this in the Starry Sea treasure as well? But I heard that a disciple of the Starry Sea Sect defected and stole this cauldron back then, and its whereabouts have been unknown ever since.鈥�
Ye Guhong had known her for many years, and this was the first time he heard her voice tremble like that, obviously she was extremely excited.
He wanted to tease her some more, but seeing her expression, Ye Kuhong simply said honestly, 鈥淭his cauldron was obtained from under the cliff outside Yanmen Pass back then, and the ones found from Xingxu Sea are these…鈥�
As he said this, he handed over the bundle, and the various scented blocks inside immediately caught Long Kongkong’s eye.
He quickly grabbed one and sniffed it, then grabbed another and sniffed that one too, his joy clearly written all over his face. 鈥淭hese…these are the Five Immortals’ Incense! The recipe for this incense has been lost for many years, even by our sect. But now that there is a physical object, it is not difficult to deduce the recipe. This, this…”
She took a deep breath to try to suppress her emotions, but her eyes were shining.
Staring at Ye Guhong, she said, 鈥漎e Lang, with the Sacred Wood Cauldron and these spices, we can capture the most poisonous treasures in the world. Our sect’s five unique skills can all hope to truly reach the pinnacle. The shortcomings of our lifespan can be made up for from now on! This cauldron and these five immortal incense sticks are practically the same as sacred objects to our religion!”
Ye Kuhong thought to himself: So that’s why. No wonder when I was reading the Five Immortals Sutra, I couldn’t understand the final stages of many kung fu techniques. It turns out that they require extremely rare and precious poisonous substances to practice!
He thought that Ding the Monster and later the Western Poison were both extremely powerful figures at the time, and although Long Kongkong’s martial arts were also high, it seemed that he had not reached the level of those powerful people.
I thought it was due to their different natural talents, but now I realize that Ding Laoguai probably benefited from the influence of the cauldron, while the Western Poison may have had some other extraordinary encounter.
As these thoughts ran through his mind, he suddenly laughed and said, 鈥淲ith this treasure, my so-called innate holy body is no longer necessary…鈥�
As soon as the words left his mouth, the white snake, snow centipede, and spirit toad all said at the same time, 鈥淣o!鈥�
The white snake was the quickest and said, 鈥淎nyway, we’re already married, if you try to back out, we’ll go to Emei and ask your master what he taught his disciples.鈥�
Long Kongkong looked up at the sky for a long time, then suddenly smiled sweetly. There was no trace of her usual charm, and her beautiful face was full of innocence. She shook her head slightly and said, 鈥淵e Lang, I did originally covet longevity, I was just thinking of you as a younger man. But now it seems that you are truly a man of great fortune and destiny. These two gifts from you will be a great boon to our sect. Just these three girls alone are not enough to repay the favor. Now I am truly willing to marry you…”
As she was declaring her love, Xuexiang suddenly interrupted, 鈥漇o even you want to marry him? How shameless it is for you, master and disciple, to marry the same man! It’s fine if you’re shameless, but you’re ruining the reputation of my Ye Gongzi!”
Long Kongkong sneered, 鈥榃hat master and disciple? This girl, White Snake, is now expelled from my family. I recognized her as my sister, and there’s nothing wrong with us, sisters-in-law, marrying the same man.鈥�
White Snake immediately bowed, 鈥楽ister.鈥�
Long Kongkong also returned the bow, 鈥楽ister.鈥�
Then the four watery eyes of the former master and disciple, now sisters, turned simultaneously to Xie Xiang, full of provocation.
Xie Xiang did not expect Long Kongkong to do this, and she was taken aback. She was searching for words to say, but heard Long Kongkong say proudly, 鈥淒on’t think that just because Ye Lang promised to marry you, you can act superior to me. The women of our Five Immortals Sect were married home by Ye Lang with the most extraordinary treasures as a gift. You, a woman who is a burden to others, are not to be compared to them.鈥�
Xie Xiang said angrily, 鈥淓ven if I remarry, I will never be a burden to my husband. My dowry will definitely not be lower than hers.鈥�
Long Kongkong laughed triumphantly, 鈥淗ahahaha, you are probably unaware of the Emei Sect’s background. Although it is now famous in the martial arts world, it is not as wealthy as the Mingjiao or Tianyingjiao, and it is even far inferior to the Shaolin Temple. Ye Lang’s ability to offer such treasures as the Sacred Wood Cauldron and the Five Immortals Incense as a bride price is not because the Emei Sect is wealthy, but rather a matter of chance. It is meant to be, and our sisters are supposed to be his wives! Haha, do you really want to compare with us? That’s good. In your capacity as the leader of the Yi tribe, Lady Xuxiang, Ye Lang will have to move a mountain of gold to you before he can save face, won’t he?”
The white snake was overjoyed, wrapping her arms around her former master’s shoulders and almost twisting into a snake. She said happily, 鈥滺ahaha, this woman has not even entered the door yet and is already causing trouble for my husband. Ye Lang, don’t even mention a mountain of gold, there may not even be a few ingots of gold ingots.鈥�
Although Xuewu and Yuchan are simple-minded, they can always tell the difference between friend and foe. Seeing the two sides confronting each other, Yuchan immediately chimed in, 鈥淲e can’t even give her gold ingots. I might eat them, and Brother Ye’s ingots have to support me.鈥�
“You, you, you are too much!鈥�
No matter how capable she was, Xie Xiang was still just a young woman in her early twenties. She was suddenly overwhelmed by the combined efforts of the five immortal maidens and didn’t know how to respond.
If she didn’t want a bride price, it would seem like she was belittling herself, but if she did want one, it would be difficult for Ye Guhong.
Seeing Xie Xiang’s beautiful eyes fill with tears, Ye Guhong coughed and said, 鈥淪ister Long was just joking with you. How could a mere mountain of gold money be a challenge to Ye Guhong? But let me be clear: the gold mountain is yours, but the gold produced will belong to me for the first five years, and after that it will be split evenly between you and the Yi tribe. If I take over the world, then you can do whatever you like with it.”
These words left the women speechless. Xie Xiang frowned and said, 鈥楳r. Ye, I don’t understand some of what you’re saying.鈥�
Yu Chan was delighted, and whispered to Xue Wu, 鈥滻 don’t think this Xie Xiang is any smarter than I am. I didn’t understand any of it either.鈥�
Long Kongkong asked in surprise, 鈥淵e Lang, do you have to trick her into coming in first?鈥�
Ye Guhong shook his head, 鈥淚 was going to discuss this with Xiexiang.鈥�
He then rode up to the front, entered the Yi army formation, and bowed to the several people around Xiexiang, saying, 鈥淵ou are all great talents by Xiexiang’s side, and naturally you should know about this important matter. In fact…鈥�
whispered a speech, but it was about the general location of the gold mine.
Everyone was amazed after hearing it: 鈥淲e Yi people have lived here for generations, and we know every mountain and water, as well as every blade of grass and tree, so how would we have heard of a gold mine? How do you know about it?鈥�
Ye Guhong smiled and said, 鈥淭he child does not talk about strange powers and chaotic gods. I dreamed that a god told me about the gold mine here, and told me to use it as military supplies to start a rebellion against Yuan. Do I still have to tell you?鈥�
An elderly Yi man frowned when he heard that it was a divine revelation in a dream, saying, 鈥淗ow can you take what happened in a dream seriously?鈥�
Ye Guhong said generously, 鈥淵ou are willing to agree to a peace treaty today and help me take over Shu and rebel against Yuan. To be honest, you are being forced by me, and I am afraid you are not convinced yourself. Since you don’t believe me, let’s go and take a look for ourselves. If there is no gold mine, then the alliance today is considered invalid…鈥�
When the Yi people heard this, except for Xie Xiang, whose brows furrowed, the rest almost simultaneously looked pleased.
Ye Guhong smiled and said lightly, 鈥淏ut if what I say is true…鈥�
The old Yi man’s expression became solemn, and he said decisively, 鈥淚f there really is a gold mine, then that person is a person blessed by the gods. To follow such a person is a great blessing for our tribe, and we will definitely serve him wholeheartedly!鈥�
鈥淕ood!”
Ye Guhong had been waiting to hear this. He had subdued the Yi people by force today, and there would be no small trouble in the future, but at the moment, he deliberately wanted to convince them.
He immediately said, 鈥滻n that case, there is no time to lose. Everyone, let me point out 3,000 Miao soldiers, and let’s go and take a look together to see if Ye is truly blessed!鈥�