Chapter 403: Preparing To Tax

Translator: Tim Editor: GlobeGlotter

“Mo Kang!” Xia Rou grabbed him excitedly. She’d always liked Mo Kang because of his forgiving nature. Now, she knew she’d been right; he was still the same.

More than twenty years, and he hadn't married another woman, carrying that wedding certificate all this time. Even after misunderstanding her! Despite the hardships, she felt it had all been worthwhile.

“Thank you, Ye-Qianbei, for saving my life,” Xia Rou released Mo Kang and thanked Ye Mo. She couldn't call him ‘brother’—hidden sect customs were strict about generations. Ye Mo didn't mind, waving his hand. “Sister Xia, I’m brothers with Brother Mo; don’t call me qianbei.”

“And Qianbei, Ziwei is my sister; she has a bad temper, but please forgive her for Mo Kang’s sake.” Xia Rou still hesitated to call Ye Mo ‘brother.’ He was, after all, a great heaven level master.

Ye Mo produced some standard healing pills and gave them to Mo Kang for Xia Ziwei. He wouldn't give Xia Ziwei something as potent as a lotus life pill.

Seeing Xia Rou and Mo Kang take Xia Ziwei aside, Ye Mo addressed the two black level Hong Martial Sect warriors. “I have two orders; fulfill them, and you live.”

“Qianbei, we’ll do anything,” they said respectfully. They feared Ye Mo wouldn't give them a chance. For survival, they’d do anything.

“Come with me.” Ye Mo didn’t want many people to know what he was about to do. Mo Kang wouldn't ask.

Ye Mo took them into a room. “Introduce yourselves. Show me your worth. I don’t keep useless people.”

The younger man quickly nodded. “My name is Gong Yizheng. I joined the Hong Martial Sect eleven years ago and know everything about it. I’ll be Qianbei’s spy.”

Ye Mo sneered. “Think I need a spy to annihilate the Hong Martial Sect? Your value is low.”

The man began sweating.

The balder man said, “I’m Tang You. I’ve been in the Hong Martial Sect for nineteen years. I know the sect, and many others. People schemed against Qianbei’s Luo Yue company; I’ll investigate and report.”

“Wanbei is also willing to investigate,” Gong Yizheng quickly added.

Ye Mo sneered. “I don’t need an investigation. I’ll let you go, but I’ll control your souls. Cooperate, or you die. I'll take part of your soul; you can’t betray me. Shatter your soul card, and you die, no matter how far away.”

They were shocked. They hadn't expected mercy, but this?

Could souls be controlled? Part of one taken? They’d cultivated ancient martial arts for years and never heard of this. It was absurd.

Seeing them freeze, Ye Mo said derisively, “Fine. I don’t want to waste energy taking your souls anyway.”

It used a lot of spirit power, with a low success rate. Full cooperation was needed, and even then, it was fifty-fifty. Failure meant death. Of course, Ye Mo didn't care about their lives.

“Qianbei, I’m willing,” Gong Yizheng reacted first.

Tang You followed suit. “Qianbei, I’m also willing.”

“Okay. Relax, think of nothing,” Ye Mo instructed, producing two small jade cards. He was preparing to seal their souls. At the chi gathering primary stage, the success rate would have been even lower.

As Ye Mo extracted their souls, they felt weakness. Seeing their souls taken, they noticed black lines on the jade cards. Ye Mo put the cards away.

They’d thought he was bluffing, but now they didn't doubt him. They felt that if Ye Mo shattered the jade card, they’d die instantly.

He hadn’t expected the first attempt to succeed. Cultivators usually used this on mortals; success on cultivators was rare unless the cultivation difference was vast.

“Qianbei, your orders,” they said anxiously. This was too metaphysical.

Ye Mo nodded. “Tell me everything about the hidden sects, in writing. Tell your sect leader I ordered him to send a letter in my name to all the hidden sects. Those who schemed against my Luo Yue can prepare for annihilation. Give me something I like, and I’ll let it go. Disobey, and I’ll be ruthless.”

They felt lucky to have followed Ye Mo. They wondered how those who schemed against Luo Yue felt now, being taxed by Ye Mo.

Serving Ye-Qianbei wasn’t bad; he was so powerful! One word, and the hidden sects would be like obedient grandsons, offering amends.

Ye Mo continued, “Handle things well, and I’ll reward you. Reaching earth level isn’t impossible. I’ll go to the Hong Martial Sect soon; tell your sect leader not to play games. My patience is limited.”

He'd given them a scare and now a carrot. Even though they wouldn’t betray him, he needed to reward them for initiative.

“Yes, Qianbei,” they said, thinking. Earth level cultivators were rare in the hidden sects. Without Ye Mo, they'd remain black level forever. This was their chance. Even without soul control, they’d please Ye Mo.

Ye Mo brought them outside, where Mo Kang and Xia Rou waited.

“You two go,” Ye Mo dismissed Gong Yizheng and Tang You.

Mo Kang looked at them strangely. “Brother Ye, you’re letting them go?”

Xia Rou pulled Mo Kang. This was Ye Mo’s business; he shouldn’t interfere.

Ye Mo nodded. “Yes, they seized their chance. I told them to relay a message to the Hong Martial Sect.” He looked around. “No problems here. I’ll investigate the jet.”

Mo Kang said, “Mo Ping’s investigating; I’ll come later.”

“Qianbei, I won’t go back, but if you need anything, tell me. Xia Rou can help,” Xia Rou said. She knew the hidden sects better than Ye Mo. She knew he wasn’t from them.

Ye Mo waved his hand. “Have a good reunion. I’ll investigate the plane. If Mo Ping finds anything, tell him to meet me tomorrow afternoon at the Bamboo Night private manor.”

Xia Ziwei hesitated. “Ye-Qianbei, three years ago, when my sister told me to bring Mo Kang here, I encountered something…it might be useful to you.”