Chapter 83: Pretend to Redeem
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Five Core Formation cultivators immediately engaged in battle.
Obviously, Shi Fei didn't have the ability to take on four opponents at once.
Within five moves, he was captured by Elder Li and the other three.
Shen Mo had already left the room as soon as the fight began.
After all, it was a battle among Core Formation cultivators. Even if Elder Li intended to protect him, if Shi Fei decided to fight to the death, Shen Mo might still get hurt.
Therefore, there was no need to give the enemy a chance for mutual destruction.
The commotion from the fight immediately lit up the entire mining site.
Stewards, disciples, and miners all rushed out from their resting places, looking suspiciously towards Shen Mo's room.
Outside the mining site.
Wu Leng heard Shi Fei's desperate scream and was suddenly startled.
When the fierce sounds of fighting began, Wu Leng finally realized.
It was indeed a trap!
"Damn it... Could the information Liu Yuanfeng sold me be fake? Is he actually loyal to Qingxuan Sect?"
Wu Leng's face turned extremely ugly.
But at this point, he couldn't stay any longer. He had to leave immediately to inform his father, Wu Gangfei.
"Young Sect Master, we've captured him!" Elder Li said loudly, his face beaming with joy.
Shen Mo nodded slightly and re-entered the room.
Sure enough, Shi Fei was covered in wounds and had long since lost his ability to fight, lying there at their mercy.
The four inner elders of Qingxuan Sect had been ruthless.
Shi Fei could hardly even lift his head.
"Young Sect Master, how should we deal with him?" one elder asked.
"Deal with him? Just chop him up! My nephew died at his hands!" another elder said angrily.
"Yeah, this guy Shi Fei has killed many of our disciples!" another elder shouted angrily.
Shen Mo waved his hand.
These elders had too strong a desire to kill.
Always resorting to violence wouldn't do.
Naturally, one should extract maximum value before... killing.
"Bind him up and send him to the mountain gate overnight. Also, send a message to the Heavy Weapon Sect, asking them to pay for his ransom," Shen Mo said calmly.
"Yes!" Elder Li nodded.
After all, he was a Core Formation cultivator.
Surrendering was out of the question.
It depended on whether the Heavy Weapon Sect was willing to pay the ransom.
If they were, they'd demand a hefty sum.
If they weren't, it wouldn't be too late to kill him then.
The other three elders immediately understood Shen Mo's plan and nodded repeatedly.
They had been somewhat blinded by hatred.
Shen Mo's plan was indeed the best choice.
Shen Mo then addressed the crowd, "The Core Formation elder from the Heavy Weapon Sect who infiltrated the mining site has been captured alive. Everyone can go back to sleep."
The miners whispered in astonishment.
In their eyes, Core Formation cultivators were akin to immortals.
They always came and went as they pleased.
But today, one had been captured alive!
As for the stewards and disciples of Qingxuan Sect, they were even more thrilled.
Our Qingxuan Sect is truly formidable!
Elder Li, his face full of joy, said, "Young Sect Master, you are truly wise. You anticipated their dishonorable sneak attack!"
Two days ago, Shen Mo had suddenly proposed that the elders ambush near his room at night, waiting for the attackers.
Elder Li and the others were puzzled but curbed their curiosity and waited patiently.
Unexpectedly, they did catch an unlucky fellow.
And not just anyone.
A Core Formation elder of the Heavy Weapon Sect!
Shen Mo smiled slightly.
It wasn't really his foresight.
But he couldn't say that he saw it on his life panel.
Since Elder Li didn't ask, that was just as well. It saved him from making up an excuse.
"Focus on your cultivation, Young Sect Master. I will handle this matter," Elder Li nodded respectfully and turned to leave.
...
At the Heavy Weapon Sect.
Wu Leng rushed back to the sect and immediately found his father, Wu Gangfei, to inform him of the situation.
Wu Gangfei was furious after hearing the news.
Shi Fei was not just any Core Formation wandering cultivator he had recruited; he was a long-standing inner elder with a good relationship with Wu Gangfei.
He had to be rescued.
Wu Gangfei's rage was uncontrollable. "Those bastards! Send the order to gather our forces and attack the Thunder Crystal Mining Site immediately!"
Wu Leng hurriedly stopped him and sternly said, "Father! Did you forget what I told you?"
Wu Gangfei paused, instinctively responding, "I haven't forgotten."
"Then tell me, what did I tell you!" Wu Leng demanded seriously.
Wu Gangfei scratched his head, "You said that now is not the time for an all-out war."
"Father, you really need to work on controlling your temper," Wu Leng urged patiently. "I've told you many times, if we go to war with Qingxuan Sect, the surrounding sects will only be happy and won't help us."
"When we both end up severely weakened, they'll be the first to tear our Heavy Weapon Sect apart and steal our Crystal Refining technique!"
Hearing this, Wu Gangfei's anger subsided considerably.
Wu Leng had analyzed this before, and Wu Gangfei had always agreed with his son's insights.
"So, what should we do?" Wu Gangfei sat down on a stone bench, anxiously running his hands through his hair.
He had always preferred using his fists over his brain.
Ever since his son showed exceptional wisdom at a young age, Wu Gangfei had entrusted all decisions to Wu Leng.
Wu Leng was about to speak when a voice came from outside the courtyard.
"Sect Master! A wandering cultivator has come with a letter from Qingxuan Sect!"
Wu Gangfei nodded, "Let him in."
The wandering cultivator entered, handed the letter to Wu Gangfei, and quickly left.
Wu Leng took the envelope and opened it.
"What does it say? Are they asking for money?" Wu Gangfei gritted his teeth.
Wu Leng nodded, "Qingxuan Sect says that if we want to ransom Elder Shi, we need to prepare at least a thousand top-grade spirit stones and hand over the western White Iron Mine."
Wu Gangfei instantly erupted in rage, "Damn extortionists! I'll march to Qingxuan Sect right now!"
Wu Leng quickly patted his father's back, "Calm down, Father. Impulse is the devil..."
"Just tell me your plan. If this goes on, I'll definitely storm into Qingxuan Sect in a fit of rage." Wu Gangfei's face was flushed with anger, clearly on the verge of losing control.
"We'll pretend to ransom Elder Shi, but our real goal is to capture Shen Mo!" Wu Leng's eyes gleamed with a cold light.
"How will we capture him? That kid is now the Young Sect Master of Qingxuan Sect, surely equipped with life-saving treasures and well-protected!" Wu Gangfei shook his head.
Wu Leng whispered, "Here's the plan: we'll do this, then this, and finally this... What do you think, Father?"
But he knew it was a pointless question.
Before he even finished speaking, Wu Gangfei was already nodding vigorously.
"Father trusts you. Let's do it your way!" Wu Gangfei said with a decisive wave of his hand.
Wu Leng nodded, "Understood. I'll have someone deliver a message to Qingxuan Sect, pretending to negotiate the ransom back and forth to lower their guard."
Two days later.
After several rounds of correspondence, both sides reached an agreement.
Heavy Weapon Sect would pay one thousand five hundred top-grade spirit stones and three thousand pounds of white iron ore.
The ransom exchange was set to take place on a hilltop near the Thunder Crystal Mining Site.
Elder Li happily handed the letter to Shen Mo.
Shen Mo, however, frowned slightly.
Despite the back-and-forth negotiations, the other party agreed too readily.
Instinctively, he glanced at his life panel.
Seeing the words "Upcoming Turning Point," his expression turned cold.
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