It wasn't so far, not more than a few dozen streets they would cross in less than the time to drink a teapot. After all, who would dare to block them?
***
But the unexpected happened - just some block from the [Fairy's Dew Terrace], the [Pan Trade Company] only managed business in the city, Bai Qi and company blocked by half a dozen cloaked and concealed characters. Before anyone could react, even Bai Qi, with all of his senses expanding right away, something he had not done before to show trust towards Dongpo Ao and his clan, another seven people appeared behind, while hostile auras released from above the buildings.
But then, to his surprise, in place of calling names or acting arrogantly, as they should, at least their positions considered, neither Pan Tong, Lei Guiying, or the dressed-up Gao Xiulan shouted out anything but directly took out communication talismans, nearly as if they expected such a development.
The two or three youngsters, following after each of the young masters of their respective powers did the same, as well as even the 5 Warrior Lords from the [Dongpo] clan following with the same action, making Bai Qi feel as if he was the only one unaware of what was going on.
And yet, before the talismans even left their hands, to alert the powerhouses behind them, a forceful aura pressed over everyone present, making everyone but Bai Qi, Pan Tong, Lei Guiying, Gao Xiulan, and a single [Dongpo] who had introduced herself as Dayang, to fall on their knees, not able to conjure qi enough as to activate the alert.
***
One could say that even with a single talisman flying out, the elders of the various powers would come flying, and the respective Warriors Emperors would follow, no matter what kind of talks they were having. And yet, not even one would leave the hands of the four powerful enough to resist youngsters, as a sudden barrage of concealed weapons suddenly flew from behind, aiming not only at the four talisman-bearing people but also Bai Qi, forcing each of them to dodge, failing to do anything but that.
Furthermore, as they dodged, the previous strong aura, one that Bai Qi estimated to be at least in the beginner levels of the Warrior King realm, messed up their perception, separating the five from the rest of the Warrior Lords, effectively, as the seven people from behind rushed out, taking the latter as hostages.
{What's going on? Explain!} As he jumped out of the mix of daggers, needles, and spikes, Bai Qi sent a qi transmission to the other four.
{We...} The young heir of the [Gao] clan hesitated while she rolled out of harm's way.
{No need to hide, as it is. Let's say everyone knew that something like this would happen.} Lei Guiying, true to his character, decided to tell Bai Qi, but before he could continue, another transmission cut into Bai Qi's ears, and it was far more informative.
{The [Demon Worshipping] region has a fearful connection with the dark side of the cultivation world, and they had upped the prices, far above the usual, for any power's inheritors.} Pan Tong's cut in, telling the truth as it was.
{The Clan's leader also knew that your price is, now, above any of the young masters. And so, he arranged for us to follow you and set up a second trap, but it seems we were outsmarted!} Dongpo Dayang followed right away, as her mind transmitted everything she knew about the assassination attempt to be thwarted, on the orders of not only Dongpo Ao but even the other Warrior Emperors in the city!
Qi transmissions only took an instant, and Bai Qi was a quick learner, so before he even broke off his jump and found the situation as it was, them encircled by 6 expert Warrior Lords, the other twelve people neared by another seven, and understanding that there was a Warrior King hidden somewhere, Bai Qi had already understood what was happening.
_______
The [Shadow Lotus] sect was a well-known but still enigmatic group of assassins with ties to every powerful faction in the realm, with not a few righteous powers having requested their services. Still, as the [Demon Worshipping] region, because their cultivation methods, were first known and then exiled, the allegiance of the [Shadow Lotus] sect was quickly found. Founded by exiled cultivators who mastered forbidden arts, they blended forbidden rituals to elevate the martial prowess of their assassins, their true benefactors being none other than [Blood Mist Sect], [Man Family Truth], and other powers of the banished, now turned a region rivaling others, group.
Operating with ruthless efficiency, the [Shadow Lotus] sect still offered their lethal services to the highest bidder, no matter the target or allegiance. Despite their origins, they maintained a practical approach to business, accepting contracts from whoever paid best, even to the detriment of the region they were now a part of.
Still, a command from the true sovereigns of the [Demon Worshipping] region would have them disregard everything, using every asset and possibility to complete it, as they were doing now.
_______
Understanding his situation, the opponent, and the reasons were already over half of the deal, leaving only the part of outsmarting them. And Bai Qi's mind raced even before he started looking and sensing around. While most of his expendable items, as talismans, had been confiscated, and he hadn't received them back, even if he accepted, the one talisman he would never carry in the open was still secure inside his own [Void Space]. And now, as he sensed around, and found a couple of familiar auras, he suddenly pulled it out of his sleeve, as it had always been there, he allowed the besiegers to sense it, before starting to talk at all.
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
"Do you know what I am holding here?"
{What are you doing?! Talismans do not work!} A panicked qi transmission from Dongpo Dayang entered his mind, {Stall for some time before the elders' assistance arrives!}
After receiving nothing but silence from the ambushers and a few surprised stares from what would be his companions, Bai Qi continued, "This is an emergency talisman crafted by [Shoumen]'s Grandmaster Li himself, and no one short of a Half Saint would be able to stop it after it's sent. So, could we trade a few words and seek some understanding? At least before I condemn your family to ruin, head of the [Yuwen] clan? Or your person, as you do not have a known family, Minister Tang?"
Being discovered even with such a perfect plan, one Minister Tang had been developing since years ago, simply waiting for enough targets to be present, he was truly angered. Still, he understood nothing would stop Bai Qi from sending that talisman out. No matter his mind power, he couldn't contend with someone like Grandmaster Li, no matter if the latter didn't have such a mind. After all, the Grandmaster was known to be just a bit short of the half-saint [Path] of talismans and formations at the same time, his regrets fueling him to overcome even the unexpected, to arrive at the first Saint step of the talisman path even before his mind reached the Warrior Emperor level!
And while he and his fellow [Shadow Lotus] could escape before someone from the far away [Shoumen] city would arrive, such a talisman would create a spectacle, one enough as to alert Dongpo Ao and the other Emperors nearby. And the latter would never allow him or the others to flee, not with the amount of explanations they would have to give if they let the killer of Bai Qi and their successors roam free!
It wasn't as if the [Shadow Lotus] would like to lose someone as Tang Chao, who already had the qualifications, if not the training, to become a mind power powerhouse. Still, the [Seven-Demons Restricting the Heaven] they gave him as to save his life in case of a failed ambush, and which could block even a Warrior Emperor of a medium level, it was meant to save his own life and whoever he could from the clutches of the present Warrior Emperors, not to restrain a target, no matter how well paid, as a Warrior Lord.
Still, it also was clear that Bai Qi had no trouble identifying him or his most powerful helper, the local [Yuwen] clan owing simply too much as to repay in another way. And so, he would have to outsmart the boy to avoid the message being sent,
"Young friend Bai Qi, it isn't like either of us was planning to ambush you here or make your life hard, but our vassal, Yuwen Dong, found it hard to understand how you bested the prodigy of the [Go-Zan Sect], who had always been good towards their family." After thinking it through, Tang Chao found no other way but to explain that there was some issue and that this was only to solve it. Granted, it would not hold against any experienced cultivator, not even, a lightheaded one like Dongpo Ao's daughter, lady Lian, but for a young and ambitious man like Bai Qi?
While Pan Tong and the other two heirs gritted their teeth, and Dongpo Dayan was about to denounce the so-respected minister, Bai Qi suddenly laughed, as he sent a quick, hidden qi transmission for the others to stay put, "So elder Yuwen considers there was some foul play, and has come to test this junior, am I right?"
"Mmm, that's so! I didn't want to molest the [Dongpo] clan's great leader, so I chose such an unconventional way." Instructed by Tang Chao, he even added, "For which I ask for forgiveness from the [Pan Trade Company], [White Grove] sect, and [Yuxuan] city, as it was not in my mind to offend or restrict you."
Having convinced the others to stay silent, it would be only Bai Qi to respond, "I do not understand why Senior Yuwen got through so much trouble, but if I can resolve it, I agree to do so." Bai Qi spoke calmly as he advanced towards one of the hooded figures in front, perfectly singling which was Yuwen Dong, no matter the concealment of the hoods, true high-spirit level treasures and not simple cloth, "But duels on the street are prohibited by elder's Ao's laws, and I also think that the others have nothing to do with it."
For Tang Chao, Bai Qi's words were both what he wanted and what he feared most. After all, if the youngster battled Yuwen Dong, it would all be solved, as the old and experienced clan leader wouldn't lose, and he would definitively not spare Bai Qi, who had nearly ruptured his relationship with their clan's backers.
Still, no matter the result, leaving the other youngsters to leave, meant nothing more than to have his actions exposed, with not a small chance of his true allegations being so. And while Bai Qi had retracted the talisman in his hand, nothing short of an instant kill, or the [Seven-Demons Restricting the Heaven] could prevent the former from sending it.
At the same time, Bai Qi's acceptance had been too correct for what Minister Tang had said before, and not a few of the present youngsters, even the now, nearly mock hostages from the [Dongpo] clan had interacted with him. Thus limiting his options to a single one, less he risked it all and attempted to kill everyone, including Bai Qi, in a single attack. And for the latter, not even Tang Chao, the so well-known mind power master was sure of doing without allowing a talisman to leave, not with his current attainment of the 16th degree, one that while comparable to a beginner Warrior Emperor had still a lot of limitations.
***
After who knows how many breaths, Tang Chao had no option but to expand on his previous lie, "I have already obtained permission from Lady Liao, and evacuated all of the people around, for the duel to happen. The young friends and fellow clan members would be the perfect witnesses of the proceedings, wouldn't they?"
At this point, he was risking not only his position as a minister but also his own life, as who would spare someone who was a member of the [Shadow Lotus]? And even if no one would find out, what did it matter? Restraining people of powers far above the [Dongpo] clan and [Eastern Inscription] city was already a death sentence. Wasn't it?
And who would have expected that it would be Bai Qi to salvage the situation for him, as he, after hearing Minister Tang's half-arsed explanation, immediately agreed to exchange pointers -
Regretfully for Minister Tang and the people who he had contracted or had forced to follow for this mission, everyone having obtained benefits or indebted enough to either him or the assassin organization behind him, Bai Qi required no further input but the basic information from the start as to understand that all of this was an elaborate scheme.
Granted, they feared the talisman in his hand and so it evolved into a somewhat righteous duel, and while Bai Qi's talisman had stopped them from acting outright, the so-called fight would be just a way to kill him, giving start to a massacre of the witnesses.
And while Bai Qi, with his mind power reaching true Emperor realm cultivators, and a physique that could resist pressure far stronger than the pretty weak Warrior King one that Minister Tang emanated could escape, send his talisman, and practically do whatever he wanted, he wasn't keen on exposing his secret trump card. As he wasn't to let the people around die, no matter what he felt towards either of the young heirs, not to mention the [Dongpo] clan's young generation that now followed him as dogs.
Thus, in place of resisting, or asking the others to do so, Bai Qi accepted all terms while acting as an idiot. All while secretly telling the others to follow his lead, and be prepared for what was to come.