Eternal Saber-Chapter 297 - 21: Bounty Mission
The Jade Flute Fairy was taken aback.
In Qianzhu City, who would spend a Hidden Coin to keep her at the Shadow Tower for another day?
It was not just about a Hidden Coin.
This action would undoubtedly invite the enmity of other Hermits!
The Jade Flute Fairy glanced around.
As expected.
The Hermits near the Shadow Tower frowned upon hearing this.
The Old Blacksmith, who had already closed his shop, was puzzled upon hearing the news.
"Who is this person and why does he want to help me?"
The Jade Flute Fairy asked.
Liu Shou smiled and said, "That guest is right at the counter in the shop, Fairy, why not go ask yourself."
The Jade Flute Fairy hesitated for a moment but eventually turned and entered the Shadow Tower.
Returning to the main hall, the Jade Flute Fairy distinctly felt an unusual atmosphere inside.
Previously, many Hermits kept their eyes on her, but now their gaze was directed at the counter, with a tinge of hostility and killing intent in their eyes!
The Jade Flute Fairy also looked toward the counter.
A burly man with his back to her was talking to the owner of the Shadow Tower.
The back was somewhat familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it.
...
Lady Yun’s delicate fingers were toying with the Hidden Coin Chen Tang had just given her, with a playful smile at the corner of her mouth.
"Do you know her?"
Lady Yun asked.
Chen Tang nodded.
Lady Yun thought for a moment and said, "I see, after all, you both hail from the Divine Land, and it’s said that this Jade Flute Fairy is quite famous there."
"Haha, it seems you’re quite generous, just one Hidden Coin, yet you’ve paid for her stay."
Before this, Lady Yun saw Chen Tang holding onto a Hidden Coin, unwilling to let go, and thought he was very stingy.
"Hey."
Lady Yun leaned in, grinning, "Little brother, if you want to be the hero saving the beauty and win her heart, the most effective way is to rush out and fight the masses in front of the Fairy or fight alongside the Fairy."
"I’m not foolish."
Chen Tang shook his head.
He never thought about being a hero saving the beauty.
But since he met the Jade Flute Fairy here, he couldn’t just leave her to die.
As for Lady Yun’s method, it was simply unrealistic.
Inside the hall, outside the Shadow Tower, who knows how many Hermits had their eyes on the Jade Flute Fairy.
With his current cultivation level, he could at least protect himself.
But fighting alongside the Jade Flute Fairy was nothing but a pipe dream.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the Jade Flute Fairy was a liability in her current state.
Using one Hidden Coin to let her stay another day and continue recovering at the Shadow Tower was the best course of action for the time being.
Lady Yun reminded, "However, I must remind you that by paying her room fee, it means that the Hermits here must wait another day."
"And without Hidden Coins, don’t blame me for ordering you out."
Chen Tang understood the meaning behind Lady Yun’s words.
His move was bound to invite hostility from numerous Hermits.
In that extra day, many Hermits would not sit idly by.
Once he stepped out of the Shadow Tower, those Hermits would make a move against him!
"You..."
At that moment, a slightly puzzled voice came from behind.
Chen Tang turned his head, smiled slightly, and said, "Fairy, long time no see."
The Jade Flute Fairy froze on the spot, her beautiful eyes first reflected disbelief, and then joy surged in.
She was by nature calm, seldom showing emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, or pleasure.
But at this moment, being in a foreign country, deeply mired in a dire situation, barely surviving, suddenly meeting an old acquaintance from the Divine Land, how could she not be delighted?
Moreover, she had thought this old acquaintance had perished in the East Sea.
"Brother Chen, you’re not dead?"
The Jade Flute Fairy hurriedly asked.
Chen Tang laughed heartily and said, "I am very lucky, I can’t die."
Hearing Chen Tang’s laughter, the Jade Flute Fairy seemed affected by his mood, feeling somewhat better.
"It was you who helped pay for the Hidden Coin just now, right?"
The Jade Flute Fairy asked, "Do you have any more Hidden Coins? You’d better book a room here, as many Hermits may have already set their sights on you."
"That was his only Hidden Coin."
Lady Yun said with a smile from the side, her expression that of someone eager to watch the drama unfold.
"Ah?"
The Jade Flute Fairy’s heart tightened, "Brother Chen, then you..."
Chen Tang laughed, "Don’t worry about me, just focus on recovering here."
At that moment, some of the Hermits in the hall came to the counter to reacquire bounty tasks from Lady Yun.
Liu Shou set up a black slate behind the counter, with the words "Middle Concealment" written at the top, and densely packed bounty tasks underneath.
This meant that the tasks on this black slate could only be taken by those in Middle Concealment.
The task for the Jade Flute Fairy was prominently listed at the top.
Bounty amount: 2 million. Complete the task to earn 6 Hidden Coins.
Target: A person from Nanxia of the Divine Land, Jade Flute Fairy, true name unknown, skilled in the Sound Rhythm Law, exquisite Swordsmanship, Fourth Grade peak, required to be captured alive and unharmed.
Task Difficulty: Purgatory.
Last seen location: Shadow Tower, Room D, Human word section.
Portrait: ...
...
The black slate not only listed the task information but also clearly detailed various information about the target.
The bounty tasks were arranged in order of bounty amount.
Chen Tang looked downward and saw his name at the bottom.
Bounty amount: fifty thousand taels. Complete the task to earn two Hidden Coins.
Target: A person from the Divine Land, Chen Tang, skilled in martial arts, proficient in Tiger Subduing Fist, practices Horizontal Training Method, Inner Strength of the Viscera, cultivation approximately at Fifth Grade, kill him!
Task Difficulty: Ordinary.
Last seen location: Blacksmith’s Shop.
Liu Shou took out a cloth and wiped away the words "Blacksmith’s Shop," replacing them with "Shadow Tower Main Hall."
"Have you cultivated to Fifth Grade?"
The Jade Flute Fairy seemingly realized something, showing a trace of worry in her eyes.
Originally, she thought Chen Tang was only Sixth Grade.
Thus, the Hermits targeting him could only be from Lower Concealment. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮
But if Chen Tang had cultivated to Fifth Grade, it meant that not only those from Lower Concealment could take up this task, but all from Middle Concealment could also take this bounty task!
Meaning, those around and within the Shadow Tower who originally targeted her, could now target Chen Tang!
The Jade Flute Fairy’s heart gradually sank.
She had clashed with those in Middle Concealment before.
The straightforward combat power of these Middle Concealment was nothing to fear.
If it were a one-on-one, none were her match.
But these Middle Concealment excelled in various stealth assassination methods, with ever-changing attack strategies that were impossible to guard against.
Even she had fallen into their traps, and Chen Tang, being only Fifth Grade, how could he withstand these Middle Concealment?
"Boss, give me that task."
A Middle Concealment in the hall approached, pointing to the section with Chen Tang’s name, speaking in a deep voice.
Lady Yun chuckled, pulling out a token from beneath the counter, writing a number on it, and handing it to the person.
Chen Tang glanced at it, seeing the number seven.
Which meant, before this person, six others had taken up the task to assassinate him.
"Take this task."
The Middle Concealment of the hall kept stepping forward, redeeming the task to assassinate Chen Tang right before his eyes, openly.
In no time, the task token number exceeded one hundred.
Normally, such a bounty as Chen Tang’s, due to its low amount and being at the end of the task list, would go largely unnoticed.
However, due to the earlier event, Chen Tang immediately caught the attention of many Hermits!
Lady Yun observed Chen Tang’s expression in secret.
Throughout the process, Chen Tang remained as calm and composed as ever, which made her click her tongue in wonder.
