Chapter 219: Chapter 131: Mountain Bandits
The moment he spoke, the expression on Jiang Ping, who had just agreed so readily, changed.
A mission that would compel an expert like Li Qiang—who had placed eighteenth in the Outer Disciple tournament—to seek their help was likely one with a slim chance of survival.
The laughter in the courtyard died instantly.
Jiang Ping and the others had thought Li Qiang was short on funds for bribes and had come to borrow money. They never expected he was here to borrow their lives.
Zhang Yong asked gravely, "Senior Brother Li Qiang, may I ask what your assessment mission is?"
Li Qiang sighed. "To capture a Phantom Leopard cub."
At these words, the expressions of Zhang Yong and the others changed in unison.
The Phantom Leopard was an extremely powerful Exotic Beast. An adult was comparable to a Gang Qi Martial Artist, and one that had lived for three to five years could match a martial artist at Gang Qi Great Success.
A Phantom Leopard over ten years old was a beast that even a Bone Marrow Cleansing Martial Artist might not be able to defeat.
Although these Exotic Beasts were not pack animals, capturing a cub meant facing at least two adult Phantom Leopards simultaneously.
Besides, their strength was secondary; the real problem was their speed. They came like lightning and vanished like the wind, making them incredibly difficult to deal with.
Li Qiang said, "I implore you, Junior Brothers, to help me. On this trip into the Yunling Mountain Range, I only want the Phantom Leopard cub. I won’t take a single coin from any other spoils. And in the future, when your time comes, I will lend my aid in return."
Zhang Yong was instantly tempted.
He was currently at Gang Qi Minor Achievement and had already been planning to enter the Yunling Mountain Range to seek treasures. Having a master like Li Qiang, who was at Gang Qi Great Success, by his side would be a vast improvement over braving the mountains alone.
’Capturing a Phantom Leopard is dangerous, but Li Qiang is on a mission, not on a death wish. He probably won’t be reckless.’
"Senior Brother Li Qiang, rest assured. I’ll do it," said Zhang Yong.
A grateful look appeared on Li Qiang’s face. He cupped his fist and said, "Thank you, Junior Brother Zhang."
However, Zhang Yong alone wasn’t enough. His real targets were Zhang Yong and Xu Yang, who had also reached Gang Qi Minor Achievement.
Xu Yang showed no intention of giving an answer.
From the first day Li Qiang had shown up, Xu Yang knew the man wanted something, so he had kept his distance.
’He wouldn’t get involved with people who only paid you mind when they needed something, unless there were mutual benefits at stake.’
’Never mind the threat from Xiao Hua; he wouldn’t have helped even if that wasn’t a factor.’
"And you three junior brothers?" Li Qiang asked, looking at Xu Yang and the two others who had yet to respond.
"I am, of course, willing to help. I’m just afraid my meager skills won’t be of much use to Senior Brother," said Jiang Ping.
He had backed himself into a corner with his earlier words and had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree.
’But on second thought,’ he reasoned, ’setting aside the matter of capturing the Phantom Leopard cub, this is an opportunity to explore the Yunling Mountain Range with a master of Gang Qi Great Success. And he’s not even asking for a share of the loot. This could actually be a good thing.’
Li Qiang smiled. "You can help. Junior Brother Jiang, you’re too modest. There’s strength in numbers, as they say."
With that, his gaze fell intently on Xu Yang. "Is Junior Brother Xu unwilling to lend me a hand?"
Xu Yang cupped his fist. "I currently have a Sect mission and cannot leave. I ask for your understanding, Senior Brother."
Li Qiang acted as if he hadn’t heard the refusal in Xu Yang’s tone and smiled. "No worries. We won’t be setting out for the Yunling Mountain Range right away. We still have some time.
"You could always resign from your mission, Junior Brother. I can cover the contribution points for the penalty. This task will be difficult to complete without you, Junior Brother Xu. I implore you to lend your aid, and I will be sure to repay this debt in the future."
’Such pretty words!’
Xu Yang sneered inwardly. ’Li Qiang has so many masters at Gang Qi Great Success from his own year, yet he comes looking for help from us, who are only at Gang Qi Minor Achievement. If there wasn’t something wrong with his character, there’s no way he’d be asking us.’
’So many people are doing assessment missions; he could have just found someone else to team up with. The only reason he hasn’t is that no one trusts him.’
"My apologies. The Yunling Mountain Range is dangerous, and I am not willing to take the risk," Xu Yang said.
’I was being tactful, but he keeps pestering me. I guess I have to be more direct.’
’Does he really think I’m some greenhorn like Jiang Ping who can’t refuse once he’s been put on the spot?’
’If he won’t accept my polite refusal, then so be it. Let’s drop the act.’
Li Qiang froze, apparently not expecting Xu Yang to state so bluntly that he was afraid of the danger.
The atmosphere grew awkward.
Sun Tao opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing. He had also planned to refuse, not because he saw through the situation as clearly as Xu Yang, but because he was afraid Xiao Hua would kill him the moment he left the Purple Sun Sect.
’If it weren’t for the threat from Xiao Hua, he would have agreed.’
"In that case, I won’t force you, Junior Brother Xu. I just hope you don’t regret today’s decision in the future."
Li Qiang sneered. "You may be one of the Ten Heroes Geniuses, but it’s impossible for you to place in the top three of the Outer Disciple tournament. You’re only ranked tenth among the Ten Heroes; there are a full nine people ahead of you. It’ll be three years before your turn even comes, and by then, there will be a whole new generation of disciples."
Since Xu Yang had dropped all pretenses, Li Qiang couldn’t be bothered to act like a benevolent senior brother anymore.
He was making it clear: if Xu Yang didn’t help him now, he wouldn’t lift a finger when it was Xu Yang’s turn to do a mission.
Of course, this threat was also meant for Zhang Yong and the others. Li Qiang was afraid Xu Yang’s direct refusal would scare them off too.
"Then I won’t trouble Senior Brother with concern for my future. I’m afraid if I go to the Yunling Mountain Range, I might not even be alive to participate in the Outer Disciple tournament next year."
Li Qiang snorted. "It seems Junior Brother Sun is also unwilling to help."
He then turned to Jiang Ping and Zhang Yong. "I will never forget the kindness you two junior brothers have shown by lending your aid. From this day forward, you are my, Li Qiang’s, sworn brothers, through life and death."
Such words, coming from a master of Gang Qi Great Success who had also placed eighteenth in the Purple Sun Sect’s Outer Disciple tournament, carried considerable weight.
But Jiang Ping and Zhang Yong couldn’t help the corners of their mouths from twitching. Because back at the Dragon Assembly, that bastard Cao Rong had said the exact same thing.
