The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Chapter 277: Chapter 274: Keeping a Low Profile

"Yes."

Bai Yuan was already unconscious, so Yang Jiuyan could only answer for him.

Yang Jiuyan had already learned from Yang Fangyu about Bai Yuan’s friction with the Celestial Profound Sect—the public version of events, at least.

Shangguan Yang had once personally written to Du Qinghui, hoping he would help the Celestial Profound Sect investigate the disappearance of Jiu Zhen True Man on Shenfu Mountain, but he was refused.

The matter had caused quite a stir in Ling Province that year.

Although it was Du Qinghui who had caused him to lose face, there was no guarantee that the petty Shangguan Yang wouldn’t take it out on Bai Yuan.

The Celestial Profound Sect was known throughout Xuan Yang for its tyrannical methods. As the saying goes, the subordinates follow the example of their superior; the sect acted this way because Shangguan Yang himself was just like that.

Shangguan Yang merely glanced over. "Treat him well."

"Thank you, Sect Leader Shangguan."

Yang Jiuyan gave a slight nod, then carried Bai Yuan away from the street.

He had only gone about a hundred feet when the other masters in the city who had heard the commotion rushed over, including Yang Fangyu, Li Huan, and Lu Yu.

The three of them were shocked to see the barely breathing Bai Yuan.

They never expected Bai Yuan to be so grievously injured.

Yang Fangyu said fiercely, "Second Uncle, who did this?"

Yang Jiuyan glanced at his nephew. "Kuaidong."

Hearing that name was like having a bucket of cold water dumped on them. They instantly calmed down, their expressions turning to sympathy for Bai Yuan, mixed with a measure of admiration.

Surviving an encounter with Kuaidong was a feat in itself.

"Take him to be treated first."

Since he had run into Yang Fangyu and the others, Yang Jiuyan handed Bai Yuan over to them.

"Alright."

Li Huan deftly took Bai Yuan and carried him on his back to their residence.

He placed Bai Yuan on the bed.

Bai Yuan’s right hand was limp and twisted at an odd angle, the bones clearly broken.

The three of them gasped in shock at the sight.

"Brother Bai won’t be..."

Li Huan’s expression darkened, and he felt a pang of sorrow, as if seeing a reflection of his own potential fate.

The other two also looked grief-stricken.

Just then, the supposedly unconscious Bai Yuan suddenly opened his eyes, flipped over, and sat up. He looked nothing like the half-dead man from moments before.

"You... were faking it?!"

The three of them were dumbfounded, staring at Bai Yuan as if they’d seen a ghost.

To take a palm strike from Kuaidong and still be this full of life... Bai Yuan was truly top-tier among the younger generation of Xuan Yang.

Bai Yuan ignored them, looking down at the bones in his hand, which were broken in several places.

’Looks like I’ll need some time to recover from this injury,’ he thought.

Although he had Spirit Soup for a quick recovery, broken bones healed much more slowly than other wounds.

Seeing Bai Yuan safe and sound, Li Huan was overjoyed. "I knew you weren’t going to die that easily!"

Bai Yuan looked at the three concerned faces.

The sorrow in their eyes just now had been genuine. He hadn’t befriended these three in vain.

"You have to keep this a secret for me."

"Don’t worry."

Yang Fangyu thumped his chest resoundingly.

He understood perfectly well why Bai Yuan had faked unconsciousness. It was, of course, out of caution toward the Celestial Profound Sect’s Leader, Shangguan Yang.

This was also why Yang Jiuyan had rescued Bai Yuan a step ahead of Monk Fa Ding.

While the Celestial Profound Sect probably wasn’t so petty as to strike in a situation like that, one couldn’t be too careful.

Bai Yuan said, "Thanks. You guys can go back. I can recover on my own."

Yang Fangyu offered, "The three of us can stand guard here for you."

He was worried that someone from the Celestial Profound Sect might try to attack Bai Yuan while he was injured.

Bai Yuan shook his head. "No need."

Seeing Bai Yuan’s firm attitude, Yang Fangyu had to drop the matter.

After the three of them left, Bai Yuan lay back down on the bed.

’Mingxin Grandmasters are even more terrifying than I imagined,’ he mused. ’Kuaidong and Shangguan Yang were in the city for at least a few days, and I didn’t sense them at all.’

’If it weren’t for the Four-Nine Book’s warning, my injuries would have been much worse.’

The reason he didn’t need Yang Fangyu and the others to stand guard was that, although his injuries looked severe, he had only lost about thirty percent of his strength. It was more convenient to act alone.

He had originally planned to slip away during the chaos when the Celestial Profound Sect Leader and Kuaidong started fighting.

He never thought Kuaidong would launch a sneak attack on him.

As a result, he ended up facing Kuaidong and Shangguan Yang directly and had no choice but to feign unconsciousness.

...

With Shangguan Yang having forced Kuaidong’s retreat, a temporary peace returned to Huaiyuan Prefecture.

The situation in Dingzhou had changed drastically, so the results of the previous meeting were naturally null and void.

Inside the Huaiyuan Prefecture Magistrate’s Office.

Shangguan Yang had, without question, taken the Prefect’s seat.

The Celestial Profound Sect and the other four families were arranged on his left and right.

This time, Qiu Yang did not speak hastily, but merely looked toward Shangguan Yang.

The right to speak had never been determined by who spoke first or who was loudest, but by who had the strongest fist.

Previously, when the Celestial Profound Sect’s strength was comparable to the Cao Bang’s, Qiu Yang had acted without restraint. But now that Shangguan Yang had come to Dingzhou personally, the situation was completely different.

Just like Qiu Yang, the other three families were also waiting for Shangguan Yang to speak.

It wasn’t that their backers weren’t strong enough, but that they weren’t placing nearly as much importance on this matter as the Celestial Profound Sect.

After all, the Northern Territory was too far from their main bases, not worth their Gang Leaders or Patriarchs making a personal appearance. The Celestial Profound Sect was different. Its foundation was already in the Northern Territory, so it didn’t have such concerns and would naturally contribute the most effort.

Under everyone’s watchful gaze, Shangguan Yang slowly spoke, "Of Dingzhou’s seventeen prefectures, I will take the ten in the north. Does anyone have any objections?"

Yang Jiuyan and the others all narrowed their eyes slightly.

Shangguan Yang’s words were domineering, leaving no room for negotiation.

This meant they had only two choices: agree or become enemies.

Silence fell over the main hall.

Shangguan Yang didn’t press them, simply leaning back in his chair and feigning sleep while he awaited their decision.

Finally, Fang Yan was the first to speak. "The Fang Family has no objection. As for the remaining seven prefectures, let each take what they can by their own ability."

Qiu Yang and Zhu Wanchong looked at Fang Yan.

’We wouldn’t believe for a second that the Celestial Profound Sect didn’t promise the Fang Family some benefits,’ they thought.

However, circumstances were against them. Shangguan Yang being willing to part with seven prefectures was already giving them a great deal of face.

Qiu Yang’s face was grim. He gritted his teeth. "The Cao Bang has no objection."

As long as he and Zhu Wanchong joined forces, they could seize at least four prefectures. Besides, Shangguan Yang hadn’t given him any grounds to refuse.

Zhu Wanchong let out a dry laugh. "The Jiangnan Commerce Association has no objection."

Only Yang Jiuyan remained.

Yang Jiuyan said, "The Yang Family has no objection."

Now that everyone had stated their position, Shangguan Yang finally revealed a faint smile. "Very good. As for Kuaidong, I will deal with him myself. None of you need to concern yourselves with it any longer."

Yang Jiuyan watched Shangguan Yang with an unreadable expression.

The Celestial Profound Sect was a confluence of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism, yet the old man before them could suppress all three factions by himself because he cultivated all three paths simultaneously.

Such a practice was extremely rare in all of Xuan Yang.

As someone who cultivated both Buddhism and Confucianism, Yang Jiuyan naturally knew how arduous it was and thus understood the true weight behind Shangguan Yang’s reputation.

Unless it was absolutely necessary, he had no desire to make an enemy of Shangguan Yang.

After the meeting concluded, the Celestial Profound Sect was the first to lead its troops out of Huaiyuan Prefecture.

They left the city for the other four powers to divide amongst themselves.

In the end, the fabulously wealthy Jiangnan Commerce Association bought Huaiyuan Prefecture for a price no one could refuse.

...

In the Yang Family’s convoy leaving the city.

Yang Fangyu looked with concern at Bai Yuan, who was resting in the carriage.

"Brother Bai, are you feeling any better?"

"I’m fine."

Bai Yuan smiled faintly.

He had been preparing to leave Dingzhou, but when he heard that the Celestial Profound Sect had gone to the northern part of the province, he changed his mind.

’After all, a prime grinding spot like this isn’t easy to find,’ he thought.

According to Yang Fangyu, his second uncle had decided to head for He Ming Prefecture, in the far west.

Li Huan knew he could no longer play a part in things.

He had already intended to leave but had stayed a few extra days for Bai Yuan’s sake.

Li Huan took out a map. "We’re only ten li from the border of He Ming Prefecture."

He looked at Bai Yuan apologetically. "My father, the King, has written to urge my return to Qingzhou. Brother Bai, I’m afraid I have to leave first."

Bai Yuan nodded.

"Fang Yu, this map will be useful to you. I’m lending it to you for now, but don’t you dare damage it."

Li Huan handed the map to Yang Fangyu.

Taking the map, Yang Fangyu was overjoyed.

’A map from the Qingzhou Royal Mansion is priceless. With this, marching the troops will be so much easier.’

Li Huan cupped his fist. "Let us part ways here."

He had already said his goodbyes to Yang Jiuyan, so he led the men from Qingzhou down another road.

Watching Li Huan depart, Yang Fangyu felt an even deeper sense of guilt.

When the three of them had come to Dingzhou, they had agreed to each earn a viscountcy.

But in the end, Li Huan was leaving empty-handed. Although the Yang Family had promised him other benefits, it couldn’t compare to the title of Viscount.

Even though it was all because the situation had changed too quickly, Yang Fangyu still took it to heart.

He sighed softly and looked at Bai Yuan. "Ah Yuan, what are your plans now?"

Like Li Huan, Bai Yuan ultimately wasn’t a Yang. There probably wasn’t much benefit in him staying any longer.

Even if Yang Fangyu tried his best to lobby for him, not even all of the Yang Family experts who came this time were guaranteed a viscountcy, let alone an outsider.

Bai Yuan said, "I plan to return to Ling Province once my injuries have healed a bit more. And don’t forget about my Cultivation Technique."

Yang Fangyu forced a smile. "Don’t worry, you’ll get what’s yours."

Of the three brothers who came to Dingzhou, he was actually the one who had profited the most.

Of course, Bai Yuan wasn’t about to tell Yang Fangyu that he himself had gained even more.

The enhancement points he had acquired this past month were almost equal to the amount from the previous six months. The feeling was exhilarating.

In truth, his injuries were already mostly healed.

As for why he continued to follow the Yang Family, it was, of course, to completely shake off the Celestial Profound Sect.

Although he wasn’t sure if the Celestial Profound Sect would send people after him, it was better to be cautious. With Yang Jiuyan present, the Celestial Profound Sect wouldn’t be so insane as to mortally offend the Yang Family.

Once he reached a city, he could disguise himself as someone else. Deceiving them would be much easier then.

Right now, they were all grouped too closely together. With so many people and watchful eyes, he had no room to maneuver.

After all, he was still officially an invalid—the kind who needed help just to relieve himself.

He had already sent the Firearms Team back to Ling Province.

In the current situation, the Divine Mansion Sect’s foundation was no match for major sects like the Celestial Profound Sect.

Rather than waste time besieging cities, it was better to grind more mobs.

The Firearms Team was too large a target and not as flexible as Bai Yuan alone. That was why, aside from Hu Ben, Bai Yuan hadn’t kept anyone else with him.

Perhaps when the time was right, he would have Hu Ben leave as well.

Demon Hunters never had the habit of hunting in groups.

And Bai Yuan much preferred to keep the spoils for himself...