The Decaying World-Chapter 78 - 73: Cooperation, Part 1

The small private room, originally meant for four or five people, was now crammed with seven or eight.

A group of attractive young women, all in white clothes and white gloves, surrounded Lin Hui in the center.

"Does Sect Leader Lin truly believe he can make a move in Baisan Town without my Baihua Sect knowing? Why not come openly through the front? I would have surely led a procession to welcome you with open arms." The bewitching woman’s voice was sultry, her words carrying a double meaning.

"That won’t be necessary." Lin Hui picked up his teacup, circulated his Inner Strength, and spat out the tea he had been holding in his mouth. Now that he knew something was wrong, he naturally wouldn’t touch anything else here.

’It seems this Shopkeeper Hu Zhen has been one of the Baihua Sect’s people for a long time. Back then, Song Zhanlong probably knew it himself. Relying on a single person like Hu Zhen to monitor the Baihua Sect in Baisan Town was indeed asking the impossible.’

’Perhaps Song Zhanlong had just pretended not to know, barely maintaining his relationship with the Baihua Sect.’

It was only with Lin Hui’s arrival that the unspoken truce between the two sides was truly broken.

Standing up, Lin Hui’s gaze fell on the bewitching, blue-skirted woman before him, who was slightly shorter than he was.

"Do you have a name?"

"Xiang Ying, an Elder of the Baihua Sect. What guidance does the Sect Leader have for me?" The bewitching woman signaled for the people outside to close the door, then sat down across from Lin Hui.

"Guidance is too strong a word. I simply heard that the Baihua Sect’s Hundred Flowers Palm is exceptionally powerful for breaking through defenses, so I came to see it for myself," Lin Hui said with a smile.

"Sect Leader, you must be joking," Xiang Ying laughed. "When you think about it, the Black Dragon Sect you formed a United Sect with has its conflicts with my Baihua Sect, and the Qingfeng Sword sect also had conflicts with the Black Dragon Sect in the past. There isn’t that much friction between us. For the Sect Leader to arrive in such a fury is quite unreasonable. Why not sit and talk? Perhaps cooperation would be more beneficial for both of us than conflict."

"Oh? And what kind of cooperation would that be?" Lin Hui hadn’t expected her to be so adaptable, able to be both firm and yielding with such ease.

"That depends on why Sect Leader Lin has come." Xiang Ying gently crossed her legs and leaned back in her chair.

"Why have I come? Naturally, it’s for the Ten Thousand Medicine Mountain Villa," Lin Hui said frankly. "I heard the Baihua Sect plans to monopolize the medicine trade in our region. I assume other powers besides myself have also come to inquire, haven’t they?"

"That is indeed the case." An ’I knew it’ expression appeared on Xiang Ying’s face.

At that moment, the sounds of singing drifted in from outside, accompanied by the erhu and pipa. The music was lively, the vocals clear and crisp.

"Actually, before our Sect Leader made this decision, she anticipated it would cause such a huge reaction. So, for those like you, Sect Leader Lin, who have come with this purpose in mind, we have prepared a method for cooperation and jointly setting the rules for the region."

"Oh? Jointly set how?" Lin Hui had been ready to make his move, but he hadn’t expected this to be a deliberate setup by the Baihua Sect—a grander scheme, it seemed, to create something akin to a Martial Alliance.

Monopolizing the medicine was a pretense; the real goal was to use the opportunity to attract surrounding powers with a need for it to come and negotiate.

"Qingfeng Temple’s current power surpasses even that of the former Black Dragon Sect. For the medicinal herbs your sect requires, we can form a purchasing alliance. With a large enough demand, we can negotiate prices with the Ten Thousand Medicine Mountain Villa together. And if our purchase volume is sufficient, we could even bypass the Villa and negotiate with the more distant Qunxiang Valley. The cost of travel, when spread across such a large order, wouldn’t add much to the price," Xiang Ying said softly.

"So you’re saying I’ve misunderstood the Baihua Sect? This whole move was just to pressure the Ten Thousand Medicine Mountain Villa into renegotiating prices?" Lin Hui was surprised.

"Isn’t that just it? Sect Leader Lin probably hasn’t been paying attention to the Villa’s price adjustments over the last ten years. They get higher every year. In the last two years, the Baihua Sect’s spending on medicine has increased by nearly half compared to when we first arrived. That’s why we were forced to resort to this desperate measure," Xiang Ying sighed.

"I see." Lin Hui nodded in understanding. "Then why not send out direct invitations instead of doing it this way?"

"If not for this, how would we know who is actually qualified to cooperate with the Baihua Sect? A partnership like this requires some sort of test of qualification, doesn’t it?" Xiang Ying smiled.

"A test?" Lin Hui laughed. "Then what qualifies the Baihua Sect to cooperate with me? Why shouldn’t I just go to the Ten Thousand Medicine Mountain Villa and negotiate myself?"

"Because our consumption is large enough!" Xiang Ying puffed out her chest with pride. "On average, our consumption of medicinal herbs is double that of the former Black Dragon Sect and Qingfeng Sword sect combined! Every month, the contraceptive and vitality-boosting powders used by our Music Workshops and Art Halls account for more than half the total demand across more than ten surrounding towns!"

"..." Lin Hui was speechless. ’So the Baihua Sect is in the flesh trade. Contraceptives plus aphrodisiacs... no wonder their medicine consumption is so high.’

’Alright, he had nothing to say to that. He really couldn’t compete on that front.’

Seeing a potential fight turning into a business negotiation left him feeling a bit unsatisfied. After all, he had come here to test their underlying strength. If they were strong, he’d find a chance to cripple them with a sneak attack. If they were weak, he’d just eliminate their high-level resistance.

After all, to eliminate future trouble, the Baihua Sect had always been on his list. To subjugate an entire sect, no one would be convinced without a decisive victory.

Who would have thought that after just a few words, she would manage to de-escalate the situation?

’This won’t do. I have to find an excuse to fight!’

As the thought crossed his mind, Lin Hui recalled the two Baihua Sect women who had died by his sword in the Fog Area. Back then, those two had been so arrogant and domineering. Who would have thought the Baihua Sect’s people would be so polite now?

Just as he was thinking this, he heard Xiang Ying speak again.

"Speaking of which, the Baihua Sect wasn’t always so polite, inside or out. But later, because of the poor conduct of our members, we frequently ran into conflicts outside, suffering many deaths and injuries. We even lost a Core Disciple and an Inner Power Realm Elder in the Fog Area. After that, our Sect Leader implemented a complete top-to-bottom reform, and the old attitude was swept away."

With a sigh, Xiang Ying changed the subject. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"We’ve also been paying attention to Qingfeng Temple. Your main medicinal needs are primarily wrist-care salves for the Qingfeng Sword’s Seven-Section Quick Sword and Nine-Section Swift Sword, supplemented by Body Tempering Medicine. Now, after the United Sect was formed, you’ll have to let us know what else needs to be added," Xiang Ying said softly.

"But besides the matter of medicinal herbs, I came here personally to test the power of the Baihua Sect’s Hundred Flowers Palm. When you’re out doing business and discussing partnerships, you have to see if your partner is qualified to stand with you on equal footing."

Lin Hui narrowed his eyes, his words carrying a hint of aggression.

"Sect Leader Lin, you have quite a big mouth. Just because you’ve defeated a few Inner Power masters without reaching the Inner Power Realm yourself, you think all Inner Power Realm experts in the world are so fragile? Aren’t you overestimating yourself a bit?" With things having come to this, Xiang Ying could no longer beat around the bush.

"I am naturally aware that there are many masters in the Inner Power Realm, far beyond my imagination. But I just haven’t met them yet, have I?" Lin Hui smiled. "Or maybe I’ve just been unlucky, and the Inner Power Realm experts I’ve met have all been on the weaker side?"

"Very well. It seems Sect Leader Lin came here intentionally to stir up trouble." The smile on Xiang Ying’s face faded.

"I’m a simple man." Lin Hui gripped his sword with one hand. "I prefer to speak with those whose strength is equal to my own. If you’re too weak to even withstand the wind from my sword practice, then I’m sorry, but why should I use my mouth for something that can be solved with a single strike?"

"...Fine." Xiang Ying’s expression turned grim. "Then let me experience for myself just how fast Sect Leader Lin’s Qingfeng Swift Sword truly is!"

The word "fast" had barely left her lips, and it looked like a fight was finally about to break out.

Suddenly, a cold shout cut in between them.

"Stop! It’s a misunderstanding!"

A white figure rushed into the private room, placing a hand out to block Xiang Ying.

But while she could stop Xiang Ying, she couldn’t stop Lin Hui.

CLANG!

With a clear ring, Lin Hui drew his sword.

He had been waiting for this chance for a long time. Now that he had an excuse, he struck without hesitation!

’As for the person who tried to stop them, he didn’t know her. If he stopped just because she said so, wouldn’t he, the head of Qingfeng Temple, lose face!?’

’If he had to save face, then he might as well cut them both down!’

The Qinghe Sword suddenly became a phantom, then transformed into a light breeze, blowing toward the two women in front of him.

At such a close distance, in such a small space, striking with Lin Hui’s Sword Speed—even without using Inner Strength or Special Effects—the sheer velocity of the perfect version of Qingfeng Sword was already terrifying.

The moment they heard the sword’s ring, a white light flashed around both Xiang Ying and the white-robed figure as they manifested their protective Inner Strength.

CRACKLE! A shower of sparks exploded as the Qinghe Sword’s terrifying speed struck their bodies, sending a spray of fiery motes into the air.

The two women tried to channel their Inner Strength back through the blade to counterattack, but the sword retreated the instant it touched them. It was too fast, so fast that they couldn’t even maintain a continuous channel before it was forcibly interrupted.

And sending even a tiny bit of Inner Strength up the blade was useless; it couldn’t interrupt his Sword Speed at all.

CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG!!

In that instant, the continuous, terrifying afterimages of the sword completely transformed into a Sword Wind, enveloping the three-meter area around the two women.

Within this area, tables and chairs shattered with a loud crash, diced into pieces and scattered across the floor. The parts of their dresses not covered by Inner Strength were shredded to rags, leaving them in a sorry state.

Left with no choice, the two women braced themselves and charged forward at Lin Hui, attempting to forcibly interrupt his assault. If this continued, it wouldn’t be long before their Inner Strength barriers were completely depleted.

One on the left and one on the right, they cooperated with perfect tacit understanding, pouncing at Lin Hui from both sides.

Both struck with their right palms, the centers of which were a dark purple, faintly emitting a delicate fragrance.

This was the Enchanting Fragrance Skill, also known as the Palm of Enchanting Fragrance. It was another of the Baihua Sect’s Martial Arts besides the Hundred Flowers Palm. Anyone without poison resistance who was touched by it would instantly collapse, unconscious, as if they had inhaled a knockout incense.

Now, the two of them used it together, their Inner Strength resisting the Sword Wind as they lunged at Lin Hui.

Even before they got close, a faint, sweet fragrance could be detected.

Lin Hui hadn’t expected the two of them to coordinate their attack so perfectly. But it didn’t matter. He was fast enough. As long as they didn’t touch him, dealing with one or two of them was just a matter of time.

As for the problem of the small space and the number of people making it difficult to use his Body Technique...

That was also easy to solve.

SWISH! He instantly sheathed his sword. His figure moved like a ghost as he grabbed the nearest female disciple in white and shoved her toward the two oncoming women.

Although he specialized in Sword Speed and Body Technique, not strength training, he had still undergone a Second-Time Body Tempering. His strength was far greater than a woman’s. With a single push, he perfectly blocked their pouncing attack.

"Look out!"

"Dodge!"

Amid a series of startled cries, the pushed disciple was struck by two Palm Seals. She was sent flying, coughed up blood, and fell unconscious on the spot.

But before Xiang Ying and the white-robed figure could recover, Lin Hui pushed two more female disciples to block them.

His speed was incredible, his actions and judgment precise. Each push was perfectly aimed to block the two women’s pursuit.

Forced to injure three of their own people, the two women were so enraged that they had no choice but to charge out of the private room to expand the fighting area.

But they had just rushed through the door.

Just as Xiang Ying was about to locate Lin Hui, she saw a brilliant silver light flash before her. The sound of a sword, far louder than before, exploded in an instant.

SHHIIINK!!

Her Inner Strength barrier was broken. Xiang Ying felt as if she’d been struck by lightning. She was sent flying backward, slammed hard against the door behind her, breaking it, and collapsed to the ground.

Across her chest, a straight, diagonal sword wound had appeared.

It was as if the blood in the wound only just realized it was there, and it began to gush out like a spring.