Dual Cultivation God Returns

Chapter 746: Their truths



Wu Long sat in one of the backrooms of the building the Thousand Eyes Palace used for their operations in the Silver Wing City. Unlike Madam Liang who could arrive here and leave anytime with Fen Baihu's help, he had to sneak in, as his body now instinctively rejected the Celestial Fox's powers.

He was having small talk with Madam Liang while his eyes observed what happened in the building around them and on the streets adjacent to the building.

Just like they did on the Three Continents, the Thousand Eyes Palace didn't store any information on the premises, the actual bureau that stored and distributed that information was located in the Oak Fortress, while the clerks in this building communicated what information they needed, receiving it through the artifacts that burnt text into scrolls remotely.

Doing the procedure of imprinting the information the client paid for on a scroll right in front of the clients reinforced the idea that this building was mostly an empty shell, and raiding it would not yield any of the information the organization had.

It was also quite apparent that earnings were not stored anywhere near, since the Thousand Eyes Palace only received exact payments. The clerks did not have change to give back. Of course, the price structure was also meticulously made so that small change could not even become part of the transactions.

It was a simple, but very effective trick, since it eliminated any potential gains from being in conflict with the organization.

The only ones who would cause trouble here were competitors, but so far no one was foolish enough to think this place was not prepared to deal with such straightforward disruption of business.

'As meticulous as ever', he thought with a smirk, since he couldn't really see any difference between this place and the branch of the then Thousand Eyes Information Bureau that he visited in the Azure Eagle Empire.

This system was so airtight, that at the time even he didn't see any way of getting information out of there, and had to buy the information he wanted.

Wu Long didn't have to wait long for the Ember Palm Pavilion to take the bait, as he soon noticed a group of people with their insignia approaching the building.

The bait was a fairly simple piece of information sold in this building, that the Ember Palm Pavilion did not in fact have those who arrived from the Battle God's Cradle in their grasp, and that their agent, who everyone believed to have disappeared on purpose, was actually missing.

On the surface, this was a harmless bit of information, classified into gossip, and sold at the cheapest rate offered in the establishment, as part of the 'unverified information pack'.

This tier of information was basically only bought by travelers to quickly grasp the latest gossip in a city or country they were visiting.

That way the Thousand Eyes Palace did not have to justify how that information was obtained, and it did not have any impact on any group involved in the brewing conflict over the continent, as they were not inclined to change their view of the situation based on cheap information without clear origin.

Most simply assumed the information to be a dud.

This, however, was not the same for the Ember Palm Palace who knew it was true. Soon, the clerk who received the group into the building, confirmed they wished to pay a premium price simply to just meet the owner of the establishment, the Heavenly Eye. Madam Liang turned to Wu Long, who made a nod. She wore a veil, similar in function but distinctly different in design to the one Frozen Garden Palace members wore before, while Wu Long wore a simple bamboo hat that covered his face, blending in with several people who followed Madam Liang when she posed as Madam Tianyan.

"Greetings, gentlemen", Madam Liang spoke as she entered the room the group from the Ember Palm Pavilion were escorted to.

There were two Elders, and five Sect Protectors with them, along with two Disciples who were likely Direct Disciples to the Elders.

"Pleasure to meet you, Madam Tianyan", one of the Elders spoke with an amicable tone. "Elder Shu is too polite, please have some tea", Madam Liang chuckled, subtly hinting there was no need for introductions, while servants entered with refreshments.

The two Elders exchanged a look, and the one who spoke before, Elder Shu nodded, "Thank you. I suppose you know why we asked to meet as well"

"The information... it is indeed something I looked into. The short answer is, I can introduce you to people who know more, but I have not been able to verify anything for certain. If you wish to meet them, I will only take a small fee as an intermediary. But I cannot guarantee the results are satisfactory to you, or take responsibility for any outcomes", Madam Liang nodded.

The two Elders exchanged a look once more, while the two Disciples standing behind them did the same with furrowing eyebrows.

Wu Long looked at this scene with amusement, recognizing that look. The two were likely thinking along the lines of "how dare this information trader bargain with our Elders" After all, it was a common trait of Sect Disciples coming from a prominent Sect, to think their Sect and its members had to be respected by everyone around. And Ember Palm Pavilion was one of the Major Sects in this Stellar Region. It was hard for them to find equals in status of the Sect.

"We will trouble Madam Tianyan", Elder Shu simply nodded with an amicable expression on his face, as the two Elders weren't as ignorant of the ways of the world as their Disciples, "Should we pay the fee now?"

Madam Liang simply signed the number three with her fingers, and the Elder nodded, retrieving a leather pouch from his Spatial Ring, and filled it with three hundred silver coins of the Wei Dynasty, the unofficial rulers of this and three neighboring Stellar Regions.

It was a hefty sum, but not excessive, since all Madam Liang did was introduce the two parties with no strings attached.

He then gave the pouch to the Sect Protector, who carefully handed it over to one of the men in low-sitting bamboo hats behind Madam Liang.

"I will contact Elder Shu at your new Spiritual Land when I arrange a meeting, do you have a preference for the location?", Madam Liang made a smile, which was visible because the lower part of her veil was a bit more transparent than the higher part. This gave those she talked to a sense of trust even though they couldn't see her face fully.

"No, any location will do as long as it is neutral", Elder Shu nodded, and both sides stood up, the group from the Ember Palm Pavilion retreating from the room.

Some time after they were left alone, Madam Liang smiled, taking off her veil, "Why did you pick them out of the three?"

Wu Long also took off his bamboo hat, his eyes still following the group that were already on their way to the City Gates, "We pissed off the Crystal Wood Sect already, and out of the three we know about them the most"

He was basically admitting that it was just a convenient choice, and that there wasn't a deeper meaning in choosing Ember Palm Pavilion to approach in particular.

"Still, I can't say I feel good operating this way. I always prided myself on selling genuine information", she said with a bit of guilt in her smile, elegantly placing her hand on the side of her neck. She understood the necessity, but still could not get over the feeling of swindling

people.

"It seems I have to apologize for making you breach your business ethics for these little schemes", Wu Long raised his eyebrows, as he could tell she really felt uncomfortable selling fabricated information.

It was fine to manipulate information with other means, as she did many times before on the Three Continents, but selling information in particular was something of a contract with her

word on the line.

She much preferred selling information that was true, and if she needed to spread false information, to utilize gossip and possibly feeding the information to competition, or intentionally let a piece of information be stolen.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Fen Baihu pointed out his less than admirable scheme before, but since she wasn't the one involved, and was simply amused by the whole situation, he didn't really stop to consider it. It was simply an efficient way of doing what they needed to do, so he didn't really put much

thought behind the ethics of it.

However, if it was making Liang Yuhan uncomfortable, it was different.

"No... I...", Liang Yuhan became a bit flustered by his response, as she didn't intend to blame

him.

"Don't worry, I understand. It's just something I didn't think about before. But I'll make sure to take that into consideration in the future", he replied.

"But...", there was a note of worry in her tone.

"Haha, it's not the only way of doing things that I know, Madam Liang. And it's not like I'm helpless without it. There are countless ways to make things work. I'd rather just use ways that don't make those who work with me uncomfortable, that's all", he lightly laughed as her expression made it seem like a big deal when it was not in his eyes.

Just as he could adjust to doing things the way Wei Lan would not be uncomfortable with his actions, he could adjust again. After all, the result would not change much just because he took a more moral or honorable approach to get it, but he would gain in the added satisfaction of those around him.

If anything did not change in Wu Long since his rebirth, it was the way he viewed obstacles

and problems. Or rather, how little he thought of effort to overcome them when choosing his

approach.

The difference in time and effort required wasn't in his field of vision at all. Whether he needed to work long and hard or to only make a simple quick move, it all was the same in his

eyes.

To him, a far more important consideration was what approach made him feel the most satisfied when getting the results.

So rather than restrictions, the feelings and desires of people who were close to him were an enhancement of satisfaction in doing things a certain way.

"Really, do I look like I'm troubled by it?", he added, seeing the look in her eyes.

Madam Liang couldn't really understand it yet, because this way of thinking was quite foreign

to her. But she didn't insist on trying to dissuade him, since she knew that he rarely said things like that if he wasn't sure of his intentions.

Instead, her attention shifted to the Ember Palm Pavilion, "Do you think those youngsters

might become a problem?"

"Haha, I'm afraid so. By the time night falls they'll probably barge in here to cause trouble

and try to retrieve that pouch", Wu Long shook his head at the choice he knew those two Disciples would make, as he could not mistake the look in their eyes as they watched the silver being handed over.

It wasn't really about the money, but the fact that their Sect had to pay to such 'lowly people'

just for an introduction without any guarantee of results.

A thinking that came out as a result of sheltered upbringing in the Sect, and a sense of entitlement instilled by the high status of their Sect as well as youthful ambition.

"I guess we'll have a bit of extra leverage then", Wu Long then added with a meaningful smile, and Liang Yuhan shook her head with a smile as well.

"Master, why would we pay them? Isn't it a sham? They are not even taking responsibility for

anything...", as Wu Long predicted, at this exact moment, one of the two Disciples asked his Master in a respectful way, disguising his dissatisfaction by asking for guidance. "Haha, that's just how information traders work, Hu'er. They're just bridge builders and

intermediaries", Elder Shu chuckled at that question, believing his Disciple would gradually understand the way of the world as he followed him like this.

"But... what if it turns out those people she connects us to are just swindlers?", the other

Disciples asked with a bit of puzzlement.

"That's why she specified that it is not certain. It's not part of the information they stake their reputation on, thus they only took that small of a fee. We just need to verify the possibility someone might know something about our missing person", the other Elder replied to the

confusion of both Disciples.

To them, they were paying for random people saying things that could or could not be false.

For the two Disciples, it made as much sense as paying for empty air to someone claiming

they own it. However, a crucial phrase, "small fee", caught their attention. It really was nothing in the eyes of their Sect, so the Disciples took this explanation a bit differently. That the price was so insignificant, the Elders just couldn't be bothered and paid it. 'Master and Elder Shu really are too forgiving of those who don't know their place... but I am not so kind', one of the Disciples thought as he perceived the 'truth' of what happened, mirroring the thoughts of the other Disciple.