Chapter Twelve: Conversation

A great fire blazed, scattering the Night Wolves. The Venomous Wanderer turned around, a loneliness washing over him as he had never felt before. With a bitter smile, he said, “All these years I’ve roamed the continent, yet this is the first time I’ve ever joined forces with the very one I was sent to kill.”

Mo Bai merely laughed. “Since fate has brought us together, why don’t we sit down and talk for a while?”

The Venomous Wanderer was startled. He had always thought himself mad enough, yet the young man before him seemed even more so. “Ha! You’re quite the interesting fellow, actually wanting to sit and chat with the person who’s come to kill you?”

Mo Bai replied, “Didn’t you just say, moments ago, that we were already fighting a common enemy together?”

The Venomous Wanderer fell silent. Nevertheless, as an accomplished soul cultivator, he seated himself frankly across from Mo Bai. “Very well, then. Let’s hear what you have to say.”

Mo Bai said, “I want to know who sent you to kill Shun Qing.”

This question caused a stir among those present. Even the Venomous Wanderer’s expression showed surprise, while Shun Qing was completely dumbfounded. Who would want to kill me?

The Venomous Wanderer laughed. “Don’t try to trick me, Mo Bai. Surely you know the rules of the Scarlet Blossom. If a client pays, we kill—success or failure, their name is never revealed. Besides, how do you know I wasn’t sent to kill you?”

Mo Bai smiled. “If you were here to kill me, you wouldn’t have told us in Yun Jian Town to savor our meals one last time.”

The Venomous Wanderer was taken aback. “That's just how I am. How did you twist it into something else?”

Mo Bai said, “Because it was an obvious hint. You were telling us the Venomous Wanderer was coming, so we should be wary of what we eat. Since the target was among us, Shun Qing wouldn’t need to be careful, which would allow you to use the Qinggu Corrosive on him. Unfortunately for you, our little Hua wouldn’t let Shun Qing eat a thing, giving you no chance to put your poison to use.”

The Venomous Wanderer laughed. “Pure speculation.”

Mo Bai replied, “Perhaps at first. But when we left Songfeng Town and passed the stream, I saw my chance to test you.”

The Venomous Wanderer asked, “Oh? And how did you do that?”

Mo Bai said, “I sent Shun Qing to fetch water and heard you breathing heavily, so I knew you were excited. When I switched Shun Qing’s position with Bai Ma, I heard you sigh in disappointment.”

The Venomous Wanderer was shocked. “I didn’t expect your hearing to be as keen as your soul-leaping skill. You’re right, that’s my weakness. I do enjoy watching people ingest my Qinggu Corrosive, savoring the agony that follows—it gives me a pleasure I can’t describe.” As he spoke, an odd excitement crept across his face.

Wu Luohua and Shun Qing were both horrified. Who would have thought that even among poisoners, there could be such distinctions in their love of poison?

Mo Bai continued, “So today, when you released those venomous bees, it wasn’t to cover your retreat, but to lure me into chasing them, so that the bees would turn back and attack Shun Qing.”

The Venomous Wanderer sighed. “I hadn’t anticipated your soul-leaping skill would be so formidable. I suppose I can pass it off as a diversion, otherwise you wouldn’t have knocked me from the tree today.”

Mo Bai’s tone shifted. “Since you’ve already discarded your last Nine-Bend Smoke, couldn’t you let things end here?”

The Venomous Wanderer regarded Mo Bai coldly. “I may not be a righteous man, but I’ve never failed to deliver on a Scarlet Blossom contract. Shun Qing must die.”

With a thud, Shun Qing collapsed to the ground. He had hoped Mo Bai’s words were mere conjecture, but now the Venomous Wanderer had confirmed the truth. All hope was gone, and he could only mutter over and over, “Why me? Why must I die?”

The Venomous Wanderer replied icily, “Because you have to.” At that moment, a murderous aura burst from him, wholly different from the venomous presence he usually exuded.

Mo Bai tensed, then said calmly, “I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. He will not die here. Even if he must die, he will face judgment within the Cloud Sky Sect.”

The Venomous Wanderer retorted, “Death will find him anywhere. If you step aside, I’ll make it quick for him.”

Mo Bai said helplessly, “I’m afraid I can’t oblige you, senior. Since things have come this far, it won’t end so easily.”

A glint flashed in the Venomous Wanderer’s eye. “Then let’s see who survives tomorrow. I’m leaving for now, but your luck won’t hold forever, Mo Bai.”

Mo Bai nodded and stood. “To have spoken with you tonight is an experience I’ll remember.”

The Venomous Wanderer gave a rare word of praise. “Mo Bai, I promise you, tomorrow you can eat and drink as you wish, but beware of other dangers. If you survive, perhaps you’ll one day become a formidable figure in the world of soul cultivation.”

As the Venomous Wanderer’s silhouette faded into the night, Wu Luohua fretted. “Brother Mo, why did you let that venomous old man go? His spirit power was already exhausted and the Night Wolves nearly finished him off. You should have struck him down—someone like him deserves no mercy.”

Mo Bai smiled bitterly. “Do you think I didn’t want to?”

Wu Luohua was puzzled. “Then why not, Brother Mo? I may not understand cultivation, but I know you could have killed him if you’d tried.”

Mo Bai said, “They call him the Venomous Wanderer, yet no one on Linglong Continent knows what his fourth poison is. I couldn’t take the risk—not yet. I still need to wait for the right chance.”

Wu Luohua was momentarily perplexed, but soon understood. He glanced at Shun Qing and said, “That chance may be coming soon.”

Mo Bai nodded, then walked over to Shun Qing. “I don’t need to know why you’re being hunted, but if you tell me, perhaps you’ll reach the Cloud Sky Sect safely. Only there can your life truly be protected.”

Shun Qing froze, then cried out, “No, I don’t believe you! I want to see my Third Uncle-Master, I want to see him!”

Mo Bai sighed. “If that’s the case, I’ll take you to the Hall of Justice to see Master Yun Fa.”

The Cloud Sky Sect’s Master Yun Fa was the third of the Six Elders, responsible for all matters of discipline within and beyond the sect. Entrusting Shun Qing to him was surely the best course.

As the night fog dispersed, a towering peak emerged, faintly visible against the sky—the Cloud Sky Sect was close at hand.