Chapter 104: Casting More Nets
Another day passed and it was time for the party at Red Swan Tower. Chen Wentian left Qiu Jingyi with a brand new jade wood guqin and headed out as the sun was setting. His purpose for holding the party for the band of mercenaries was so they woulde under his employ for the time being. He needed them for a special mission and his own subordinates within the Beast God Sanctum couldn''t be trusted at all.
Red Swan Tower was a popr restaurant and hotel with the city, a massive tower spanning twenty or so floors. Every night, it was host to hundreds of parties and banquets and tends of thousands of people. Chen Wentian could get a room whenever he wanted due to his noble status but it was quite a treat for the mercenaries.
"Master He!"
"Master He is here!"
The nine mercenaries saluted as they saw Chen Wentian walk up. They still looked like mercenaries but their clothes were cleaner. They managed to look less like wild beasts and more like men for this asion.
"I''mte, lets go in. I have a room reserved."
"Yes."
The hotel attendants recognized Chen Wentian and led the party up a few floors to their private room. Fine drink and dishes were served soon as they took their seats.
Chen Wentian stood for a toast, "Thanks foring to celebrate a sessful and profitable mission! You guys may be mercenaries, but you''re real men. You guys work hard and defend each other. You guys are a great team and I hope we can work together again. Cheers!"
"Cheers to Master He!"
Chen Wentian led in the first few rounds of drinks while the mercenary leader, Hai Huaming, led the next few. Alcohol flowed like water and meat disappeared from the tes as fast as they were replenished. As front-line cultivators, they risked their lives to fight beasts, increase their cultivation, and earn a living. They were rtively simple but straightforward. They were d to have someone like He Xingping as their employer.
Chen Wentian saw the men enjoying the meal and lowered his voice to chat with Hai Huaming who was sitting next to him.
"Huaming, do you guys have any jobs lined up after this?"
"No, we figured we''ll go out again with Master He for the next hunt!" Hai Huaming replied, "If you don''t me saying this, the mission with you was the smoothest and with the least amount of casualties."
"Haha, I try my best." Chen Wentian chuckled, "What if I said, I have something more interesting for the next two weeks? A job with much less dangers but better pay."
"Oh? please exin." Hai Huaming was interested.
"It''s a simple task. It''s a hunt, not of wild beasts but of human targets that I want spy. You guys will have to stalk your targets just like you stalk beasts. You must not let them be alert of your presence. And you must ce a special tracker array on their bodies without them noticing..."
"As you surely know, the Lion faction and Eagle faction aren''t getting along well. We might erupt in a civil war soon. Therefore, my spy targets naturally will be Eagle faction people. I will supply the tracker as well as a list of targets. The pay will be double your normal rate."
Hai Huaming had a frown on his face. "Master He, humans are different from monsters. Plus, this is within the city. If we get caught, even our families will suffer."
Chen Wentian took out a t ck rune from his sleeve the size of an orange. "You don''t have to worry about that. See this? All I need you to do is bump into the person on the streets, like this."
He pped his palm with the ck rune on Hai Huaming''s shoulder. The men watched in amazement as the ck rune seemingly disappeared into the dark creases and folds of Hai Huaming''s clothes.
"That''s all you need to do. They won''t be able to detect anything wrong and they won''t be able to use you of anything."
Each ck rune was a shadow anchor, the same ones he ced around the Lion castle. This was another way it could be used and hard to detect unless an immortal wore those clothes directly.
This was the best option since he could not get into the Eagle lord''s castle.
Chen Wentian could have went around and ced the shadow anchors himself. But that would have taken a lot of time that he didn''t have as an elder. There was also the chance that people could notice a Lion faction elder that kept running into Eagle faction people for no reason.
Chen Wentian hoped he could find some clues through this method although his hopes were low. If the Eagle lord was alert as the Lion lord, then the elders wouldn''t let secrets slip casually. However, a small chance was better than sitting around doing nothing.
Hai Huaming discussed it with his brothers briefly before he turned back around. "Master He, we agree."
"Great, it''s a deal. Another toast then, to another sessful venture." Chen Wentian lifted up his ss.
"Yes sir!" "Master He!"
Beer and wine sloshed around as they cheered.
"Waitress, more drinks!"
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Chen Wentian left Hai Huaming with very detailed instructions and a box of fifty shadow anchor runes. Within the instructions were a list of targets, all at the elder and executive elder level, within the Eagle faction. Fifty was only the initial batch, if they managed to run out he could produce more easily enough. It only cost him spiritual energy which he could replenish through the soul art.
He believed that the Eagle lord, Qu Shen, also had blood on his hands. Otherwise, how would the Snake lords faction fall so quickly after the death of their lord? Also, could Qu Shen not know anything about his sworn brother dying? No, it was impossible.
It was too bothersome to deal with He Zicheng by himself and it was much easier to use other people''s strength against each other. Since Qu Shen and He Zicheng no longer saw eye to eye, all Chen Wentian needed to do was to light some kegs of explosives and watch the resulting fireworks. In the ensuing chaos, he would have ample opportunity to deal with these Lion faction bastards.
It was merely a matter of casting mores and waiting until they bore fruit and in such matters, Chen Wentian could be the most patient person in the world.