Shrouded Sky

Chapter 209 - Richcloud City

“You think changing your look fools me? I’d recognize your skull even if I skinned you!” Wu Zhongtian, towering and burly, his beard quivering like a lion’s mane, glared with piercing eyes.

Tu Fei circled Ye Fan twice, laughing, “You look like that unscrupulous priest. Even if you changed your form, it’s just a trick. Prove it’s not you.”

Ye Fan shook his wide Taoist robe. “Brother Tu, you’re messing with me. You of all people should know, we met at Radiant Light’s source mine.”

“This guy’s got some skills, changing his form like a seasoned crook, perfect for shady deeds,” a bandit heir jeered.

Tu Fei grinned mischievously. “Simple. Show us the Radiant Light Saintess’ panties, and we’ll believe you.”

“You’re shameless!” Ye Fan retorted.

“You lose nothing. It’s Yao Xi who’d be furious, but she’s not here,” Tu Fei teased, turning to the bandits. “You never believed me that a lofty woman like Yao Xi could be disgraced. Today, you’ll see.”

“Real or fake? You mean he’s not Duan De?” The bandits were skeptical.

Ye Fan had no perverse hobbies; he kept Yao Xi’s panties to enrage her in a pinch, a life-saving ploy. Instead of showing it, his bones cracked, transforming into the seventh Warlord, Heaven Massacre.

“Tu Fei, stop fooling around.”

Tu Fei cursed, “Damn it!”

The Warlord heirs gaped, then roared with laughter, pounding the table. “Brother Ye, change back quick!” Tu Fei jumped up.

“Now you believe I’m not Duan De?” Ye Fan asked.

“I knew it wasn’t you from the start,” Tu Fei said, sulking. The others laughed, realizing this wasn’t the unscrupulous priest. Wu Zhongtian sat back, eyeing Ye Fan. “You really… burned a Ji Clan Grand Elder to death?”

“Just luck,” Ye Fan replied.

The Warlord heirs, well-informed, gasped. “Brother Ye, you really took Yao Xi’s panties?” another asked.

“Well… I accidentally got one,” Ye Fan admitted.

The tavern erupted in wolfish howls, their eyes gleaming with excitement. Everyone else had fled, sensing these were the Thirteen Warlords’ heirs.

“Gods, Yao Xi’s so pure, and yet… outrageous!”

“Brother Ye, you’ve broken my heart.”

“Heartbroken? This is thrilling! She and that Saint chased me and Tu Fei for three thousand miles. This settles the score.”

The hot-blooded young bandits slammed the table, howling. “Sell me that panties, Brother Ye. A hundred kilos of source, and I’ll make that haughty girl spit blood,” one said, cozying up with a full bowl of wine.

“I’ll pay five hundred kilo to parade it in Celestial City,” another offered.

“Why sell in Celestial City? Sell it to that Middle Continent prince and fleece him.”

“No, auction it in the Northern Region, invite young talents, even send invites to shady old-timers.”

These bandits were ruthless, plotting to ruin Yao Xi’s reputation forever. “You guys are too much. Who thinks up stuff like this?” Ye Fan was stunned by their audacity.

“Radiant Light’s Saint and Saintess are vile. They hunted us down with others, nearly killed us. We’ve got to hit back hard,” they said.

“Don’t drag me into this,” Ye Fan pleaded. Unlike them, backed by powerful grandfathers, he’d face Radiant Light’s wrath alone if he auctioned Yao Xi’s panties.

“Scared? Join us, and that yellow-haired girl won’t touch you,” they said.

“Who’ll give me an ancient scripture or a million kilo of source?” Ye Fan muttered.

“Brother Ye, you’re too greedy. How many ancient scriptures exist in the Eastern Wilderness? A million kilo of source? Even sacred grounds can’t afford that,” they scoffed.

“Let me introduce everyone,” Wu Zhongtian said. “This is Liu Kou.” He pointed to a wild-looking youth, grandson of the sixth Warlord, Liu Feng. Ye Fan was speechless, Liu Kou sounded like “bandit.”

“This is Blackwater,” Wu pointed to a dark, muscular youth, grandson of the eighth Warlord, Li Heng. The name “Blackwater” sounded ominous, as if planned.

Tu Fei grumbled, “No choice. Those old guys joked around, and our names were set.”

Ye Fan’s mouth twitched. Such grandfathers were a curse. “This is Jiang Huairen,” Wu continued, pointing to another youth, descendant of the ninth Warlord, Jiang Yi, from the Ancient Jiang Clan. Their branch had rebelled, becoming notorious bandits, shocking many. Ye Fan thought this name was decent, but others snickered.

Jiang Huairen downed a bowl of wine, sulking. “His grandfather wanted a meaningful name, but it backfired,” Tu Fei explained. [TL Note: Jiang Huairen sounds like Jiang Badman.]

Ye Fan was floored. Tu Fei, Liu Kou, Jiang Huairen, Blackwater, these names were absurdly artistic. Wu Zhongtian’s was the only normal one, but his bandit aura was just as fierce, clearing streets with a glance.

“What’s your plan, Brother Ye?” Wu Zhongtian asked.

“Why are you in Richcloud? It’s a backwater, nothing special except occasional weirdness,” Tu Fei added.

“I’m checking if the Jade Pool Saintess is returning to her sect,” Ye Fan probed.

Blackwater howled, “Beast! After snatching Radiant Light Saintess’ panties, you’re targeting Jade Pool’s fairy? Have some conscience!”

“Too much! Planning to sweep all the Eastern Wilderness’s Saintess? One’s enough,” Liu Kou shouted.

“Ye Fan, the lustful demon, you’re one of us, but don’t cut off our paths,” Tu Fei teased.

Jiang Huairen, calmer, said, “Don’t be too greedy Ye Fan.”

“You’re short a few. I’m not just after Eastern Wilderness maidens, I want ancient clan pearls and the princesses of Middle Continent’s eternal dynasties for a grand harem,” Ye Fan joked.

“Beast!” they roared.

Half an hour later, sated and laughing, they left the tavern. Ye Fan’s bones cracked, mimicking Heaven Massacre again. Tu Fei glared, “We’re close, but don’t push it!”

Ye Fan reconsidered posing as Duan De, too risky, given the priest’s endless enemies. His bones shifted, becoming a refined Taoist in flowing robes, exuding an ethereal charm.

Richcloud, an ancient city, had worn stone streets from countless years. Locals believed ancient gods guarded it, tying the Saintess’s prolonged stay to this legend.

They headed to Jade Pool’s stone workshop. These young bandits were troublemakers, likely plotting chaos. Ye Fan wasn’t worried, his new guise kept him safe from blame.

“The Saintess’ leaving soon,” Wu Zhongtian said.

“I want to take down Radiant Light’s Saint!” Blackwater growled.

“He’s too strong. His Celestial Light Scripture makes him nearly invincible among peers, even against God Physiques. We can only make him bleed unless our elders act,” Tu Fei sighed.

Jade Pool’s stone workshop, though in the city, was tranquil, ancient trees, falling leaves, babbling streams, and artfully arranged stones like a garden. With the Saintess’s departure nearing, it was crowded but hushed.

“Radiant Light’s people are with her, likely heading to Primordial Mine’s outskirts,” Tu Fei said, eyes glinting.

“Brother Ye, sell me that panties. I’ll wave it around here,” Blackwater pleaded.

Ahead, Yao Xi’s flowing hair and radiant face shone like a divine moon, her graceful figure in a trailing dress. Radiant Light’s Saint, like a blazing sun with golden light, moved with divine charisma.

Blackwater and Tu Fei had suffered at their hands, barely escaping death. “The Saint’s terrifying. His Celestial Light Scripture is impregnable, nearly unbeatable,” Tu Fei said. “Even the strongest attack arts barely work.”

“We’ve got Brother Zhongtian to suppress him,” Blackwater said coldly.

“I might not beat him. We’re here to sow confusion, not act rashly,” Wu Zhongtian warned.

“Don’t worry, we won’t pick a fight,” they assured.

“Where’s Brother Ye?” Jiang Huairen asked.

“Beast! That kid’s young but such a beast! He’s eyeing the Grand Xia Dynasty’s princess!” Liu Kou exclaimed.

“Don’t cause trouble. Grand Xia’s 100,000-year legacy is unfathomable, with a powerful prince there,” Blackwater muttered.

Ahead, a young man in radiant golden armor, exuding draconic energy, stood at the centre, a Grand Xia prince, his cultivation profound. But Ye Fan’s focus was on a woman beside him, pure and ethereal in white, radiating a unique charm.

Ye Fan wasn’t smitten but thrilled. Though holy and beautiful, her identity as a Buddhist priestess electrified him. He desperately wanted to ask: Does the Buddha exist in this world?