Chapter 142 A Flawless Plan

Elder Jing raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat displeased.

The fat man tempted him, saying, "Elder Jing, once this matter succeeds, it will be a monumental achievement!"

"A monumental achievement!"

Elder Jing's eyes lit up. He leaped down from the window, landing right in front of the fat man, and asked, "How do you want me to cooperate with you?"

The fat man said, "Jiang Haotian has a special hobby. As long as we cater to his preferences, he will definitely agree."

"What hobby?"

Elder Jing asked in startled suspicion.

The fat man replied, "He loves eating bear paws."

"Bear paws?"

Elder Jing was taken aback, then laughed. "That's simple. We can just buy one at a restaurant."

"No, no, no."

The fat man waved his hands repeatedly and shook his head. "The bear paws in restaurants have mostly been sitting around for a long time and aren't fresh at all. What Jiang Haotian likes are fresh bear paws, preferably ones that have just been severed."

"In the dead of night, where on earth am I supposed to find a fresh bear paw for him?"

Elder Jing immediately knitted his brows.

His duty was to guard the medicinal herb field. If he went outside the city to look for a bear paw, it would be dereliction of duty. If the higher-ups found out, he would be punished.

"Originally, I wanted to go myself, but with my meager strength, going out there wouldn't even be enough to fill the gaps in a ferocious beast's teeth. That's why I have to trouble you to make a personal trip, Elder."

"I also understand your concerns, Elder."

"Rest assured, I will stay step for step and guard the medicinal herb field well."

"Besides, if we can make Jiang Haotian change his mind, Elder He won't just refrain from punishing you; he might even reward you with a few Battle Qi Pills."

"Who knows, Elder, you might even become a candidate for the next Enforcement Elder."

The fat man egged him on.

"Battle Qi Pills!"

"Candidate for the next Elder!"

Hearing these words, Elder Jing instantly perked up, feeling immensely exhilarated.

"Elder, opportunity knocks only once. You must seize this firmly."

The fat man struck while the iron was hot, continuing to fan the flames.

Elder Jing gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, I'll head outside the city right now."

"Make sure it's one hundred percent fresh," the fat man said, looking somewhat uneasy.

"En," Elder Jing nodded.

"However, you must guard the medicinal herb field well and make sure nothing goes wrong."

"If any situation arises, just let out a loud shout, and the enforcement elders living nearby will come to help at the first possible moment," Elder Jing instructed.

"Don't you worry, Elder. Anyone who wants to steal the medicinal herbs will have to walk over this disciple's dead body first!" the fat man swore solemnly.

"Good."

Elder Jing patted him on the shoulder, nodded with satisfaction, then turned around along the trail and quickly vanished into the night.

"What an utter idiot!"

The fat man's face twisted with profound contempt.

So what if your cultivation is high? Without a sharp brain, you're still being played around like a monkey.

"There is a maiden in the village named Xiaofang, beautiful and kind..."

Humming a little tune triumphantly, he entered the medicinal herb field and began his pillaging plan.

However, just as he bent down, grabbed a medicinal herb, and prepared to uproot it completely, Elder Jing turned back. Seeing the fat man's actions, he barked, "What are you doing?"

The fat man's roly-poly body stiffened, and he inwardly cursed, "Damn it, why did he come back?"

In a split second, countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

Suddenly, he pointed at the medicinal herb and unleashed a torrent of furious abuse.

"Look at them."

"They're all spiritual essences. Why do they grow so pretty?"

"And what about you?"

"Crooked and stunted, an absolute freak."

"Do you live up to the nutrient solution and weeding Fatty here gives you every day?"

"Can't you be a bit more useful?"

The medicinal herb was grievously wronged. If it could speak, it would definitely have given the fat man a thorough tongue-lashing.

A person shouldn't be shameless to this extent.

Elder Jing wore an expression of utter disdain as well. To actually bicker with a medicinal herb—this fat man truly was an idiot.

"Grow prettier for me quickly, or Fatty will feed you to the fish!"

The fat man glared fiercely at the medicinal herb once more before getting to his feet. He looked at Elder Jing and chuckled ingratiatingly, "This medicinal herb was growing crookedly, so this disciple was just straightening it out for it."

Then he asked, "Elder, did you get the bear paw back so quickly?"

"Ahem!"

Elder Jing dry-coughed, suppressing his amusement.

"How could it be that fast?"

"I came back to tell you that once this matter succeeds, if Elder He and the others ask, you must tell them that this idea was mine."

"But if it fails, it has nothing to do with me, and you will bear full responsibility."

Elder Jing said expressionlessly.

"This..." the fat man hesitated.

"What? Do you have an objection?"

Elder Jing frowned, his gaze turning unkind.

"This disciple would never dare to have any objections. Whatever you say, Elder, that is what this disciple will do."

The fat man waved his hands hurriedly, wearing a flattering smile.

"That's more like it."

Elder Jing cast a disdainful glance at the fat man before turning around to leave once more.

"You bastard, you really take Fatty for a pushover!"

Cold light gleamed in the fat man's eyes.

After waiting for about fifty or sixty breaths to ensure Elder Jing wasn't coming back, he pulled out his universe bag, rushed into the medicinal herb field, and began to pillage frantically.

It was already the dead of night.

The people of the Pill King Palace were either cultivating or resting. Basically, no one would come to the medicinal herb field at this hour.

Even so, one can never be too careful.

Therefore, the fat man was extremely nervous at that moment. Once discovered, even nine lives wouldn't be enough for him to squander.

Before long, he was covered in cold sweat—not from exhaustion, but from sheer tension.

Right then, he wished he could grow three heads and six arms.

The medicinal herb field was simply too vast. It was impossible to clean it out entirely in a short span of time.

With a palpitating heart, half an hour later, the fat man finally cleaned out the entire medicinal herb field.

"Retreat!"

Immediately afterward, he sprinted toward the trail.

Along the way, encountering a medicinal herb he had previously missed, he unhesitatingly uprooted it and tossed it into the universe bag as well.

"Fatty isn't going to leave you even a single bird feather."

Seconds later, standing on the trail, he glanced back at the medicinal herb field with eyes full of mockery. Then he turned around, feigning a calm demeanor, and walked outward.

Soon, he arrived at the reception hall.

Hiding outside the door, the fat man peeked stealthily into the hall and, seeing only Lu Hong inside, walked in and asked in a low voice, "Where is Wang Yu?"

"Not many people come at night, so he went to cultivate."

"Why did you suddenly run over here?"

"And looking so sneaky?"

Lu Hong looked at him in bewilderment.

"Fatty is here to take you flying."

The fat man flashed a wretched grin.

"Flying?"

Lu Hong was stunned.

"Stop wasting breath, let's go!"

The fat man urged.

"Where on earth are we going?"

Lu Hong knitted her brows.

"It's definitely a good thing. Don't ask yet; once we rendezvous with Jiang Haotian, you'll know."

The fat man said.

"No way. I'm the only one in the reception hall right now. I can't leave without permission."

Lu Hong shook her head.

"You woman, why are you so naggy? If I tell you to come, you come."

Growing impatient, the fat man grabbed Lu Hong and dragged her outward.

"Fine, fine, I'll walk myself. I want to see what kind of medicine you're selling in your gourd."

Lu Hong forcefully shook him off, rolled her eyes at the fat man, and then followed him running out of the hall, entering a broad street and dashing frantically forward.

Yet she remained completely unaware that she had been dragged onto a pirate ship by the fat man, one she would never be able to get off of.

The Pill King Palace was located in the Southern District. At their speed, let alone running to the Northern District where the Martial King Palace resided, even just running out of the Southern District would take an hour or two.

Thus, halfway there, they bumped into the returning Elder Jing!

"Fat man, didn't I tell you to guard the medicinal herb field? Why did you run out without permission?"

"And you, Lu Hong, derelict in your duty. Aren't you afraid of Wang Yu's punishment?"

Elder Jing blocked their path, covered in stains of blood, staring gloomily at the two of them.

Lu Hong's complexion paled, and she hastily said, "It was the fat man who dragged me out by force. Please forgive me, Elder!"

Elder Jing flew into a rage, shouting in a stern and severe voice, "Fat man, what is your crime!"

The fat man smiled ingratiatingly, "Elder Jing, don't get angry yet. Hear this disciple out."

"Fine, speak," Elder Jing said.

"This disciple didn't want to waste time, which is why I rushed to rendezvous with you so we could head to the Martial King Palace together."

"As for bringing Lu Hong along, it's because she is also very familiar with Jiang Haotian, so she can definitely be of help when the time comes."

"You don't want all your hard work to end up failing at the last hurdle, do you, Elder?"

The fat man said.

"Is that so?"

Elder Jing frowned.

"Of course, would I dare lie to you?"

The fat man flashed a flattering smile.

"This fat pig is cowardly, fears death, and certainly wouldn't have the guts to lie to me."

Elder Jing muttered inwardly, then asked, "What about the medicinal herb field?"

"Elder, you can rest easy. It's just for one night; nothing will go wrong."

"Besides, looking across the entire Yan County, who would dare cause trouble at the Pill King Palace?"

"As for the disciples under our banner, it's the dead of night, and they've all gone to sleep. Who would go to the medicinal herb field?"

"Therefore, even if we are away from our posts, no one will ever know."

With his glib tongue, the fat man completely dissolved Elder Jing's doubts.

Immediately afterward, the fat man asked, "Elder, did you get the bear paws?"

Elder Jing nodded and said, "I got four."

"Great!"

The fat man was overjoyed and smiled, "Elder Jing, I must trouble you once more to take us to the Martial King Palace. As fast as possible, strive to settle Jiang Haotian before dawn. By then, Elder, you will surely rise to prominence and achieve great success."

Elder Jing's eyes lit up. He grabbed the two of them and sped toward the Northern District.

"Idiot!"

The fat man sneered inwardly.

In truth, all of this was within his calculations.

Sending Elder Jing out of the city to get bear paws was purely because he needed to buy enough time to plunder the medicinal herb field.

After ransacking the field, staying at the Pill King Palace was naturally out of the question. What if someone found out? Wouldn't he be dead for sure?

Therefore, he had incited Lu Hong to flee the Pill King Palace.

Running into Elder Jing halfway seemed accidental at first glance, but it was also part of his plan.

That street was the main thoroughfare leading to the Pill King Palace. As an enforcement elder, and since it was the middle of the night without any shady business to conduct, Elder Jing wouldn't have taken a detour through small alleys.

Thus, encountering him was entirely expected.

As for why he still sought out Elder Jing, it was because right now, only by utilizing Elder Jing could he quickly rush to rendezvous with Qin Feiyang.

Moreover, meeting halfway meant Elder Jing wouldn't know the medicinal herb field had already been plundered; instead, he would cheerfully escort them to the Martial King Palace.

This was his meticulously crafted plan to pillage the medicinal herb field and escape the Pill King Palace!

It could be said to be airtight!

Of course, the premise of all this was ambition and greed.

If Elder Jing had no ambition and no greed, his plan would never have succeeded.