Chapter 369 – Discussion with the City Lord
“Wuma Star was the one who excelled at reading the situation, and the Wuma clan was the one most adept at seeking advantage and avoiding harm. Reputation and face were the least significant things to them.”
This was the evaluation of Wuma Star by the Hundred-Eyed Elf.
It also confirmed the current scene.
“Feel free to ask for anything. As long as it’s within my ability, I will do my best to fulfill it.” Wuma Fenghua was still sitting on the hammock, but she had already turned around to face Tu Ran. Her eyes were so filled with determination that it almost overflowed, and she even raised three fingers in a Blue Star gesture, swearing.
Tu Ran stood by the window, while Tang Ying had stayed downstairs, keeping watch.
Tu Ran stared at Wuma Fenghua. The latter’s eyes were bright and clear, reflecting Tu Ran’s own shadow. There was a hint of scheming in her gaze, clearly showing that her mind was still active.
Tu Ran slightly tilted her head, her peripheral vision catching a glimpse of the hallucination mushroom glowing on her shoulder.
It had no effect.
Did the hallucination mushroom not work on people from the Wuma family?
Tu Ran calmed herself, focusing her gaze on Wuma Fenghua. She took a step forward, slowly walking toward her.
Wuma Fenghua’s body imperceptibly shrank back.
“Let’s talk properly, no need for violence.” Wuma Fenghua crossed her arms protectively in front of her.
Tu Ran frowned. Just then, the brightly glowing Hundred-Eyed Elf in the corner caught her attention. It was flying erratically, seemingly busy with something.
Perhaps… Wuma Fenghua had known of her existence all along and already had some understanding of her.
This bright, glaring egg had already told Wuma Fenghua everything.
Tu Ran stopped, standing two steps away from the hammock where Wuma Fenghua sat.
“Take me to the tribute ceremony in twelve days as your only allowed attendant.”
Tu Ran began to present her request, and Wuma Fenghua let out a sigh of relief.
“Okay, but you’ll have to tell me your plan.”
“Impossible.” Tu Ran refused outright, knowing that the Wuma tribe was loyal to the Rulers.
“She wants to kill Hache Bulu.”
An urgent voice came from the corner, emanating from the gleaming ball.
Tu Ran: “…”
She instinctively clenched her fist and glared at it, feeling the urge to kill it.
However, physical damage was useless against the Hundred-Eyed Elf. Their only path to death was not being fed with questions. If they went too long without any questions to answer, they would weaken and eventually die.
The Hundred-Eyed Elves craved being asked questions more than anyone else.
Having received an answer, Wuma Fenghua smiled brightly, her expression blossoming like a flower. She stood up from the hammock and elegantly adjusted the hem of her nearly floor-length skirt. “Kill Hache Bulu? That’s a good idea, I’ve disliked him for a long time. But what’s your plan? Let me calculate the chances of success for you.”
Tu Ran remained silent, staring at the bright, seemingly selfless smile on her face. Her fingers, hidden beneath her black robe, twitched slightly.
What method could make her quietly obey orders?
The hallucination mushroom had no effect.
Could she transform into her form? But the Hundred-Eyed Elves would see through it, and Hache Bulu must have many of them under his command.
Perhaps… feed her some indomitable poison? Then threaten her?
That too seemed unlikely. If the poison had an antidote, the Hundred-Eyed Elves would surely tell her how to cure it. If the poison had no antidote, she knew that no matter what she did, she’d be as good as dead and wouldn’t listen.
Tch, the Hundred-Eyed Elves were such a hassle.
Tu Ran ground her teeth in frustration.
As she pondered these issues, her gaze never left Wuma Fenghua.
Wuma Fenghua shuddered under Tu Ran’s gaze, nervously brushing her fingers through her hair that hung in front of her. “Behind me is all of Wuma Star. I must be cautious. If we fail, you can escape alone. The Rulers haven’t found the way to Blue Star yet, and Blue Star will remain safe for the time being. But I can’t escape. Behind me are a million people on Wuma Star, and they would all be buried with me.”
As she spoke, her smile turned bitter.
Tu Ran suddenly took a step back, creating distance between herself and the stunningly beautiful woman.
She suddenly realized that Wuma Fenghua’s attitude toward the Rulers, or rather, the entire Wuma family’s attitude toward the Rulers, was not as loyal as the legends claimed.
They were eager for the Rulers’ destruction!
Perhaps this was why, when Tu Ran had asked the Hundred-Eyed Elf which faction she should align herself with, the Elf had directed her to find the City Lord.
As the sacred beings of Wuma Star, the Hundred-Eyed Elves must have known the true feelings Wuma Star held toward the Rulers.
“The Hundred-Eyed Elves never lie. Everything they say is the truth of the universe. But there is one exception. That exception is the curse placed by the 78th head of the Wuma tribe, who used his life to curse the Hundred-Eyed Elf clan. That curse is still etched into the hearts of all Hundred-Eyed Elves to this day.”
This was the response the Hundred-Eyed Elf had given Tu Ran when she questioned the truth of what it had said.
Now, reflecting on those words, Tu Ran suddenly realized that the exception might be:
The Hundred-Eyed Elves could never reveal the Wuma tribe’s disloyalty to the Rulers.
Wuma Star submitted to the rulers, offering 70% of the Hundred-Eyed Elves produced on Wuma Star each year as tribute. With so many of the Hundred-Eyed Elves in the Rulers’ hands, if it weren’t for that curse, Wuma Star’s long-hidden disloyalty would have been exposed long ago.
So, the weak Hundred-Eyed Elf had known that Wuma Fenghua would help her! That’s why it directed Tu Ran to her!
Seeing the ever-changing emotions on Tu Ran’s face, though never letting go of her wariness, Wuma Fenghua let out a sigh of relief.
She casually flicked her black hair behind her shoulders and sat back down on the hammock. She crossed her legs and sat elegantly, her posture dignified. “Forget it, I won’t pretend anymore or make things difficult for you. I will help you. The Hundred-Eyed Elves chose you, what objections could I have?”
Her words confirmed Tu Ran’s suspicion.
Tu Ran pressed her lips together, not responding.
Wuma Fenghua turned her head, raising an eyebrow playfully. “You still haven’t figured it out, have you? You thought that the Hundred-Eyed Elf, such a rare species, would just appear in the small inn you were staying at? I had someone send it there.”
“You had been watching me since I entered the Border City?” Tu Ran asked.
“Of course. Any species with a danger level above level five stands out too much. If I hadn’t covered for you, your location would have been discovered by the Rulers long ago.”
Wuma Fenghua waved her hand, and the plump ball in the corner floated toward her, hovering just above her palm. Its halo was soft, like a snowball, gently changing shape as it moved up and down.
“The Hundred-Eyed Elf I arranged for you is its father. He’s a bit old, but reliable.” Wuma Fenghua’s voice was soft and enchanting, and the light radiating from the Hundred-Eyed Elf in her palm illuminated her face, making her beauty even more mesmerizing.
If this had been before, Tu Ran would likely have whistled or called out something like “Beautiful sister.”
But now, she had no interest in admiring beauty. In her eyes, Wuma Fenghua was just a negotiator.
She recalled the wheezing Hundred-Eyed Elf who could barely get a sentence out without pausing for air and thought to herself, so that’s the reason.
“Since you specifically sent it to me, why did you still charge such a high fee?”
Wuma Fenghua: “…” Huh? Are we discussing money now?!
“If you can’t even handle this little bit of money, then it shows that your strength is…” She didn’t finish the sentence, but her eyes, scanning Tu Ran from top to bottom, made her thoughts clear.
Tu Ran sighed helplessly. So, she wasn’t supposed to be a law-abiding citizen? “Are you, as the City Lord, encouraging me to go around burning, killing, and pillaging in your territory?”
“Mm…” Wuma Fenghua paused, then fell silent, releasing the Hundred-Eyed Elf. She looked up at Tu Ran. “If that’s really what you plan to do, then you’d be too pathetic.”
Tu Ran gave a dry laugh, “Heh.”
Wuma Fenghua decided it wasn’t the right time for such a discussion.
“I originally planned to pour a bucket of oil on the fire. No matter what you do, as long as it’s against the Rulers’ race, I’d love to help make that dream come true. The bigger the mess, the more I enjoy it. Making those arrogant Rulers uncomfortable would make me happy. But who would have thought that old Hundred-Eyed Elf would take a liking to you and have you come find me?”
Below, Tang Ying was still waiting. Tu Ran didn’t want to waste any more time and directly asked, “Are you helping or not?”
Wuma Fenghua slowly shifted her position, leaning delicately against the hammock ropes with a weak, boneless grace. She spoke solemnly, “Killing Hache Bulu isn’t easy, though your abilities seem impressive. I advise you not to be so hasty, at least not before you fully understand Hache Bulu.”
Tu Ran furrowed her brows. “Your personality… is really unpredictable.”
One moment, she was eager to watch the Rulers’ downfall with such passion and reckless abandon, the next, she turned into a calm strategist, calmly sipping tea with one hand, the other holding a chess piece, saying things like “Think ten steps ahead before making a move.”
Wuma Fenghua smiled faintly, her lips curving upward. “Thank you for the compliment.”
At that moment, a gentle breeze blew in from the window, and the ends of her hair curled slightly. Even someone as blunt as Tu Ran couldn’t help but appreciate the beauty of the scene.
“Tu Ran?”
“Tu Ran?”
Tu Ran snapped out of her daze, her breathing quickened as she looked around, finding the source of the voice—it was Wuma Fenghua.
“What did you do to me?” she thought to herself. Why had she zoned out?
Wuma Fenghua casually tucked the strands of hair blown by the wind behind her ear and joked, “Was it my beauty that mesmerized you?”
Tu Ran’s expression remained serious, and she didn’t smile.
She was certain her moment of distraction wasn’t normal.
However, after checking herself, she felt no change or discomfort.
“Please have your friend come up and sit for a while. We can discuss the plan to deal with Hache Bulu.” Wuma Fenghua’s voice was gentle. “I have the Hundred-Eyed Elves here, and they’re free of charge.”
Tu Ran: “…”
The discussion went on for five hours. By the time they were done, the sky had turned a dark red, and the sounds of shouting vendors from the small streets between the demon cavern buildings grew louder, signaling the arrival of night.
Tu Ran and Tang Ying navigated through the crowd of shadows, heading back to their starting point.
