Chapter 274 1 Condition

The residence of the Eightfold Assembly...

Although Old Wang had long known that the Eightfold Assembly enjoyed special treatment in the Rose, with all sorts of benefits far surpassing those given to ordinary disciples, he still felt a deep jealousy when he arrived at their residence.

All of us are disciples of the Holy Sanctuary. Think about it, I, Old Wang, have earned so many merits for the Rose and received special attention from Luo Yan, yet I only managed to secure a one-bedroom apartment. But look at the Eightfold Assembly!

They all live in detached villas, right behind the Rose Holy Sanctuary, complete with gardens and small ponds at the front doors. Even that kid, Mo Tong, has one, with guards standing watch 24/7. This kind of treatment even surpasses what the mentors get!

Dage used to complain about being poor every day, but she really went all out to recruit a few members of the Eightfold Assembly to bolster her image!

"Stop!"

Two tall, golden-armored female knights approached.

This time, Old Wang was prepared. He cautiously raised his hand to shield himself below: "Let's get this straight, you can search me, but no touching! My thing won't hurt your princess, there's no need to cripple it!"

The two golden-armored female knights tried hard not to laugh, maintaining their stern expressions as they conducted the routine head-to-toe search. To them, most human men looked no different from children.

"Her Highness is admiring the flowers in the back garden. Please follow me, Mr. Wang Feng."

Not only do they have villas, but they also have front and back courtyards?

Old Wang listened enviously. The Rose Holy Sanctuary was vast; after all, when it was first built, Aurora City was just a small seaport, and the Rose area was then a rural outskirts, full of wasteland. They could enclose as much land as they wanted. So, it wasn't surprising that Old Wang hadn't even explored the entire Rune Academy, let alone this villa district. He truly felt ignorant.

No way, he would have to apply to Dage later. With all the contributions he had made to the Rose, how could he be outdone by these few members of the Eightfold Assembly? He deserved a villa like this too!

The back garden wasn't very large, planted entirely with Blue Snow Cherry trees. The sight was a sea of blue, with flower clusters hanging from willow-like branches, gently swaying in the breeze. Occasionally, some petals would drift through the air, releasing an intoxicating fragrance, making one feel as if they were in a fairy-tale world.

Lucky Heaven stood under the Blue Snow Cherry trees, holding a basket. She had clearly heard Wang Feng enter, but did not turn around. Instead, she continued to focus on picking the tiny, grain-like fruits left on the branches after the flower clusters had scattered.

At this moment, some of the blue snow cherry blossoms had adhered to her white dress, sparkling under the sunlight like delicate embellishments, making her appear elegant and refined.

Left behind by Lucky Heaven, Old Wang was not embarrassed at all. After all, he had refused her last time; this was his comeuppance. It seemed that the princess had quite a strong sense of revenge, truly childish...

"Cough, cough!" Old Wang broke the silence with a chuckle, praising, "What beautiful snow cherry trees! They are said to be the symbol of the Eightfold Assembly, but they are hard to grow elsewhere. I didn't expect the princess to have so many in the backyard."

"There are many varieties of snow cherry trees. Blue cherries are relatively easy to grow, but they still require careful attention. Other varieties, no matter how carefully tended, would find it difficult to flourish in foreign soil."

Old Wang, suffering from a toothache, disliked dealing with women who spoke in double entendres. Women's hearts are as unpredictable as the bottom of the sea; who has the patience to guess their deeper meanings? He gave a thumbs up, "The princess is indeed a princess, knowing more than us rough people!"

"Too kind," Lucky Heaven smiled slightly. Her basket was already full, and she turned around, "I heard from Mo Tong that Mr. Wang Feng has something to discuss with me?"

That's more like it, speaking straightforwardly is much better!

Old Wang had been waiting for this opening line. He immediately got to the point, "Princess, you're a straight talker. It's like this..."

He briefly explained the Dragon City competition and the six spots available for the Rose. Lucky Heaven seemed to be listening, yet also seemed not to be.

She was brewing tea.

The fruits of the snow cherry tree feel hard to the touch, but when steeped in warm water, they soften and expand in size. With a bit of honey from Datura Empire, a cup of azure snow cherry tea was ready. The deep blue liquid was crystal clear, its color not affecting the luster of the tea, looking incredibly beautiful and emitting a fragrant aroma.

Old Wang, talking non-stop, was already feeling parched, and the scent of the tea only made his mouth drier. Finally, after explaining everything, he licked his lips, "I've consulted with Old Black and Mo Tong. They both really want to go, but they said these matters are decided by the princess. Your approval is needed..."

Lucky Heaven smiled faintly but did not answer immediately. Her snow cherry tea was ready, and she pushed a cup towards Old Wang, "Try it."

Damn, this felt like being manipulated. Old Wang chuckled.

"I'm just thirsty!" He picked up the cup and took a sip, about to praise it and flatter her, but then Lucky Heaven put down her teacup and suddenly asked, "Why should I agree?"

Old Wang was taken aback.

He had come to discuss serious matters, and she wanted him to have tea. Just as he was about to chat about tea, it turned out she wanted to talk business... This was the first time, apart from Brother Da, that someone had led him around by the nose.

Old Wang couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time. Fortunately, he reacted quickly and was well-prepared. After a brief moment of thought, he smiled and said, "Why not agree?"

Lucky Heaven continued to drink her tea, ignoring him.

Old Wang had no choice but to continue on his own, saying, "Your Highness, let me explain the three major benefits this will bring to the Eightfold Assembly!"

"Back when the Eightfold Assembly fought alongside us in the League of Blades against the Nine Gods, we were allies, working together. The strength of the Eightfold Assembly was immense, practically holding up half the sky for the League of Blades. But in the end, everyone believed it was the League of Blades that defeated the Nine Gods, praising one duchy or another while never mentioning the contributions of the Eightfold Assembly. Why is that? Because you were too low-key! Now these young people think the Eightfold Assembly just tagged along with the League of Blades!" Old Wang said with deep sorrow, "How unjust! So, one shouldn’t be too low-key; when it’s time to show oneself, one must do so!"

"This time, the Dragon City incident has attracted the full attention of almost all the forces on the Nine Heavens Continent. This is the best opportunity for the Eightfold Assembly to showcase itself! We must not only participate but also do so with great fanfare, making sure everyone knows that the Eightfold Assembly can stand ten to one! That the Eightfold Assembly is the strongest! That the Eightfold Assembly is the backbone of the League of Blades against the Nine Gods! That the Eightfold Assembly is the savior of this world!"

Old Wang grew more and more excited, speaking with such passion that he even moved himself. However, Lucky Heaven remained silent, quietly drinking her Snow Cherry tea.

"Cough..." Old Wang cleared his throat and continued, "This is the first point. The second is that true warriors are forged through real combat, something Your Highness should understand better than anyone."

"Old Black and Mo Tong are geniuses, but they’ve been stuck at Tiger Peak for some time now, unable to break through. Why? Because they haven’t faced life-and-death battles to spur them on! This time, the struggle for Dragon City will see the young elites of both the Nine Gods and the League of Blades in full force. What a rare opportunity for training! It concerns the future of Old Black and Mo Tong, Your Highness. With just a word from you, the Eightfold Assembly might gain two Ghost-level powerhouses, what a bargain! Where else would you find so many fearless opponents for them? The Dragon City conflict happens once every ten years; how many decades does one have in life? If you miss this chance, there won’t be another!"

Lucky Heaven smiled slightly but still gave no response.

She was impervious to both soft and hard tactics. Damn it, looks like I’ll have to use my ultimate move.

"And the third point, the most important one!" Old Wang said solemnly, "With Your Highness’s broad knowledge, there’s no need for me to elaborate on the Soul Illusion Realm, right? There are great opportunities within. Think about my brother Wang Meng, who, in a Soul Illusion Realm, comprehended and created the Dao of Runes, founding a vast human empire! Don’t tell me the Eightfold Assembly doesn’t want to explore and compete there? The Soul Illusion Realm of Dragon City is already controlled by the Nine Gods and the League of Blades. It’s impossible for the Eightfold Assembly to act alone. Why not make good use of your identity as a disciple of the Rose Holy Sanctuary? Who you represent isn’t important; what matters is seizing the benefits! Think about it, Your Highness, how powerful Old Black and Mo Tong are, plus Wang Feng’s wisdom. How formidable is that combination, virtually invincible! If there really are great opportunities in the Soul Illusion Realm of Dragon City, who could snatch them away from us three? It’s like a piece of fat meat right in front of our mouths. Trust me, Your Highness, taking a bite will definitely be worth it!"

"You talk well," Lucky Heaven finally spoke slowly, the corners of her exquisite mask curling slightly upward, "But so what?"

A black line appeared on Old Wang’s forehead. Damn, he thought, back in the day, he had convinced even Brother Da with his silver tongue. Why is this girl so difficult?

I've said it this clearly, and you still ask me what then? How am I supposed to respond?

Enough of this, let's get to the point.

He spread his hands and said straightforwardly, "Alright, Your Highness, I'm laying my cards on the table! I'm like a fish on a chopping block; just tell me what you want to do."

"Oh?" Lucky Heaven smiled as she set down her teacup and asked with interest, "How did you know I would agree?"

"If you didn't agree, you wouldn't have let me come," Old Wang rolled his eyes. "With Your Highness's intelligence, you must know my intentions. Of course, the three points I mentioned earlier weren't empty words; this is a mutually beneficial arrangement... But since the initiative is in your hands, I can only listen to your terms."

"Yes, you guessed right." Lucky Heaven smiled slightly and poured another cup of tea for Wang Feng. "I can let Hei Wukai and Mo Tong accompany you, but I have one condition."

Old Wang heaved a sigh of relief. He had spoken so confidently just now, but in fact, he was unsure. One could say that Lucky Heaven might not have agreed to see him, or one could also say that she was just humiliating him to avenge his previous refusal.

But now it's settled; as long as he agrees, it will be fine!

Old Wang beamed and said, "Your Highness, it doesn't matter if it's one or even a hundred!"

A hundred... If he really agreed to a hundred, it would definitely not be sincere.

Lucky Heaven smiled slightly. "No need for so many. Just promise to do one thing for me in the future."

"What is it?"

"That's none of your concern." Lucky Heaven said, "But rest assured, I won't ask you to do anything against the laws of the Blade or normal morals..."

Playing games with me?

Old Wang inwardly chuckled.

I'm the king of schemes; playing tricks with me, even a few more beauties wouldn't be enough to fill the gap. It's just a game of words, after all.

"Your Highness, rest assured!" Old Wang patted his chest and said, "I value my promises the most. I swear on the head of my best brother, Fantasy, that I'll grant you two! Buy one, get one free!"

"Alright." This time, Lucky Heaven did not refuse. She personally poured another cup of tea for Old Wang, raised her cup with a smile, and said, "The Heavenly Clan doesn't enjoy drinking alcohol, so I'll substitute tea for wine."

"A gentleman's word is as binding as a swift horse's whip, cheers!"