Rise of The Demon General

"My fate, that sounds ominous," Amon remarked.

The person in front of him did have the qualification to do that. Pai Kuan was a Spirit Stage cultivator. Amon was as if an ant to him. Amon's mind dove into his black space ring and readied the four throwing knives containing the Cold Stiff Poison. This was his strongest poison at this time, but even this poison won't be able to kill a Spirit Stage cultivator. The description did mention it could weaken the cultivator, though. To what extent, Amon couldn't tell. He hoped it was enough for him to make an escape.

"Of course, that all depends on you," Pai Kuan said. "However, I must compliment you. You are a very difficult man to track. Your disguise and movement are all well and good, but I'm more interested in your ability to cloud your presence. You are using an art for that, aren't you?"

Amon nodded. He figured it was better to be honest with this person. He still hoped he could talk his way out of this. The poison knives were a last-ditch effort. If he used them, it was as good as sealing his option to either succeed or die. He must admit his chance if it came to that was slim at best. Whether his poison was effective enough for Pai Kuan was one thing, but he had to first wound Pai Kuan with the knives, and that was something that bordered a miracle.

"I usually can sense a person of the same cultivation or below from a distance of around five blocks," Pai Kuan continued. "But when it comes to you, I can only start sensing you from around two to three blocks. Even right now, your aura was slightly murky. This concealment art of yours is truly profound. I don't think they are taught to you by the Lin clan, do they?"

"Why can't you believe it is Lin's art?" Amon asked back.

"We know about your situation in the Lin clan. It is unlikely for them to teach you such a high-grade art. It's the same with that blade art you used to repel my Six Knives. What is that art called?"

"Infinite Phantom Slash," Amon answered truthfully.

"Hm…," Pai Kuan placed a hand on his chin.

"Isn't it unseemly for an elder of the Martial realm to bully a junior of the Human realm?" Amon said.

Pai Kuan chuckled. "I don't see anyone witnessing this. Do you?"

"So, how will you be deciding my fate?" Amon asked. He didn't feel the need to prolong this chitchat any longer. Might as well get this over with, one way or another.

Pai Kuan smiled again upon the question. His expression then turned serious. He stared at Amon's eyes and asked, "Are you interested to join our White Cloud Sect?"

"No," Amon replied without hesitation.

Pai Kuan was slightly surprised by how fast Amon responded. The boy gave the impression that he understood what could happen if he answered the question wrongly, but he still did? He was not even taking a moment to consider his answer.

As if reading Pai Kuan's mind, Amon added, "But I can be of use to the White Cloud Sect in another way."

"Hm?" Pai Kuan's brows were lifted. Was this boy trying to negotiate with him?

"Are you saying this so that I spare you?" Pai Kuan said.

"If I want that, I will just agree with whatever you ask. Such as joining your White Cloud Sect. How can you tell that I'm not lying if I say yes to joining your sect just now?"

"We Martial realm cultivators have acute senses. We can detect the changes even within your body. We can tell if you are lying."

'A human polygraph, eh?' Amon thought. To Pai Kuan, he said, "So, am I lying when I said that I can be of use to the White Cloud sect?"

Pai Kuan again put his hand on his chin. He said, "Continue."

"I have no interest to be tied to any particular clan. I don't even consider myself to belong in the Lin clan. Even if I join the White Cloud Sect, you won't be able to be sure that I will remain loyal to the sect. So, why bother? However, despite not being part of the sect, I can be an asset to the sect, as your sect to me. We can benefit one another. Isn't this mutual interest more reliable than a simple pledge of loyalty to the sect?"

One of the Six Knives standing behind mocked, "Who do you think you are? You are just a little nobody kid. On what ground do you think you have the qualification to be a mutual interest party to our sect?"

"On the ground that right now the White Cloud Sect sends six experts and one Spirit Stage cultivator to intercept me," Amon replied.

"Zing, please don't interfere," Pai Kuan said.

"I–I'm sorry, master…," Zing uttered.

"Tell me how we can benefit each other," Pai Kuan said.

"I understand your main interest lies in the desire to remain as this city's ruler," Amon said. "You will face no trouble from me in that regard."

"How so? Are you going to stay impartial if the Lin clan decided to fight over the control of the city in the future?"

"I won't be in the Lin clan for long. As a matter of fact, I won't stay in this city for long."

"Oh…?" Pai Kuan muttered with raised eyebrows.

"I will be going to Qishurg City in one month, to join the Royal Academy."

"Royal academy…? Yes. They will indeed hold an entrance exam soon. However, even if you become a student in the royal academy, you can still benefit the Lin clan. Top alumni of the royal academy mostly hold prominent positions in the kingdom's court. If, and only if, you get chosen into one of these positions, your influence might allow you to support the Lin clan into becoming a hegemony within this city."

"I have no interest in doing that. You said before you know my situation inside the Lin clan. Then you should know that I don't owe them anything."

"Except for your adopted mother," Pai Kuan reminded.

"Except for her," Amon admitted. "As long as you didn't target her, I don't see us having a problem. When I acquired this prominent position in the kingdom, I will prefer a business partner such as the White Cloud Sect rather than an orthodox organization like the Lin clan. In fact, I already showed my preference for your sect over the Lin clan."

"Oh? Did you?"

"You catch me here meaning you know where I came from. I believe your sect kept a close eye on San Guo's venture. You should have also found out about my involvement, haven't you? If I support the Lin clan, why do you think San Guo chooses to work more closely with your sect?"

"Because we are strongest in this city," Pai Kuan stated.

"Exactly. You become the overlord of this city for a reason. The members of your sect are not tied by blood but you can still hold everyone together and maintain control over this city for one thousand years. That is not a simple feat. I only choose to work with the best. I don't choose my partner based on sentiment. You are the best group for me to consolidate my influence on this city in the future."

"I must say, you are one very self-assured kid," Pai Kuan remarked. "You talk as if you are sure to gain that important position in the kingdom."

"Oh, I will do more than that," Amon said with a grin. "I won't say it if I can't do it."

Pai Kuan's hand was still on his chin. He was caressing it as he pondered.

"You know. It is safer for me to just erase you here. You are one risky variable," He said.

"Only with high risk can one attain high gain," Amon said. "With my help, the White Cloud Sect can grow to a better height than they are now."

"Is it? Hm… To tell you the truth, the most fascinating thing about our conversation is not the things you said. It's your calmness. I don't feel any nervousness at all from you even though I can kill you instantly if I decide not to go along. And most of all, you actually believe all those things you said. I don't sense any sign of lies from you, which kind of entices me to believe you as well."

"So? Are we in an understanding?"

"Tell you what, I will go along if you can give me one thing," Pai Kuan said.

"What is that one thing?" Amon asked.

"A proof of disloyalty to the Lin clan."

"How do I give you this proof?"

"Why, of course, by murdering Lin clan's people."

"Do you have a target in mind? Or am I allowed to choose the target?" Amon asked.