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Chapter 1034: Chapter 1034: The Trade
Inside the side hall, there was deadly silence.
The two men faced each other, neither uttering a word.
Jaxson Leocadia held his teacup, taking a clear sip.
Eleanor Pendleton’s gaze was dark, his mind racing.
Originally,
after Witch Moon had died,
Eleanor Pendleton had immediately sent people to investigate.
Without his own order, Ghost Valley’s Young Master had presumptuously taken the four great generals and a group of Ghost Valley elites to Moon City.
This was abnormal!
And it happened on the eve of the Lunar New Year—
On the traditional festival of togetherness for Chinese people!
They headed north with men.
In the end, heads fell.
There wasn’t a complete corpse left.
However, the result of the investigation was far from satisfying.
Eleanor Pendleton was somewhat irate!
The facts showed that Witch Moon had treacherous intentions early on!
She had actually planned to overthrow him to become the new Valley Master.
Moreover, she intended to throw the Valley Master’s most favored concubine and youngest son into the wolf’s pen after succeeding!
Utterly vicious!
This had completely dissolved the already weak father-son affection.
A man, how can he withstand the persuasion of a woman next to his pillow?
Eleanor Pendleton had long considered deposing Witch Moon and installing his youngest son as the new Valley Master.
Only due to the significant internal resistance within Ghost Valley, he had not proceeded.
Witch Moon was extremely capable, famous from a young age, and was the eldest son.
He had already gained the recognition of most people.
Including a host of Ghost Valley elders, all very supportive of this Little Valley Master.
If he were to directly declare the disposal of the elder in favor of the younger, it would undoubtedly cause the dissatisfaction of the vast majority.
Eleanor Pendleton, after all, was the Valley Master; naturally, he understood such rationale.
Thus,
he planned to wait until his youngest son came of age to find an appropriate opportunity to depose the elder for the younger.
Even so, the mistress’s whispering in his ear never ceased.
At times to discredit Witch Moon, they even went so far as to claim that the Little Valley Master harbored inappropriate thoughts towards this "young mother."
If Eleanor Pendleton didn’t like the mistress so much, perhaps this mother and son would have been thrown into the wolf’s pen long ago.
Now that Witch Moon had died in battle, it was an opportune moment to legitimately promote his youngest son into the spotlight.
But he had not yet explicitly declared him as his future successor.
After all,
The Little Valley Master had just died, not yet three years had passed.
But while investigating Witch Moon’s motives, he uncovered a secret.
That was, Witch Moon planned to strengthen herself through some method, and then kill him to officially usurp his position!
Eleanor Pendleton was already a Grandmaster, how much strength would Witch Moon need to kill him?
This matter had piqued his interest at the time!
Yet after investigating, he came up empty-handed.
So, he had no choice but to give up, turning instead to plot his revenge.
Unexpectedly.
Today, Jaxson Leocadia visited, suddenly bringing up the matter of the secret technique!
"Brother Medicine, what are you talking about?"
Eleanor Pendleton thought for a moment, then picked up the teacup from the table, "Witch Moon was my son. Even if he truly possessed some secret technique, it should have been in my hands."
All’s fair in war.
Jaxson Leocadia was all talk, he couldn’t believe him.
Furthermore, since Ghost Valley conducted the earliest investigation upon Witch Moon’s death and found nothing,
from where did Medicine King Valley hear this news?
"I figured early on that you, Brother Pendleton, might not believe this."
Jaxson Leocadia set down his teacup, reached into his robe, and pulled out a book.
The cover bore four large characters.
"Replacement of Peach Stiffness."
"Both you and I belong to sects, and we have cooperated for several years. I, am always direct and dislike beating around the bush. Now, the secret technique is here, you are welcome to look at it. But, I have one condition!"
Jaxson Leocadia lightly tapped his hand on the book, faintly speaking, "All this time, the materials needed by my Medicine King Valley for pill concoction have been kept in your Ghost Valley. Honestly, I’m very curious about one thing, whose blood exactly can become a material."
"Impossible."
Eleanor Pendleton’s eyes fell on that book, and he shook his head and said, "That is my agreement with Thunderpeak Hall. If I break faith with Thunderpeak Hall, the reputation of Ghost Valley will be utterly ruined!"
The people of the sect, all of notable status.
What they cared about was face and reputation.
Within the sect, Ghost Valley was in the middle ranks.
But, thanks to the fame accumulated over centuries, many people sought them out.
If, for the sake of one book, they sent the hostage to Medicine King Valley, who Thunderpeak Hall pays several hundred million in custody fees every month.
Then Ghost Valley would indeed face censure from all under heaven.
Eleanor Pendleton, in this position, would stand just as unsteadily!
Thousands of mouths were all waiting for him to feed them.
This was the bottom line.
Not to be crossed.
"Brother Pendleton, there seems to be some misunderstanding of what I meant."
Medicine King laughed and pushed "Replacement of Peach Stiffness" directly in front of him: "Please look through this book first, Brother Pendleton. Of course, this book has nothing to do with your Ghost Valley. In Medicine King Valley, while concocting medicines, many renown scholars come to purchase. This book was the price paid by a Grandmaster back in the day to acquire the right medicinal treatment."
"As for that woman, I am not like you think," he said lightly. "I’m merely curious about what sort of person can make their own blood into a medicinal catalyst. One meeting is enough!"
After speaking, he pushed the book forward again: "Consider it, satisfying a brother’s curiosity."
"This..."
Eleanor Pendleton’s eyebrows slightly furrowed.
He simply picked up "Replacement of Peach Stiffness" and began scrutinizing it closely.
After all, he was not at a loss; if the book was not up to mark, then he would simply refuse.
If it was indeed useful, one meeting was harmless.
The real blood bag had already been taken away.
The current blood bag was merely Elwood Thorneycroft.
Cat substitute for the Crown Prince.
Take a look, no harm done.
Even if Thunderpeak Hall asked, he had a contingency in mind.
At first, Eleanor Pendleton was somewhat dismissive.
To sit in the Valley Master’s position, along with his Grandmaster strength, common cultivation techniques really didn’t catch his eye.
But the further he read, the more he felt the contained mysteries.
Especially when he saw the effects of this action, Eleanor Pendleton finally understood what Witch Moon’s confidence in wanting to kill him stemmed from!
"Snap!"
Medicine King snatched it back: "So? Just one meeting, and not only will I give you the secret techniques, but I can even provide you with the woman’s identity details!"
"For real?"
Eleanor Pendleton was somewhat incredulous.
Such secret techniques were treasures.
Even for a Grandmaster, they offered a massive improvement!
"Far from hiding, I specialize in pharmacology and simply can’t muster interest in these matters. A superior secret technique in my hands is practically an offense to heaven. It would be better to go with the flow, do a favor, and give it to you," said Medicine King casually while he also picked up his teacup and took a clear sip.
Tasted good.
Light, with a hint of sweetness.
"For real?"
Eleanor Pendleton hesitated, "Since that’s the case, it’s not unacceptable."
Having said that,
he stood up, and tucked the secret technique into his bosom.
"Please follow me! But as agreed, only one meeting. Do not speak, otherwise, I would rather not have this secret technique!"
"Rest assured, I definitely won’t make things difficult for a brother."
A sincere smile spread across Medicine King’s face.
He needed to know where the person was and what she looked like.
That way, when Eleanor Pendleton deployed forces northward, he could lead a sneak attack on Ghost Valley.
The two walked through the long courtyard and arrived at a room’s door.
"Cough."
Eleanor Pendleton coughed lightly, "I’ve brought a friend to see you."
Having said that, he pushed open the door.
The eyes of Medicine King instantly narrowed.
In the room, a woman with a pale face and disheveled hair,
had a syringe inserted in her body.
"Alright."
Bang!
Eleanor Pendleton closed the door and stood in front of Medicine King: "The secret technique, I’ll take it."
