I nodded to Bearded Man and Uncle Zhong, "Yeah, I didn't expect such a coincidence to meet you guys again."
"This monster is too bloody and brutal, not suitable for a lady like you to handle," Bearded Man scratched his head, showing his tender regard for women.
Uncle Zhong revealed a hopeless expression, "With the Snake Lord's protection, Su Wan, is it even your concern?"
"There's something off about you, Uncle Zhong," Bearded Man remarked as if he had noticed something.
Uncle Zhong frowned, "What's off?"
"Your behavior is way too reminiscent of a brain-dead fan of the Snake Lord! Boosting others' morale while undermining our own prestige~"
"You're the brain-dead fan."
"Third Master, we've caught a traitor!"
...
Bearded Man and Uncle Zhong bickered with each other on the side.
Yu Longting and Zhang Shuying discussed strategies in earnest.
Zhang Shuying sat on a stone mill, his extremely handsome face showing seriousness, "The Tree Infant's appetite is already whetted, I fear it's going to start a slaughter."
"However, it doesn't carry Demon Qi on its body, so we can't use the typical Geomancy to find it," Yu Longting said, his face as noble as jade, his aura clear and transcendent.
Next to Zhang Shuying, the Taoist, it was he who appeared more like a Banished Immortal with a celestial demeanor, while Zhang Shuying seemed like the alluring demon stirring trouble among mortals.
Zhang Shuying leaned slightly towards Yu Longting, curling up the corner of his lips, "My meaning is a comprehensive search, house by house."
"The people here are fierce by nature. What happens if we go to investigate in others' houses and get chased out with big sticks?" Yu Longting said worriedly.
Zhang Shuying's eyes narrowed, "Damn, Third Master, I'll take you at your word, you're the Snake Lord for heaven's sake. Afraid of ordinary people and their sticks?"
"That's not right; if regular people want to hit me, am I supposed to fight back?" Yu Longting looked down, straightening his clothes nonchalantly, "Your method's too risky; it'll lead to my wife and me getting beaten and cursed. We're going to need compensation for our emotional distress."
"You can't be serious, you've seen how poor our Gu Sect is, we're down to nothing but bare walls, and you still want to fleece me? Be a person, no, be a decent snake!! You're infuriating!!"
Zhang Shuying was so angry that his nose seemed to twist; he stomped up onto the stone mill, hands on hips, and ranted furiously.
The bickering Uncle Zhong and Bearded Man lifted their heads and were suddenly stunned.
They had not expected the two lords to bicker and quarrel like children playing house.
Yu Longting, sprayed in the face with insults, remained unruffled, calmly saying, "I don't want your money; I just want you to work for me, to help me with one thing."
"Not wanting money from our Gu Sect, that's more like it, I'd rather sell my labor than spend a dime," Zhang Shuying displayed his penny-pinching nature to the fullest, then seemed to reconsider, "Wait, I was almost fooled by you. It's clearly me who's helping you, avenging your wife. Shouldn't you be paying me?"
"Right, you help me and give me compensation. If you don't like it, forget it," Yu Longting said, spreading his hands.
Zhang Shuying cracked a cold smile, "Yes, fair is fair!! I, Zhang Shuying, never suffer a loss. When Yun Hao wanted something from me, I beat him half to death. But you, Yu Longting, have nerve! I'll take the loss this time... Taoist Master eats it~"
This??
He had been so fierce just moments before, and now he was admitting defeat?
You have to admit, all that bluster was just... bluster.
"So... it's settled then. I'll take care of the east side, you handle the west side," Yu Longting said with a smile.
"It must be done before sunset; you snakes are truly cunning! Sinister, crafty, low, and shameless~!"
Zhang Shuying hopped down from the stone mill and walked away grumbling with his men.
I wholeheartedly agreed with Zhang Shuying's words on the side, but naturally, I didn't have the guts to say it out loud. Instead, I looked at Yu Longting, trying to please, "Can I say something? Yu Longting?"