Chapter 38: Is There Anyone More Badass Than You?

When the group of four reappeared within the territory of the Bison tribe, it did not take long before Bison, looking surprised, rushed over with his men.

"You actually made it back alive?"

"Why wouldn't we?" Jiang Li asked, looking bewildered.

The mountain was a bit cold, but it didn't seem particularly dangerous, did it?

"That mountain has a tribe of one or two hundred people guarding the middle slopes, and they are experts in the terrain. There is no way you four could have fought your way up," Bison said decisively. "And there are rumors of a snow monster on that mountain—agile, capable of walking on snow as if it were flat ground. How did you deal with it?"

Ma De shrugged. Whatever snow monster or tribesmen there might have been, they were all rendered docile by an avalanche.

"We were just lucky and managed to sneak past," Jiang Li said with a sheepish grin.

Bison’s expression shifted. He fixed his gaze on Jiang Li’s chest. "So, does that mean you succeeded in picking the Flower of Heaven?"

"Uh, not exactly," Jiang Li replied with a forced smile. "When we got up there, the peak was completely barren. There was nothing there. We found nothing at all."

"Is that so?" Bison looked at Ma De with a scrutinizing gaze.

Ma De nodded hurriedly. "That’s right. Everything Brother Jiang said is true."

"Very well then," Bison nodded, a cold smirk appearing on his lips. "Surround them!"

In the blink of an eye, the tribesmen behind Bison swarmed forward.

"Chief, what is the meaning of this?" Jiang Li’s expression turned grim.

Bison chuckled. "Jiang Li, don't be so worried. I just feel that you have deceived me. If I search you and find no Flower of Heaven, I will naturally apologize to you."

The expressions of Jiang Li and his companions shifted drastically. The two snow lotuses were currently in Chu Chunqiu’s possession; if they were searched, discovery was inevitable.

"Chief Bison, what do you mean by this? Are you saying you want the Flower of Heaven?" Jiang Li narrowed his eyes, staring straight at Bison.

*Clap! Clap! Clap!*

Bison clapped his hands repeatedly. "Exactly. Jiang Li, you are a clever man. I can be frank with you: the Flower of Heaven does more than just neutralize the effects of the Other Shore Flower. The most important thing is..."

"It is said that someone on the verge of death once obtained a Flower of Heaven and not only recovered from their grievous wounds, but they were fifty years old at the time—after consuming the flower, they transformed back into the appearance of a youth!"

Bison became more animated as he spoke, his face flushing with excitement. "Do you know? After becoming a youth, he went twenty years without a single gray hair. He had the strength of an ox, speed faster than a rabbit, and could detect hidden prey from miles away!"

"If I possessed such power, do you know what I could do? I could unite every tribe on this island!"

Bison looked at Jiang Li with a look of madness. "Just give it to me! Jiang Li, the entire island will be ours to rule! You will live more comfortably than even the emperor of your land!"

Jiang Li watched Bison calmly, remaining silent.

The smile on Bison’s face vanished bit by bit, eventually replaced by a ferocious scowl. "It seems you have no intention of cooperating with me?"

After a long silence, Jiang Li finally spoke. "Bison, I can give it to you, but what about Li Tongxuan? If I give it to you, who will save him?"

"He’s just a subordinate!" Bison waved his hand dismissively. "As long as you hand it over, you gain me as a friend. What does the life of one subordinate matter?"

Jiang Li shook his head. "Bison, I am not like you. You believe that you are a natural-born leader and that you are superior to everyone else in your tribe."

"Are you not?" Bison frowned. Shouldn't a leader be superior to the members of his tribe? Is that not how it should be?

"No," Jiang Li said firmly. "You are not superior to them, and they are not inferior to you. The superiority you’ve cultivated is merely to facilitate your rule and to maintain your regime permanently. But what I seek is different from you; I have no need to stand above others."

With that, Jiang Li reached out toward Chu Chunqiu. Chu Chunqiu scratched his head and pulled one of the snow lotuses from his coat, handing it to Jiang Li.

"Bison, I can make a deal with you. Let us go, and I will go save Li Tongxuan. If there is any left over, I will naturally give it to you."

"And if there isn't?" Bison’s eyes were locked onto the snow lotus in Jiang Li’s hand.

Jiang Li flicked the lotus in his hand. "If there isn't, then that’s just your bad luck. And don't think about taking it by force. If you dare let anyone move a finger, I will destroy it right now!"

Bison glared at him fiercely. "Jiang Li, you wouldn't dare! Do you believe I won't have you killed right now?"

"Stop right there!" Jiang Li said impatiently. "Chief Bison, you seem to believe everything I say now, but you should also understand one thing: what I say isn't just empty air! If you dare touch me or my men, I guarantee you will never get what I have in my hands."

Bison let out a sharp sigh. *Damn it, why did I run into such a stubborn fool?* He didn't even care about a death threat. Were all the people on that island so gutsy?

"Bison, think clearly. Agree, and you still have a chance. If you don't, you have no chance at all. On the contrary, the four of us, fighting for our lives, could take at least twenty of your men down with us! By then, you’ll have nothing, and you’ll have suffered heavy losses. You’re a smart man—think before you answer me."

A bitter smile appeared on Bison’s face. "You’ve made it so clear, what else can I do? I will follow your words today. Go on, then. I want to see for myself what is so miraculous about this legendary Flower of Heaven!"

Jiang Li breathed a long sigh of relief. "Fine. Tell your men to stay here."

Bison waved his hand indifferently. There were at least fifty men left in the camp; Jiang Li and his group couldn't stir up much trouble.

When the group arrived at the small courtyard, Jiang Li hurried over to Li Tongxuan. Li Tongxuan had somehow returned to normal, staring at Jiang Li with confused eyes.

"I... what happened to me?"

"What happened? You tell me! You tore my door off its hinges!" Ma De said indignantly.

Jiang Li plucked a petal from the snow lotus and held it to Li Tongxuan’s lips.

"Li Tongxuan, you listen to me and remember this: we traded our lives to get this for you. If you ever regain your memory and realize you have some high-and-mighty background, and if you dare to forget us, we will tell the whole world that you are an ungrateful dog!"

Ma De, standing behind Jiang Li, was stunned. He looked at Jiang Li in disbelief and muttered to himself, "Is there really anyone in this world with a background more high-and-mighty than yours?"