Stranger Danger

Chapter 951: Traitor Killing Ranking

So, what was the point of killing Strangers, accumulating contribution points, and appearing on the Traitor Killing Ranking?

First, contribution points could be exchanged for all sorts of precious resources, Strange Artifacts and martial arts manual.

Second, the top ten warriors with the most contribution points would receive official posts and valuable treasures from the four nations themselves. The rewards were handsome to say the least.

It was worth noting that the jianghu people weren’t the only ones who would be participating in the event. The national geniuses attending the Four Seas Summit would be participating as well, and the final amount of contribution points would decide their ranking in the Four Seas Summit.

Originally, the geniuses were supposed to duel each other and show off humanity’s strength through the Four Seas Dragon Palace.

However, that was no longer possible since the Four Seas Dragon Palace had been exterminated.

That was why the four nations altered their original plans and had the geniuses participate in the slaying of the traitors of the four seas instead. It could both hone their strength and show off the might of humanity, effectively killing two birds with one stone.

Not only that, the day where the Four Seas Summit would have taken place had also been modified. It was now called the “Execution Day” and the “Award Day”.

The Execution Day referred to the day where the four seas aquatic people and Strangers who were captured alive were publicly executed. It was yet another public performance to show off humanity’s power.

During the battle of the Four Seas Dragon Palace, the Eastern Sea Dragon King was captured alive by Chu Xunxian, the rest of the Dragon Kings were killed, and countless more Strangers were captured alive. A good number of them were extremely powerful, and beheading them in public would serve as a good example to those who wanted to threaten humanity.

As for Award Day, it was the day where the top ten contributors on the Traitor Killing Ranking were rewarded for their merits.

In any case, there was no doubt that the Traitor Killing Ranking was a life-changing opportunity for most, if not all people.

It was why the entire jianghu was bubbling with excitement and bloodthirst as soon as it was announced.

For a time, the warriors who desired martial arts manuals or Strange Artifacts, the warriors who wished to hone their strength and skill, the warriors who desired fame and glory, the warriors who wished to climb to the heavens in one fell swoop... they all rushed to the sea and became a part of the Traitor Killing Army.

Everyday, countless people entered the Four Seas and sailed into the sea.

Everyday, countless Strangers were killed, and blood red seas became a common sight.

Everyday, countless new stars showed their faces on the Traitor Killing Ranking and became famous under the heavens.

But of course, opportunity and danger were two sides of the same coin.

Everyday, countless warriors left the shores but never returned.

Everyday, countless geniuses perished in the sea.

Everyday, countless warriors and heroes died without even a remain to remember them by.

Even so, the passion of the jianghu could not be stopped. The stream of moths flying toward the sea was endless and unceasing.

In just a matter of days, the Traitor Killing Ranking had become the Ladder to the Sky, the Path to Heaven for the jianghu people, and the four seas their slaughtering ground and realm of glory.

None of this had anything to do with an inconspicuous warrior named Ye Qing, however. Not even a little.

The reason was simple. He neither needed nor wanted the fame, glory, and even profit associated with the Traitor Killing Ranking.

Even the one person who would have drawn him to the sea, Chu Wangsun, had not left the Four Seas since he returned from the battle, giving him no chance to enact vengeance. So, besides the standard three meals and relaxing stroll through the streets, he spent everyday cultivating and practicing his martial arts.

He was in no hurry though. Not only were the geniuses of the four nations allowed to participate in the event, their ranking in the Traitor Killing Ranking was their final ranking of the Four Seas Summit. Therefore, Chu Wangsun must enter the sea eventually. His chance would arrive then.

That was why Ye Qing really wasn’t worried in the slightest.

Right now, he was on an island named Hundred Flowers Island and enjoying the song and dance of the Hundred Flowers Restaurant. He was waiting to attend their Hundred Flowers Feast.

Unlike most parts of the world, the Hundred Flowers Island enjoyed four springs instead of spring, summer, autumn and winter. As a result, all sorts of beautiful, exotic flora bloomed on the island all year long. Hence the name.

Several days ago, after Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou left the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace, they chose to reside on a nearby island instead of returning to the Four seas. A day later, they traveled to the Hundred Flowers Island.

There was no real need for him to return to the Four Seas because Cheng Qishang and the Swordsgrave disciples would keep an eye on Chu Wangsun for him. He would know at first notice if the scholar left the Four Seas.

But why did they go to the Hundred Flowers Island specifically? It was because Feng Qingyou had a senior who was old friends with the island lord of the Hundred Flowers Island. So, she wanted to pay him a visit.

Feng Qingyou had left for the Hundred Flowers Manor first thing in the morning, the place where the island lord of the Hundred Flowers Island was staying. Since Feng Qingyou was visiting a senior, and he had nada to do with the island lord whatsoever, he chose not to act as her third wheel. Instead, he went to the Hundred Flowers Restaurant hoping to experience their famous Hundred Flowers Feast.

The Hundred Flowers Island was one of the more notable islands among the countless islands in the Eastern Sea. It was because they boasted three perfections.

The first perfection was called the Hundred Flowers Sights, the second perfection was called the Hundred Flowers Countenance, and the third perfection was called the Hundred Flowers Wonder.

Hundred Flowers Sights referred to the exotic flora, fauna and Strangers that grew on Hundred Flowers Island.

Hundred Flowers Island boasted a pleasant climate and a unique environment that allowed all sorts of exotic flora and fauna to survive all year long. Such a perfect environment was rare even compared to the entire world.

Not only that, the environment gave birth to many flora-type Strangers, and the large majority of them were mild-natured and fond of humans.

As a result, not only were Strangers a common sight on Hundred Flowers Island, they also lived in harmony with their fellow humans. It was an incredibly rare sight to say the least.

The Hundred Flowers Countenance referred to the island lord herself. Called Lady Hundred Flowers, she was apparently so stunning that she could captivate even fishes, so charming that wild geese would fall from the sky, and so beautiful that anyone who saw her would be mesmerized and never be able to forget her for the rest of their lives.

Finally, the Hundred Flowers Wonder referred to the Hundred Flower Feast.

As its name implied, the Hundred Flowers Feast was a grand feast serving a hundred types of delicacies, soup and wine using hundreds of exotic flora. It was a meal unlike any other.

Not only that, the Hundred Flowers Feast was split into two categories: inferior grade and superior grade. An inferior grade Hundred Flowers Feast served delicacies created from mundane flora, whereas a superior grade Hundred Flowers Feast served delicacies created from non-sentient floral Stranger. Not only did they taste exquisite, they were quite beneficial to a warrior as well.

The Hundred Flowers Feast was a grand feast money couldn’t buy. Even the lousiest Hundred Flowers Feast cost a minimum of one thousand silver a seat, and a superior one was usually priceless. Why? Because the Hundred Flowers Restaurant only held a superior grade Hundred Flowers Feast three times a year, or once per four months.

It was partially because a superior Hundred Flowers Feast took months to prepare . The selection of materials, the preparation of the materials, the preparation of the dishes and more required strict supervision and maintenance.

It was also because rarity begets value. If Hundred Flowers Restaurant did not limit the number of times they held a superior-grade Hundred Flowers Feast, then it would lose its mysticism and freshness, and the people’s interest would be a lot more diminished as well.

Long story short, a customer who wished to enjoy a superior grade Hundred Flowers Feast must book a seat at least months prior to the event. In fact, Ye Qing learned that the fastest he could book a seat for a superior grade Hundred Flowers Feast was over a year later.

Unfortunately, he would not be able to enjoy a superior grade Hundred Flowers Feast today.

The good news was that the inferior grade Hundred Flowers Feast were far less strict. It only needed a day or two of early booking at most. If some fool was willing to splash the cash, they could even book a seat in just a matter of hours.

Ye Qing was wealthy, but not so wealthy that it burned his hands just to hold them. So, he booked a table two days prior. Now, all he needed to do was to wait to be served.

Hundred Flowers Restaurant was as beautiful as its name suggested. Built from a dense web of vines, flowers and other plants, its exterior was covered in lush green grass that looked as comfortable as cushions and gorgeous flowers, and there were clear streams flowing through the interior and hundreds of gorgeous flowers vying for the customers’ attention.

Vibrant colors brightened one’s eyes, soothing streams and swaying plants brushed against one’s ears, and sweet, dreamlike fragrance tickled one’s nose.

That wasn’t all. All kinds of floral Strangers and creatures were going in and out of the building constantly. It added even more liveliness and curiosity to the Hundred Flowers Restaurant.

Even without the Hundred Flowers Feast, Ye Qing was sure that the Hundred Flowers Restaurant could have conducted its business profitably for many centuries to come.