"I’m merely assisting them in managing their mercenary groups. I’m not quite sure why you would say that?" Ye Liuyun could not reveal that he had gained control over them and had to respond in a roundabout manner.

Shui Bingyue, however, suddenly deflected the conversation and suggested that she should show him around their territory.

He figured that she surely had something to articulate and agreed right away.

He followed her on a tour of their territory.

There was nothing special or impressive - most of what they cultivated were common medicinal herbs and spirit rice.

She eventually led him to the highest peak in their territory, leaving the accompanying servants at the foothill.

He knew that she was ready to discuss serious matters with him.

"It sure feels nice seeing everything so little from this high above!" As she took in the scent of the medicinal herbs and spirit rice, Shui Bingyue suddenly started to contemplate. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Ye Liuyun knew that she may be indirectly referring to the range of her influence, guessing that Shui Bingyue must have figured out his intention. He just pretended not to understand and agreed, "Exactly, the Shui family’s position in this border battlefield can certainly look down upon everything else."

She gave a knowing smile, "Alas, this is just the worst part of the family’s territory! They can be as strong as they possibly could, but it has nothing to do with me!"

Shui Bingyue looked over her territory and sighed internally.

Ye Liuyun mused to himself, "Could this woman be wanting to cooperate with me to improve her status within the family?"

Her hint was already very obvious. He also attempted to probe, "If there is something you need from me, feel free to voice out."

"I wouldn’t dare to order! With the rapid growth of the Dark Legion, I’m afraid I might have to rely on you, Captain Ye! I’m just curious about how far are you planning to go - are you going to stay within the border battlefield or do you intend to expand towards the East? "

Ye Liuyun inferred from her questions that she was trying to uncover his true purpose.

They were still in the stage of mutually probing each other, neither daring to reveal everything.

"Power and strength is the main goal of the Martial Arts Dao. How far one can go in the future depends on their strength and opportunities."

Shui Bingyue nodded, "I too look forward to step out of this battlefield one day."

Ye Liuyun was now certain that she intended to team up with him, but couldn’t say it with great certainty without knowing about his strength.

But he wanted to confirm her reason, "With the Shui family’s strength, shouldn’t it be easy for you to step out of this place?"

She only gave a wry smile as she explained, "I’m only a weak woman with no influence, I don’t even have a place to speak in my own family!"

"As long as Ms. Shui shows sincerity, I believe there will always be someone willing to help you."

She fell silent for a while. Looking at the territory in front of her that she wasn’t satisfied with, she pondered, "Perhaps this is an opportunity! Whether it can succeed will depend on his strength."

"Then let me show you some sincerity!

The strength of the Eastern Royal Management and the Northsky Sect is much more than what appears on the surface. Your high-profile actions here, Captain Ye, will inevitably draw their attention. I speculate they are simply trying to settle you down for now. They will be sending experts soon.

The Eastern has a great expert of late-seventh-tier, mastering in soul manipulation skills, and seized control of multiple influences and martial practitioners for them. Even if he sends his disciples, they are not to be underestimated.

Master Kurong from the Sect has been in seclusion for quiet a while. He’s also of late-seventh-tier with supreme divine soul energy. Both these individuals are experts in attacks and manipulations of the divine soul.

I’m guessing that one of them will send their help over after proper discussion. As for what type of help they send, that will depend on how much they value you. But regardless, you should expect someone surpassing you greatly in terms of realm and soul power.

True seventh-tier experts are far stronger than the seventh-tier martial practitioners you’ve seen here. Those who make it here to the border battlefield are actually of relatively weak strength.

I think it’s likely to be the Eastern to send their men. After all, their influence isn’t extensive, especially given the existence of spirit crystal veins here. For the Sect, this place is just a training ground— its existence is of no great concern."

Upon hearing this, Ye Liuyun was also taken aback. He had not thought about these before.

Since Shui Bingyue could guess that he had taken over their affairs here, it was possible that the forces behind them already knew.

Shui Bingyue’s sincerity was indeed strong, but helping him certainly had intentions behind it. He needed to figure out her motives first.

"Why do you want to help me? What do you need from us?" Ye Liuyun finally asked straightforwardly.

Shui Bingyue did not beat around the bush, "I need assistance to get out of here! Let’s talk specifics once you’ve come around this matter! I’m simply seizing an opportunity and betting on it, I don’t consider it as a help from me to you.

It depends on your strength on how would you face this challenge. If you can’t overcome this hurdle, then it would mean that I’ve made a wrong bet!"

Shui Bingyue finished her words, looking at Ye Liuyun with a smile.

"She seems to have a deeper understanding of these forces, there’s indeed some potential of cooperation with her. She’s also trying to test my strength to see if I can withstand the retaliation of these two major forces!"

Ye Liuyun thought about this, and stopped wasting words, everything was waiting for the result to speak for himself.

"Okay! I’ll personally express my gratitude if I’m able to visit you again alive!"

"Well, then I’ll prepare some good wine and food, waiting for Captain Ye to come visit again!" Shui Bingyue also said with a bow.

Ye Liuyun immediately bid farewell to Shui Bingyue and summoned back the demi-beasts from their harass of her territory.

It was no longer necessary - if he could overcome the following challenges from the forces, Shui Bingyue would cooperate with him without needing an attack.

If he can’t withstand it, the territories he had now conquered will eventually be returned back.

After he returned, he immediately summoned Dong Linghou and Ma Wencai to search for important information again. However, he found that these two people who had been stationed here for years didn’t know much about what was happening inside the Royal Management and the Sect, compared to the detailed understanding Shui Bingyue had.

As for the Eastern’s great expert and the Sect’s Master Kurong, they knew about it but would never expect that they would come here personally.

"Master, if the information you received is reliable, I think it would be the great expert that would be sending his disciples!" Dong Linghou explained.

"From the list of people the Sect is sending, none of them are Master Kurong and his disciples!" Ma Wencai handed over a list of the men ordered by Northsky Sect. To his surprise, there was Jian, but without Gong Wanting.