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Chapter 128: Teaching the Eighth Disciple
“That’s the end of the discussion. Don’t let me down.” Lu Zhou stared at Mingshi Yin.
Mingshi Yin got goosebumps when he heard Lu Zhou’s words. He carried the box and spoke in an aggrieved tone, “Yes, master.”
“Everyone’s dismissed.”
“Understood.”
Lu Zhou glanced at the system dashboard. The progress of unlocking the box had appeared on the mission list. Indeed. He did not think there was anyone more suitable for this task than Mingshi Yin. He was certain Mingshi Yin was the only one who could deftly maneuver his ways between these different villains. Only someone as shameless as Mingshi Yin could complete this task. Moreover, based on his memories, Yu Zhenghai and Yu Shangrong had never mistreated their juniors. He frowned as he thought to himself, ‘In that case, why did they abandon the Evil Sky Pavilion? This is giving me a headache.’
After Mingshi Yin left the great hall with the box in his hands, a female cultivator walked in and bowed before she said, “Pavilion Master, Ye Tianxin showed no changes today.”
“Alright,” Lu Zhou replied indifferently.
Ye Tianxin had fallen into a deep slumber, and her fate was still in limbo.
“Master, Senior Sister Tianxin won’t die, will she?” Little Yuan’er asked softly.
“I don’t know,” Lu Zhou replied honestly.
“If she dies, will you be happy, master?” Little Yuan’er asked.
As soon as Little Yuan’er finished speaking, Lu Zhou knocked her head and chided her, “Have you finished the assignment I’ve given you?”
Little Yuan’er rubbed her head as she replied with a pout, “Not yet.”
“Then, what are you standing around for?”
“Eh? A letter!” Little Yuan’er leaped away at lightning speed. A short while later, she returned with a letter in her hands.
Lu Zhou did not reprimand her for this. Instead, he said, “Read it.”
“It’s from Jiang Aijian,” Little Yuan’er said before she continued to read out loud, “Old senior, I’ve conveyed your message to Wei Zhuoyan. As expected, he did not think too much about it. Also, you’re right. Someone with a high position in the palace isn’t on friendly terms with Wei Zhuoyan.”
Lu Zhou nodded. It was just as he had predicted.
Wei Zhuoyan had worked hard to climb to his current position. He was now an important officer of Great Yan and commanded a formidable force. If someone appeared out of nowhere and told him to give all this up, he would not possibly agree to it.
“Send a reply to Jiang Aijian… Tell him that I’m informed about this.” Lu Zhou stroked his beard calmly.
Little Yuan’er spoke with a hint of anger in her voice, “Master, this Wei Zhuoyan is getting on my nerves. Should I descend the mountain and kill him?”
“Can a Divine Court realm cultivator kill a Seven-leaf or possibly an Eight-leaf elite?” Lu Zhou asked.
“Uh…” Little Yuan’er lowered her head as she twiddled her fingers.
“Wei Zhuoyan didn’t rely on his cultivation base alone when he became the commander-in-chief of the three armies. Pull one hair, and the whole body moves. He’s different from Fan Xiuwen. Fan Xiuwen was once on top of the blacklist. He’s just a pawn in the secret service. The Great Yan’s Imperial family won’t concern themselves with him even if he dies. However, Wei Zhuoyan is different. There are many who wish for his death, and there are also many who don’t…”
“What do we do now?” Little Yuan’er asked.
“There’s no need to worry… I want more than Wei Zhuoyan’s life…” Lu Zhou said calmly.
…
Half a day later.
Mingshi Yin left the Evil Sky Pavilion with the box and hurried over to Old Eighth’s, Zhu Honggong, base.
When Mingshi Yin arrived, Old Eighth, Zhu Honggong, was napping on a wooden armchair.
One of Zhu Honggong’s subordinated hastily ran up to him and shouted, “Gang leader! We have a problem! Someone has infiltrated the ridge!”
Zhu Honggong jumped from the shock. He hastily got up and chided, “Why are you panicking?! Who dares invade the Tiger Ridge on my watch?”
As soon as Zhu Honggong finished speaking, Mingshi Yin’s voice rang from outside. “Yo! I see that you’ve become more impressive since we last met.”
Mingshi Yin’s figure appeared before Zhu Honggong. He covered 300 feet in a stride and reached Zhu Honggong in just a blink of an eye.
Thud!
Zhu Honggong fell to his knees obediently. His kingly behavior had completely vanished. He asked, “Senior brother, y-you… What brings you here?”
“What? Am I not welcomed here?”
Zhu Honggong said ingratiatingly, “Is it possible that you’ve decided to join my Tiger Ridge Gang? That’s great! From this day on, you’ll be the Tiger Ridge’s Gang Leader. I’ll let you have the title of the Evil King as well. I don’t mind playing second fiddle to you!”
“Cut that out.” Mingshi Yin placed the box on a nearby table. He sat down without any invitation and said, “I’ll never leave the Evil Sky Pavilion.”
“Huh?”
“I’m here on a mission.”
“What kind of mission? Don’t tell me that you’re here to kill us?” Zhu Honggong trembled inwardly. He was filled with worry and his forehead broke out in cold sweat when he recalled his encounter with his master near the Green Jade Altar.
“I don’t understand how a coward like you are bold enough to leave the Evil Sky Pavilion. Your cultivation base isn’t as profound as Elder Senior Brother’s cultivation base, you don’t have Second Senior Brother’s bravery, and you don’t have Seventh Junior Brother’s brains. Perhaps, you’re emboldened by your physique alone?” Mingshi Yin mocked.
“Senior Brother, please don’t insult me like this. I’m actually quite intelligent,” Zhu Honggong said shamelessly.
“You?”
“That’s right… If I weren’t smart, I would’ve been captured by master that day near the Green Jade Altar,” Zhu Honggong, Old Eighth, said with a self-satisfied smile.
“Oh, shut up,” Mingshi Yin rolled his eyes and said, “Master just thinks taking you back to the mountain isn’t a priority at this moment. If he sees Old Seventh, we’ll see if he’s merciful.”
“…” Zhu Honggong was rendered momentarily speechless. After a while, he looked at the box and said with a smile, “Fourth Senior Brother, since you’re not here to capture me, what did you come here for? I’ll help you in any way I can!”
Mingshi Yin pointed at the box beside him and said, “This mysterious box belongs to master. It can only be opened with Seventh Junior Brother, Elder Senior Brother, and Second Senior Brother’s weapons. Seventh Junior Brother is an elusive figure. Hence, I have no choice but to look for you.”
“Fourth Senior Brother… It’s only a box. Why don’t we cut it open with a blade? There’s no need for heaven-grade weapons,” Zhu Honggong said as he drew the saber of a subordinate who stood next to him.
Mingshi Yin did not stop Zhu Honggong. He sat on the wooden armchair, waiting to watch a good show.
Old Eighth brandished the saber and slashed down mercilessly.
Bang!
Sparks flew in the air as the saber snapped into two and dropped to the ground with a clang.
Zhu Honggong’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets. He looked at the mysterious box and gulped. “Heavens! Why is this box so hardy?”
“If I know the answer to that, would I be here?” Mingshi Yin grabbed the grapes beside him and ate them. He spat the skin out from time to time.
“Fourth Senior Brother… I truly wonder. The Evil Sky Pavilion is waning, and the cultivation world is waiting for master’s life to run out. When that time comes, all the treasures in the Evil Sky Pavilion will be looted. Why don’t you seize this opportunity…”
“Shut up!” Mingshi Yin snapped.
Thud!
Zhu Honggong fell to his knees again.
“You master-betraying, patriarch-denouncing scoundrel… It’s one thing for you to leave the Evil Sky Pavilion, but you dare curse your master?! What did master ever do to you?” Mingshi Yin chided.
“Uh…” Zhu Honggong scratched his head. “I just got beaten up a lot. There’s no real enmity between us…”
“Do you know what happened to your Sixth Senior Sister?”
“Senior Sister Tianxin?”
“Her cultivation base is destroyed, and her fate is in limbo… Listen to me, don’t go against master. I can understand why you want to leave the Evil Sky Pavilion, but if you do anything behind his back…” Mingshi Yin said coldly.
“Senior Brother! You’re wrongly accusing me! I have done no such thing!” Zhu Honggong straightened three fingers and swore to the heavens.