228 Coincidence? (1/2)
A Summer Valley disciple, Pan Yilin, had passed off cheap six-ringed bamboo as nine-ringed bamboo and sold it to Da Zhuang. He'd even twisted the facts to claim that Da Zhuang had slandered him. This had angered Da Zhuang so much that he'd nearly tried to kill him.
As for Zhou Donghuang, was he furious?
Of course, he was fuming! If given the chance, he would have killed the two Summer Valley disciples right there and then! But his rationality helped him keep his cool. Killing them would have been easy, but refraining was almost impossible!
”The Lightning Sword Sect's core elder must be at least an advanced Primordial Soul adept. If I kill those two men, I will probably die by Han Ku's hand. Even if he does not kill me, he will arrest me, and I'll be charged in the Lightning Sword Sect's court and probably executed.”
Because he was well aware of this, Zhou Donghuang had remained extremely calm in the marketplace and had not taken any drastic actions against the Summer Valley's two disciples.
Nonetheless, he was not one to be taken advantage of. So, he thought, the Summer Valley wants to play? Then I, Zhou Donghuang will play with you! Forgery? Where were you when I was making fake goods? Rather, where were you when I was making fake goods in my past life?
...
Two days later, Da Zhuang handed Zhou Donghuang a piece of paper covered with rows of squiggly words. Some were bigger than others, and the writing was practically illegible. These were the words of Da Zhuang.
”Da Zhuang, did you just learn to write?” Zhou Donghuang asked.
”Mm.” Da Zhuang nodded and laughed sheepishly. ”I started to learn how to write two years ago after Sister brought me here. I'm sorry for making you read my poor penmanship.” Da Zhuang rubbed his head in embarrassment.
”I see.” Zhou Donghuang's attention returned to the paper in his hands. Although Da Zhuang's writing was ugly, it was clear enough to read. Of course, he had asked Da Zhuang to copy them out word-for-word, so if he copied them incorrectly, there was nothing he could do about it except go to the market himself. Preparing for the worst-case scenario was a habit that Zhou Donghuang had cultivated in his previous life. It had served him well.
”Little Brother, if there is nothing else, then I'll make the first move.” Seeing Zhou Donghuang so focused on the paper without making a sound, Da Zhuang then said, ” I will return the eleven superior spirit stones I owe you as soon as possible.”
Zhou Donghuang looked up at Da Zhuang and responded, ”Let's not talk about that. Right now, I need you to help me buy some things.”
”Little Brother, you... you still want me to help you to buy things? Aren't you afraid that I'll be scammed again?” Da Zhuang's eyes widened.
It was not that he wasn't willing to give Da Zhuang more spirit stones. Da Zhuang was just so stubborn that he always refused to accept additional spirit stones from Zhou Donghuang. The first time that Da Zhuang had helped him buy something, he had wanted to give him some errand fees to thank him, but Da Zhuang had flatly refused. When Zhou Donghuang had insisted, Da Zhuang had almost lost his cool, and Zhou Donghuang could do nothing but give in. Da Zhuang was as stubborn as an ox.
”Why don't you go now?” suggested Zhou Donghuang after handing the spirit stones to Da Zhuang.
”Yes,” answered Da Zhuang as he left. Seeing that Zhou Donghuang was in a hurry to procure the goods, Da Zhuang left the Autumn Valley right away for the market.
Meanwhile, all around the Autumn Valley, people were discussing how Da Zhuang had been tricked by the Summer Valley's disciples.
”Who in the Autumn Valley does not know Da Zhuang's personality? He does not lie. That Pan Yilin really went overboard.”
”Too bad that we cannot do anything even if we know that Da Zhuang was cheated. The sect won't do anything about something like this.”
”When Sister Mengxi returns and finds out about this, she will definitely have a lot to say.”
...
Although there were not many Autumn Valley disciples and small disagreements always arose among them, these disciples nevertheless put aside their differences and stood up for each other when bullied by the inner disciples from the other Valleys. This time, Pan Yilin hadn't broken any of the sect's rules. In such circumstances, although they felt angry for Da Zhuang, there was nothing they could do about it.
Huang Long, the Autumn Valley disciple who had taken Zhou Donghuang to see He Mengxi when he had first arrived at the Autumn Valley, declared angrily to some other Autumn Valley disciples, ”I curse those bastards of the Summer Valley! May they always buy fake goods in the future!”
If Zhou Donghuang had heard this, he would have definitely given him a thumbs-up—great prophecy!
Zhou Donghuang had just asked Da Zhuang to buy the materials he intended to use for making forgeries.