81 Chapter 80: Conspiracy (2/2)

”This brings me to the next point,” I continued, even though Zhao Shi looked as if she was going to fall asleep, Lian Rou looked a bit terrified and taken aback, and Zi Xiao Ji's mouth was hanging wide open. Even Da Ge seemed a little bemused by my sudden hijacking of the conversation. ”Sect Leader will eventually find out that Liang Shao Yang came to our sect in order to woo Qi Hong, and aim to merge the Divine Shadow Sect with the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect in the future. He will probably know that Liang Shao Yang originates from a most likely demonic sect filled with murderous, shady figures who think that killing everyone is always the best answer. From this, he should realize that Liang Shao Yang is not somebody you can entrust the future of your sect to, especially considering the interests of the sect and how it conflicts with that of the Divine Shadow Sect's. Yet the great elders will probably pressure him to allow Liang Shao Yang to do whatever he wants, just because he has far better talent with blacksmithing and spirit engraving than anyone else. So they are placing personal skills over personality and moral values when evaluating the suitability of someone as the next sect leader? Are they seriously considering the option to nurture a shadowy assassin prone to backstabbing to take over as the future sect leader of the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect?”

”To be fair, the sect leader and elders believe that a person's character can be shaped and molded during the nurturing process. That no one's personality in the future will be set in stone in the present. They will endeavor to change his attitude and…”

”…brainwash him?” I supplied helpfully. Tong Xue and Da Ge chuckled at that. Elder Zhao looked stumped, but unable to find a better word, he nodded.

”…I wouldn't put it that way, but yes. Anyway, a person's personality can be shaped, but it'll be too late to nurture his talent later. For the prosperity of the sect, he will not punish Liang Shao Yang. This I am very sure of.”

”Wait…wait, wait.” Da Ge suddenly realized something. ”If Liang Shao Yang was confident of triggering a response from the Spirit Engraved Pillars, and thus get instantly promoted to inner sect disciple status and reach the point where the sect leader and great elders will consider him as the next sect leader in future, then why the hell would he need to woo Junior Qi Hong in the first place? He can just take over the sect all by himself.”

”To be fair…” This time Tong Xue had a valid rebuttal. ”I doubt Liang Shao Yang had the confidence of triggering a response and gaining enlightenment before he entered the sect. he only gained the confidence after spending several months meditating and communing with the Spirit Engraved Pillars. Back then, the only surefire way for him to gain control of the sect was to win Tang Qi Hong's heart and get married to the only future sect leader candidate at that time.”

”There's no way a guy like him can win my heart!” Tang Qi Hong cried out, horrified. Tong Xue raised his hands to placate her.

”Nobody is saying you will. We're only talking hypothetically, and Liang Shao Yang's delusions obviously do not match up with reality.”

Tang Qi Hong relaxed, but she still pouted at the implication of Liang Shao Yang's intentions.

”Well, putting the lack of logic and the complete pointlessness of Liang Shao Yang's absurd actions aside, what are you going to do?” Zhao Shi asked me.

I thought for a few moments, and then shook my head.

”Nothing.”

”What?!” Tang Qi Hong demanded. ”You're just going to let Liang Shao Yang get away with this? Don't you feel frustrated?”

”I never said that.”

”But…”

I raised a hand to forestall her protests. ”One thing at a time. Right now, I am in no position to challenge Liang Shao Yang. Never mind the vast difference in status, I haven't even reached the position of inner sect disciple yet. Rising to his provocations now would do me no good and instead harm me. Furthermore, Liang Shao Yang has no reason to attack me right now. So why should I go looking for trouble when I'm in such a massively disadvantageous position? I would rather make use of the time afforded to me to improve my own skills, raise my status and cultivation, and grow stronger. As I am right now, other than combat strength, I am completely outclassed by Liang Shao Yang.”

”…excellent.” Elder Zhao nodded, thoroughly impressed. ”Not a hint of recklessness or impulsiveness at all. Despite your situation, you've remained clear-headed, calm and completely composed, able to think things through and reason.” He leaned closer, thinking about something. ”I'll formally invite you to join the Blood Blades. If you pass the test, you'll essentially become an inner sect disciple.”

”That's great!” Tang Qi Hong clapped her hands, overjoyed.

However, I shook my head.

”I appreciate the offer, but…I'm not ready yet. First, I've to deal with the level 6 test in Wu Ling Academy tomorrow.”

”Oh, right. I forgot that it's tomorrow.” Tong Xue's eyes widened and he stared at me. ”Are you prepared for it? I mean, with all that was happening.”

”No problem. I've been prepared since last week.”

”I see.” Elder Zhao nodded. ”You want to pass that test first before you take another test. We'll welcome you anytime.”

”Do you mind giving me a few months?” I asked wearily, not feeling like I wanted to take so many consecutive tests in a week, especially with so many events and crises happening over a single week. My body couldn't hold out.

Elder Zhao laughed. ”You can have as many weeks as you wish. The next Blood Blades entrance exam is in four months, anyway. After summer, and right at the start of fall.”

”…after the interschool tournament then.” I exchanged a glance with Tong Xue. ”Plenty of time to get ready.”

”Hmm, might be a good idea to get some combat experience in the tournament before taking the Blood Blades test,” Tang Qi Hong agreed approvingly. ”I heard that you'll be thrown into the wild and forced into real combat.”

”Well, there's no use coddling prospective candidates,” Elder Zhao pointed out. ”Not when we have to deal with very real threats on a regular basis. We want our candidates to be prepared for that, otherwise they won't make the cut.”

”We will be,” both Tong Xue and I chorused.

”That doesn't mean I'll go easy on you for blacksmithing!” Tang Qi Hong warned me. ”You're still my assistant, and I'll be drilling blacksmithing techniques into you!”

I groaned inwardly, but put on a firm experience outwardly. ”I'll do my best to learn.”

”Good. Prepare yourself!”

”On that note…” Elder Zhao cleared his throat. ”You guys should go back and rest. There isn't much of a reason to stick around here. Remember what I told you!” he turned to Zhao Shao and Da Ge. ”Keep an eye on Fei Wu. I know his reasoning is sound and all that, but not everyone operates on logic. Liang Shao Yang is the greatest example of that. Best to be careful.”

”Roger that, sir.”

”You got it, Elder Zhao!”

Elder Zhao then turned to address Tang Qi Hong and Zi Xiao Ji. ”And I'm counting on you two to talk to Sect Leader and Sect Mistress.”

”You can count on me!”

”I'll talk to Father and Mother! I promise!”

”I know you will.” Elder Zhao nodded with a smile, then waved us off. ”Good night, everybody.”

With that, everyone left the office.

*

When I exited along with my friends, I couldn't help but glance at the Lake of Fire. In the aftermath of Liang Shao Yang's success, many hopeful outer sect disciples had gathered on the drifting platform and attempting to commune with the nine Spirit Engraved Pillars.

Once again, I felt my skin crawl when I felt the presence of the malevolent entity lurking beneath the platform. Swallowing, I withdrew myself and hardened my mental defenses to prevent any invasion.

I spotted Yin Jing Jing, Tian Jian Hao, Pang Feng and Pang Yun, along with countless other Nine-Tailed Fox Sect disciples, all gathered underneath the Spirit Engraved Pillars in an attempt to comprehend the arcane symbols and pictures.

The majority of the sect disciples had not dispersed and returned to their apartments or rooms after the miraculous event, even after Sect Leader, Sect Mistress and the three great elders departed. Instead, it seemed that they had grown even more enthusiastic in their efforts, passionately focusing their minds and trying to communicate with the spirits embedded within the Spirit Engraved Pillars.

I wouldn't do that if I were you…

That would leave them vulnerable to an open attack, but fortunately the malevolent entity found all of them unsuitable as its host. The bastard was still aiming for me, huh?

I quickly withdrew my spirit within a fortified mental barrier and prayed that he wouldn't notice me this time.

”Fei Wu, there's still some space over there. You want to try and commune with the Spirit Engraved Pillars?”

Tong Xue thought he was being helpful, and I inwardly cursed. To be fair, I couldn't blame him because he had no way of knowing that his suggestion would put my very soul in jeopardy. Even so, I had to decline because I didn't want to offer my body up as a host to some demon.

”No, I'm…a little tired. I need to prepare for the level 6 test tomorrow, remember?”

Good thing I had an excellent excuse on hand, so I could decline the offer without drawing suspicion or hurting Tong Xue's feelings.

”Oh, right! I almost forgot about that! Go get some rest! And good luck tomorrow!”

”Thanks.”

I bowed and then left for my apartment, with Zhao Shi, Da Ge and Zi Xiao Ji trailing behind me to keep an eye out for any assailants.

”Dudes…you do know that Liang Shao Yang is up the volcano with Sect Leader and the six great elders, right?” I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. ”He's not going to suddenly teleport down here and try to kill me.”

”He has a point,” Zhao Shi admitted. She exchanged glances with Da Ge, and the two of them escorted Zi Xiao Ji home. Zi Xiao Ji looked a little reluctant, but I reminded her that she had to speak to her parents.

”I'm counting on you to convince your parents regarding the matter on Liang Shao Yang.”

”Leave that to me, Brother Wu!” Zi Xiao Ji brightened up and almost skipped away. Da Ge gave me a wave before he followed her and Zhao Shi into the distance.

Left on my own, I returned to my apartment and began making preparations for tomorrow.

Over the next few days, the major sects all over the Great Zhou Empire sent their congratulations, and even the patriarch of the Divine Shadow Sect himself had reportedly set out to personally visit Nine-Tailed Fox Sect to congratulate them, praise his son, and I suspect, to give him new orders under the table.

Liang Shao Yang moved away from the outer sect district and into the core of the inner sect, one of the luxurious residences embedded into the volcano. He was being personally tutored by Sect Leader and at least three of the great elders, all of whom offered him advice and guidance on forging spirit armaments and inscribing Spirit Engravings.

Even Elder Hai Mo, who was away on a mission, rearranged his schedule to return earlier than planned, just so he could personally teach the new prodigy who triggered a response from the Spirit Engraved Pillars.

Honestly, I couldn't care less about anything that involved Liang Shao Yang (as long as he wasn't trying to kill me – and I was proven right – now that he had the favor of the Sect Leader, Sect Mistress and the great elders, he had no reason to target my life or chase after Tang Qi Hong. In fact, he was now chasing after Hu Mei Er of all people, and that girl was flattered by his advances, and the two officially became a couple a few weeks later, but I'm getting too far ahead of myself here), and instead focused on preparing for the level 6 test that was due the next day…