Vol 2 Chapter 15 (2/2)

Zhang Yan calmly listened, he knew that there were also other matters that would follow.

Zhou Chongju’s fist then heavily pounded the table as he continued to speak, “Last month I was asked to concoct some pills for Elder Jiang and temporarily gave the Pavilion’s management to Vice Master Dou, of which, without notifying me, he sent a messenger and put your name in it unexpectedly. The Water State’s envoy has already returned. I was already a step late when I found this matter today.”

Zhang Yan’s expression was still calm as if this matter seemingly had nothing to do with him. He then asked, “And how did Vice Master Dou explain himself?”

Zhou Chongju’s eyes were full of anger as he grunted and said, “Dou Ming stated that it was due to the negligence of the Deacon beneath him, while he also has killed the man. He is willing to be released from his duty and retire, and no longer serve as the Pavilion’s Vice Master again.”

Zhang Yan then let out ridiculing words, “Presumably he has already arranged his escape route, leaving no chance for Senior Brother to take him on.”

As to why Dou Ming evaded from this matter, it was extremely simple. Zhang Yan was indeed from the Alchemy Division and also Zhou Chongju’s disciple. Since someone had taken the blame, apprehending and interrogating him would perhaps not be good. At most, he would only be reprimanded a few words, as it was quite impossible to be severely beaten. Henceforth, he wouldn’t be questioned by anyone.

“There must be someone pulling the strings behind him!” Zhou Chongju furiously spoke, “I suspect that its Feng Shang, this looks like his doings.”

What he was actually afraid of was that if it was really Feng Shang that pulled the strings, of whom, could make all the seemingly loopholes in the plan actually traps. In this way, if he had someone to replace Zhang Yan, this approach could also not be completely executed, because Feng Shang was perhaps waiting for him to do so.

Since Zhang Yan had a true disciple status in the Azure Ocean Sect, these people were temporarily unable to do anything to him. But Zhou Chongju was worried that once Zhang Yan went out, it would be completely different since there would be plenty of opportunities to hit him.

Zhou Chongju turned his head and looked at Zhang Yan as he spoke in a solemn tone, “Junior Brother, this matter has been a foregone conclusion, what do you plan to do about it? If you are unwilling to go, I’ll go out and stake everything on this thick-skinned old face to guarantee your safety!” The muscles on his cheeks faintly throbbed, and seemed to think of something that is extremely hard for him.

Zhang Yan lowered his head and thought deeply for a moment. As when raised his head, a trace of a smile then emerged from his mouth, “Senior Brother, I will go.”

“Oh?” Zhou Chongju was surprised and stared at him, “Have you thought clearly?”

Zhang Yan said, “I’m not necessarily safe in the Sect. Other attempts would also emerge endlessly and it would be very hard to detect. Although I’m not afraid, however, a little delay in cultivation is unavoidable. The journey to this Water State is also within the line of sight of the ancient families and other prestigious houses. Perhaps it precisely became my opportunity since I could exactly be like the fish that dives in the broad ocean, or a bird that freely flies in the vast sky.”

Zhou Chongju thought for a moment before he slowly nodded and said, “What you said is also true.”

He paused and continued, “But you still need to be careful, according to my inference, should they want to attack you, they have at most two ways right now. First, they would secretly strike at you with an underhanded method, and the second one is making you stumble in this journey to the Water Country. I think that the latter is particularly possible. If you folded there, not only would the Sect not investigate it, but instead, they could say that the other party intended to instigate conflict between the two factions.”

Zhang Yan nodded to express his understanding. Although he was a true disciple, but if he had accidents in the Water State, the Azure Ocean Sect would absolutely never make war easily with the Water Country just because of himself. They would try every means to quell this matter. Perhaps in the future, if their relations went to worst with the Rainbow Stonefield Water State, they might use his death incident as a pretext and excuse to start a war, but the purpose for this war absolutely was not to avenge him.

Zhou Chongju sneered and spoke, “I have examined the names’ register. The people who will go to the Rainbow Stonefield Water State, excluding you, are also Dou Ming’s trusted subordinates. This move is not without reasons, because this means that you are unlikely to concoct any pills. Originally, this also wouldn’t amount much to be calculated, but it’s also very clear, that if they were to give up, you as my disciple would be singled out. Then, if someone were to add fuel to the fire in the Rainbow Stonefield Water State, rumors would then be disseminated while they would also incite slandering from the dark. The worst thing that could happen is that the relations with the Rainbow Stonefield Water State would go down to the abyss. And by that time, you’d the first one that would have to bear the brunt.”

Having spoken to this point, he glanced at Zhang Yan, sighed and then said, “There are 10 days left before you leave. I don’t know how many things I could teach you in these 10 days. But we have no choice but to keep trying everything even in this desperate situation.”

10 days?

Zhang Yan recalled about the true disciples’ event to enjoy the full moon, could it be there was a relations.h.i.+p between these two matters?

Then, he remembered something else. Luo Xiao had also shown him a little about pills concocting. It was very obvious that Demon cultivators also didn’t lack concocted pills, wasn’t it? So why would they come to the Azure Ocean Sect to borrow some Pill Concocting Masters?

When he asked about this matter to Zhou Chong, he replied, “You don’t know about it yet. Although Demon cultivators are also able to refine some concocted pills, but they only possess shallow alchemy techniques. They could refine some ordinary and basic-grade concocted pills. However, to refine superior-grade concocted pills, only human cultivators are able to do that. The reason is because the ‘Three Opening Arts’ could only be practiced by humans. Even if those Demons cultivators changed their appearance and shape, they are still unable to practice it. Therefore, to obtain superior-grade concocted pills, they would have to rely on us—human cultivators—to concoct it. The sovereign of the Rainbow Stonefield Water State—Ji Jiushang—always craved to achieve extraordinary things, and this act is not strange either.”

Zhou Chongju seemed to think about something when he finished explain, and then spoke, “I’ve pa.s.sed onto you the ‘Inner Opening Arts’. This must not be spread out by any means. If those Demon cultivators knew about this method, everything will be turned upside down.”

“Senior Brother, you can be at ease, I still have discretion within me.” Then Zhang Yan’s eyes flashed as he then continued, “But I think, we shouldn’t let Vice Master Dou easily escape from this.”

Zhou Chongju only let out an “Oh” voice as he looked at Zhang Yan and said, “Junior Brother, do you have some plan in mind?”

Zhang Yan smiled and said, “Before we depart and go to our destination, it would be a pity if Vice Master Dou’s alchemy’s technique becomes wasted. Thus, he would report to the Sect Master, that he is willing to become my a.s.sistant and go along with me.”

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