I Bear a Grudge!

"Senior Brother..."

Zhao Gongming had started to speak several times, only to stop. He felt terribly ashamed. If not for him, how could Senior Brother Lin have been punished?

By rights, with Senior Brother Lin's talent and strength, he should never have been punished like this.

It was all because Zhao Gongming had dragged him down that things had come to this.

He felt deeply ashamed.

His heart was full of guilt. He wanted to say something, but didn't know where to begin. Besides, all the benefits of entering the Rear Hall, where merit was sure to be gained, had gone to him.

His cultivation had improved...

He had obtained a top-tier cultivation technique...

Meanwhile, Senior Brother Lin had not only been ostracized by those jealous fellows, but was now suffering this humiliating punishment.

Zhao Gongming's gratitude toward Lin Chuan had grown beyond measure. Even the look in his eyes as he gazed at Lin Chuan had become more and more resolute.

Before, it had been simple admiration.

Now, it had gone beyond mere admiration.

Just then,

Lin Chuan's tightly shut eyes suddenly opened.

He hadn't cared much about whether he had to guard the gate. When he'd first led Zhao Gongming into Jade Purity Palace, what he'd really wanted was to get expelled.

That was why he'd made the decision on his own!

But...

After hearing Daoist Duobao's words, his experience from living two lifetimes helped him immediately piece together what was going on.

Someone had definitely been pulling strings behind the scenes.

He might not have been punished or expelled in the first place.

Either outcome would have been just fine with him.

And yet...

Now, for some inexplicable reason, he'd been punished by being sent to guard the gate. No matter how little he cared, it was obvious someone was trying to mess with him.

That was enough to piss anyone off!

[It'd be one thing if Tongtian This Old Scoundrel wanted to mess with me, but who the hell do you think you are? You've really got some nerve!]

[I'll show you what I can do. Do you really think I'm some toothless tiger?]

Lin Chuan was furious.

If he couldn't do anything about Sect Master Tongtian, then that was understandable. If the man had it in for him, Lin Chuan could only chalk it up to bad luck.

Even now, he still believed that Sect Master Tongtian had been keeping an eye on him all along.

Every now and then, the man would cause him a little trouble.

But Sect Master Tongtian was immensely powerful, so there was no point in arguing with him. Besides, he wasn't deliberately trying to harm Lin Chuan.

Though Lin Chuan didn't know what Sect Master Tongtian was after,

the man's intentions weren't truly malicious. But those so-called jealous people had gone too far, thinking they could walk all over him.

This was too much to tolerate!

A smile appeared at the corner of Sect Master Tongtian's mouth.

He could already sense the anger in Lin Chuan's heart.

Before, Lin Chuan had been so indifferent to everything that he only wanted to get expelled. If he'd stayed that way, Sect Master Tongtian admitted he really wouldn't have known what to do.

After all, who could make a carefree, lazy fish get back on its feet?

But now, there was an emotional reaction...

That was a good start!

"Mm~"

"This is a good start. You think you're capable, kid? Then let's see you show it. You'd never bring out your true abilities unless someone pushed you."

"Besides, you really do need a good punishment!"

"Otherwise, you'll get completely out of hand."

Lin Chuan's sudden awakening left Zhao Gongming a little flustered. He thought he could see a faint glimmer in Senior Brother Lin's eyes.

It made his heart tremble!

"Se-Senior Brother Lin..."

"Junior Brother Zhao, I need you to do me a favor..."

"Just say the word, Senior Brother. If there's anything I can help with, I won't refuse!"

Though he didn't know what the favor was, Zhao Gongming wouldn't turn him down. If there was anything he could do, he would do it without hesitation.

Lin Chuan said expressionlessly, "I want to know who's been talking about me!"

"Mm~ Write down the names of everyone involved. That shouldn't be hard, right?"

Zhao Gongming froze on the spot.

Hard? It was easy—ridiculously easy. Getting that kind of information would take no effort at all.

After all, it had become such a hot topic.

Anyone who wanted to ask around could find out without much trouble.

He'd only frozen because he didn't know what Senior Brother Lin intended to do.

But he quickly came around and hurriedly nodded. "No problem! Leave it to me!"

"I'll make sure it's taken care of!"

"Go on..."

"I trust you."

Lin Chuan's voice drifted over.

After receiving his orders, Zhao Gongming's expression turned serious. He thought this was the perfect chance to be of help.

Senior Brother Lin had treated him well.

He absolutely couldn't let Senior Brother Lin down.

So he left without hesitation. He hadn't been paying attention to what was happening outside, and he'd been staying in Jade Purity Palace the whole time.

But that didn't mean he had no way of finding out what was going on beyond its walls.

That was why he'd agreed so resolutely.

After Zhao Gongming had left,

Lin Chuan slowly rose to his feet and headed outside. Since Sect Master Tongtian had given the order, he couldn't very well disobey it.

He could have disobeyed outright and maybe gotten himself expelled.

But...

There was something else he needed to do first.

He...

Was going to make trouble for those people. He might not go looking for trouble, but that didn't mean he was afraid of it. The fact that someone had picked a fight with him for no reason left him thoroughly annoyed.

If you don't mess with me, I won't mess with you!

Since someone was already trying to walk all over him, he didn't mind dealing with those guys.

Besides...

What was the point of cultivating if he couldn't even feel at ease?

Whether or not he was going to leave, he might as well settle his nerves first—especially when it came to those busybodies who had nothing better to do than provoke him.

"I bear a grudge."

"Things were fine when we left each other alone. But since you lot want to pick a fight, don't blame me for showing no mercy."

Lin Chuan had abandoned his usual lazy attitude. He really did want to be expelled from the Interception Sect.

But all he'd wanted was to leave this nest of trouble. Still, no matter what, if something upset him, he had to make himself feel better. Otherwise, he'd be doing himself a disservice.

So,

those people had to be punished.

If it came down to it, he'd flip the table.

And perhaps, by some twist of fate, he'd get expelled in the process.

It wasn't impossible.