A Forceful Suppression; The Curtain Rises! (Continued)

Chen Fan would never believe that Kong Dunling had come to recruit workers.

It was obvious that he had been sent by the Kong family to assess the situation.

After all, the Kong family had always placed the greatest importance on educating the people.

Getting the Demon Race to accept the rules of the human race—that was education.

"Brother Chen, you flatter me. Dunling is but a small hill. It seems the Kong family has high hopes for Brother Kong!"

Bai Qianli clasped his hands and spoke with effortless grace.

Chen Fan's eyes lit up at this. He thought even more highly of Kong Dunling.

The Kong family really was the Kong family—what a grand gesture!

His school was saved!

Chen Fan couldn't take those unruly kids anymore.

"'The river and sky merge beneath the evening clouds; a thousand miles away, old friends stir my thoughts.' Brother Bai, you have a fine name, too.

"'The waters nourish all things.' Brother Bai, is your surname Bai, your given name Ze, and your courtesy name Qianli?

"By the way, though I've studied literature, I know a thing or two about martial arts!"

Kong Dunling narrowed his eyes and gave Bai Qianli a warning look as well.

The chief of the Ten Great Demon Marshals, the Demon Race's brilliant strategist—Bai Ze!

Kong Dunling couldn't help sighing when he realized Bai Ze had arrived even earlier than he had.

A Sage was, after all, a Sage!

Even in decline, the Demon Race remained standing so long as it had a Sage supporting it.

Though the human race was the protagonist of Heaven and Earth, and the Three Sovereigns held status comparable to Sages,

the human race could still only be a puppet manipulated by the various factions.

The Great Human Sage had emerged, yet the person sent by Huoyun Cave had arrived even later than the Demon Race.

"Holy crap, Brother Kong, you can't throw that name around! It carries a huge karmic burden!"

If they hadn't just met, Chen Fan would have wanted to cover Kong Dunling's mouth.

How could he say that name so casually?!

This was the Primordial World. A being like Bai Ze could sense it with a mere thought.

Chen Fan had never seen Bai Qianli truly fight, and assumed he was that human powerhouse.

As for Zhang Tianshou having told him that Bai Qianli was terrifyingly strong,

Chen Fan hadn't taken it to heart. In mythological tales, the Seven Fairies weren't exactly known for their fighting prowess.

Bai Qianli: "..."

Kong Dunling: "..."

The two exchanged a glance, nodded at the same time, and laughed together.

"Hahaha, Brother Chen, you're worrying too much. Why would a being like that care about what we say?"

Kong Dunling smiled and gave Bai Qianli a look before continuing.

"Isn't that right, Brother Qianli?"

"Of course, Brother Dunling!"

Bai Qianli rolled his eyes, and Chen Fan finally caught on.

"You two know each other?"

"Not personally, but we've admired each other for a long time!"

Bai Qianli produced a folding fan from nowhere, admiration showing in his eyes.

The human race really was blessed by nature!

Kong Qiu had been born only a short time ago, yet had already entered the Quasi-Sage realm.

And he had already made considerable progress within that realm.

"I wouldn't dare. This junior grew up hearing the senior's name!"

Kong Dunling bowed to Bai Qianli with the respect due to an elder.

Chen Fan nodded, not finding it strange.

Kong Dunling was a successor groomed by the Kong family, while Bai Qianli was an elder of the human race.

It made perfect sense for a junior to know an elder's reputation, and for an elder to have heard of an exceptional junior.

"Hah, it's just a name. My abode is Huoyun Cave!"

Red Boy saw how Chen Fan treated Bai Ze's name like a deadly taboo and immediately felt contempt.

How could someone like this deserve to have his teacher work for him?

"Huoyun Cave? You're Red Boy!"

Chen Fan froze, then leaped in front of Bai Qianli to shield him and issued a warning.

"Brother Bai, be careful! This kid is no ordinary child.

"Hold him off for a bit, Brother Bai. I'll go get Nezha to subdue him!"

Bai Qianli turned to look at Chen Fan, his expression aggrieved.

Thanks a lot!

Seeing Chen Fan's fearful expression, Red Boy planted his hands on his hips, looking cocky as could be.

But he failed to notice the pair of imposing eyes slowly descending above his head.

"Huoyun Cave?"

"That's right!"

"Good. Today, your teacher will teach you what it means to respect your teacher and honor your superiors!"

A huge hand came down and grabbed Red Boy by the scruff of his neck.

In the next moment, Red Boy was pinned across Kong Dunling's lap, and a Disciplinary Ruler appeared in his hand.

Smack!

"Ow! That hurts... You old geezer, I'll—"

Smack!

"You surnamed Kong, you dare hit me—ow!"

Smack, smack, smack!

"Teacher, I was wrong! I know I was wrong!"

"Do you know what you did wrong?"

Watching the utterly ruthless Kong Dunling, Chen Fan stepped out from behind Bai Qianli.

Great! If he could even subdue Red Boy, he'd definitely be able to handle the unruly kids in the village!

He might as well send that Nezha fellow to study there, too.

"Achoo! Who's talking about me? Could Li Jing have noticed I'm missing?"

Outside Zhao Family Village, several earthen kilns had appeared out of nowhere.

Nezha lounged comfortably in a reclining chair, maintaining the Serpent Fang Purple Flame above the kilns.

He shook his head, stretched, and called out,

"Dazhuang, go get me another plate of snacks. Remember, I want them made with the pot from Chen Fan's house!"

In Chang'an City, a fisherman stood awkwardly before a fortune-teller's stall, rubbing his hands.

"Mr. Yuan, are you sure I'll catch a thousand-catty fish at the lower reaches of the Jing River, three li away, at the third quarter of the hour of the goat today?

"And that there'll be a golden carp, too?"

"Of course. If there isn't, you can smash up my stall!

"But remember, that golden carp is mine!"

Behind the fortune-teller's stall sat a lean-faced, yet spirited, middle-aged Daoist.

The fisherman was overjoyed and hurriedly bowed to the fortune-teller again and again.

"Got it, got it! Just wait for my good news, Mr. Yuan!"

Yuan Shouchang watched the fisherman walk away, threads of light and shadow flickering in his eyes.

Soon, the light and shadow faded. Yuan Shouchang's face turned pale, and he murmured,

"The curtain has risen. Another wronged soul..."