"Have Zhao Zheng take a mission in another prefecture, then find a few people from the Flying Smoke Society to go with him. Remember, don't let him register his name at the Internal Affairs Hall." Fang Jiming slowly rose. "You all go take an assignment outside the sect, too."
He walked to the stone table, picked up his treasured sword, held it before his eyes, and slowly swept his gaze across it. At last, he slid it back into its sheath.
I've waited a whole year for this chance!
As long as Yu Xiu lived, the matter of his younger brother Fang Jibai using an evil art to break through would never be laid to rest.
Whenever someone saw Yu Xiu, they would remember that he was Fang Jibai's older brother, and the matter would keep being brought up.
That was also why he had stayed in the Inner Court all this time.
To enter the Main Sect, one needed achievements impressive enough to stand out.
In fact, he already had achievements impressive enough for that. But because of Fang Jibai, because Yu Xiu had exposed Fang Jibai's use of an evil art to break through, he had failed to advance to the Main Sect before.
So he had been waiting for an opportunity.
Fang Jibai was already dead.
Then how could Yu Xiu be allowed to live?
Once Yu Xiu was dead, the matter would fade with time. In the end, he could still advance to the Main Sect and rise another step.
As expected, not long after Yu Xiu returned to Bamboo Cottage,
Zhao Zheng appeared as well. "I heard Brother Yu was looking for me?"
Just as I thought. Seeing Zhao Zheng, Yu Xiu was already half certain that the man was connected to Fang Jiming.
Normally, after Yu Xiu asked where Zhao Zheng lived, Zhao Zheng could certainly come by—but not this quickly, even if the Flying Smoke Society truly did want to recruit him.
"Recently, Zhao Hong, Xu Rou, and the others who joined the sect with me have often talked about taking missions, going out to subdue demons, and earning contribution points. It's made me keen to go out and subdue demons as well. I was wondering if Senior Brother Zhao would be willing to take me along." Yu Xiu seemed hesitant, but in the end, he said it.
Zhao Zheng smiled. "A genius like Brother Yu is sure to enter the Four Great Passes and advance to the Main Sect one day. I'd be glad to lend you a hand. I only hope that once you enter the Main Sect, you won't forget to give me a hand in return."
"Thank you, Senior Brother Zhao." Yu Xiu was overjoyed. "When can we go out to subdue demons?"
Zhao Zheng said, "As it happens, I've just taken on a decent mission: slay a Shadow Demon at the Qi Sea realm. The journey is a bit far, so we'll need to use a sect Flying Boat.
"But don't worry, Brother Yu. I can lend you the contribution points needed to use the sect's Flying Boat."
Yu Xiu pressed him for details. "Which mission is it? When are we leaving? I'll go register it at the Internal Affairs Hall."
Only after registering a mission could one turn it in and receive contribution points.
Zhao Zheng waved a hand. "No need to bother. Once it's done, I'll transfer the contribution points directly to you. Time is tight, and several senior brothers are already ready. They're just waiting for you to come along before we set off on the Flying Boat. A senior brother at the Life Spring realm is leading us, so everything should go smoothly.
"Just hurry up and gather whatever you need."
He doesn't even want me to register at the Internal Affairs Hall. He's in a hurry to take my life!
Yu Xiu understood, but quickly said, "How can I keep the senior brothers waiting? I don't need to prepare anything. I'm ready to leave at any time."
He turned, took his longsword, and closed the door behind him.
A conflicted look appeared on Zhao Zheng's face. In the end, he sighed inwardly. I'm sorry, Junior Brother Yu. Fang Jiming is offering too much!
After this, Yu Xiu would likely never have the chance to return to the sect.
Before long, the two of them arrived at the Flying Boat station atop the Inner Court's mountain. The sect rented out and sold Flying Boats there. As long as you had enough contribution points and money, the Flying Boats could take you anywhere in the world at great speed.
However, the Inner Court's Flying Boats were all small ones, each able to carry only seven people.
The boats were operated by ferrymen from the sect. They only ferried people and took care of nothing else; once they had dropped off their passengers, they left.
The Flying Boat looked like a small ship, with a low cabin on top where passengers could rest. Calling it a cabin was generous, though—it was tiny, about the size of a pavilion.
At that moment, three other people were already aboard. Zhao Zheng introduced them.
There were two women and one man. The man was short but fairly handsome. His name was Qin Shu, the senior brother at the Life Spring realm Zhao Zheng had mentioned.
Yu Xiu could tell that Qin Shu was at the second level of the Life Spring realm, making him the strongest person there besides Yu Xiu himself.
One of the two young female disciples was slightly plump and plain-looking, but her eyes and brows seemed to hold a constant kindness. Her name was Zhang Yun.
The other female disciple was tall and thin, with a gaunt face that made her look rather sharp-tongued. Her name was Ruan Fei.
Yu Xiu himself used his Sword Heart, Hidden Edge, to conceal his strength at the first level of the Qi Sea realm.
"This is your first time going out to subdue demons, Brother Yu. Just stick with us, and there's no need to be nervous," Qin Shu, the senior brother at the Life Spring realm, said amiably.
"Brother Yu has incredible talent. He reached the Qi Sea realm and entered the Inner Court in just three years, leaving us all far behind. You're sure to become an important figure in the Main Sect one day. When that happens, don't forget us poor relations," Ruan Fei joked. Her tall, gaunt appearance and sharp features made her seem rather severe, but her teasing eased some of the awkwardness.
Zhang Yun, the slightly plump one, was moving her mouth a little, evidently savoring something. She just smiled at Yu Xiu without saying a word.
"Thank you for the advice, Senior Brothers Qin and Zhao, and Senior Sisters Zhang and Ruan. I'll remember," Yu Xiu replied with a slight smile, thanking each of them in turn.
The others took note of Yu Xiu's manner. They exchanged glances without drawing attention to it, then quickly looked away.
He's talented and knows his place. Too bad Fang Jiming wants him dead! Qin Shu sighed to himself, then soon grew eager again. Fang Jiming promised me a Gan-Gold Herb after Yu Xiu was killed. Once I get it, my Gold Entanglement Sword will be close to perfect—if not completely perfected.
He's so handsome, and so talented, too. How did he end up offending Senior Brother Fang? Zhang Yun shook her head to herself and went back to eating the snacks she had hidden in her sleeve.
He reached the Qi Sea realm in three years. Perhaps he really could make a name for himself in the Main Sect one day—but he's about to die. Ruan Fei thought silently, her gaunt face betraying nothing.
Zhao Zheng picked up the conversation. "The mission we've taken is in Guiping County, Donghe Prefecture, which borders our Wuyang Prefecture. According to the sect's mission notice, a Shadow Demon at around the sixth or seventh level of the Qi Sea realm has appeared there. It shows up from time to time to feed on people's yang energy. With Senior Brother Qin here, this Shadow Demon is nothing to worry about."
Yu Xiu asked curiously, "Was this Shadow Demon created when a cultivator failed to break through, or did it arise naturally?"
Zhao Zheng smiled. "There's something you may not know, Brother Yu. Whether a Shadow Demon is born when a cultivator fails to break through or arises naturally from heaven and earth makes no difference to the sect.
"The sect only cares about the result. If there's a Shadow Demon, we kill it. No one cares about the details; they only look at its strength."
That was true.
The Qingwei Sword Sect stood at the center of Yan Province, and all eight prefectures of Yan Province fell under its protection and rule.
Each of the eight prefectures had a Qingwei Sword Sect master serving as prefect. The forces guarding them were all disciples of the Qingwei Sword Sect. The prefectures' cities and counties were likewise controlled by members of the sect.
It could be said that the Qingwei Sword Sect was the emperor of Yan Province. Naturally, it would never tolerate demons and monsters running rampant.
Yu Xiu nodded to show that he understood, but in truth, he was thinking, Should I kill Zhao Zheng and Qin Shu, too?
Or should I just kill them all?
If they really had conspired with Fang Jiming against him, then they deserved to die!
Before you continue