After Zhao Hong and the others left, Yu Xiu rolled a name around in his mouth.
Du Xin!
A member of the Zhiyan Society.
Besides that, he had also learned something from Zhao Hong and the others.
The three famous figures whose names had been ringing in his ears since his days in the Outer Court—Zhu Wenjiu, Feng Zhiyuan, and Zhang Yundu—had already completed the accumulation of achievements required for promotion to the Main Sect. They would likely be heading there within the next couple of days.
The three were renowned. They had reached the Flawless and Qi Circulation stages in a year, earning entry into the Inner Court.
The following year, they reached the third Ascending Dragon stage, the Qi Sea.
The year after that, they reached the fourth Ascending Dragon stage, the Life Spring. Now they had even entered the first of the Four Great Passes and completed the accumulation of achievements required for promotion to the Main Sect.
Their names had already resounded throughout both the Inner and Outer Courts, and now their fame had grown even greater. Yu Xiu simply hadn't paid attention to what was happening outside; otherwise, he would certainly have heard people talking about Zhu Wenjiu and the others.
Zhu Wenjiu, Feng Zhiyuan, Zhang Yundu! Yu Xiu thought it over. He didn't recall ever crossing paths with them, so he didn't dwell on it.
As for the claim that these three had astonishing potential and cultivated at incredible speed?
To Yu Xiu, they were nothing special.
The third and fourth Ascending Dragon stages—the Qi Sea and Life Spring—had taken them two years to cultivate. He had completed both in less than two months, beating them by a year and ten months.
From then on, the gap between Zhu Wenjiu and the others and Yu Xiu would only grow wider.
Paying no mind to the three celebrated figures, Yu Xiu immediately made a trip to the Law Enforcement Hall.
Meanwhile.
Zhao Hong and the others made another trip around the Internal Affairs Hall, but couldn't find a suitable assignment. Even the low-risk tasks had already been taken.
With no other choice, they returned to Bamboo Cottage, where Du Xin seemed to have been waiting for them for some time.
"Junior Brother Zhao." Du Xin smiled amiably. "I heard that the four of you are thinking of joining the society?"
He stepped forward of his own accord. "After making the rounds, have you felt the sincerity of our Zhiyan Society?"
"All four of you are talented enough to enter the Inner Court in just three years. In the future, you're sure to rise to the Main Sect like Senior Brother Zhu Wenjiu and the others."
"But before that, you'll have to experience how difficult cultivation in the Inner Court is!"
"The Qi Sea and Life Spring are nothing like the first two Ascending Dragon stages, Flawless and Qi Circulation. Everyone needs contribution points, everyone needs resources to cultivate, and we old disciples are short on contribution points too!"
He sighed. "When we take you out to hunt down demons, the brothers in our society mean well. We do take a share of the contribution points, but you four should understand!"
Shan Yu was a big man with a blunt streak. He usually spoke little, but now he couldn't help saying, "If taking us on missions means you need to take a share of our contribution points, why didn't you say so from the beginning? Why go back on your word halfway through, after we've spent all those contribution points, and then come asking for more?"
"I think you just wanted to trick the four of us into joining the Zhiyan Society!"
By the end, Shan Yu was no longer holding back.
He couldn't stand being saddled with a debt out of nowhere.
"You..." Du Xin flushed with anger at Shan Yu's accusation. But he couldn't bring up Fang Jiming's affair, so he stopped restraining himself and pointed at Shan Yu, scolding, "You don't know what's good for you. One day, you'll regret it."
There was no denying that Shan Yu and the others had potential, but potential wasn't the same as strength. Besides, their potential wasn't great enough to make him overly wary.
If they had been figures like Zhu Wenjiu, Feng Zhiyuan, and Zhang Yundu, he would have had no choice but to swallow his anger.
But they weren't!
And then there was Yu Xiu. Who knew what kind of dog luck he'd had to escape Fang Jiming? Not only that, but Fang Jiming and the others had all died in Guiping County, Donghe Prefecture!
As a result, Du Xin still hadn't received the benefits he'd been promised, and now he even had to worry about the affair leaking and dragging him down with it!
Damn it! he cursed inwardly. Seeing that Shan Yu and Liu Qingchuan were still glaring at him, he sneered. "What, you two punks, barely at the first level of the Qi Sea and still wet behind the ears, think you can take me on?"
Picking a fight with Du Xin now would be foolish. Once our realms surpass his, we can settle the score. Zhao Hong hurriedly sent a transmission, trying to rein in Shan Yu and Liu Qingchuan, who were on the verge of losing control.
"Hmph. I knew you didn't have the guts." Du Xin snorted, his gaze turning cold.
Just then, two streams of Sword Qi shot in from the left and right, piercing straight through Du Xin's knees and making his legs buckle. He dropped to the ground.
Sweat beaded on his forehead. He snapped, "You dare attack someone in the Inner Court? Aren't you afraid of a trip to the Law Enforcement Hall?"
Before he had finished speaking, two figures came strolling side by side. Before they even reached him, the dark-red robes of the Law Enforcement Hall had already appeared in Du Xin's sight.
Law Enforcement disciples!
I'm finished!
Cold sweat poured down Du Xin's forehead.
Then the two Law Enforcement disciples spoke coldly. "Du Xin, your deeds have come to light."
As soon as the words fell, one of them didn't give Du Xin a chance to speak. He sealed his mouth and dragged him away like a dead dog.
The other Law Enforcement disciple looked at Zhao Hong and the others. "The four of you haven't committed any offense, but you were a little greedy. If not for Senior Brother Yu's heaven-defying talent, you'd have had to take a trip to the Law Enforcement Hall, even if you hadn't known what was going on."
"What's going on?" Zhao Hong and the others were baffled.
What had Du Xin done?
And who was Senior Brother Yu?
Why would they have had to go to the Law Enforcement Hall?
Questions tangled into a mess in their minds, but they knew too little to make sense of anything.
Still, they were shaken!
"Even Law Enforcement disciples shouldn't slander us without cause..." Liu Qingchuan still sounded indignant.
But before he could finish, Zhao Hong clapped a hand over his mouth. "Watch your words!"
Those were Senior Brother Law Enforcement disciples, people from Dragon-Slaying Peak!
They upheld the sect's laws and were the sword hanging over the heads of every Qingwei Sword Sect disciple!
If the sword cultivators of the Qingwei Sword Sect were like swords, their sharp edges gleaming as they cut through steel with unyielding resolve, then the people of Dragon-Slaying Peak were the sovereigns among swords, their sword intent towering to the heavens. Even elders who broke the rules could have their heads cut off by Dragon-Slaying Peak!
"Just because they're from Dragon-Slaying Peak, they can do whatever they want?" Liu Qingchuan muttered. His voice was quieter now, but he was still unconvinced.
"Of course the people of Dragon-Slaying Peak can't do whatever they want. But that's the sect's most extraordinary peak. They say it's under the charge of the Supreme Elder. Even if a disciple from Tianque Peak, where the Sect Master resides, breaks the law, Dragon-Slaying Peak will still take them in. What makes you think we'd be any different?"
Zhao Hong sighed, his expression shifting several times. "Besides, I think the Law Enforcement Hall may not have falsely accused the four of us!"
"What do you mean?" Shan Yu furrowed his brow.
"You remember how Fang Jibai used an evil technique to break through. Then what about Fang Jibai's older brother, Fang Jiming?"
"Du Xin broke the rules, took us on missions several times, and even hinted that we should bring Yu Xiu along..."
At that, Zhao Hong gave a bitter smile. "If that Senior Brother Yu is Yu Xiu, then doesn't everything fit together?"
At his words, Shan Yu and Liu Qingchuan—and even Xu Rou, who had been silent all along—suddenly widened their eyes.
"Yu Xiu?!"
"Yu Xiu, the one who entered the Inner Court alongside us?!"
"Maybe... we've all underestimated him!" Zhao Hong murmured.
Before you continue