Bowed Down to the Old Guard (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

"Back..."

Gazing at the mountain gate of the Three One Sect, Zuo Ruotong looked dazed.

He clearly remembered that just a few dozen seconds ago, he should have been in a ruined temple.

"Is this the divine power of an immortal?"

Recalling how Indra had slaughtered the entire Japanese unit, Zuo Ruotong found himself accepting it once more.

The sight of the earth reduced to scorched wasteland, as though the ground had split and mountains had collapsed, remained vividly etched in his mind whenever he recalled it.

Zuo Ruotong looked toward the Three One Sect with complicated emotions, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

Ever since descending the mountain, he had wanted to be like the Three One Sect's predecessors of old and never return.

He had never expected that one day, he would be able to come back here.

"Master, we're home."

Indra stepped forward and knocked on the gate.

Hearing his voice, Zuo Ruotong emerged from his memories. He let out a soft sigh and said sentimentally, "Yes, we're home."

Before long, a disciple of the Three One Sect opened the gate and came out.

Seeing an old man and a youth standing outside, he looked puzzled. "Are there new junior brothers this month?"

"You're Yunze, right? It's been three years since we last met."

Looking at the much-grown Zhang Yunze before him, Zuo Ruotong immediately called out his name.

Zhang Yunze and Zhang Yunsheng were the two brothers whose identities had been replaced by Wugen Sheng and Li Muxuan back then.

It seemed that after he left, the two brothers had still joined the Three One Sect.

When he heard Zuo Ruotong call his name with such familiarity, Zhang Yunze was completely baffled.

He didn't remember ever meeting this old man!

"Yunze, you should be calling me Senior Brother."

Indra patted Zhang Yunze on the shoulder, putting on the airs of an elder.

Come on, man, you look several years younger than me, you—

Just as Zhang Yunze was about to argue, he noticed that Indra was looking him straight in the eye.

Looking closer, he saw white qi clouds swirling around Indra's body. Clad entirely in white, he hovered in the air like an immortal.

"Ah?!"

"R-Reverse Birth Triple Layer?"

Zhang Yunze's eyes widened at once as he recalled the texts taught within the sect.

Reverse Birth Triple Layer allowed one to ascend and become an immortal. What he saw before him was exactly as the books had described.

Though everyone now said that Reverse Birth Triple Layer could not lead to immortality, rumors were only rumors. Since he had entered the sect, he naturally harbored some hopes of his own.

Now that he had seen it with his own eyes, Zhang Yunze's legs went limp, and he dropped to his knees before Indra, this senior veteran.

Before his knees could touch the ground, Indra raised a finger slightly. Two clouds of qi rose up and held Zhang Yunze aloft.

Indra looked at Zuo Ruotong beside him. "I'm only your senior brother. You shouldn't kneel to me. If you really must kneel, then kneel to my master."

Following Indra's gaze, Zhang Yunze looked over and saw Zuo Ruotong's old face turn red.

After returning to youth, Indra's temperament had become no different from that of a child!

Noticing Zuo Ruotong's look, Indra reined in his display and landed steadily on the ground. "I merely wanted to save us some trouble."

With that, Indra pointed at Zhang Yunze, who was now revering the two of them as gods.

Zhang Yunze flashed an eager smile and led them into the mountain gate.

Although the Three One Sect had abandoned its status as a mystical sect, it was still a first-rate school.

Even if Reverse Birth Triple Layer could not make one an immortal, it could still make one peerless under heaven. Thus, as they entered the main courtyard, they could still see many disciples training in the martial arts grounds.

When the three entered the main hall, they saw Si Chong, the acting sect leader.

He was receiving a wealthy merchant with Cheng Zhen, and they appeared to be discussing something important.

Zhang Yunze's arrival interrupted their conversation.

"Master, two seniors have returned from their travels!"

"Two seniors?"

When Si Chong and Cheng Zhen turned to look, they saw Indra and Zuo Ruotong.

"Martial Uncle. Senior Sister."

Indra greeted them each in turn.

They were stunned at first, then realized who they were.

Si Chong's eyes brimmed with tears as he looked in astonishment at Indra, who appeared seven or eight years younger, then at the aged Zuo Ruotong.

"Xiao Luo?"

"Senior Brother!!!"

Compared to Indra's transformation, Zuo Ruotong's appearance brought Si Chong even greater joy.

Si Chong had thought that after their last parting, he would never see his senior brother again.

He had never expected that one day, he would be reunited with Zuo Ruotong.

Cheng Zhen also stepped forward with tears in her eyes, but she quickly noticed something strange and cried out, "Master, your injuries have healed?!"

"That is all thanks to Luo'er."

Zuo Ruotong replied with a smile. He, too, was overjoyed to see his junior brother Si Chong and disciple Cheng Zhen again.

Once he spoke, the two finally noticed the changes in Indra.

They had both seen what Indra looked like as a child, so naturally, they remembered.

"Junior Brother, you snuck out and traveled with Master for three years. How did you end up getting younger and younger? Did you learn some technique for changing your face and form?"

Cheng Zhen teased with a smile, reaching out to pinch Indra's cheek.

When others disguised themselves, they changed into another face. Why had Indra's disguise turned him into his childhood self?

Just as Zuo Ruotong was about to offer a reminder, Indra's body suddenly shot upward, transforming into the appearance of an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old.

His black hair fell to his shoulders, and his handsome features were refined yet cold.

He wore the pure white robes of the Three One Sect over his upright frame, his otherworldly bearing making him seem like an immortal descended upon the world.

Cheng Zhen stared blankly at her junior brother.

Only three years had passed—how could he have changed so much?!

Indra, who had used the Monkey Talisman to transform into his grown-up form, regretfully clenched his fists.

At the same time as his transformation, his strength and speed had also risen to an adult level.

But the boost was minor—he was only as strong as an ordinary young man.

Coming back to his senses, Indra looked at the stunned Cheng Zhen and immediately teased, "What is it, Senior Sister? You don't recognize your junior brother anymore?"

"You've changed far too much."

Cheng Zhen let out a long breath and nodded seriously.

Meanwhile, the wealthy merchant who had been left standing to the side eagerly stepped forward.

"You must be the young hero Qiao and Master Zuo. A pleasure, a pleasure!"

"My surname is Zhao. I am merely a common man, so you may call me Boss Zhao."

"I never expected that this visit would allow me to meet the two of you!"

Boss Zhao was exceptionally excited, as though he had met idols he greatly admired.

And that was indeed the case. Over the past three years, Indra and Zuo Ruotong had traveled across the land and made their way north, wiping out countless Japanese soldiers, bandits, and mountain brigands.

After the Three One Sect lost its title as the Xuanmen, the two men's reputation abroad had also played a major role in allowing it to quickly become a first-rate sect.

Previously, Boss Zhao had been trying to find the two of them, but their whereabouts were unpredictable and difficult to trace.

Thus, he had settled for the next best thing and come to the Three One Sect, hoping to strike a deal.

He had not expected such an unexpected delight—he would actually get to meet these two on this trip.

"Boss Zhao?"

Indra raised an eyebrow as information about the man surfaced in his mind.

Boss Zhao was a wealthy tycoon of the Republican era. He should have gone to the Tang Sect, so why had he come to the Three One Sect?

Just as Indra was wondering about this, Si Chong said gravely, "Boss Zhao came to the Three One Sect because he wants us to lend a hand and support the Tang Sect."

After Si Chong finished, Boss Zhao began to explain the matter in detail.

Several months ago, he had put himself into the scheme and made a deal with the head of the Tang Sect, having them assassinate the leader of the Bihu Mountain Ninja Group.

From then on, he had repeatedly faced assassination attempts, and quite a few Tang Sect disciples had been killed or wounded protecting him.

Later, the Tang Sect had altered his appearance and secretly sent him away, preventing him from getting involved in the conflict between the Tang Sect and the Bihu Mountain Ninja Group.

But Boss Zhao could not ease his conscience, so he had ultimately sought out the Three One Sect.