The Demon Sect Master Wasn't as Professional as You

After returning empty-handed from the Weird Game, Tan Shuchang had been full of resentment. Even his daily diary entries had become: "Qiu Junlin has yet to repay his debt, interest plus one," and "Qiu Junlin still hasn't repaid his debt, interest plus two." Fortunately, that resentment could finally be eased somewhat today.

Because his injuries had finally healed.

In less than a month, injuries that had damaged his very foundation had completely healed. Aside from the rare, miraculously effective herbs Tan Shuchang had used, his body's special abilities had also contributed greatly.

Otherwise, had it been any other cultivator, even with the same medicine, they could forget about recovering within three to five years.

After all, their foundations had been damaged.

But very quickly, Tan Shuchang's mood soured again.

"What are you three doing here?" The moment the three princes of the Zixuan Dynasty set foot on Blackheart Mountain, Tan Shuchang sensed them. He immediately descended the mountain with an unfriendly look in his eyes.

Letting these three things climb the mountain was bound to bring bad luck.

"Tan Shuchang! You see us and yet do not perform a grand bow? Are you planning rebellion?" The three princes wore brocade robes and fine garments. Though they were dressed lightly, they had quite a few attendants around them. Hearing Tan Shuchang's words, so devoid of reverence, the youngest, the Fourth Prince, immediately snapped in anger.

Of the four princes, the fourteen-year-old Fourth Prince was the least calculating. Since he and the Second Prince shared the same mother, he had given up any thoughts of the throne from the time he could remember. To prevent brothers from turning on one another, his mother had deliberately nurtured this temperament in him, so that he could someday become an idle feudal prince.

"Can you represent the imperial court? Then does that mean you wish to seize the positions of your eldest brother and your father?" Tan Shuchang's expression did not change in the slightest. He said it gently.

"Tan Shuchang, shut your mouth!" The Fourth Prince was instantly terrified. Even the Crown Prince, the heir apparent, was so fearful whenever that position was involved—let alone him, the Fourth Prince.

Compared with the Fourth Prince, however, the Second and Third Princes were much calmer. The Second Prince waved a hand and smiled. "All right, all right. Fourth Brother was only joking. Brother Tan, it has been many years since we last met. My two brothers and I wish to host a banquet. Would Brother Tan honor us with your presence?"

"No." Tan was exceedingly firm. He would never touch anything inauspicious.

Having been choked off by Tan Shuchang like that, the Second Prince could not quite save face. Fortunately, the Third Prince spoke at that moment. "Brother Tan has changed tremendously. Back then, you were gentle and refined, courteous and graceful. A single splendid essay from you could make countless young ladies from noble families fall for you."

"They fell for my status at the time, didn't they?" Tan Shuchang possessed considerable self-awareness.

He had talent for writing my ass.

Oh, he had a little literary talent, more or less, but it was basically at the level of copying fine phrases and sentences for his own use. If he wanted to write prose that was lively and spirited, he might have a chance after studying for another sixty years.

And although Tan Shuchang had merely been an illegitimate son of the Tan family back then, without even a servant or maid he could order around in the family, his status was still unattainably lofty in the eyes of those noble young ladies.

"Brother Tan's current status is not bad either!" By then, the Second Prince had recovered.

The three of them had not come to cause trouble. They had come to invite this Tan fellow to take up his post. Their father's offhanded "Lord Tan" had become known to them afterward.

Therefore, only once this Tan fellow took office could they count this assignment, which they had actively asked for, as successfully completed.

"What do you mean by that?" Tan Shuchang revealed a strange look. His attitude could hardly be called good, yet these three instead seemed inclined to indulge him.

"Brother Tan, we have an imperial decree from Father Emperor here. I wonder whether you are willing to accept it?" the Second Prince asked with a smile. For ordinary people, an imperial decree would simply be delivered and read aloud at their door. But when dealing with a cultivator, one had to first see whether they were willing to accept it.

If they were unwilling, there was no way to pressure them with the charge of defying an imperial decree.

After all, of the twenty-five prefectures in the Jia Five Realm, the Zixuan Dynasty governed only seventeen. The remaining eight were outside the imperial court's jurisdiction. Although those eight prefectures contained no other dynastic powers, more than half of the Jia Five Realm's powerful immortal sects were there!

Cultivators wanted by the imperial court only needed to flee into those eight prefectures, and the court would be completely helpless against them.

Thus, those who could be captured by Heavenly Wonder Pavilion either had abysmal luck, were not very bright, or had no backing or connections. Rogue Cultivators, for example.

Or mountain-and-sea beasts that had gained intelligence, yet might as well not have—beasts with brains full of love juice.

Especially the latter. They were Heavenly Wonder Pavilion's favorite prey.

Because there was never any lack of buyers.

"What do you mean, willing or unwilling? When an imperial decree arrives, how can one refuse to accept it?" Tan Shuchang said without hesitation, because he was currently that Rogue Cultivator with no backing or connections.

"I will not read the decree aloud. After Brother Tan has looked it over, please take up your post as soon as possible."

"Take up my post?" Tan Shuchang accepted the imperial decree and opened it. His gaze immediately turned peculiar, and he could not help looking at the three princes.

"The Emperor trusts me that much? He isn't afraid I'll avenge my father?" he asked in surprise. The decree had actually granted him the position of Sword Path Supervising General.

This position belonged to the Heavenly Wonder Pavilion system and was of the third tier.

The first tier was the Pavilion Lord of Heavenly Wonder Pavilion.

The second tier consisted of the three Deputy Pavilion Lords.

The third tier consisted of the Seven Spirit Officials and Seven Path Generals. Spirit Officials and Path Generals were of equal rank, both Principal Third Rank officials of the Zixuan Dynasty.

"This position was drafted by Eldest Brother. And besides... Brother Tan, please do not joke," said the Third Prince. As he spoke, he deliberately glanced toward Blackheart Mountain.

Clearly, he was not looking at the mountain, but referring to Blackheart Elder.

Heaven, earth, ruler, parents, teacher. In this cultivation world, a master's standing could sometimes be even higher than that of one's birth father. After all, if one's birth father was merely a mortal, all he could give was a body of flesh and blood. But an immortal master who led one onto the path of cultivation gave them a splendid future!

And this situation happened to somewhat fit Tan Shuchang's circumstances.

Tan Shuchang immediately understood the Third Prince's meaning and fell silent. After thinking it over, he decided to salvage his reputation a little. "I had no choice..."

"Though we do not know Brother Tan's difficulties, we can understand them," the Second Prince immediately said. But anyone could hear that he was merely brushing it off.

Tan Shuchang's mouth twitched. He simply gave up trying to save himself. Cursing inwardly, his expression unchanged and his tone still gentle, he said, "After all, deceiving one's master and destroying one's ancestors is a tradition passed down by our Holy Sect. As a disciple of the Holy Sect, it is my unshirkable duty to shoulder this tradition."

Second Prince: "..."

Third Prince: "..."

Fourth Prince: "..."

Why don't you listen to what you're saying? Even that Demon Sect Master back then wasn't as professional as you!

Meanwhile, in Clear River City, an elderly man with a kind face and benevolent eyes had followed the trail here after discovering the whereabouts of the three Zixuan Dynasty princes. Upon sensing the conversation over there, he involuntarily sprayed out all the tea he had just drunk.

His action startled the tea house waiter, who hurriedly moved to attend him. Though the old man looked kind and spoke pleasantly, his bearing carried an indescribable majesty that exerted immense pressure on others.

Thus, in the waiter's eyes, this old man was undoubtedly an important figure.

Even if he was not, he was surely one of the older generation in the cultivation world.

However, halfway over, the waiter was stopped by a wave of the old man's hand.

"My mistake has nothing to do with you. There is no need to mind it."

The old man spoke.

Then he set down the teacup and the silver for the bill, and walked outside.

"Originally, I had wanted to follow the Tan family's example from back then—to support a young dragon who had almost no chance of seizing the throne, and help him grow into a true dragon. But now, perhaps passing down the Black Shadow Immortal-Saving Manual would give greater meaning to my feigned death and escape back then..." The old man had developed the desire to take a disciple.

Of course, more accurately speaking, he did not intend to take a disciple, but to pass down the Black Shadow Immortal-Saving Manual.

After all, in the old man's eyes, someone considered killing his master a tradition.

He was not afraid, but his heart could not help feeling a little furry...