I'd Give My Liver and Brains for Master!

Xiao Yu wore a proud expression.

He figured Zhang Ziling was already reluctant to let him die.

Just then, Xiao Yu suddenly saw two people walk in from outside.

When he saw the pretty boy standing behind Lü Ling'er, someone even more handsome than himself, he cursed inwardly: Beasts!!!

Zhang Ziling sat there as well, hurriedly smoothing her flushed Dao heart.

From time to time, she looked back at Xiao Yu, seemingly lost in thought.

After entering, Lü Ling'er clasped her fists and said, "Disciple greets Master!"

Ye Haotian also clasped his fists at the side. "Disciple Ye Haotian greets Elder Zhang!"

Xiao Yu sneered inwardly and hurriedly sent Zhang Ziling a voice transmission: Master... do you think Ye Haotian could possibly be a good person? I'd say there's an eighty percent chance he wants to deceive Senior Sister Ling'er's feelings! Tell him to take out his best artifact and give it to Senior Sister. Let's see if he's willing!

Zhang Ziling clenched her right fist, her voice impatient. "I told you to shut up! Stop sending me voice transmissions!!! Otherwise, I'll expel you from my sect!"

Xiao Yu immediately shut his mouth.

Then Zhang Ziling forced herself to remain calm and said to Lü Ling'er, "So this is our sect's inner disciple, Ye Haotian? Qi Refining, Eighth Layer. His cultivation is rather decent!"

Lü Ling'er chuckled. "Of course! Senior Brother Ye is such a good person, Master! He even gave me an artifact!"

Xiao Yu smiled softly. "Oh? I never expected Senior Brother Ye to be so generous. What artifact was it?"

Ye Haotian respectfully clasped his fists. "It is merely a low-grade artifact, not worth mentioning... not worth mentioning..."

Zhang Ziling had just seen a top-grade artifact, so she clearly no longer thought much of a low-grade one.

Lü Ling'er stepped forward again, her face brimming with joy. "Master! You should know Senior Brother Ye's master too. He said that after some time, his master would come to propose marriage!"

Xiao Yu hurriedly sent a voice transmission: Master... he wants to swindle away the disciple you painstakingly raised with just a low-grade artifact. His intentions are sinister... utterly sinister...

Zhang Ziling replied, "Say one more word, and I'll cut out your tongue! Don't let me hear your voice again!!!"

Then Zhang Ziling looked coldly at Ye Haotian. "Ling'er's aptitude is still shallow. Matters of marriage should be set aside for now. The war is pressing, yet you still have the mind to indulge in romance, Ling'er?"

Lü Ling'er stood dumbfounded for three seconds.

Wasn't it... why was her master acting a little strange today...

Hadn't she always told her to find a good Dao companion?

Why had she brought him here, only for her master to disagree...

Ye Haotian also understood what she meant and hurriedly clasped his fists. "This disciple's feelings for Junior Sister Ling'er are sincere. I beg Martial Aunt Zhang to grant us her blessing..."

Zhang Ziling lifted her skirt hem. "This matter will be discussed another day. Ye Haotian, withdraw first. I have something to say to Ling'er!"

Though unwilling, Ye Haotian thought it over and ultimately clasped his fists before leaving.

Lü Ling'er pouted miserably. Once Ye Haotian had left, she hurried forward and said,

"Master... haven't you always told your disciple to find a good Dao companion?"

"Senior Brother Ye's master is at Foundation Establishment, Great Perfection, and he was recently accepted as a personal disciple!"

"He even has a high-grade artifact to protect himself, he is dignified and handsome, and he has never sought a Dao companion before!"

"This disciple... this disciple..."

Zhang Ziling said coldly, "He has a high-grade artifact on him, yet he gave you a low-grade one? Does he think my disciple, Zhang Ziling's disciple, is so easily fooled?"

Xiao Yu burst out laughing.

Lü Ling'er looked at Xiao Yu in confusion. Xiao Yu hurriedly covered his mouth, putting on an act as he pointed at the ceiling.

"Mm... this Sect Affairs Hall is truly impressive..."

Then he turned to look at the plaque on the wall. "Mm... this plaque is rather nice too..."

Zhang Ziling looked at Lü Ling'er again and slowly exhaled.

"This matter will be discussed another day. If Ye Haotian is truly sincere, your master will naturally agree! But now is not the time!"

"The Ten Thousand Demons Secret Realm is about to open. Prepare yourself this month! Without my orders, you are not permitted to leave!"

Lü Ling'er wore a wronged expression. She clasped her fists and lowered her head. "Yes..."

After Lü Ling'er left, Zhang Ziling looked at Xiao Yu again.

Xiao Yu looked as though he were marching to his death.

Zhang Ziling clenched her right fist. "Keep that treasure map for yourself. Unless it is a life-or-death crisis, you must never take it out! Once anyone discovers you possess such a great treasure, the consequences are obvious!"

"As for Jiangliu City... your master should choose someone else..."

Before she could finish, Xiao Yu clasped his fists and said, "Master, do not lose the big picture over a small matter. This disciple knows Master is worried for my safety..."

Zhang Ziling's brows shot up, and she trembled like a flower tossed by the wind. "You..."

Xiao Yu said, "There must be spies in the sect. Master's artifact was destroyed, wasn't it? If anyone finds out and word reaches the Profound Spirit Sect, it will be troublesome. This disciple gave you the map because I guessed Master's artifact had been destroyed..."

"If Master sends someone else, this disciple will be worried ten thousand times over, and object ten thousand times over!!!"

"Even if that person is not a spy, what if they run off with Master's storage pouch? Or what if the righteous sects capture them? Wouldn't that be even more troublesome?"

"This disciple will absolutely not expose this matter. If the righteous sects capture me, I will kill myself on the spot, and I will never reveal anything about Master!!!"

"This disciple will not enter the Ten Thousand Demons Secret Realm a month from now either! For Master's sake, I'd gladly have my liver and brains smeared upon the ground!"

Zhang Ziling rested her chin on one hand, concern showing on her face.

Xiao Yu was right. What if one of her subordinates took her storage pouch and ran...

People were already on edge, and spies were everywhere.

A few disciples had secretly fled before.

Right now, the person she trusted most was Xiao Yu.

He handled matters rather steadily.

Moreover, that Fire Monk only liked making friends with cultivators who had secondary professions.

His temperament was strange.

If she did not send Xiao Yu, even if the other disciples met him, they might not be able to convince him to refine artifacts.

Seeing this, Xiao Yu stepped forward again. "Master... this disciple no longer wishes to care about the war between righteousness and evil. My heart holds only Master's safety. Master can arrange the teleportation formation in advance!"

"When they come attacking, we will have a way out. We can even divert disaster eastward and make those two damned elders work for Master!"

Zhang Ziling lowered her gaze slightly. "What is this thing called 'damned'?"

Xiao Yu shrank his neck. After pondering for a moment, he spoke again.

"It means screwing people over! They do not want to contribute, so we can play an empty city stratagem and lure the Profound Spirit Sect in. If those two want to live, they will definitely fight them!"

"Master can use the teleportation formation to leave while they fight, or go raid the Profound Spirit Sect's headquarters..."

"As long as we capture disciples of Lin Ce's caliber, we can sit on the ground and name our price! Or we can privately sign a ceasefire agreement with them..."

Zhang Ziling's eyes immediately lit up. "You mean to make a superficial truce with the Profound Spirit Sect?"

Xiao Yu said, "Naturally... this sect treats us as cannon fodder. If we want to survive, we can only find a way ourselves!"

"Master is too kind-hearted. This disciple cannot bear to see Master used by others. All evil deeds, this disciple is willing to undertake!"

Zhang Ziling swallowed unconsciously.

Looking at Xiao Yu, who considered everything for her sake, she slowly let out a long breath. "You... be careful in all things..."

Xiao Yu immediately picked up the storage pouch and the token on the table, then left without looking back.

Xiao Yu hurried back to the alchemy room without stopping.

He took out the Jade Maiden Gourd and summoned Li Qingyun and the others.

First, he used his divine sense to weaken the Jade Maiden Gourd's power, then directly collected all of them inside.

Inside the gourd, Li Qingyun cried out in joyous tears, "Wonderful, Master... Qingyun is endlessly grateful to you! How wonderful~ I can finally see Mother!"

To be safe, Xiao Yu simply left.

With the token in hand, he passed through without obstruction.

The first thing he did after getting outside was take out the Qi-Concealing Jade.

He directly tucked it into his clothes.

Disguised as a firewood-gathering farmer, he shouldered a load of firewood and left.

After walking for half a day, he encountered two cultivators on the mountain, but neither paid him any attention.

Before long, he successfully made his way near Jiangliu City.

The moment he reached the gate, he was dumbstruck.

He looked at the densely packed refugees outside the city gates, then at the army of mortals guarding them.

He dared to conclude that righteous cultivators were hidden among those people!

Just then, an old man carrying vegetables passed ahead of him.

When the old man reached the city gate, the soldiers stopped him. "Routine inspection! Stand there and don't move!"

Xiao Yu narrowed his eyes.

He watched as those soldiers searched the old man from head to toe.

The soles of his shoes, his cuffs, his vegetable basket, even his mouth. "Damn... do they really have to go this far..."