Su Che really wanted to say something to this mysterious man.
Friend, you had mistaken him for someone else.
But faced with this display, he truly felt too embarrassed to say it.
The other man's presence was far too overwhelming. At a glance, he looked like some old monster that had crawled out of an Ancient Era legend.
And according to what he said, the misfortunes of Su Che's former self had been the result of someone's scheme.
Just who was targeting him?
Could it really have been that so-called destiny of the Sixfold Azure Dragon?
The demon trapped in his room had also mentioned the Sixfold Azure Dragon. Could she have been connected to them as well?
"According to the original plan, you were to put on the mask belonging to Lord Dongwang after you broke through Withered Forest Chan Temple. But now something has gone wrong, so it must be brought forward."
The man calling himself Zhongyuan spoke slowly. "This is the Mount Zhong Association, a place that gathers the disheartened and the vengeful. We welcome you, and we will shelter you. Given White Deer Grotto's way of doing things, even if you hid in Shanyin County, you would not be able to remain apart from the world."
Su Che sorted through the information he had just received.
First, this was the base of an organization called the Mount Zhong Association, and this man calling himself Zhongyuan was its leader.
Then, the various misfortunes he—or rather, his former self—had suffered were all the result of someone's design. According to Zhongyuan, the force that had framed him should have been White Deer Grotto...
One of the Confucian School's four great sacred lands, with experts emerging in endless succession. Both Southern Liang and Northern Wei held it in extraordinary reverence. How could he—or his former self—possibly have offended them?
Finally, Zhongyuan seemed to have been watching him all along. With such careful plotting and layout, what was he—or the Mount Zhong Association—after?
Without another word, Su Che raised the wooden mask. It felt cool the instant it entered his hand.
He slowly placed the mask over his face, and the wooden mask automatically clung tightly to it.
What a joke. Did anyone really think he had any room to choose here?
No way, right? No way?
If he could not resist, then he might as well close his eyes and enjoy it.
From Zhongyuan's words, Su Che could tell that he had at least been watching him since his time in Jiankang City. He even knew perfectly well that Su Che's next target was Withered Forest Chan Temple.
Su Che simply could not determine what Zhongyuan had meant by saying that White Deer Grotto would not let him go.
Perhaps it could be understood as a threat.
Su Che could not fathom why such a world-renowned sacred land of the Confucian School would target him.
Yet after putting on the mask that symbolized Lord Dongwang, Su Che felt a long-lost sensation rising within his dantian.
It was the medicinal power of the Golden Core that remained in his body after he had consumed it. Under the mask's effect, that long-lost power seemed to awaken once more and began nourishing his body.
"I did not expect you to begin by choosing the path of Sword Cultivation. The Heaven-Supporting Jun Sword may count as a respectable method for cultivating sword intent upon the Eastern Sea, but it is confined to cultivation and offers no application. This Mirage Shadow Primordial Sword comes from the East Sea Sword Palace. Cultivate it well."
Countless ages seemed to flow through Zhongyuan's eyes. With a flick of his fingertip, a streak of light shot straight into Su Che's Mud-Pill Palace, and the outline of a sword art's cultivation method immediately appeared in his mind.
Su Che carefully examined the sword art, nearly unable to resist drawing the ancient sword from his Sword Case and practicing it on the spot.
At last, he understood how Lin Pingzhi had felt after seeing the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, so impatient that he could not even wait for the wedding candles to burn.
This Mirage Shadow Primordial Sword was an exceedingly brilliant method of wielding the sword. At the beginning, it contained the mystery of concealing one's weapon upon one's body and hiding murderous intent. Once cultivated to the later stages, one could even divide into bodies and transform into shadows, moving unseen with extraordinary wonders.
Su Che looked with great satisfaction at Brother Zhongyuan seated at the head of the table.
This man truly was generous with his gifts. At a glance, he had the bearing of a leader of an evil organization.
"Since you have resolved to join my Mount Zhong Association, you must understand its rules. Within the association, you need only obey my commands. As for the other members, regardless of who they are or what realm they have cultivated to, they are no different from you."
"The association gathers once every thirty-six days, once for each Heavenly Gang number. Thirteen days remain until the next gathering. Whenever we gather, I will use the art of the Small Universe to summon you here, so make arrangements in advance lest you expose your tracks."
"The association's style is equal exchange and mutual aid." Zhongyuan introduced the Mount Zhong Association's customs. "If you can pay the corresponding price, you may request their assistance."
Su Che understood.
According to Zhongyuan's description, this Mount Zhong Association should possess two characteristics.
First, Zhongyuan was the core of this organization. Without him, the organization would have no possibility of functioning at all.
Second, it was compulsory. The entire organization's operational foundation should be Zhongyuan's will—or rather, his objective.
"In a moment, I will convene a meeting and introduce you to the other members. Listen carefully from the side."
As he spoke, Zhongyuan took a jade chime from his sleeve and placed it on the table, then lightly flicked it with his right index finger.
"Wu Zhiqi, Gushe, Yuqiang, Plain Maiden, come, come..."
He chanted an incantation, and Su Che felt wave after wave of dizziness within his Mud-Pill Palace.
Suddenly, several faces appeared upon the other chairs around the long table.
The first had the face of an ape, with a sunken nose, high brow, golden eyes, and snow-white teeth.
The second wore a mask resembling a young girl, except its eyes had been sewn shut with golden thread.
The third mask displayed two expressions: the left half was smiling, while the right half glared in fury.
The fourth mask seemed to depict a woman, but it was covered in cloud-and-thunder patterns, with eyes like venomous snakes.
The figures of the four seemed shrouded in dense mist. Only their masks could be seen hanging in the air.
"Everyone, I have summoned you today to introduce a new member. This is Lord Dongwang."
Su Che's heart tightened. His mask was actually Lord Dongwang?
The titles used by the others in the Mount Zhong Association—Wu Zhiqi, Gushe, Yuqiang, and Plain Maiden—were all names he had encountered in myths from his previous life.
Had these deities truly existed in this world as well?
And that fellow calling himself Zhongyuan—whatever sort of being he was—his title was entirely unlike Lord Dongwang, Wu Zhiqi, and the others. Was there another story behind this?
The four of them seemed already accustomed to such a procedure. Perhaps they had encountered the same scene when they joined the Mount Zhong Association.
They merely glanced in Su Che's direction and said nothing more.
After a moment of silence, Gushe was the first to speak.
"Yuqiang, the matter you previously asked me to investigate has yielded some clues."
"Wei Huaiwen has halted his troops in Beiyu for two reasons. First, his army lacks provisions. Second, the northern branch of the Celestial Master Sect has already aided Prince Zhongshan Yuan Ying, refining the corpses of those slain in war into Ba. Beiyu has already descended into a Ba calamity, with many ghost immortals and Demon Kings appearing. It is expected that the two sides will soon make peace."
"The court plans to send Hai You'an, Right Censor-in-Chief, as an envoy to negotiate with the Northern Dynasties. The location should be somewhere in the Ten Isles of the Eastern Sea."
Yuqiang gave two low chuckles.
"Thank you, thank you."
Gushe continued, "This information comes free of charge. The cause of the Huai River's swelling was that Northern Wei persuaded the Lord of Dongting. That old dragon went mad and caused havoc in the Huai River. The Southern Liang Censorate, Embroidered Uniform Riders, Night Pacification Bureau, and other agencies have already dispatched experts to Dongting Lake to demand an accounting. That old dragon appears to have suffered grievous injuries."
"Wu Zhiqi, if you wish to advance further, you might as well set your sights on that old dragon."
Wu Zhiqi, wearing the ape mask, smiled.
"Thank you for the fairy's kind intentions, but plucking chestnuts from the fire is better suited for fooling monkeys. I shall respectfully decline."
The matters Gushe and Yuqiang discussed were affairs that shook the world. They must both have held considerable positions within the court; otherwise, why would they care about such things?
Su Che was extremely certain that Gushe had connections at the highest levels.
His cheap older brother was serving as a general in Wei Huaiwen's army, yet even Su Che had not known that Wei Huaiwen's forces lacked provisions. Through what channel had Gushe obtained that news?
As for Yuqiang, why was he so concerned with the northern war situation? What exactly was he plotting?
This Mount Zhong Association did not look like a retirement tea party for a group of old monsters. It looked more like a stage for a band of young schemers.
"Lord Zhongyuan, why is Miss Qingqiu absent?"
The person wearing the Plain Maiden mask asked. Her voice was hoarse and hazy, somewhat androgynous.
That made Su Che feel that perhaps one could not infer the owner's gender from the mask.
"Qingqiu has encountered some trouble. She cannot come today."
Su Che was very certain that when Zhongyuan mentioned Qingqiu, the eyes hidden behind his flat mask glanced at him.
Could this "Qingqiu" be the same Qingqiu?
Su Che perhaps understood why Zhongyuan had previously said he had not wanted to bring him into the association so early.
If Su Che did not join now, perhaps that Qingqiu would be done in by him.
But if that was the case, the true strength of the people in this Mount Zhong Association was rather shallow.
He was not even Ninth Grade, while Qingqiu had been brought down by someone who was not even Ninth Grade.
"Plain Maiden, there is news regarding the person you asked me to look into." The person beneath Wu Zhiqi's mask replied to Plain Maiden, who had just asked the question. "Shall we speak privately, or let these few hear as well?"
"Please make it public."
Plain Maiden replied directly.
"Haha, Miss Plain Maiden certainly understands the way of things."
Yuqiang chuckled.
"Hmph." Wu Zhiqi sneered several times. "The person you sought information about is called Su Che, born into the Duling Su Clan. His Destiny Pattern truly was that of the Sixfold Azure Dragon. Unfortunately, you asked too late. Someone laid a trap for him three months ago and has already stripped away his Destiny Pattern. He is now a useless man."
Hey, could you speak a little more politely? What did he mean, a useless man already?
Su Che looked at Wu Zhiqi. Though this man acted with abandon, he might not have been without the intention of testing Zhongyuan.
And what was Plain Maiden's purpose in asking about his circumstances?
As expected, none of the people in this Mount Zhong Association were easy to deal with.