At noon the next day.
After everyone finished eating, Grandmaster called us all into his room.
None of us had had much appetite these past few days because of Zhang Rong and Xiang Yifeng's deaths, but that noon, Grandmaster forced everyone to eat their fill.
"I watched A Rong and A Feng grow up."
"They were also your fellow disciples. You were as close as brothers and grew up together."
"Now they're dead. Our enemies cut off their heads to provoke us. We must avenge them."
With that, Grandmaster named those who would go with him to take revenge. Zhuge Ming was among them.
In the end, only my master and I, Shi Xiu, and two other senior disciples weren't going along. Grandmaster told us to return to Qingyang Temple.
Shi Xiu's eyes widened in protest. "Grandmaster, why won't you let me go? I want to avenge Zhang Rong too!"
Before Grandmaster could speak, my master said, "I watched Zhang Rong and A Feng grow up too. I'm no less eager for revenge than you are. Your grandmaster has his reasons for arranging things this way. Do as you're told."
Shi Xiu wanted to say more, but when he saw my master glaring at him, he could only let it go.
Before Grandmaster and the others left, I pulled Zhuge Ming aside and repeatedly urged him to be careful.
Zhang Rong was already gone. I didn't want anything to happen to Zhuge Ming too.
He was despondent. He and Zhang Rong had been closer than Zhang Rong and I were, and in just a few days, I felt that even his appearance had changed.
"Don't worry. I believe evil can never triumph over good."
Zhuge Ming patted my shoulder and forced a smile. "You're going back to the South next