Preparation

Li Rui reported Eagle Six's name.

A hot potato had turned into a miraculous pill.

What a killing!

Li Rui had already learned that Captain Liu had been killed. Clearly, that Huaqing Sect disciple's target was him.

Even if the County Office and Huaqing Sect had cast a net over heaven and earth outside,

it was still extremely dangerous.

The Heaven and Earth Alliance's branch master was an expert at the peak of the eighth rank. With the branch master present, hiding in the branch was the safest choice.

Of course, he could not possibly go carry out the mission for real.

That would be no different from a sheep walking into a tiger's jaws.

Even without the matter involving Eagle Six, he would have feigned illness and asked for leave. Even if he had to face punishment, he would absolutely refuse to go.

It was best for matters of fighting and killing to stay far away from an old man like him.

That evening.

Li Rui was preparing to wrap up and head home when Liang He rushed into his room right at quitting time.

He panted heavily.

"Hall Master, I heard Huaqing Sect has a mission?"

Li Rui nodded.

Seeing Li Rui confirm it, Liang He revealed a delighted expression. "Hall Master, I want to go."

.

Li Rui was silent at first. "Give me a reason."

Liang He met Li Rui's gaze firmly. "Hall Master, you told me that those who wished to accomplish great things must first endure hardship."

!!!

Was I Lu Xun in another world?

Li Rui's expression turned strange.

He firmly denied ever having said something like that. Forcing yourself to suffer for no reason was too foolish; taking benefits for free was the highest principle.

His comprehension was still not good enough.

Practicing martial arts was far more than fighting and killing.

"Fine."

Li Rui nodded and ultimately agreed to Liang He's request.

Young people had to suffer a little, after all. Only by enduring hardship while taking on Huaqing Sect's mission could he see the perils of society clearly.

As for him,

an old man's teeth were poor; living off a soft meal suited him just fine.

It was difficult for a hall master to snatch a slot, but it was simple for an ordinary disciple, because ordinary Huaqing Sect disciples had no chance at all to meet Huaqing Sect experts.

Liang He would most likely gain only... a lesson.

"Old Brother Li, you really aren't going?"

The moment Wu Tu saw that Li Rui's name was not on the list for Huaqing Sect's mission, he came looking for him.

He had been counting on Li Rui to watch his back during the mission.

Li Rui said, "I'm old. I'm no good anymore."

.

Wu Tu sneered inwardly.

No good?

Li Rui had personally tamed Eagle Six into an obedient dog, and he called that no good?

Wu Tu did not believe a single word Li Rui said.

He sighed softly. "Old Brother Li, you're missing out on a great opportunity. We've received definite intelligence this time—the Huaqing Sect disciple will surely appear near the Heaven and Earth Alliance branch. And with Huaqing Sect experts taking action, you won't even go claim the free merit?"

Li Rui echoed him on the surface, repeatedly lamenting his regret.

But inwardly, it was the opposite.

Why would that Huaqing Sect disciple definitely come to the Heaven and Earth Alliance branch?

Was it not because of him?

He could barely hide in time. How could he possibly deliver himself to their doorstep?

Seeing that Li Rui refused to act no matter what, Wu Tu could only give up regretfully.

With Li Rui's help, his chances of earning merit would have been much greater.

This was a battle they were bound to win. The only variable was perhaps how much merit one could gain.

If he could catch Huaqing Sect's eye and transform himself into a Huaqing Sect disciple in one leap, that would be a matter of bringing glory to his ancestors and soaring to greatness.

"Right, there's a young man from my hall going too. If you can spare a hand, help keep an eye on him."

"His name is Liang He."

"Fine."

Wu Tu nodded. He was happy to do Li Rui the favor for the sake of an ordinary disciple.

With that, he turned and left.

Ghost Underworld Sect members might make a move tonight, and there were still many matters that required his attention.

At the Martial Arts Arena, all the hall masters and disciples selected for this Huaqing Sect mission had arrived.

Wu Tu and Liang He were among them.

Liang He stood amid the crowd, while Wu Tu stood on the raised platform.

On the platform, three people vaguely took the lead.

One of them was Kong Xiannian.

He swept his gaze over the crowd.

"Is everyone here?"

Zhao Wei nodded.

Kong Xiannian then looked toward the hawk-nosed middle-aged man beside him. "Master Dao, we'll have to trouble your alliance greatly with tonight's affair."

The man standing at the very center was Dao Xiong, branch master of the Heaven and Earth Alliance's Qinghe Branch.

A smile appeared on Dao Xiong's tree-bark face. "It is all within our duty."

He then glanced at the Huaqing Sect disciple on the other side.

"Does Envoy Liu have any further adjustments?"

The handsome young man standing on his right smiled and shook his head.

Only then did Dao Xiong withdraw his gaze.

From the positions of the three, it was not hard to see that the two Huaqing Sect men did not get along. As the Heaven and Earth Alliance's branch master, he naturally chose to offend neither side.

If he casually involved himself in Huaqing Sect's internal strife, he might not even know how he died when the time came.

Since Dao Xiong could sit in the position of Heaven and Earth Alliance branch master, he was naturally no fool.

He covertly glanced once more at the Liu-surnamed Huaqing Sect envoy and thought to himself:

I heard this man has no simple connections.

Seeing Dao Xiong trying to keep the bowl balanced with water on both sides, Kong Xiannian snorted coldly. "Ghost Underworld Sect members may make a move this time. Be extra careful. You could lose your lives at any moment."

He deliberately drew out the final three words.

This time, his task was merely to capture the traitor Xu Hua, while Liu Zhen was going to wipe out the Ghost Underworld Sect.

Their danger levels could not be compared.

He rather hoped Liu Zhen would die in the chaotic battle with the Ghost Underworld Sect.

For now, he was merely issuing a disclaimer.

Liu Zhen still wore a smile. "There is no need for Senior Brother Kong to concern himself with this matter."

Dao Xiong rubbed his brow and interjected at the right moment.

He truly did not want to be caught between the two of them.

"Gentlemen, since everything is ready, why not send the men out first and leave that thief nowhere to escape?"

"Reasonable." *2

Hearing Dao Xiong's words, both men nodded.

No matter what grudges they held within the sect, at least when it came to dealing with Xu Hua and the Ghost Underworld Sect, their goals were aligned.

At Dao Xiong's command,

the Heaven and Earth Alliance disciples were divided into more than ten squads and concealed in buildings around the Heaven and Earth Alliance.

The moment they discovered Xu Hua's trail, they were to use a Signal Arrow as the sign.

Then Dao Xiong, who was stationed at the branch, along with the two Huaqing Sect men, would rush over and kill Xu Hua.

Liang He was assigned to a private residence west of the branch.

By coincidence, Wu Tu was the squad leader.

"Your name is, is, is..."

"Liang He."

"Right, right, Liang He. Just follow me later. Old Brother Li specifically instructed me to look after you."

When Liang He heard that Li Rui had put in a word for him, warmth filled his heart.

"Thank you, Deacon Wu."

Wu Tu waved his hand. "It's a small matter."

He did have some impression of Liang He. When Liang He had first joined, his natural aptitude had been quite good, and three hall masters had valued him. In the end, he had gone to the Civil and Martial Hall.

It seemed he had offended someone, which was why he had been demoted to Heaven One Hall.

Yet Liang He now did not seem as proud and aloof as the rumors claimed.

Strange. I'll ask Old Feng another day.

Old Feng was the hall master of the Civil and Martial Hall.

Both of them were under Vice Branch Master Zhang's jurisdiction, so they had a good relationship.

Just as the two chatted idly, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door.

Liang He said, "They're from the government."