Recruited an Accomplice to Kill the Female Lead and Supporting Male Lead 1
Qin Chuan hurried to Shen Qingyuan's cave abode, but the formation around it was lit up. She was clearly in seclusion.
"Master, I'm going to compete in the inner sect competition. I'll definitely bring back first place and won't disgrace you." Qin Chuan called out at the entrance to Shen Qingyuan's cave abode. He did not expect her to reply and left as soon as he had finished.
"Your ranking doesn't matter. Don't push yourself. Just make sure you don't get hurt."
Shen Qingyuan's cool, gentle voice reached him, and Qin Chuan's heart leaped. His master cared about him most, just as he had thought. Even in seclusion, she was still thinking about him.
"Mm-hmm, Master, I won't get hurt. Just wait for me to bring back first place." Qin Chuan called out to the entrance of Shen Qingyuan's cave abode again.
After a long while, Shen Qingyuan said nothing more. Qin Chuan knew she would not reply again, so he strode toward the arena for the inner sect martial competition.
As soon as Qin Chuan left Supreme Mystery Peak, Shen Qingyuan appeared at the foot of the mountain. She silently watched his retreating figure, a thousand thoughts running through her mind. At last, she found a reason to convince herself.
"It's Chuan'er's first time participating in the inner sect competition. As his master, I should go and keep an eye on him, so no one bullies him."
"But I can't show myself either. That would put pressure on Chuan'er."
So Shen Qingyuan concealed herself in the air and silently followed Qin Chuan. She was at Late Tribulation Transcendence, the highest cultivation level in the Pure Void Sect. As long as she did not show herself, no one could detect her.
Qin Chuan did not notice Shen Qingyuan following him. He had now successfully registered as an ordinary disciple.
It was not that he did not want to register as a personal disciple, which would have let him skip the arena elimination rounds and enter the top hundred competition directly. Rather, Supreme Mystery Peak, where he belonged, was simply too unusual.
Supreme Mystery Peak had only him and his master, Shen Qingyuan. And because the previous sect master had taken Shen Qingyuan as a disciple on behalf of his own master, she was the current sect master's martial aunt.
As Shen Qingyuan's disciple, Qin Chuan was of the same generation as the current sect master, so giving him the status of a personal disciple would have been inappropriate. But he was young and his cultivation was not high, so he could not be made an elder either. His status could only remain in this awkward position.
After registering, Qin Chuan wandered around, planning to scout the place out in advance. He was going to give the sect master's disciple a thorough beating later. Hmm... better yet, he should find someone with a powerful background to join him in beating the sect master's disciple.
Although his master Shen Qingyuan was his greatest backer, an invincible one at that, he could not bear to trouble her. He needed to find someone with a backer to take the blame for him.
Qin Chuan was searching for a target when one came to him. A fatty struck up a conversation with Lu Jia. "Junior Brother, I see you looking all around. Are you searching for someone?"
Qin Chuan looked at the fatty's clothes. They were magic robes made by the Golden Treasure Pavilion, and a single set cost quite a few spirit stones. Moreover, he did not have to wear the robes of an inner or outer sect disciple, so he had to be a personal disciple.
Qin Chuan immediately put on a friendly smile and stepped forward enthusiastically to take the fatty's hand. "Hello, Senior Brother. My name is Qin Chuan. I can see that you stand as elegantly as a jade tree in the wind, with a noble bearing and the grace of a dragon and phoenix. You must be no ordinary person. Surely you're a personal disciple of one of the peaks?"
Qin Chuan's enthusiasm made the fatty start. He could only chuckle awkwardly. "My name is Jin Pang. I only became a personal disciple through good luck. I don't deserve such praise, Junior Brother Qin."
Jin... Qin Chuan immediately recalled that the alchemy grandmaster of Pill Peak was also surnamed Jin. He had heard that the grandmaster had a grandson of his own. Qin Chuan grew even more enthusiastic, looking at Jin Pang like a starving ghost who had spotted a big white steamed bun.
"Senior Brother Jin is a personal disciple, so you'll surely enter the top hundred competition directly. I'm truly envious of you."
Under Qin Chuan's enthusiastic gaze, Jin Pang involuntarily took a few steps back. He swallowed and said, "I'm not taking part in the inner sect martial competition. I'm an alchemist, so I'm only planning to participate in the alchemy competition."
"All right, that's a shame. I heard the sect master's second disciple, that alchemy genius, is also taking part in this sect martial competition. He might even win first place. His talent for alchemy is so formidable, and he's so strong in combat too. He's truly amazing, wouldn't you say, Senior Brother Jin?" Qin Chuan put on an admiring expression, as though he really did look up to Xie An.
Qin Chuan knew from the plot that Xie An was taking part in the inner sect martial competition, but he was not doing it to win first place. He was only there to protect his junior sister, Gu Xiran.
At Qin Chuan's words, Jin Pang's expression immediately soured. He snorted. "What talent does that Xie An have? He's just an illegitimate son. I could crush him with one finger."
Qin Chuan knew he had guessed correctly. The disciples of Pill Peak really did have a bone to pick with Xie An. All the Pure Void Sect's alchemy disciples belonged to Pill Peak, yet Xie An had appeared out of nowhere, and people praised him to the skies every day, saying there was no one like him under heaven. They even spread word that the disciples of Pill Peak could not compare to him. How could Pill Peak's disciples stand him?
Jin Pang was most likely that alchemy grandmaster's grandson and the future heir to Pill Peak, so he was bound to have an even bigger bone to pick with Xie An.
"Yes, yes, Senior Brother Jin is surely better than Xie An. Xie An only relies on the sect master's prestige, and everyone else has no choice but to praise him out of respect for the sect master. He certainly can't compare to you, Senior Brother Jin." Qin Chuan immediately agreed with Jin Pang, heaping praise on him by the basketful.
Seeing that his flattery had made Jin Pang happy, he changed tack and began to sigh. "It's just that Xie An is taking part in the martial competition, so he might get to steal the limelight again. With his Golden Core cultivation, even if he can't take first place, his ranking won't be poor."
"Hmph, if he wants to steal the limelight, he'll have to see whether I agree." Jin Pang gave Qin Chuan another meaningful look. He was no fool and naturally understood Qin Chuan's intentions.
But he hated Xie An, and Qin Chuan wanted to deal with Xie An too. That made them allies.
Qin Chuan smiled back at Jin Pang. He had never taken Jin Pang for a fool. With that exchange of glances, the two reached an agreement: whatever else happened, they would first deal with their common enemy, Xie An.
Jin Pang left to register, and Qin Chuan watched him go. He knew Jin Pang most likely wanted to use him too. They were using each other; it remained to be seen who would come out on top.
Before long, Jin Pang returned. Grinning, he leaned close to Qin Chuan's ear and whispered, "Junior Brother Qin wants to deal with Xie An too, doesn't he? How about we're both a little more honest?"
"I've always been honest with you, Senior Brother Jin. I have a personal grudge against Xie An, so I want to trip him up during this inner sect martial competition." Qin Chuan answered Jin Pang with a smile as well.
"Then I look forward to working with you." The smile on Jin Pang's face grew wider.
"Likewise." In such a short time, Qin Chuan and Jin Pang had become as close as brothers.
"Since we're cooperating, I'll tell you everything I know too, Junior Brother Qin." Jin Pang began transmitting his voice secretly to Qin Chuan, then asked him a question.
"Junior Brother Qin, did you know the format for the first round of the inner sect martial competition has changed?"
Qin Chuan nodded. "I heard a little about it beforehand. The first round will take place in the Pure Void Sect's secret realm."
"That's right. The first round will be held in a small secret realm the Pure Void Sect acquired not long ago. The demonic beasts above the Golden Core realm have already been killed. This time, the hundred disciples who kill the most demonic beasts will advance to the top hundred competition."
"My thought is that we join forces to injure Xie An, so he can't kill any demonic beasts and gets stopped in the first round. What do you think, Junior Brother Qin?" Although Jin Pang was asking, his tone was declarative.
"I'll follow your lead, Senior Brother Jin." Qin Chuan had caught the flash of killing intent that passed through Jin Pang's eyes when he mentioned injuring Xie An. He could now be certain that Jin Pang wanted to kill Xie An.
"Junior Brother Qin, lend me your ear. I have some more details to discuss with you." Jin Pang pulled Qin Chuan aside and spoke in a low voice.
Shen Qingyuan silently watched it all without a word. She believed Qin Chuan would not slaughter innocents indiscriminately. Since Qin Chuan wanted to kill Xie An, then Xie An deserved to die.
As for whether he could kill Xie An, she had even less need to consider that. If Qin Chuan could not kill Xie An, did he not still have her as his master?
She felt no burden at all about striking down a Golden Core cultivator. Everyone was an ant in her eyes; to her, there was no difference between killing a bigger ant and killing a smaller one.