My Disciples Are All Villains
chapter-218

It Takes Technique to Con Someone

Si Wuya smiled and spoke frankly and confidently, “Of the ten great sects on the Noble Path, apart from the Seven Stars Villa and the Core Heart Sect that do not hold much hatred against the Fiend Path and are more likely to just wave their flags and shout, there are only the right sects left. The Heavenly Sword Sect, the Righteous Sect, the Clarity Sect, and the Celestial Masters Sect share the same Daoist roots. The Good Fortune Temple, Hengqu branch, Zhencang branch, and Duanlin branch share the same Confucian school roots. The latter is gentler and milder. They usually don’t have many conflicts with the Fiend Path. Instead, it’s the Daoist sects that have constant conflicts with the Fiend Path.” He paused slightly before continuing, “The Righteous Sect’s elders, Zhang Qiuchi and Zhang Chunlai, are dead, the Heaven Sword Sect Master, Luo Changfeng, was killed with a single hit from master during the siege on the Golden Court Mountain, the Clarity Sect has barely enough time to manage itself right now thanks to you, Eldest Senior Brother. The Celestial Masters Sect has yet to make any move so it’s more probable for the Righteous Sect and the Heavenly Sword Sect to attack first. However, the Righteous Sect Master, Zhang Yuanshan, is renowned for his cowardice. Zhang Yuanshan had met the Fiend Temple Master, Ren Buping, at the Green Jade altar before this. Now that Ren Buping is dead, Zhang Yuanshan won’t do anything. As the saying goes, ‘Once bitten, twice shy’.”.

Yu Zhenghai caught nothing from Si Wuya’s words. Throughout his years of managing the Nether Sect, if each of his subordinates reported to him in this manner, he would have died of exhaustion. “Your point being?” “The Heavenly Sect,” Si Wuya said.

Yu Zhenghai nodded and said, “Luo Changfeng, the Sect Master of the Heavenly Sect, is dead. Their first disciple, Zhou Jifeng, has betrayed them and joined the Evil Sky Pavilion. The Heavenly Sword Sect hates the Evil Sky Pavilion to the bone.”

“The Heavenly Sword Sect’s former master, Luo Xingkong, has cultivated in seclusion for many years. With the tragic death of his son, he won’t sit back and do nothing,” Si Wuya added.

“He can’t blame anyone for that. He brought it upon himself.”

Who would have expected that Lu Zhou would kill him out of all the people who laid siege on Golden Court Mountain back then? Luo Changfeng attracted too much attention. The shot hit the bird that poked its head out. He could only blame himself for this.

“Are you planning to make a move, Eldest Senior Brother?” Si Wuya asked again.

Yu Zhenghai remained silent

Si Wuya did not press him for answers. He had some understanding of Yu Zhenghai’s temper. He remembered when Ye Tianxin’s Derived Moon Palace was being attacked by the Fiend Temple, Yu Zhenghai did nothing as well. Ye Tianxin had deceived her master and denounced the patriarch, it was understandable that Yu Zhenghai did not help her. However, things were looking bad for Evil Sky Pavilion now, and yet, Yu Zhenghai still remained unmoved. It seemed that it was impractical to hope for his Eldest Senior Brother to do something. In the end, he sighed before he said, “Are you still thinking about that, Eldest Senior Brother?”

“Your Eldest Senior Brother has always been a magnanimous person. Second Junior Brother has killed many of my men, but have I ever complained about it? Moreover, this is our master we’re talking about,” Yu Zhenghai said calmly.

Si Wuya’s expression remained unchanged, but he thought to himself, ‘You’re this close to drawing your saber and having a showdown with Second Senior Brother... and you say that you have no complaints?’ However, outwardly, he said, “You’re right, Eldest Senior Brother.”

“Even if I did something to drive away the Heavenly Sword Sect, what would happen ten years later? The barrier is weakened. Something is bound to happen to the Evil Sky Pavilion in these five years.”

Ever since Yu Zhenghai, Yu Shangrong, and the others left the Evil Sky Pavilion, the elites of the ten great sects had launched attacks against the Evil Sky Pavilion no less than five times.

There were two serious attempts. The first one was when the ten elites set a trap and assaulted Ji Tiandao who was seriously injured in that battle. The second attempt was when the ten great elites charged at Golden Court Mountain again, and Luo Changfeng was killed.

Nobody knew when the next attack would come.

However, it was clear that many experts were waiting for an opportunity. They were waiting for Ji Tiandao’s time to run out and for his cultivation base to deteriorate.

The disturbance of the barrier this time was the best chance they could have.

“Five years...” Si Wuya mumbled. “What would Great Yan become in five years?”

When Yu Zhenghai heard this, he smiled earnestly and said, “Seventh Junior Brother, it’s meaningless to think so far into the future... For me, the most pressing matter right now is to deal with the Clarity Sect.”

As soon as Yu Zhenghai finished speaking, the Nether Sect’s Azure Dragon Hall’s First Seat, Hua Chongyang, walked into the hall. He cupped his fists and said, “Sect Master, the Clarity Sect’s Mo Qi has fled... You Hongyi is the only one left holding the fort. We’ll be able to take down the Clarity Sect in no more than ten days.”

“Very good.” An expression of pride appeared on Yu Zhenghai’s face as he asked, “Do you have any news about Pan Litian?”

“I’ve captured many Clarity Sect’s cultivators and interrogated them under torture... However, none of them knew where he had gone. Pan Litian has left the Clarity Sect several centuries ago and has never returned since,” Hua Chongyang replied.

Si Wuya was puzzled by this piece of information. “And why is that?”

“I’m not too sure.” Hua Chongyang shook his head.

Yu Zhenghai asked, “You’re interested in this man, junior brother?”

“The Clarity Sect is hanging on a fine thread after your attack, Eldest Senior Brother. Pan Litian is the greatest elite of the Clarity Sect. It doesn’t make sense that he’s still hiding...” Si Wuya mulled over it before he said, “There are two possibilities. One, Pan Litian is dead. However, this is highly unlikely. He has a profound cultivation base, and no one would be able to kill him if he wants to escape. Second, there’s an unresolved conflict between Pan Litian and the Clarity Sect.”

“You’re saying the latter is more likely...” Yu Zhenghai said.

In any case, this was not important to the Nether Sect now. If Pan Litian chose not to show up, the Clarity Sect would soon be annihilated. If he appeared, all the better because Yu Zhenghai was looking forward to a good fight with a worthy opponent.

“This is my command. Those who are with me will prosper, and those who are against me will die,” Yu Zhenghai said.

“As you wish, Sect Master!”

Three days passed by in just a blink of an eye.

A messenger bird flew at an astonishing speed from the northwest corner of Yang Province all the way into the Evil Sky Pavilion’s barrier.

Inside the east pavilion.

Lu Zhou was just coming out from his comprehension state. After three days, he could sense half of his extraordinary power had been restored. He would need a week to ten days to completely recover. At the very least, this was his current pace. He had a feeling that the more he comprehended, the quicker he would be able to obtain and recover the extraordinary power. The path of cultivation was long. There was no rushing these matters.

“Let’s take a look at the prices...”

Lu Zhou was worried the system would silently raise the prices of the items again like before. He glanced through the system’s items. Fortunately, there was no price hike.

“Eh? What’s this...”

When Lu Zhou glanced at the mission list, he noticed a new mission under the main missions of disciplining his disciples. Searching for the lost key: 0/1.

“Lost key?” He searched his memories. There was nothing about Ji Tiandao and a key.

Lu Zhou’s expression darkened. ‘Does this have something to do with my lost memories as well?’

When he had free time, Lu Zhou tried to regain his lost memories. He tried to connect the dots to see if he could find anything suspicious. Then, he discovered his scattered memories were like shredded paper. It was too difficult to try and piece them back together. Hence, he decided to give up.

Since the mission was to find a lost key, it must have had something to do with opening a cabinet, box, or some container.

In the Evil Sky Pavilion, it seemed that only the hidden chamber, the north pavilion, and the warehouse were locations where boxes were kept.

This somehow proved Lu Zhou’s theory right. When he transmigrated here, he suspected Ji Tiandao might not have lost anything, they were only scattered all over the place. For instance, the weapons of the rascals, the Sky Fragments, the cultivation methods his disciples cultivated, and everything inside the hidden chamber... Everything was still around. In that case, this lost key must have been one of Ji Tiandao’s items.

At this moment, Little Yuan’er’s voice reached him, interrupting his thoughts. “Master, there’s an unnamed letter!”

Lu Zhou walked out of the room and looked at Little Yuan’er.

Little Yuan’er was wearing the Cloud Feather Raiment and the Cloud Treading Boots.

“Where are the Giant Silkworm Gloves?” Lu Zhou asked. He remembered the item she obtained at the Skylark Pagoda. She did not seem to have it on her.

Little Yuan’er pouted and said, “It’s too ugly and unsightly... I left it in the south pavilion.”

The Giant Silkworm Gloves was a unisex item. Indeed, it would not win a prize in aesthetics. Moreover, it would look awkward if Little Yuan’er wore them since she would be wearing blue clothes, blue boots, and a pair of strangely colored gloves. Besides, the benefits of the Giant Silkworm Gloves for a cultivator such as Little Yuan’er was not obvious. In any case, most people are vain.

‘Let her be.’ Lu Zhou said, “Read it.”

No matter who the sender was, if the messenger bird could pass through the barrier, they were from either his disciples or a source of the people here.

Little Yuan’er nodded and read, “The Clarity Sect has been attacked. The Nether Sect Master, Yu Zhenghai, went in for the kill. The Clarity Sect Master, Mo Qi, fled to the Slender West Lake branch while injured. Pan Zhong is on his way to the Slender West Lake. Danger lurks there. Hahaha.”

Little Yuan’er stopped reading and looked at Lu Zhou.

Lu Zhou waved his arm casually and the letter flew into his hand.

Indeed, the writer did not write his name. However, the last three words clearly gave away the writer’s identity.

“It must’ve been difficult for Jiang Aijian to send a letter...” Lu Zhou mused.

Upon hearing this, realization dawned on Little Yuan’er. She pointed at the letter and said, “It’s from Jiang Aijian! Ptooey! I remember now, he always ends his letters with ‘hahaha’.”

Jiang Aijian was a cautious person who roamed the lands most of the time. He had unique sources of information, with many of them coming from the palace. It was part of his survival tactic to establish a clear trademark of his own while sending letters all this time. It was like Morse Code, and it was barely detectable.

Little Yuan’er wondered, “Why is Pan Zhong going to Slender West Lake? Does he have nothing better to do?”

Lu Zhou looked around his surroundings. When he did not see Duanmu Sheng and Zhao Yue, he asked, “Where are Old Third and Old Fourth?”

“They’re resting in the south pavilion,” Little Yuan’er said.

Lu Zhou disapproved of this. He had let them off lightly by punishing them with strokes from the cane for barging into the hidden chamber.

“Tell Old Third to come to the great hall.”

“Right away.”

It was only a physical punishment. With Duanmu Sheng’s cultivation base and skills, he should be almost healed after three days of rest.

When Ji Tiandao abused his disciples back then, Duanmu Sheng was always the first to recover.

Little Yuan’er left the east pavilion.

Lu Zhou looked at the sun. It was still early. He walked out of the pavilion. Soon after, he arrived at the Evil Sky Pavilion. He saw that Pan Litian was still lying on his original spot, basking lazily in the sun as he occasionally drank his wine.

“Pan Litian.”

Upon hearing this, Pan Litian started and jumped to his feet. When he saw Lu Zhou, he patted his chest and said, “My surname’s not Pan.”

Lu Zhou had no intention of bickering about this. Instead, he tossed the letter to Pan Litian and said, “Read this.”

Pan Lintian caught the letter, intending to toss it away. However, curiosity got the better of him, and he took a glance. With just a quick glance, he saw Pan Zhong’s name. He was immediately invigorated. He straightened up and read the letter carefully.

“Danger?”

“Can you still sleep peacefully?” Lu Zhou stared at Pan Litian.

Pan Litian frowned. His lazy expression had turned fierce and grim. “Pan Zhong has already joined the Evil Sky Pavilion. Aren’t you planning to save him, Pavilion Master?”

“Indeed, Pan Zhong has joined the Evil Sky Pavilion... However, that doesn’t mean that I have to save him,” Lu Zhou said lightly.

“Why?”

“When Pan Zhong joined the Evil Sky Pavilion, I granted him the Six Yang Technique to negate the Three Yin Technique’s bitter cold. He could have become a powerful fighter in the Evil Sky Pavilion, but he left the Evil Sky Pavilion on his own... If everyone here behaved like that, how can I maintain order?” Lu Zhou said. “Uh...” Pan Litian did not know what to say to that. At the end of the day, Pan Zhong was the one who brought this upon himself.

The Evil Sky Pavilion’s rule was that its members were required to sever all ties with their pasts. If someone went against the rules, they would have to bear the consequences on their own with no one to blame but themselves.

Lu Zhou looked at Pan Litian and asked, “Who is he to you, really?”

Pan Litian sighed softly. He shook his head and said, “I’m no longer a member of the Pan family since 200 years ago...” This could be considered as an admission. Lu Zhou had no intention of pressing Pan Litian for answers. He merely wanted to verify if Pan Litian was related to Pan Zhong... It was not important to know what kind of relationship they had. He asked, “Did you come just to see him?”

Pan Litian nodded. The sloppy manner and lazy air about him had disappeared at this moment. “I don’t have much time left... It’s my dying wish.”

“If you join the Evil Sky Pavilion, you’ll be able to rescue Pan Zhong,” Lu Zhou said slowly to make his point clear.

Pan Litian was stunned. He had never thought about this before. Although he had left the Clarity Sect a few centuries ago, he had always been the greatest elite of the Clarity Sect in the eyes of the others. There were many who waited for his return. If he joined the Evil Sky Pavilion, would he not become the laughingstock of the cultivation world? Most importantly, he had lost his cultivation base. What did the Evil Sky Pavilion see in him?

Lu Zhou seemed to have read Pan Litian’s mind. He threw out another enticing offer. “It just so happens that I have one sable magnolia in my possession.”

Pan Litian’s heart skipped a beat. He looked at Lu Zhou who was now standing beside him.

Lu Zhou’s wizened face was calm with a hint of a faint smile...

‘I’m just here for some meals, and I’ll be on my way. However, why do I feel like I’ve sold myself to this place? I... I think I’ve been conned.’

Lu Zhou did not expect the sable magnolia he obtained from Ci Yuan would come in handy in a situation like this. Although the sable magnolia would not be able to completely restore Pan Litian’s cultivation base, he would at least be able to recover 20 to 30% of his original cultivation base. Cultivation base was of the utmost importance for a cultivator. He did not think Pan Litian would be able to remain unmoved. He remained silent and waited for Pan Litian’s reply with his hands on his back.

At this moment, Little Yuan’er came running from the Evil Sky Pavilion and said, “Master... Third Senior Brother has arrived.”

Lu Zhou did not look at Little Yuan’er. Instead, he said, “There’s no hurry... If your senior brother’s tired, he can return to rest.

Pan Litian was puzzled.

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