"It’s all past, all past. Hai Chan, my painstaking teaching for you was never insincere..."
Ninghai Zen spoke with a faint tone, nodding lightly:
"Yes, my master was nicknamed Ten Du Yama, challenged many Martial Arts Halls, crippled many martial practices, but never cuts the grass and roots.
When I first became your apprentice, every time I went out claiming to be a disciple of Tongwen Hall, I’d definitely be stopped in the alley.
Thanks to my master, I could summarize the eight-character truth of being thorough in dealing with people and matters."
Chen Xing felt a slight tremor in his heart, did he really teach his disciples so carelessly before?
During the conversation, this Chi Yang Sect Leader had already reached the tea house.
His peripheral vision caught sight of the thick Wolf Fang Club leaning against the long bench.
A chilling cold surged abruptly!
"Hai Chan, don’t push your master!"
Chen Xing’s face sank, his hair and beard bristled, Qi Blood True Gang surged like an angry tide, transforming into raging smoke.
He clenched his fists tightly, his spine like a dragon shaking:
"Kneel down and kowtow to you!"
The Chi Yang Sect Leader was about to bow down dramatically.
Ninghai Zen steadied Chen Xing with both hands:
"Master, you’re putting your disciple in a difficult position.
It’s late at night when I go out, I carry a Wolf Fang Club for self-defense, don’t misunderstand."
Chen Xing discreetly wiped cold sweat, took the opportunity to straighten his back.
Still too naive, thinking he could outwit his master!
"You gave me quite a scare, I thought you intended to use that Wolf Fang Club to betray and abandon your ancestors."
Chen Xing chuckled dryly twice, sitting across.
"Though the disciple is arrogant, he understands the rules, such betrayal and abandonment of ancestors are absolutely out of bounds."
Ninghai Zen shook his head, his fingers lightly tapping the table:
"But to speak again, the master has the grace of teaching upon me, as a disciple, I can’t be disrespectful.
Yet I, as the Sect Leader of Tongwen Hall, have the duty to clean up the clan for the ancestors, to rectify the atmosphere.
That is also fitting, right?
This Wolf Fang Club, it’s not meant to deal with the master, but to enforce the rules!"
Chen Xing’s recently risen heart sank once more.
He tightened his expression and squeezed out a sentence after a while:
"Hai Chan, have you forgotten, your master has already expelled you from Tongwen Hall."
Ninghai Zen slapped his forehead, rather annoyed:
"Indeed, that was overlooked. How about this, Master, offer me a cup of tea later, and return to Tongwen Hall?
Ah Qi could also have another fellow disciple..."
Veins throbbed on Chen Xing’s temple, the word ’miscreant’ nearly slipped out.
Considering he couldn’t win a fight, he reluctantly held back, changing the topic:
"Hai Chan, I came to Black River County for Ah Qi."
Ninghai Zen raised an eyebrow silently, hinting Chen Xing to continue.
His gaze slowly moved back and forth between the Wolf Fang Club and his master.
"Recently, your good disciple did an enormous feat, capturing the attention of the Chaotic Bell and Elephant List from Simurgh Platform, gaining fame in the Divine Capital Central Hub, even receiving verbal praise from the Dragon Court Emperor."
Chen Xing carefully chose his words, knowing full well that if Ninghai Zen realized he used Ah Qi’s inherent talent to bait the Meridian Sword Sect.
The outcome would most likely not end well.
"Master, please continue."
Ninghai Zen grasped the Wolf Fang Club.
"Actually, this counts as a good thing.
Ah Qi can’t just stay in Black River County, not only does he practice martial arts with you, he also cultivates Taoism.
Without the Spirit Platform, Grotto Heaven Blessed Land, it’s difficult to achieve the Ghost Immortal status in his lifetime.
How could he learn to become a true Eternal Immortal Seed like King of Support clashing the Heaven and Earth Profound Barrier!
Besides, Ah Qi is different from you in nature, you rely on your fists, breaking rules.
But he is more astute, knows how to maneuver, leverage, and use power.
Placing Ah Qi in the Dragon Court and Upper Sect, such top-notch giants of the Red County Divine Land, is truly beneficial."
Chen Xing’s cold sweat flowed like a waterfall, hurriedly explaining.
"Master, Ah Qi bears the legacy of Tongwen Hall."
Ninghai Zen did not let go, the Wolf Fang Club emanating a cold, sharp light.
"In this matter, the master is indeed wrong."
Chen Xing’s expression slightly constrained, speaking seriously with a dignified tone:
"As a teacher, one should fulfill the duties of imparting knowledge, teaching the way, resolving doubts, offering protection, and paving the way..."
Ninghai Zen’s sharp eyes sparkled, exhaling lightly:
"Master, just remember these words.
Ah Qi is my disciple, and your grand-disciple, the future bearer of Tongwen Hall’s legacy.
He should not be involved in a chess game, taken and dropped by those self-important big figures at will."
Chen Xing, it was only natural, calmly responded:
"I will protect Ah Qi, no need to worry about that.
In the Red County Divine Land, no one can treat my disciple as a pawn."
Ninghai Zen did not concern himself, wondering what right a fallen martial artist, previously running a martial arts hall at Shidu Port, and now a Four Cultivation Grandmaster with broken true skill roots had to speak so boldly.
He released the wolf fang club full of thorns, his lips slightly curving upward, seemingly unable to restrain himself:
"Enough with the chit-chat, back to the main topic. Master, stop beating around the bush, just tell me, who are we killing?"
Chen Xing turned his head, his gaze shifting to the surface of Black Water River, which appeared calm but was in fact roiling with hidden currents.
As if transcending hundreds of miles, it fell upon the Dragon Tooth Battleship on Nu Yun River.
"The Celestial Envoy from the Divine Capital Central Hub."
Ninghai Zen bared his teeth, as if he was seriously contemplating:
"Ah, a cultivator, a bit tricky to kill.
Especially those from the Divine Capital, most Ghost Immortals above the Fourth Realm tend to have several dwellings, making it difficult to succeed in one strike and eliminate future threats."
Chen Xing set out a few tea cups, proceeding to analyze sincerely:
"The Dragon Tooth Battleship generally has an array arranged by the Observatory Tower for a grand sacrificial rites, capable of cross-space communication, sound warning, extracting spiritual elements to form restrictions, and even resisting divine technique strikes... And then, there’s an unlicensed half-step Ghost Immortal, plus a purple-robed Daoist Official who commands the Seal and Ribbon Bureau.
Don’t worry about other miscellaneous people.
Additionally, the potential variables are firstly the County Daoist Official, and secondly the Duke’s Mansion."
Ninghai Zen nodded repeatedly, thinking that Master hadn’t completely immersed himself in the comforts of the past years.
"Can the battleship be blown up?"
He rubbed his chin.
"Such an action would cause a commotion and chaos, making it difficult to precise target identification."
Chen Xing sternly refused.
The Three Yang Sect had rich experience in assassinating monarchs.
Actions aimed at targeting someone must be swift, precise, and ruthless.
Strike once, then swiftly retreat.
"With just me and Master, it seems insufficient to achieve this task."
Ninghai Zen thought for a moment, as the saying goes, sharing fortune and adversity, that’s brotherhood.
Consequently, he lit an incense stick, rubbed the incense ash he carried with him, casually sprinkled it, akin to drawing ghostly symbols, creating a semblance of a grand sacrificial rites.
Then, muttering a few words to himself.
For quite a while, he received no response.
"Disciple, what are you..."
Chen Xing was full of doubt.
Ninghai Zen suddenly felt somewhat embarrassed, showing a look of displeasure:
"If you don’t come out, I’ll use black dog blood and child urine for the ritual!"
The grand sacrificial rites seemed to have the effect of transmitting sound, and after a few breaths, it hummed and vibrated, opening a portal in the void.
A daoist in yellow robes, covered in dirt, emerged in a sorry state, cursing:
"I’m out of luck now, bad luck overwhelming, can’t venture outside!
Unless it’s something major, don’t bother calling me..."
Qiu Changtian hadn’t finished speaking when Ninghai Zen pulled him to the tea lounge and detailed the assassination plan he just drafted with Master.
"You’re asking a Taoist Sect transmission disciple like me to deal with Dragon Court’s Daoist Officials? I’m a law-abiding celestial citizen, how could I engage in such rebellious and enemy-like actions?"
Qiu Changtian vehemently waved his hand, simultaneously winking at Ninghai Zen.
"Now isn’t the time to ask for benefits! Seriously talk about big matters!"
Ninghai Zen instinctively wanted to slap but considering Qiu Changtian’s current predicament, exceedingly unfavorable, thus withdrew his hand with plans:
"Lao Qiu, you’re responsible for breaking through the array on the Dragon Tooth Battleship.
Master and I will sneak in, each of us will take out one.
Within ten breaths, claim two lives.
If successful, it’s done, if not, we’ll wait for next time."
Having briefly laid out the plan, Ninghai Zen rose and stepped out of the tea lounge, looking up at the sky:
"No time like the present, let’s get this over with tonight."
Hidden within the Spirit Platform, Chen Yin finally showed himself:
"Your disciple has quite the killing intent, not at all muddled nor lingering in doing things."
Chen Xing sighed:
"It’s precisely because of Hai Chan’s nature that I thought of adopting him as the heir to my teachings, not expecting he only acknowledges Tongwen Hall."
A small boat, cuts across the river surface.
In green robes, Ninghai Zen, yellow robes, Qiu Changtian, brocade clothes, Chen Xing.
The three headed towards Nu Yun River.
...
...
Mo Tian Sheng, sitting in the clouds, gently lifted his closed eyelids:
"Tonight, Mars is in motion, what a fierce celestial phenomenon."