This was within Lu Zhou’s expectations.
Jiang Aijian appeared before everyone with his long sword, a smile was etched on his face.
Lu Zhou wondered how Jiang Aijian escaped from the Brahman Lullaby’s area of effect. He was also curious about how Jiang Aijian had found this place. Although Jiang Aijian was annoyingly persistent, he found him interesting. He was certain there was more than meets the eye with Jiang Aijian.
Jiang Aijian glanced at General Zhao Shuo and greeted him politely, “General Zhao, greetings!”
Zhao Shuo merely nodded in response. He was still choking with frustrations, therefore, he was in no mood to be friendly to strangers.
Jiang Aijian’s expression turned solemn as he approached Lu Zhou. “Aijian pays respect to master.”
Little Yuan’er rolled her eyes and said, “How shameless!”
Jiang Aijian said with a chuckle, “You won’t survive if you’re not shameless.”
Suddenly, Zhao Shuo made a move to grab Jiang Aijian. Before he could tighten his grip, Jiang Aijian had already evaded his hands.
Jiang Aijian said, “General Zhao, it’s inappropriate for you to try and grab me like that.”
Zhao Shuo’s expression darkened as he asked, “My friend, what did you call the Old Mister earlier?”
“Master. What about it?” Jiang Aijian replied flippantly.
“Master?”
Jiang Aijian gave Zhao Shuo an appraising look. He clicked his tongue and said, “Judging by your outfit, you must be a person from an officer’s house… You were talking to the master for such a long time, but you didn’t know he’s a senior Buddhist monk?” He spoke calmly, and there were no traces of mockery in his words. Although he found this military officer stupid, there was no need to offend him. He decided to be honest with Zhao Shuo.
Lu Zhou stroked his beard and said, “Jiang Aijian… It’s just as well that you came. I have some questions for you.”
Jiang Aijian replied with a smile, “Ask away, master. I’ll tell you anything and everything I know.”
At this moment, an Imperial Bodyguard walked up to Zhao Shuo and whispered into his ear. Despite his effort to control his expressions, he failed when he heard the Imperial Bodyguard’s words. His attitude toward Lu Zhou softened even more as he bowed at Lu Zhou and said, “I was blind to the fact that you’re a senior Buddhist monk! Please forgive my ignorance, master.”
‘Great. It seems like the misunderstanding about my identity is getting slightly out of hand.’ Lu Zhou did not want to be a senior Buddhist monk. However, since being a senior Buddhist monk did not negatively affect him in any way, he did not bother to explain himself.
“This master has defused the crisis at the holy altar on his own and dealt with Kong Xuan from the Temple of Great Emptiness! For this, you have my utmost gratitude, master.” After all, Runan City was under Zhao Shuo’s jurisdiction. He would have to bear the consequences if something untoward happened here. Previously, he had heard about the incident at the holy altar. He thought it was just a ceremony to settle the conflict between the two sides so he did not spare any thought on it. He could not help but shudder when he thought about it. Who knew there would be so many elites at the little grand ceremony?
Lu Zhou did not deign to reply to Zhao Shuo. He looked at Jiang Aijian and said, “You’re a sly one…”
Jiang Aijian said with a chuckle, “I’m only trying to survive. Please don’t mock me for that, master…” He did not dare to bring up the topic of the precious sword.
Lu Zhou asked, “Zhuo Ping was from the palace as well?”
Jiang Aijian winked at Zhao Shuo before replying, “That’s right. We have General Zhao here. With his rank, I’m sure he has met a few people from the palace. Am I right, general?”
Zhao Shuo was rendered speechless. ‘You’re the one giving the information, and yet, you want me to verify them for you?’ Finally, he said, “To be more precise, Zhuo Ping was the subordinate of a high-ranking person in the palace.”
Lu Zhou nodded. All these were no longer important. He was certain someone in the palace was trying to oppose the Evil Sky Pavilion.
Lady Jade from the Western Region was the most suspicious of all. However, it was also possible that someone was using her to sow dissension between them.
Lu Zhou decided to leave this matter for a later date. There were plenty of elites in the palace. He would not risk himself just because of a witchcraft Restriction. For now, he was satisfied with the information he had gained. Before he acted, it would be more pragmatic for him to accumulate merit points and improve his cultivation base. After a while, he asked, “Jiang Aijian… Are you cultivating the Escape Technique?”
Jiang Aijian’s expression froze. He smiled awkwardly as though his secret had been exposed. “I’m impressed by your vast knowledge, master.”
At this moment, an urgent report came from downstairs.
“General Zhao, there’s a report from the east. Evil Sky Pavilion’s fourth villain has left the Golden Court Mountain and is making his way to Yu Province…”
Zhao Shuo frowned when he heard this. “You good-for-nothing! Do you want everyone in the vicinity to know about this?”
“…”
Jiang Aijian nodded and said, “I’ve expected as much… Evil Sky Pavilion’s fourth villain, Mingshi Yin. He’s cunning and mischievous. A petty man who changes his stance on a whim. Hypocrisy is second nature to him…”
When Little Yuan’er heard this, she asked, “He’s evil? What about Evil Sky Pavilion’s ninth disciple? What’s he or she like?”
Jiang Aijian stroked his chin. He seemed to know a lot about the Evil Sky Pavilion. “The ninth disciple is amazing… She’s the last to join the pavilion, and yet, her cultivation base improved the fastest. She’s a diabolical cultivation genius. Alas, she’s…”
“Alas, what? Tell me…” Little Yuan’er urged him.
Jiang Aijian replied, “The little villain lacks experience in the real world. It’s a shame she’s eccentric and has no sense of propriety, joining the Evil Sky Pavilion. She’ll surely become the greatest villain who would bring calamity to the world! Eh, little girl, why are you glaring at me like that?”
When Lu Zhou saw that Little Yuan’er was on the verge losing her temper, he said indifferently, “Let’s call it a day.” He was genuinely exhausted after a whole day of work.
Little Yuan’er scoffed. She had no choice but to obey her master’s wish.
Zhao Shuo cupped his fists at Lu Zhou and said, “Since the Evil Sky Pavilion’s villain has descended from the mountain, he’ll surely be up to no good… I’ll go and inform the cultivators from the Noble Path about this.”
Zhao Shuo had just finished speaking when a soldier downstairs cried out, “G-general! The villain… When the villain passed through Qing Province, he had abducted many girls!”
“…” Zhao Shuo’s lips twitched. “That scum! I’ll be taking my leave!” He was secretly relieved that it happened in the Qing Province and not Runan City. However, what was he going to do when that villain arrived in Runan City?
Lu Zhou’s brows were tightly knitted together. He was puzzled. Mingshi Yin had always conformed to the norms of society all this while. Was he truly behind this act of villainy?
“Ding! Killed a mounted brigand. Earned 10 merit points.”
“Ding! Killed a mounted brigand. Earned 10 merit points.”
‘Mounted brigands? Not girls?’
…
Jiang Aijian smiled and said, “General Zhao, wait up.”
“What business do you have with me?” Zhao Shuo asked, puzzled.
“The Evil Sky Pavilion’s fourth villain is clearly coming to Yu Province. It’s highly possible that his destination is Runan City!”
Zhao Shuo widened his eyes and said, “How do you know that?”
Jiang Aijian pointed at his own head and said with a smile, “The Holy Daughter at the holy altar’s grand ceremony is the Evil Sky Pavilion’s fifth disciple. A member of the Evil Sky Pavilion has been taken away, surely the old villain would send someone to get her. It’s not difficult to figure this out.”
“Er…”
“General Zhao, the fourth villain has a profound cultivation base. When he left the mountain previously, he already had one foot in the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm. That was a long time ago. I’m sure he must possess the Hundred Tribulations Insight by now. Who’d be able to stop him?” Jiang Aijian said with a smile as he held onto his sword.
Zhao Shuo’s brows furrowed again. How troublesome! Why were troubles coming one after another, and each was more troublesome than the last?
Jiang Aijian continued, “Since a Buddhist master is here, why don’t you ask him politely for his help instead of taking a long trip to the palace just to request for reinforcement?”
Zhao Shuo’s eyes brightened when he heard Jiang Aijian’s words. “Dear brother, these are truly some wise words!” He quickly turned to look at Lu Zhou before cupping his fists together. He said with reverence and sincerity, “Master, I beg you to help Runan City to capture this villain and bring peace to the citizens of Runan City!”
Little Yuan’er was truly speechless when she heard this.