Chapter 38: Preparation

Li Rui reported Ying Liu's name.

A hot potato had turned into a spiritual pill.

Huge profit!

Li Rui had already learned the news of Constable Liu's death; it was clear that the target of that Huaqing Sect disciple was him.

Going out now, even with the County Office and Huaqing Sect setting up a net, was still very dangerous.

The Helmsman of the Heaven and Earth Alliance was an expert at the peak of the Eighth Rank; with the Helmsman there, hiding in the branch was the safest.

He certainly couldn't really go and execute the mission.

That would be no different from a sheep entering a tiger's mouth.

Even without Ying Liu's matter, he would pretend to be sick and ask for leave, and even if he were punished, he would resolutely not go.

Fighting and killing were better left far away from an old man like him.

That evening.

Li Rui was preparing to finish work and go home when Liang He rushed into Li Rui's room at the end of the shift.

He panted heavily:

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

Li Rui nodded.

Seeing Li Rui confirm, Liang He showed a look of surprise: "Hall Master, I want to go."

"..."

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

Liang He looked at Li Rui firmly: "Hall Master, it was you who told me that those who want to achieve great things must first suffer hardships."

"!!!"

Is the Lu Xun of the other world actually me?

Li Rui's expression became strange.

He resolutely denied having said such things; eating bitterness when you don't have to is too stupid, and taking benefits for free is the most superior path.

His comprehension was still not enough.

Practicing martial arts was far more than just fighting and killing.

"Alright."

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

Young people, they always have to suffer a bit; participating in the Huaqing Sect mission and suffering some torment would allow him to see the dangers of society clearly.

As for him.

An old man with bad teeth, eating soft rice was just right.

It was difficult for a Hall Master to snatch a quota, but it was very simple for an ordinary disciple, because ordinary disciples of the Huaqing Sect had no chance to see the experts of the Huaqing Sect at all.

Liang He would likely only get... a lesson.

"Brother Li, are you really not going?"

Wu Tu saw that Li Rui's name was not on the list for the Huaqing Sect mission and came to the door immediately.

He was counting on Li Rui and him to look out for each other while executing the mission.

Li Rui: "I'm old, no longer useful."

"..."

Wu Tu sneered in his heart.

Useless?

Ying Liu had been tamed into an obedient dog by Li Rui, and he still called himself useless.

He didn't believe a word of Li Rui's.

He sighed lightly: "Brother Li, you have missed a great opportunity; this time we have confirmed intelligence that that Huaqing Sect disciple will definitely appear near the Heaven and Earth Alliance branch, and there will be Huaqing Sect experts taking action; you're missing out on merit that's practically free."

Li Rui agreed on the surface, repeatedly saying it was a pity.

But his heart was the opposite.

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

Wasn't it for him?

He was already avoiding it, how could he take the initiative to deliver himself to the door.

Seeing Li Rui was determined not to take action, Wu Tu could only regretfully give up.

If he had Li Rui's help, his certainty of performing meritorious service would be greater.

This was a battle that was sure to be won; the only variable might be the size of the merit obtained.

If he could be favored by the Huaqing Sect and transform into a Huaqing Sect disciple, that would be the thing that brings honor to his ancestors and brings prosperity.

"By the way, there's a young man in my hall who also went; if you have the chance, help look after him."

"His name is Liang He."

"Good."

Wu Tu nodded; just an ordinary disciple, he was happy to sell Li Rui a favor.

After saying that, he turned and left.

There might still be people from the Ghost Gui Ming Jiao taking action tonight, and there were many things he needed to keep an eye on.

On the martial arts field, the Hall Masters and disciples selected to participate in this Huaqing Sect mission were all present.

Wu Tu and Liang He were among them.

It's just that Liang He was in the crowd, while Wu Tu stood on the high platform.

On the high platform, three people were vaguely in the lead.

One of them was Kong Xiannian.

He scanned the crowd.

"Is everyone here?"

Zhao Wei nodded.

Kong Xiannian looked at the middle-aged man with a hooked nose on the side: "Helmsman Dao, I will have to trouble your alliance for tonight's matter."

The person standing in the very middle was the Helmsman of the Qinghe branch of the Heaven and Earth Alliance, Dao Xiong.

Dao Xiong's face, which was like old tree bark, revealed a smile: "It's all part of the duty."

He also glanced at the Huaqing Sect disciples on the other side.

"Does Envoy Liu have any adjustments?"

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

Only then did Dao Xiong withdraw his gaze.

From the standing positions of the three, it wasn't hard to see that the two from the Huaqing Sect were at odds, and as the Helmsman of the Heaven and Earth Alliance, he naturally chose not to offend either side.

Casually participating in the infighting of the Huaqing Sect, he wouldn't even know how he died when the time came.

Dao Xiong could sit in the position of Helmsman of the Heaven and Earth Alliance, so he certainly couldn't be a stupid person.

He looked at the Huaqing Sect person surnamed Liu again without changing his expression, thinking to himself:

"I heard this person's connections are not simple."

Kong Xiannian saw Dao Xiong trying to be impartial and snorted coldly: "This time the Ghost Gui Ming Jiao people might take action, so be extra careful; you might lose your life at any time."

He deliberately dragged out the sound on the last three words.

This time he came out, his mission was only to capture the traitor Xu Hua, while Liu Zhen was to wipe out the Ghost Gui Ming Jiao.

The danger coefficient could not be compared.

He actually hoped Liu Zhen would die in the chaotic fight with the Ghost Gui Ming Jiao.

As for now, it was just a disclaimer.

Liu Zhen still had a smile on his face: "This matter doesn't need to trouble Brother Kong."

Dao Xiong rubbed his brows and intervened at the right time.

He really didn't want to be caught in the middle of the two.

"The two of you, since everything is ready, why not scatter the people first, so that the thief has nowhere to escape."

"Makes sense." *2

Hearing Dao Xiong's words, both nodded.

No matter what grudges they had in the sect, at least on the matter of dealing with Xu Hua and the Ghost Gui Ming Jiao, their goals were consistent.

Following Dao Xiong's order.

The disciples of the Heaven and Earth Alliance were divided into more than ten small teams, hiding in the buildings around the Heaven and Earth Alliance.

Once Xu Hua's traces were discovered, they would immediately use a signal arrow as a sign.

By then, Dao Xiong and the two from the Huaqing Sect sitting in the branch would rush over to behead Xu Hua.

Liang He was assigned to a civilian house on the west side of the branch.

Coincidentally, the team leader happened to be Wu Tu.

"You are called, called, called..."

"Liang He."

"Right, right, that's Liang He, just follow me later; Brother Li specifically gave instructions."

Liang He felt a warmth in his heart when he heard Li Rui had greeted him.

"Thank you, Deacon Wu."

Wu Tu waved his hand: "Small matter."

As for Liang He, he did have some impression; when he first joined, his bones were good, and he was valued by three Hall Masters, finally going to the Literary and Martial Hall.

It seemed he offended someone, which was why he was demoted to the Heavenly One Hall.

But the current Liang He didn't seem as aloof as the rumors said.

"Strange, ask Old Feng another day."

Old Feng was the Hall Master of the Literary and Martial Hall.

Both were under the jurisdiction of Deputy Helmsman Zhang, so their relationship was good.

Just as the two were chatting, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door.

Liang He: "It's the government people."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 39 =====

(End of Chapter)