Chapter 75

Seeing Xu Jie trying to slip away, Hong Zun naturally could not agree; in an instant he put on a 'kind' smile, flashed forward and barred their way, smiling as he asked.

"Good disciple, why are you running to my Dong Fu?"

Although he was smiling, Xu Jie at that moment felt an endless chill enveloping him; even Ye Zhangqing behind him shrank his neck. No, the Peak Master's smile really is somewhat frightening.

"Master, I... uh, this... oh, I originally came to your Dong Fu to find you, Shīzūn, but I happened upon Junior Brother Ye Zhangqing and ended up coming out with him."

Although he had prepared beforehand, facing the master's authority, Xu Jie saying he wasn't nervous would be a lie.

As for that, Hong Zun replied with a cold smile.

"Oh, really?"

Regarding Xu Jie's words, he didn't believe a single word—coming to the Dong Fu to find me? Damn, I'm such a big person standing right outside the Dong Fu, you didn't see me?

And what about coincidentally meeting Little Ye Zhangqing? That's even more nonsense; this guy definitely did it on purpose.

But how would he know Little Ye Zhangqing was in my Dong Fu? This matter has always been known only to me and Qing Shi; to be safe, I didn't even tell the other Elders.

Everything about this situation reeks of Qīqiào, but now is not the time to investigate further; what should be considered now is how to keep Little Ye Zhangqing, after all, beside...

Speak of the devil, Shi Song, having come to his senses, also spoke up at this moment.

"Junior Brother, what does this mean?"

His eyes full of suspicion, his heart secretly harboring some anger; thinking back, he had actually thought he'd misunderstood this old drunkard, but now it seems he's given himself a slap.

Facing Shi Song's inquiry, Hong Zun feigned composure and smiled as he spoke.

"Senior Brother misunderstood; this child is someone I recently prepared to take as a disciple. I didn't know much about him before, so I brought him to my Dong Fu—this should be reasonable, right?"

Upon hearing that, Shi Song examined Ye Zhangqing from head to toe, discovering he only had Golden Core Stage cultivation; aside from his appearance, he seemed to have nothing remarkable, his first reaction being that this old drunkard was trying to fool him again.

He was about to speak, but Hong Zun beat him to it.

"Senior Brother, as a Peak Master, Junior Brother taking on disciples should not violate Sect regulations, right?"

Not knowing what Hong Zun meant, Shi Song still nodded.

In Dao Yi Sect, normally each peak's Peak Master decides matters; the Law Enforcement Hall cannot arbitrarily intervene, let alone this matter of taking or not taking disciples, which is already a private affair, so there's no reason to interfere.

Not only Shi Song, but Xu Jie beside him was also full of doubt—what is the master planning? He couldn't understand at all, yet he felt something would happen.

Under the gaze of several people, Hong Zun's face gradually showed a smile, and he said.

"That's fine; moreover, I recently plan to test this child, so for now I cannot go to Jinhai Yingdi—this should count as a special circumstance. After the test ends, I will personally send this child to Jinhai Yingdi."

Holy shit, as soon as those words came out, Xu Jie was stunned; he had schemed so much, never expecting the master to pull the rug from under him.

Furthermore, this way he really has no recourse; saying he'll send him later to Jinhai Yingdi is just nonsense.

If he can't take Junior Brother Ye Zhangqing away today, then he'll never even think about it in the future.

Moreover, Xu Jie couldn't openly tell Shi Song about this matter.

Upon hearing Hong Zun's words, Shi Song sank into thought for a moment; a Golden Core Stage disciple going or not going seemed not to matter much.

Moreover, since Hong Zun said that, he couldn't possibly give no face.

Forget it; the matter of one or two disciples is no big deal.

Just as Shi Song was about to agree, suddenly a voice came.

"Master, disciple objects."

"Huh???"

Seeing Shi Song about to nod, who the hell is ruining this old man's good deed?

He glared and turned his head; upon looking, Hong Zun was dumbfounded, seeing Zhao Zhengping, who had just emerged from seclusion, accompanied by Liu Shuang, Lu Youyou, and Wang Yao, walking over briskly.

Looking at the four, combined with Xu Jie's recent actions as a wayward disciple, Hong Zun suddenly had a bad feeling; could it be that they too..........

At the same time, Xu Jie gave Liu Shuang a puzzled look, asking what was going on, how they had brought the Senior Brother.

In response, Liu Shuang gave a reassuring reply.

A group of people here were exchanging glances and winks, their whole bodies exuding an air of scheming.

Master.

Zhao Zhengping approached Hong Zun with a solemn expression, clasped his hands in a salute, and then, under Hong Zun's bewildered gaze, spoke righteously.

Master, I disagree.

What do you disagree with?

This kid's got a problem, what's it to you? You haven't even eaten Ye Zhangqing's food, what are you doing here joining the fun?

Zhao Zhengping indeed hasn't eaten any food made by Ye Zhangqing, but just now Liu Shuang found him and said that the master, worried about the disciples' safety, feared there might be danger at Jinhai Yingdi.

So this time they plan to secretly hide some people in the Sect.

This is a violation of Sect rules.

Upon hearing this, given Zhao Zhengping's upright and unyielding nature, he naturally refused and immediately rushed over.

Looking at the entire Dao Yi Sect, if Shi Song is an old fogey, then Zhao Zhengping is a young fogey.

Moreover, he somewhat has the air of the student surpassing the teacher; in certain matters, he is even more obstinate than Shi Song, for example, regarding Sect rules.

This also relates to Zhao Zhengping's upbringing; since childhood he was picked up by Hong Zun and grew up in the Dao Yi Sect; to him, the Dao Yi Sect is his only home, so he values the Sect more than anyone else.

Even when facing his own master, Zhao Zhengping still spoke without showing any weakness.

'Master, I know you care for us fellow disciples, but garrisoning Jinhai Yingdi is a Sect rule; moreover, if nobody wants to garrison Jinhai Yingdi, should we let those aquatic tribes run rampant in Dongzhou?'

Our Dao Yi Sect, as the leader of the righteous path in Dongzhou, naturally bears the duty of protecting Dongzhou's populace.

No, as your master I................

Since the Sect stipulates that each year, disciples from all peaks must rotate and all must go, that means everyone must go.

Who told you these things, I................

Master worries about the disciples' safety.............

Shut your mouth.

But as a disciple of the Dao Yi Sect, when facing demons one ought to fear nothing and protect Dongzhou.

Hong Zun spoke, Zhao Zhengping also spoke, each saying their own thing; in the end, Zhao Zhengping's voice actually drowned out Hong Zun's, leaving the old man unable to retort.

Senior Brother is still awesome.

Faced with this scene, Liu Shuang, Xu Jie and the others were not particularly surprised, after all Senior Brother and the master had argued many times, especially when Senior Brother was obstinate; even the master could do nothing about him.

Scolding doesn't work, beating doesn't work either—how to put it? It's like a stone in a latrine: smelly and hard.

Saying that might be going too far, but that's the fact—Senior Brother is just that stubborn a person.

"What's the situation now?"

At this point, Xu Jie also sent a mental message to Liu Shuang, asking.

"I've prepared a backup plan, in case you can't handle it."