Chapter 412: We Are All Loyal!

The beggar touched the pus-filled sores on his face, his hand trembling uncontrollably as he spoke incoherently:

"I, I won't let him go again, I swear there won't be a next time, don't kill me, don't kill me…"

"Don't be afraid, they're just a few boils," Greenwater Beggar chuckled, "you're a beggar—what beggar hasn't grown boils?"

"As long as you serve me well and don't mess things up again, these boils will vanish in an instant—don't you trust my word?"

The beggar wished the sores on his face would disappear right now, but Greenwater Beggar no longer wanted to hear him speak.

In his ear, a voice kept repeating:

"Great Ancestor of the Dao Gate, I sincerely pray to you: on your sacred land, unwelcome guests have appeared. I report this to you at once and stand ready to fight for you."

Prayer?

What kind of word is that?

Greenflower Beggar frowned, remembering his few disciples in the Dao Gate.

"Keep watching closely," Greenflower Beggar glanced at the beggar, then vanished.

The beggar sat by the roadside, his body still trembling uncontrollably.

Li Qi.

Goodbye, Li Qi—absolutely cannot let him escape.

…

Wuji Hospital, Wan Jinxian sat in his office, staring at Cui Ti: "What's so urgent you had to drag me here?"

Cui Ti set down a cup of red tea: "I merely invited my senior brother for a visit, to strengthen our brotherhood."

Wan Jinxian placed the teacup aside: "Are you bored out of your mind? I come to the hospital in broad daylight—how do you expect me to explain that?"

Cui Ti smiled: "Senior brother, that makes no sense. Everyone eats grains and vegetables—who doesn't get sick?"

Wan Jinxian snapped: "I'm a Disease Cultivator—how could I possibly fall ill so easily?"

Cui Ti sipped his tea: "That's a fair point. Next time, I'll choose a more suitable meeting place."

"There won't be a next time!" Wan Jinxian growled. "Say it plainly—why did you summon me?"

"Yesterday you came to me and told me a special person had arrived in Greenwater City—the young man always dressed in white. You also informed He Jiaqing of this important news."

"I believe you're telling the truth, but I still can't understand why this white-clad man came here."

Wan Jinxian snapped: "I told you—he's from Sacred Sage Peak. He caused us trouble before; he's probably here for us again."

Cui Ti sipped his tea: "What kind of trouble exactly?"

"You've got a short memory. I told you plainly—he nearly killed Shen Rongqing at Lotus Pond Teahouse. Do you really need me to remind you who Shen Rongqing is?"

Cui Ti took another sip, pondered long, then shook his head: "I know who Shen Rongqing is—she's a talented woman. But I don't think the white-clad man came for her, or for you."

Wan Jinxian sneered: "You don't even know who the white-clad man is—how can you claim to know why he's here?"

"This is hard to guess. I saw the Free and Easy Nest recruiting people to clear new lands, so I went to watch the commotion."

"Among the crowd, I thought I saw the white-clad youth you described—I couldn't be certain, but his clothes, appearance, and age matched your description exactly."

"Beside him was a major figure. I didn't recognize him, but his cultivation base was extremely high—if not for the Ancestor's power, I might not have even seen them."

"I felt I recognized this figure, but I doubted my eyes—so I came to you to confirm."

Wan Jinxian didn't want to hear more—he just wanted to leave the hospital: "I didn't see either of those people. If you don't even recognize them yourself, how can I verify?"

Cui Ti pressed his palm down: "Senior brother, sit down. Don't be so agitated. You alone can't verify it—I've brought someone else to help us confirm."

Wan Jinxian's pupils shrank: "What do you mean?"

Cui Ti answered frankly: "I told this person what you told me. When he arrives, we'll analyze the white-clad man's intentions together."

Wan Jinxian flew into a rage: "You told someone else what I told you? And you brought him here to confront me? Do you want to kill me?"

"Senior brother, calm down," Cui Ti urged. "This person isn't an outsider."

Wan Jinxian shoved Cui Ti aside and roared: "I don't care who he is! If he shows his face to me, I'll kill him!"

As the words ended, Greenwater Beggar appeared before Wan Jinxian.

Wan Jinxian stared at the beggar before him.

His body was covered in pus-filled sores, oozing green pus.

Wan Jinxian had never seen Greenwater Beggar before, but he knew who he was.

Greenwater Beggar looked at Wan Jinxian: "You want to kill me?"

Wan Jinxian drew a breath and answered calmly: "No."

He collapsed to the ground, trying to assume a kneeling posture, but his knees trembled—he couldn't kneel, so he remained prostrate.

Cui Ti remained composed—he'd met Greenwater Beggar before.

He was about to bow, but Greenwater Beggar waved him off: "No need. Speak—why did you summon me?"

"Senior brother saw a man in Greenwater City dressed in white, from Sacred Sage Peak. I saw him too…" Cui Ti recounted the entire incident.

After listening, Greenflower Beggar frowned: "You mean Zhong Huaien from Sacred Sage Peak? Why must you tell me this?"

Cui Ti replied: "To demonstrate my loyalty to the Ancestor."

Greenflower Beggar smiled: "Where is your loyalty? Can I see it?"

"You can!" Cui Ti unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a tattoo on his chest—"I LOVE THE ANCESTOR."

Had Greenwater Beggar not been standing right there, Wan Jinxian would have laughed out loud.

This madman—what good is flashing that thing?

"Good," Greenwater Beggar nodded approvingly, then turned to Wan Jinxian. "And you? Are you loyal to me?"

What now?

Wan Jinxian froze.

He had no tattoo.

"I—I am loyal to the Ancestor—in my heart!" Though awkward, it was the best answer he could muster.

"Is that so? Let me see what your heart looks like." Greenwater Beggar waved his hand—a glob of green pus stuck to Wan Jinxian's chest, then vanished into his skin, seeping into his chest cavity.

Wan Jinxian clutched his chest, feeling countless living things swarming and darting inside him.

"Ancestor, spare me! I am utterly loyal to you!" Wan Jinxian pleaded desperately.

"Hehehe~" Greenflower Beggar crouched before Wan Jinxian, studying his face closely. "Your face is white, but your heart is black. You don't seem very loyal."

"I'm loyal!" Wan Jinxian had no other words.

"I believe you," Greenwater Beggar patted Wan Jinxian's head. "I have a task for you: find out Zhong Huaien's purpose for coming here. Shouldn't be too hard, right?"

"Disciple will do his best!"

"You'll do your best?" Greenwater Beggar was unsatisfied. "If you fail, you die."

Wan Jinxian didn't know how to respond.

Greenwater Beggar stood and looked at Cui Ti: "Same goes for you. Though you're loyal, I despise loyal fools."

"Tell me—besides showing loyalty, what else did you want from me?"

Cui Ti answered honestly: "I crave power."

Greenwater Beggar frowned: "Your speech is tiresome. You want higher cultivation, don't you?"

Cui Ti nodded: "I beg the Ancestor to grant me higher cultivation."

"Why do you want cultivation? To live longer?"

Cui Ti shook his head: "I don't seek to extend my own life—I seek to shorten others'."

Greenflower Beggar stared at Cui Ti for a moment: "You and I are alike. I'll give you a task: go to Blue Willow Village, find a beggar on the road to the new lands, watch him, see what he does. If he's killed—or if he kills someone—tell me immediately."

Cui Ti asked: "What are the beggar's distinguishing features?"

"None. He looks like any ordinary beggar—but you'll recognize him. I left a mark on his face."

"What's his cultivation level?"

"Not ground level. One layer above the clouds."

"Ancestor, I dare not bargain with you—but if his cultivation is above the clouds, I cannot possibly monitor him."

"I'll help you. You want power? I'll give it to you. Extend your hand." Greenflower Beggar tapped Cui Ti's palm—tiny creatures burrowed into his flesh.

"Thank you, Ancestor!" Cui Ti bowed again.

Greenflower Beggar looked at the two and nodded: "Perhaps I shouldn't have killed all my disciples. You might still be useful."

With that, Greenwater Beggar vanished.

Wan Jinxian scrambled up and grabbed Cui Ti: "You damn foreigner—you summoned the Ancestor?"

Cui Ti said: "Senior brother, don't be so agitated. I merely used the power the Ancestor left us to pray to him."

"You have his power inside you too—the pustules I gave you. That power is immense. Focus your intent on the pustules, and you can contact the Ancestor too."

"I didn't ask about that!" Wan Jinxian roared. "Why did you summon the Ancestor?"

"I did it to help you, senior brother. I know you want power too. Following He Jiaqing—you're not doing it for his cause, are you?"

"I follow him for the sake of the new Pulu Province!"

Cui Ti shook his head: "You can fool me—but not yourself."

"You obey a young man only because you crave greater power."

"He Jiaqing's power is limited. The Ancestor can give you endless power. Join me—devote yourself to the Ancestor!"

As he spoke, Cui Ti pulled out a needle.

Wan Jinxian recoiled: "What are you doing?"

Cui Ti spoke calmly: "Relax. I'm giving you a tattoo—same words: 'I LOVE THE ANCESTOR.' That way, next time you meet the Ancestor, you can prove your loyalty."

"Bullshit!" Wan Jinxian shoved Cui Ti away.

Cui Ti didn't get angry: "Brother, let me warn you—if you want to find the white-clothed youth and his friends, go to Xiaoyao Wu. They seem to be waiting outside for someone."

……

Wan Jinxian stumbled to the entrance of Xiaoyao Wu, and Cui Ti had not been wrong—he saw the person he was looking for: the white-clothed youth, Zhong Huaien.

What was he doing at Xiaoyao Wu? Looking for Li Qi and Ma Wu?

Beside him stood another man, wearing a gray-white overcoat and a gray-white top hat; from behind, Wan Jinxian also felt he recognized him.

He occasionally spoke with the white-clothed youth, and Wan Jinxian stared at his profile for a long time but still couldn't identify him.

People came and went around them, yet none saw these two.

Logically, Wan Jinxian shouldn't have seen them either—the man's cultivation base was high, and he had concealed both the white-clothed youth and himself.

But Wan Jinxian's body retained the power of Green Water Beggar, which allowed him to see these two—and also enabled him to conceal himself successfully.

Their voices were low, and Wan Jinxian could barely catch fragments of their conversation.

"Mr. Chu, you don't need to be here. I'll have Qingshou Hui's people keep watch."

"Qingshou Hui's people may not be up to it. Wait a little longer—I feel it's almost time."

As they spoke, the white-clothed youth Zhong Huaien suddenly glanced toward Wan Jinxian.

Wan Jinxian thought he had been exposed and quickly hid farther away.

In truth, Zhong Huaien hadn't seen Wan Jinxian—he had seen Chu Huaiyuan.

Chu Huaiyuan arrived at Xiaoyao Wu with over a dozen others, coming from the street corner.

Zhong Huaien asked the man: "Mr. Chu, shall we go take a look?"

The man fell silent for a moment, then said: "I'll go take a look. You wait here."

PS: Aside from sages, the white-clothed youth was arrogant toward everyone—but he called this man "Mr. Chu." It was rare indeed for him to show such respect to anyone.

(End of Chapter)