Chapter 600: You

“Two elder gentlemen, you see, I truly haven’t lied—may we leave now?”

Sensing the atmosphere growing increasingly ominous, Zhang Chulan immediately opted for the classic thirty-six strategies, believing flight to be the best option, and whispered tentatively.

“Hohoho.”

Wang Ai’s face twisted into a smile, but it was hollow, cold, emitting a sound like an owl’s cry:

“Of course you may leave—but you must first pass the final test.”

“What test?”

At that moment, Zhang Jie, who had remained silent until now, spoke up.

Wang Ai raised a finger toward Lu Gong: “Lu family’s Ming Hun Art can probe memories;

as long as you let him examine your memories to confirm you truly know nothing of Qi Ti Yuan Liu,

I shall not only let you go, but also offer you a gift as compensation.”

“Probe our memories? No, absolutely not!”

Before Zhang Jie could speak, Zhang Chulan leapt to his feet, face ashen.

Not only was Qi Ti Yuan Liu right inside his mind—if Lu Gong probed his memories, it would be exposed.

Even if he knew nothing of Qi Ti Yuan Liu, he would never allow anyone to probe his memories.

Memories are deeply private—how could anyone be allowed to peer into them?

Judge by deeds, not intentions; judge by intentions, and no one on earth is flawless.

Who doesn’t harbor a few secrets too shameful to reveal?

Perhaps a youthful flutter of the heart, or some absurd fantasy,

or something that, if exposed, would cause instant social death.

Letting someone view your memories is more naked than stripping bare.

Memories are more private than bare skin!

Besides, who knows what tricks Lu Gong might pull while probing?

After he’s done, will Zhang Chulan still be the same Zhang Chulan?

“Young man, calm down, calm down.”

Lu Ci gestured for Zhang Chulan to settle down.

“You want to look into my memories—and you ask me to stay calm?”

His words made Zhang Chulan even more agitated.

He stole a glance at Zhang Jie from the corner of his eye; Jiege sat unmoved, clearly composed,

and Zhang Chulan instantly gained confidence—he was just one step away from pointing at Wang Ai and Lu Ci’s noses and cursing them.

Seeing this, Lu Ci had no choice but to explain: “Though our Lu family’s Ming Hun Art bears the name ‘Clear Soul,’

it absolutely lacks the ability to probe every single thread of memory;

at best, it can vaguely glimpse a few major events.

Brother Wang’s suggestion is merely to further confirm the matter of Qi Ti Yuan Liu—

no different from the lie-detection devices used in government offices.

As long as neither of you knows Qi Ti Yuan Liu, you’ll pass the test without exposing your private memories.”

Lu Gong, who had been treated like a tool, also chimed in:

“Our Lu family’s Ming Hun Art is inherited through bloodline; the purer the blood, the stronger the art;

unfortunately, my bloodline purity is insufficient—my awakened Ming Hun Art cannot perform fine-grained memory probes.

Using modern technology as a comparison, if the subject’s memories are a database,

then my Ming Hun Art is merely a search engine.

I can only retrieve related information by keyword;

all other data, and anything not in the database, I cannot see.”

Zhang Chulan fell into deep thought.

Earlier, he had encountered Lu Liang, who was said to be a traitor of the Lu family.

Lu Liang had revealed that the only way to examine memories in detail was Soul Searching.

Once subjected to Soul Searching, the victim would either die or become a babbling fool.

He couldn’t help asking: “Between you and Lu Liang, whose Ming Hun Art is stronger?”

Lu Gong’s face darkened instantly—he clearly disliked the name Lu Liang;

but remembering Zhang Chulan’s possible connection to Qi Ti Yuan Liu, he forced himself to speak:

“Though I hate to admit it, in terms of bloodline purity and Ming Hun Art, he surpasses me.”

He added, with a vicious tone:

“That bastard Lu Liang dared to flee the family—I will kill him!”

The depth of his hatred and murderous intent startled Zhang Chulan.

He couldn’t help wondering what Lu Liang had done to the Lu family,

that Lu Ci, who was once family, now harbored such fierce hatred and murderous intent.

And what had the rest of the Lu family done to Lu Liang,

that he, once the Lu family’s future pillar, would rather betray them, join Quan Xing,

and become a Quan Xing demon hunted by all rather than stay?

The story behind it might not be interesting—but it was certainly cruel.

“Well then, Zhang Jie, Zhang Chulan—have you decided?

This probe will cause you no harm,

and we will offer you a compensation you’ll find satisfactory.”

Lu Ci, who had controlled the Lu family for nearly a century, turning it from decline to prosperity,

was a man of deep cunning—Lu Gong’s words of hatred and murder left no trace on him.

“We refuse. Chulan, let’s go.”

Zhang Jie refused without hesitation, rising to walk out of the hall.

Though he could guarantee that even if he left himself completely defenseless, Lu Gong could not probe even a single memory of his,

he was no bleeding heart to let someone examine his memories just because they asked nicely.

In a world like this, where order and peace prevail, fine—but in the worlds of Tian Long or Yi Tian,

Wang Ai and Lu Ci’s words alone would warrant execution of nine clans.

Disrespect in the imperial hall was already a grave offense—how much worse to spy on the Emperor’s memories?

The Dragon Escape* Nine Clan Severance Technique was made for people like them.

“Understood, Jiege.”

Zhang Chulan, equally uninterested in such a thing, followed closely behind Zhang Jie.

“Hehehe! Since you refuse the respectful wine, you’ll drink the punishment wine!”

Wang Ai cackled, slamming his dragon-headed cane down—countless black Qi surged from his body.

A powerful aura radiated from him, as if the ancient man seated in the high-backed chair

were not a centenarian elder, but a primordial beast that roamed heaven and earth, slaughtering all life.

Vast clouds of black Qi filled the main hall, sealing the courtyard gates tightly shut.

At this moment, even the sunlight in the hall dimmed.

Even the sun must yield before the power of a Top Ten Elder!

Even confined to this small space, it was astonishing.

The true weight of a top-tier cultivator in the Yiren world was clear.

“So, Old Man Wang—you intend to forcibly detain us, brother disciples?”

Zhang Jie looked at Wang Ai as if he were a rare beast.

You’re so bold—do your family know?

Though Zhang Chulan had not yet formally been recognized as a disciple of the Tian Shi Sect, nor registered in its records,

he had already received the Old Heavenly Master’s personal certification—he was undeniably a Tian Shi Sect disciple.

If anyone objects, let them go argue with the Old Heavenly Master.

And Zhang Jie, though his cultivation was mediocre, left the mountain to eke out a living in the North China branch of the company,

still had his name registered on the Long Hu roster—he was unquestionably a Tian Shi Sect disciple.

For us to address each other as brother disciples was perfectly natural.

As for who was elder and who was younger—

Zhang Chulan, seeing Jiege’s fists bigger than a sandbag, humbly accepted the role of younger brother.

Of course, out of long habit, he still found “Jiege” easier to say than “elder brother.”