Chapter 1053

Behind him followed the Eastern Depot's eight top experts, led by Tiezhua Feiying and Luo Jusheng.

Clearly, Zhu Tie Dan had sacrificed the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang and Seventy-Two Earthly Sha to deceive Fanan and other Wu Lin orthodox practitioners.

He also deceived Zhuge Shenhou, Master Changsheng, and other Wu Zhe of the Nine Provinces.

But he ultimately failed to deceive Cao Zhengchun, the Eastern Depot's chief, who knew Zhu Wushi best and had always regarded him as his greatest rival.

Upon seeing Cao Zhengchun appear, Zhu Tie Dan grew anxious.

He could not help but roar repeatedly,

"You fools, get out of my way, or I'll kill you all."

The Xiangxi Four Ghosts remained unmoved and paid no heed to Cao Zhengchun and the Eastern Depot men.

They continued as before, using the Phantom Spirit Art to wear down Zhu Tie Dan's attacks and gradually sever his connection to the outside world.

Wan Sanqian was already dead; they were determined to avenge him.

At the cost of their lives!

"This is hilarious! Dogs biting dogs, spitting fur everywhere! Shenhou, I won't be polite anymore!"

Cao Zhengchun was overjoyed—he never imagined he could so easily take advantage of Zhu Tie Dan.

Seeing the bud, about to bloom, he couldn't help but be enchanted.

Yet he knew this flower was extremely sinister.

The Four Secret Agents had already been drained dry; Wan Sanqian had been sucked so thoroughly his life or death was unknown.

Cao Zhengchun turned to the eight experts behind him and said,

"Whoever seizes this flower for me, I'll immediately promote him to Eastern Depot Grand Clerk—ranked only below me!"

The Eastern Depot Grand Clerk was indeed the highest non-eunuch position, just below the Eastern Depot Provincial Military Commander!

The current Grand Clerk was none other than Tiezhua Feiying.

Clearly, if Tiezhua Feiying didn't act soon, his position as Grand Clerk would be lost.

But Tiezhua Feiying was as cunning as a demon; even while hiding with Cao Zhengchun, he had already seen the flower's sinister nature.

Could a flower that had drained four Secret Agents be so easily taken?

This Grand Clerk position, then!

If you've got the guts, go ahead and grab it!

Tiezhua Feiying acted as if he hadn't heard, standing motionless.

The other seven experts were instantly filled with awkwardness.

If they went for the flower—

What if it hadn't had enough yet, and sucked them dry too?

But if they didn't act, and someone else seized the chance first, wouldn't their wealth and glory slip through their fingers?

For a moment, Luo Jusheng and the others fell into deep thought, none daring to move first.

"Hmph! What a bunch of useless wastes I've raised!"

Cao Zhengchun, seeing that not one of the eight experts moved despite his order, grew angry,

pointing at Duan Tianya and Guihai Yidao, who were still meditating, and said to the eight,

"Look at Zhu Tie Dan's men—just one word and they leap into action.

And you? Out of all of you, not one can match them?"

These words, heard by Duan Tianya and Guihai Yidao, nearly made them choke on rage.

Old eunuch, can you be this cruel?

The third Tian Xiang Doukou!

Even after Cao Zhengchun's furious scolding, the eight Eastern Depot experts, all cowardly and fearful of death, still dared not move.

Cao Zhengchun grew desperate.

In truth, he didn't even know what the Tian Xiang Doukou was used for.

But whatever Zhu Tie Dan wanted, he wanted too.

That's why he secretly brought the eight experts to follow Zhu Tie Dan.

Coincidentally, Zhu Tie Dan himself had just destroyed the Four Secret Agents for this flower.

Then Wan Sanqian spotted it, plunging Zhu Tie Dan into the ambush of the Xiangxi Four Ghosts.

Now was the perfect moment to seize the Tian Xiang Doukou.

If Zhu Tie Dan made up his mind and broke through the Xiangxi Four Ghosts' encirclement,

then facing Zhu Tie Dan, Cao Zhengchun truly dared not claim victory.

Yet none of these eight experts were reliable.

Cao Zhengchun, both desperate and furious, suddenly glanced at Luo Jusheng and spoke gently,

"Jusheng, how have I treated you?"

Upon hearing this, Luo Jusheng froze—he immediately understood the chief wanted him to sacrifice himself.

But back when he was Monk Lecheng of Yunzhou Shaolin, he had secretly learned a forbidden Shaolin Wu Gong, discovered by Le Fan.

Not only was he expelled from the sect, but his entire cultivation was to be stripped away.

Luo Jusheng's martial arts had taken him immense effort to attain.

So he seized the chance to plead his case and defected from Shaolin outright.

Le Fan, furious, personally led eighteen Shaolin Luo Han in a thousand-li pursuit.

Had it not been for Cao Zhengchun's timely appearance, who tricked Le Fan away,

Luo Jusheng would surely have had his powers stripped long ago, and now would be begging in some forgotten corner.

Afterwards, Cao Zhengchun even invited a famous physician to shave Luo Jusheng's bones and change his face, giving him a new identity.

He then hired him as a guest elder of the Eastern Depot, where his power and prestige were dazzling.

It can be said that Cao Zhengchun truly counts as Luo Jusheng's second parents.

Thinking of this, Luo Jusheng's expression grew solemn, and he cupped his fist and said,

"The Directorate Chief's grace is as deep as an abyss or a sea.

All these years, Jusheng has not been able to repay even one ten-thousandth of it—ashamed, ashamed!

Today, since the Directorate Chief has need of me, Jusheng would not think it a pity even to die!"

In truth, if he could, Cao Zhengchun truly did not want to sacrifice Luo Jusheng.

After all, the Eastern Depot nominally had eight great experts, but the only one Cao Zhengchun could truly trust was this Luo Jusheng.

But the situation was urgent now—who knew when Zhu Tie Dan would lose control.

Once he broke through the Bewitching Shadow Divine Art of the Four Ghosts of Xiangxi, then everything would be too late.

"Jusheng! You don't have to think you'll die."

Cao Zhengchun began to comfort him, pointing again at Duan Tianya and Benefactor Guihai as he spoke,

"Didn't these two also go? Yet now they aren't dead.

Relax a little—as long as you come back safely, this household will certainly recommend you before the Emperor."

Luo Jusheng's identity was awkward; he had never dared reveal his true identity.

If he gained the Emperor's recognition, then Yunzhou Shaolin would likely never dare cause him trouble again.

At this, Luo Jusheng's eyes lit up, and he said to Cao Zhengchun,

"Luo Jusheng thanks the Directorate Chief for his cultivation—I'll be off now."

Saying this, Luo Jusheng's figure stirred, and he prepared to grasp the flower stem.

"Wait—I'll go first!"

A woman's voice rang out, and a woman was seen to strike first, seizing the flower stem a step ahead of Luo Jusheng.

This person was precisely Luo Jusheng's wife, née Luo, whom he had married after returning to lay life, introduced by Cao Zhengchun.

She was also the only woman among the Eastern Depot's eight great experts.

"Yalier…"

Seeing Luo née He grip the flower stem, Luo Jusheng immediately began trembling uncontrollably all over.

He understood in his heart that this beloved wife was already having her inner strength drained by that strange flower.

Watching his beloved wife strike first for his sake, Luo Jusheng could not help weeping like rain.

Luo née He was in excruciating pain at this moment, yet she still turned back toward Luo Jusheng, forced a smile, and shook her head.