Chapter 88: Regret Too Late
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As the crowd of cultivators trembled in fear and wallowed in regret, they had no idea the “senior” they spoke of had long since vanished into the wind.
Thousands of miles away, high in the sky, a tall figure glided effortlessly through the clouds. Her sharp yet ethereal features exuded an unworldly grace. Dressed in simple robes, her black hair flowed freely like silk in the breeze, framing her snow-white complexion.
This was Yu Zhao.
After six months of seclusion, she had successfully reached the Golden Core Stage, a whole decade earlier than in her previous life.
“The Purple Gold Pot that Master crafted is truly remarkable,” she mused, her tone laced with admiration. “Its illusions adapt to the user’s cultivation level seamlessly.”
After inheriting the legacy of Bright Moon Hermit, Yu Zhao had learned the correct method to recognize the pot as its owner and refine it. With her Golden Core cultivation, the illusions it created could wield power comparable to a Nascent Soul cultivator.
She couldn’t help but imagine how entertaining it would be to unleash the Purple Gold Pot during battle. The startled reactions of her enemies would undoubtedly be priceless.
At the same time, Yu Zhao looked forward to the day she would acquire the Heavenly Fairy Herb. With it, she planned to personally forge a life-bound magical artifact perfectly harmonizing with her Illusory Tides Technique.
But before that, her immediate goal was to journey to Southern Abyss City and investigate the former site of the Water Cloud Palace. She hoped to uncover clues related to Shui Qing Yue.
Her eagerness quickened her pace, transforming her into a streak of light that vanished into the horizon.
…
Meanwhile, at the Green Wood Sect.
Emerging from the pill refinement chamber, Wang Qian bumped straight into Mu Ye, who had just arrived to refine pills of her own. His expression darkened, and he let out a heavy snort.
Mu Ye, not one to indulge him, walked past without so much as a glance.
Feeling slighted, Wang Qian’s rage boiled over. “Mu Ye, stop right there! You’re not the Young Sect Master yet, so drop the attitude!”
Turning around, Mu Ye rolled her eyes. “Wang Qian, if you’re ill, take some pills and stop spouting nonsense in my presence.”
Her retort was sharp, but Wang Qian had only himself to blame. He was petty and constantly spoke in a snide, sarcastic tone. Mu Ye had tried reasoning with him before, but her efforts were futile. She had since given up.
“Mu Ye!” Wang Qian yelled, his face red with fury. “Don’t think you can become the Young Sect Master just because the Sect Leader favors you! You’re not qualified!”
Mu Ye sighed, exasperated. This was exactly why she avoided him. Wang Qian not only instigated trouble but twisted the narrative to cast her as the aggressor. And, without fail, he dragged the Young Sect Master position into every quarrel, making him impossible to reason with.
“Wang Qian,” she said firmly, “let me make this clear for the last time. The position of Young Sect Master will be decided by merit. If you can surpass me in the disciples’ assessment, I’ll concede without complaint. But if you can’t, then keep quiet. Understood?”
Both were Pill Hall disciples, at the late Foundation Establishment stage, and had joined the sect around the same time. Naturally, they were often compared. Mu Ye welcomed the competition; having a rival pushed her to strive harder. Unfortunately, Wang Qian didn’t share her view. To him, she was a constant thorn in his side, someone he had to undermine at every turn.
Fortunately, the annual disciple assessment was only a year away. The Sect Leader had already announced that the winner would become the next Young Sect Master. It would be the perfect opportunity to settle the score.
“You think you’ll win?” Wang Qian sneered, his voice dripping with venom. “Dream on. When I crush you, you’d better kneel and bow to me!”
With that, he stormed off, leaving Mu Ye shaking her head in disdain. Why couldn’t she have fellow disciples as trustworthy as Senior Sister Zhou from the Five Elements Dao Sect or Yu Zhao?
What a pity.
Elsewhere.
Wang Qian couldn’t stop thinking about the name Yu Zhao.
He had been secluded in his pill-refining retreat for three months. Surely, there must be new developments from the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion by now.
Using a communication talisman, he sent messages to Guo Ming En and Tian Han to meet him.
Half an hour later, the three of them gathered in Wang Qian’s cave dwelling.
Wang Qian cast a sidelong glance at the two, his expression cold and severe. “What’s the situation with the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion? Is Yu Zhao dead or alive?”
Tian Han chuckled nervously. “Senior Brother Wang Qian, the pavilion hasn’t responded yet. It seems the person who accepted the task hasn’t found Yu Zhao’s whereabouts, so…”
His voice trailed off under Wang Qian’s furious glare.
Wang Qian was livid, his anger barely contained. “Six months! It’s been six months! They can’t even locate Yu Zhao? What good are those people? Isn’t the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion supposed to be known for fulfilling any request? Is this how they handle matters?”
Having just endured a frustrating encounter with Mu Ye, Wang Qian had hoped to vent his anger by hearing about Yu Zhao’s miserable state.
But now, despite completing two batches of pills, he hadn’t seen even a trace of Yu Zhao. What was the point of issuing a bounty if it accomplished nothing?
“Senior Brother Wang Qian, please calm down. Anger is bad for your health. Yu Zhao won’t escape for long.”
Seeing Tian Han being thoroughly berated, Guo Ming En, feeling a sense of shared misery, stepped in to mediate.
Wang Qian turned his sharp gaze toward him, lifting his chin slightly, signaling him to continue.
Guo Ming En poured a cup of hot tea and pushed it toward Wang Qian before explaining further.
“Last time, when Tian Han and I went to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, I made some inquiries. The ones who accepted the task were the Four Gentlemen: Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum, known for a one hundred percent success rate in assassinations. Their average cultivation level is at the mid-Golden Core stage.
“Among them, the Plum Gentleman excels at tracking. With him involved, even if Yu Zhao fled to the ends of the earth, there’s no escaping their pursuit.”
Wang Qian’s expression shifted slightly. “Are these Four Gentlemen really that formidable?”
“Absolutely,” Guo Ming En emphasized. “Though their reputation isn’t well-known within sects, they are legendary among rogue cultivators. No one dares to provoke them. If Yu Zhao encounters them, there’s only one outcome: death.”
Wang Qian fell silent, lost in thought.
Suddenly, Guo Ming En leaned in conspiratorially. “Actually, the longer this task drags on, the better it is for us.”
“How so?”
“Think about it, Senior Brother Wang Qian. If Yu Zhao had been killed in the wilderness shortly after her conflict with us, the Five Elements Dao Sect would have immediately suspected us.
“But now, six months have passed. Who knows what kind of enemies Yu Zhao might have made outside? If she dies now, no one can pin it on us.”
Both Wang Qian and Tian Han perked up at the insight.
Indeed, the earlier Yu Zhao’s death, the greater their risk of being implicated.
If Master Qing Yan personally investigated, even the Green Wood Sect might not be able to shield them.
By sheer luck, the delay in Yu Zhao’s demise had inadvertently increased their safety.
“Senior Brother Guo, I knew I wasn’t wrong about you!”
Wang Qian, in high spirits, patted Guo Ming En on the shoulder with satisfaction.
Relieved, Guo Ming En and Tian Han exchanged glances, realizing they had passed this hurdle.
There’s an old saying: being close to a king is like living near a tiger.
They deeply understood its truth.
Working alongside Wang Qian was more challenging than cultivation itself.
If it weren’t for being ostracized by Mu Ye’s clique, they would never have turned to Wang Qian.
How they regretted it now…