Everyone was stunned.
They hadn’t expected Hu Zi to vanish from Immortality Mountain simply by crushing a jade slip.
“Although the demon race has stayed mostly in the Northern Domain in recent years and rarely ventures out, their foundation is not to be underestimated,” Yun Xi remarked.
Long-Browed Daoist said, “Little brat, since you’ve already obtained the supreme opportunity, let’s not waste any more time. We leave the mountain now!”
“What’s the rush?” Ye Qiu replied. “Immortality Mountain opens only once in countless years. Are we really giving up on searching for more treasures?”
Long-Browed Daoist was the greediest person alive; suggesting they leave now was truly out of character.
“Treasures are important, but our lives are more important!”
Long-Browed Daoist explained, “If we wait until the mountain closes before leaving, all those top sect experts will realise their geniuses never came out. They’ll definitely come looking for trouble.”
“So while they still don’t know what happened, we slip out early and make a run for it.”
Yun Xi nodded. “I think the Daoist is right, but…”
“But what?” Ye Qiu asked.
Yun Xi said, “Every sect has a Soul-Guarding Hall. For people like An Ruoxi, Tuoba Xiong, and Jiang Wudao, their sects light a life lamp for them. The moment they die, the lamp goes out.”
Long-Browed Daoist’s expression shifted slightly. “Fairy Yun Xi, are you saying those top sects already know An Ruoxi and the others are dead?”
“Yes,” Yun Xi confirmed softly.
“We’re in trouble,” Long-Browed Daoist groaned, frowning deeply. “I thought entering the mountain would be dangerous. Looks like leaving is the real death trap.”
“Little brat, what do we do?”
Ye Qiu replied, “We’ll discuss it later. Before leaving, I still have one thing to take care of.”
“What thing?” Long-Browed Daoist asked.
Ye Qiu said, “My servant has disappeared somewhere. I need to find him.”
“You mean the Second Prince of Great Zhou, Wu Qianfan?” Long-Browed Daoist’s brow furrowed. Then inspiration struck. He slapped his thigh. “I’ve got it!”
Everyone turned to look at him.
Long-Browed Daoist grinned. “I have a way to resolve the crisis when we leave.”
“Little brat, no time to lose. We leave now.”
“Once we’re out, those top sect experts will definitely question us about what happened inside and how An Ruoxi and the others died.”
“We can use that chance to pin everything on Wu Qianfan.”
“How about it? Isn’t this poor daoist’s strategy brilliant?”
Everyone stared, dumbfounded.
Long-Browed Daoist clearly intended to make Wu Qianfan the scapegoat.
It had to be admitted: it was a good plan.
Just… utterly ruthless!
Lin Da-niao declared righteously, “Second Brother, this plan is too dirty. Is it really appropriate?”
Long-Browed Daoist opened his mouth to reply, but Lin Da-niao’s tone instantly shifted as he broke into a wide grin. “Actually, I think it’s perfect.”
Everyone froze.
Lin Da-niao laughed. “Isn’t that what servants are for in critical moments, to lay down their lives for their master?”
“I bet even if Wu Qianfan were here, he wouldn’t refuse.”
“Besides, Big Brother saved his life. Now it’s time for him to repay the favour.”
“What do you all think?”
Mo Tianji added, “Big Brother, I think Da-niao and Martial Uncle are right. Let Wu Qianfan shoulder… bear all of this.”
“If he wants to wear the crown, he must bear its weight.”
“Doesn’t he want to become Emperor of Great Zhou? How can he rule a nation without weathering storms?”
“Let this rare opportunity test him!”
Long-Browed Daoist, worried Ye Qiu might disagree, kept persuading. “Little brat, you’re destined to prove the Dao and become an Emperor, standing at the absolute pinnacle of cultivation. Not just anyone is qualified to be your servant.”
“I always thought it was too hasty to accept Wu Qianfan as one.”
“I agree with Junior Brother. Let’s use this to test him!”
Ye Qiu inwardly rolled his eyes. Test? You’re basically sending him to his death.
The worst part: the old thing, Mo Tianji, and Lin Da-niao were all singing the same tune.
Ye Qiu said, “You three have really thought this through.”
Long-Browed Daoist beamed. “Of course. We’re your good brothers. If we don’t look out for you, who will?”
Ye Qiu’s tone suddenly turned cold. “Since you’re looking out for me, have you considered that if Wu Qianfan gets killed by the experts outside, he might resent me?”
“That’s mistaken,” Mo Tianji countered. “A servant dying for his master is the highest honour. How could he resent you?”
Lin Da-niao chimed in, “Tianji is right. Plenty of servants dream of dying for their master but never get the chance. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is an enormous blessing for Wu Qianfan!”
Ye Qiu almost laughed.
This was clearly a despicable scheme, yet coming from their mouths, it sounded so noble and upright.
“You three have truly… rotten consciences!”
Ye Qiu’s expression turned serious. “I do not agree.”
“Wu Qianfan has acknowledged me as his master. That makes him my brother. How could I let my brother walk to his death?”
“He may wrong me, but I will never wrong him.”
Long-Browed Daoist cursed, “Little brat, why are you so stubborn?”
“If we don’t pin everything on Wu Qianfan, we’ll face certain death the moment we step outside.”
“One Wu Qianfan’s death saves all of us. It’s a profitable trade.”
“Besides, although he agreed to be your servant, he’s still a prince of Great Zhou. Do you really think he’s truly willing?”
“Even if he is, will the Great Zhou imperial family accept it?”
“A noble prince serving as someone’s slave? That’s a slap in the face to the entire imperial house!”
“If things go badly, the Great Zhou royals might send experts to kill you instead.”
“So someone like Wu Qianfan is a ticking time bomb. Keeping him around brings only harm.”
Mo Tianji said, “Big Brother, this really is the best option right now.”
“Wu Qianfan is a prince of Great Zhou with the entire dynasty behind him. Those sect experts probably won’t dare kill him openly. He might even survive by the skin of his teeth.”
Lin Da-niao added, “Big Brother, you saved him twice. You’ve already done more than enough. Now let him contribute his remaining value. I think it’s fair.”
“We only met him a few times anyway. No deep friendship.”
“And even if you call him brother, well, what are brothers for? To take a blade for each other!”
Ye Qiu glanced at Mo Tianji and Lin Da-niao, thinking: these two may be young, but their hearts are pitch-black.
Ye Qiu smiled at Lin Da-niao. “Da-niao, you’re right. Brothers are meant to block blades for each other. In that case, you go outside and block for me!”
Lin Da-niao’s face instantly stiffened.
