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Little Yuan’er said with a smile, “You’re a brave one.” After she finished speaking, she snorted at the middle-aged man next to Hua Wudao, causing him to stumble back in fright.
When Hua Wudao saw this, he looked at the middle-aged man from the corners of his eyes and reprimanded him, “Good-for-nothing. You’ve utterly disgraced me.”
The middle-aged man turned red from embarrassment.
Lu Zhou stroked his beard and said, “I commend you for your bravery.”
Hua Wudao cupped his hands together and said, “I’ve been obsessed with cultivation in my pursuit of Dao. The quarrels between the Fiend and Noble Paths have nothing to do with me.”
Mingshi Yin said with a smile, “That’s nice, but since you’re an elder of Yun Sect…”
Hua Wudao waved his hand and said, “Before I traveled north, I’ve resigned from my post as an elder.”
1
Everyone was taken aback by this. Humans usually placed great importance on fame and power. The Yun Sect was one of the powerful Yun, Tian, and Luo Sects. Many coveted the position of an elder, and yet, this old man claimed he had given it up.
When Hua Wudao spoke, his expression was earnest. “I’m advanced in age, and I’ll return to dust soon. I came to the Evil Sky Pavilion today only to resolve the knot in my heart.”
“The knot in your heart?” Little Yuan’er asked as she played with a few strands of her hair.
Hua Wudao said slowly, “20 years ago, I was defeated by Brother Ji. Since then, my cultivation base hasn’t improved. This has made me a laughingstock in the Yun, Tian, and Luo Sects. Even ordinary cultivators would ridicule me for this. This led to a knot forming in my heart.”
“What does the knot in your heart have to do with my master?” Mingshi Yin asked after he rolled his eyes.
“Since the knot had formed due to Brother Ji, it’s only natural that only Brother Ji can remove it. Over the past 20 years, I’ve been mulling over the few skills that Brother Ji used to defeat me…” Hua Wudao said.
“Bullsh*t!” Mingshi Yin cursed. “Who are you to call my master Brother Ji? Besides, your cultivation base didn’t improve in the past 20 years? Are you here to ask for a beating?”
Hua Wudao was taken aback. This was the Evil Sky Pavilion, a place where cultivators were afraid of. At this moment, he was facing the greatest villain the world had ever known. Indeed. It was slightly inappropriate for him to refer to the great villain as Brother Ji.
“I have been rude,” Hua Wudao said sincerely.
Lu Zhou stroked his beard and said, “This disciple of mine has always been uncouth, but he has spoken my mind.”
When Mingshi Yin heard this, he rejoiced inwardly. He even wore a threatening expression because of his master’s words.
Hua Wudao was unfazed by Mingshi Yin’s attitude. Instead, he said, “I’ve come to the Evil Sky Pavilion with a single goal in mind; to undo the knot in my heart. I wasn’t your opponent 20 years ago, and I admit that I won’t be a match for you today.”
“You’ve lost, and that’s all there is to it… Your cultivation base has stagnated ever since, and you have a knot in your heart. What does that have to do with me? Do you think the Evil Sky Pavilion is full of merciful Buddhas?” Lu Zhou asked in a deep voice as he stroked his beard.
Hua Wudao was rendered speechless by these words.
Mingshi Yin spoke again, “You can’t blame anyone else for your lackluster skills. Resenting the Evil Sky Pavilion won’t change anything.”
At this point, the middle-aged man who had remained silent from the beginning interjected with a slight hint of defiance, “My master came here with sincerity in his heart, and yet, you’ve been humiliating him non-stop. You’re all insufferable bullies.”
“Speaking the truth counts as bullying?” Mingshi Yin said with a chuckle as he rolled his eyes.
“You…”
“Stop it!” Hua Wudao chided the middle-aged man, “I’m completely disgraced by you! Stand down!”
The middle-aged man was unwilling, but when Hua Wudao reprimanded him, he retreated to the back obediently and kept quiet.
Hua Wudao cupped his fists and said, “My obstinate disciple has behaved rudely. Please forgive him.”
“Enough with this meaningless chatter. Get to the point,” Mingshi Yin urged.
Hua Wudao spoke, “I’ll repeat myself. I have only one objective coming to the Evil Sky Pavilion today; it’s to undo the knot in my heart. Three moves. Three moves are all I ask for.”
Realization dawned on Lu Zhou. He nodded and stroked his beard before he said, “The three skills I used 20 years ago?” To be honest, even if he had not lost this part of his memories, he still would not remember it. He had defeated countless opponents throughout the years. He had given Hua Wudao enough consideration for even remembering his name. There was no way he could remember the skills he had used during their battle 20 years ago.
“Back then, I had the greatest defense and protective energy in the Daoist Societies, and yet, I couldn’t defend against your attack… Over these two decades, I’ve studied this matter meticulously while tempering and improving myself constantly. Brother Ji, you may use any skills you like. I’ll only defend and not attack! If I can withstand them, the knot in my heart will be resolved. If I can’t, I’ll personally cripple my cultivation base and live out my days in seclusion!” Hua Wudao said boldly.
Upon hearing this, Mingshi Yin began to laugh uproariously. When he stopped laughing, he said, “What a shameless man! You’ve only been studying your tortoiseshell technique for 20 years, and you dare come here to ask my master to beat you up! You even went so far as to say that the heart in your knot will be undone if you manage to withstand the attacks! Honestly, you’re the most shameless man I’ve ever met!”
1
“…”
The middle-aged man was enraged by this. He was about to speak up again when Hua Wudao stopped him.
It could not be denied that Mingshi Yin had a point. Hua Wudao knew that his way of doing things was complete nonsense. There was no one who studied defensive cultivation methods for 20 years, showed up before their opponent, and asked to be hit.
“Hua Wudao, you’re indeed shameless… Why don’t you give me 10 years, and I’ll study your defensive technique. If I can’t stab you to death 10 years later, I’ll live with my name pronounced backward,” Duanmu Sheng said as he brandished his Overlord Spear. The Overlord Spear buzzed and vibrated under the surge of Primal Qi. It showcased its might as a heaven-grade weapon.
Hua Wudao frowned. He felt a lump in his throat when he heard this.
Duanmu Sheng continued to say, “You’ve studied for 20 years, and I’m only asking for 10 years. No, five will do.”
“…”
The middle-aged man said to Hua Wudao, “Master, let’s leave… There’s no need for you to do this! I’ve told you the Evil Sky Pavilion won’t take you seriously.”
“Silence!” Hua Wudao glared at his disciple. He took a step forward and fell to one knee. He cupped his fists respectfully and said, “I ask for nothing else… I know I’m no match for you. However, if this knot in my heart remains unresolved, I’ll live with regret for the rest of my life. Please help me undo this knot, Brother Ji!” His voice was bright, resounding, and forceful.
The others were slightly taken aback by this.
There were those who came taunting, those who laid siege to this mountain, and those who tried to mount sneak attacks. However, this was the first time someone had come here, kneeled down, and asked to be beaten up! This was indeed a very strange sight.
A silence hung over the Evil Sky Pavilion’s great hall.
After all, it was a rare sight for a stately elder of the Yun Sect to kneel. Who would have expected things to turn out this way?
“Please grant me this wish, Pavilion Master!” Hua Wudao said loudly.
“He won’t. Now, get lost!” Little Yuan’er leaped down from the steps.
At this moment, Lu Zhou spoke, “Hua Wudao, do you really want to undo that knot in your heart?”
“Of course… It’s my life’s wish. I wish you won’t hold back your strength, Pavilion Master,” Hua Wudao said earnestly.
“The Noble and Fiend Paths don’t tolerate each other, and yet, you’re pleading with me. Aren’t you afraid people would ridicule you for this?” Lu Zhou asked indifferently.
“In the past, there was no distinction between the Noble and Fiend Paths in Great Yan… The different paths are only formed because there were those who intended to ostracize others based on their ideologies,” Hua Wudao calmly replied.
Lu Zhou nodded lightly. He stroked his beard and said, “In that case, I’ll grant you your wish.”
When Hua Wudao heard this, he was overjoyed. He cupped his hands respectfully and said, “Thank you for your help.”
“But…” Lu Zhou suddenly said in a deep voice, “There’s something I must make clear to you beforehand.”
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