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Chapter 169: The Rascal Has Nowhere to Run
“You’re a sly one,” Mingshi Yin said as he leaned to the side.
Si Wuya strode forward and went up the stairs. He sat down slowly on the seat beside Mingshi Yin and said with a smile, “I heard that Wei Zhuoyan has gone to the Evil Sky Pavilion.”
“Old Seventh, save your breath. You won’t get anything out of me,” Mingshi Yin said.
“Fourth Senior Brother… We’re from the same pavilion after all. There’s no need for us to act like strangers. I’m asking this for the Evil Sky Pavilion’s sake as well.”
“My as*!” Mingshi Yin spat on the floor. “If you truly have the Evil Sky Pavilion in your heart, you’ll return and accept your punishment immediately. The heavens will decide your life and death!”
Zhu Honggong felt a fresh surge of fear in his heart. His Fourth Senior Brother was talking about life and death now. He was convinced that nothing good would be waiting for him if he returned to the Evil Sky Pavilion.
Si Wuya smiled and said drily, “There’s no need to be so hostile toward me, Fourth Senior Brother… It’s meaningless to lose your temper. I have so many things I have yet accomplished, how can I return to the Evil Sky Pavilion?”
“Well then, what’s your purpose of sending the letter to the Evil Sky Pavilion?” Mingshi Yin asked, confused.
“It’s simple…” Si Wuya pointed at Zhu Honggong, Old Eighth, who was next to him. “The Clarity Sect wants to attack the Tiger Ridge Gang. Old Eighth would not be able to survive without the Evil Sky Pavilion’s protection.”
“That’s it? There’s nothing else?” Mingshi Yin asked skeptically.
Si Wuya shook his head. “Why do you think of me as a sinister and filthy person, Fourth Senior Brother… That’s my only intention…”
“Why didn’t you seek help from Second Senior Brother or Eldest Senior Brother instead?”
Among the three of them, it was clearly the most difficult to ask their master for help.
Eldest Senior Brother and Second Senior Brother were capable enough to deal with the Clarity Sect.
“Eldest Senior Brother is occupied with various tasks every day. He doesn’t have time for Old Eighth. Second Senior Brother travels all over the place, and his movements are often unknown. He doesn’t have a place he calls home. The Evil Sky Pavilion is the most suitable candidate, under these circumstances.”
“After hearing all this, I don’t think I want to bring Old Eighth back with me right now.” Mingshi Yin merely wanted to oppose Si Wuya.
Si Wuya said, “Old Eighth will die.”
“Let him die then.”
Zhu Honggong was baffled. ‘What did I do? Enough is enough!’ He straightened his back and said loudly, “My dear senior brothers… I’m not going anywhere. Besides, this is my problem. What has it got to do with either of you?”
“Shut up!” Si Wuya and Mingshi Yin snapped in unison.
“…” Zhu Honggong sat back down. He did not like this.
Si Wuya’s expression was calm as he looked at Mingshi Yin and said, “Are you going to sit back and do nothing while Old Eighth dies, Fourth Senior Brother?”
Zhu Honggong gave up trying to interject. He seemed to have grown numb to the word ‘die’.
Mingshi Yin said, “Old Eighth is considered dead the moment he betrayed master. If he dies, it’s because he deserves it.”
Si Wuya’s expression showed no changes as he continued to say, “In that case, we’ll let him die then.”
It was meaningless to bicker with Mingshi Yin. Si Wuya rose to his feet and walked out of the stronghold with his hands on his back.
Upon seeing Si Wuya leaving, Mingshi Yin said in a deceptively gentle tone, “Old Seventh, heed my advice. You should stop this…”
Si Wuya stopped in his tracks and said drily, “Master has 15 years left to live… Ten years, eight years, maybe even sooner. The Evil Sky Pavilion will surely experience a tribulation.”
Mingshi Yin knew that as well so he remained silent.
Si Wuya said, “Fourth Senior Brother, what would you do then?”
“Let’s leave tomorrow’s worries for tomorrow.”
“Forget it… Forget that I was even here today.” Si Wuya left the stronghold with blinding speed.
Mingshi Yin did not stop him. With his current strength and cultivation base, it would be slightly difficult for him to catch Si Wuya. He remained silent for a while before he finally said, “Disband the gang! Come with me!”
“Huh?”
“Don’t you ‘huh’ me… Master has ordered me to bring you back to the Evil Sky Pavilion,” Mingshi Yin said.
Zhu Honggong was on the verge of tears. He felt terrified whenever he thought about his master’s various methods. He shook his head frantically. “Forget it… Fourth Senior Brother, why do you have to put me in a difficult position when we’re on the same side?” As he spoke, he took two steps back.
“Old Eighth… What’re you trying to do?”
“I’m sorry, senior brother… I really don’t want to return! Farewell!” Zhu Honggong turned tail and ran! His speed made the others’ hairs stand on end.
A faint smile spread across Mingshi Yin’s face. “Let’s see where you can run to.” With swift movements, Mingshi Yin chased after him.
Zhu Honggong was a Divine Court realm cultivator, after all. In terms of speed, he was no match for Mingshi Yin who was in the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm.
In just a blink of an eye, Mingshi Yin was right behind Zhu Honggong. He did not hesitate as he raised his hand and struck with his palm.
Bam!
Mingshi Yin’s palm landed on Zhu Honggong’s back, causing Zhu Honggong to stumble forward from the impact.
“Hm?” Mingshi Yin felt that his palm strike had been blocked by some special object.
Zhu Honggong was sprawled on the ground at this moment. He quickly rose to his feet and began to run again.
“Block him! Quick… Now!”
“Gang Leader, this way!”
Mingshi Yin was rendered speechless by this. Although his combat style depended on his whim as well, he would never turn tail and run like this. For an Evil Sky Pavilion’s disciple to behave in this manner was truly a humiliation to the Evil Sky Pavilion.
“There’s nowhere to run.” Mingshi Yin’s voice resounded throughout the stronghold.
Zhu Honggong sprinted toward the back of the mountain.
Alas, Mingshi Yin moved swiftly and appeared before Zhu Honggong again. At the same time, vines sprouted around him and began to grow rapidly. The path that led to the back of the mountain was swiftly blocked by the vines in no time at all.
Zhu Honggong staggered and retreated. ‘This is bad.’
“The Octagon Formation!” Zhu Honggong’s expression changed. “Fourth Senior Brother, don’t make me do this!”
“Don’t think you can scare me with that Formation of yours… Please don’t think that I’m heartless. When I was here previously, I’ve made some changes to it.” Mingshi Yin walked toward him with half a smile.
Zhu Honggong wanted to cry. The gang members behind him shuddered with fear as well.
“Gang Leader… Why don’t… Why don’t you surrender yourself?”
Zhu Honggong was speechless.
Mingshi Yin nodded and said, “You have sensible and understanding subordinates.”
Creak! Creak! Creak!
Zhu Honggong’s retreat was also blocked by the vines.
Mingshi Yin’s Bluewood Heart Technique had been cultivated to the point of perfection. His Primal Qi spilled into his surroundings like an incoming tide. Wherever it touched, vines would sprout and grow.
This technique, Spring Upon a Thousand Vines, could even be used to fight against a Four-leaf Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm cultivator, let alone Zhu Honggong who was in the Divine Court realm.
Zhu Honggong’s zen tunic could only reduce the damage he received to a certain degree. It did nothing to increase his combat strength. He could only look on helplessly as Mingshi Yin walked up to him. Without the Octagon Formation, the disparity between them was too great. It was as different as heaven and earth.
Zhu Honggong really felt like crying, all his paths of retreat seemed to have been cut off. “Se… Senior Brother…”
Mingshi Yin patted his shoulder. He sighed softly. “Just do as you’re told.” After saying this, he turned to the Tiger Ridge Gang’s members and declared loudly, “All of you should look for other ways to make a living!”
“Gang Leader!”
“Gang Leader!”
Mingshi Yin was inwardly shocked when he saw these cowardly gang members fall to their knees in unison.
Zhu Honggong swept his gaze across them and said, “Divide the valuables in the stronghold among yourselves… Then, get lost.”