Chapter 63: He Won’t Escape
“Wang Wei from the Fragrance City branch?”
The man thought for a moment, recalling a disciple by that name. He couldn’t help but be surprised. “Does your branch have enough people to spare? You even have the luxury of sending a low-ranking disciple like you to attend the Nether Ritual?”
“Ah, you have no idea, brother.”
Chen Yin complained, feigning a rough demeanor. “After that huge incident at the Fairy Conference, the entire Fragrance City is under lockdown.”
“Our altar master figured that since it’s inconvenient to operate there and there’s a risk of exposure, he might as well bring us all to Xianyun Province. We can witness the Nether Ritual and lay low at the same time.”
“I see…” The man nodded understandingly. “Well, in that case, I’m Zhao Han, a second-class disciple of the main altar. Since you’re free these days, you can follow me around and help out with some tasks.”
“If you perform well, I’ll put in a good word for you with your altar master. Maybe you can even get promoted to a second-class disciple at your branch.”
“Great! Whatever you say, boss!”
Chen Yin rubbed his hands together eagerly and followed Zhao Han with a grin.
Zhao Han was also pleased. He had just tricked a naive disciple from a branch into doing his chores for him. The next few days were going to be much more comfortable.
“So, boss, what are we doing now?”
“Guarding the gate.”
“…Oh.”
***
Guarding the gate was even more boring than he had imagined.
Xianyun Province was a desolate wasteland, and the demonic sect’s main altar was located in a remote and secluded area. All he could see was sand and dust, not a single soul in sight. He wondered what they were even guarding.
After a while, both of them grew bored and sat by the gate, chatting idly.
“You don’t look that old, boss. You became a second-class disciple of the main altar at such a young age?”
“Ah, just lucky. I made a small contribution a while back and got promoted.”
“You’re amazing, boss! What do you usually do at the main altar? Is it the same as our branch?”
“Probably similar. We go on missions when there are any, and when there aren’t, we serve tea and run errands for our superiors. It’s probably not as comfortable as your branch.”
Zhao Han sighed. “You guys in Fragrance City have it good. It’s prosperous and there are plenty of opportunities. You can even have fun in the city when you’re free. Here at the main altar, we’re stuck in this wasteland. What fun could there possibly be?”
“Don’t say that, boss. The main altar is definitely better than the branches.” Chen Yin continued to probe for information.
“You mean cultivation techniques? Well, that depends on your talent.”
Zhao Han puffed on the pipe Chen Yin had given him, his face etched with a world-weary expression. “Although only main altar cultivators can learn the orthodox demonic arts, it ultimately comes down to your talent. I have a friend who’s very talented. He was promoted to first-class disciple after only a short time cultivating. He gets to eat and drink with the altar master and elders every day, living the good life.”
“I’m not so lucky. I reached the Entering Gate Realm and haven’t made any progress since.”
Chen Yin flattered him with a smile, “Don’t say that, boss. With a little more effort, you’ll definitely become a favorite of the elders.”
As they chatted, Chen Yin gained a general understanding of the demonic sect’s structure.
The demonic path was divided into the main altar and branch altars. Each altar had members ranked from first-class to third-class, with a relatively small number of members overall.
Above the disciples were the elders and the altar master, who was usually an elder-level figure.
At the very top was the current Dao Master of the demonic path.
The Holy Maiden seemed to hold a unique and exalted position within the demonic path, free from the commands of anyone, even the Dao Master.
Their conversation eventually came to an end. As their shift was about to end, Zhao Han waited for their replacements to arrive, then beckoned Chen Yin to follow him inside the main altar.
The interior of the demonic sect’s main altar was located underground. It was far larger and more complex than he had imagined, with a labyrinthine network of tunnels resembling a giant spiderweb.
Chen Yin followed Zhao Han for a while, then couldn’t help but ask, “Boss, where are we going?”
“The Holy Maiden has been meeting with the Dao Master for a while. She should be back soon.”
Zhao Han stroked his mustache. “This Holy Maiden has no other hobbies besides drinking tea. Every time she comes, she demands the best tea from our reserves, and she’s incredibly picky.”
“Since she’s about to return, I have to go prepare her tea. Sigh, my life is like a servant’s. I’m so unlucky.”
Hearing this, Chen Yin’s eyes lit up, and he immediately volunteered, “Boss, I’m good at making tea! I used to own a teahouse in Fragrance City.”
“Really?” Zhao Han looked at him skeptically. But he was delighted to have someone take over this chore and patted Chen Yin’s shoulder.
“Good lad, with your hard work and dedication, you’ll definitely make it big someday!”
“Go ahead, the kitchen is the third room on the left. Prepare the tea and take it to the Holy Maiden’s room, the fifth room down the hall.”
“Remember to be respectful to the Holy Maiden. If she’s in a bad mood and beats you up, you won’t have anyone to complain to.” He added as a final warning.
Chen Yin nodded eagerly.
After giving his instructions, Zhao Han stretched and mumbled to himself, “Ah, finally, I can get some sleep.”
“See you later, boss.”
Once Zhao Han was gone, Chen Yin’s smile faded, and he quickly headed towards the kitchen, his head lowered.
He entered the kitchen, closed the door, and scanned the room. After making sure it was safe, he closed his eyes slowly.
Ripples appeared in the void before him.
Chen Yin reached out his hand and gently placed it on Luo Luo’s head.
“…Don’t worry,” he said calmly.
“…I know.”
Luo Luo lowered her head, her entire body trembling slightly as she suppressed her emotions.
Her red-rimmed eyes were filled with tears, her lips bitten tightly, her ears and tail drooping dejectedly.
“Luo Luo… Luo Luo will be patient… I won’t cause any trouble for Young Master…”
“Don’t worry.”
Chen Yin said softly, “I told you. I’m here to help you get revenge.”
“…He won’t escape.” Chen Yin turned his head, his gaze coldly glancing in the direction Zhao Han had gone.
In fact, from the very beginning…
When Chen Yin first met Zhao Han, he had sensed Luo Luo’s intense emotional fluctuations through their master-servant contract.
He didn’t even need to ask to know what had happened.
This man was one of the demonic cultivators who had captured Ya Ya and her friends.
Chen Yin could almost feel Luo Luo desperately restraining herself, preventing herself from jumping out of the void and demanding to know the whereabouts of her friends.
He wouldn’t hesitate to eliminate this scum.
But right now, it was more important to find out more about Ya Ya and the others.
Especially after confirming that Xiang’er was also at the main altar…
Chen Yin pondered as he prepared the tea.
…The Nether Ritual was still a few days away.
There was no need to rush Xiang’er’s matter for now. He needed to find out about Ya Ya and her friends first.
He calmed Luo Luo down and sent her back into the void. After finishing the tea and arranging it on a tray, he slowly opened the kitchen door.
But the moment he stepped out, a sharp pain pierced his chest, and blood gushed out.
The tea tray crashed to the ground.
Chen Yin looked down at the dagger protruding from his chest, then turned to see the person hiding behind the door.
But he only saw a shadowy figure and heard a cold voice:
“A disciple of the Mist Spirit Sect, colluding with the demonic path.”
“It seems I made the right choice.”
“…You deserve to die.”
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