Chapter 22 Xiao Jue
"Stuff?"
Lu Li squatted down and stared at Sun Zi'an, saying coldly, "Tell me, who else was involved in killing Qin Shouren besides you!"
"So... you two... have been pretending to be fools all along..." Hearing this, Sun Zi'an finally understood why Lu Li and the other had come. Knowing he couldn't survive, he showed a mocking smile and laughed heartily, "I... won't tell you, what can you do to me, kill me? I'm not afraid, hahahaha...."
"Is that so!"
With a thought from Lu Li, a gleaming kitchen knife appeared in his hand. He waved it around, "Who said I'm going to kill you? Can't I cut you to pieces slowly while you're still alive? Do you think I can't find out just because you won't talk? It'll just take a bit more time!"
As he spoke, he casually cut a piece of flesh and skin from Sun Zi'an's arm with a light flick of the knife.
"Ah! I'll talk, I'll talk!"
Looking at the kitchen knife in Lu Li's hand, Sun Zi'an immediately begged for mercy frantically. He was a cultivator, not as fragile as ordinary mortals. Being cut piece by piece like this would certainly make him wish he were dead.
"Speak, my patience has limits."
"It's Yu Xiaocheng and Kang Fu, he, they were with me that day..."
Sun Zi'an lay on the ground, speaking intermittently. Whether he was deliberately delaying time or not, he actually took a full quarter of an hour to finish. However, to his disappointment, no one came to investigate the situation until he was done.
This actually couldn't be blamed on others, only on Sun Zi'an himself for choosing such an extremely secluded place to live.
After listening, Lu Li finally understood the whole story. He hadn't expected that in order to keep the matter from leaking out, this Sun Zi'an had actually killed both Yu Xiaocheng and Kang Fu.
He handed the kitchen knife to Chen Zhong.
Chen Zhong directly raised the knife and with one slash, chopped off Sun Zi'an's head.
It was only at this moment that the long-suppressed hatred in both their hearts was finally released. Lu Li squatted down and rummaged through Sun Zi'an's body, finding a small golden bag.
This thing was called a Storage Bag. Although it wasn't extremely scarce in Qingyang Sect, not everyone had one. If exchanged using contribution points, a basic Storage Bag would cost a thousand contribution points.
He opened it and looked inside. There was actually a pile of contribution cards inside, totaling up to three thousand contribution points, as well as a beginner-level technique book called Fireball Technique.
Lu Li directly performed the blood recognition ritual on the Storage Bag and claimed ownership, putting it away. Then he took out one thousand contribution points and handed them to Chen Zhong, "Find an opportunity to exchange for a Storage Bag. There's also a Fireball Technique book inside. I'll give it to you when you reach Qi Refining second stage."
"Okay." Chen Zhong put the contribution cards into his bosom, then looked at Sun Zi'an's corpse, "What do we do with this dog thing?"
Lu Li thought for a moment, "Throw it into Boshui River."
So the two took advantage of the darkness and threw Sun Zi'an's corpse into Boshui River.
Lu Li knew this matter couldn't be concealed at all; as long as others wouldn't guess it was them who did it, that was enough. After returning to his own courtyard, Lu Li solemnly cautioned Chen Zhong once more before returning to his room.
Taking advantage of this time, he also prepared to learn the Fireball Technique.
Although Fireball Technique was only a beginner-level technique, for Lu Li now, it was still extremely good.
Unknowingly, the entire night passed like this.
Clang, clang, clang...
Early morning, the assembly sound rang out again in the square of the Affairs Hall.
Today was the first day of the fourth month. This marked the beginning of another month's task assignments.
Lu Li straightened his clothes, walked out of his room, and headed to the square with Chen Zhong.
On the stone steps in front of the Affairs Hall main building, Wen Hong scanned the crowd lightly, seemingly waiting for something. But after waiting for a long time and still not seeing Sun Zi'an's figure, he couldn't help but curse, "He's getting more and more unrestrained."
He then personally took charge and began registering.
He knew all about Sun Zi'an's people, so naturally he still assigned them tasks that were light with high contribution rewards. Because previously, even when Sun Zi'an was in charge, the majority of the commission portion still ended up in Wen Hong's pocket.
Chen Zhong still chose the firewood chopping job. This task might be difficult for others to complete, but for Chen Zhong now, it couldn't be easier. He could finish a month's work in three days, while still receiving high contribution points and cultivating comfortably.
Lu Li didn't go to line up because he was waiting for someone.
After everyone received their tasks and dispersed, Chen Zhong exchanged a few pleasantries with Lu Li and also returned to his small courtyard, leaving only Lu Li and Wen Hong in the square.
Wen Hong walked up and instructed, "Kid, remember what I told you. Serve the Grand Elder well. Maybe in the future you'll soar to great heights, and I'll have to call you Senior Brother."
Lu Li looked at Wen Hong with surprise, repeatedly saying, "I wouldn't dare."
Wen Hong scoffed, "Acting like a woman. I'm telling you, to be a man, you have to dare to think and dare to act. Being timid and hesitant won't accomplish anything. Like me, why am I so blatantly corrupt? Isn't it to go further?"
As he spoke, he seemed to think of something, his eyes turning, saying, "That Sun Zi'an is getting more and more unrestrained. I want to promote you. What do you think?"
"Promote me?" Lu Li was somewhat surprised. He had always thought Sun Zi'an and this Wen Hong should have an extremely close relationship. Now it seemed they were just using each other as tools to command.
"That's right, promote you. Follow me and you won't have to work. You just need to help me find obedient laborers every month. I can give you three-tenths of the commission extracted. I'm not afraid to tell you, I only gave that Sun Zi'an two-tenths, and he could still get several hundred contribution points every month doing nothing."
Getting several hundred contribution points every month without doing anything?
Upon hearing this, Lu Li was somewhat tempted. It was just that the reputation of being a lackey was a bit unpleasant.
Thinking about it, "How about waiting until I return from Tianjue Peak to decide?"
"Of course, I was just mentioning it to you in advance." Wen Hong patted Lu Li's shoulder and looked at the figure speeding towards them from the sky, "Grand Elder is here. Speak carefully."
Lu Li looked up and indeed saw a green shadow speeding over from the horizon. As it got closer, Lu Li realized it was actually a green lotus platform. Standing on the lotus platform was a round-faced, long-bearded old Daoist, presumably Grand Elder Xiao Jue.
Xiao Jue descended to about two feet above the ground, not stepping down, glanced at Wen Hong, "Is this the charcoal head?"
Charcoal head?
Wen Hong glanced at Lu Li, who was indeed somewhat dark, and hurriedly replied respectfully to Xiao Jue, "Y-yes, it's this charcoal head."
"Pitch black all over, did you just crawl out of an alchemy furnace?" Xiao Jue glared at Lu Li with wide eyes, roaring, "Get up here!"
He's lost his mind!
Lu Li felt extremely displeased inside, but couldn't show it. Lowering his head, he stepped up with one foot.
"Stand steady. If you fall off, this old man won't be responsible!" Xiao Jue exerted force suddenly, and the lotus platform immediately shot into the sky like a shooting star.
Lu Li was caught off guard and directly fell onto his butt on the lotus platform, instantly turning his face a shade paler with fright, his hands gripping the lotus petals on the edge tightly.
With this grip, Lu Li discovered this lotus platform wasn't actually made of real lotus; it felt more like metal to the touch.
"Truly useless!"
Seeing Lu Li's embarrassment, Xiao Jue lightly raised his hand and pulled Lu Li up, "With such little courage, why even cultivate for immortality!"
This old man really has lost his mind.
If possible, Lu Li really wanted to kick this old man off from behind.
Xiao Jue naturally didn't know what Lu Li was thinking. He sneered and glanced at Lu Li, then with a flick of his hand, a technique seal flashed, and the lotus platform immediately radiated spiritual light. Carrying the two, it whooshed out, leaving only Wen Hong watching enviously, thinking, if only he were as powerful as the Grand Elder...