Si Wuya remained silent. He was not angry, and it seemed like he was already used to this. He was not surprised at all. In fact, he felt his master’s punishment had been light compared to before. However, his master’s words were more succinct now. As he kneeled on the ground, he recalled Mingshi Yin and Zhu Honggong’s words about their master’s change. The more he thought about it, the more perplexed he became. In any case, it was no longer important at this moment.
Perhaps, the commotion was too loud. Duanmu Sheng, Mingshi Yin, Zhao Yue, Little Yuan’er, Hua Yuexing, and the others rushed over to the eastern pavilion.
There were also many female cultivators who came since they were curious about Si Wuya. They stood in the distance to watch.
Before anyone spoke, Lu Zhou’s voice rang in everyone’s ears.
“Anyone who dares to plead for him shall receive the same punishment.”
He would allow anyone to interfere with him disciplining a stubborn disciple.
Mingshi Yin saw the broken door and said with a smile, “Master, I will never plead for him… In fact, I think he should be heavily punished!”
“…”
The others were not bold enough to say anything.
“You talk a lot.” Lu Zhou walked down the stairs.
Mingshi Yin shut his mouth immediately.
It was getting dark. Shadows were creeping up on the eastern pavilion.
Si Wuya was not embarrassed by the crowd. His back remained straight as he kneeled on the ground. He looked at his master who was walking down the stairs, and he saw an old man whose great limit was upon him.
Lu Zhou stood before Si Wuya with his hands on his back. For a fleeting moment, Si Wuya felt as though he had been transported back in time. Back then, he was still young and was told to kneel as a punishment for a mistake he made. Many years had passed since then, and yet, here he was, back in the same position and reenacting the same moment.
“You’ve plotted extensively to bring chaos into the world. What are you after?” Lu Zhou’s voice was much calmer now.
Since the day Si Wuya left the Evil Sky Pavilion, everything he knew about his master was from second-hand reports. Moreover, the Darknet’s hands did not reach into the Evil Sky Pavilion. Regardless, he was convinced his master was completely different from how he was in the past. In the end, he replied, “Eldest Senior Brother wants to rule the world so I helped him.”
“Just because of Yu Zhenghai?” Lu Zhou regarded Si Wuya skeptically. His tone seemed to turn sharper when he mentioned Yu Zhenghai.
Si Wuya said, “Revenge can only be obtained when Eldest Senior Brother rules the world… Only by crushing the Divine Capital can we…” He stopped abruptly.
Lu Zhou stroked his beard and said, “Did Yu Zhenghai leave the Evil Sky Pavilion purely for the sake of revenge?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think I’m gullible?” Lu Zhou’s tone was deceptively calm at this moment.
Si Wuya felt an unbearable pressure pressing down on him at this moment.
If it was just for revenge, why did he need to crush the Divine Capital? With the Nether Sect’s current strength, it was not impossible to flatten Lou Lan when their members were mobilized in the hundreds of thousands. Lou Lan was a nation ruled by witchcraft. It was still behind Great Yan’s cultivators if they went to war.
“I dare not. I have told no lies,” Si Wuya replied.
Lu Zhou stared at Si Wuya. He had helped Si Wuya during the battle in Liang Province merely only made Si Wuya acquiesce to returning to the Evil Sky Pavilion. It did not raise nor change Si Wuya’s loyalty.
Name: Si Wuya.
Identity: Great Yan human.
Realm: Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm.
Si Wuya was the rascal whom Lu Zhou had nurtured. Each disciple was more stubborn and obstinate than the last.
“Yu Shangrong won’t tell me, and you won’t tell me, either… Yu Shangrong has never gotten along with Yu Zhenghai. Who do you think is right or wrong?” Lu Zhou asked.
“None of them are right!” Si Wuya answered.
“Eldest Senior Brother is too extreme in his methods. He won’t stop at anything to achieve his goals. Second Senior Brother is too sentimental, and he disregards the iron rules of the Evil Sky Pavilion. Although they cannot see eye to eye, they do share one thing in common… They won’t treat anyone who insults the Evil Sky Pavilion with any mercy.”
Lu Zhou frowned slightly. “Mingshi Yin.”
“Yes, master.”
“Strike his mouth for me.”
“Uh…” Mingshi Yin was slightly taken aback. He hesitated. He did not know why asked him to strike Si Wuya’s mouth. His master’s abrupt change in mood was too quick.
The other disciples were puzzled as well.
Si Wuya said, “I’ll strike it myself.” A loud and crisp sound rang in the air when he slapped himself.
“Do you feel wronged?” Lu Zhou asked.
“I dare not.”
“Those who insulted the Evil Sky Pavilion weren’t given any mercy?” Lu Zhou shook his head and spoke indifferently, “The elites of the ten great sects had attacked me twice… Where were you lot when that happened?”
Si Wuya was at a loss for words.
Lu Zhou’s voice grew deeper. “You can’t have a single restful night so long as I’m around, can you?”
“I dare not,” Si Wuya immediately kowtowed and said in a clear voice, “The attack of the ten elites was impromptu. After that incident, Eldest Senior Brother attacked the sects involved… When Senior Sister Zhao Yue was taken hostage at Runan City’s holy altar, Second Senior Brother was the one who went and killed so many elites.”
“Since you’re unwaveringly loyal to the Evil Sky Pavilion, tell me the truth about the crystal and the Divine Capital,” Lu Zhou said.
Si Wuya fell silent.
Lu Zhou had expected Si Wuya to remain tight-lipped. He said, “One cannot succeed alone… I’m the one who cannot rest peacefully at night for having a rascal like you as a disciple.”
At this moment, Mingshi Yin walked over. He could not take this anymore. “Old Seventh, what’s gotten into you?”
Duanmu Sheng said, “Old Seventh, at this point, what difference does it make if you say it or not? You talk about treating master with filial piety, but is this the attitude a disciple should have?”
The others stayed silent.
“I don’t know what Second Senior Brother said… but I believe in my own judgment. If my judgment proves to be wrong in the future, I’m willing to apologize with my life.”
Mingshi Yin rolled his eyes. He walked up to Si Wuya and said, “Old Seventh, look into my eyes. Are you bold enough to guarantee that all your judgments aren’t wrong? Think carefully before answering me!”
Si Wuya was taken aback. Even the greatest sage in the world would not dare to claim that all of his judgments would not be wrong. He understood this even if he was confident about his judgments. Suddenly, he recalled the scene on the Lotus Dais and the scene above the Obedient Villa. During those two instants, he had felt that perhaps, his judgments were wrong from the get-go. He calmed himself down before he asked a question that Yu Shangrong had asked before, “Master, have you… found a way to attain the Nine-leaf stage?”
Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at Lu Zhou, waiting for his answer. The answer was too important. It would affect the path of the entire cultivation world.
Among everyone present, Mingshi Yin was the only one who had heard the members of the Old Age Pavilion discussing this topic. Hence, he was calmer than the others.
The entire eastern pavilion was as silent as a graveyard.
Lu Zhou’s expression remained unchanged. He stroked his beard with one hand while he placed the other hand on his back.
