Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Qin Wushuang was uncertain whether any of the remaining three loops of the Seven Deadly Arrays Formation leads to the Illusion Heavenly Lake. However, since the Illusion Heavenly Lake was one of the five Forbidden Spiritual Zone, it would definitely had its’ worthy traits. Qin Wushuang had indeed, wished to gain knowledge and experience. Especially for the mysterious totem clan, he longed to get to know it and its’ mysterious aspect with a sense of urgency.
Of course, since Elder Guan Qi had said it this way, this selection competition would certainly not be easy. It would not be easy for him to qualify.
On the other hand, Qin Shaohong had moved without obstruction to arrive before Honored Warrior Zhi Huai’s mansion. When those protectors working under Honored Warrior Zhi Huai saw the arrival of Qin Shaohong, not only did they stop him, they went up to him with the intention to curry favor to him.
“Young Master Hong is here.”
“Hello Young Master Hong.”
Qin Shaohong squeezed some smile and skimped a few words. He asked casually: “Is the Honored Warrior inside?”
“It’s just inconvenient that you had come at a bad time. This morning, Honored Warrior left home and it appears he went to discuss matters at the Upright Morality Hall. I think he will only be back at a later time?”
“He went to the Upright Morality Hall? Today is not the date for the general gathering, right?” Qin Shaohong felt somewhat strange. If it was a gathering, the core disciples should also be part of it.
However, after some thought, he did not mull over this matter. Perhaps it’s some minor matters and not everyone was needed to get involved. Since he was here, he would wait regardless how late the Honored Warrior would come home.
Only when he waited until nightfall, the Honored Warrior had returned home. When he saw Qin Shaohong was here, he was somewhat surprised. However, Zhi Huai still valued this disciple significantly.
This Qin Shaohong could almost be said as his last disciple. His potential was unquestionable. Inside the Qin clan, he could definitely rank in the top places.
The most seldom matter was that the personality of this child was somewhat compatible with Honored Warrior Zhi Huai. He did not lack calm within his tyrannical character. This was the aspect in which Zhi Huai had liked the most.
He felt he saw his own reflection from this Qin Shaohong. This way, Zhi Huai could not but help to entrust many of his own unfulfilled lifetime wishes to him.
For example, one of his wish was to be a Chief!
When Zhi Huai held the position as the Honored Warrior, he could be said as a person with prestige that was just below the position of the Chief at the Qin Clan. However, compared to the Chief, despite its’ high position, the difference was apparent.
Therefore, it was clear of how he had placed his hope onto Qin Shaohong. The direction of his cultivation was also clear.
When he saw Qin Shaohong, Zhi Huai said with a smile: “Shaohong, it’s good that you are here, it saves me the time to look for you.”
Qin Shaohong was stunned. Today, he had come especially to talk about Qin Wushuang to his teacher. Upon hearing his teacher’s tone, it seemed that he was also looking for him?
“Teacher, I am just here to see you? I just happen to run into some business, and I would like to ask for your advice.” Before Zhi Huai, Qin Shaohong had appeared extremely humble.
“Oh? It just happens that I want to speak with you of an emergent matter. Tell me first.” Zhi Huai never had much patience to others. However, he was being overprotective and would spoil this disciple.
Qin Shaohong immediately explained the matter that had happened during the day thoroughly with an aggrieved tone. After he had finished, he could not refrain from complaining: “Teacher, look at this Qin Wushuang is being so arrogant when he just got here. Why didn’t he go anywhere else, and just have to train at my territory? I think he is showing off deliberately.”
Qin Shaohong still classified that territory as his private territory. Of course, Honored Warrior Zhi Huai knew the best of the shady business inside of it.
The leaders of those core disciples at the Ascending Dragon Slope all had their own territory. They enjoyed to use that territory as their private property.
Since nothing serious was evoked, the higher-ups of the Qin Clan had often ignored it.
Upon hearing Qin Shaohong’s story, Zhi Huai could not but help to frown: “Shaohong, does that Qin Wushaung knew that was your territory?”
“It’s almost a year since he entered the Aspiring Throne Mountain, right? It’s impossible for him not to know!” Qin Shaohong said angrily.
Usually, the core disciples that had entered the Ascending Dragon Slope to train for a year would not be completely clueless to the unspoken rules.
If Qin Wushuang was clueless, Zhi Huai would also not believe him.
If Qin Wushuang had done while being aware that was Qin Shaohong’s territory, the implied meaning would require one to think about.
“Shaohong, for this year, how many times have you seen Qin Wushuang at the Ascending Dragon Slope?”
Qin Shaohong said with a bitter smile: “Teacher, not to hide from you, I have not seen him even once. That Qin Wushuang seems to be avoiding everyone deliberately. Not to mention me, the others had also not seen him. This kid seems to love himself a lot and do not interact with everyone.”
This Qin Shaohong had wronged Qin Wushuang. After Qin Wushuang had entered the Aspiring Throne Mountain, first he went to the Floating Snow House. Then, he returned to the human countries and spend more than six months from beginning to end. For the six months when he returned from the human countries, he was training in the surrounding area of the yard and never went out. Of course, he could not have meet with everyone.
It was not because Qin Wushuang deliberately putting up on an arrogant bearing, but because he did not want to socialize for the sake of socializing.
“Never meet him?” This may sound too unfathomable.
“I had never seen him.” Qin Shaohong was sure of this fact.
“This guy is truly mysterious.” The more mysterious Qin Wushuang had appeared, the lesser confidence Zhi Huai had. From the beginning, he felt that it was hard to see through this young man. He was much more sophisticated compared to Qin Yu from in the past. Qin Yu did had high potential, yet he would become emotional easily.
However, for this Qin Wushuang, Zhi Huai felt that he could not see through him.
“Teacher, you say this guy, a newcomer and did not know the rules. Should I teach him a lesson?”
Zhi Huai muttered to himself irresolutely. After a while, he said: “We should probe this Qin Wushuang. However, you must use your brain on it. If you are not sure, you can use others. When this Qin Wushuang is acting with so much arrogance, would other leaders of the core disciples just let him go? Shaohong, you should get a few others, and you can stand on your two feet this way.”
“Teacher, you meant to crowd out of him?” Inwardly, Qin Shaohong was moved. He specialized at forming cliques.
Zhi Huai revealed a light smile: “I didn’t say anything, you should think about it on your own. I will not teach you about this, and I will see how you will take care of it. However, whatever you want to do, just do it. As long as it’s not too outrageous, I can help you if anything were to happen.”
Teaching a disciple this way would surely be unimaginable in the eyes of others. However, this Zhi Huai had always been teaching his disciples this way. This was his style.
It was not because he was brainless, but because he intended to nurture his disciple into a domineering figure. Assisted with strength, a domineering figure would have their way at any place.
Especially when they were going to compete for the next generation’s Chief position, how could one stand out from a group of competitors if you were not domineering? How could you let others fear you?
Qin Shaohong was beaming with joy when he heard his words. With teacher’s words, he would have the confidence and knew what to do.
“Teacher, rest assure, I already have a plan.”
A trace of decisiveness flashed across the brows of Zhi Huai. He said to Qin Shaohong: “Shaohong, you must remember to use this opportunity to make yourself stand out. A very good opportunity will come up soon. If you seize it, perhaps it would be a great fortune.”
“Teacher, what is that fortune?” Upon hearing the Honored Warrior Zhi Huai making a show of being very much in earnest, Qin Shaohong could not but help to ask with curiosity.
“Do you know about the Illusion Heavenly Lake?” Honored Warrior Zhi Huai asked with an indifferent tone.
“Of course I know it, it’s a Forbidden Spiritual Zone that share the same level as the Xuan Yuan Mound. Teacher, what about the Illusion Heavenly Lake?”
“The totem clan of the Illusion Heavenly Lake are hosting the Ten-Thousand Year Immortal Pilgrimage Pageant, it’s onl hosted every ten-thousand years. They are opening their mountain gate and inviting all the exceptional sects of all the Forbidden Spiritual Zone. Of course, our Qin Clan is part of it. There are six spots in total. One leader would take five junior ones. There will be five spots for the young generation.”
“Five spots? “Qin Shaohong laughed, “Teacher, if there are five spots, I will surely get one of it. Even if there are only three of it, I have the confidence to get it.”
The expression of Honored Warrior Zhi Huai sunk: “If it were three spots, my requirement to you is to not have the confidence to get it, but that you must get it! If in the next generation, you cannot even enter the top three? How can we be talking of taking the seat of the Chief? Shaohong, you must position yourself in the top three! And not fighting for top three, do you understand?”
For top three, although Qin Shaohong was confident, he did not think he would have one-hundred percent certainty. However, when the teacher said it this way, of course he could not go against him. He nodded: “I understand.”
“You better not let down your guard for these five spots. If you cannot even get one of the five, Shaohong, then you would be humiliating me to the extreme.”
Qin Shaohong planned in advance: “Teacher, if it were the top five, I would have full assurance! I will not lose.”
“It’s good that you have assurance.” Zhi Huai said lightly, “Today we went to the Upright Morality Hall to discuss this matter. There will be a selection. As for the exact selection process, it has not set in stone. Regardless the method, it will be fair. Those strong ones will surely get selected.”
Suddenly, Qin Shaohong said: “Teacher, you say that Qin Wushuang is been appreciated by the Chief, do you think he will receive favoritism?”
“Favoritism? It’s one matter for the Chief to appreciate him, and another matter for them to let him use the back door. Shaohong, don’t think too much of the Chief’s appreciation. If that Qin Wushuang did not have true skills, temporary appreciation will be forgotten as time passes. The Chief is a wise person and he will not break the rules for just one Qin Wushuang. Don’t indulge in flights of fancy. Even for the chief, they could not bear the consequence by abusing their position for their personal gains.”
Hearing the words from his teacher, the more Qin Shaohong felt confident. He also let go those unnecessary worry. As long as there were no playing of favoritism, he would have the confidence to stand out.
“Shaohong, this matter is not announced to the outside world for now, just keep it to yourself. Don’t speak it to others. I think those leaders of the core disciples would know about it for sure. Ordinary core disciples will most likely get kept in the dark.”
Qin Shaohong said with happiness: “Rest assured, teacher, I am not someone that would gossip.”
“Yes, you should go if there is nothing else. Think about it, and don’t act on impulse. The best way to thwart a person inside the sect is not to kill him, but to not giving him any space to stand on his own feet, do you understand?”
Now, Honored Warrior Zhi Huai was teaching all his insights he had gained as a youngster to Qin Shaohong.
