Zheng Kun

Chapter 15: Zheng Kun

"My home is at Twenty-Two Baolu Ward, East Gate of Xia Liang. Tell my wife there are two little goldfish in the false bottom of the third pickle jar under the bed. Tell her to use them sparingly—they should last until Bao’er is grown."

A middle-aged man covered in acne tried to suppress his terror, whispering his last words to Li Huowang.

He was the human ingredient being sent to the alchemy hall today. There was nothing Li Huowang could do about it except memorize these parting words.

Watching the trembling man walk into the alchemy hall, Li Huowang turned and left, his expression irritable as he headed back.

This was the eighth person. As time went on, the number of people in the holding shed kept decreasing. What hurt even more was that he seemed to be getting used to it. The guilt of sending people to their deaths was steadily fading.

He was being assimilated by that nauseating creature, Danyangzi. He didn't want that.

Li Huowang desperately wanted to escape this torturous situation. He was searching for a way out, but it wasn't easy. Relying on himself and a few cripples from the holding shed to deal with the unfathomable Danyangzi was almost impossible.

The only things he knew for sure were that the “Wandering Lord” Danyangzi controlled didn't exist on the first and fifteenth of the month—it couldn't watch them then. Also, Danyangzi was illiterate. Someone inside Qingfeng Temple was helping him read the Heavenly Scripture.

“What if I went to Danyangzi's dwelling, found that existence, and killed it? Among all his disciples in this cave, I'm the only one who can read. He'd have to make me translate the scripture! And when he does, killing Danyangzi would be like taking candy from a baby!”

The thought popped into his head, but he dismissed it almost immediately.

He knew where Danyangzi's cave dwelling was, but first, he didn't know what traps were inside. Second, he had no idea how strong the entity helping Danyangzi read the scripture was. If he just barged in, he'd probably die without even knowing how.

“Poison his alchemy ingredients? No. My alchemy skills were all taught by him. Trying to show off in front of an expert like that would be suicide.”

Li Huowang walked back, his mind churning with ideas on how to deal with Danyangzi.

Just then, a gloomy-faced young man in a Daoist robe and square-cornered hat walked toward him from the opposite direction. Li Huowang recognized him. He was Danyangzi's inner disciple, Zheng Kun.

He didn't know much about Zheng Kun. Other than occasionally running into him at meals, he never saw him. Zheng Kun was rarely around.

And unlike Li Huowang and the other registered disciples, Zheng Kun didn't have to bother managing the temple's affairs. What he did all day, Li Huowang had no idea.

They passed each other, one on the left, one on the right. As their shoulders brushed, Zheng Kun gave a light shove. The impact felt like hitting a piece of raw iron.

Zheng Kun stopped and turned, offering a smile that didn't reach his eyes. “Xuan Yang, you've been pretty full of yourself around here lately. You've got the old man pretty pleased, haven't you?”

Li Huowang's brow furrowed. He looked at him but said nothing, turning to leave.

Before he could take two steps, a massive force slammed into his back, sending him stumbling forward.

He staggered several steps, barely managing to catch himself before falling flat on his face.

“What's this, Junior Disciple Xuan Yang? Can't be bothered to respond when your senior speaks?” Zheng Kun said, crossing his arms as he stepped forward, stopping right in front of Li Huowang.

“Senior Brother Zheng Kun, I still need to organize the master's alchemy ingredients,” Li Huowang said calmly.

“Don't you fucking pull the master card on me. When I was fighting for my life alongside him, you were still shitting yourself somewhere! Let me make this clear, Xuan Yang. Do your job quietly and keep your mouth shut about everything else. Learn some fucking tact.” Zheng Kun's tone hardened.

Li Huowang didn't get angry. Instead, he stared blankly at Zheng Kun, lost in thought. The man was exactly as Xuan Yuan had described—bad-tempered. But that also meant he was impulsive, didn't it?

“What? Cat got your tongue? Say something!”

Li Huowang's previously wooden expression began to animate. A hint of mockery crept into his voice.

“If the master values me, that's his business. Even if he decides to teach me the method of immortality, that's his choice too. I don't think Senior Brother Zheng Kun can do much about it.”

Zheng Kun froze, taken aback that the other man would dare speak to him like that.

When he recovered, his face twisted into a snarl. He pressed two fingers together, forming a hand seal like a small chisel, and drove them directly into Li Huowang's left ribs through his Daoist robe.

“YOU? You're not fit to lick my boots! The master never even taught ME the immortality method! You think he'd tell you? What do you think you are? Dregs!”

The searing pain nearly made Li Huowang pass out, but he started laughing. His guess had been right.

“Heh heh. Maybe he didn't teach you because your comprehension is too low, Senior Brother Zheng Kun. Immortal cultivation is all about talent. If you don't have it, don't waste the master's time on your body.”

That seemed to strike a nerve. Zheng Kun pulled his fingers back and drove them in again, three more times, burying them in Li Huowang's side. “You piece of dregs! You're DEAD!”

Agonizing as the pain was, Li Huowang's laughter only grew louder. “Hahaha! Come on! Kill me! Let's see how the master reacts when he finds out his disciples are murdering each other!”

Seeing Li Huowang's laughter turn from loud to manic, Zheng Kun kicked him, planting his foot and shoving him into the wall. “Hmph. Crazy bastard with a death wish.”

Li Huowang lay on the ground, unable to get up for a long time. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a pair of wide hands reached down and helped him to his feet.

“Ai-yah, Junior Disciple Xuan Yang, why won't you listen? I told you to show some respect to Zheng Kun! Why go and provoke him?”

The speaker was the ever-pleasant Xuan Yuan. Because of his easygoing nature, he was the only person in Qingfeng Temple who could have a proper conversation with Li Huowang.

Clutching his side, Li Huowang bore the pain and said, “What's he going to do? Kill me? The master's Wandering Lord is keeping an eye on things. If any more disciples die, the temple won't be able to function.”

“Wandering Lord? What are you talking about?” Xuan Yuan looked confused.

He doesn't know? A thought flashed through Li Huowang's mind. Did the other disciples not know how their master kept watch over the entire temple?

Thinking back to the deaths that had occurred, two of whom were inner disciples, Li Huowang realized they probably really didn't know.

“Nothing. I just meant he wouldn't dare make a move.”

“That's not how it works. He's an inner disciple. You're a registered disciple. He might not dare to kill you outright, but making your life a living hell? That would be child's play for him.”

“Haha. My feet are small. They're naturally suited for a tight squeeze.”

As he spoke with Xuan Yuan, a cold smile crept into Li Huowang's eyes. Zheng Kun had just revealed something important. Even as an inner disciple, he hadn't been deemed worthy of learning the immortality method.

Danyangzi didn't trust anyone.

But that wasn't the main point. The main point was the look in Zheng Kun's eyes. When they had locked gazes, and Li Huowang had mentioned learning the immortality method, he had clearly seen a fierce resentment burning in the other man's gaze.

Disciples raised by Danyangzi couldn't possibly be that loyal.

That might be something he could use. He was willing to try.