Chapter Forty-Six: A Turn for the Better

Su Fan had already surmised that, after so many twists and turns, he was nothing more than a pawn. Yet no matter how he pondered, he could not fathom the reason behind it all.

He spoke coolly, “I wonder how Master Zhao intends to make use of me.”

Master Zhao did not reply. Instead, he produced a finely-crafted gemstone, clear and radiant, etched with strange runes. He cradled it with care, as if holding a fragile treasure.

Su Fan remained indifferent.

Master Zhao smiled faintly. “Do you know what this is?”

Su Fan shook his head. Such an item seemed nothing out of the ordinary, and in any case, he was no connoisseur of jewels.

Master Zhao continued, “Are you familiar with the Star of the Sea?”

Su Fan nodded with some confusion. “I know of it, but it doesn’t look like this.”

Master Zhao laughed. “What you’ve seen is not the true Star of the Sea.”

“Oh?” Su Fan responded.

“Or rather,” Master Zhao explained, “what you gave to Mo He was an unopened Star of the Sea.”

Su Fan’s brow furrowed. “So this is why Mo He could not defeat Ran Hua.”

Master Zhao looked upon him with approval. “The Star of the Sea’s function is not as the world believes. Its purpose is to absorb the cultivation of others and transfer it to its owner.”

Su Fan’s expression shifted slightly. “Then Luo Xun must already be under your sway.”

Master Zhao’s face darkened. “So you saw through it. But he was not bribed by me—he has always been my man. And not just him; the other three were all placed by me as well.”

“So you chose me as a pawn from the beginning,” Su Fan said.

“You ought to feel honored,” Master Zhao replied matter-of-factly, as if Su Fan had profited greatly from the arrangement.

Su Fan’s tone turned sour. “What’s the meaning of this? I’ve helped you, yet you sound so smug about it.”

“If I hadn’t chosen you,” Master Zhao replied, “you would already be dead.”

“Who wants me dead?” Su Fan asked coldly.

“The General.”

The general had long since sent word, demanding that Su Fan be brought for questioning.

Su Fan followed Master Zhao to the main hall. Every five paces, a black-clad guard stood watch. These men were all, at the very least, at the Foundation Establishment stage. Despite knowing he was walking into a dragon’s lair, Su Fan had no choice but to continue.

The main hall was indeed imposing and solemn, no less majestic than the Azure Origin Pavilion.

At the center of the hall sat a young man in yellow robes. His gaze was peculiar, brimming with curiosity.

Sometimes, fate is just so perverse: your enemies appear before you time and again, while your friends are ever out of reach.

As Su Fan beheld the yellow-robed youth, anger surged within him—years of hatred boiling over. Time might heal some wounds, but others only deepen. Resentment, perhaps seeded by a trivial childhood slight, could grow into a chasm of enmity over the years.

All the more so, when the youth sitting upon the dais was none other than Ergou, who had bullied Su Fan countless times in his childhood. Su Fan did not even wish to recall that name.

Ergou, however, remained unruffled. He mocked, “Who would have thought that a good-for-nothing like you could cultivate immortality, even reaching the early Foundation Establishment stage?”

He emphasized “early Foundation Establishment,” as if inviting Su Fan to notice his own superior cultivation.

Indeed, his own strength surpassed Su Fan’s; he had already reached the late Foundation Establishment stage.

Su Fan had no desire to linger, nor to ponder how Ergou had become a general. He only wished to leave quickly and resume his cultivation in peace.

But Ergou had no intention of letting him go so easily. With a smile, he said, “You’ve done me a great service—how can you depart just like that?”

Ergou deliberately stressed the fact that he had used Su Fan. “Don’t think that old man’s remnant soul truly favored you. It was just an obscure spell. With your aptitude, it’s unlikely anyone would take notice. Do you know why I left you those spirit stones?”

Su Fan lowered his head, silent. Master Zhao could only cough quietly.

Ergou grew more agitated, rising to his feet. “I gave you spirit stones so you’d go to the Azure Origin Pavilion. Someone like Mo He would naturally take interest in you. With your poor cultivation, Ran Suomen’s people would surely target you. Mo He, of course, would help you, and in doing so, incur Ran Suomen’s enmity. Pity that Ran Hua failed to kill you. Still, you did well—giving the Star of the Sea to Mo He. Nameless had already refined Ran Hua’s soul, and with the Star of the Sea’s effect, Mo He was no match for Ran Hua. What a pity—a prodigy like Mo He perished for a woman.”

Su Fan had grown impatient. “These schemes must all be Master Zhao’s handiwork. With your limited abilities, I doubt you could conceive such plans.”

Ergou paused, surprised that Su Fan could say such a thing; in his view, Su Fan should have been so furious upon learning the truth as to cough up blood and die on the spot.

Ergou bellowed, “Su Fan, for the sake of our shared hometown, I had no wish to kill you. But if you force me, I will have no choice.”

Su Fan suddenly laughed. “You cannot kill me.”

“You think I cannot deal with you at your mere early Foundation Establishment?” Ergou retorted icily.

“Master Zhao does not wish for my death,” Su Fan replied.

A chill flashed in Ergou’s eyes as he glared at Master Zhao. “Will you stop me?”

Master Zhao smiled calmly. “I would not dare to oppose the general, but I do have some questions for him. Why not leave him in my care for a day? Once I am done, I shall hand him over to you.”

Ergou was unwilling, but Master Zhao had long since won the trust of the general’s men and he dared not oppose him rashly. “Very well, he is in your care for now. Do not let him escape.”

Master Zhao replied, “With the general’s mansion so heavily guarded, how could he possibly escape? You may rest assured.”

Ergou shot Su Fan a glare, gave a cold snort, and swept out of the hall.

Night had deepened. Su Fan sat quietly in the side hall of Master Zhao’s courtyard.

Master Zhao stood nearby, utterly absorbed by a painting on the wall, as though he himself were the peerless hero depicted within.

Suddenly, he spoke. “Do you know who the general is?”

Su Fan toyed with the cup on the table, nodding. “He is a disciple of the Yellow Branch of the Tianyuan Sect.”

Master Zhao turned and continued, “Not only a disciple, but the last disciple of the Yellow-robed Elder.”

“Yellow-robed Elder…” Su Fan mused, recalling the yellow-robed cultivator he had encountered many years ago when traveling to the Tianyuan Sect’s outer disciple training grounds, riding a multicolored immortal crane.

Master Zhao said, “The Yellow-robed Elder is one of the seven great elders of the Tianyuan Sect. Ruthless and inscrutable, his moods are ever-changing, and his mind cannot be fathomed. The slightest misstep could mean death at his hands.”

Su Fan agreed, remembering how someone traveling with him had died inexplicably at the elder’s hand.

Master Zhao went on, “Being such a man, the Yellow-robed Elder chooses his disciples accordingly. So the general is much the same.”

Su Fan looked at Master Zhao in puzzlement, unsure of his intent.

Master Zhao smiled. “The general entered the Tianyuan Sect through obscure means, and, once admitted, arranged for his own mentor to be killed. Then he caught the attention of a Yellow Branch steward, whom he framed before the Yellow-robed Elder. The elder took a great liking to him and accepted him as a disciple. After that, Su Fan, he began to suppress the elite disciples of the other six branches. But he went too far, and the other five branches united against him.”

Su Fan asked, “Five branches? I thought there were seven branches in the Tianyuan Sect. Why five?”

“Because the Purple Branch’s elder has no disciples,” Master Zhao replied.

Su Fan fell silent.

Master Zhao continued, “Among them, the most renowned are the Red Branch’s Hong Yuan, Blue Branch’s Xiao Lin, and Green Branch’s Qin Yu. The three of them, along with their juniors, confronted the Yellow-robed Elder, who, unable to counter them, sent the general here to Luocheng.”

Hearing those familiar names, Su Fan was filled with emotion. He wondered which branch he might have joined had he entered the Tianyuan Sect, whether he might have been with Xiao Lin, hunted by Hong Yuan, or encountered that boy with a sword forged of common iron.

Suddenly, Su Fan asked, “Why did you save me, Master Zhao?”

“I need your help,” Master Zhao replied.

“What sort of help?”

“To kill someone.”

Su Fan laughed. “With your cultivation, even Pavilion Master Mo would be cautious around you.”

“Will you kill, or not?” Master Zhao pressed.

After a moment’s silence, Su Fan answered, “I will.”

Master Zhao smiled as well. “You don’t even ask who?”

“Surely, Master Zhao is not a reckless man. The one you wish me to kill must be someone I am capable of killing. Besides, you saved my life—I must repay you.”

Master Zhao fell silent, then grew solemn. “Do you dare to kill the general?”

Su Fan, in truth, had long wanted Ergou dead, but he gave no answer. Instead, he asked, “What grudge is there between you and him?”

Master Zhao turned to gaze out the door. “The Tianyuan Sect governs the entire Tianyuan Prefecture, which contains nine cities. Each branch sends a disciple to serve as general in one city. The Red Branch, being the branch of the sect master, sends two: one to govern the prefectural capital, another to the extra city. Every hundred years, the nine cities hold a grand competition. Those who excel are granted entry to the Seven-Colored Hall of the Tianyuan Sect.”

“What is the Seven-Colored Hall?” Su Fan asked.

“When a cultivator reaches late Golden Core stage, the next step is to shatter the core and form a nascent soul. The risk is great, but it’s said the Seven-Colored Hall can increase one’s chances.”

Su Fan fell silent.