Chapter 102
Chapter 102
The bamboo cottage fell dead silent.
Without betraying any emotion, Zhou Ming said, “It seems Senior Yun has very little faith in me.”
Yun Wuyou’s purpose was obvious. He feared that joining the Hope Faction would drag his disciple into disaster.
“No!”
Yun Wuyou shook his head and answered honestly, “Quite the opposite. I have great faith in your potential, and just as much faith in your methods. I can tell that you are a man destined for great things, someone worth following. But…”
He paused and sighed. “But I have no faith in how much time you have left.”
Give an adventurer as brilliant as Zhouyou Shijie three or five years, and Yun Wuyou could say with certainty that the young man would carve out a magnificent legacy. Unfortunately, time was not on Zhouyou Shijie’s side.
When the gods and demons launched their counterattack one month from now, Yun Wuyou could not see even the slightest chance of victory for him.
Secondary cities were manageable. Even the top three Demon Gods could not defeat outstanding god-tier experts like the Divine Ember Queen and the Sword Saint there.
But a primary capital was different.
With no restrictions on the number of god-tier experts who could enter, even doubling the number of top experts on Zhouyou Shijie’s side would change nothing.
“…”
Zhou Ming fell silent.
He had no intention of denying the old man’s judgment simply for the sake of it.
“That is why I want you to expel my disciple from the Hope Faction,” Yun Wuyou reasoned with him. “If you lose, everyone in the Hope Faction will face a reckoning. He is my disciple. I cannot stand by and watch him fall into the abyss.”
“I understand how you feel, and I can grant your request.” Zhou Ming nodded, then changed tack. “But I have a condition of my own.”
Yun Wuyou agreed readily. “Name it. As long as it is within my power, I will brave fire and boiling water without hesitation!”
“Good!”
Zhou Ming made the decision on the spot. “You said it!”
“What?”
Yun Wuyou froze, then hastily added, “I was only expressing my firm resolve. I didn’t mean I’d literally brave fire and boiling water without hesitation. You understand.”
It had just been a polite turn of phrase. How could he have expected this fellow to take it seriously?
Zhou Ming picked up his cup and took a sip of tea. Then he asked, “Can a god-tier expert participate in the battle without joining the Hope Faction?”
“You want me to help you?” Yun Wuyou’s scalp prickled. “Please don’t. I’m just a helpless little weakling. I can’t beat those monsters!”
“Can you participate or not?”
“…If we’re only talking about the rules, then yes,” Yun Wuyou admitted.
“Can you run after the city falls?”
“Yes!”
“Then it’s simple.” Zhou Ming smiled. “I’ll expel Tingfeng Xiyu from the Hope Faction. In exchange, you come lend me a hand. If I’m defeated, you escape while you can. If I win, you join me while you can. You profit either way. Isn’t that perfect?”
“But…”
Yun Wuyou looked troubled. “If I get involved, I’ll offend far too many god-tier experts. How about…”
“Senior Yun!”
Zhou Ming cut him off forcefully, his voice heavy with meaning. “Do you have no faith in how much time I have left?”
“I don’t!”
Yun Wuyou was thoroughly confused.
He could not tell what riddle Zhouyou Shijie was trying to spin.
How had the conversation circled right back to this?
“What do you think will happen when my remaining time runs out?” Zhou Ming asked, guiding him one step at a time.
“You’ll die without a grave!”
Irritation entered Yun Wuyou’s voice as his temper began to flare.
He disliked being led from answer to answer like this, and his choice of words was no longer tactful.
That was right!
As Yun Wuyou saw it, when Juyan City faced god-tier experts from every direction one month from now, the still-growing Zhouyou Shijie would have no chance whatsoever of surviving.
“Well said!”
Zhou Ming rose and stared at the old man before him. “Then, knowing that death awaits me, shouldn’t I struggle by every means possible, even if that means… stopping at nothing?”
“You!”
Looking at the expressionless young man, Yun Wuyou felt a flicker of unease.
Clang!
A sword rang outside the bamboo cottage.
Icy sword intent closed around the area like a cage, sealing heaven and earth within it.
There was no question that Ye Zhibei was waiting for Zhou Ming’s order. The instant Zhou Ming gave the word, Yun Wuyou would have nowhere to run.
“You may think I’m putting you in an impossible position, but if you want me to agree, then naturally you must meet my demand.” Zhou Ming’s tone brooked no argument, and his words grew increasingly forceful. “When the battle for Juyan City begins, will you help me or not?”
He did not believe Yun Wuyou would die simply by joining the battle.
If the old man was unwilling even to assist for fear of offending others, then his sincerity was far too meager.
“…With methods like yours, I hardly know whether to regret this or admire you!” Yun Wuyou’s expression was complicated.
Zhouyou Shijie was indeed forcing his hand.
But by first asking whether Yun Wuyou could fight without joining the Hope Faction, he had also considered the old man’s escape route.
“Then your answer is…?”
“You ruthless bastard!” Yun Wuyou gritted his teeth. “Fine, I’ll help!”
Ding!
[System: Congratulations! You have successfully activated the Hidden Side Quest [Conditions] (Difficulty: D). Would you like to accept it?]
[Conditions] (Difficulty: D)
Description: You cornered a god-tier expert this badly. Impressive.
Quest Requirement: Expel Windcatcher · Tingfeng Xiyu from the Hope Faction.
Quest Reward: Vanishing Swift Shadow · Yun Wuyou will assist you with his full strength, but may withdraw on his own in a moment of crisis.
Failure Penalty: None
Breach Penalty: Vanishing Swift Shadow · Yun Wuyou loses 50 levels and 10,000 points from every attribute.
…
“Yes!”
Zhou Ming accepted the quest without hesitation.
With such an outrageous penalty in place, he had no reason to doubt Yun Wuyou’s sincerity.
Ding!
[System: You have accepted the Hidden Side Quest [Conditions] (Difficulty: D)!]
“I’ll be counting on you, Senior Yun.”
His goal achieved, Zhou Ming’s manner softened.
Desperate times called for desperate measures.
The situation was plainly dire, and he had no time to waste trading pleasantries or begging anyone for help. That had never been his style.
Whether he made enemies in the process was something to consider after he survived the crisis.
“Sigh!”
Yun Wuyou sighed. “I truly am curious to see what the Hope Faction might become under your leadership. It’s a pity you founded it too soon, before you had enough strength!”
“The tree may long for peace, but the wind will not cease.”
Zhou Ming rose and headed for the door. “Living in this world, it is often impossible to tell whether people choose their fate or fate chooses them.”
“…”
Yun Wuyou watched him leave, his gaze complicated.
He had lived to a ripe old age and seen countless prodigies and heroes, but no one had ever placed him under such immense pressure.
“Damn it!”
After a long while, he cursed under his breath. “If you’d only had a little more time to grow, I’d have risked everything and taken your side!”
The battle one month from now was destined to become a grand funeral. It would hardly be surprising if even god-tier experts fell.
Unfortunately, Zhouyou Shijie had made too many enemies.
That outcome could not be changed by one or two god-tier experts.
…