Chapter 131
Chapter 131
How could Shen Yanchen not tell that Shen Shen was flattering him?
“Tell me the truth.”
Shen Shen said, “You really don’t measure up.”
The moment he heard that, Shen Yanchen’s eyes turned cold again, a frosty chill settling over his brows.
Shen Shen ducked his head, on the verge of tears.
Why was this lord so hard to please?
Whether it was praise or criticism, he got mad either way?
Fortunately, Shen Yanchen wasn’t the type to throw random tantrums. Though displeased, he still kept a steady expression. “How do you think I can catch up to her?”
Shen Shen thought seriously for a moment, then said, “The Little Celestial Master can go anywhere and do anything. If you want to catch up to her, it’d probably be more useful to reincarnate as the King of Hell or the Jade Emperor.”
Shen Yanchen: “…”
“I’m being serious.”
Shen Shen said, “Do I look like I’m joking?”
Shen Yanchen: “…”
Seeing Shen Yanchen’s expression grow darker and darker, Shen Shen worried he’d get his butt smacked tonight, so he desperately got his little brain working and added, “Actually, if you want to catch up to the Little Celestial Master’s pace, it’s easy. Just cultivate the same mystical arts she does.
“You were born with Baleful Qi all over your body. If you can find a way to convert that Baleful Qi into Spiritual Power output like the Little Celestial Master does, then you’ll probably be able to become one of the Mystic Sect’s great figures too. At that point, you’ll be able to stand at the Little Celestial Master’s side fair and square.”
Shen Yanchen felt that Shen Shen’s words made sense. He decided that after Xia Sheng returned from this mission, he would ask her to help him see whether he had the aptitude to get started.
His little girl was so outstanding. He had to work hard to catch up to her too.
…
Early the next morning, as soon as Xia Sheng finished packing, she headed to the Taoist temple to meet up with the others.
When she arrived, she saw Shen Zhuoyang leading his team at the entrance, waiting for Master Quede.
Among the team was Li Ziheng, the same one who had spoken so rudely to Xia Sheng yesterday.
It was now 8:30 in the morning. Shen Zhuoyang and the others had already been assembled there waiting for half an hour.
Seeing that Xia Sheng had only just arrived while they had been waiting there for thirty minutes, Li Ziheng felt annoyed and said in a mocking tone, “No sense of time at all. I wonder what kind of master would actually take on a female disciple like this.”
A disciple was just a disciple, but Li Ziheng had insisted on adding the word “female” in front of it. The contempt in his tone was obvious.
Shen Zhuoyang frowned. “If you don’t know how to speak properly, then shut up.”
Li Ziheng still had a certain amount of awe toward Shen Zhuoyang. The moment he was reprimanded, he closed his mouth, though the look he gave Xia Sheng was still full of dissatisfaction.
It was only after arriving this morning that he heard Shen Zhuoyang say Xia Sheng would also be joining this assignment.
One had to know that everyone going to Baiyun Mountain on this mission was among the elite of the Mystic Sect. Whether in the Special Management Bureau or the Mystic Studies Association, they all had a certain reputation.
As for this Xia Sheng, he had never even heard of her before.
From the way Shen Zhuoyang put it, this person had been inserted into the operation by Master Quede.
Captain Shen hadn’t said it outright, but wasn’t that basically using connections to get in through the back door?
Once this mission was completed, every member of the expedition team would receive at least several hundred thousand in reward money, while the core members could even earn over a million.
Xia Sheng had gotten in through the back door, so clearly she was just here to freeload off the bonus.
When the time came, their capable group would be working themselves to death on the front lines while Xia Sheng lazed around in the back, yet she would still get several hundred thousand for nothing.
And if Master Quede protected her and then falsely claimed in the mission report that Xia Sheng had been one of the main forces in eliminating the evil entities, then wouldn’t she be able to do absolutely nothing and still mooch over a million in rewards?
If everyone could pull strings like Xia Sheng, then wouldn’t people like him, Li Ziheng-who had worked so hard to test into the Special Management Bureau-become a complete joke?
At that thought, the look in Li Ziheng’s eyes as he stared at Xia Sheng grew even more hostile.
Xia Sheng ignored his gaze and simply greeted Shen Zhuoyang.
The two had only exchanged a few words when Master Quede walked out from the Daoist temple.
The moment he saw Master Quede, Li Ziheng’s eyes lit up. He immediately stepped forward and bowed. “Master, it’s been a long time.”
Years ago, the reason Li Ziheng had decided to enter the Mystic Sect in the first place was because he had once received Master Quede’s help. He had wanted to be like Master Quede-driving out evil spirits, reading feng shui, and protecting the people.
Back when he first entered the Mystic Sect, his original goal hadn’t been to join the Special Management Bureau at all, but to enter Master Quede’s Daoist temple.
But his parents still expected him to carry on the family line, so they refused to let him follow Master Quede and become a Daoist priest. Instead, they made him take the civil service route and try for a position in the Special Management Bureau.
He had cultivated diligently for years, and only this year, at the age of twenty-seven, had he finally passed the exam and entered the Special Management Bureau.
Yet even though he now worked there, his heart still remained with Master Quede. He wanted to become someone as formidable as the master.
It could be said that Master Quede was his white moonlight, so seeing him now left Li Ziheng visibly excited.
Master Quede stroked his beard, one hand behind his back, every bit the lofty expert. “You’re Ziheng, right? I heard you joined the Special Management Bureau this year. The younger generation is truly impressive.”
Li Ziheng had never expected Master Quede to still remember him, and he was both flattered and overwhelmed. He quickly replied, “I didn’t expect you to remember me, Master. I did join the Special Management Bureau this year.”
As he spoke, Li Ziheng deliberately glanced at Xia Sheng and added pointedly, “And I got in through the proper examination process. I didn’t pull any strings.”
He was obviously taking a jab at Xia Sheng. Shen Zhuoyang frowned again, but with Master Quede present, it wasn’t appropriate for him to reprimand Li Ziheng, so he could only stay silent.
Master Quede didn’t catch the implication in Li Ziheng’s words and exchanged a few more polite pleasantries with him.
Then, after noticing that Xia Sheng was also part of the group, Master Quede quickly walked over to her with a smile on his face. “Little Fellow Daoist, when did you arrive? You haven’t been waiting long, have you? My apologies.”
Xia Sheng replied evenly, “It’s fine. I only got here a few minutes ago.”
Seeing Master Quede go out of his way to speak to Xia Sheng, Li Ziheng felt a little sour. The dissatisfaction in his eyes deepened.
They had been waiting here for over half an hour, yet Master Quede hadn’t said a single word of concern to them. But he was clearly treating that woman differently.
Shen Zhuoyang also sensed that Master Quede’s attitude toward Xia Sheng was unusual, and he couldn’t help feeling puzzled.
Why did it seem to him that Master Quede’s attitude toward Xia Sheng was one of respect rather than care for a junior?
Was it because Xia Sheng was the disciple of Master Quede’s old friend that he was treating her with such consideration?
Even so, Shen Zhuoyang didn’t dwell on it. Once everyone had arrived, he organized the group and had them all board the bus.
The coach bus rattled along for more than two hours before finally arriving at Baiyun Village at the foot of Baiyun Mountain.
By the time the group reached their destination, it was exactly noon.
The village chief had already received word from above and knew they would be arriving today, so he personally led several villagers out to welcome them.
“You probably haven’t eaten yet, have you? It just so happens to be mealtime, so let’s talk while we eat.”