Chapter 352 - 92: All Schemes Are Just Tricks (Part 2)

"Are you sure that this method can help me restore my dantian?"

"Of course. On this point alone, Marquis, you can rest assured!"

If he chose to refuse now, then all that he had just suffered would have been for nothing, right?

Now that would really be a waste.

Seeing Marquis Rong’gong’s expression soften, Zhu Han’s face first lit up with joy, then he spoke even more resolutely.

"Of course! Not only that, but this method can further your cultivation as well. In the future, breaking through to the Innate Realm will be no problem, and if you put in some effort, you might even have a chance to break through to the Grandmaster Realm!"

When he heard that there was a chance to break through to the Grandmaster Realm, Marquis Rong’gong’s suffocating frustration was finally pushed down by excitement.

If I reach Grandmaster Realm—

Then none of this would be a problem now.

So what if Grandmaster Fu Zhengqing looks down on me just because he’s a Great Grandmaster? Even if I can’t defeat Fu Zhengqing, he surely wouldn’t dare lay a hand on me so casually anymore.

And then there’s—

That Southern Governor Ye Liuyun from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, isn’t he just relying on being a young Grandmaster to act so arrogant?

If I also become a Grandmaster—

Could he still dare to be so arrogant?

Thinking like this, Marquis Rong’gong seemed to already be fantasizing about the scene, and the corners of his mouth lifted uncontrollably.

But Marquis Rong’gong probably had no idea—

The cultivation technique Zhu Han practiced had its own problems as well.

Otherwise, Zhu Han wouldn’t still be stuck at mid-stage Innate to this day.

Though it could help restore an injured dantian, it wasn’t a complete recovery. There would inevitably be some impact. Even if cultivation could increase, as it increased, the cultivator’s own personality and habits would also be affected to some extent.

And also, this increase in cultivation actually had its limits.

One could say, this method was just a crippled demon skill, inheriting all the side effects of the original but only achieving part of its advantages.

Of course, Zhu Han would never tell Marquis Rong’gong this. Everything he just said was just to coax him anyway—after all, Marquis Rong’gong was clueless about the real situation.

"But!"

Marquis Rong’gong wasn’t done.

"You must pass me the entire cultivation technique."

This was in case Zhu Han tried to hide something.

"Marquis, you can rest assured."

",,,,"

Seeing Zhu Han respond so.

Marquis Rong’gong’s expression eased a little.

There’s no denying it; with Zhu Han’s strength, if he really wanted to do something, Marquis Rong’gong wouldn’t be able to resist anyway. This in itself showed—

Zhu Han wasn’t some great villain.

After that, he turned and left the room.

"Marquis, you should get some rest now!"

As he spoke,

He even thoughtfully closed the door for Marquis Rong’gong, humming a little tune as he left.

It was obvious—he was in a great mood now.

Finally—

Once there was only himself left in the room,

Marquis Rong’gong could no longer hold it in. He slammed a fist down on the nearby wooden board, not caring about the pain in his hand.

He growled viciously,

"I will never let any of them go!"

Marquis Rong’gong blamed everything that had reduced him to such humiliation entirely on those who made him like this.

The main one being Fu Zhengqing. If not for him rejecting the gift, how could he have sought out a powerful martial artist as a bodyguard, which ended up allowing Zhu Han into his residence?

And those contacts from before—

All of them were nothing but fence-sitters.

Just because I’d been snubbed, they all abandoned any association with me.

As if I were some sort of plague to avoid.

Every one of these people deserves to die.

As for Fu Zhengqing, the Great Grandmaster, that’s another matter. No matter how furious he was, Marquis Rong’gong wasn’t about to lose his mind completely.

Characters like Fu Zhengqing—

Even if my dantian recovers and my cultivation soars, there would be nothing I could do to him.

But as for the rest, I won’t let a single one of them off!

"Huu!"

Thinking this way,

Marquis Rong’gong panted heavily for a while before gradually regaining his composure.

Then he lay down straight away.

His expression flickered uncertainly between gloom and anger.

,,,

No matter how unwilling he was to face it, in the end, Marquis Rong’gong still compromised.

When Zhu Han came by at night, Marquis Rong’gong just glanced at him, saying nothing more.

For quite a few days after,

The atmosphere in Marquis Rong’gong’s residence obviously became a little strange.

There was no helping it; the residence was only so big.

Even if Marquis Rong’gong hid things well every time, some of the servants would always catch a glimpse here and there.

But because of Marquis Rong’gong’s authority,

Even if anyone saw something, no one dared to discuss it publicly, so they only whispered in private behind his back.

,,,

Meanwhile, on Ye Liuyun’s end,

Things were rather pleasant.

Yan Shuzhu’s birthday had passed, and for the following days the Imperial City was peaceful. There had hardly even been any pickpockets around.

Moreover—

Although the Illusion Sound Sect Leader had already left the Imperial City,

Shu Fan and Ye Qinzhen stayed behind and were still lodging at Ye Liuyun’s estate.

"Didn’t your master say anything before leaving?"

A bit of a shame, really.

You don’t see a Third Grade mage every day. I missed the chance to meet him, and he was already gone.

"He did—he just told us to stay safe, that’s all!"

She shrugged.

Leaning back in the chair, Shu Fan spoke with a completely relaxed face.

"Before my master left, he didn’t look very happy. Clearly, he was mad about what happened. I didn’t even bother making up an excuse, and he agreed to let us stay in the Imperial City right away!"

Originally, Shu Fan wanted to make up an excuse for her master so that she and Ye Qinzhen could stay a bit longer in the Great Qian Imperial City.

But as it turned out—

She hadn’t even come up with one yet,

And her master just agreed straight away and hurriedly left the city.

"Either way, the mission failed and we lost so many disciples. It’s only normal that master is angry!"

Ye Qinzhen, next to her, seemed rather understanding.

Most of the disciples they’d brought were core members of the Illusion Sound Sect.

But they’d nearly been wiped out on this trip. As the sect leader, if he was still in a good mood, that would really be something strange!

"Tch!"

At that, Shu Fan just looked completely nonchalant.

"If he really cared, he wouldn’t have made the Illusion Sound Sect into someone else’s lapdog!"

This was the one thing Shu Fan resented most.

Why couldn’t we live decently, instead of becoming someone’s dog?

Sure, the rise of the Illusion Sound Sect couldn’t have happened without their help. Shu Fan could understand paying back a favor, but being someone’s dog—so what if they’re a Great Grandmaster? Worst case, we just fight it out.

Anyway, Shu Fan simply couldn’t accept the loss of her freedom.

And so—

For the master who chose to let the Illusion Sound Sect survive in this way, Shu Fan had started to feel less and less warmth.

",,,,"

It was just that Ye Qinzhen hadn’t been in the Illusion Sound Sect long enough, or didn’t know enough yet.

After hearing Shu Fan say all this, Ye Qinzhen couldn’t even find anything to argue with.

Watching Shu Fan like this, Ye Liuyun couldn’t help but smile.

All that talk aside—

Ye Liuyun could still tell Shu Fan really cared for the Illusion Sound Sect; she was just frustrated by her master’s choices—a classic case of hating iron for not becoming steel.

"Don’t worry, soon you won’t need to worry about these things anymore."

"Hm?"

Suddenly hearing Ye Liuyun say this,

Shu Fan was visibly startled.

"I may not know your master well, but I do know a thing or two about Third Grade mages!"

In terms of strength,

A Third Grade mage’s methods are mysterious and unpredictable. Even if they can’t beat a Great Grandmaster, they won’t be easily defeated either—especially since Fu Zhengqing is only an early-stage Grandmaster for now.

The reason he has been able to suppress the Illusion Sound Sect’s Grandmaster—

Is mostly because Fu Zhengqing is not only a Great Grandmaster but also a Fourth Grade mage as well.

It’s not as good as being a Third Grade mage, but if you add the power of a Great Grandmaster, then it makes a big difference.

"Everyone has their own temper, especially a Third Grade mage."

The stronger you are, the prouder your character—that’s always true.

Shu Fan’s master is no exception.

,,,,,,,