Daoist Competition

Chapter 1453: Chapter 113: Deceiving Heaven, Concealing Murderous Intent

The next day, Wu Suquan laid out a banquet before the Throwing Star Spring atop the mountain, to entertain the delegation from the Fengxiang Sword Sect.

Shang Qingjun was by nature fond of luxury and pleasure, so he did not decline; bringing a few Disciples with him, he came to the banquet in high spirits.

After the formalities were done, he did not ask for any explanation, but sat straight down and began drinking.

Seeing that there was not the slightest abnormality on his face, the anxious unease in Wu Suquan’s Heart and Spirit eased a little.

As long as he could keep this man here for an hour, it would be enough time for Zhang Boyant to take those three Disciples far away.

He exchanged a glance with Shen Chuyu, who was seated below, and the two took turns going up to offer toasts.

But less than a quarter of an hour into the banquet, a Disciple came to report, saying, "Dean, Master Zeng has arrived."

Wu Suquan was taken aback and cast a questioning look at Shen Chuyu, but the latter merely shook his head.

Shang Qingjun casually tossed his cup aside and said loudly, "It was I who summoned Zeng Guozhi here. Could there be anything improper in that?"

Wu Suquan hastily stood up, clasped his hands with a smiling apology, and said, "Not at all, not at all. Senior Brother Zeng is usually refining medicine in the Golden Pool and rarely draws close to his fellow Disciples. I could never manage to invite him, but the Envoy’s face carries weight."

Though his mouth said this, inwardly he was muttering and frowning in secret, "Senior Brother Zeng has always guarded the Golden Pond Pill Furnace and never steps outside. Even when Shang Qingjun came here the other day he did not show his face. When did these two come to be on such terms?"

"Shang Envoy, what did this Old Daoist tell you? My two Junior Brothers do not think very highly of me, their Senior Brother."

With the sound of this voice, they saw a white-haired Old Daoist, pale-faced and beardless, walk in with a staff hung with bells; at his feet, a One-Horned Demon Toad came hopping along.

Wu Suquan rose from his seat at the table and took the initiative to step forward in goodwill, saying, "Senior Brother, what are you saying? That you are willing to grace us is something both I and Junior Brother Shen are delighted by. Please, take a seat at the table."

Elder Zeng gave a snort and went straight to sit in Wu Suquan’s former place. Raising his cup, he said, "Shang Envoy, this Old Daoist came here entirely for your sake. Let me first drink a cup in your honor."

Shang Qingjun lifted his cup and made a show of touching it to the other’s, then raised his neck and drained it in one gulp. He then glanced around on either side and, as though unintentionally, asked, "Dean Wu, since you are holding a banquet here, how is it that Master Zhang is nowhere to be seen?"

Wu Suquan’s expression shifted slightly; forcing out a smile, he said, "Fellow Daoist Zhang dislikes bustle, and he is not a Cultivator of our sect, so I did not summon him."

Shang Qingjun toyed with his cup in hand and shook his head, saying, "How can that be? I have heard that this Master Zhang saved the lives of quite a few Disciples of Gantang Temple. How can you slight him? This is not the proper way to treat a guest!"

Zeng Guozhi put down his cup and said, "Indeed. To speak of it, I am the landlord here, yet I have not even met this Daoist Zhang. Why not let this Old Daoist go invite him over?"

Wu Suquan’s Heart and Spirit gave a jolt; forcing himself to remain calm, he said, "Master Zhang’s temperament is eccentric; he must be invited personally by me."

Zeng Guozhi clicked his tongue, lifting a hand as if to bar him, and said, "Junior Brother, as Dean you must remain here to accompany the Envoy in his drinking. How can you leave your seat? The Envoy just said that Master Zhang has rendered our Gantang Temple a favor; I, as Pavilion Master of the temple, ought all the more to thank him face to face."

Seeing things take a bad turn, Shen Chuyu hurriedly said, "Why not let this younger brother go in his stead?"

Shang Qingjun said impatiently, "What trouble can there be in inviting someone over? Zeng Guozhi, you go and invite him. If that Daoist Zhang is unwilling to come, just say that it is I who extend the invitation—he would not dare refuse me this face."

Seeing that he had nailed the matter down in words, Wu Suquan and Shen Chuyu could not speak further, and could only watch Zeng Guozhi stride out. They could only secretly hope that Zhang Boyant would move quickly and make it out of the Mountain Gate before he was found.

Observing the two’s unsettled state of Heart and Spirit, Shang Qingjun let out a cold laugh and said, "Dean Wu, wine without entertainment is rather dull."

Wu Suquan seemed to snap back to himself at once and said, "Yes, yes." He hurriedly ordered a Disciple to go down and summon singing girls and dancers to liven things up.

Shen Chuyu thought for a moment, then rose hesitantly and said, "Senior Brother, the Cave Mansion where Master Zhang is lodging is somewhat remote. Senior Brother Zeng has long been absent from walking the sect’s grounds; he might not know the way clearly. Why don’t I go take a look?"

Before Wu Suquan could speak, Shang Qingjun interjected, "Shen Chuyu, I have heard that you have a beloved son who, though only a child, has already cultivated to ’Condensing Yuan and Manifesting Intent.’ I intend to take him as my Disciple. What do you think?"

Cut off in this way, Shen Chuyu could not for the moment get away. Yet when the other proposed to take his son as a Disciple, he felt no joy at all; instead, a chill surged up his spine. He stood there stunned for quite some time before saying in panic, "Many thanks, Envoy, for your favor. That the Envoy is willing to accept my boy as a Disciple is more than I could ever ask for. It is only that some time ago my boy was struck by Miasma Poison, and I fear his Primordial Qi has been damaged. To this day he is dull and witless, no longer as full of Spiritual Wisdom as before."

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