Chapter 578 - Liulin Sect
"You sect leader is ill?" Huo Ling spoke after they heard what Mu Fan said.
Mu Fan nodded in affirmation. "It happened just last night and we hurried here to buy medicine in Lailai Inn since our sect leader was poisoned." He explained. Then, suddenly, he frowned.
Everyone immediately understood when they heard the word 'poisoned'.
"Your sect leader was poisoned and that Jing Qing was here. Not only did he badmouth your sect leader, he also tried to harm you." Qian San muttered.
Mu Fan and Lei Wei fell silent. As the ones involved, naturally, they have already thought about this.
"Jianghu is so chaotic!" Shi Yi sighed.
"En. Too many dangerous stuff, too." Wu Ling frowned.
"Fortunately, they have good food!" Qi Bai said.
Luo Zhiliai, Mu Fan and Lei Wei, including Lu Xiu, Jiang Ce and Rong Huai who are on the roof and are secretly listening. "…" although these people look suspicious, they really act in a carefree manner like they are really here for a vacation. We feel convinced… they thought.
"Hmph." Luo Zhilai suddenly scoffed. "Last night, the Beggar Gang was here and tried to attack my guests. Now, your sect and that disgusting sect appeared here, just the next day. What are you trying to do?" he sharply asked as he looked at Mu Fan and Lei Wei. "This is too much of a coincidence!" he sarcastically said.
Lei Wei was startled and scared while Mu Fan looked calm. "Boss Luo. We are really here to buy medicine from your pharmacy for our sect leader." Mu Fan explained.
Luo Zhilai sneered. But, he didn't speak. Though, even if he didn't speak, his expression is obviously saying, 'do you think I am a fool?' or 'do you think I am a three-year-old child that you can fool?'. Huo Ling's lip twitched and he lowered his gaze and raised his cup to sip his drink, hiding the smile on his lips.
Lei Wei was obviously frightened by Luo Zhilai's aggressiveness and Mu Fan hid him behind him. "Boss Luo." Mu Fan called.
"Hmph!" Luo Zhilai scoffed after he glanced at Lei Wei and then looked away. As expected of a wuss Jin Chong. His disciples are also a wuss like him! He thought as he sneered.
Suddenly, a memory of that stormy night flashed in his mind. He closed his eyes to try and forget that memory temporarily. Then, he took a deep breath to calm his emotions that were shaken by that memory. He glared at Mu Fan and Lei Wei. He knows that nothing good will happen if you interact with the Liulin Sect!
This reaction of Luo Zhilai didn't escape the grim reapers' eyes. Huo Ling already have seen many movies and drama and read many novels so he can guess that there is definitely a grudge between Luo Zhilai and the Liulin Sect. Actually, anyone who has a brain can see it. Yi Bing also has seen many people and seen their complicated relationships so he can sense it.
Qian San, although never has seen any palace or jianghu intrigues, he is sensible so he can see that Luo Zhilai doesn't like Mu Fan and Lei Wei. Not because they made a trouble in his inn, but because he doesn't like their sect leader. Wu Ling doesn't care, so he ignored them while Shi Yi is a bit slow. Meanwhile, Qi Bai is eating, again, and he would rather deal with food than people thus he also ignored them.
Luo Zhilai, as the eldest in the room, suppressed the irritation in his chest. He has special guests, Huo Ling, Yi Bing, Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai. Thus, his standard smile returned on his lips. "Do you wish to speak to them?" he asked Huo Ling, the leader of the group.
Huo Ling acted as surprised. "But, boss Luo, you obviously…" he muttered, looking very 'conflicted'.
Luo Zhilai's expression softened. "No. I don't bring my personal feelings when it comes to business." He said and glanced at Mu Fan and Lei Wei before he immediately looked away and turned back to Huo Ling. "We will go to the Martial Conference next month, so talking with the Liulin Sect's disciples is beneficial. You also want to know more about jianghu, and their sect leader, Jin Chong, is the Alliance leader." He explained.
Mu Fan and Lei Wei were surprised by what Luo Zhilai said about him going to the Martial Conference next month.
"Really?!" Huo Ling exclaimed and looked at Mu Fan and Lei Wei who had to retract their gazes from Luo Zhilai and suppress the questions that they wanted to ask him.
"Yes." Luo Zhilai answered. He wanted to get away as much as possible from this Liulin Sect disciples so he used Huo Ling, who is interested in jianghu. And Mu Fan and Lei Wei owe Huo Ling for saving Lei Wei's life earlier, thus they definitely won't pursue Luo Zhilai since Huo Ling will occupy their time.
"Boss Luo…" Huo Ling muttered as they watched Luo Zhilai's retreating figure. Then, he turned to Mu Fan and Lei Wei. "What happened to boss Luo? Why does he seem to… hate you?" he asked.
Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai. "…" good. Very good! Huo Ling's 'fishing' (for information) is really top-notch! They thought. Huo Ling not only earned Mu Fan's and Lei Wei's goodwill by saving them earlier, he also predicted that Luo Zhilai would want to escape after he saw Luo Zhilai's angry expression earlier in the dining hall.
Yi Bing. "…" my apprentice is getting better and better… he thought and smiled, feeling proud once again.
"This…" Mu Fan muttered, then heaved a sigh.
"Take your time." Huo Ling spoke as he poured Mu Fan's cup with tea. "I just think that boss Luo is a very kind person and thus gentle, so I was surprised to see him got angry." He explained. "Don't mind me if you can't say it." he said and smiled.
Mu Fan looked at Huo Ling. "Lei Wei. Go with your other shixiongs." He told Lei Wei.
"Huh? But…" Lei Wei muttered.
"Our task here is finished. You can send back the medicine to the sect." Mu Fan cut him off.
Lei Wei was startled and immediately rose from his seat. "I – I'll go give it to them. I will wait for you and we will return together to the sect!" he said and ran away before Mu Fan could answer, afraid Mu Fan would reject what he said.
Mu Fan helplessly sighed. "You actually aren't from jianghu, so it is reasonable for you not to know it." He spoke.
Huo Ling nodded. "Yes. I am Huo Ling!" he introduced himself. "This is Yi Bing, Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai, my friends!" he said and pointed each of them.
Mu Fan turned and nodded at them. Then, he turned back to Huo Ling. "Thank you for saving my shidi's life earlier. Since you don't want to accept our compensation, I will tell you what you want to know." He said.
Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai. "…" good. Very good! Huo Ling also earned Mu Fan's trust! They thought and almost looked at Huo Ling with worship in their eyes.
But, Yi Bing imperceptibly frowned. "…" is my apprentice getting better, or is it that these people… he thought and narrowed his eyes as he looked at Mu Fan looking at Huo Ling, feeling suspicious.
Mu Fan isn't aware that a terrifying grim reaper is locking on him. "Well, actually, everyone already knows this… everyone in jianghu." He started. "Fourteen years ago, when Ruojian Valley was still called 'Luojian Valley', the previous sect leader, Luo Zhou, had a qi deviation. That night, he annihilated the village nearest to their sect. Of course, their sect elders, as well as disciples, weren't let off." He said. "All of their sect elders died, along with most of their disciples. The ones who survived lived after they were protected by their sect elders. This included boss Luo." He explained.
Silence fell as they quietly listened.
"But, as to why boss Luo hates our sect, Liulin Sect… it is because the Ruojian Sect were once part of the Martial Alliance." Mu Fan spoke. "Naturally, everyone knows that Luo Zhou is going to seclude himself to train. Of course, everyone also were immediately informed after things went wrong and he had qi deviation." He said.
Their eyes went wide in shock. "The Martial Alliance knows?!" they exclaimed.
Mu Fan nodded in affirmation. His expression is heavy. "They know, but no one came to help." He spoke.
Huo Ling, Yi Bing, Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and even the gluttonous Qi Bai fell silent. The atmosphere turned heavy. If the Martial Alliance helped, maybe that tragedy was stopped. Luo Zhilai wouldn't lose his father, and that unfortunate village wouldn't be killed. The Ruojian Valley would still be Luojian Valley, and be basking in glory.
Yet, no one helped. Why?
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