Chapter 245: Choosing Side
"So, you’re saying that Su Hao is going to kill them?" Li Mu narrowed his eyes.
"Yes. According to them, Albert is planning to distract them." Shi Lan nodded. "If only I didn’t ask them to follow the rule, they wouldn’t face this kind of problem. I’ve made a grave mistake, Master. Please punish me."
Li Mu closed his eyes for a moment and sighed. "I see. The problem lies in me. If I was not that strict with the rule, you would have done something different. That’s why this is not your fault. I’ll take care of this mess. Of course, Albert’s kindness is truly admirable."
"Yes... Is there anything I can do to help them?"
"There’s nothing you can do at the moment. I’m afraid Elder Wen Qing is going to incite the elders this time. That’s why I’m planning to take advantage of their talents to get some help, especially from the First Elder. Su Family is one of the top four families in Divine Kingdom. That’s why I’ll need the help of the First Elder and signal the Mountain Master." Li Mu narrowed his eyes.
As they were talking about the situation, someone suddenly entered the room without giving any face to Li Mu and said, "Elder Li Mu. I apologize for intruding, but Mountain Master has used his right for Elders Assembly."
"I know. I was about to go anyway. Give me one minute to talk a bit with my disciple." Li Mu nodded, glancing at this man covered in black clothes.
"Understood." The man clasped his hand and disappeared like a shadow.
"Anyway, I will take care of this problem. Still, I don’t know how they’re going to react to this news... I’m afraid that Albert is planning to leave so soon to take care of the problems. After all, killing is prohibited only in the sect, not outside."
"!!!" Shi Lan widened her eyes. "Master. Do you mean..."
Li Mu smiled and walked away, leaving for the elders assembly.
In Mountain Master’s peak stood tall a single tower on the top of the mountain. It was the second building from the peak, only a bit lower from a huge temple which was used as the mountain master’s living quarter.
Inside the building was 50 people, staring at each other as if they were waiting for someone. However, there was a middle-aged man sitting on a slightly elevated floor, showing his identity.
"What? Elder Li Mu snatched a disciple with four Grade 7 Elements?"
"It doesn’t stop there. First Elder! Do you know there is someone who can use Grandmaster Level Array. And he is only 16 years old. His cultivation is also already at Foundation Building Stage! He’s simply a genius."
An old man that stood not far from the mountain master closed his eyes while gently brushing his long beard.
"However, there was something strange during the selection process. It was said that there was a guy that made the Element Crystal muddy. This has never happened before. We need to find out what’s going on!"
"We need Elder Li Mu to give us an explanation for this!"
The tension had been rising. It seemed that there were two elders raising the tension intentionally by spreading the information of what happened earlier. The first one was Wen Qing. She still couldn’t accept that Li Mu had made her lose so much face as well as talented disciples. As for the other one, he was Gu Fei’s Uncle, Elder Gu Hanxiao.
Suddenly, the door opened as Li Mu entered the room, silencing them with his words. "Oh, you all bastards finally can’t wait for me anymore? I haven’t even taken any disciple except for Shi Lan this whole time and you now are flaming me because I’m taking three disciples? Talk about hypocrisy."
"Elder Li Mu! Watch your words! You’re in the presence of the mountain master."
"You all are louder than me this whole time. Your words are creating tension. And now, you want me to shut up, it’s funny." Li Mu smiled as he walked toward the mountain master.
"Li Mu greets Mountain Master." Li Mu clasped his hands.
"En." The mountain master nodded and extended his hand. "Please sit next to me. I think you know what’s going to happen..."
"I know, Mountain Master. That’s why I don’t like to beat around the bush." Li Mu smiled. "With your permission, that is."
The mountain master agreed without hesitation. "Please."
"In that case, I don’t need to hold back. I’m sure that most of the people here know that I have a secret requirement before recruiting a disciple, right?"
"Yes. You always went around the town before the event to see whether someone could recognize your power. Of course, with your mask."
"Indeed. What I want from my disciple is to have a pair of discerning eyes to know when to retreat and to fight. After all, I want my disciples to be wise and live for as long as they can." Li Mu nodded in agreement. "And those three have met the requirement. Even I didn’t know about their talents beforehand."
"Was that the situation?" The mountain master glanced to the young man that helped with the test and assured him. "Don’t worry. No one can threaten you here. I guarantee it."
The young man clasped his hands. "Yes, Mountain Master. Elder Li Mu asked them to be his disciples first before testing their talents."
"..." The elders suddenly became silent as they couldn’t refute him anymore. After all, Li Mu already wanted them before knowing their true worth. Even if they were worthless, Li Mu might still accept them as his disciples.
"I see. What’s next, Li Mu?" the mountain master asked.
"Yes. Before they test, Elder Wen Qing..." Li Mu glanced at Wen Qing with a cold smile. "...has provoked one of them by showing how good the disciples she wanted to recruit. She looked down on others simply because she wasn’t prepared for everything."
"Presumptuous. You can eat anything, but you can’t say everything!" Wen Qing shouted.
Li Mu shrugged and glanced at the young man.
Even the mountain master asked the young man whether it was true or not. However, the answer was shocking this time.
"That is not true, Mountain Master. Elder Wen Qing was trying to incite their competitive spirit, but it seemed Elder Li Mu thought it was an insult to them."
"So, Elder Li Mu tried to attack Elder Wen Qing?"
"How sly."
Li Mu looked at the young man and finally understood what happened. However, there was one miscalculation Wen Qing had made. It was the fact that she didn’t have the knowledge of Albert’s true worth.
"I see. Young man... it seems that you have made your decision. Then, don’t regret it." Li Mu smiled and said, "I don’t care about what you all think right now as I will continue."
