Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“What? You’re saying that Huang Qi from the laborer department died? And he died from cultivation deviation?”
Hearing the report from her subordinate, Senior Sister Chen Huan, who had a lazy expression on her face, revealed a grim expression.
That Huang Qi had just reported to her, and now, he had suddenly died after he went back home? She couldn’t help but wonder if someone was plotting something behind her back.
Although the Skyfire Sect prohibited the killing of fellow disciples on the surface and offenders would be severely punished upon discovery, there were still conflicts always happening in the dark.
Wherever there were people, there would be plots and conflicts. This was an irrefutable truth that had existed since ancient times.
For Chen Huan to reach her current level, other than her outstanding talent, it was also because she was careful and ruthless enough.
She had never been soft-hearted when facing her enemies. That was how she had defeated so many opponents and reached this point.
Even now, there were countless people secretly hoping for her death.
Thus, even though Huang Qi was just a mere deacon of the labor department, Chen Huan was still extremely mindful about the incident.
She then asked, “Are you sure that he really died from a berserk qi deviation?”
The law-enforcement disciple replied respectfully, “That’s right. This subordinate has already checked over and over again. Indeed, when he broke through, he couldn’t suppress the fire poison in his body and died from qi deviation.”
“Mn, what trash. You wasted one of my medicinal pills for nothing.”
Chen Huan snorted coldly. She was very unhappy.
She paused for a moment before continuing, “Stop what I asked you to do before. Don’t come into contact with that laborer for now. The sect tournament is about to begin. I don’t know how many pairs of eyes are watching. At this time, we mustn’t cause any more trouble. Alright, you may leave.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
After the subordinate left, the chamber fell into silence again.
“Maybe I was overthinking!”
Chen Huan’s expression was uncertain. After an unknown period of time, she let out a faint sigh.
The Skyfire Sect held a mini-tournament once every 10 years and a tournament every 50 years.
There was less than a month left until the sect tournament.
This tournament was the best time for the Skyfire Sect disciples to show off their cultivation levels.
As long as one was able to obtain first place, one would naturally be able to obtain various resources, magic treasures, and various other rewards.
And if some elder were to take a fancy to him, he would then be certain to be able to soar to the skies.
The sect had been busy with this matter all this while. However, it was obvious to everyone that the sect tournament had nothing to do with someone like Jiang Chen. After all, he was only a labor disciple.
On this day, Jiang Chen did not choose to go out after he finished his work. Instead, he returned to the Firesmith Hall early.
In the courtyard of the Firesmith Hall, on a stone table, Jiang Chen and Steward Zheng sat opposite each other.
Under the control of a formless hand, a pot of fine wine was accurately poured into the wine cups in front of them.
They drank together uninterrupted, cup after cup.
“Old Buddy Zheng, I feel like something’s wrong with you today. Why did you go out of your way to come have a drink with me?”
After several years of interaction, Jiang Chen and Steward Zheng were very familiar with each other, so they could converse in casual tones. However, they rarely ever drank together.
Jiang Chen was not good at drinking, and he had work to do; also, he needed time to cultivate.
Usually, Steward Zheng would get drunk alone.
But today, he actually looked for Jiang Chen to drink wine for the first time.
Jiang Chen could see that the steward was a person with a story in his heart. Otherwise, how could the fifth-layer Divine Sea Zheng come to the Firesmith Hall to be a steward?
No matter where he was, he would be qualified to be a deacon.
“Huhu, why? Can’t we drink for no reason? This is the Fire Cloud Brew, a rare good wine. If others wanted to drink this with me, I wouldn’t have let them!”
Steward Zheng seemed to be a little drunk. His eyes were glazed over, and his arm that was holding the wine was trembling.
Jiang Chen said, “A mere Fire Cloud Brew. I’ve even drunk Roaming Drunk Dragon before.”
“What a load of bullsh*t! Even I’ve never drunk that wine before! How could you have possibly drunk it?”
Steward Zheng clearly didn’t believe him. He thought that Jiang Chen was joking.
Roaming Drunk Dragon was a secret inheritance of the Central Continent’s great sect, the Cloud Soaring Sword Sect. It was third in the World Spirit Wine Ranking, seven ranks higher than the Fire Cloud Brew.
Roaming Drunk Dragon was made from 33 middle-grade spiritual materials. It was then sealed within a spiritual array for at least a hundred years before it could be formed. It was extremely precious, and had a heavy and long-lasting taste to it. Even a True Dragon would be drunk after drinking merely a mouthful of it.
Jiang Chen was just a laborer who didn’t cultivate and didn’t have a powerful cultivation.
If he had really drunk this, he would have been dead long ago. How could he be drinking with him here?
“Forget it if you don’t believe me.”
Jiang Chen laughed heartily. He never lied and naturally wouldn’t lie to Steward Zheng either.
Roaming Drunk Dragon was something he had obtained from signing in. At first, he didn’t know how precious this wine was, so he just drank it as he would an ordinary wine.
At that time, his cultivation was only at the third layer of the Divine Sea realm, but his mortal body was even more robust than that. Even so, he had still become drunk for a full 10 hours.
It was a pity that he never got another spiritual wine like it after that. Otherwise, he would definitely take it out today so that Steward Zheng could broaden his horizons.
“Alright, if there’s anything, just say it,” Jiang Chen said.
“It’s going to be the sect tournament soon. At that time, I might have to leave and might not return in the future…”
Steward Zheng’s eyes became more and more dazed. His arms also trembled more and more, even spilling some of the wine.
He was really drunk!
“Oh?” Jiang Chen replied.
After that, neither of them spoke.
One cup after another. Soon, Steward Zheng was completely drunk and directly collapsed on the stone table.
On the other hand, Jiang Chen continued drinking after his companion was drunk and finished the rest of the wine.
“Although I don’t know what it is, why do I feel like you have the intention to die?” Jiang Chen muttered to himself.
Steward Zheng didn’t say what would happen in the end, but Jiang Chen could easily feel his determination to die.
Soon, Jiang Chen stood up and left.
He was determined to inquire about Zheng Yun’s past.
Perhaps this matter was related to why Steward Zheng had come to the Firesmith Hall.
“So that’s how it is. In the sect tournament, when disciples show off their talent, they can openly solve their personal grudges and directly participate in the arena of life and death.”
It didn’t take long for Jiang Chen to learn of Steward Zheng’s story.
It turned out that he once had a lover, who was killed by someone when she was out on a sect mission.
After some investigation, Steward Zheng had discovered that all of this was done by his junior brother, the current chief disciple of the Forging Hall, Luo Cheng.
The two of them were once outstanding disciples of the Forging Hall, both in the limelight in the sect.
However, they fell in love with a woman at the same time, and that woman had chosen Steward Zheng.
It was just like many soap operas Jiang Chen had seen in his previous life. The Junior Brother Luo Cheng’s love had turned to hate. While on a mission, Luo Cheng’s confession that he himself thought was a sure deal was rejected by her since she already loved Zheng Yun. Because the other party had not bent to his will, Luo Cheng decided to kill her himself.
Although Steward Zheng found out about the truth, he did not have any evidence.
Because of this, he had secretly challenged Luo Cheng to a duel, but he had fallen into the other party’s trap and was crippled instead.
As a result, Steward Zheng lost his reputation as a genius and was sent to the Firesmith Hall by the sect.
And this sect tournament was his last chance.
If he didn’t make a move this time, Luo Cheng’s status would rise again, and he would never have another chance.
“So, this is the reason why you want to ‘leave’. Are you preparing to initiate your final challenge in the sect tournament?” Jiang Chen muttered to himself, and he had to admit that Steward Zheng’s trip this time was probably complete suicide!
His opponent was the current chief disciple of the Forging Hall. In terms of cultivation, he was at the sixth layer of the Divine Sea realm, a level higher than him. Steward Zheng was absolutely not his match!