Chapter 95

Speaking of passing the position of the sect leader to his junior uncle, it was because he knew his junior uncle had no interest in it.

But he was different. He was a disciple of the Guan character technique, while the Yin character technique disciples roamed the world, he had to return to the mountain unless it was absolutely necessary. What would he do if he didn't become the sect leader and returned to the mountain? Listen to others bossing him around and sweep the floor?

Zhou Xinyuan said solemnly, "In an emergency, we must act quickly. We can make up for the formalities when we return to Linglong Temple."

Yu Qing lowered his head, rubbing his mouth, trying to think of a way to make up for the sudden situation.

Zhou Xinyuan said, "Will you give it or not? If you don't give it, I'll leave the sect and let you play by yourself. Don't even think about me sending money to Linglong Temple every year anymore."

Yu Qing was shocked, almost cursing, "Junior Uncle, how can you say such a heretical thing? How can you face the spirits of Great Uncle and my master?"

Zhou Xinyuan sneered, "They're dead. They didn't even care about their own lives, why should I care about their spirits? Boy, if I want to leave the sect, I will. What can you do about it? Can you control me?"

"..." Yu Qing was speechless. He couldn't control the other party, he had no power to do so in any aspect, not even the ability to clean up the sect.

Slap! Zhou Xinyuan suddenly hit him on the forehead with a fan, pointing and scolding, "Don't pretend you don't care. Do you think I don't know you've been eyeing your master's position since you were little? Every time I handed money to your master, your eyes almost glowed green with greed. I was really afraid you'd kill your master for the money one day."

Waving his hand towards the study, he said, "That girl is right there. I can go and verify with her anytime, or have her take me to find that Xu someone to verify. If I find out you've been hiding anything, or if you've messed things up, you won't be the sect leader anymore. You won't be able to keep it even if you don't want to give it up. I can kick you out of the position anytime. Do you want your face or the position of the sect leader? You choose!"

"..." Yu Qing was at a loss for words, knowing he would be exposed if he found Chong'er. After a long pause, he finally spoke, but didn't say whether he wanted his face or the position, just mumbling, "Junior Uncle, you're overthinking it. It's not a big deal. When I went to the capital, I thought we'd need money for expenses. Linglong Temple is poor, and I didn't have much money. I've never been to the capital, so I thought it would be better to prepare more money. Coincidentally, the prefect of Lieshou wanted to hold a riddle guessing contest, with a reward of a hundred pounds of spirit rice and a vial of mystic-level demon-repelling dew..."

He revealed his collusion with Xu Fei to win the reward and admitted that saving Chong'er wasn't his main goal, but to get the spirit rice. However, he emphasized that he didn't know how much expenses would be in the capital, so he wanted to prepare more money to avoid any problems. Later, he protected Xu Fei and Chong'er for four thousand taels of silver for the same reason.

After hearing this, Zhou Xinyuan was both angry and amused, "So the problem really lies with you. You don't care about your life once you leave the mountain, only about money. With a sect leader like you, Linglong Temple will be destroyed sooner or later. I think the coffins of our ancestors are about to burst open."

Despite his anger, he also felt relieved, confirming that the perfect score in the exam was an accident, not a setup.

Yu Qing didn't want to dwell on the matter, "Ah, Junior Uncle, I'll admit to anything you say. If you're unhappy, you can vent your anger on me later. If you want to kick me out of the position, we can talk about it when we return to Linglong Temple. For now, what should we do? Should we really run away?"

This was indeed a problem. Zhou Xinyuan didn't have time to scold the scoundrel, sitting down again and thinking for a while before saying, "There are holes everywhere. What else can we do but run?"

Yu Qing sighed, "Running is easy, but I've messed up Master's last wish, and Ashiheng's future is ruined. I don't know how to face him."

Zhou Xinyuan glared, "Face him? What does he want? Each generation has its own affairs. Why should we revolve around his family for generations? The grudges of the previous generation have been paid for with their lives. It's impossible to be loyal to his family for generations, at least I can't!

Linglong Temple has already sacrificed two of its four true disciples for his family, half of them are dead. Is that not enough? Do they have to be completely wiped out? I'll go and reason with him. If he listens, fine. If he's unfeeling and complains, I'll kill him first to eliminate future troubles!"

Yu Qing smiled bitterly, "Killing him is too extreme, Junior Uncle, don't be rash. We grew up together. I just don't know how to face him now."

Zhou Xinyuan stood up immediately, "There's nothing to face or not face. We do our best, and we do our best to give him an explanation. The situation is what it is, whether he accepts it or not is his problem. Boy, you still need to participate in the palace examination."

"Huh?" Yu Qing perked up, thinking he had heard wrong, and asked, "Are you joking? We're running away, why risk participating in the palace examination? Am I rushing to my death?"

Zhou Xinyuan opened his fan and walked around the room, seemingly talking to himself, "If you don't take the risk, everyone else will have to take the risk with you. I'm so conspicuous, I'll be easily recognized wherever I go. I don't want to disguise myself and be chased all day. What should I do?

Also, the Zhong family. You moved from the Lieshou Inn to the Zhong family, and the Zhong family guaranteed you. If you run away directly, how will the Zhong family explain it to the court? A once-in-a-century perfect score suddenly disappearing will shock the world. The court's reaction will be intense, and Jiupo Village will be thoroughly investigated. Can Linglong Temple escape?

Not to mention where Ashiheng will escape to, your three wanted criminal senior brothers will be scared and run away immediately, never daring to return to Linglong Temple. Once they run, do you think the court will suspect them and pursue them relentlessly? Once they catch them, how can the real Ashiheng, who is hiding in Linglong Temple, have passed the examination in the capital?

This is just the trouble we can see. Once everything leaks out, it will be impossible to plug the holes. So, you should take the palace examination as usual, get through it, accept the appointment, and then resign for some reason. If you don't want to be an official, who will beg you to be one?

Actually, if you had a solid foundation, you wouldn't have to run. But with your limited knowledge, you really need to run. If you perform poorly, and the emperor asks you to write a poem, you'll be dead. So, we still need to run, but we need to figure out how. Running alone is more appropriate, understand?"

Yu Qing suddenly understood, grasping his meaning.

"In this way, at least Ashiheng won't be implicated, and we can give him an explanation. We'll try our best to help treat his arm, and the marriage with the Zhong family will depend on his and the Zhong family's wishes. After the incident, the Zhong family probably won't publicize it to avoid further complications. We'll do our best to help him, but we can't be blamed for what we can't do!"

Yu Qing thought silently. Given the situation, this was the best choice, but he still felt somewhat amused and frustrated, "Junior Uncle, you're right, your plan is beautiful, but reality is harsh. The key is, I can't get through the palace examination!"

Zhou Xinyuan paced back and forth, "What about that Mr. Ming? Try to get him to help you again. With his help, the palace examination shouldn't raise any suspicions."

Yu Qing said, "I've looked for him. I found him before the tribute list was announced, but I couldn't find him. I don't know where he went."

Zhou Xinyuan said, "Then look for him again! Not finding him before the list doesn't mean you won't find him after. Once the list is announced, he'll be more noticeable and easier to find. He'll be noticed wherever he goes. You should still have some influence in the Zhong family, so get them to mobilize all their resources to find him. There should be some news, unless he's dead or hiding! If you really can't find him, find someone else who can help."

Yu Qing slumped, weakly saying, "You clearly don't understand. The palace examination is given by the emperor on the spot. Even if we find Mr. Ming, it won't help."

Zhou Xinyuan waved his fan, "Isn't your junior uncle here?"

Hearing this, Yu Qing was stunned, then his eyes lit up, "Junior Uncle, has your Yin character technique improved?"

Zhou Xinyuan didn't confirm or deny it, stopped, put away his fan, and pulled the slave contract on the table towards him, looking at it and asking, "Is this Chong'er's?"

Yu Qing sighed, "I'll send her back later."

"Keep her," Zhou Xinyuan said casually.

"Keep her?" Yu Qing was surprised, "Keep her to raise? We're running away, why bring a burden?"

Zhou Xinyuan sat down, turned his head towards the study, and called out, "Chong'er, come here."

A moment later, footsteps were heard, and Chong'er's figure appeared, timidly looking into the hall and uncertainly around, as if unsure.

She thought she heard someone calling her in the study, but found no one outside, wondering if she had heard wrong.

Zhou Xinyuan smiled and called, "It's me. Come in."

Chong'er immediately stepped over the threshold, standing in front of him, cautiously looking at Yu Qing, and tentatively asked, "Sir, what do you need?"

Zhou Xinyuan said, "With your physique, you won't be able to keep up with your new master. He'll find you a burden. You need to learn more. How about this, I'll guide you into the path of cultivation, teach you to cultivate, and take you as a named disciple. Are you willing?"

"..."

Chong'er and Yu Qing were both stunned, thinking they had heard wrong.

Yu Qing was both amused and frustrated, not knowing what this impulsive idea was about.

Chong'er didn't dare to agree casually, looking at Yu Qing for his reaction.

"Um, if you don't say anything, I'll take it as a yes," Zhou Xinyuan said, not giving any chance for opposition, handing the slave contract to Yu Qing, "From today, she's my disciple. You're not allowed to bully her. Take her to the government office and cancel the slave contract. If you want my help, get this done today!"