Chapter 83: The Demon's Selection

“What? You let that guy live?”

Fan Jiewei, who was listening to Dan Aoxian’s account of what happened at Shaolin, clicked his tongue in disappointment.

“Tsk. If the Five Great Sects had become the Four Great Sects… What a waste.”

Fan Jiewei glanced at Chao Ailiang and tilted his head.

“Or not? With Chao Brother in such a state, are we down to the Three Great Sects?”

“What, man?”

Chao Ailiang glared at Fan Jiewei, who grinned.

“Come on, be honest.”

“…?”

“You must be secretly relieved, Chao Brother.”

Fan Jiewei continued, as if goading him.

“While that Faliu guy is causing trouble, we don’t have to fear Shaolin.”

“Why would I fear Shaolin?”

“Hey, if the guy who attacked you back then wasn’t the head of the Arhat Hall but Faliu, do you think you’d still be alive?”

Chao Ailiang flinched.

Recalling the perilous battle, his hair stood on end.

If Faliu had been there instead of Liaofan back then…?

It’s hard to say, but Faliu is the top expert of Shaolin.

At least half a level, no, more than a level higher than Liaofan.

“Still, it doesn’t change anything.”

It was a fight he had prepared to die in.

Even if Faliu’s grandfather had been there instead of Faliu, it would have been the same.

He was confident he could take anyone as a companion to the netherworld.

“Alright, let’s say that.”

Fan Jiewei’s indifferent response twisted Chao Ailiang’s face.

Regardless.

Fan Jiewei asked Dan Aoxian.

“Did everything go well?”

Dan Aoxian smiled brightly.

“I got the seal on the appointment letter.”

“Just as I expected from our Doctor Dan! I knew it would all work out.”

Chao Ailiang was speechless at Fan Jiewei’s completely calm lie.

It was just a few hours ago that he was rushing to Shaolin, claiming something had gone wrong.

“Good job, Doctor Dan. Let’s go get something to eat!”

Fan Jiewei placed Dan Aoxian on his shoulder.

“I can use lightness skills now.”

“I’m hungry. Thanks to Chao Brother’s fuss, we couldn’t even get the temple food.”

“Is that my fault?”

Chao Ailiang was exasperated.

After all, it was because Fan Jiewei had failed to properly manage Dachao that this whole situation arose.

At that moment, both Fan Jiewei and Chao Ailiang suddenly felt a chill.

Turning their heads, they met Han Xuehua’s gaze.

“Come to think of it…”

Han Xuehua glared at them with a terrifying look.

“Don’t you have something to say to me?”

“…”

“…”

Chao Ailiang and Fan Jiewei awkwardly laughed.

Then, in an instant.

Fan Jiewei darted away.

“Stop right there.”

“I’m not listening!”

Fan Jiewei vanished, becoming a mere dot in the distance.

Han Xuehua, with one eye on him, didn’t miss the opportunity.

Chao Ailiang also tried to dart away.

Or, he tried to.

Click.

Chao Ailiang’s wrist was caught by Han Xuehua, who said firmly.

“It’s all because of that guy.”

Chao Ailiang twisted his wrist free, using one of his special techniques, the Golden Snake Hand.

Then he started running.

Han Xuehua, who had been standing there in a daze, soon had a murderous look in her eyes.

“Those guys…”

Han Xuehua fiercely pursued them.

* * *

Crack!

The armrest of the sturdy chair made of black iron snapped.

Wood chips flew in all directions, swept away by the storm of energy waves.

Amidst this, a chilling voice echoed.

“Say that again.”

The faces of the Pasa Sect members, standing in the presence of Nuo Danyang’s killing intent, turned pale.

Nuo Danyang was genuinely furious.

“The guys have already left.”

“When? Where to?”

“We don’t know… Gulp!”

One of the Pasa Sect members, reporting while trembling, was dangling in the air.

Nuo Danyang’s eyes, gripping his collar, were filled with a terrifying light.

The Pasa Sect member’s eyes turned red, his blood vessels bursting under the immense pressure.

“Find out where they’ve gone, by any means necessary.”

Nuo Danyang growled menacingly.

“Crush the Beggar Sect if they interfered, or make deals with the Black Spot… Use all available resources to find their location.”

“Yes, sir!”

Nuo Danyang’s subordinates hurriedly prostrated themselves.

Though the order was clearly excessive, no one dared to object.

Thud.

When Nuo Danyang released his grip, the Pasa Sect member collapsed to the ground.

“This is your last chance. If you mess up again…”

“…”

The Pasa Sect members swallowed hard, exposed to the chilling energy waves.

It wasn’t hard to guess what would follow.

Nuo Danyang’s eyes, filled with murderous intent, were enough.

“Get out.”

Nuo Danyang’s chilling voice continued as his subordinates hurriedly prostrated themselves and left the room.

“Don’t come back empty-handed. Bring back at least their heads.”

Alone, Nuo Danyang slumped back into the chair with the broken armrest.

“Hah…”

The more he thought about it, the more exasperated he became.

It was like he had ended up chasing chickens instead of hunting dogs.

At that moment, someone entered.

“Will getting angry at innocent subordinates change the outcome?”

The woman, who spoke calmly, was Zhuge Yan, the leader of the Heavenly Yi Sect.

“Incompetence is a sin.”

“You’re starting to resemble the leader.”

Zhuge Yan smiled mysteriously.

“The leader said the same thing not long ago.”

Though her tone was ambiguous, Nuo Danyang wasn’t so clueless as to miss the teasing.

Nuo Danyang’s breathing grew rough, and Zhuge Yan quickly changed the subject.

“You need to stay calm. If pressure alone could solve things, it would have been done long ago…”

“What brings you here?”

“You don’t seem happy to see me.”

“Just get to the point.”

Nuo Danyang’s cold attitude made Zhuge Yan smirk.

“Fine. Even if the master doesn’t welcome me, I’ll still give you the gift I brought.”

“Gift?”

Zhuge Yan sat opposite Nuo Danyang.

“They’ve been to Shaolin Temple.”

Nuo Danyang’s expression changed.

It wasn’t hard to guess who she was referring to.

“Are you sure?”

Zhuge Yan slightly frowned.

“Is our sect’s information not trustworthy? If you think so…”

Nuo Danyang stopped her.

“My apologies. I’m just sensitive due to my subordinates’ failures.”

Zhuge Yan reluctantly sat back down but started tapping her fingers on the teacup, splashing tea on the table.

Nuo Danyang was inwardly annoyed but tried not to show it.

She was the only one he could rely on in this situation.

After a moment of meaningless actions, Zhuge Yan suddenly spoke.

“An unexpected opportunity.”

Nuo Danyang frowned.

Opportunity? For what?

But then he understood from her next words.

“If they’ve left Wuwei and are wandering in the Jianghu, there couldn’t be a better situation.”

Nuo Danyang’s eyes sparkled.

Indeed, it made sense.

In secluded mountain paths or under the cover of night, achieving their goals would be much easier without worrying about others’ attention.

“Do you know their destination?”

“I’m not sure…”

Zhuge Yan’s vague answer made Nuo Danyang suspect she had more information.

“Please, tell me.”

After a pause, Zhuge Yan smiled reluctantly.

“Fine. Since I brought the gift, I’ll be generous.”

Zhuge Yan pointed at a spot on the table.

“…!”

Nuo Danyang’s eyes changed.

The stains on the table, made by the tea, overlapped with a map of the Central Plains.

The spot she pointed to was significant.

“Shaanxi?”

Zhuge Yan smiled and wiped the tea stains off the table with her palm.

Then she acted as if nothing had happened.

Nuo Danyang realized he shouldn’t underestimate the woman in front of him.

All her seemingly meaningless actions were intentional.

“Thank you.”

Nuo Danyang stood up, and Zhuge Yan looked at him curiously.

“Do you plan to go yourself?”

“What other choice do I have?”

Zhuge Yan smiled ambiguously.

“Isn’t it dangerous?”

“What do you mean?”

“Just as I’m worried about you, Sect Leader.”

“Worried? About me?”

Nuo Danyang, inwardly annoyed, sneered but then stiffened at Zhuge Yan’s next words.

“Can you handle any one of them—Fan Jiewei, Chao Ailiang, or Han Xuehua—on your own?”

“…”

Nuo Danyang couldn’t answer.

With the entire Pasa Sect and his own efforts, he might be able to handle one.

But all three at once was impossible.

“You’re sure it’s Chao A