Chapter 71: Is it Too Late to Run Away Now?   They left the inn and sped toward the east of Runan City in a horse-drawn carriage.

Halfway through the journey, Jiang Aijian obstructed their path as he held a sword in one hand while the other hand held a half-eaten pear. He moved toward the carriage as he said with a smirk, “Master, I’ll be tagging along.”

Zhao Shuo had a puzzled expression on his face as he asked, “Dear brother, we’re going to deal with the villain. Aren’t you afraid?”

“Of course I’m afraid. I feel as though I’m going to die from fear. However, since master is here, there’s nothing to worry about,” Jiang Aijian replied.

Lu Zhou stroked his beard and asked, “Do you have any news?”

Jiang Aijian only smiled. Although he was shameless and crafty, he was truly skilled in obtaining information.

Lu Zhou did not care about Jiang Aijian’s method of obtaining information as long as there were results. He made a gesture with his hand for Jiang Aijian to come onboard before motioning for the horse carriage to continue on its journey.

Jiang Aijian stared straight ahead and said in a hushed tone, “Someone from the palace is here.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhou remained silent as he stroked his beard.

Jiang Aijian continued to say, “Someone from the palace is the mastermind behind the incident on the holy altar... I’m sure they’re dissatisfied with you since you foiled their plan. However, put aside your profound cultivation base, I don’t think they’ll attack a senior Buddhist monk no matter how displeased they are.”

Lu Zhou nodded.

The horse carriage rattled as it picked up speed.

Jiang Aijian looked at the road ahead and said, “The Evil Sky Pavilion’s fourth villain, Mingshi Yin, cultivated the Bluewood Heart Technique. It’s a troublesome cultivation method. His opponents will have a hard time subduing him. When you encounter him later, please don’t hold back, master. You should take him down with a single strike and not give him any chance to run away.”

Lu Zhou said, “You seem to know a lot about the Evil Sky Pavilion.”

A confident expression appeared on Jiang Aijian’s face as he said, “I won’t hide this from you, master. When Ji Tiandao was attacked by the ten great elites...” He paused for a moment to point at himself before he continued, “I was there!”

Jiang Aijian looked proud as he continued to say, “That was the battle of the century! Ten great elites! Half of them had Six-leaf Avatars, and the other half had Seven-leaf Avatars! And yet, they still couldn’t defeat Ji Tiandao who had an Eight-leaf Avatar!”

Lu Zhou was taken aback inwardly when he heard this even though his expression remained calm. He, naturally, had access to this memory. However, he truly did not expect Jiang Aijian had personally witnessed that fight.

Jiang Aijian continued to ramble on, “The battle went on for three days and three nights. In the end, they only fought to a draw. The old villain, Ji Tiandao, was hurt... Even now I still can’t figure it out. How did the ten great elites fail when they besieged the Golden Court Mountain after a month?”

Lu Zhou did not continue with the topic. Instead, he asked, “You’re afraid of him?”

Jiang Aijian said with a sigh, “Ever since I witnessed that great battle, I swore to stay away from that man. He’s too terrifying! How can a human be so terrifying?”

Little Yuan’er quickly covered her mouth with a hand as a burst of small laughter escaped from her mouth. It did not take long before she began to laugh uproariously.

Jiang Aijian did not think this was strange. After all, he was used to this young girl’s ridicule. He decided to let her be.

Zhao Yue seemed at a loss. She did not know if she should be laughing right now.

“Halt!” Zhao Shuo’s voice rang out suddenly.

The horse carriage skidded to a stop.

Jiang Aijian leaped off the horse carriage. He was shocked when he saw the chaotic scene before him and the heads that were hung on the city gates. He exclaimed, “How cruel!”

Lu Zhou alighted from the carriage as well. He looked at the bloodied human heads.

Zhao Shuo said with a deep frown, “The villain must be close by... I’ve already contacted several Divine Court realm cultivators to search the area. We should be able to locate him soon.”

Lu Zhou said, “The dead were mounted brigands.”

“That’s not important,” Zhao Shuo said righteously, “I’ll do anything to capture the villain.”

Lu Zhou turned to look at Zhao Shuo. He shook his head. ‘It’s meaningless to talk to him.’

A mocking and maniacal laughter suddenly resounded in the air. “You people think you’ll be able to capture me? Dream on!”

“The Evil Sky Pavilion’s villain is here! I’m taking my leave!” Jiang Aijian turned tail and was just about to run when Lu Zhou grabbed his arm.

“Don’t be afraid.”

“Er... I’m not afraid...” Jiang Aijian scratched his head.

Several figures shot past the rooftops in the air.

The maniacal laughter continued to resound in the air.

“Here comes the villain!”

Everyone looked in the direction of the laughter. A man with peculiar eyes and flowing black hair who was dressed in a white robe shot toward them at high speed as he taunted and hurled insults at the cultivators around him. “Come on! Come after me!”

Zhao Shuo’s eyes widened in anger as he unsheathed his sword.

Whoosh!

Zhao Shuo said before he left, “Master, I’ll leave the safety of Runan City’s citizens in your hands.”

Lu Zhou looked at the incoming Mingshi Yin calmly. His eyes took in the cultivators who were chasing after Mingshi Yin as well. His expression did not change at all.

Since Lu Zhou was here, Jiang Aijian was not overly worried. However, he felt a bit strange since he was used to observing from afar as he hid in a corner. This was his first time observing out in the open.

Mingshi Yin’s laughter drew closer. “I’m getting bored!” As soon as he finished speaking, he sped up, covering the distance of several hundred meters in just a blink of an eye.

“Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm!” Jiang Aijian’s words shocked everyone.

Based on Mingshi Yin’s speed, it was clear he was a Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm cultivator.

Jiang Aijian gulped. He felt diffident. As an early-stage Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm elite as well, he felt those from the Evil Sky Pavilion were much stronger in comparison.

As everyone looked at Mingshi Yin who was charging toward them, Zhao Shuo cried out, “Villain of the Evil Sky Pavilion! Die!” He slashed his sword in the air. His sword was shrouded with a destructive energy as it slashed toward Mingshi Yin’s face.

Mingshi Yin laughed as he swatted the sword away with one hand.

Bang!

The sword shattered in just an instant!

Mingshi Yin said smugly, “You won’t be able to do anything to me with these techniques!” Suddenly, he came to a halt as he muttered under his breath, “T-that old man... looks like master!”

Zhao Shuo stumbled back in shock. He thought he had incurred the villain’s wrath and was now being targeted. This villain was someone who killed without batting an eyelid. He quickly retreated to Lu Zhou’s side.

Lu Zhou stroked his beard calmly. He could not blame his other disciples if they did not recognize him since the Reversal Card had altered his appearance quite a bit. However, there was no way Mingshi Yin would not be able to recognize him.

Mingshi Yin frowned as he studied Lu Zhou. After a moment, his expression changed drastically. He quickly dispelled the energy around him and descended.

Jiang Aijian hurriedly took a step back and unsheathed his sword. “This is bad! The villain is coming down!” However, when he saw Lu Zhou, he was baffled by how calm Lu Zhou was.

As soon as Mingshi Yin landed, he quickly ran over to the group. He cried out in excitement, “Master!” When he arrived before the group, he bowed before he lifted the hem of his robes with his right hand and fell to his knees with a thud. He said reverently, “This disciple pays respect to master!”

Jiang Aijian and Zhao Shuo were baffled.

Lu Zhou stroked his beard before he waved a hand. “Stand up and talk.”

Mingshi Yin smiled modestly. His arrogance from earlier had completely vanished. Before Lu Zhou could say anything, he asked carefully, “Master, didn’t we agree to meet in Like The Clouds Inn? What brings you here?”

Zhao Shuo’s eyes widened in understanding as he quickly retreated to the side. He stuttered, “You... y-you... you...”

Little Yuan’er said indignantly, “Watch your mouth! See if I don’t pull your tongue out if you keep offending my master!”

Jiang Aijian was stunned. ‘This is great. Is it too late for me to run away now?’