Chapter 395: The First on the Whitelist

After Zhao Yue left the eastern pavilion, Lu Zhou looked at his hair. There were no drastic changes. However, he could tell he had more black hair now.

There were times when Lu Zhou wondered how his disciples would react if he used enough Reversal Cards and regained his youth overnight. Was Ji Tiandao handsome or ugly in his youth?

Lu Zhou suddenly cleared his throat and shook his head. ‘I’m letting my thoughts run wild again.’

“Master.” Little Yuan’er hopped and skipped in from outside the eastern pavilion. Then, she sprinted over as quickly as a rabbit to Lu Zhou’s side. “You called?”

Lu Zhou looked at Little Yuan’er. ‘The little girl has grown much taller. Her appearance has changed as well.’ She had become more charming and beautiful. She would certainly attract attention if she went out like this.

“Change into some ordinary clothes. We’re going to Liang Province,” Lu Zhou said as he stroked his beard.

Little Yuan’er was, naturally, delighted when she found there was an opportunity for her to go out. She quickly said, “I’ll get changed at once.”

At this moment, Pan Litian appeared in the eastern pavilion.

“Greetings, Pavilion Master.”

“What’s the matter, Elder Pan?” Lu Zhou was puzzled. Pan Litian had suffered heavy injuries during the battle with Ba Ma. He should be recuperating in his pavilion.

Pan Litian said nothing. He walked up to Lu Zhou reverently and made sure that nobody else was around before he kneeled on the ground.

Lu Zhou was taken aback. Although he could accept this gesture, Pan Litian’s background made this situation somewhat special. He was once the greatest elite of the Clarity Sect and had many glorious titles. He was never a person who would kneel on a whim.

“What do you mean by this, Elder Pan?” Lu Zhou asked, puzzled.

“I have a favor to ask of you.” Pan Litian cupped his fists.

“Let’s hear it.”

Pan Litian nodded and said, “I wish to plead for His Highness the Fourth Prince.”

Lu Zhou was not surprised to hear this.

When Pan Litian left the Clarity Sect all those years ago, he had been seriously wounded. Fortunately, he was rescued by the Fourth Prince. However, he had served in the military for many years, and the kindness should have been repaid.

“The Fourth Prince, Liu Bing, spent most of his time at the borders. He guarded his post well and is a respectable person in his own right. However...”

Lu Zhou asked in a deep voice, “Why should I be repaying the kindness you received?”

“Uh...” Pan Litian was slightly taken aback.

Lu Zhou said again, “Moreover, I have no quarrel with him. Why do you have to plead for him?”

This seemed to clear Pan Litian’s mind right away. It made sense. Liu Bing had no quarrel with the Evil Sky Pavilion. The Evil Sky Pavilion would not raise its hand against him. However, he had needlessly come here to plead for Liu Bing. Awkward.

Lu Zhou walked out of the eastern pavilion with his hands on his back.

Pan Litian patted the dust off his garments. ‘Hold up, you’re the great villain. Do you even need a reason to attack someone?’ However, when he looked up, Lu Zhou was no longer there.

...

A day later in Liang Province’s city.

Unlike before, Lu Zhou now wore clothes made from coarse fabric such as those worn by commoners. He blended in perfectly. This could not be helped. Si Wuya was too cunning and had too many eyes working for him. He had to travel undercover. Even having the Old Age Pavilion’s members with him could alert the rascal. Traveling on the flying chariot was even more out of the question. It would send the rascal running. He needed to disguise himself perfectly.

When they arrived in Liang Province’s city, Lu Zhou and Little Yuan’er were slightly surprised. There were no garrisons or ballistae. However, there were bloodstains on the city walls. Clearly, a fight had just taken place recently. The city seemed lonely and desolate now.

Small groups of cultivators would appear in the skies every now and then.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

A group of men charged through the city at this moment. They looked fierce and brutish.

Lu Zhou pulled Little Yuan’er to the side of the street.

The group was running to the top of the city walls. They must be the city’s garrison.

“Master, they seem fierce...” Little Yuan’er said.

“Don’t mind them.”

The two of them continued to walk in the city.

In its battle-ready state, the Liang Province’s city seemed desolate. It seemed too much to hope for to find an inn to lodge.

Just when the two of them were looking for a place to stay, a middle-aged man appeared at the end of the street. He looked to the left and right before he whistled at Lu Zhou and Little Yuan’er...

“Old mister,” the middle-aged man called out.

“Are you talking to me?”

The middle-aged man walked up to him carefully. He gauged the two of them and said, “You’re not from around here, are you?”

Little Yuan’er urged him on. “Just say what’s on your mind.”

The middle-aged man said, “Liang Province is currently in chaos. I’ve observed the two of you for a long time. I reckon that you need a place to stay for the night. Come with me... I have a place ready for you.”

Naturally, Lu Zhou felt suspicious about this. They had just arrived in Liang Province City. How did this man know that they were looking for a place to stay?

Also, Liang Province would most likely turn into the second Yi Province, which was now in an emergency state. This middle-aged man seemed bold. Since it seemed fishy, something must be fishy.

“You can arrange lodgings for us?” Lu Zhou asked.

The middle-aged man said mysteriously, “It’s a mess outside. You’ll see what I mean when we get there...”

Lu Zhou’s expression did not change. He nodded. “Lead the way, please.” They had to stay here for a time anyway since he had to wait for Yu Zhenghai and Si Wuya.

Shortly after, under the middle-aged man’s guidance, the three of them passed through several streets and arrived outside a villa.

The middle-aged man moved furtively and whistled at someone in the villa.

Soon enough, two men ran out to meet them.

The middle-aged man said, “There’s two more. I’ll leave them to you.”

“A’ight. Another two.”

‘Another two?’ Lu Zhou had some questions on his mind, but his expression remained neutral. He stroked his beard and said, “Is this the lodging you found for me?”

There were two young men. The one on the left said, “This way, please.”

Lu Zhou suddenly felt that this villa resembled a black brick kiln...

Lu Zhou looked at the middle-aged man and said, “Does your master go by the surname Shen?”

“That’s right. Do you remember now, old mister?” The middle-aged man seemed excited.

“Shen Liangshou?” Lu Zhou suddenly had some vague idea about this place.

“Heh... Old mister, since you know my master’s taboo name, you should watch your manners. If this were any other house, you would’ve been kicked out,” said one of the men.

Indeed, Shen Liangshou had quite a reputation. Since the cultivation world had a blacklist, it was only natural that it had a whitelist. The position at the top of the blacklist was indisputably taken by Ji Tiandao, the Patriarch of the Evil Sky Pavilion.

If there were black, there would be white.

The first on the whitelist was Sheng Liangshou who did good deeds wherever and whenever he could. He was the only one who could carry out silly, motive-less, and uncalled for ‘good deeds’ such as this one. He was the only one who remained established in Liang Province’s city. The underworld and the officials respected him.

“This way, please.” The man made an inviting gesture again.

Lu Zhou stroked his beard, nodded, and walked in. When he stepped into the villa, a faintly discernible and largely transparent barrier that resembled a huge bubble shrouded the villa.

Lu Zhou and Little Yuan’er were quickly settled in.

The man who led them here glanced at them before bowing and said, “The master has said that anyone who enters the villa must have their cultivation bases examined to prevent any disturbances. I ask for your kind cooperation.”

Lu Zhou glanced at the middle-aged man. He did not expect Shen Liangshou to be this cautious. It was one thing for him to do good deeds, why did he have to examine the cultivation bases of others?

The man produced a gemstone from his pocket.

When he saw the grade of the gemstone, Lu Zhou knew that Shen Liangshou was not new to this. This gemstone was usually used by the major sects or the Imperial family when they recruited their disciples or men. Nobody else would have any use for this item.

“Master... let them test mine. I’m worried they’ll be scared out of their wits by your cultivation base.” Little Yuan’er hopped forward.

When the man who held the gemstone heard Little Yuan’er address Lu Zhou as her master, he said with a smile, “Scare us?”