Chapter 453: Si Wuya’s Aim
‘Hold it in. Don’t get angry.’ Lu Zhou took a deep breath and felt much calmer. Perhaps, it had been some time since he had transmigrated here. In the beginning, he had to a.s.sume Ji Tiandao’s ident.i.ty and act like him to protect himself. However, as time went by, he discovered he was being affected by Ji Tiandao’s memory.
He looked at the prices on the menu. There was nothing he could afford to buy at the moment, hence, he resumed meditating on the Heavenly Writing scrolls.
…
Next morning.
Lu Zhou went out of the eastern pavilion, as he always did, to move his body.
“Master, master, master…” Little Yuan’er called out as she ran over.
Lu Zhou scowled slightly and said, “Do you think that I have a hearing problem?”
“Uh… I’d never…” Little Yuan’er lowered her head obediently.
“What is it?” Lu Zhou inquired. He placed his hands on his back, and his expression was blank as always.
“Seventh Senior Brother wants to see you… He says that he has some things he wants to talk to you about,” Little Yuan’er said immediately.
‘That rascal didn’t change. After suffering so much, he’s finally willing to open up and reveal what he knows?’
The smarter the person, the more arrogant he was. If one wanted to make an intelligent submit, one would have to defeat him in his area of expertise. Lu Zhou was, naturally, aware of this. ‘I’d like to know what information he has for me.’
“Bring him here.”
“Yes, master.” Little Yuan’er turned around and went to the Cave of Reflection.
Shortly after, Little Yuan’er brought Si Wuya to the eastern pavilion.
When Si Wuya arrived at the eastern pavilion, he saw his master standing at the top of the steps with a calm expression on his face. He bowed immediately before he fell to his knees. “This unfilial rascal, Si Wuya, offers his greetings.”
Lu Zhou watched him kneel and said, “Rise to your feet and speak.”
“Thank you, master.”
When Si Wuya stood up, Lu Zhou noticed that Si Wuya did not seem to be in a good state. Si Wuya was paler than normal, his hair was disheveled, and the dark circles around his eyes were prominent. ‘Is this rascal still obsessed over the mathematical questions?’ Finally, he asked, “You can’t solve those problems?”
“I’m ashamed… I… I didn’t expect them to be so profound.” Indeed, Si Wuya felt embarra.s.sed.
Lu Zhou thought to himself, ‘I’d be surprised if you could answer them.’ In the end, he only said, “What business do you have with me? Have you finally thought things through?”
Si Wuya lifted his robes ceremoniously and kneeled again. He did not answer right away. Instead, he kowtowed loudly three times to Lu Zhou. Then, he replied, “I have.”
Lu Zhou glanced outside the eastern pavilion and said, “Inside.”
There were many things that should not reach the ears of the others.
Lu Zhou turned around and entered his room. Si Wuya got to his feet and followed suit.
Little Yuan’er bowed and said with a giggle, “I’ll keep watch, master. I won’t let anyone disturb you.”
…
Inside the room.
Everything was normal.
Si Wuya saw the words on the wall again. ‘The bright moon s.h.i.+nes over the sea; from far away we share this moment together’.
He scowled. Those words made him feel uneasy. The words nearly penetrated the paper. Clearly, they had been written with a forceful hand. Without consistent practice over the course of eight to ten years, the writer could not have achieved this. However, this was not the time to be paying attention to that.
Lu Zhou sat down on the main chair and stroked his beard as he patiently waited for Si Wuya to speak up. ‘You’re the one who came looking for me. I have nothing much to say to you.’
Si Wuya kneeled again and said, “Congratulations on attaining the Nine-leaf stage, Master.”
Lu Zhou frowned slightly as he stared at Si Wuya. “Is that all?” In other words, he had expected Si Wuya to speak about something else.
Si Wuya prostrated himself and could not help but speak with a shaky voice, “I… I can explain!”
‘Sure, you can f*cking explain.’ Lu Zhou would have loved to leap into rage and openly curse Si Wuya. However, since he was Si Wuya’s master, he needed to maintain his composure. He continued staring at Si Wuya silently for a moment before he said, “Let’s hear it.”
Si Wuya straightened his back and said, “Do you remember why Second Senior Brother chose to leave?”
“Because I wanted to kill him?” Lu Zhou remembered how Yu Shangrong answered this question. “Was I going to kill you too?”
Si Wuya shook his head and said, “You weren’t.”
‘Then what’s your f*cking explanation?!’ Lu Zhou was still looking at Si Wuya with a composed expression despite his internal monologue.
Si Wuya said with a trembling voice, “You wanted to kill Second Senior Brother and Eldest Senior Brother…”
Lu Zhou frowned, but something stirred within him.
“Why did I want to kill them?”
Si Wuya knew this part of his master’s memories was sealed inside the crystal. Hence, he said, “You wanted longevity and to attain the Nine-leaf stage.”
This answer was exactly the same as what Yu Shangrong had alluded to. This proved Si Wuya was not lying.
“Can I gain longevity by killing them?” Lu Zhou’s expression was stern. This was not a joke after all. It was a shame that he could not locate the memory crystal. Otherwise, he would not have to rely on others for answers.
Si Wuya glanced at the Four Treasures of the study on the table.
Lu Zhou understood what he meant. He waved his hand and gestured for him to help himself.
Si Wuya stood up, walked over to the table, picked up the brush, and listed the cultivation techniques of the Evil Sky Pavilion disciples on the paper.
Ci Yuan’er, Supreme Purity Jade Slip.
Si Wuya, Great Compa.s.sion Poem.
Zhao Yue, Brilliant Jade Technique.
Mings.h.i.+ Yin, Bluewood Technique.
Duanmu Sheng, Divine One Technique.
Si Wuya placed the brush on the table after he finished writing. He lifted the paper and said, “All these cultivation methods are related to longevity.”
The Supreme Purity Jade Slip could grant longevity, the Great Compa.s.sion Poem could reverse Yin and Yang, the Brilliant Jade Technique could preserve youth, the Bluewood Technique was like the evergreen trees, and the Divine One Technique could grant life as long as the heavens and the earth.
The descriptions of the cultivation methods were slightly exaggerated, to begin with. For example, ‘longevity and life as long as the heavens and the earth’.
Lu Zhou understood the effects of these cultivation methods better than anyone else. When they were listed in this manner, it became clear. However, a thought appeared in his mind. He frowned. ‘Is it possible that Ji Tiandao selected his disciples to gain longevity in life?’
What about the rest of his disciples?
Si Wuya continued, “Sixth Senior Sister Ye Tianxin is a fairfolk. The books have written that the fairfolk has Cheng Huang, which is able to grant the rider 2,000 years of life. Second Senior Brother Yu Shangrong, a n.o.bleman, has a short lifespan.” Then, he placed the paper on the table.
“Old Eighth’s Nine Tribulations Thunderblast. With every progressive tribulation he overcomes, his insides will burn, and he would lose 50 years of life.” At this moment, Si Wuya’s voice had turned incredibly soft. Then, he kneeled on the ground and cupped his fists at Lu Zhou. After that, he no longer spoke.
Realization dawned on Lu Zhou at this moment. If he still could not understand, he would have lived for so long in vain.
He chuckled and sneered at Si Wuya as he said, “You’re saying that I’m treating all of you as experiments so that I can prolong my life and attain the Nine-leaf stage?”
Si Wuya prostrated himself, flattened his palms on the floor, and touched the back of his hands with his forehead. This was equivalent to him confirming Lu Zhou’s words.
Lu Zhou’s expression was indifferent, but his heart skipped a beat. Well, technically, that was all Ji Tiandao’s doing. Whether it was about shortening or extending his life, this was all part of the effort to understand longevity. So this must also be the reason Si Wuya persuaded Zhu Honggong to run away from the Evil Sky Pavilion as well.
“Is this what Yu Zhenghai thinks as well?” Lu Zhou asked.
“I’ve promised Eldest Senior Brother that I won’t reveal his secrets. Do forgive me, master,” Si Wuya replied.
“So you’re saying I’ve treated all of you horrendously?” Lu Zhou asked. He, naturally, did not believe everything Si Wuya said. If it was true, why were all the rascals still alive? Things were much more complicated than he had imagined.
“I dare not!” Si Wuya remained prostrate on the floor.
“I’ll ask you again. Why did you leave the Evil Sky Pavilion?” Lu Zhou’s voice was stern and laced with warning. His instinct told him Si Wuya was withholding information.