Chapter Sixteen: The Unexpected Change, Gong Sun Zan

  "Lord Zhou, let's take a step aside and talk!" Sun Tao heard that Zhou Zicai was shouting for the immortal master, knowing that there must be some hidden reason behind this. This Zhou Zicai came to quell the bandits, but it wasn't as simple as Sun Tao thought. There must be some secret in this. Without acknowledging or denying his own identity as a cultivator, he whispered to Zhou Zicai, the governor of He Shui Prefecture.

  "Master Xian, let's go, I'll tell you on the way." Zhou Zicai heard this and pulled Sun Tao towards the luxurious crimson carriage. As they got in, he lowered the curtains and smiled mysteriously at Sun Tao, "Master Xian, this time you're not just eliminating bandits for the people's sake, are you? You must be after that thing too?"

  "Huh? Indeed, there is a cat's trick!" Sun Tuo heard this and calmly let out a soft "hmm" before saying: "Lord Zhou, what are you talking about? Didn't you also come here for that thing?"

  "Immortal Master, we humans don't do shady things. I indeed came for that thing. This one-eyed dragon Zhang Gui is just a small-time bandit, what I value is the mastermind behind Blood Slaughter Village. In previous years, I heard that Zhang Gui, the leader of Blood Slaughter Village, saved an immortal master who was heavily injured and on the verge of death. Zhang Gui obtained not insignificant benefits from that immortal master's hands. Originally, Zhang Gui and his gang were just a group of unremarkable bandits who robbed travelers on the road at irregular intervals. Since meeting that immortal master, they merged with the largest group of fierce bandits in Cloudy Mountain, Blood Slaughter Village, and with one-eyed dragon Zhang Gui as their leader, they committed all sorts of evil deeds in the Cloudy Mountain area, killing people and taking hostages."

  "Cut to the chase, this isn't what I wanted to hear. Lord Zhou, I don't believe you're really here to eliminate the Blood Slaughter Camp for the people's benefit." Sun Tao said impatiently, seeing that Zhou Zicai wasn't getting to the point even after half a day.

  "Immortal Master, what I mean to say is that we join forces to destroy the Blood Slaughter Village and eliminate the hidden Immortal Master. We'll divide the treasures inside equally, and at that time, just give me a few Longevity Pills and it's settled?" Zhou Zicai's words were evasive, and he glanced at Sun Tao, seeing his expressionless face, and suddenly felt uneasy.

  "Immortal elixir, you're thinking too beautifully! This elixir I still want, you think it's like cabbage, wanting it will make it appear? I think you've miscalculated! Our paths are different, we shouldn't be together, farewell!" Sun Tao heard this and thought that Zhouzi was not honest at all, his words were not true, and he immediately stood up to bid farewell.

  "Immortal master, please stay a little longer! I'm telling you, it's not done yet!" Seeing Sun Wei getting up to leave, Zhou Zi hurriedly spoke out to retain him. This little guy is a clever monkey, really not easy to fool.

  "The immortal master's words are not wrong, I indeed have something to hide. This immortal is just a bit more powerful than us ordinary people, able to ride the clouds and fog, manifest in the world, and has been mythologized by us ordinary folk. What long-life elixir, this is all just rumors among ordinary people, can't be true. The reason I want to destroy Blood Slaughter Village is that the immortal master's cultivation method has a way to cultivate, only then can one pursue the great path of longevity. We ordinary people don't have that opportunity, how can we seek that long-life method? And I, Zhou Mou, just want to seize this opportunity." Sun Wei sat back onto the soft couch in the carriage, and Zhou Zicai spoke in a low tone.

  "Haha...... Lord Zhou's ambition is not small! He wants the Longevity Great Way's technique. I don't know why you chose to tell me this, aren't you afraid that I..." Sun Tao heard Zhou Zicai's explanation and suddenly coldly laughed.

  "Immortal Master, I called you Immortal Master just to test you, but I didn't expect you to actually be an Immortal Master. However, your abilities as an Immortal Master are really too weak. You can't even handle these few bandits, which is beyond my expectations.

  Why am I telling you this? It's not because of your identity as an Immortal Master, but because of the family or sect behind you." Sun Wei's face showed displeasure, and Zhou Zicai continued to speak on his own.

  Taking action against an Immortal Master privately would put him at great risk, possibly even risking the extinction of his entire clan. At this moment, encountering Sun Wei, a half-baked Immortal Master, Zhou Zicai had no choice but to change his plans slightly. If he could get Sun Wei to take action, the risks of his trip would decrease significantly, and his chances of obtaining the immortal cultivation method would increase greatly.

  "Haha…… impressive, truly impressive. You really are fearless, thinking that a Xian Shi's methods are so simple? What you see is just the tip of the iceberg. Without even using their true power, a Xian Shi can destroy people like you with just a flick of their wrist." The cultivator, all-encompassing and boundless, thought of the strength of the cultivators, thought of the talismans and artifacts they created, Sun Wei sneered with disdain.

  "Hehe... Little friend, you're right. This is where I need your help. With your assistance, my chances of success will increase by several folds. As for the gains, you can pick first and I'll take what's left. And in return, you'll have earned the eternal friendship of the Zhou family." Zhou Zicai seemed to have a certain understanding of the Xiu Zhen realm, he knew that Sun Tao was not joking, and suddenly felt a sense of urgency.

  "Are you certain that the immortal master has a longevity technique suitable for your cultivation?"

  "Little friend, you don't believe me? If I wasn't confident, would I dare to provoke that immortal master?" Zhou Zicai asked back without answering.

  "Alright, since you're so confident, I'll accompany you on this trip and see for myself the master you've been talking about." Sun Tao immediately agreed. With nothing better to do, he might as well follow Zhou Zicai and take a look; who knows what unexpected gains they might have?

  Zhou Zicai was the one who took action against the Blood Slaughter Sect's Xianshi under the pretext of eliminating bandits. The entourage consisted mostly of elite members from the Zhou Manor, with dozens of people escorting Du Yanlong, the one-eyed dragon, to the Blood Slaughter Sect's main base outside Yunlanshan. Sun Tiao rode in the same horse-drawn carriage as Prefect Zhou Zicai.

  Sun Tao didn't entirely believe Zhou Zicai's words, so in order to intimidate this powerful official Zhou Zicai, Sun Tao used a little trick. Under Zhou Zicai's watchful eyes, he secretly put the small gold into the world of Journey to the West. Only then did he follow Zhou Zicai to kill his way into the Blood Slaughter Camp's headquarters.

  The mountain occupied by Xue Tu Village is called Weixie Mountain. The mountain is not very high, and behind it is a deep valley. Behind the valley is the main base of Xue Tu Village, which is easy to defend but difficult to attack, making it a strategic military location. However, when Sun Tao and his men arrived at Weixie Mountain with Du Yan's group, they found that this easily defended military stronghold had been breached by the Heishui County authorities, and smoke was rising everywhere, indicating that the final stage of the battle had begun.

  "Little friend, please come in. Later, when we meet that immortal master, I'll still have to rely on you a bit." When they arrived at the foot of the Weeping Blood Mountain, the carriage couldn't move forward, so Sun Tao and Zhou Zicai got off the carriage. A team of yamen runners suddenly appeared in front of Zhou Zicai and whispered a few words in his ear. Then, Zhou Zicai made a gesture to invite Sun Tao, clearly indicating that he was in control of the situation.

  Through a ravine, behind the Weeping Blood Mountain, a simple grand hall, all the old and young of the Butcher's Village were controlled, one by one being escorted by officials to the River Water County, Sun Tao and Zhou Zicai entered the gathering hall of the Butcher's Village.

  "Adult, this is the mastermind behind the Blood Slaughter Village, Liu Feng. He has been executed." Entering the grand hall, only to see a middle-aged man with a pale face lying in a pool of blood, a yamen runner rushed forward to report to Zhou Zicai.

  "Beware, this man is feigning death!"

  Sun Tuo heard the sound and looked at the middle-aged man who was lying in a pool of blood. Sun Tuo found that this middle-aged man still had breath, and it was not the sinner who was said to have been executed by the official. Suddenly, he couldn't help but speak out to remind him.

  As soon as the bailiff's voice fell, a sudden change occurred. The middle-aged man who had fallen into the blood pool suddenly jumped up, and a gray light shot towards Zhou Zicai. Sun Tuo's reminder was apparently too late, the gray light was a sword symbol used by the cultivator, one hit was fatal, and Zhou Zicai didn't even have a chance to dodge. His head fell to the ground like a rolling gourd. The old man's eyes were open before he died, with an expression of not closing his eyes in death.

  As soon as Zhou Zicai, the prefect of Heishui County, died, Sun Tao was immediately implicated. This monk is too ruthless! Even when he's seriously injured and dying, he still wants to pull in a scapegoat.

  "Hurry up and catch the culprit, don't let him get away."

  "Hurry, hurry, stop this murderer! He killed the Prefect, hurry and stop him!"

  …………

  As soon as Sun Tuo's words fell, the officials who were handling the aftermath around him manipulated their swords and shouted angrily at the middle-aged man.

  "The humble ants also tried to calculate the immortal master, you all deserve to die." The middle-aged man succeeded in one move, solving the governor of He Shui Prefecture. He also counted as a great revenge, otherwise he would not have found an opportunity to kill this governor. He was able to have today, all thanks to Zhou Zicai. After killing Zhou Zicai, the middle-aged man disdainfully sneered and patted a green talisman on his body. Suddenly, his body became light as a feather, extremely agile, and floated towards the outside of the gathering hall. How could these worldly ordinary people be the opponent of this immortal master who mastered the immortal art?

  "Hurry! Shoot the arrow quickly, can't let the murderer escape!"

  As soon as the middle-aged man rushed out of the Blood Slaughter Village's assembly hall, the bailiffs who arrived upon hearing the news immediately showed a furious expression, drew their bows and shot arrows at the middle-aged man. The magistrate was stabbed to death, and the group of bailiffs and catchers were absolutely involved in the case. They might even face punishment from their direct superiors, each and every one of them strained to leave the culprit behind. In an instant, the scene became chaotic, with shouts and curses filling the air.

  "It seems to make sense, this Taoist priest appears to know Zhou Zicai, pretending to be dead in order to assassinate Zhou Zicai. I'll go take a look at this person's background, after all, Zhou Zicai and I are on the same side, if he dies, I should avenge him too!" Watching the middle-aged man use 'Shen Xing Fu' to break out of the encirclement, Sun Wei was somewhat moved. In the eyes of the Taoist priest, human life is as insignificant as grass, watching a lively life disappear like that, Sun Wei, as a legitimate citizen of the 21st century, still had quite a bit of resistance."

  As soon as Sun Tuo's muttering stopped, he took advantage of the chaotic crowd and rushed out of the assembly hall to join the ranks of those chasing after the murderer.

  "Little Jin, follow that person, don't let him get away!" Outside the Blood Slaughter Village, all around were chaotic and disheveled yamen catchers and officials. The middle-aged man could only vaguely see a blurry figure. Without using the 'Divine Movement Symbol', Sun Tao couldn't catch up to the opponent at all. Sun Tao activated his summoning power, recited the true yuan, and summoned Little Jin out, then immediately gave him orders.

  The little monkey Xiao Jin transformed into a golden light and shot out. With Xiao Jin around, Sun Tao didn't have to worry about the immortal master running away, nor did he have to worry about losing him. With divine thoughts as guidance, he and Xiao Jin maintained a certain connection. Sun Tao could roughly sense Xiao Jin's location, and someone was behind him, pursuing relentlessly without giving up.

  Sun Tuo was really curious, a monk, he deserved that Zhou Zicai would calculate like that, looking at the situation, Zhou Zicai didn't tell him the truth either, they seemed to know each other and had grudges.

  The bailiffs of Heishui County chased for half a meal, but the middle-aged man had long since disappeared. The bailiffs had no choice but to gather their troops ahead of time. Sun Tuo took advantage of the bailiffs' inattention and hid his tracks, continuing to move forward along the trail left by Xiao Jin. Through spiritual connection, Xiao Jin had already stopped about five miles away, and with a bit more effort, he would be able to see Master Xian!

  "...Chirp, chirp..." After a short while, Sun Tiao leaped over mountains and hills, stopping at a steep slope. Xiao Jin jumped down from an ancient pine tree, chirping loudly as he rushed towards Sun Tiao.

  "Are you here?" Little Jin chirped and gestured wildly, Sun Tao's eyebrows were deeply furrowed, looking towards a natural cave halfway up the mountain, a pale and weak questioning voice floated into Sun Tao's ears, this middle-aged man surprisingly discovered his tracks.

  "Your pet is quite impressive, are you a disciple of the Beast Tamer Sect?" Before Sun Tao could even open his mouth, the middle-aged man walked out of the cave and asked him directly.

  "Friend, I have something unclear, please tell me." Sun Wei heard this and saw that the other party had a provocative tone, thinking that he still didn't know his true identity, assuming he was a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect. He gripped the sword symbol tightly in his hand, ready to launch a surprise attack at any moment. Because he discovered that with his divine sense, he couldn't detect the other's cultivation level, which meant that this person was either a peak expert of the late Qi Refining stage or a high-ranking master of the Foundation Building stage. He had to be cautious in responding.

  "This fellow Taoist friend, if there's anything you don't understand, just ask and I, Gong Sun Zhan, will certainly tell you everything." The middle-aged man, Gong Sun Zhan, couldn't help but smile when he heard this.

  "Gongsun Dao, I have something unclear. With your skills, killing an ordinary person should be effortless. Do you need to pretend to be dead? And what's the relationship between you and Zhou Zicai? What is he trying to get from you with all his might? I'm very curious about this matter, please enlighten me." Sun Tao said.

  "Little one, I originally wanted to spare your life, but now it seems that's not possible. It's a pity you knew something you shouldn't have." Gong Sun Tu's face was pale, with an appearance of being heavily injured, and at this moment when asked by Sun Tao, his eyes flashed with a hint of murderous intent, which was originally not intended to cause unnecessary trouble, but now it seemed that it couldn't be helped.

  "Go die!"

  As soon as Gong Sun Tu's voice fell, Sun Tao knew that he had stepped into another trap and learned something he shouldn't have known. The other party wanted to kill him to silence him! In an instant, he thought of taking the initiative to strike first, and the sword symbol in his hand shot out at Gong Sun Tu without hesitation.

  "Xiao Jin, up! Bite that despicable guy to death." A sword symbol was thrown out, and Sun Tao's figure retreated violently backwards, shouting the order at Xiao Jin.

  "Despicable!" The gray light transformed from the sword symbol shot towards Gong Sun Tu, and before he could even react, the gray sword light had already pierced through his chest, with blood flowing like a pillar.

  "Little one, wait for me, Gong Sun Tu will be back, wait for me." Xiao Jin reached out to grab Gong Sun Tu, but before he could get close, a black gas suddenly shot out from between Gong Sun Tu's eyebrows, and a strange, eerie cry rang out. Then, Gong Sun Tu's corpse turned into a pool of blood water.

  "Go, Xiao Jin, catch that black air for me, can't let it escape." Sun Tao heard this and didn't understand how Gong Sun Tu suddenly turned into a ball of blood water. Knowing this wasn't a good thing, he immediately rushed to command Xiao Jin: "Gong Sun Tu is trying to escape, this must be the black air. As long as we extinguish this black air, Gong Sun Tu will truly be finished!"