Evergreen Immortal-Chapter 38: Preparation

He was panting heavily.

"Hall Master, I heard Splendid Purity Sect has a mission?"

Li Rui nodded.

Seeing that Li Rui confirmed it, Liang He’s face lit up in excitement. "Hall Master, I want to go."

“...”

Li Rui was silent for a moment. "Give me a reason."

Liang He looked him dead in the eye and said with determination, "Hall Master, you’re the one who told me, those who want to achieve great things must first endure hardship!"

“!!!”

So the Lu Xun of this world is me?

Li Rui’s expression turned strange.

He absolutely denied ever saying such a thing. Suffering without gaining benefits was foolish. Taking advantage without effort was the highest art.

This kid still doesn’t get it.

Martial arts were far more than just fighting and killing.

"Alright."

Li Rui nodded. In the end, he still agreed to Liang He’s request.

Young people had to suffer some hardships. Only through some beatings on a mission like Splendid Purity Sect’s would he understand how cruel the world could be.

As for himself, old men had bad teeth anyway. Living off others suited him just fine.

Grabbing a mission spot was hard for a Hall Master, but for an ordinary disciple, it was easy. After all, ordinary Splendid Purity Sect disciples would never have a chance to meet any high-ranking figures.

Liang He would most likely only gain… a lesson.

"Old Li, you’re really not going?"

Wu Tu came looking as soon as he saw Li Rui’s name was absent from the participant list for the Splendid Purity Sect mission.

He had been counting on teaming up with Li Rui during the mission to watch each other’s backs.

Li Rui: "I’m old and no longer of use."

“...”

Wu Tu sneered inwardly.

Not useful?

Ying Liu had been tamed by Li Rui like a well-behaved dog, and this was what he called not useful?

He didn’t believe a word of it.

He sighed. "Old Li, you’re really passing up a great opportunity. This time, we’ve received confirmed intel, the rogue disciple from Splendid Purity Sect will definitely appear near the Heaven-Earth Alliance branch hall. And there will be Splendid Purity Sect experts taking action. It’s free credit, and you won’t even go."

Li Rui echoed his words outwardly, expressing regret.

But in his heart, it was the opposite.

Why would that Splendid Purity Sect disciple definitely appear at the branch hall?

Wasn’t it all because of him?

He was already trying to hide. There was no way he’d offer himself up.

Since Li Rui refused to budge no matter what, Wu Tu had no choice but to give up regretfully.

If Li Rui were willing to help, his chances of gaining merit would be much higher.

This was a battle destined to be won, the only variable was how much merit each person could grab.

If he could catch the attention of Splendid Purity Sect, he could turn from an Alliance enforcer into a Splendid Purity Sect disciple, now that was true glory and success.

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

"Oh right, there’s a young man from my hall going too. If you get a chance, please help watch over him."

"His name is Liang He."

"Sure."

Wu Tu nodded. He didn’t mind doing Li Rui a favor for just a regular disciple.

With that, he turned and left.

There might still be Ghost Nether Sect activity tonight, and he had a lot to oversee.

At the martial practice grounds, the selected Hall Masters and disciples participating in the Splendid Purity Sect mission had all assembled.

Wu Tu and Liang He were both present.

Only, Liang He was in the crowd below, while Wu Tu stood on the high platform.

On the high platform, three people clearly stood at the center of attention.

One of them was Kong Xianian.

He scanned the gathered crowd.

"Is everyone here?"

Zhao Wei nodded.

Kong Xianian then looked to the hook-nosed middle-aged man beside him. "Branch Master Dao, tonight’s operation will depend heavily on your Alliance’s help."

The man standing at the center was the Heaven-Earth Alliance's Qinghe Branch Master, Dao Xiong.

Dao Xiong’s face was as rough as tree bark, but he managed a smile. "All in a day’s work."

He then glanced over at the Splendid Purity Sect disciples.

"Does Envoy Liu have any adjustments to make?"

The handsome young man standing to his right smiled and shook his head.

Only then did Dao Xiong retract his gaze.

Just from the way the three stood, it was clear that the two from Splendid Purity Sect didn’t get along. As the Heaven-Earth Alliance's Branch Master, Dao Xiong wisely chose to remain neutral.

Getting involved in Splendid Purity Sect’s internal strife was a good way to end up dead without knowing how.

Dao Xiong hadn’t gotten his position by being a fool.

He cast a discreet glance at the Liu-named envoy and thought to himself:

"I’ve heard this one has serious connections..."

Kong Xianian, noticing that Dao Xiong was trying to play fair, snorted coldly. "The Ghost Nether Sect might make a move tonight. Be extra cautious, your lives could be on the line."

He deliberately dragged out the last three words.

His task this time was just to apprehend the traitor Xu Hua, while Liu Zhen was responsible for exterminating the Ghost Nether Sect.

The danger levels weren’t even close.

He’d be more than happy to see Liu Zhen die in the chaos with the Ghost Nether Sect.

What he said now was just to cover himself from blame.

Liu Zhen still wore a smiling face. "No need for Brother Kong to worry about this."

Dao Xiong rubbed his temples and stepped in at just the right time.

He really didn’t want to be stuck between the two.

"Gentlemen, since preparations are complete, why not deploy our forces first and leave that traitor nowhere to run?"

"Agreed."

Both nodded at once.

No matter the grudges within their sect, when it came to Xu Hua and the Ghost Nether Sect, their goals aligned.

At Dao Xiong’s order, the Heaven-Earth Alliance disciples were split into over ten small teams, hiding in buildings surrounding the Alliance branch.

The moment Xu Hua’s trail was spotted, a signal arrow would be fired.

Then Dao Xiong and the Splendid Purity Sect envoys, who were stationed at the branch, would rush in and kill Xu Hua on the spot.

Liang He was assigned to a house on the west side of the branch.

Coincidentally, the team leader was Wu Tu.

"You’re… you’re…"

"Liang He."

"Right, right Liang He. Just stick close to me. Old Li gave special instructions."

Hearing that Li Rui had spoken up for him, Liang He felt a warm glow in his heart.

"Thank you, Deacon Wu."

Wu Tu waved his hand. "It's nothing."

He actually remembered Liang He somewhat, back when he first joined, his spiritual roots were decent, and he had caught the eye of three Hall Masters. He had ended up in the Civil and Martial Hall.

Apparently, he had offended someone and was demoted to Tianyi Hall.

But the current Liang He didn’t seem as aloof as the rumors claimed.

"Strange… I’ll ask Old Feng someday."

Old Feng was the Hall Master of the Civil and Martial Hall.

The two of them reported to the same Deputy Branch Master, Zhang, so they had a good relationship.

While the two were chatting, hurried footsteps suddenly echoed outside.

Liang He said, "It’s someone from the county office."