Master, This Poor Disciple Died Again Today

Chapter 678: Childe Cub Club

From the close, musty interior of the tent, the vast enclosed space of the First Tier felt wide open, moreso due to its relative emptiness. Only a few beast cultivators wandered in the actual First Tier, the space largely wide open, with little to populate it. Aside from the ornately-carved tile pad from which the rift emerged, little of value remained in the First Tier. It stood empty, a broad, dark space, only a few support pillars, each one as wide as an ordinary palace, to break the emptiness.

Hui frowned. Isnt this too obvious? I guess theyre practically declaring open war on Tseng Caihong, but even so. Put up a veneer of normalcy!

A demon! someone shouted near Hui.

Hui flinched. Where? He spun around, quickly swapping to his compressed crystal form in defense.

A sword shattered against his back. Hui stumbled forward, drawing a talisman on the air even as he spun. Barriers, then attacks, in that order!

Behind him, a beast cultivator stared at him in horror, looking between his back and his broken sword. A small squirrel-like creature perched on the beast cultivators shoulder. Hui looked at the beast cultivator, and the beast cultivator looked at him.

Huis hands instinctively finished the barrier on his own, and it snapped into place around him. They both startled at that, jumping back.

Is this man as skittish as I am? Thats truly impressive. Finally, someone as averse to combat as myself! Good, good. Ah, even the sneak attack gets full marks. Never willingly enter into fair combat!

Though, er, Elder Brother should really reconsider smacking people with swords before determining theyre demons. If I wasnt me, Id be badly injured right now!

Hui cleared his throat. Senior, er, Im a member of Eight Tiers Palace.

Oh, the man said.

Another beast cultivator swooped in on a huge bird, her eyes darting left and right as she landed and jumped off her bird. Jing Chao! Wheres the demon?

False false alarm, the man with the squirrel muttered.

The woman clicked her tongue. At least you didnt behead him this time. The pill cultivators almost excommunicated our entire sectahem, tier, after you killed that disciple ten years back. Im amazed the Tier Master didnt feed you to Lao Hu.

Huis eyes widened. He took a step away from Jing Chao. I take back everything I said. Jing Chao, youre a fool! Youre in the habit of hitting everyone you dont recognize with your sword? Its a good thing I broke it. I did the whole palace a favor!

Jing Chao scowled at her. And what about the hundreds of times Ive rightly attacked demons on their way to raid the Palace? Conveniently forgetting about those, huh?

Ah. Are the demons really attacking us that openly? I had no idea. I guess the beast cultivators take care of it for the rest of the Palace.

Hold on. Is that why Tseng Caihong is ignoring their little rebellion? They handle the front line of the ongoing battle with the demons, and in return, shes willing to be a little lenient toward their transgressions? Hmm. That does make sense.

But if theyre doing such meritorious service for the sect, why kidnap the Tier Masters tiger cub? Unless she really is a pet kleptomaniac. Hui put his hand on his chin, considering for a moment, then shrugged. Ill see if I can figure it out when I talk to her. If shell talk to me. Im not really sure how to obtain an audience with her. Honestly, I was kind of hoping that the Tier Master would get me an audience with her, but it seems like thats my job, as well.

Haaa. Its so hard trying to become the number-one disciple. I never worked this hard for Starbound Sect!

No, wait, thats not true. I went to war for Starbound Sect and put in the effort to revive the whole sect.

Though its true that I didnt work this hard in Starbound Sect.

Well, I was already Weiheng Wus disciple. I didnt really need to gather anyones approval or improve my standing, since I was already an inheriting disciple of a Peak Master. Once he left, I wasnt formally a Peak Master, but I was the only one allowed through Masters barrier, so I was effectively a Peak Master. Again, it didnt really matter what others thought, since my standing didnt get affected by anyone elses opinion.

Likewise, when I was in All-Heavens Sect, I came in as a Peak Master and had the freedom to maintain my own peak. I didnt have a high ranking among the peaks, but that didnt matter. When I needed high ranking, I just sucked up to Gui Deluns daughter, Gui Yutong, and hugged her golden thigh. RightI already had backing in All-Heavens Sect, so I didnt need to climb the ranks too hard.

It's only now that Im a small cultivator of the Eight Tiers Palace that Im having to worry about others opinions. How troublesome.

He nodded at Jing Chao and the female cultivator. I was sent by the Tier Master to speak with Tseng Caihong. Can you two escort me there?

Taken aback, the female cultivator looked him up and down. You were? Do you have proof?

Hui froze. Proof? Elder Sister, the Tier Master didnt give me anything! Am I supposed to have proof? He looked over his shoulder at the portal, but it had gone dim, no longer active.

Turning back to the female cultivator, he smiled. Elder Sister, The Tier Master gave me no proof. My apologies. I dont suppose I could request you trust my words alone?

She scoffed.

Hui sighed, shaking his head. I suppose I could try tearing the secret realm open again ugh. Will Tseng Caihong need proof that Im the Tier Masters emissary, as well? Yes I should go back and get

A hand appeared out of midair and dropped something toward him. Hui held his hands out. A tuft of orange-and-black fur fell into his palms.

Your proof, the Tier Master said.

Ah! Thank you, Senior! Hui said, bowing quickly. Is it trendy for Seniors to send their hands through reality right now? Fen Long, now the Tier Master who next?

He turned to the female cultivator and smiled, presenting the fur in his palms. As you can see, Elder Sister, I have proof. Will you escort me now?

The female cultivator blinked at him. After a moment, she shrugged and gestured for him to climb onto her bird. Ill take you to Tseng Caihong. Jing Chao, you stay here. Dont kill any more innocents.

With this sword? Jing Chao complained, lifting his broken blade.

Hui bowed to Jing Chao. Sincerely, Elder Brother, if you hadnt attacked innocents, your blade wouldnt be broken right now.

Jing Chao looked at his blade, then at Hui, and sighed. Thats true. Ill take it as a lesson.

Its always good to learn, Hui agreed, nodding.

The female cultivator took off, leaving Jing Chao behind. Sitting cross-legged atop her bird, Hui closed his eyes, enjoying the wind in his hair. Off to speak with Tseng Caihong!