Who gave you permission to refine demons like this?

Chapter 35: Tempering Me

Outside the accommodation.

Hu Bing looked at Lu Qianchui: "What should we do? How are we going to explain to the master that the plan has been interrupted?"

Without an inside contact at the camp to cover for us, how are we going to get those materials to Izumi?

"You are primarily responsible for this. If you hadn't insisted on making that bet, how could things have ended up like this?"

"Besides, I said from the beginning not to get into a conflict with that Cao guy. You insist on saying you can kill him, and if you could, that would be a good thing, but you've never done it!"

Lu Qianchui hadn't expected things to turn out this way. His plan had fallen through, and he'd be lucky to escape with his life.

Besides, his boxing gloves were already worn thin.

The Jintang and Feiyan martial arts schools plotted to acquire a batch of demon materials. These materials could not be brought into the open and could only be secretly transported to Hequan.

They had hoped to use an inside agent on temporary assignment to bring in the goods at a lower cost, but now it's all for naught.

"The imperial court is already keeping a close eye on demon materials. We've passed through so many checkpoints along the way. If we could easily enter the city, why would our two families need to ask Ma Zhaoshan for help?"

With the whisk in his hand, Hu Bing said irritably, "Now that's settled, let's think of a way to get it into the city."

Lu Qianchui looked at Hu Bing: "The master said he would get this position by any means necessary, right?"

Seeing Lu Qian's serious expression, Hu Bing whispered, "You mean..."

"That Cao Xingyi is really infuriating. There's nothing we can do about him except keep an eye on his junior brother, who is currently on temporary assignment. If we can deal with him, the temporary assignment can be rearranged."

"How will Liuyun Pavilion explain this? They'll definitely guess it's us."

"Then we won't make a move. Unless there's concrete evidence pointing directly at us, that guy surnamed Cao can only guess."

He hummed twice and said confidently, "You can't get anything done by just guessing."

Hu Bing thought it made some sense, but then he remembered Lu Qianchui's confident tone and became uneasy.

So he said, "I will handle this matter; you should not interfere."

The curator gave us time; as long as we finish within the time limit, there won't be any problems.

"I guarantee this time it will be done without anyone knowing."

……

Having finished explaining everything, Wu Rang said, "Consider today your report. Go back now, and we'll officially begin tomorrow."

"Yes, Mr. Wu."

After taking his waist tag and clothes, Lin Sheng followed Wu Rang out of the room, where they happened to run into Ma Zhaoshan, who was also coming out.

Upon seeing Lin Sheng, Ma Zhaoshan said, "Fellow Daoist Lin, you must already understand the responsibilities of our camp."

"Yes, Ma Sucheng, I've seen them all."

Mr. Wu taught me very meticulously, and I understand what I need to do now.

"Alright, since that's the case, let's head back today. Fellow Daoist Cao also asked me to say hello to you after you're done."

"What?"

"He told you to go back to the dojo after you're done, because your master has some things to tell you."

"Yes, thank you for informing me, Ma Sucheng."

Ma Zhaoshan nodded, then gestured for the two to leave.

Watching Lin Sheng's retreating figure, Ma Zhaoshan prayed deeply that he wouldn't have the same personality as Cao Xingyi.

"My Taoyuan camp can't withstand any major storms."

"God above, please let me eat for two more years."

Thinking of the newly activated formation, Ma Zhaoshan felt a deep sense of unease about the future.

After leaving Taoyuan Inn, Lin Sheng headed straight for Liuyun Pavilion, checking on Manager Zhang along the way.

The other party was very efficient. In a short while, they had cleaned up the surrounding area, filled in the rubble pit, and found a new spot near the restaurant to set up three iron pots and cook red soup.

The people who had just been frightened away gathered around the steaming stall again, discussing what had just happened. They even used their chopsticks to gesture the names of the people mentioned earlier.

Seeing that he was alright, Lin Sheng didn't delay any longer and went to Liuyun Pavilion.

Before even pushing open the door, he heard his master, Su Ren, yelling from inside: "You wretched child!"

Lin Sheng hurriedly pushed the door open and went in, only to find his senior brother Cao Xingyi kneeling in front of Su Ren, his face full of tension.

"Master, this is..."

Su Ren stared at Lin Sheng: "Xiao Sheng, let me ask you, did he have a conflict with the three martial arts schools, Jiu Dao, Fei Yan, and Jin Tang, today?"

Lin Sheng immediately understood and explained, "Master, it's not my senior brother's fault; it was the three families who stirred up trouble."

Today was supposed to be a temporary assignment at the post station, but a lot happened...

After Lin Sheng finished recounting everything that had happened that day, and was about to say a few more words in support of his senior brother, Su Ren interrupted him.

"You are not lying. If you deliberately distorted the facts, as your master, I will teach you a lesson today."

Even with countless methods of cultivation, a cultivator must always remember to cultivate virtue.

"I am not angry today because he stood up for you. When faced with provocative conflict, our Liuyun Pavilion should fight back against those who are blind to reason."

But you shouldn't have acted impulsively today, allowing the situation to escalate further, even activating the camp's formation!

You think you're avenging your junior brother? Actually, you're harming him.

Then, with a look of disappointment, he said, "Your strength is undoubtedly formidable, but your junior brother has only just begun his cultivation journey. Where do you think that anger will be directed?"

Even if other martial arts schools fear our strength, we cannot protect your junior brother at all times. There are countless cultivators willing to take the risk if they are willing to sacrifice themselves.

"Hequan Town has been controlled by those martial arts schools for many years. Many martial arts schools have been established here and then collapsed, but only our Liuyun Martial Arts School has the strength to stand firm and take root here."

Right now, the priority is to accumulate strength and proceed gradually, waiting for the right opportunity to carve out our own territory.

"The Nine-Knife Clan knows this principle, which is why they are at odds with us and set traps at every turn."

"If we give in to their temporary pleasure, we will be fulfilling their wishes, gradually eroding the space of our Flowing Cloud Pavilion. What we will lose in the future will be far more than just a temporary loss."

After listening to Su Ren's words, Cao Xingyi realized his mistake. Sweat beaded on his temples as he swallowed and said, "Master, I know I was wrong."

"snort!"

"I can't control you anymore. Get out of here from today onwards!"

"Huh? Master, you don't want me anymore?!"

Not to mention Cao Xingyi, even Lin Sheng was genuinely frightened and immediately tried to dissuade him.

Su Ren, with his hands behind his back, said, "Go find me a way to make a living! Since you like to do whatever you want, then go out and find a way to make a living and survive on your own."

You'll rely solely on your acquired skills. You're not allowed to use Xuanqi. The government's subsidies will only be used for cultivation resources; the rest will be kept at the Taoist temple to temper your temperament.

Once you've learned how to conduct yourself in society and broadened your perspective, come back—consider it a form of worldly self-cultivation!

Cao Xingyi breathed a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, the master wasn't really angry.

"Livelihood..." Cao Xingyi murmured.

"What, you don't want to?" Su Ren's tone became more forceful.

"How could I dare to disagree with what my master said? It's just that... I can't think of a suitable way to make a living right now."

After Cao Xing finished speaking, he blinked and stared at Su Ren.

Su Ren shook his head helplessly and tossed out a notice: "Hengdang Escort Agency is recruiting bodyguards, why don't you give it a try?"

Remember, you are not allowed to use Xuanqi.

"Yes, Master!"

Su Ren saw him immediately pick up the notice and then turn to the inner courtyard.

Seeing his master leave, Cao Xingyi stood up and waved to Lin Sheng.