From a country cook to a master chef

Looking at the newcomer's face, Lin Jue had a deep impression of him: Chen San, the lackey of the Third Master of the Zhao family.

This man usually relies on Zhao Kun's power to bully his servants and secretly exploit them.

The courtyard was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and the sound of drums and music filled the air. This guy was putting on a polite act.

"lead the way!"

Composing myself, I followed Chen San through the corridor and saw Zhao Kun bending down to tease the dog in the pavilion.

But upon getting closer, one could see that the person squatting beneath him was clearly a maidservant from the manor, her face painted with embellishments and draped in a dog skin.

Lin Jue slowly stepped forward, removed his mask, and revealed a brand-new face with a scar, which he had disguised himself with makeup done early on.

"Ma Huayuan from Yucheng greets Third Master!"

"So you are the junior brother of Immortal Master Wuyanzi?"

"It is I."

"Master Ma looks so young, yet he has managed to become a disciple of Master Jin Guang. Truly, heroes emerge from among the young."

Zhao Kun slowly rose to his feet, and a maidservant followed closely behind to adjust his belt. "With the help of the immortal master this time, the Zhao family's foundation will be within our grasp. As for that serpent in the forbidden area, we'll leave it to the immortal master to deal with."

"The old man has a wondrous object that can summon the Crimson Scale Python. Immortal Master, you only need to hold that beast back. Once I've dealt with the old man, I will send people to your aid."

"..."

Lin Jue was slightly taken aback, then said calmly, "Third Master, rest assured, just leave the Crimson Scale Python to me, I guarantee there will be no trouble."

Lin Jue was secretly pleased that everything had turned out alright.

"Fortunately, Wu Yanzi had prepared a mask magic item in advance, which allowed me to act under Ma Huayuan's identity. It's just a pity that this mask can't hide from a Foundation Establishment cultivator. But thankfully, I have the Liu family troupe leader. Even if my identity is exposed, I don't need to worry. The Second Miss will take care of it."

"Right now, let's go check on that Crimson Scale Python. If we can subdue it, it will be of great use."

Lin Jue was worried about how to get close to the Zhao family's snake pond, but he didn't expect to get it so easily.

The courtyard was filled with the sounds of gongs and drums. Zhao Kun figured the banquet was over and it was time to invite the old man to watch a play.

"It's a pity that the big guy in the forbidden area can't be used by me!" Zhao Kun sighed and immediately ordered Chen San to take Ma Huayuan to the Zhao family's snake pool forbidden area.

With Xu Zhi, the Zhao family's top martial artist, absent, he was confident that the people in the forbidden area couldn't stop Jin Guang Shangren's top disciple, especially since he had his spies inside.

"Wu Yanzi, Ma Huayuan, Zhu Xinghe, once this matter is over, none of you will escape."

Watching the departing figure, a fierce glint flashed in Zhao Kun's eyes.

With the help of both inside and outside forces, Lin Jue easily entered the forbidden area of ​​the Zhao family's snake pool.

Chen San, who was not skilled in martial arts, helped drag the two men Lin Jue had dealt with into the bushes and hid them.

After Lin Jue entered the forbidden area, he smiled and locked the gate.

This was Zhao Kun's arrangement.

The snake pond is located below the artificial hill in the backyard of the Zhao residence, and it is the only exit.

Chen Sanming ordered the two men to continue guarding the exit while he ran to report to his master.

The silent wind rustled through the bamboo forest.

Behind a rusty iron door, a rustling sound of something rubbing together could be heard.

Lin Jue took a deep breath, took out three specially made incense sticks, lit them, and inserted them into the iron gate opening left by the Zhao family to feed the red-scaled python.

As the incense burned out, he sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began searching for the Crimson Scale Python's soul shadow in his sea of ​​consciousness.

"Strange, why isn't it there?"

Lin Jue frowned. Could this Crimson Scale Python be comparable to the mutated Black Snake?

Unconvinced, he calmed down and tried to sense the energy again, but still found nothing.

Behind the iron gate, the red-scaled python moved its long body, making a rustling sound.

Lin Jue gripped the key in his hand, glanced down at the spirit beast bag containing the mutated black snake, hesitated for a long time, and then walked out of the forbidden area.

He originally intended to first try controlling the Crimson Scale Python with the Spirit-Controlling Gourd Seal. If the effect was too poor, he would then use the mutated black snake to suppress it. With this double protection, he could completely eliminate the threat of the Crimson Scale Python.

Unexpectedly, the Spirit-Controlling Gourd Seal was unable to contain the Crimson Scale Python's soul shadow, which greatly surprised Lin Jue.

In this case, it is uncertain whether the mutated black snake will succeed in suppressing the enemy by force. If it alarms Old Master Zhao, it could have far-reaching consequences, and the plan to deal with Zhao Kun tonight might fall apart.

Since Zhao Kun cannot control the Crimson Scale Python, perhaps he can use the python to deal with Zhao Kun's subordinates.

After all, the treasure that controls the Crimson Scale Python is still in the hands of Old Master Zhao.

Using the Spirit Gourd Seal to control the two people at the exit, Lin Jue successfully escaped. After changing into one of their clothes, he was lucky enough to find a token belonging to Zhao Kun.

With the token's blessing, Lin Jue successfully returned to the vicinity of the courtyard stage and secretly switched the incense in various places.

One person steps onto the stage, and guests from all directions come to pay homage.

Below the stage, the seats were arranged in two rows, with the left side completely empty.

The right side was packed with people, bustling with activity.

"?"

Lin Jue stared wide-eyed at the first row of seats on the stage in disbelief.

Zhu Xinghe, the notorious thief who should have died under Wu Yanzi's flying sword, was sitting there unharmed, chatting happily with the old master of the Zhao family.

The eldest son of the Zhao family became lame in his early years and used a wheelchair custom-made by a carpenter from Yucheng.

On the stage, the male and female martial arts performers put on a strenuous performance, singing about the Liang-Zhu meeting at the pavilion, and how Zhu's mother used a stick to beat the wild mandarin ducks.

Lin Jue was single-minded, his gaze sweeping across the stage and the entire courtyard. He spotted Zhao Kun standing on the pavilion to the side, his eyes cold and fixed on Old Master Zhao watching the play below.

"Where's that Wuyanzi guy?"

Just as he was wondering why he couldn't find Wu Yanzi, a song on the stage ended, and the performance of the King of Chu playing with Yu Ji began.

To win a smile from the beauty, the Overlord brandished his spear, drawing cheers from the audience.

Amidst laughter and cheers, the martial arts performer on stage turned his spear around, leaped forward, and thrust the spear tip towards Old Master Zhao.

The eldest son of the Zhao family sacrificed his life to shield the old master from a bullet, and the old master tried to escape, but Zhu Xinghe captured him.

"kill!"

Upstairs, Zhao Kun's voice was as cold as ice and snow. His men acted swiftly, eliminating all of Old Master Zhao's trusted confidants.

The townspeople had never seen anything like it before, and they immediately knelt down before Zhao Kun upstairs.

"Thank you for your help, senior, to see them off."

Zhao Kun smiled and spoke. Upon hearing that they could leave, the townspeople instinctively looked towards the exit of the compound.

Boom, boom boom!

Two fireballs fell, and the entire family of one hundred was instantly reduced to ashes.

Amidst the clanging of swords, Liu Hua, the leader of the Liu Family Troupe, soared into the air on his sword, looking down expressionlessly with a fireball in his hand.

Lin Jue slowly retreated, and taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, moved towards the Zhao family's backyard.

In the current situation, fleeing towards the compound gate would definitely lead to certain death.

"Things have gone wrong. I never expected the Liu family to collude with Zhao Kun. What is it about the Zhao family that would attract the attention of a Foundation Establishment cultivator?"

"With Old Master Zhao currently under control and the Liu family troupe leader also intimidating us here, it's best to leave."

Lin Jue was extremely frustrated. He hadn't expected things to turn out so far beyond his expectations. He should have known better than to get involved in all this mess.

It's all my fault for being greedy for the Zhao family's Blood Saber Technique that Zhao Xiaoyao promised.

Just as he thought no one was paying attention to him and he was about to slip into the backyard, Zhao Kun's chilling voice suddenly rang in his ears.

"Lin Jue, where do you think you're going to run to?"