PFC Chapter 298 Your face is as red as a teapot.
Chapter 298 Your face is as red as a teapot.
Wu Shaotian was startled and turned his head sharply: "What did you say?"
"One month."
Old Jin's voice was hoarse, "I'll give you another month. If you still can't find the exact whereabouts of the Heavenly Demon Heart, then... we'll replace you."
"A change of players?!"
Wu Shaotian's pupils shrank suddenly, and his face turned deathly pale.
"good."
Old Jin sighed, a hint of reluctance flashing in his eyes, "Over the years, the other factions have long been dissatisfied with you."
"With Protector Cheng's death, the Demon Lord's patience has run out. This time... it's an ultimatum."
Wu Shaotian's face was extremely ugly.
A month?
He's currently being overshadowed by that bastard Li Wudao, and the sect's higher-ups are also having a subtle attitude towards him. Although Murong Yan hasn't said it explicitly, they've clearly distanced themselves from him...
What can you do in just one month?
"An ultimatum..."
Wu Shaotian muttered to himself, then suddenly threw his head back and laughed bitterly, “Hahahaha… An ultimatum! What a ultimatum!”
He laughed maniacally, but tears welled up in his eyes.
"Twenty-seven years, Mr. Jin... Do you know how I've survived these twenty-seven years...?"
He dug his fingertips deep into the stone wall, making a harsh scraping sound.
“When I was seven years old, in the dead of winter, I knelt in the snow for two hours to win the favor of Elder Chuan Gong. My knees were so cold that I lost all feeling in them, and they still ache slightly on rainy days.”
"When I was fifteen, I deliberately 'lost' to the good-for-nothing grandson of Master Guyue, which earned me his evaluation that 'this child is of pure heart and is neither arrogant nor impatient.'"
"......"
Wu Shaotian's voice trembled, finding it laughable:
"Over the years, I've walked on thin ice, been cautious in my words and actions, and worked desperately to climb the ladder... and this is how I get treated?"
"Why should I?!"
He slammed his fist into the stone wall, causing the entire wall to shake violently, and cracks spread like a spider web.
Looking at his frenzied appearance, Old Jin's worry deepened, but he dared not say anything more.
After a long while, Wu Shaotian slowly slid down to sit on the ground, leaning against the cold stone wall, his eyes vacant.
"Mr. Jin..."
His voice suddenly calmed down, eerily calm, "Tell me... was I just a pawn from the very beginning?"
"A chess piece that can be discarded at will after it's been used?"
Old Jin's lips moved, but he ultimately did not answer.
..........
Observation deck.
The moonlight, like a ribbon, poured down, turning the continuous mountain peaks into a silvery white.
Occasionally, a bird of prey would fly by, uttering a clear and melodious cry.
Li Wudao recovered from the shock of the system reward and was in a great mood.
I looked up.
Beside him stood Jiang Churan, head bowed, sometimes pursing her lips, sometimes frowning, her eyes darting around, her pretty face flushed with a faint blush, like jade glowing in the moonlight.
No, why are you blushing like a teapot?
Li Wudao was puzzled and couldn't help but ask, "What are you thinking about? Why are you so lost in thought?"
Seeing that she didn't react, he waved his hand and curiously moved closer to examine her closely.
I must say, Xiao Jiang's appearance is indeed unbeatable, with perfect facial proportions, and there's not a single flaw to be found.
Moreover, she possessed an ethereal气质 (qi zhi, a kind of refined elegance), with fair skin and jade-like body. When she stood there, it was as if thin clouds veiled the bright moon, or a gentle breeze caressed the rain-soaked flowers, like a celestial fairy descending to earth.
Jiang Churan was in a state of utter confusion when she suddenly felt a warm breath on her face. When she looked up, she saw Li Wudao's face was right in front of her.
She let out a soft "Ah!" and, like a startled fawn, instinctively stepped back.
As a result, she slipped and stepped on the moss, her delicate body swayed and she fell backward.
Li Wudao reacted swiftly, his long arm reaching out to catch her slender waist with one hand and support her steadily.
Their eyes met, though they were only inches apart.
Under the moonlight, the girl's face was exquisitely beautiful, though the panic in her eyes had not yet subsided. Her cherry lips were slightly parted, and her breath was as sweet as orchids.
Time seemed to stand still for a few breaths.
Jiang Churan felt a warm touch on her waist, and the large hand unconsciously rubbed it gently.
She trembled, her pretty face instantly turning bright red, the blush spreading from her ears all the way down her neck.
"Have you... touched enough?"
She forced herself to remain calm, glared at Li Wudao, her eyes filled with a mixture of shame and anger, but because her cheeks were flushed, the glare only added a touch of coquettish annoyance.
Li Wudao then realized what he had done and gave an embarrassed smile: "I couldn't help it, I'll be more careful next time."
"You want a next time?" the girl glared at him angrily. "Let go now!"
"..."
Li Wudao reluctantly withdrew his hand, the lingering warmth on his fingertips making him grin.
I must say, her waist is so slender and supple, it feels amazing to the touch.
Jiang Churan took three steps back as if she had been electrocuted, her ears turning so red they almost bled.
She turned her face away, not daring to look at Li Wudao again, but her heart was pounding and her thoughts were in turmoil.
"Brother Li! Brother Li, where are you?!"
Just then, Akiko's hurried voice came from afar.
He ran breathlessly to the observation deck and happened to witness this scene.
The air froze for three breaths.
"I didn't see anything!"
Akiko suddenly covered her eyes and turned away, but her fingers were wide open as she confidently declared:
"It's true! My night blindness has flared up! I just fell and went blind! I can't see anything!"
This statement has a rather obvious "protesting too much" feel to it.
Jiang Churan was even more embarrassed and annoyed. She stomped her foot and turned her back to straighten her clothes.
Li Wudao coughed lightly, secretly thinking that this kid had arrived at just the right time.
He quickly changed the subject, somewhat puzzled: "What happened that you're in such a hurry to find me... By the way, weren't you with Sister Nanzhi to complete the sect registration procedures?"
"Ugh, don't even mention it."
Speaking of this, Akiko's face showed anger and helplessness.
"Old Wang and I took Miss Li to the Inner Affairs Hall to handle the matters of joining the sect, but Elder Zhang, who was in charge of this matter, said... Now is not the time to open the sect and accept disciples, and no matter what kind of aptitude they are, they will not be accepted."
Li Wudao frowned: "You didn't mention my name?"
Given his current status as a Holy Son and a favorite of the sect leader, obtaining an inner disciple spot shouldn't be difficult for him.
Moreover, he had already mentioned it to the sect leader, and Murong Yan agreed without hesitation.
How dare an elder of the Imperial Household Department defy him?
"It was mentioned! Old Wang immediately said it was Senior Brother Li's idea."
Qiu Zishi said indignantly, "But Elder Zhang is completely unyielding and has a very arrogant attitude."
Not only did they refuse to listen, they also said something like, "...the sect has its own rules, and no exceptions can be made for one person."
He paused, then lowered his voice: "Later, in private, Elder Zhang hinted that he wanted a thousand low-grade spirit stones as a 'bribe,' saying that this was the usual practice."
"and then?"
"Old Wang, with his fiery temper, couldn't stand it. He immediately pointed at Elder Zhang's nose and cursed him for embezzlement, abuse of power, and corruption, saying he would report him to the Enforcement Hall and expose him."
Qiu Zishi smiled bitterly: "That Elder Zhang is no pushover either. In his anger and embarrassment, he directly attacked and injured Old Wang with a single palm strike."
The Imperial Household Department is in complete chaos right now, with many disciples watching.
"..."
Li Wudao was speechless.
What's going on here?
What puzzled him even more was that, given his current status, there was still someone who dared to openly oppose him.
Is this elder's head made of iron?
Jiang Churan had regained her aloof demeanor. She turned around and asked softly, "That elder... is he Zhang Qinian?"
Akiko Minoru nodded: "Exactly."
Jiang Churan frowned slightly: "This is a bit difficult."
"What, does he have some powerful backing?" Li Wudao raised an eyebrow.
"Ah."
Jiang Churan nodded and began to explain:
"Zhang Qinian is the grandson of the Supreme Elder 'Zhang Guyue'."
"Relying on this position, he operated in the Imperial Household Department for many years, and his embezzlement was commonplace."
Most of the sect's higher-ups turn a blind eye; as long as it's not excessive, they don't bother to interfere.
She paused, then added, "I've heard that several years ago, a disciple, dissatisfied with being cheated out of his money, made a huge fuss and it all the way to the sect leader."
But in the end, nothing came of it... Even the sect leader couldn't do anything about it and didn't dare to punish him severely.