The next day, Goh Su-min set up a banquet in front of the Star Tossing Spring on the mountain peak to entertain the envoys of Fengxiang sword school.
Shang Qingjun had always been fond of extravagant pleasures, so he did not refuse and happily brought a few disciples to attend the banquet.
After the greetings, he did not ask for the reason and sat down to drink.
Goh Su-min saw that there was nothing strange on his face, and his originally uneasy heart was slightly relieved.
As long as he could delay this person here for half an hour, it would be enough for Zhang Boyan to bring the three disciples far away.
He and Senchu, who was sitting below, looked at each other and took turns to toast.
However, the banquet did not even last for half an hour before a disciple came to report, "Chancellor, Senior Master Zeng is here."
Goh Su-min was startled and cast a questioning look at Senchu, but the latter shook his head.
Shang Qingjun casually threw his wine cup and said loudly, "It was I who called Zeng Guozhi here, is there something wrong?"
Goh Su-min hurriedly stood up and smiled apologetically, "Nothing, Senior Master Zeng usually refines medicine in the Golden Pool and rarely gets close to his fellow disciples. I couldn't invite him even if I wanted to, it's High Envoy's face that is greater."
Although he said so, he secretly frowned and muttered in his heart, "Senior Master Zeng always guards the Golden Pool Elixir Furnace and never leaves the house. Even when Shang Qingjun came that day, he did not show up. When did these two get together?"
"High Envoy Shang, what do I say about Daoren? These two junior brothers of mine don't really think highly of me as their senior brother."
As the voice sounded, a white-haired Daoren with a cane and a bell hung on it walked in, and at his feet was a single-horned demon frog jumping forward.
Goh Su-min got up and got down from the table. She took the initiative to step forward and said, "What are you talking about, Senior Apprentice Brother. Shen Junior Apprentice Brother and I are happy that you are willing to come. Please take a seat."
Ceng Daoren snorted and went straight to Goh Su-min's original seat. He raised his cup and said: "High Envoy Shang, Daoren is only here because of you. Let me give you a toast first."
Shang Qingjun raised his wine cup and made a toast, then tilted his head back and downed the wine in one gulp. At this time, he looked left and right, seemingly unintentionally asking, "Dean Wu, since you're hosting a banquet here, why isn't Zhenren here?"
Goh Su-min's expression changed slightly, but she squeezed out a smile and said, "Zhang doesn't like crowds, and he's not a cultivator of our sect, so I didn't invite him."
Shang Qingjun played with the wine cup in his hand and shook his head, saying, "How can this be? I heard that this Zhenren saved the lives of many disciples in Kwantam-in, so how can I neglect him? This is not the way to treat a guest! "
Zeng Guozhi put down his wine cup and said, "That's right. Speaking of which, I'm the host. I haven't seen this Zhang before, why don't I invite him over, Daoren?"
Goh Su-min's heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to calm down and said, "Zhenren has a strange temper, I'll have to invite him over personally."
Zeng Guozhi sighed and made a gesture to stop her, saying, "As the Dean, Junior Apprentice Brother still has to drink with High Envoy, how can you leave the banquet? Just Now, High Envoy has said that Zhenren has done a favor for Kwantam-in, so as the Pavilion Master, I have to thank him in person. "
Senchu saw that things weren't going well and said anxiously, "Why don't I do it for you."
Shang Qingjun said impatiently, "What trouble can it be to invite someone over? Zeng Guozhi, you go and invite him. If that Priest Zhang is unwilling to come, just say that it's me who invited him, and he won't dare to not give face. "
Seeing that he was dead set in his words, Goh Su-min and Senchu couldn't say anything and could only watch as Zeng Guozhi walked out. They could only secretly hope that Zhang Boyan would move faster and leave the mountain gates before he was found.
Shang Qingjun saw that the two of them were uneasy and sneered, "Dean Wu, there's wine but no entertainment, it's a little boring."
Goh Su-min seemed to come back to her senses and said, "Yes, yes." She hurriedly ordered a disciple to call the singers and dancers over to liven things up.
Senchu thought for a while and hesitantly stood up, saying, "Senior Apprentice Brother, the abode where Zhenren is staying is a little remote. Senior Apprentice Brother Zheng hasn't been in the sect for a long time, so I'm afraid that he doesn't know the way. Why don't I go take a look?"
Before Goh Su-min could say anything, Shang Qingjun interrupted, "Senchu, I heard that you have a beloved son. He's still young, but he's already cultivated to 'Essence Condensation and Will Manifestation'. I'm interested in taking him as my disciple, what do you think?"
With this interruption, Senchu couldn't leave for the time being. However, he didn't feel happy that the other party wanted to take his son as a disciple. Instead, he felt a chill run up his spine. He stood there blankly for a while before saying fearfully, "Thank you for your favor, Great Envoy. It's more than I could ask for if Great Envoy is willing to take my son as a disciple. It's just that my son was poisoned by miasma some time ago, and his vitality must have been damaged. Until now, he's been in a daze and isn't as intelligent as before."
Shang Qingjun was a little surprised and said, "There's such a thing?"
He waved his hand and said, "That's not a problem. I'm familiar with the Ku Xin Sect's Elders. It's not difficult to ask for a few Root Cultivation and Foundation Strengthening Pills. In my opinion, there's no need to change the date of the apprenticeship ceremony. Since everyone is here now, just summon your son here and pay his respects."
Senchu was groaning in his heart. He didn't expect Shang Qingjun to do this. If he brought his beloved son to the hall, he would undoubtedly be sending a sheep into the tiger's mouth. In the future, he would be under this person's control.
Seeing that he didn't move after a long time, Shang Qingjun pulled a long face and said coldly, "Why? Does Pavilion Master Shen think that I'm not worthy?"
Goh Su-min hurriedly said, "Great Envoy, Junior Martial Brother doesn't mean that." He then signaled to Senchu with his eyes and said, "Junior Martial Brother, we'll do as Great Envoy says. Go and find your nephew."
Shang Qingjun waved his sleeves and said, "There's no need for that. I've already ordered someone to find him."
He clapped his hands and a beautiful servant girl walked into the hall with a seven to eight years old boy. The boy's eyes were lively and he didn't look like he was stupid at all. When he saw Senchu, he called out 'Daddy' and broke free from the servant girl's hand and ran over.
Senchu took a glance at the servant girl, but the latter avoided his gaze unnaturally. He snorted heavily and reached out to hug the child who was pouncing towards him. He sighed in his heart as he knew that the other party had already planned this. He turned around and pointed at Shang Qingjun and said bitterly, "Hong 'er, this is your master. Why aren't you going to greet him?"
The boy responded with an 'oh' and went forward obediently. He kowtowed and served tea as a form of greeting.
Shang Qingjun initially only wanted to have a hostage in his hands so that he could control Kwantam-in. At least before the seal was lifted, he couldn't let anything go wrong. However, when he saw that the boy was extraordinarily intelligent and his aptitude was much better than his disciples, he really wanted to take him as his disciple. He pondered for a while and threw a jade pendant to the boy, saying, "Take it. This is a gift from your master."
The boy thought for a while and took down the golden necklace on his neck. He handed it over and said, "Master, this is a gift from your disciple."
Shang Qingjun was startled. He then laughed and received it, saying, "Good disciple. Your master will accept it."
At the same time, Zhang Boyan followed his plan and flew out of the mountain with Wu Song and the other two disciples in a yellow cloud.
As soon as they left the mountain gate, a ray of light chased after them. Someone shouted, "Zhenren, where are you going?"
Zhang Boyan already knew that this trip wouldn't be too smooth. He looked back and saw a Daoren wearing a grey feather crane cloak. On his shoulder was a demon frog. Although he had never seen Zeng Guozhi before, he had heard about him when he was chatting with Senchu. He sneered, "Priest Zeng doesn't need to ask about this." He paused for a while and said, "If I were you, I'd rather go back to my residence to recuperate. Looking at your expression now, you can live for another three to four years."
Zeng Guozhi was shocked. A hundred years ago, when he went to the South Cliff Continent to collect herbs, he was accidentally bitten by a poisonous creature in the mountains. At that time, he knew that he wouldn't live for long. Later, he used medicinal pills to conceal his Qi dynamic. Even Shang Qingjun couldn't see through him. He didn't expect that he would be exposed in front of Zhang Boyan.
He laughed at himself and admitted, "Zhenren Zhang has good eyesight."
He turned to look at the three disciples on the cloud. He took out an item and threw it to one of the younger disciples. He said, "Hua Zhong, although you're not my disciple, you're talented in the art of alchemy. This is the recipe that I've studied for my whole life. I'll pass it on to you now. When you go to another sect, don't ruin my reputation as a Kwantam-in."
The disciple took it and bowed to Zeng Guozhi on the cloud.
Zhang Boyan narrowed his eyes and said, "Fellow Daoist Zeng, you already knew that I was going to leave?"
Zeng Guozhi snorted coldly. "Those two stupid junior brothers of mine thought that their arrangements were flawless. In reality, their every move was being watched. If I didn't feign civility and temporarily calm Shang Qingjun down, he would've made his move long ago."
At this point, he waved his sleeve and said, "Zhang Zhang, leave quickly. If I don't return after a long time, Shang Qingjun will definitely be suspicious. If he comes chasing after me, I'll stop him here."
Zhang Boyan chuckled. He didn't hold back and cupped his hands at him. Then, he activated his escape art. A yellow cloud wrapped around the three disciples and headed north.
Seeing that he had left, Ceng Guozhi pointed downwards. The Horned Frog let out a croak and suddenly leaped up, disappearing into the ground.
After doing this, he sat down on the spot and closed his eyes to rest.
About a moment later, he suddenly heard the whistle of a sword. When he opened his eyes to look, he saw a ray of sword light suddenly flying from the peak of the mountain. It was like a rainbow sweeping across the land, flying towards him.
Soon, the sword light arrived in front of him. Shang Qingjun appeared and said angrily, "Zeng Guozhi, where is he? Where is he?"
Zeng Guozhi said slowly, "He's gone."
As he spoke, he secretly formed a hand seal, and with a rumbling sound, the Horned Frog suddenly sprang up from the ground. At this moment, it had already expanded to several zhang in size, and with a single gulp, it swallowed Shang Qingjun, who was caught off guard.
He circulated his technique repeatedly, and the Single-Horned Frog's body rapidly shrank, quickly shrinking to a size of three meters. But at this point, no matter how hard he tried, he was unable to shrink it in the slightest. Not long after, his forehead was covered in sweat.
Suddenly, there was a sound of wind beside him. He looked over in surprise, and when he saw who it was, he couldn't help but be shocked. He said, "Zhang Zhang, you, why are you back?"
Zhang Boyan's eyes were filled with green flames, and he said with a deep smile, "If I leave just like this, Shang Qingjun will definitely take it out on you, Kwantam-in. So after thinking about it, I decided to work with your sect to get rid of this person."
Zeng Guozhi's body trembled, and his face was filled with shock and anger. "You …"
Fengxiang sword school was going to be sealed, and Kwantam-in was afraid that they would burn the bridge after crossing it. So, he decided to send his disciples to the North Continent. That was a backup plan, just in case. But he was actually still holding on to a sliver of hope, and he didn't want to completely become enemies with the upper sect.
He stopped Shang Qingjun here. At most, he would take all the blame on himself. Anyway, he wouldn't be able to live for long. But if he were to kill the high envoy here with an outsider, then there would really be no way out.
Before he could react, he heard the demon frog's cry. Among the blood and flesh that filled the sky, hundreds of sword lights rushed out and went straight for where the two of them were.
…
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