Chapter 134 - 116: Standoff

Chapter 134: Chapter 116: Standoff

Outer Sect, Earth Fire Hall.

Liu Heng absent-mindedly went about his work. He’d felt a faint sense of unease ever since Zhao Qingmeng told him that Shadow had failed. Yesterday, he had personally witnessed Zhao Zuo pass the assessment for Inner Sect Disciples with flying colors. Now, his unease had reached its peak.

Cultivation is difficult—as difficult as ascending to the heavens. His own Cultivation wasn’t just poor; it was terrible. After nearly thirty years of Cultivation, he had barely managed to reach the Late Period of Qi Cultivation. He spent almost every day earning Contribution Points just to keep up, but it was still just a drop in the bucket.

It wasn’t until Zhao Qingmeng contacted him and brought him into her small group—one that hunted other Outer Sect disciples—that his desperate situation had eased slightly.

To better select their targets, he had even cultivated a Secret Technique to perceive a person’s Cultivation level and aura. He had sensed that Zhao Zuo was only at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, and his aura lacked the scent of bloodlust and killing intent. That was why he had chosen him as a target.

Who would have thought... he’d stumble so spectacularly.

’In the end, I underestimated everyone,’ Liu Heng sighed internally. His thoughts mirrored Zhao Qingmeng’s: Zhao Zuo must have mastered the Artifact Refining Technique long ago, and his Cultivation had likely reached the Late Period of Qi Cultivation as well.

Agitated, Liu Heng looked up and saw a figure standing outside his counter.

"Younger Brother Zhao, what brings you here?" Liu Heng immediately composed himself, feigning surprise.

His mind was in turmoil, but he managed to maintain a calm facade. However, his slightly constricted pupils betrayed his inner tension. Plotting to kill an Inner Sect Disciple, according to Moyun Sect rules, was a crime punishable by having one’s Cultivation crippled before being sent to the Spirit Stone mines to serve hard labor until death.

"I have a question I can’t figure out. I was wondering if Brother Liu could answer it for me?" Zhao Zuo asked with a smile. The moment he entered the hall, Zhao Zuo had been carefully observing Liu Heng’s reaction, especially the flicker of panic when he first saw him.

"What question might that be? Please, Younger Brother Zhao, go ahead," Liu Heng said with a simple-minded smile, the wrinkles on his face crinkling to create an air of honest reliability.

"Zhao Qingmeng masterminded the ambush, using an Array to block Mana. Were you involved in the attack on me? Or should I say... was it you who intentionally arranged for me to live in that courtyard?"

Zhao Zuo asked in a calm tone, his eyes scrutinizing Liu Heng’s.

"Younger Brother Zhao, what are you talking about? I don’t understand," Liu Heng asked, feigning astonishment. His eyes filled with deep confusion, making him look exceptionally innocent.

Zhao Zuo didn’t reply, merely staring into Liu Heng’s eyes. They held each other’s gaze for a few seconds before Liu Heng subconsciously looked away, beads of cold sweat trickling down his cheek.

"Younger Brother Zhao, please don’t look at me like that..." Liu Heng chuckled awkwardly.

Zhao Zuo still didn’t speak. He just sighed softly and averted his gaze.

It had only been a guess, but seeing the panic in Liu Heng’s eyes confirmed his suspicions. A sense of disappointment welled up inside him—disappointment in Liu Heng, and also in this world.

The first person he had gotten to know in the Moyun Sect had been acting the entire time, and even tried to have him killed...

After a few seconds, Zhao Zuo finally spoke.

"If you really had nothing to do with it, you wouldn’t be this nervous."

"The truth is, Brother Liu, you’re not very good at acting."

Zhao Zuo’s gaze grew sharp, as if it could pierce through a person’s heart.

"I don’t know what you’re asking!" Liu Heng’s tone grew agitated, as if he were rushing to explain himself. His eyes filled with the anger and resentment of being wrongly accused.

"I know it was you. You’re afraid. You’re just bluffing." Zhao Zuo’s tone remained unchanged. He could find no trace of guilt or apology in Liu Heng’s eyes.

’Perhaps... the best course of action is to go to the Punishment Hall and request they investigate this matter further.’ Zhao Zuo wasn’t sure of Liu Heng’s true strength; recklessly challenging him to a life-or-death battle was clearly a poor choice.

"It really wasn’t me, it really wasn’t... Can’t you just let me go?"

Liu Heng grew even more frantic upon hearing this. He had become an Outer Sect disciple of the Moyun Sect because of his skill in forging Spirit Iron. His life had been remarkably simple, and he was not at all skilled in combat.

Although his Cultivation was slightly higher than Zhao Zuo’s, he had no confidence in his ability to win a fight.

At this moment, Liu Heng was truly panicking. He didn’t know how Zhao Zuo had guessed his involvement, but he was now cornered, with no way to retreat.

Each man was lost in his own thoughts, and neither spoke. The atmosphere in the small space grew oppressive. In truth, Zhao Zuo was waiting... If Liu Heng couldn’t restrain himself and attacked, then everything would become much simpler.

As time passed, the tension grew even thicker.

"Younger Brother Zhao, this matter really has nothing to do with me." Liu Heng stuck to his story, but his tone was no longer as firm as before. The truth was already obvious... they were both just playing dumb.

Zhao Zuo had already gotten the answer he wanted. Although Liu Heng hadn’t directly admitted his involvement, the pleading note in his voice said more than enough.

"Let you go? But when you were plotting to take my life, you never thought about letting me go."

Zhao Zuo shook his head, unwilling to say more, and turned to leave.

Behind the counter, the expression on Liu Heng’s face tightened. He knew with certainty that if he let Zhao Zuo leave the Earth Fire Hall and go to the Inner Sect’s Punishment Hall to request an investigation, he would be... finished.

He was in the wrong, and there was a massive gap in their status.

"Younger Brother Zhao, please let me go, won’t you?" Liu Heng took a few steps forward, blocking Zhao Zuo’s path.

"If our positions were reversed, would you let me go?" Zhao Zuo stopped and asked.

"I..." Liu Heng was rendered speechless by Zhao Zuo’s question.

"Right, why don’t you tell me who else is in your organization?" Zhao Zuo asked suddenly. He planned to resolve this matter within two days, then focus on his Cultivation, striving to break through to the Late Period of Qi Cultivation as soon as possible. He also needed to spend time planning his path to Foundation Establishment.

"I... I don’t know. I was only responsible for selecting targets and leading them to that courtyard. The only person I ever dealt with was Zhao Qingmeng," Liu Heng answered directly, no longer trying to deny it.

"You only acted once a year?" Zhao Zuo pressed.

"Three to five times. The main targets are disciples from the Core Heart Hall and the Earth Fire Hall. Those people have weaker combat skills but are much wealthier. We could usually get around five hundred Spirit Stones each time." Having given up, Liu Heng began to confess all the details of their past schemes.

"Do you know the identity of the person who carried out the ambushes?"

"No, I’ve never met him. I was only responsible for getting people to move in."

"Younger Brother Zhao, let me go... please?"

Zhao Zuo was silent. Seeing that Liu Heng didn’t seem to be lying, he realized the man obviously didn’t know much more...

Perhaps some truths had been buried with Zhao Qingmeng’s death.

THUD.

Liu Heng dropped to his knees and grabbed onto Zhao Zuo’s legs, his eyes bloodshot and red-rimmed.

"Younger Brother Zhao, I have been cultivating for over thirty years now. I’ve been diligent and worked tirelessly, never daring to slack off for a single moment."

"I’ve finally achieved what I have today. I really don’t want to die."

"I can do my best to compensate you. I’ll even work for you in the future, giving you a portion of my Contribution Points every month for you to use as you see fit."

....

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