Jiang Ning's status had taken a sudden bound.
The guards' attitude towards him wasn't the only thing that had changed. Liu Qing couldn't figure out whom Jiang Ning really was either. She wasn't sure what relationship he shared with her father. From the way that they had spoken to each other, it seemed...like they were equals.
Liu Qing dared not ask too many questions. Jiang Ning wasn't going to tell her anything anyway. He might even rebuke her fiercely.
Something had become different in the courtyard.
Jiang Ning had risen suddenly to become the master of the place. Even Liu Qing had to obey his word. She trained the way Jiang Ning told her to without voicing a word of complaint.
During this time, Liu Chuandao had made his way back to his study. Within a few moments, Mr He arrived.
He had timed his arrival precisely, knocking on Liu Chuandao's door after Liu Chuandao's earlier anger had abated.
DOONG DOONG DOONG!
"Come in."
Mr He heard Liu Chuandao's voice in the study.
He smiled, pushed the door open and walked in.
"Chief Liu."
"You timed this, didn't you? You know I'm no longer as angry as I was earlier."
Mr He smiled sheepishly. "You weren't angry in the first place. That much, I do know."
Liu Chuandao wasn't angry earlier. He was just caught in a predicament as he was hesitant about what he should do about Jiang Ning, the man who had appeared without any warning. In fact, his mind might not yet be made up on the matter.
"So I am." Jiang Ning's reply had been brutally blunt. There had been no attempt at evasion or tact.
Jiang Ning's reply had shocked Mr He too. Jiang Ning's honesty had been brusque.
He had left nothing hidden.
It had been excessively bold of him to utter those words.
"The one that the legend speaks of is here."
"Chief Liu, are you certain that he is the one?"
"Are you suggesting that he isn't?"
Mr He smiled and shook his head. He wouldn't dare to contradict the sect leader.
He didn't possess the ability to make that judgment.
There was something about Jiang Ning that felt different from others his age though. He seemed more candid. He was a Sinner who had appeared out of nowhere, and his friends must have helped him with the mark on his body.
Liu Chuandao started to pace the room. "Is it done?"
"Yes. He has no ties with Qingshan Sect currently. He is no longer a Sinner, only a guest at our sect," replied Mr He.
Liu Chuandao scoffed lightly before nodding in approval.
"You don't need me to say a word, do you? You know exactly what I want done. You're the only one who does."This belongs to - ©.
Mr He smiled wordlessly.
He didn't have to say anything. Their relationship went beyond that of master and subordinate.
"If the legend is true, his arrival
marks the beginning of change to the current situation in the
mountain. The expression on Liu et
Chuandao's face was severe. He couldn't help but sigh. "It's been years and the current situation is a mess. If this continues, all of us...will be done for!"
He looked solemn and there was worry in his eyes. Should they pin their hopes on such a young man?
That sounded preposterous.
"Come what may," said Mr He. "All we have to do is to obey heaven's will. The rest is not up to us."
Liu Chuandao turned and looked at Mr He. He narrowed his eyes.
"You should be the sect leader instead."
Mr He waved his hands frantically in refusal.
Anyone else would have thought that Liu Chuandao was angry and that he had spoken those words with the intention to mock and intimidate Mr He. But Mr He merely smiled without a hint of fear. "No, not me. I'm not up for the job."
"Humph."
Liu Chuandao fell silent.
"How about Zhu Qi and the other disciples? I'm afraid they will start to suspect Jiang Ning's origins," said Mr He.
"Let Zhang Heng handle this." Liu Chuandao snorted coldly.
He had meted out a harsh punishment to Zhang Heng, so Zhang Heng was going to do the same to Zhu Qi and his fellow disciples. This incident served as a warning to Zhu Qi and everyone
against attempting anything untoward.
Mr He gave a nod of understanding and left Liu Chuandao's study without saying another word.
He had to announce the punishment that had been meted out to Zhang Heng immediately. That was the Disciplinary Hall's job.