Yu Daohan nodded with satisfaction, patting Zhou Fu's shoulder. "Little money star, opportunities to be a free sandbag are rare. You must seize this chance."
Zhou Fu nodded, gripping the Kang Long Jian and slashing at Liu Shuying.
Yu Daohan found a large rock and sat down, watching the battle between man and ghost.
With the Kang Long Jian, Zhou Fu's combat power had increased significantly, far beyond what Liu Shuying could contend with.
Every time Liu Shuying was close to injuring Zhou Fu, she held back, fearing that harming the boy would result in her being struck down by the Kang Long Jian from the man beside them. However, this restraint was met with Zhou Fu's fierce slashes of the Kang Long Jian.
After a few exchanges, Liu Shuying was already in a continuous retreat. Zhou Fu raised the Kang Long Jian and brought it down heavily. Liu Shuying was struck and crashed into a large tree behind her.
As Zhou Fu raised the Kang Long Jian for the final blow, Liu Shuying suddenly pleaded, "Little Fu, don't kill me."
As soon as Liu Shuying spoke, she transformed into the appearance of an old man. Seeing the old man's face, Zhou Fu faltered, the Kang Long Jian still raised.
"Grandpa!"
In Zhou Fu's memory, although his grandfather's appearance was only etched from when he was two years old, he could not mistake this aged face. It was his grandfather.
Seeing Zhou Fu frozen in place, Liu Shuying extended her sharp claws, preparing to stab him.
She knew that Yu Daohan, standing nearby, would not let her go. She might as well take someone with her before she died.
Just as Liu Shuying seized the opportunity for a fatal blow, Yu Daohan had, at some unknown time, appeared behind Zhou Fu. He kicked Liu Shuying into the tree. Before Zhou Fu could react, Yu Daohan grabbed his hand, raised the Kang Long Jian, and plunged it directly into Liu Shuying's chest.
Liu Shuying dissipated into black mist. Zhou Fu turned to Yu Daohan, "Sect Leader, I..."
Yu Daohan's eyes were cold, his voice stern. He rebuked, "If I hadn't been here, you would be dead. I told you, never show mercy to evil spirits. Remember this."
Zhou Fu lowered his head. In all the time he had been here, he had never seen the Sect Leader so furious.
He must be utterly disappointed in me now.
Yu Daohan sighed, patted Zhou Fu's shoulder, and his tone softened. "Little money star, those of us in this line of work live on the edge of a knife, rolling in piles of dead bodies. A moment's carelessness can lead to utter annihilation."
Zhou Fu nodded, unable to meet Yu Daohan's eyes. "This disciple remembers the Sect Leader's teachings."
Yu Daohan nodded, saying no more. If Zhou Fu didn't realize his mistake, he might lose his life next time.
Seeing Zhou Fu still with his head down, Yu Daohan tapped the back of his head. "Alright, since Liu Shuying is dealt with, we should be heading back. Everyone makes mistakes. You made a mistake this time, but it might save your life next time."
The two arrived at Lu Xue's house at half-past four in the morning. Yu Daohan took the jade pendant, offered a few simple instructions to Lu Xue's family, and then left their village.
Eight-thirty in the morning.
Yu Daohan and Zhou Fu took a car to the shop. Yu Daohan immediately spotted a man around twenty years old standing at his shop's entrance, with a black car parked beside him.
The man saw Yu Daohan and Zhou Fu arrive and took out two white invitations from his briefcase. "Master Yu, you're back?"
Yu Daohan grunted. The man began to introduce himself, "I am Sun Qi, a disciple of the Chang Le Sect, responsible for delivering invitations to various sects and escorting participants for registration for the Fengtian Assembly."
Yu Daohan looked at the two invitations in Sun Qi's hand with some confusion, but then he realized. One was for the Midnight Spirit Shop, and the other was likely for the Yan Huo Sect.
The host this time is Hao Tian Quan, and the location should be the Chang Le Sect.
While the Chang Le Sect did not have the fame and status of the Three Great Sects, no one in the martial world dared to provoke them. Even the Three Great Sects had to show them some respect.
This was because they had Wu Tian Quan, ranked third on the Black List and known as the God of War on Earth, guarding them.
As long as Wu Tian Quan was alive, no one would dare to offend the Chang Le Sect.
Wu Tian Quan was not originally from the Chang Le Sect, nor was he a disciple of any sect. For some unknown reason, he joined the Chang Le Sect.
Legend had it that the Yan Shu Sect offered Wu Tian Quan a substantial sum to guard them, even promising him the position of Vice Sect Leader if he agreed. Yet, Wu Tian Quan refused such a tempting offer.
No one knew why he rejected the lucrative position of Vice Sect Leader of the Yan Shu Sect, choosing to remain in a second-rate sect. Some said it was out of gratitude, while others claimed he was a disciple of the Chang Le Sect from the start, but the truth remained unknown.
Yu Daohan took the two invitations from Sun Qi. "I didn't expect the Chang Le Sect to be so well-informed. You sent the Yan Huo Sect's invitation to me before I even announced it externally."
Sun Qi smiled faintly. "Master Yu is joking. It's just for convenience."
Yu Daohan knew well that most sects had likely investigated his relationship with the Yan Huo Sect.
When he opened the invitations, seeing the names Wu Tian Quan and Shen Tong Chou did not surprise him, as it was their turn this year. However, another name caught Yu Daohan by surprise.
Cui Yiling, ranked sixth on the Black List, also known as the Forgetful Immortal Aunt.