Chapter 525: Chapter 515 Gold Star Taibai Returns Again

As for what kind of achievement he could attain, Yi Zheng himself couldn’t say for sure.

“I feel like I should be able to follow the Righteous Path…” Yi Zheng said with a lack of confidence, a vision of Liu Fei flashing through his mind before he sighed, “I’m sorry, I actually wanted to be a person of the Righteous Path, but alas, my strength doesn’t allow it…”

Today’s lesson was one that Yi Zheng took very seriously, he swore that even back on Earth, he had never been this diligent.

All sorts of tricky techniques were mastered to perfection by this group of men who looked rough and honest, with many of them even adding their own creative twists…

After the lesson ended, Kong Ni stood up and said, “Elder Zi, take care of Rabbit for me.”

The gaunt Elder Zi nodded and replied, “Don’t worry, Big House Master.”

Getting to his feet, Kong Ni said, “Alright, that’s it for today’s lessons! Dismissed!”

No sooner had Kong Ni finished speaking than a familiar voice rang out, “Confucius, I, Gold Star Taibai, humbly request an audience!”

Kong Ni and Yi Zheng frowned simultaneously, thinking why did this old man come back so quickly?

With a wave of his hand, Kong Ni had someone go to receive Gold Star Taibai. The old man scuttled over, and then meticulously scrutinized Rabbit from all angles; just a moment ago, Rabbit was still recording all sorts of murderous and arson techniques with a fierce, sly face, but the next moment, he looked up at Gold Star Taibai with an obedient look.

After looking him over for a while, Gold Star Taibai finally let out a breath of relief, thinking to himself, “This Rabbit’s gaze is pure; it seems he hasn’t been corrupted. It’s a relief, and I arrived just in time!”

Gold Star Taibai let go of Rabbit and offered a salute to Kong Ni, saying, “Confucius, I just received notification that Rabbit must leave the Chopping Wood Sect with me.”

Upon hearing this, Kong Ni was displeased, “What do you mean? Do you think we’re the Useless Wood Sect or something? You send someone over just because you say so, and you take someone away just because you say so?”

Clang!

The Chopping Wood Sect disciples around them stood up in unison, encircling Gold Star Taibai and rubbing their hands together as if they were ready to gang up on him at any disagreement.

Gold Star Taibai hurriedly waved his hands, saying in a fluster, “No, no, that’s not what I meant.”

“Then what do you mean?” Kong Ni asked.

After thinking for a moment, Gold Star Taibai replied, “This is the Queen Mother’s will; I really have no choice.”

Kong Ni snorted coldly, “We from the Chopping Wood Sect don’t take Heavenly Court’s stipend; the Queen Mother can’t just mess with people like this, right?”

Knowing he was at a disadvantage, Gold Star Taibai could only offer an apologetic smile and said, “Confucius, you’re right, we’re at fault in this matter. But about Rabbit…”

Kong Ni chuckled and settled back in his chair, crossing his legs proudly, “I’m not unreasonable. Let’s do this: what you say doesn’t count, nor does what I say. Let’s let Rabbit make his own choice! If he insists on leaving, I’ll let him go. If he refuses to leave… you’d best be off immediately!”

Upon hearing this, Gold Star Taibai breathed a sigh of relief. He glanced at Rabbit, with his innocent eyes, and whispered, “Rabbit, you have to come with me, it’s the Queen Mother’s command. Besides, listen to me, it’s in your best interest to come with me.”

Rabbit looked toward Kong Ni, who said with a smile, “Rabbit, how have your master and fellow disciples treated you, I don’t need to say, right? But we won’t force you to do anything. If you want to go, go. If you want to stay, even the Queen Mother can’t take you away!”

Yi Zheng felt moved upon hearing this, but he was also aware that, although the Chopping Wood Sect was formidable and Kong Ni extremely bold, Heavenly Court was ultimately the world’s preeminent orthodox official power.

It wasn’t worth it for the Chopping Wood Sect to offend the Queen Mother because of him.

However, he had just started to study earnestly, and being taken away so soon was quite frustrating.

Just then, Yi Zheng heard Kong Ni’s sly voice in his ear, “Rabbit, our Sect doesn’t have many Cultivation Techniques, and we rarely discuss the Dao. But you can’t skip learning our core Internal Cultivation Methods. If you really want to leave, at the very least you should stay another month. There’s no rush to leave after you’ve studied Internal Cultivation Methods for a month!”

Yi Zheng felt a warmth in his heart. Although he hadn’t been there long, he could feel that it was with Kong Ni and the others that he felt the sense of home. The Heavenly Court was too rigid for his liking.

But he was even more aware that his staying would ultimately spell trouble for the Chopping Wood Sect.

So, Yi Zheng said, “Old White, I’ll go with you, but it will have to be a month from now.”

Gold Star Taibai frowned, “Why a month? That’s too long.”

Yi Zheng made up an excuse on the spot, “I have been learning a unique Cultivation Technique from my master, and it requires him to temper my body every day. It can’t be abandoned halfway. Otherwise, can you wait a while longer?”

Gold Star Taibai’s brows furrowed tight, “This…”

Seeing Gold Star Taibai hesitate, Yi Zheng knew he wasn’t in a hurry to take him away right that moment; a month’s delay was still negotiable. Otherwise, he would have refused on the spot…

Therefore, Yi Zheng whispered, “Old White, you know what kind of people the Chopping Wood Sect members are, right? It would be too disrespectful to just leave now. What if they ambush us on the way back and I end up getting thrashed for nothing? I might be alright, with a bit of camaraderie they won’t beat me too badly, but what about you… Your old arms and legs, it’s not worth it.”

Gold Star Taibai glanced at the formidable Chopping Wood Sect disciples surrounding them, and then at Kong Ni squinting in the distance. Swallowing nervously, he whispered, “Rabbit, do… do you realize what kind of people they are?”

Yi Zheng, observing Gold Star Taibai’s expression, immediately understood why Gold Star Taibai came back so fast; he was deeply worried that these people would lead him into the Demon Sect.

Yi Zheng cleared his throat and said, “I know, how could I not? Did you find out too?”

Gold Star Taibai chuckled bitterly and nodded, whispering, “Originally, I just heard people say Confucius was good at teaching, but the result… I was duped!”

“Before, when I left this place, I had nothing to do, so I went to visit a friend, and that old friend told me about the nature of these people.

Alas…”

Yi Zheng blinked, looking innocently cute and asked, “What nature do they have?”

Gold Star Taibai wanted to say something but then gave up, sighing, “It’s hard to say… Anyway, you mustn’t learn from them!”

Yi Zheng nodded, “I understand, don’t worry, I definitely won’t learn from them!”

Gold Star Taibai looked into those pure, earnest, and sincere eyes before him and heaved another sigh of relief, thinking to himself, “This Rabbit is still quite sensible and shouldn’t be too hard to guide.”

Then Gold Star Taibai confirmed again with Yi Zheng, “Rabbit, are you sure you can leave with me after a month?”

Yi Zheng nodded, “Absolutely!

“I dare not disobey the Queen Mother’s command.

Besides, carrying the Queen Mother’s command, I have stayed for a month already, which is giving them plenty of face.

If they still trouble us after that, it would be rather unreasonable.”

Thinking about it, Gold Star Taibai felt it made sense, so he said, “It’s fine for you to stay a month, but you have to promise me one condition! Otherwise, I’m prepared to take a beating today just to take you away! I brought you down to learn proper conduct, not to teach you bad habits.”

Yi Zheng said, “Let’s hear your condition first.”

Gold Star Taibai, with utmost seriousness, said, “My condition is very simple: you can only learn Cultivation Technique, you mustn’t learn anything else from them, including manners!”

Yi Zheng blinked, “Alright!”

Seeing that Yi Zheng agreed, Gold Star Taibai then looked at Kong Ni and said, “Confucius, what Rabbit said is reasonable. It’s indeed disrespectful to leave right upon arrival. How about this? He will stay for a month, and after a month, I’ll take him away, how’s that?”

“That’s giving face, deal!” Kong Ni immediately slapped his thigh upon hearing this.

Gold Star Taibai continued, “Don’t be hasty, you have to promise me one condition, in this month, you can only teach him Cultivation Technique, nothing else. Don’t glare at me, I’ve already inquired about it, no need for me to speak of your reputation, right?

In short, if you promise me, he can stay; if not, I’ll take him away.”

Gold Star Taibai was laying it all on the line, his thoughts were clear. The Queen Mother believed Rabbit was ignorant and undisciplined, too much like a bandit in his actions, which was why she asked him to bring Rabbit to learn proper conduct, to rectify his dao heart and bring him back to the Righteous Path.

If Rabbit stayed here, it wouldn’t be rectification but furthering his nefarious study!

Then, it wouldn’t just be a simple beating, but the wrath of the Queen Mother could result in reincarnation as a dog being a mercy from her.

Now watching Gold Star Taibai puff up in anger, his old face reddening, Kong Ni laughed, “Okay, I promise you!”

Then Kong Ni raised a hand and declared, “Heaven above, I, Kong Ni, swear, in this month I will only teach Rabbit the Cultivation Technique and our sect’s mental method, absolutely nothing else! If I do, may thunder strike me down, and may I die without a place to bury me!”

The stronger one is, the closer to the Dao, so breaking an oath would result in severe punishment, almost assuredly coming to pass.

Therefore, it’s inconsequential for common folk with little strength to swear oaths, but the more powerful a person is, the less likely they are to make oaths lightly.

With Kong Ni making the oath, Gold Star Taibai finally felt reassured and bowed, “Confucius, I apologize. As a Little God tasked with teaching Rabbit proper conduct, I dare not slack off. My words were a bit offensive just now, please take no offense.”

Kong Ni laughed heartily, “Star Lord, you’re being too modest. I can see you genuinely care for my disciple. I won’t blame you, you can rest easy, after a month, Rabbit will surely leave with you!

I don’t have many good points, but I always keep my word.”

Gold Star Taibai nodded, then said his farewells and left, “Then, the Little God will return after a month.”

Kong Ni casually replied, “Take care, no need to see you out.”

Gold Star Taibai turned and walked away…

Watching Gold Star Taibai’s retreating figure, Kong Ni grinned, and once Gold Star Taibai had left the sect gate, he immediately swung his arm, “Close the gate!”

Clang!

The sect gate was shut, followed by more than a dozen bolts sliding into place, and still not feeling entirely secure, they directly activated the Mountain Protection Array.

Yi Zheng was stunned, thinking to himself, “Damn, they aren’t planning on breaking their promise, are they?”

Then his ear was abruptly grabbed from behind – it was Kong Ni!