Chapter 205 - He Lacks Moral Integrity

In the end, Sect Master Yuchi called his youngest disciple over with a candidate in mind.

Yu Jin cupped his hands and bowed to his master before taking the seat he offered him. He didn't say anything and just sat there, looking at the man.

Yuchi Bing Xia repressed a sigh. Haish, that child, still not talking if you don't ask him anything directly. "Yu Jin, you're probably surprised that I called you over so suddenly. I hope I didn't disturb your cultivation."

"Mn." Yu Jin just gave a murmur that could mean anything. He didn't look surprised at all. In fact, there wasn't any kind of expression on his face. It was as if the problems that worried the mortals and immortals were nothing to him. In his eyes, everything seemed to be dust.

Having such a disciple, Yuchi Bing Xia was actually happy. He had worried about who should succeed him in case something happened to him. Now he felt like Yu Jin was a good candidate for that. Otherwise, he never would have consulted a disciple about something as important as this. "Sect Master Xian of the Chun Feng Sect came by earlier. One of their disciples has vanished and there seems to be more behind that."

Yu Jin frowned. "The demonic faction?"

"That seems likely, yes. We've decided to send someone over."

Yu Jin nodded but didn't say anything. He knew the Sect Master couldn't be talking about him. Even though he was the last disciple he had taken in, he was still the Sect master's disciple. News of him would definitely have reached the demonic faction for a long time already. He was unsuitable for this.

"I've thought it through and I feel like that Qiguan Cheng Da could be a good choice. He has only risen to the inner sect a short time ago. People don't really know him yet. This would be a good opportunity for him, too. He can lie low so as to not attract too much attention and still generate some merit. You know him a bit better. What is your opinion?"

Yu Jin kept silent for a moment. "Master has considered this quite well. Looking at the circumstances Qiguan Cheng Da would be a good choice."

Yuchi Bing Xia narrowed his eyes. Even though the boy never talked much, he still had a pretty good grasp on what he meant when he did talk. "You think he is unsuitable?"

"When sending someone to the demonic faction as a spy the most important thing besides making sure he isn't exposed would be that the person doesn't become a double-agent that spies for the demonic faction in the end. Nobody can say for sure how something like this will turn out but in regards to Qiguan Cheng Da … I'm afraid he lacks the moral integrity to trust him with this."

"Oh?" Yuchi Bing Xia lifted his slender brows. "I thought you two were getting along fine."

He got a glance in return that said as much as his murmur earlier.

"You've been going to the outer sect quite often."

"Mn."

"So that wasn't to meet up with him?"

"The talisman forging pagoda is quite nice."

Yuchi Bing Xia's lips twitched. Fine, forget it if you don't want to talk about it. "So what makes you question that man so?"

"He is vain and seeks his own profit. I'm afraid … If the demonic faction offered him enough benefits, he might betray us." Yu Jin's brows slowly drew closer to each other. "That stroke of luck he had outside, I doubt it is what he said."

"Oh? How come?"

"Turning minor spirit veins into a heavenly ice spirit vein … There aren't many things that would allow one to do so. There are even fewer of these that could be stumbled upon outside. Nevertheless, Qiguan Cheng Da only went on a mission for two weeks and not even in a dangerous place and came back like that. It's more likely that he had that stroke of luck earlier."

"You think …?"

"About a year ago, we spoke about Grandmaster Zhangsun's disciple. I surmised that considering the vastly different status of him and that disciple from the outer sect he would try to change that boy's aptitude. My guess was that he would try to get his hands on an Amethyst Lightning Pill."

"And you think he really did so and that pill somehow ended up with Qiguan Cheng Da?"

Yu Jin nodded. "Naturally, I can't say for sure. But I think it likely to be the case."

"I don't think Grandmaster Zhangsun's disciple would be this easily duped."

Yu Jin just nodded. Whether he agreed or not … Yuchi Bing Xia sighed. "Then, who would you deem a suitable candidate for this task?"

The corners of Yu Jin's mouth slightly lifted. "Zhong Jing Yi."

Yuchi Bing Xia tilted his head. He had no idea who that person was.

Yu Jin took one look at his face and explained: "The lover of Grandmaster Zhangsun's disciple. Just like Qiguan Cheng Da, he isn't known by many people. Moreover, I think he has the qualities to fulfill this task without wavering in his loyalty. And finally … There is still the problem of their status. He should be at least an inner sect disciple.

Last year when those two left the sect he hadn't even managed to attain the seed stage. When I saw him in the capital some weeks later he had managed to overcome this and started cultivating. It's only a question of time for him to advance but if we disregard the connection to Grandmaster Zhangsun's disciple, then he would just be a slightly more talented disciple with full spirit veins. That isn't someone the sect would raise to the inner sect."

"But it would be different if he attained merit through exposing the plans of the demonic faction." Yuchi Bing Xia nodded slowly. That was indeed true. Mn, as expected of his youngest disciple. He really was smart. A worthy successor.

"You're right. He is indeed a good option. Did you say he was in the capital?"

Yu Jin nodded. "A year ago."

"Then Grandmaster Zhangsun's disciple …?"

Yu Jin nodded again.

"Alright. You can go back to cultivating."

Yu Jin stood up, bowed once more and left without another word.

Yuchi Bing Xia sighed. "I'd really like to know what that boy is thinking. Well, whatever, I'll go and see Grandmaster Zhangsun about this issue first." He, too, stood up and made his way over to the Grandmaster's palace to discuss his plan. They needed to settle this as soon as possible.