Chapter 9: Differences in Worth

Chapter 9: Differences in Worth

9

Differences in Worth

I

As Hao Zhen walked down the corridor, a couple of steps behind Tian Jin and Duo Lan, he did his best to calm his nerves. Unfortunately, that was something easier said than done. Nerves werent really something you could just calm on command as you got closer and closer to whatever was giving you them in the first place.

At the end of the corridor was a stairway leading to the second floor. Hao Zhen had never been to the second floor of the Mission Hall before, and had it been up to him, he never would have had any reason to. The building clearly wasnt new, but it was well-maintained. None of the floorboards creaked, and the only sounds he could hear were that of the steps caused by four pairs of boots and the drumming of his heart. A faint haze hung in the air, and he could detect the sweet but subtle scent of burning incense. On the walls were white jade lanterns hanging from hooks, providing even lighting.

After climbing the stairway and stepping onto the second floor, Hao Zhen found himself facing another long corridor, with multiple doors on both sides. The female disciple led them all the way to the end of the corridor, toward the last door, then knocked. Moments later, the door opened by itself, and she stepped aside, motioning for them to enter.

Without hesitation, Tian Jin and Duo Lan walked inside the room, and Hao Zhen forced himself to do the same. If he had nothing to hide, then he had no reason to hesitate. Dont act suspicious, he reminded himself. Unfortunately, that was also something easier said than done.

The smoke of incense was thicker inside the room, the smell sweeter and more pronounced. The room was large, but bare for the most part. On the far end of the room, a middle-aged man in robes, whom he assumed was an elder, sat cross-legged on top of a cushion. There were only three lanterns in the room, so unlike the brightly lit corridor, it was dim inside, with only just enough lighting to see each others faces with clarity.

Hao Zhen heard a very subtle creak, and glancing back, he saw that the door behind them had closed, the female disciple who had brought them here nowhere to be seen. He then returned his attention to the middle-aged man just in time to see him opening his eyes.

The elders gaze first fell on Tian Jin, then on Duo Lan, and finally on Hao Zhen. The man stared at them in silence a few moments longer before sighing.

Tell me what happened during the mission.

Tian Jin took a step forward, back straight. After arriving at our destination, we started searching for the requested magical plants, he said, his voice even. He held the elders gaze unflinchingly. Between the four of us, we managed to quickly meet the quota for the mission, but we decided to keep looking until nightfall. Just as we were about to head back to the sect, a radiant sun tiger appeared. At that, Tian Jins expression turned troubled, as if he was recalling something unpleasant, and Hao Zhen realized that the boy was much better at acting than he originally assumed. Before any of us could react, it bit into Senior Brother Ke, then swallowed him whole. Then, moments later, the monster exploded. Tian Jin paused for a moment, then added, We believe that after being swallowed, while inside the monsters stomach, Senior Brother Ke used an explosion talisman, sacrificing himself to kill the evil beast.nove(l)bi(n.)com

As Tian Jin gave his report, carrying himself with a level of ease and confidence Hao Zhen doubted he would ever have, the elders expression remained unchanging. He only reacted after Tian Jin was finished with his recounting of the events, his gaze shifting to Duo Lan, and then to Hao Zhen. As the elders eyes fell on him, Hao Zhen gritted his teeth and stared straight ahead so as not to give anything away. The elders attention didnt linger on him, quickly returning to Tian Jin.

Do you have proof?

Yes, Tian Jin said.

Tian Jin then nodded toward Duo Lan, who stepped forward. Her spatial ring flashed, and in her hands, the horn of a radiant sun tiger appeared. She held it for the elder to see, who stared at it for a few moments before giving her a nod.

At that, as if being reminded of it, Tian Jin took the spatial ring out of his pocket. Im not sure about that myself, he admitted, looking slightly confused.

Thats normally the case, yes, Duo Lan said, but in this case, the elder probably handed it back to us as a favor of sorts. As I already said, Tian Jin and I are important to the sect. Why do you think he returned it to Tian Jin, even though it was with you, originally?

I Hao Zhen closed his eyes for a moment, then sighed. So all that preparation we didall that stress and worryingwas for nothing?

No, Tian Jin said, shaking his head. We only had an easy time because, as far as I can tell, Du Qing didnt intervene. Had he wanted to, I believe he couldve made things much harder for us. In that case, our preparations would have certainly been put to use. Its just that it didnt come to that. Thankfully.

Crossing his arms, Hao Zhen leaned against a nearby tree, going over Duo Lans and Tian Jins words. The more he thought about it, the more what they had said made sense. He had grossly overestimated Ke Lis worth to the sect and underestimated Tian Jins and Duo Lans.

The situation felt anticlimactic, in a way. Assuming his theory about events of the world following the plot of a cultivation novel was correct, he wondered if that was because they had deviated from the intended course of the events, which as far as he could tell, would have been Tian Jin returning to the sect and directly confronting Du Qing, demanding justice.

Still, he wasnt complaining. He doubted that things could have gone any better. It was just that he couldnt help but feel rather silly, embarrassed by the way he had overreacted, though he took some comfort in what Tian Jin had said at the end. And that reminded himthere was still the whole Du Qing business to take care of.

A breeze blew by, softly rustling the leaves on the ground.

Well. Hao Zhen took in a deep breath, finishing organizing his thoughts. Since thats over and done with, I think we should start thinking about our next moves.

Their primary concern up to this point had been figuring out what theyd do immediately after their return to the sect. Since that had turned out to be a non-issue, now it was time to make more detailed plans beyond simply buying Tian Jin and Duo Lan enough time to become strong enough to directly take care of Du Qing.

He also would have to come up with some sort of excuse, some sort of explanation, to stay by Tian Jins side, at least for the foreseeable future. Besides the matter with Du Qing, Hao Zhen wantedneededto know the reason behind his transmigration and why the world was the way it was, and as far as he could tell, following Tian Jin around was his best bet.

Well, I dont know about you two, Duo Lan said, but what I really need right now is a bath and a change of clothes, so we can either meet up later or continue this at my place.

Judging by her expression, she wouldnt accept any other option. Hao Zhen had to admit he really could use a bath right nowit had been almost a week since his last one, after all, and he was starting to get rather uncomfortablebut he felt that discussing their plans was more of a priority. Still, he wasnt about to antagonize Duo Lan over something like this and decided that it wouldnt matter much if they waited a little bit more to talk. After considering his options for a moment, he said, I guess we can go to your place.

Beside him, Tian Jin nodded his head.

Good. Lets get going, then.

With that, Duo Lan turned around and started marching away. Tian Jin and Hao Zhen followed her.