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Chapter 558 Persuasion
The night is getting darker.

In Aqua's simple memory, the alchemy room should have been a lively and bustling place.

Although many of my fellow students bullied me, there were also many who were kind to me. They would often praise me and share sweet candies with me.
But since when has the house become so deserted?
Aqua wasn't very bright; she only vaguely remembered that at first, only the eldest disciple of the sect disappeared, then several close disciples, followed by those more favored disciples, and finally even the lower-ranking senior brothers were gone one by one.
Strangely, even though so many people had disappeared, the master remained silent throughout, only casually remarking, "They've gone to take care of other things," without offering any further explanation.

Normally, people would be suspicious in this situation, but the problem is that the alchemy room is extremely special, with a high turnover of people. Disciples are often temporarily transferred to other sects to help out. In addition, Master Yun Zhongzi is known for being a good person, so it hasn't caused any waves yet.

Everyone continued with their routine lives as usual, except that at night, the lights in the dormitory were much fewer, and only a silent darkness enveloped the place—at first glance, it looked like a ghost village where no one was left and the whole village was dead.

Aqua disliked the scenery. Although he didn't understand anything, he still felt that a place should at least have some human touch in order to be called a dwelling. But unfortunately, he was powerless and couldn't say anything even if he disliked it.

Time just passes by little by little.

Given Aqua's status, his place was naturally on the outskirts, and his house was at most a bit better than those in the city. He was quite content, though; as long as he had enough to eat and wear, he didn't ask for much more.

In the end, all he could do was take out a book and, by the dim light of an oil lamp, painstakingly memorize the Chinese characters that were so difficult for him to understand.

But just then, a knock sounded on the door.

Aqua raised her head and stood there stunned for a full half minute.

He didn't understand why someone was knocking on the door when it was already late at night.
But out of the doorman's instinct, he still said something.

"Who?"

But as soon as he said those words, he realized something was wrong, and then, filled with immense terror, he covered his mouth tightly.

However, it was too late.

The knocking outside paused, followed by a stiff, monotonous voice.

"Aqua, are you in there?"

The voice sounded somewhat familiar.

After a while, Aqua remembered that this was one of her senior brothers.

—But didn't he disappear a few days ago? Who exactly is that guy outside the door?
Thinking of this, Aqua trembled more and more violently, but since the other party had already let him go, there was absolutely no reason for him to let him go.

The knocking was still slow and steady, but the voice was a little lower.

"Aqua, it's your senior brother Liu, have you forgotten me?"

Aqua remained silent, simply curling up as much as possible, hoping that what was outside the door would spare her.

After a while, the other person stopped moving, and just when Aqua thought she had escaped, that cold, deathly tone rang out again.

"Aqua, your master has summoned you. Come with me."

Aqua was just silly, not a real idiot, and he didn't bother to respond to such obviously bluffing words.

However, the guy outside the door remained relentless.

"Master's patience is limited, you'd better not keep him waiting too long. Open the door and let me in."

Aqua remained silent, and even pulled the blanket over his head as a precaution.

After repeating this several times, the guy outside finally stopped advising him, but he didn't leave. Instead, he stood outside, groping for the door, as if trying to find a crack through which he could slip in.

Aqua tried to comfort herself, her voice trembling.

No, it's alright. Master and my elder brother both said that as long as we stay inside, that thing outside won't be able to get in.
But in the next second.

A 'click' sound rang out.

That was the sound of the brass lock on the door being opened.

How, how is this possible?! How could it have gotten in?!

Aqua was dumbfounded, and it took him a long time to realize that he should probably run away—but just as he got up and was about to climb out the window, the thick iron door was already pulled open.

Moonlight streamed in from outside, illuminating the small house.

Similarly, it also illuminated the faces of the visitors.

His face looked as if it had been coated with lead powder, revealing a kind of sickly paleness—but to Aqua's surprise, the other party did not make a move, but stiffly lowered his head, looking at his terrified eyes.

He spoke again after a full three or four breaths.

"I told you, it was my master who sent me to find you, why are you so afraid?"

He didn't lay a hand on me?

Aqua swallowed hard, then whispered.

"Is he really Master?"

The visitor shook his head, took out a token from his pocket, and threw it at Aqua's feet.

It is engraved with cloud patterns commonly used in alchemy workshops. This is a unique technique of their school, which cannot be faked and will not fall into the hands of outsiders.

Seeing this, Aqua finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Master, senior brother, Master wants to see me. What does he want with me?"

The other person stared at him coldly without offering any answer.

It wasn't until Aqua was a little scared again that she spoke.

"Does the master need to explain to you again when he wants to see you? Just go over there when he tells you to, why all the nonsense?"

That's typical of Senior Brother Liu's attitude.

Hearing this familiar reprimand, Aqua nodded, feeling both relieved and somewhat at a loss, and then tried to put on the Taoist robe.

But Senior Brother Liu waved his hand.

"It's just a simple trip, not a formal visit. There's no need for all this fuss. Just put on your shoes and come with me."

Aqua could only agree, but just as he was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something and said cautiously.

"Senior brother, but I heard there's a great monster outside. It's dangerous to go out at night."

Before he could finish speaking, Senior Brother Liu raised the lantern in his hand.

"With this, you don't need to worry. Besides..."

A mocking smile suddenly appeared on his pale, paper-like face.

"This so-called great monster probably won't exist for much longer."

Guided by Senior Brother Liu, Aqua quickly arrived at the destination.

This was the first time he had come to the alchemy room at night. He was trembling with fear, afraid that if he stepped on the wrong spot, he would attract some terrifying thing.

—Look at that alchemy furnace, it now looks like a deformed mound of earth; look at those medicine drawers, they now look like gaping mouths ready to devour people; and look at those scattered pills, on which appear many terrified and desperate faces.
Aqua suddenly realized something.

Wait, the last one doesn't seem to be a hallucination?
He rubbed his eyes hard, trying to see clearly.

But at that moment, Senior Brother Liu suddenly spoke up.

"Junior brother, what's wrong with you?"

Aqua carefully raised his hand, as if to point somewhere, but before he could finish, he suddenly fell silent. The dark pills lay quietly in the container, no human faces appearing on them, no terrified screams.

It all seemed like an illusion caused by my excessive nervousness.

"No, Senior Brother Liu, I think I misread it just now. Yes, I'm sorry."

Senior Brother Liu didn't dwell on these things, but continued walking forward with mechanical steps.

Aqua clutched the sugar painting in her arms, hoping it would give her some courage.

Not long after, the two arrived at Yun Zhongzi's location.

Senior Brother Liu knocked on the door, then pushed Aqua inside, but didn't follow. He simply nodded and walked back into the deep darkness.

Aqua turned his head away, bewildered, so he didn't see it.

—Then Senior Brother Liu's body grew shorter and shorter, until finally, like mud, it completely melted into the floor.

At that moment, Yun Zhongzi, as usual, was sitting cross-legged, leaning against a pile of soft cushions. When he saw Aqua come in, he waved to her with a smile.

"Aqua's here? I'm sorry, Master, something came up, so I quickly called you over."

His words were extremely kind, as if he were speaking not to his idiotic disciple, but to his own child.

Aqua was clearly flattered and quickly stood up straight to reply.

"No, no, Master, I... I'm not involved, I just..."

Unfortunately, he was so clumsy with speech that he rambled on and on without being able to form a complete sentence.

Yun Zhongzi showed no signs of impatience; in fact, his smile became even more amiable.

"Alright, alright, Master, I know your intentions, and you don't need to show your loyalty. By the way, you came in such a hurry, you must be thirsty and hungry, right? I have some food here, would you like to have a bite?"

With a casual flick of his sleeve, several dishes and wines appeared on the previously empty table. Although it was impossible to tell what kind of meat they were, their aroma was clearly enticing and even more tempting.

Tonight, Aqua only managed to grab two steamed buns at the cafeteria. Seeing this table full of oily dishes, she immediately swallowed hard.

But he still didn't dare to accept it—he may be foolish, but he knew that the sect had the strictest rules. If someone dared to be so disrespectful, beating him would be the least of their worries; even if they killed him, no one would say anything.

Fortunately.

As expected of the most renowned person in the sect, Yun Zhongzi was also very understanding. Seeing that he did not move, he waved his hand with a smile, and the plate floated up out of thin air and was delivered to Aqua.

"Alright, eat up. I'm not the kind of person who's stubborn about rules. I can only give you instructions if you're full."

Hearing this, and touching her empty stomach, Aqua finally couldn't resist and started stuffing her hands into her mouth.

Yun Zhongzi stroked his beard, still looking at him with kindness and concern.

After a while, once Aqua had finished eating, he continued.

"Aqua, is your master good to you?"

Aqua wiped his greasy mouth and gave a silly grin.

"Master, of course you're good to me, even my father isn't as good to me as you are."

Yun Zhongzi smiled and nodded, then continued.

"Master, I'd like you to do me a small favor. Would you agree?"

Aqua instinctively wanted to respond—but suddenly, someone's words echoed in his ears.

"—And don't agree to any requests that go beyond your job duties—not even your mentor's requests."

His silly smile immediately stopped, and he seemed to hesitate for a moment, but finally he spoke.

"Yes, I'm sorry, Master, I'm afraid I can't agree."

Yun Zhongzi raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, why is that?"

pity.

Aqua stammered for a long time but still couldn't give an answer.

Thus, Yun Zhongzi could only sigh softly.

"I know, it was your older brother who wouldn't let you agree, right?"

Upon hearing this, Aqua hurriedly said something in a panic.

"No, no, elder brother, this has nothing to do with me. It was me, it was something I didn't want to do."

However, Yun Zhongzi remained unperturbed and continued speaking.

“I told you, don’t be so hasty. I know that kid Ling Yuan too, and I would never hold him accountable for this—otherwise, Senior Brother Chongxu wouldn’t have let me off the hook. By the way, do you know that your elder brother has been in a lot of trouble lately?”

"Wh-what?"

Yun Zhongzi laughed.

"That man of his, he's too murderous, and he acts without any scruples. He's made countless enemies both inside and outside the sect. Recently, I heard some rumors that those people are gathering together, preparing to take advantage of the lull in the grand ceremony to join forces and deal with your elder brother."

Aqua immediately panicked.

"Master, Master, my elder brother is such a good person, it's impossible. Right, right, Master, now that you know, could you go and help my elder brother?"

Yun Zhongzi shook his head and sighed.

"I'm afraid I can't help you either. You know I don't have much influence in the sect, and influence is a path to power, so basically no one listens to me."

"But, but"

Just as Aqua was getting as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, Yun Zhongzi suddenly changed the subject.

"However, just because I can't help now doesn't mean I can't help later."

"Then, Master, you..."

"--But then, I'll need Aqua's help."

Yun Zhongzi raised his head and said with a smile.

"When I said I needed your help, it was actually to help your elder brother. If this matter succeeds, his sect will also benefit greatly, perhaps even achieving its long-cherished wish in one fell swoop. In that case, those who plotted to harm him will naturally be put to rest. It's a pity, Aqua, you're unwilling to lend a hand?"

After hesitating for a long time, Aqua finally gritted her teeth and made up her mind.

"Okay, alright, then, Master, what do you need me to do?"

Yun Zhongzi immediately revealed a satisfied smile.

He just stared at Aqua for a while before slowly speaking.

"It's nothing, it just requires you to let down your guard and sincerely help your master complete a spell—you can rest assured, this spell is very simple and will be finished quickly, and..."

"Absolutely, it won't hurt."

(End of this chapter)