Chapter 97: Insult

Zhou Chen was puzzled but still followed Qu Yiqiu's instructions and dispatched the transmission talisman.

"Very well, I will open the path for them at once." Qu Yiqiu smiled and turned to leave.

Zhou Chen stared blankly at her retreating figure, then withdrew his gaze and meticulously examined the growth of every spiritual plant.

Qu Yiqiu walked to the array formation site in high spirits.

At this moment, Zhao Wen and Huang Lan had also received the transmission talisman sent by Zhou Chen.

Zhao Wen held the transmission talisman tightly in his hand, a trace of uncertainty flickering in his eyes.

He quickly tossed the talisman to Huang Lan and said, "Listen to what he says this time!"

Huang Lan received it as if it were a burning hot potato, hesitating as she glanced at him, "Zhou Chen would never refuse us this time!"

Her voice carried obvious guilt, her gaze wandering.

Zhao Wen turned his head, waved his hand dismissively, and said stiffly, "No matter what happens, Zhou Chen's this boy is doomed!"

Huang Lan's eyes wandered as she glanced at Xia Changhan, wiped the nervous sweat from her forehead, and brought the transmission talisman to her ear.

Zhao Wen feigned nonchalance while watching the scenery, yet his peripheral vision remained fixed on Huang Lan's expression. The long fingernails in his sleeve had already dug into his flesh.

If Zhou Chen dares to refuse him again this time, he must report the matter to Sect Master Luo! Zhao Wen swore silently in his heart.

Huang Lan suddenly broke into a radiant smile, "Zhao Shixiong, Zhou Chen is about to open the array channel!"

Zhao Wen's expression froze for an instant. After seeing Xia Changhan turn around, he declared sternly, "Zhou Shidi is injured, so there's no need for him to personally come pick us up. Once the channel opens, we can take Xia Shixiong up with us."

"What?" Huang Lan stared at him in complete bewilderment.

When had Zhou Chen mentioned coming to welcome them?

Zhao Wen noticed her lack of reaction and quickly coughed, using his eyes to signal her to focus on Xia Changhan's side.

Years of tacit understanding allowed Huang Lan to instantly grasp his pretense, and she suddenly realized, "Yes, yes, Xia Shixiong, Zhou Shidi is truly pitiful. Severely injured by Peak Master Hong yet still eager to come pick us up!"

"Zhou Shidi? Are you speaking of Zhou Chen from Xiaoping Peak?" Zou Peng suddenly appeared from the corner, gazing at them with a mixture of shock and delight.

Zhao Wen eyed him strangely and replied, "Zou Shixiong, why have you come too?"

Xia Changhan leaped down from the rock and said, "What they mentioned is exactly Zhou Chen's junior brother. Zou Shidi, are you planning to go to Xiaoping Peak?"

Zou Peng's eyes shone with joy, ignoring the disdain in Zhao Wen and Huang Lan's gazes, and responded with a smile, "Senior Brother Mo was once my master's junior brother, so he specially ordered me to come congratulate Senior Brother Mo on his return to the proper path."

"Hehe... When Senior Brother Mo met with misfortune back then, I didn't see Senior Brother Yang present a gift. Today, with Senior Brother Mo's body recovered, he sends his disciples to deliver gifts, running faster than anyone!"

Zhao Wen spoke in a sarcastic, drawling tone.

Huang Lan pursed her lips and chimed in softly, "Yes, yes, Senior Brother Yang is truly adept at maintaining relations!"

They had no fear of Zou Peng's actions, for Senior Brother Yang's reputation was already tarnished—he was infamous as a turncoat.

Moreover, Qianming Peak, where Zou Peng resided, had long ranked at the bottom until the Battle of Qunan City, when it briefly gained some fame. For Nine Swords Peak with its deep foundations, this was utterly insignificant.

Zou Peng's smile faded sharply, his eyes flashing as he addressed Zhao Wen and the others, "Back then my master suffered from an obscure illness and could scarcely save himself, so he could not spare the time to visit Senior Brother Mo. Now that I have learned Senior Brother Mo's body has recovered, my first reaction was to send me to make up for past regrets!"

"Hehe..." Zhao Wen's smile was mocking.

Zou Peng acted as if he saw nothing and smiled amiably, asking, "Junior Brother Zhao, did you just have Zhou Chen from Xiaoping Peak open the array channel?"

"Correct! However, this channel is for the three of us. There is no extra space for Senior Brother Zou to enter. What shall we do?" Zhao Wen chuckled arrogantly.

"Pfft!" Huang Lan beside him covered her mouth to stifle a laugh.

Xia Changhan crossed his arms, seemingly uninterested in the matter.

Zou Peng's expression darkened noticeably.

Had it not been for his master's order to meet Mo Qingli today, he would not have needed to face these two fools.

Zhao Wen regarded him with a smirk that did not reach his eyes, "It seems Senior Brother Zou is quite eager to enter!"

Zou Peng observed Zhao Wen's arrogant and complacent appearance and forced a smile, "I do not wish to hide from Junior Brother. Senior Brother does indeed wish to enter Xiaoping Peak."

"Oh, is that so?" Zhao Wen fixed him with a meaningful gaze, standing proudly on the rock, "Unfortunately, Zhou Chen only agreed to let the three of us enter!"

Huang Lan's eyes swirled, and she walked to Zou Peng's side, saying, "Zou Shixiong, please beg Zhao Shixiong for me! Zhou Shidi has always respected him. If he speaks a few words on Zhou Chen's behalf, you should be able to enter!"

Zou Peng glanced at Xia Changhan's subtly altered expression and suppressed his doubts, replying with a smile, "What Senior Sister Huang said makes sense. It was Senior Brother who was being rude!"

Zou Peng maintained an unchanging smile and quietly took an item from his sleeve robe, walking to Zhao Wen's side to hand it over.

"Junior Brother Zhao, please convey these words for me."

Zhao Wen cast him a disdainful glance and, upon seeing the five-hundred-year-old spirit grass inside, his expression changed abruptly. He said in a strange tone, "Hey, Zou Shixiong, is Qianming Peak truly so impoverished? You've been head disciple for several years and this is all you have?"

Zou Peng's peripheral vision caught Xia Changhan's slightly furrowed brows and Huang Lan's undisguised mocking faces, causing his anger to surge. He stood rooted in place, smiling stiffly without moving.

Zhao Wen dismissed him with a contemptuous sweep and smiled at Xia Changhan, "Xia Shixiong, the channel is about to open. Come quickly, lest someone snatch the opportunity."

Zou Peng's lips drooped, his smile gradually unable to hold.

Huang Lan giggled and sidled up to Zhao Wen.

Xia Changhan stood there expressionlessly, "No hurry. On Tianyan Sect's own territory, such matters as you describe cannot occur."

Zhao Wen raised an eyebrow but said nothing further, turning to watch the channel open with arrogant satisfaction.

On the mountain slope, Qu Yiqiu skillfully unsealed five array nodes and carved out an arc-shaped opening before Zhao Wen and the others.

Zhao Wen's lips curved slightly as he contemptuously glanced at Zou Peng.

Watching the channel continue to open, Zou Peng hung a kind smile once more and took out another item from his storage pouch.

As long as he could enter today, he would complete his master's command! Zou Peng thought secretly.

Xia Changhan's expression remained unchanged as he watched the channel activate calmly.

"Very well, this should be enough." Qu Yiqiu surveyed the narrow opening ahead, only sixty-six centimeters in diameter, and clapped her hands in satisfaction.

"Zhao Wen, Huang Lan, since you wish to become Qu Youyou's lackeys, then crawl into our Xiaoping Peak through the dog hole!"

Qu Yiqiu flashed a grin, looking forward to their reactions.

"Huh, why isn't this channel moving?" Huang Lan asked with puzzlement.

Zou Peng's steps with the treasure box paused abruptly, and he released his spiritual sense to check the channel that had opened ahead.

Postscript

Thanks to SuShuiFeiXue for the monthly ticket～～～

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