22: Chapter 22 The Golden Lion Bows Its Head Amidst Wind and Thunder, the Giant Ship Sets Sail and Cuts Through the Waves

Lu Chen was telling the truth. All along, he had merely been a pawn in Cheng Kun's hands, toyed with at will. He had even helped Cheng Kun indirectly destroy the Ming Cult he belonged to.

"The heavens have no eyes!" Xie Xun roared, his body trembling violently. "That villain Cheng Kun actually hid himself within Shaolin!"

"Indeed," Lu Chen said, looking at Xie Xun. "That is precisely why I look down on Shaolin. They actually took that Yuan-Mongol traitor into their temple and, through your hands, indirectly killed Shaolin's top expert, Divine Monk Kongjian!"

"I... I am truly a sinner!" Xie Xun's voice was filled with self-reproach. He felt he had failed the Ming Cult and failed Great Master Kongjian.

"Since you can awaken to the truth, there is still hope for you." Lu Chen looked at Xie Xun and said calmly, "Divine Monk Kongjian will not blame you from the heavens."

Hearing this, Xie Xun seemed to wake from a dream. He muttered to himself, "Yes, if Great Master Kongjian didn't want me to seek revenge, why would he have guided me to find this dragon slaying saber? Cheng Kun, you villain!"

"Now, do you understand Cheng Kun's sinister cruelty?" Lu Chen looked at Xie Xun. "As a man of the Yuan-Mongol, he not only destroyed the Ming Cult but also stirred up conflict between the Six Great Sects of the Central Plains and the Ming Cult. With the Martial Forest drenched in blood, how could anyone have the mind to resist the Yuan-Mongol?"

"So, it was because of all this?" Xie Xun finally understood. "Is that why the Sect Master wishes to become the Leader of the Ming Cult? To rectify the cult's affairs?"

"Precisely!" Lu Chen looked at Xie Xun.

"If the Sect Master does not disdain me, Xie Xun is willing to follow the Sect Master and honor you as the Leader of the Ming Cult!" Xie Xun bowed his head in submission.

"However, while I am willing to follow the Sect Master, the other brothers in the cult might not feel the same," Xie Xun said with a hint of worry in his voice.

He knew that the Ming Cult was filled with internal factions. Making everyone submit would be no easy task.

"No matter." Lu Chen looked at Xie Xun, his voice full of confidence. "I will take action! To rectify the cult's affairs, one must naturally convince everyone!"

"The Eagle King has deep ties with you." Lu Chen looked at Xie Xun, a playful glint flashing in his eyes. "However, a rift grew between you over the matter of Cult Leader Yang. This conflict just needs to be resolved."

"How can it be resolved?" Xie Xun looked at Lu Chen, his brow furrowed. He knew that the conflict between him and the Eagle King was deep-rooted and would not be easy to settle.

"Isn't the Opportunity right before us?" Lu Chen glanced up the mountain. "Miss Yin is currently in my hands, and we have already consummated our relationship! Hahaha! Lion King, if you act as the matchmaker for the Eagle King's daughter, wouldn't that be a wonderful thing?"

"This... this does make some sense." Xie Xun nodded, his tone carrying a hint of agreement.

"Wei Yixiao, the Green-Winged Bat King, is afflicted by cold poison. I have my own ways to cure him." Lu Chen looked at Xie Xun, his voice brimming with confidence, as if he had already calculated everything.

"As for the Purple-Clad Dragon King, the head of your Four Great Guardian Kings—if I take her as a concubine, I can not only slap the face of the gender own but also gain her support. It's two birds with one stone. Why not?"

While the two were talking, Yin Susu had finished her rest. Seeing that Lu Chen had not returned for a long time, she searched her way down the mountain.

"He... he wants to take another concubine!" Yin Susu's heart was filled with bitterness.

In truth, Lu Chen had noticed her figure as soon as she started coming down the mountain.

He had intentionally timed his words about taking the Purple-Clad Dragon King as a concubine to see how Yin Susu would react.

Her pretty face instantly turned pale. She stopped in her tracks, an inexplicable sourness surging in her heart. She looked at Lu Chen, her eyes filled with grievance.

"Sect Master, are... are you going to take another concubine?" Yin Susu looked at Lu Chen, her voice full of unease.

She sounded like a little wife questioning her husband, devoid of her former sharp edge.

"What, Miss Yin? Is there something improper about me taking a concubine?" Lu Chen looked at Yin Susu.

"No... there is nothing improper. Susu does not dare to object. Everything shall be according to the Sect Master's will." Yin Susu's voice grew even fainter.

"Very good." Lu Chen looked at Yin Susu, a satisfied smile curling the corner of his mouth.

"Niece Susu, your father and I are sworn brothers." A smile appeared on Xie Xun's face, his tone carrying the concern of an elder. "In the future, when you and Sect Master Lu wed, I shall demand a cup of wedding wine."

"Hero Zhang the Fifth, when the time comes, I will naturally invite Daoist Master Zhang of the Wudang Sect to join us for a cup of wedding wine." Lu Chen looked at Zhang Cuishan, his tone playful. He seemed to enjoy seeing the respect and obedience Zhang Cuishan displayed before him.

"You should come along too!" Lu Chen added. His gaze was full of the intent to manipulate hearts; he wanted Zhang Cuishan to understand that everything was within his grasp.

"That is only natural!" Hearing Lu Chen's words, a smile instantly broke across Zhang Cuishan's face. He looked at Lu Chen with a hint of anticipation. "To have the honor of drinking the wedding wine of Sect Master Lu and Miss Yin is truly Zhang Cuishan's privilege!"

"Hahaha, Hero Zhang the Fifth, you are a straightforward man!" Lu Chen looked at Zhang Cuishan and laughed heartily, his laughter filled with triumph.

He seemed very satisfied with Zhang Cuishan's attitude. "Regarding your Third Brother Yu's injury, I, Lu, might be able to help a bit."

Upon hearing Lu Chen's words, Zhang Cuishan's body jolted. His eyes were filled with excitement and hope.

He looked at Lu Chen, his voice full of entreaty. "Sect Master Lu, do you truly have a way to treat my Third Brother Yu's injury? I thank Sect Master Lu on his behalf!"

After saying this, Zhang Cuishan gave Lu Chen a deep, formal bow.

Looking at the bowing Zhang Cuishan, Lu Chen thought to himself, 'This Zhang Cuishan is indeed a man of honor and loyalty, but unfortunately, he is too pedantic and lacks flexibility. He is destined to be a pawn in my hand.'

Lu Chen did all this with his own calculations in mind.

To establish a foothold in the Martial Forest, one must control various powers, and the Wudang Sect was an extremely vital link in his plan.

'After all, someone like Murong Fu, who only wants to restore his kingdom but goes around annoying everyone and causing trouble, is purely seeking death!' Lu Chen thought to himself.

"Susu, pack the things." Lu Chen looked at Yin Susu and said calmly, "We need to prepare the roasted meat, cured meat, grilled fish, and fruit. We set sail tomorrow morning."

"Sect Master, Susu obeys," Yin Susu said respectfully to Lu Chen.

"Hero Zhang the Fifth." Lu Chen turned to Zhang Cuishan, his tone becoming serious. "When you were building the ship, did you ever consider how it would be launched into the water?"

Hearing Lu Chen's question, Zhang Cuishan's brow furrowed deeply. He looked at Lu Chen with a hint of confusion. "I built this ship exactly according to Sect Master Lu's blueprints. There shouldn't be anything wrong with it!"

"Quite so." Lu Chen looked at Zhang Cuishan, a faint smile playing on his lips. "The ship was indeed built without cutting corners; it is exactly what I wanted. But what I am asking is, since the ship is still some distance from the shore, how is it supposed to get into the water?!"