56: Chapter 56 Colleagues Point Angryly, Murderous Intent Surges!

"Slaying demons and eliminating devils is my bounden duty!"

Zhang Shan's voice echoed throughout the great hall.

Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing smiled.

He cast an approving glance at Zhang Shan.

"Good, truly worthy of being a Disciple favored by the Tianchi Elder."

Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing's affirmation made Daoist Master Xuan Yangzi beam with joy.

He stroked his beard and nodded repeatedly.

Chen Fan stood behind Master Liu Cang; Zhang Shan's decision was within his expectations.

This youth possessed a pure Heart-Nature, and having been taught by Daoist Master Xuan Yangzi, he would naturally choose the Righteous Path.

He merely felt a sense of emotion in his heart; the seed he had casually planted back then had now grown into a towering tree, having found its own direction.

The atmosphere in the great hall became relaxed.

Sect Heads and Elders from various sects stepped forward one after another to converse with Daoist Master Xuan Yangzi and Zhang Shan.

The topic revolved around Zhang Shan's martial arts talent and the Tianchi Elder's acceptance of a Disciple.

People of the Jianghu loved such curious tales the most.

Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing also chatted with Daoist Master Xuan Yangzi for a long time.

It was all gossip about the Jianghu and concerns regarding the White Lotus Sect.

Listening to these words, Chen Fan was calculating in his heart.

He had already informed the Righteous Alliance of the White Lotus Sect's plan.

Now that Zhang Shan had also joined, the encirclement and suppression of the White Lotus Sect would surely be even smoother.

His own mission seemed to be nearing its end as well.

The Righteous Alliance's team prepared to leave Qingyang Taoist Temple.

Zhang Shan respectfully bowed to bid farewell to Daoist Master Xuan Yangzi.

Daoist Master Xuan Yangzi patted his shoulder, full of expectations.

"Shan'er, upon going to Tianchi, you must diligently Cultivate and must not disappoint the Tianchi Elder's expectations."

"This Disciple will remember it well," Zhang Shan responded solemnly.

The team began to descend the mountain.

Chen Fan followed behind Master Liu Cang, walking in the middle of the team.

He felt a gaze from behind constantly fixed upon him.

He did not turn back.

Zhang Shan quickened his pace and walked to Chen Fan's side.

The youth cupped his hands in a salute.

"This Senior Brother, I am Zhang Shan. May I ask for your name?"

Chen Fan turned to the side and returned the salute with cupped hands.

"Longxing Sect, Chen Jinzhong."

Zhang Shan nodded slightly.

"Senior Brother Chen."

He paused for a moment, his tone sincere.

"Just now in the great hall, I, Zhang Shan, felt a sense of familiarity when observing Senior Brother Chen. I think it must be fate between us."

"I came specifically to befriend you. I wonder if Senior Brother Chen is willing?"

Zhang Shan's invitation caused the surrounding Longxing Sect Disciples to cast sidelong glances.

To be actively befriended by someone with the potential of a Grandmaster, favored by the Tianchi Elder—what an honor this was.

Chen Fan's expression, however, remained indifferent.

He already understood in his heart.

He was once Zhao Long; that sense of familiarity stemmed from the past.

He nodded.

"Junior Brother Zhang's kindness, how could I, Chen, dare to refuse?"

"It is my, Chen's, honor to befriend Junior Brother Zhang."

Master Liu Cang was walking in front, and upon hearing Zhang Shan's voice, he turned back to look.

Seeing that Zhang Shan had actually taken the initiative to come up and befriend his own Disciple, his originally heavy expression instantly bloomed into a smile.

Master Liu Cang's smile was more sincere than usual.

The surrounding Longxing Sect Disciples watched this scene with eyes full of envy.

"What kind of dog shit luck did this kid, Jinzhong, have?"

One Disciple muttered in a low voice.

"Indeed, Zhang Shan has the potential of a Grandmaster, and his future prospects are limitless."

Another Disciple also sounded somewhat bitter.

"Vice Sect Leader Liu can finally hold his head high this time."

"His Disciple was actually able to befriend such a figure."

Chen Fan turned a deaf ear to the surrounding discussions.

He merely looked at Zhang Shan; on the youth's face was a trace of pure goodwill.

On the road, Chen Fan casually asked about Zhang Shan's martial arts Cultivation.

"Junior Brother Zhang, your martial arts talent is extraordinary. I wonder how you usually Cultivate?"

Hearing this, a look of respect appeared on Zhang Shan's face.

"Senior Brother Chen praises me too much."

He shook his head.

"That I, Zhang Shan, can have today is entirely due to the Temple Master's guidance."

"And even more so, I must thank a noble person from back then."

As Zhang Shan spoke, his tone was filled with sincere gratitude.

"If it weren't for Young Master Zhao Long, I, Zhang Shan, would probably still be a servant in the temple, unable to touch martial arts for my entire life."

"It was Young Master Zhao Long who brought me out from being a servant and gifted me a Cultivation Technique."

"I only regret that my martial strength was weak at the time, and I failed to avenge Young Master Zhao Long personally."

Zhang Shan's words caused Chen Fan's heart to stir.

He was speechless.

The youth's sense of gratitude warmed Chen Fan's heart.

He sighed inwardly.

The helping hand he had casually extended back then was actually remembered by this youth to this day.

This sentiment was somewhat hard for him, this "Chen Jinzhong," to bear.

He did not reply.

He just patted Zhang Shan's shoulder.

"With Junior Brother Zhang having such sentiments, Young Master Zhao would surely be comforted if he knew in the afterlife."

Zhang Shan nodded heavily.

The team returned to Fuwei Inn.

At the entrance of the inn, several luxurious carriages were already parked.

The flags of the Prince's Mansion fluttered in the wind.

The people from the Prince's Mansion had already arrived.

They were about to negotiate with Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing.

Chen Fan followed behind Master Liu Cang and walked into the inn's main entrance.

In the main hall, several stewards from the Prince's Mansion were exchanging pleasantries with Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing and the others.

Zhang Cheng was unexpectedly among them.

He was wearing a neat servant's outfit of the Prince's Mansion and standing behind a steward.

On his face was a somewhat fawning smile.

He raised his head.

His gaze passed through the crowd and happened to intersect with Chen Fan's.

Zhang Cheng's smile instantly froze.

His body stiffened.

The color on his face rapidly faded.

A surge of rage rushed straight to his head.

His eyes instantly turned bloodshot.

"White… White Lotus demon!"

Zhang Cheng took a sudden step forward, pointed at Chen Fan, and roared at the top of his lungs.

"You assassin!"

"You still dare to come back!"

"It was you who killed Lin Shou!"

His roar was like a thunderclap, instantly breaking the clamor of the main hall.

Everyone's gaze, as if pulled by an invisible hand, shot toward Chen Fan in unison.

Chen Fan stood in place; although his body did not move, his muscles had instinctively tensed up.

On the day 'Lin Shou' died, Zhang Cheng was also on the scene; although he did not witness it with his own eyes, he knew who had killed 'Lin Shou.'

Everyone's gaze was gathered on Chen Fan.

Most people in the Righteous Alliance knew that Chen Jinzhong had briefly defected to the White Lotus Sect before, and thus was branded a traitor.

Now that he had returned, it could be considered a return from the lost path.

But with Zhang Cheng's roar, things became serious.

Only then did everyone realize that when Chen Jinzhong was working for the White Lotus Sect, he had killed someone from the Prince's Mansion!

If this matter went wrong, to put it mildly, it would damage the Righteous Alliance's reputation; to put it gravely, it might destroy the relationship between the Righteous Alliance and the Prince's Mansion.

Chen Fan frowned, also knowing the level of difficulty of the matter.

Zhang Cheng glared with rage, his sword at his waist already half-drawn.

"Calm down, stand down!" At this moment, the new Captain of the Prince's Mansion, Li Yi, who was also Captain Li Zhong's younger brother, reached out his hand and blocked Zhang Cheng.

Li Yi had a dark face, scanned Chen Fan with cold eyes, and then looked at Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing and his group, saying in a deep voice: "Alliance Leader Song, I hope that for this matter, your Righteous Alliance must give the Prince's Mansion a reasonable explanation!"