Internal Sect Turmoil Chapter 59: Beaten into a Pig Head?

Things are different now!

With this illustrated manual in hand, it is equivalent to holding the key to opening a treasure trove! He can identify the true value of those seeds and cultivate them with the most meticulous methods to maximize their medicinal efficacy!

That secret grotto behind the peak has finally found its true purpose!

Stepping out from the elder's quarters, Chu Xing subconsciously squinted his eyes. After a moment of thought, he decided to return to the serene courtyard arranged for him by the Pill Hall.

Compared to the dilapidated hut in the outer sect, this place was vastly superior. The spiritual energy within the courtyard was abundant, and taking a single breath made one feel refreshed and invigorated.

"At last, I have a secure place to settle down."

Chu Xing closed the courtyard gate, shutting out all external distractions and disturbances.

His chore at the abandoned pill room had been exempted, and Fu Lingchuan had told him to wait quietly for further notice, which meant he could put his current trivial matters aside first.

For him now, time was the most precious resource.

And strength was still what he urgently needed most.

A portion of the majestic energy he had previously devoured in the ruins still lingered within his meridians, not yet fully digested. Now, as his cultivation technique circulated, these energies were rapidly and completely integrated into his body.

Under the scouring of this energy, his cultivation at the peak of the Ninth Stage of Body Tempering was consolidated over and over again, making his foundation more rock-solid than ever before.

Meanwhile, in another luxurious courtyard within the inner sect, the atmosphere was somewhat farcical.

"Bang!"

A fine white jade teacup was fiercely smashed onto the ground, shattering into pieces.

Zhou Yuan's face was livid, his chest heaving heavily as he panted like an enraged bull.

"Senior Brother Zhou, calm your anger! Please calm your anger!"

A subordinate disciple named Wang Ping hurried forward to persuade him, saying, "It's not worth wrecking your health over a mere menial servant!"

"Calm my anger?"

Zhou Yuan slammed his hand on the table, only to strike the shards of the teacup that had just been broken. The pain caused him to instantly jerk his hand back.

"How do you expect me to calm down? When has Zhou Yuan ever suffered such a huge humiliation? To be made a fool of by a good-for-nothing!"

Wang Ping's eyes rolled as he stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Senior Brother, since we can't do it openly, we can do it in the shadows!"

"In the shadows?"

Zhou Yuan's movements paused as he looked at him suspiciously.

Wang Ping smiled and rubbed his hands together. "Just think about it, Senior Brother. That brat probably thinks he has latched onto a rich benefactor and is resting easy now. Let's sneak over tonight while he isn't paying attention, throw a sack over his head, and drag him to some deserted corner... Hehehe!"

He made a fierce kicking gesture downwards. "We won't break his bones, we'll just target his face! Beat him into a pig's head! Let's see how he struts around in front of Senior Sister Mu tomorrow with a pig's head for a face!"

"Beat him into a pig's head?"

Zhou Yuan's breathing instantly grew heavy.

This suggestion spoke directly to his heart! He could already vividly picture Chu Xing's face beaten black and blue, begging for mercy on his knees in a most comical manner!

However, his brows furrowed a moment later, and he grew somewhat hesitant.

"No, that's the territory of the Pill Hall. What if we get discovered..."

"Senior Brother, what is there to fear!"

Wang Ping hurriedly incited him. "The few of us will go together, cover our faces, move quickly, and run the moment we're done! He won't even know who did it! Besides, we're just going to spar, not murder anyone. Even if we're discovered, the worst punishment will just be a light reprimand, yet we still get to beat him up. It's a guaranteed win with no losses!"

"Alright!" Zhou Yuan slammed his palm onto the table. "We'll do it!"

He looked around the room, pointed at the two burly-looking disciples, and said viciously, "At the third watch tonight, the two of you follow Wang Ping and deal with that brat! Remember, only hit his face, nowhere else! Whoever slips up will take responsibility for themselves!"

"Understood, Senior Brother!" Wang Ping immediately acknowledged, then cast a knowing look at the two disciples.

The night was as dark as ink.

Four dark figures, scurrying like thieves, crept stealthily along the quiet paths of the Pill Hall.

They were thoroughly familiar with the layout of the inner sect, dodging and hiding along the way until they successfully and safely lurked outside Chu Xing's serene courtyard.

The courtyard was pitch black and dead silent.

Zhou Yuan hid behind a large tree in the distance, nodded with satisfaction, and then waved at Wang Ping to signal that they could proceed.

Yet, after waiting for a long time, he noticed that Wang Ping and the two disciples were still rooted to the spot, motionless.

Zhou Yuan frowned and lowered his voice, asking, "Why aren't you going in yet?"

Wang Ping approached with a troubled expression. "Senior Brother, look... you are the backbone of this operation. If you don't personally oversee it, the brothers don't feel confident in our hearts."

"Useless trash!"

Zhou Yuan cursed under his breath, then cleared his throat and assumed a posture of strategic mastery.

"Such a trivial matter requires no personal action from me. My standing guard here is more than enough to deter any petty villains. Go on, I'll take responsibility if anything goes out of hand!"

His words sounded grand, but inside, his heart was pounding. Are you kidding? This was the heartland of the Pill Hall; if Fu Lingchuan were alerted, he, Zhou Yuan, could never bear the responsibility. Sending these few idiots to test the waters was the safest strategy.

Upon hearing this, Wang Ping instantly understood, turned around, and glared at the two disciples. "Did you hear that? Senior Brother Zhou is backing us up! You two, go!"

The two disciples exchanged glances, both seeing hesitation in each other's eyes.

One of them, named Zhang San, said with a bitter face, "Senior Brother Wang, this... this is the Pill Hall after all. What if we get caught by the night patrollers..."

"What's to fear!"

Wang Ping slapped him across the back of the head. "He's just a trash at the Body Tempering Realm, while the two of you are at the Qi Gathering Realm—capturing him should be as easy as taking candy from a baby! Throw the sack over his head, beat him, and run. Who's going to know who did it?"

Left with no other choice, the two men could only bite the bullet and tiptoe toward the wooden door of the courtyard.

Under the moonlight, the two dark figures whispered to each other, their voices muffled like the buzzing of mosquitoes.

"Li Si, you... you go first."

"Why should I go first? You're stronger, you kick the door open!"

"What if he isn't asleep? What if he starts shouting?"

"Idiot! Put the sack over his head first, then stuff his mouth with a rag!"

"Then... then why don't you go?"

"I... I'll keep watch for you!"

The two shoved and pushed each other at the doorway, neither daring to make the first move.

From the tree in the distance, Zhou Yuan and Wang Ping watched with veins bulging on their foreheads, stamping their feet in anxiety.

"These two idiots!"

Zhou Yuan was so angry his teeth itched. "They drag their feet even over such a minor task!"

Inside the courtyard, within the quiet chamber.

Chu Xing had been closing his eyes to rest, but he was perturbed and annoyed by the intermittent sounds of arguing coming from outside.

"Who could it be... in the middle of the night, arguing at my door..."

At first, he thought he might have misheard, but the noise persisted, accompanied by the sounds of pushing and shoving.

"You kick!"

"No, you kick!"

Chu Xing frowned, slowly rising to his feet with a trace of impatience on his face.

Are the disciples of the Pill Hall all this devoid of basic manners?

He walked toward the door, intending to see which two fellows had lost their minds.

Just as he was about to pull the door open, the argument outside seemed to have reached a conclusion.

"On three! I'll count to three!"

"Alright!"

At this critical juncture, Chu Xing abruptly pulled the door latch.

"Creak!"

The tightly closed wooden door was pulled open from the inside without warning.

Outside the door, Zhang San and Li Si were busy psyching each other up—one with his foot raised, the other holding a sack aloft in a most comical posture. Their facial expressions instantly froze.

Inside the door, Chu Xing looked in puzzlement at the two masked, bizarrely postured figures outside.

The air froze instantly.

Chu Xing blinked, glanced down at the sack and wooden club clutched in their hands, and a sudden realization dawned upon him.

"You're not sleeping this late at night—are you forming a group to come deliver warmth to me?"