Chapter 29

"How about the assistant test? Where is the document for it?"

"Master, Senior Zhong forbid for that test to be conducted."

Li Zian raises one of her eyebrows and stares at Chu Ju. Chu Ju feels nervous. The whole reason for the test is to find a suitable soul assistant but yesterday, Senior Zhong told him to cancel the test. Chu Ju did not dare to breathe loudly.

"Do not blame Chu Ju. Master, you are not strong enough to have more soul assistant plus you want more than three." Zhong appears beside Chu Ju. Chu Ju slowly let out a relief breath.

"I want as many as I can get. Zhong, we have discussed this. We will be using the pagoda as an anchor." Sensing Li Zian's rage, Chu Ju steps backward and hides behind his Senior Zhong.

"I also tell you that blood assistant is enough. We do not need soul assistant right now."

"Zhong! We are dealing with Hao Clan." Li Zian stands up and slaps the table.

"And I just want to protect you!" Zhong walks towards Li Zian with strong pressure.

Chu Ju hides behind one of the pillars nearby. He also closes all the windows and doors to make sure nobody beside him knows about this. Li Zian is their master Zhong is a slave. A slave dares to disrespect his master is not a good example.

"I am not him!" Li Zian jumps and headbutts Zhong's head. Zhong is dumbfounded. Chu Ju's mouth is open wide. Zhong backsteps a few steps. He touches his forehead and looks at Li Zian.

"I am not him!" Li Zian said once again, "Do not confuse."

Zhong takes a long breath.

"The previous Jiangong did not die because he is having too many soul assistants. Why are you worried about me having too many soul assistants but did not worry about me having to fight the Hao Clan?"

Zhong rubs his face, "I am sorry. It's just that... having too many soul assistants will hasten your progress as a Jiangong, you might level up too quickly. You will have to shoulder more responsibility and you will often clash with the Hao Clan." Zhong let out a long breath.

"Zhong, the whole reason for my reincarnation is to be a Jiangong. Sooner or later, I have to face the Hao Clan. I need the soul assistant as my replacement so that I can cultivate properly. I am sure you know the Time Hall has opened in the pagoda. Hao Ren will break the seal and I need to be ready. How can I fight if I am still stuck as a Qi Refinement cultivator?"

"But... I do not want you to die." Zhong said in a weak tone. This is the first time Li Zian sees Zhong showing his true emotion.

Li Zian soften her tone, "Those who live shall die. The Hao Clan is just the cause of death, why are you so sure that I will die fighting with the Hao Clan? Zhong, have faith in me. Trust that I am capable to fight the Hao Clan without dying."

"Trust...trust...trust, that what he said before." Zhong walks out of the study.

Li Zian sits on the chair. Chu Ju quickly pours a cold tea to Li Zian. Li Zian glances at Chu Ju and drinks the tea. It is sweet and refreshing. Half of her anger disappears, "Prepare for soul assistant test. It will be conducted after the first test. Choose instructor for the soul assistant."

Chu Ju listens and recorded everything before excusing himself.

"I will go home. Tell Zhong to clear his head and think if he still wants to serve me."

Chu Ju stops at the front door before saying, "Yes, master." Chu Ju feels uncomfortable and a bit absentminded. He did not know how to deal with this problem. He accidentally bumps into someone. It is Ling Min Zhe, "You take care of our master, I will take care of Zhong. " Said Ling Min Zhe before disappearing from Chu Ju sight. Oh! How can he forget, Ling Min Zhe is the first soul assistant. He can feel their master emotion, that is why he is here. Chu Ju proceeds to prepare for the test with ease.

_____

Li Zian arrives at her house. She stores the puppet and gets out of her room. It is time to eat lunch, "Zian er, you are back? Cannot wait for me?" Mother Qing smile at her. Li Zian sees her mother that she has not seen for a few months. She hugs her mother. Mother Qing was quite surprised with the sudden hug, "What is wrong dear?"

Li Zian hugging her mother, "I miss you."

"Silly child. We meet every day, why miss me?" Mother Qing chuckles a bit but she hugs Li Zian back, "Do you want to eat at home or eat together with your father and first brother at the farm?"

Li Zian releases her mother, "Why is first brother working at the farm? He did not like farming." Li Zian helps her mother pack the lunch.

"Silly child, did you forget that you give the herb seeds to your father? Those herbs need extra care and your father alone is not enough since we have potato farm to tend to." Li Zian lets out her tongue and tells her mother that she forgot about that.

Walking to the farm, Li Zian's anger slowly subsides. She chats and laughs with her mother and at the farm, she eats with her family. It is not a sumptuous meal but it is enough. Seeing her family, she is also afraid to leave them, to leave the warmth of a family. But that does not mean she will shrink her responsibilities. If Hao Ren escape, her family might be the first victim.

'Zhong please think again. I do not want to lose you.' Li Zian sigh. Seeing her sighing, her first brother pulls her braid. Li Zian kicked her first brother and he dodged. Li Zian's first brother wants to run away but her father grasps his hand, "Where did you think you are going? You will help at the farm. When the herbs are mature, they can be sold handsomely. You can get the share."

Li Zian's first brother sits dejectedly, "Father it has been a month I did not enter the forest." Li Zian and her mother laugh seeing her dejected first brother.

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Zhong is standing on the balcony. His face is gloomy. He watches the clouds. He sees various shapes of the clouds forming into the faces of his lost one. Ling Min Zhe comes and sits on the rail at the balcony. Zhong let out a rough breath and was ready to leave the balcony.

"What happens? It is rare for you to talk back to Li Zian like that. You usually guide her, not force her to accept your decision." Zhong stops his footsteps, turns his back, and faces Ling Min Zhe, "I did not want to lose her. I got afraid. I thought I am strong enough to face the Hao Clan." He walks to the balcony rail and puts his hand on it.

"Zhong, I only am here for a few months but from my observation, Li Zian is a strong girl. She accepts all tasks without complaint. She did not afraid to face the Hao Clan. She is learning and improving every day."

"Min Zhe, I see her being born. Since she is in her mother's womb, I have already taken care of her. I make sure her mother gets enough nutrients and hides her presence from the Hao Clan. I do everything to protect her. Seeing her growing and now to let her fight the Hao Clan, I am afraid." Zhong stares at the clouds.

Ling Min Zhe did not speak, he watches the clouds together with Zhong. He knows Zhong is in dilemma. Zhong also knows it. He just let his emotion runs wild. Tired of watching the clouds, "Li Zian wants you to clear your head and think if you still want to serve her." Ling Min Zhe jumps from the balcony rail and enters the room.

Zhong clenches his fists. He turns and goes to the training ground to find Chu Ju. Chu Ju is discussing with the trainers regarding the test so that he can add a few challenges according to the slave's weaknesses and strengths. Seeing Zhong comes with a stern face, Chu Ju's heart skips a beat. Will Senior Zhong oppose the soul assistant test once again?

"Senior Zhong!" Chu Ju smiles at Zhong and signals others to greet Zhong.

"Do not worry, I just want to see the slaves. You... just do what our master ordered. Tell her I am not easy to get rid of." Zhong stands aloofly in front of Chu Ju.

Chu Ju grins hearing that, he hurriedly nods and sends a message to Li Zian.