Chapter 9: The Price of Immortality

Chapter 9: The Price of immorality

"Done?"

Zhang Song, overjoyed, stepped over Lu Li and Chen Zhong and grabbed Qin Shouren. "How is it? What does it feel like?"

Qin Shouren, seeing Lu Li and Chen Zhong on the ground, feigned pain. "I… I feel so uncomfortable!" He then collapsed.

"Himph, you dare tease me?" Zhang Song grabbed Qin Shouren's neck. "Uncomfortable? I'll crush you!"

"No!" Chen Zhong cried, getting up. "I'll talk!"

Seeing no way out, Lu Li stood up.

Zhang Song released Qin Shouren and looked at Chen Zhong. "Tell me the truth, and I might accept you as a disciple. Lie, and you'll regret it."

Then, he changed his mind. "Wait, come with me."

He took Chen Zhong into a side room.

After a while, he brought Chen Zhong out, then took Lu Li and Qin Shouren in. "Tell me the truth. If your stories don't match, you all die."

Old fox!

Lu Li cursed Zhang Song inwardly but dared not lie.

After hearing their accounts, Zhang Song laughed. "Hahaha, I succeeded!"

He rushed out, rummaging on the altar. "Where's the last prescription?"

Fan Zhengping, who handled the medicine and fire, also recorded prescriptions. Without it, everything was for naught.

"I forgot," Fan Zhengping stammered.

"What?!" Zhang Song's eyes reddened. He grabbed Fan Zhengping. "Do you know what you're saying?"

"Master, am I really less than a recipe?" Fan Zhengping asked, disappointed.

"You!" Zhang Song softened. "Zhengping, this recipe is vital. Give it to me, and I'll nurture you."

"Nurture me?" Fan Zhengping cried. "I'm useless! Your slap crippled my dantian! That dantian is gone—I threw it into the fire!"

"You're asking for death!" Zhang Song raised his hand to strike Fan Zhengping's crown.

Fan Zhengping didn't dodge, staring at Zhang Song.

Zhang Song stopped. "Death is too easy. I'll torture you slowly…"

He looked at the courtyard gate. Three people in green, with sun-shaped silver badges and green swords, walked in.

"Qingyang Sect!" Lu Li was pleased.

"You came quickly!" Zhang Song said, walking down. "How dare you trespass?"

The leader said calmly, "Zhang Song, you dare use living people for experiments in our territory!"

"So what? Monks die. Mortals are ants. They should contribute."

"How dare you!" A girl in green was furious. "You defy heaven and block reincarnation. It's unforgivable!"

She stepped forward, green Qi turning into vines, wrapping around Zhang Song.

"You dare be arrogant, level six brat?"

Zhang Song released fiery red Qi, igniting the vines.

The girl paled, falling to the ground.

Zhang Song's flames surged toward her.

"Junior Sister Xinyi, careful!" The other two shouted, pulling her back.

"Only level seven? You're no match for me!"

Zhang Song unleashed more fire.

"He's strong," Lu Li said, worried.

Fan Zhengping walked toward them.

Lu Li frowned. "What do you want?"

Fan Zhengping, trembling, gave Lu Li a yellow paper. "This… the acupoint-piercing pill recipe. I'm finished. I give it to you."

"Recipe?" Lu Li asked, surprised. "Why?"

Fan Zhengping glanced at Zhang Song. "He'll be killed anyway. I was captured too. Today, I realize nothing changed. You're still a mortal…" He swallowed a dark pill. "Test subject… Fan Zhengping is here…"

Fan Zhengping fell, twitching.

"Karma?" Lu Li murmured, storing the recipe.

The battle raged.

Zhang Song and the Qingyang Sect members were exhausted. The Qingyang Sect members had the advantage, thanks to talismans and pills.

Monk battles are about more than realm.

Fan Zhengping walked to Lu Li.

Lu Li frowned, wary.

"I… mean no harm," Fan Zhengping stammered, offering the recipe. "I'm finished. I give it to you."

"Recipe?" Lu Li asked, surprised. "Why?"

Fan Zhengping glanced at Zhang Song. "He'll be killed anyway. I was captured too. Today, I realize nothing changed. You're still a mortal…" He swallowed a pill. "Test subject… Fan Zhengping is here…"

Fan Zhengping fell, twitching.

"Karma?" Lu Li murmured, storing the recipe.

The battle raged.

Zhang Song and the Qingyang Sect members were exhausted. The Qingyang Sect members had the advantage, thanks to talismans and pills.

Monk battles are about more than realm.