Chapter 161: I Know Your Schemes   Little Yuan’er also clearly distrusted him. “I think that there’s something fishy about him as well.”

Lu Zhou stopped walking. He paused halfway on the staircase and said, “How so?”

Mingshi Yin bowed at Lu Zhou before walking up to Wei Zhuoyan. He said, “Wei Zhuoyan, you’ve got guts.”

Wei Zhuoyan said in a puzzled tone, “I’m not sure I understand your meaning, Mister Fourth.”

“Alright... That’s enough. I know about your scheme... Your scheme is too boring and predictable.” Mingshi Yin shook his head.

“I truly don’t understand what you’re trying to say, Mister Fourth.” Wei Zhuoyan’s bearing was clearly different from when he had just arrived at the Evil Sky Pavilion’s great hall.

“Would a grand commander-in-chief of the three armies, a man who holds vast military power, come here and atone for his sins on his own accord?” Mingshi Yin laughed.

Wei Zhuoyan shook his head and said with a sigh, “I’ve had difficulty sleeping and eating these days. I’ve been constantly thinking about it and was torn between various options. This has kept me up countless nights... I can’t do something against my good nature... The incident of the Fish Dragon Village is my doing, and mine alone. I’ll bear the consequences of my actions. The Evil Sky Pavilion is free to kill or torture me as they see fit.”

“...” Mingshi Yin was taken aback. ‘He’s good with his words. Is he trying to bully me for being less eloquent? Moreover, it’s truly strange that his resolve is so firm.’

“Aren’t you going to beg for mercy?”

“I have no right to beg for mercy. Since I came here, I didn’t think about leaving alive. However, I have one request.”

“And what’s that?”

“I wish to take my own life.”

Silence descended on the great hall.

This was the first time any of them had heard of such a request.

Ever since they drove away the ten great elites, the Fiend Temple’s Zuo Xinchan, the Black Knights’ Fan Xiuwen, or Hua Wudao with his obsession, they had not met someone like Wei Zhuoyan.

Wei Zhuoyan’s intention truly confused the others. The more humble he was, the more suspicious Mingshi Yin became.

Mingshi Yin walked up to Wei Zhuoyan and said in a low voice, “You’re a Seven-leaf elite...”

“Why do you doubt me so, Mister Fourth? The Evil Sky Pavilion has asked me to own up to my sins, and here I am! Could it be... that you want me to return, amass my forces, and fight with the Evil Sky Pavilion?” Wei Zhuoyan could not understand what Mingshi Yin wanted as well. ‘You don’t like it when I’m going against you. Now that I’m doing as you requested, you question my motive. What do I have to do to satisfy you?’ His thoughts were clearly written on his face.

Wei Zhuoyan seemed to have a point. Mingshi Yin scratched his head. For a time, he could not figure out what was wrong.

Duanmu Sheng and Little Yuan’er could not figure it out as well.

In fact, it was wishful thinking to expect them to figure out what was wrong. After all, this was the first time they were faced with such a situation.

Little Yuan’er finally said, “Fourth Senior Brother, perhaps, he sincerely intends to repent by coming to the Evil Sky Pavilion since he has been troubled by this matter for a long time?”

“...”

“Little Junior Sister, you’re too naïve. I won’t believe anything that comes out of this man’s mouth...” Mingshi Yin said.

Little Yuan’er protested weakly, “But... he’s willing to die.”

Well, yes, there was that. Wei Zhuoyan seemed ready to die without any qualms. How could Mingshi Yin find fault with this? However, he said disdainfully, “Perhaps, he’s hiding some terrifying witchcraft trap on him. Maybe he’s waiting for master to approach him before he pulls the same stunt as the Ten Shamans to take all of us down! Such methods are too crude.” He continued to add, “Yes, yes, that’s highly possible. Everyone! Move back! We can’t let him achieve his goal!”

“...”

Mingshi Yin sounded slightly paranoid, but he had a point.

From the moment Wei Zhuoyan entered and kneeled to offer his apology, everyone had already found it strange. He seemed determined to humble himself and apologize. This was not the way the commander-in-chief of the three armies would act.

Moreover, not too long ago, when Jiang Aijian passed on the Evil Sky Pavilion’s message to Wei Zhuoyan, Jiang Aijian had mentioned Wen Zhuoyan did not think much of it. This happened recently. Why did his behavior take a 180-degree change?

Everyone looked at Wei Zhuoyan again.

Wei Zhuoyan spoke with a straight face and a fearless tone, “Even if I’m trying to trick you, you’re all guarded against me. You can think of me as a despicable person who’s trying to plot against you, but please let me die...”

“...”

This was awkward.

Mingshi Yin prided himself on his intelligence, but he truly could not put his fingers on what was wrong.

Duanmu Sheng sighed as he shook his head and said, “Perhaps, Little Junior Sister is right. He might be sincere.”

Wei Zhuoyan said solemnly, “Indeed. I have thoroughly repented.”

That sounded awkward. It was one thing for another person to say this, but it was different coming out from his own mouth.

“Enough,” Lu Zhou said.

The great hall fell silent.

Mingshi Yin retreated with a sheepish expression on his face. He was too embarrassed to say anything else.

Lu Zhou sauntered toward Wei Zhuoyan.

Wei Zhuoyan who was still kneeling looked up and met Lu Zhou’s gaze when he saw Lu Zhou walking over.

It was said that the eyes were windows to a person’s soul. Based on the look in Wei Zhuoyan’s eyes, it was clear that he was not afraid.

Lu Zhou looked down at Wei Zhuoyan and said indifferently, “You’re really unafraid?”

“I don’t even fear death... What’s there to be afraid of?”

“What if you’re not the only one I intend to kill?”

“...” Wei Zhuoyan was stunned.

At this moment, the great hall fell silent again. If a needle had fallen to the ground at this moment, they would have heard it.

Mingshi Yin, Duanmu Sheng, and Little Yuan’er turned to look at their master. They really had to applaud their master for being so ruthless. Only their master could deal with a person like this.

“Why do you have to do this, Pavilion Master?”

“Because you’re not being honest...”

Wei Zhuoyan was taken aback again. He felt as though his thoughts had been laid bare. A sense of apprehension rose in his heart. However, he said, “That’s not important... Everything’s not important. Didn’t the Evil Sky Pavilion want me dead? It’s meaningless to discuss other matters.”

Lu Zhou shook his head and said, “No, it does have meanings.”

His disciples were puzzled by this.

Lu Zhou stared at Wei Zhuoyan and said with a sigh, “Since you want to die, I’ll fulfill your wish.”

“... Okay...” Wei Zhuoyan’s ‘okay’ sounded a lot less confident compared to before.

Lu Zhou raised his hand without any warning and struck Wei Zhuoyan with his palm! His Brahman Eight Meridians’ Primal Qi condensed into energy and landed squarely on Wei Zhuoyan’s chest.

Bam!

Wei Zhuoyan reeled from the impact!

“General!”

“General!”

The soldiers exclaimed with shock.

Thud!

Wei Zhuoyan fell to the floor and continued sliding backward. He slid all the way into the midst of the soldiers.

The others looked at this scene with a dumbfounded expression.

They all knew how terrifying their master could be. He was even capable of killing an elite like Ren Buping with a single palm strike. On top of that, the technique he had used was the Nine Cuts Hand Seals. This technique could shock heaven and earth and make the deities cry. Why was it that their master only sent Wei Zhuoyan flying? Wei Zhuoyan was not even hurt.

‘Isn’t this palm strike... too weak?’ The disciples were baffled by this. They looked at Wei Zhuouan who had sat back up as he pressed a hand to his chest.

Lu Zhou said, “Is this the same Wei Zhuoyan with a Seven-leaf avatar?”

Wei Zhuoyan endured the pain and said, “I’ve already owned up to my sins... If you want to kill me, please make it quick.”

“Fool,” Lu Zhou cursed.

“Hm?” Wei Zhuoyan was stunned.

Lu Zhou’s voice was stern as he said, “Come clean, and I won’t punish you for impersonating Wei Zhuoyan!”