Chapter 119 - 118: Pay Attention to Safety

Chapter 119: Chapter 118: Pay Attention to Safety

"Long time... no see?"

Zhuang Bo mentally calculated the time. It hadn’t really been that long at all. Had it even been ten days since the last time he came?

But he quickly realized that wasn’t the point.

"Younger Brother Wu, are you here to exchange for Contribution Points?"

Since Wu Chen had addressed him affectionately as "Senior Brother," Zhuang Bo naturally reciprocated to close the distance between them.

Wu Chen nodded. "That’s right."

"Please, follow me." From their last brief encounter, Zhuang Bo knew that Wu Chen was a man of clear purpose. So, dispensing with any unnecessary formalities, he led Wu Chen directly into the Refining Valley.

Their figures vanished one after the other into the valley, but the disciples on duty couldn’t sit still.

"He’s carrying a storage pouch, right? So... you don’t think he’s filled another whole pouch with heads this time, do you?"

"It’s not impossible... I can’t take it, I have to go see!"

"Me too! Me too!"

"Let’s all go! The Elder won’t punish us if enough people go!"

...

Even though last time some of them had been scared into collapsing on the ground, wailing and crying for their parents, many disciples were still in a state of being both terrified and morbidly curious.

Besides, these disciples weren’t old—only eighteen or nineteen, an age brimming with curiosity. When one person took the lead, half of the disciples on duty immediately followed, running into the valley.

They all wanted to see just how many demon heads this man had severed to exchange for Contribution Points this time.

The commotion of the disciples running through the gate caught the attention of some other disciples within the valley.

"What’s the rush? Did the Blood Slaughter Sect attack?" someone with quick reflexes asked, grabbing one of them.

"Someone brought a huge bag of demon heads to exchange for Contribution Points! I have to go see!"

"Is it a Direct Disciple of one of the sect’s Elders, returning from their travels?"

"Not a sect disciple, he’s an outsider! The same guy who carried in that burlap sack last time!"

"Oh! Now that’s interesting!"

The Inner Sect Disciples’ interest was instantly piqued. After all, for someone to deliver demon heads one time after another, their skills probably rivaled those of a Direct Disciple. This was truly something worth seeing.

Usually, a scene like this only occurred when a Direct Disciple returned.

And so, one group brought another, until a bustling crowd of at least three or four hundred idle Inner Sect Disciples was rushing towards the inner valley.

...

Two figures walked briskly through the Refining Valley, one behind the other.

Just like last time, Zhuang Bo led Wu Chen toward a side hall used for resting.

He took an imperceptible glance at the storage pouch on Wu Chen’s waist, but unfortunately, he couldn’t make out anything.

But remembering the quantity from last time, he couldn’t help but ask:

"Younger Brother Wu, how many demon heads did you bring this time?"

There was no reason to hide it. After all, the other man would have to tally them up soon, so he’d find out eventually.

Wu Chen answered truthfully, "About forty."

...

Zhuang Bo’s massive frame froze on the spot. He wanted to ask again, just to confirm the number.

But he knew he couldn’t have misheard, and Wu Chen wasn’t the type to make casual jokes.

A solemn expression appeared on Zhuang Bo’s honest face. "Younger Brother Wu, today you’ll come with me to the Hall of Rewards and Punishments. We’ll count every single one and tally up the Contribution Points!"

Wu Chen nodded. "Alright."

Zhuang Bo’s pace quickened considerably.

The dozen or so from last time wasn’t an overwhelming number, but this time it was beyond his imagination. He had to settle the account in person—not a single point could be missed!

After walking for a short while, they arrived at a quiet, sparsely furnished, and rather empty courtyard.

Although the courtyard was swept clean, mottled, blackened bloodstains were visible on the bluestone pavers, and the air held an unmistakable scent of blood that couldn’t be covered up.

Wu Chen mused, ’It seems there are quite a few disciples in the Refining Valley capable of bringing back demon heads.’

The two of them came to a stop in the courtyard.

Zhuang Bo turned and said, "The demon heads are always counted here in the courtyard. I’ll go get the Elder. Please wait here for a moment."

With that, Zhuang Bo strode quickly toward the building to find the Elder of Rewards and Punishments and his disciples, and to tell them it was time to count heads.

Wu Chen stood alone in the courtyard, waiting patiently.

However, while he was waiting, a circle of furtive heads gradually appeared, peeking over the courtyard walls.

These were, of course, the hundreds of disciples who had heard the commotion and followed the pair to the Hall of Rewards and Punishments to watch the show.

"Hurry it up! My workstation is empty!"

"I’m so antsy I could just go in there and carry the Elder of Rewards and Punishments out myself!"

...

These Inner Sect Disciples were fidgeting impatiently, practically burning with anticipation to see what would happen.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before the sound of hurried footsteps came from the simple building.

Having been informed by Zhuang Bo, the Elder of Rewards and Punishments and his two disciples quickly emerged from the back.

...

「However, at that same moment, just a little earlier.」

Refining Valley, at the entrance archway.

A sturdy young man in a green robe with a treasured sword at his waist walked toward the entrance of the Refining Valley with a bold and imposing stride.

"Huh, that outfit... Since when do people from the Green Mountain Martial Academy have time to visit us?"

"Are they here to purchase weapons? Don’t we have shops in the marketplace behind the mountain?"

The disciples guarding the archway looked at the newcomer’s attire and recognized him as a Direct Disciple of an Elder from the Green Mountain Martial Academy.

Although he was a Direct Disciple with the strength of the Seventh Layer of the Jade Bone Realm, the newcomer didn’t use his status to give the gatekeepers a hard time, especially since this wasn’t his own sect’s territory.

He proactively presented his identity jade tablet and politely stated his purpose, "I am Yao Dong, a Direct Disciple of an Elder from the Green Mountain Martial Academy."

"I’ve come to the Refining Valley in search of one of your disciples named Wu Chen."

"Wu Chen?" The disciples had never heard the name and looked completely blank.

Yao Dong had expected this. Every sect had tens of thousands of members, from the menial laborers and outer sect disciples to the inner sect disciples and everyone else combined.

It was normal for the guards not to recognize the name.

Yao Dong then took out a prepared portrait from his sleeve, unrolled it, and showed it to the disciples.

Upon seeing the person in the portrait, understanding dawned on the disciples’ faces.

’So this guy’s reputation as a demon-killer has spread so far that even people from the Green Mountain Martial Academy have heard of him?’

"You’re in luck. He just entered the valley. If you follow that crowd of disciples inside, you’ll find him," a guard said, pointing Yao Dong in the direction where a throng of disciples was running.

"Thank you, Junior Brothers."

Yao Dong nodded, put away the portrait, and walked into the Refining Valley in a rather good mood.

He had originally thought he would have to search for or wait for this person in the Refining Valley for some time.

He never expected to be so lucky as to run into him right away.

’Sister, today your brother will avenge your severed arm!’

On the way into the Refining Valley, a vicious light glinted in Yao Dong’s eyes.

The sister he mentioned was Yao Jing, the one who had made trouble for Wu Chen at the entrance of the Liuhe Martial Arts Hall. After losing their duel, and after Wu Chen had revealed his identity, her own grandfather had cut off her arm.

She had eventually learned Wu Chen’s name and told her brother at the Green Mountain Martial Academy, asking him to avenge her.

Upon hearing that his sister had been bullied, Yao Dong had rushed home immediately. Seeing his sister with her severed arm, his eyes had nearly burst with fury.

He then told his family he was returning to the martial academy, but in reality, he came to the Refining Valley to find this disciple named Wu Chen.

To engage in a duel to the death.

He followed the movement of the crowd of disciples and arrived at the Refining Valley’s Hall of Rewards and Punishments.

Yao Dong knew what this place was for; the Green Mountain Martial Academy had a similar one.

Gathering medicinal herbs, completing sect missions, or slaying fierce beasts and demons—all could be brought here to be tallied by an Elder and their disciples in exchange for Contribution Points.

These Contribution Points could then be exchanged for the sect’s Martial Arts, or for pills and weapons.

Yao Dong stood at the entrance to the hall’s courtyard. Looking around, he saw countless disciples gathered on the surrounding walls, and inside, an Elder stood with a few disciples.

Across from the Elder was the very youth from the portrait he was looking for.

Wu Chen!

Yao Dong nodded in satisfaction, thinking to himself:

’With an Elder and so many disciples as witnesses, my trip here to challenge you to a duel to the death will not be in vain!’

With this in mind, he took a step into the courtyard of the Hall of Rewards and Punishments and planted his feet.

He took a deep breath and shouted in a powerful, resonant voice:

"Wu Chen!"

’I challenge you to a duel to the death, to avenge my sister’s severed arm! To avenge the insult you dealt to my Liuhe Martial Arts Hall!’

’Life and death are decided by fate! Do not be a coward! Fight me to your heart’s content today!’

He had intended to shout these words aloud, drawing all eyes to himself.

He wanted everyone to watch as he magnificently slayed this arrogant Refining Valley disciple who dared to bully his family.

But at that exact moment.

Following the Elder’s instructions, Wu Chen fully opened the storage pouch filled with demon heads.

WHOOSH!—

From within the storage pouch, heads poured out like a waterfall. The resilient skulls bounced on the courtyard’s bluestone slabs, tumbling and scattering in every direction.

They spread out before everyone’s eyes, so numerous that one couldn’t see where they ended!

Among these heads, two happened to roll right toward the entrance of the hall, stopping at Yao Dong’s position.

Because the storage pouch had preservation and anti-decomposition functions, and since these demons were freshly killed,

the heads still retained the agonized and ferocious expressions they wore at the moment of death.

Yao Dong was, after all, a Direct Disciple. He had seen the registry of demons and immediately recognized the identities of these two heads!

Yang Hesheng, a Blood Evil demon of the Ninth Layer of the Jade Bone Realm, and Guo Dong, a Blood Evil demon of the Ninth Layer of the Jade Bone Realm!

"Huh?"

Wu Chen heard someone calling his name.

Once the heads had finished pouring out of the pouch in his hand, he turned to look and saw an unfamiliar disciple in a green robe at the entrance of the hall.

"Did you just call me for something?"

"Uh... I just wanted to remind you, when you’re out slaying demons..."

Yao Dong stared in terror at the heads wobbling on the ground. He swallowed hard, shrunk his head into his shoulders, and said, "Be safe!"

"Thanks!"