Chapter 1289: The Only Hope
Patriarch Gu’s expressions did not change. He was still staring at Lu Li, coldly, without saying anything. Lu Li was panic-stricken. He had no more Blood Crystals, which meant that the warlord skeleton could not be put into use. If Patriarch Gu wished to kill Lu Li, then he would have to accept that.
Patriarch Gu stared at Lu Li for the time for half an incense stick to burn before he said, “Is it true that you have ascended not long ago? Why did not kill prefecture warriors?”
Lu Li nodded. “Yes. I provoked some immortals before I ascended. After I came here, one of those immortals found about my location. She colluded with prefecture warriors to murder me. I had no other option other than murdering that prefecture warrior and escape.”
Patriarch Gu nodded. “Then why did you kill Ling Feidu?” He asked again.
Lu Li forced a wry smile. He did not expect that Patriarch Gu could find out about this. “Patriarch, as a matter of fact, Lou Shi’er and Holy Princess both know about this. Ling Feidu tried to kill me on several occasions in the Tomb of King Luna. I was forced out of options. I had to kill him instead. Later, I joined the Chamber of Relics and you must know the reasons, Patriarch. Cabinet of Cloud cannot kill me in public since I have joined the Chamber of Relics!”
“Hmm, such a good plan!”
Patriarch Gu snorted. “It must be Ling Wanjian that arranged this incident at the Brown Blood Mountain, right? Too bad we do not have any evidence or else even if it is Ling Wanjian, he will have to be executed!”
Lu Li dared not to reply. He just stood there still, leaving himself at Patriarch Gu’s disposal. He knew that he was in a risky situation. If he said one thing wrong, he would be executed or exiled from the Chamber of Relics.
Patriarch Gu turned silent again. Lu Li was nervous. After the time for one incense stick to burn, Patriarch Gu finally opened his mouth again. “Do you think you can kill immortals on the list?”
Lu Li did not know how to answer to this sudden question. He hesitated for a moment before he made up his mind. “Generally speaking, I should be able to. Ling Feidu was killed by me and that Pupil-less Monkey lost his arm because of me. But… if Patriarch Gu you hadn’t arrived in time, I would lose my life to that monkey.”
Patriarch Gu kept a straight face. Lu Li remained standing, nervous and he could not tell if Patriarch Gu was happy or otherwise. A moment later, Patriarch Gu asked another question. “If you can have a second chance, will you… kill Ling Feidu?”
When Patriarch Gu posed this question, murderous intent rose in his eyes and strong energy spread out. Lu Li felt his muscles were tight. This was a critical moment for him. If he gave the wrong answer, he might be killed by Patriarch Gu at once.
Lu Li thought quickly, wondering what the intention of Patriarch Gu asking this question was. Was there a relationship between him and the Cabinet of Cloud? Or was Patriarch Gu… trying to see if Lu Li was a man of impulse?
Eventually, Lu Li made up his mind. He clasped his hands and said, “I am born this way. I never create troubles but if someone wants me dead, I will fight back with every possible means! If I had to choose again and Ling Feidu still wished me dead, I would have to kill him with my utmost effort.”
With that said, Lu Li felt relaxed. He closed his eyes and cleared his mind. He would accept the fact if Patriarch Gu wanted to end his life.
But Patriarch Gu did not do so, even though the murderous intent was still profound. Time zipped by. A moment later, Patriarch Gu said coldly, “If I assign you on an assassination task, will you have the courage to do that?”
Lu Li was surprised. “Patriarch Gu, who do you want me to kill?”
Patriarch Gu said a name, emotionlessly, “Jiang Ruodan!”
“Who is Jiang Ruodan?” Lu Li frowned. Soon, he understood. “Is it Lady Dan?”
Patriarch Gu nodded with a straight face. Lu Li’s mouth twitched. This was bothersome. What was Patriarch Gu doing? Why would he ask Lu Li to murder Lady Dan? A moment later, Lu Li answered, “I know there is some conflict between me and Lady Dan. But she did not put me to death. So… I cannot kill her!”
“If you don’t kill her, I will kill you!” A dark glow rose in Patriarch Gu’s hands as he said in a terrifying tone, “This is your one last chance. Kill her or you will die!”
“Lunatic…”
Lu Li shouted to himself. He bit his teeth and stared at Patriarch Gu with his reddened eyes. “Patriarch Gu, please do it!”
“I thought you were courageous. You could kill Ling Feidu so why don’t you have the guts to kill Jiang Ruodan?” Patriarch Gu asked without doing anything.
“This is not about my courage!” Lu Li shook his head. “I must have a clean conscious. I can kill my enemies or someone that has committed heinous crimes, even Chiefs of the 72 sects, as long as I have such abilities. Lady Dan and I do not share blood feud. I cannot bring myself to do this.”
“Chiefs of the 72 sects? How arrogant you are!”
Patriarch Gu snorted. “Then let’s change the subject. I want to you kill the Young Chief of the Palace of Evil Spirit. Can you work up the courage to do that? I am to say for sure that this man has committed felonies. He bullies the weak and rapes girls. He has done so many things that cannot be tolerated!”
“What?”
Lu Li could not understand what Patriarch Gu wanted to achieve today. He thought about this and said, “If I have such abilities and can have some protection of my life and provided that this person is indeed heinous, I… will have the guts to kill him.”
“Good!”
Patriarch Gu stood up all of a sudden. “Lu Li, you have two choices now. First, I will report your information to the Chief. Chamber of Relics will not take away your life but you will be exiled. By then, Ling Wanjian will think of all possible means to have you murdered. Second, you help me kill the Young Chief of Palace of Evil Spirit, Chou Qianjun!”
Finally, the cat was out of the bag. At the moment, Lu Li finally saw Patriarch Gu’s intentions. Lu Li didn’t even have to think about the first option. In a few months after he was driven away from the Chamber of Relics, he would be killed by Cabinet of Cloud.
He could only choose the second option. Lu Li would not be so stupid as to agree right now. He forced a smile, “Patriarch, the Palace of Evil Spirit is one of the 72 sects. I have the courage but I do not have the capability. Besides, when I kill the Young Chief of the Palace of Evil Spirit, once I am exposed, I will be hunted down by them. Right?”
“No!”
Patriarch Gu waved his hand, “If you kill Chou Qianjun, once you are exposed, you will not only be hunted down by the Palace of Evil Spirit but the Space-time Office because the former actually is affiliated with Space-time Office.”
“…”
Lu Li rolled his eyes. Space-time Office was one of the four legendary forces. Even the Chief of the Chamber of Relics would have to die after provoking the Space-time Office.
Patriarch Gu did not look at Lu Li. A glint of sorrow rose in his eyes. “Do you know who is buried in the tombs in my backyard?”
Lu Li nodded but said not a single word. Patriarch Gu’s grief had deepened. “In that new tomb buries my son, my daughter-in-law, and my granddaughter’s clothes. It is a cenotaph. My son, his wife, and his daughter were killed by Chou Qianjun and just because Chou Qianjun wanted my granddaughter…”
“What?!”
Lu Li was surprised. “If Chou Qianjun has done something so terrifying, why didn’t you report to the Craftsmen’s Sect and ask them to right this wrong?”
“I have no evidence!”
Patriarch Gu shook his head in pain. “It would be easier if I had some proof. Besides, a great-grandpa of Chou Qianjun is a major patriarch in Space-time Office. He is powerful and has a high status. Craftsmen’s Sect has concerns. Therefore, I have only myself to count on to seek justice. You… are my only hope now!”
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