Chapter 1091 — You've Been Had
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 3
"Is that so..." Zhong Yongliang did not know the ins and outs of the matter, but hearing Zhang Naipao explain it, he realized he had worried for nothing — the demonic sects were a formidable existence in their own right. What he had feared was that once Zhang Naipao came down from the mountain he would become the common enemy of all those sects, and then, if Wei Zhao could not beat them, they would join forces with the orthodox schools to exterminate the demonic sect's disciples and the like — that would have been a fine mess. Now, it seemed, there would be no such trouble.
"Then what you're practicing right now is the Bee-Sucking Great Art? And what level has your strength reached?" Zhong Yongliang asked hurriedly.
"Brother Liang, the Bee-Sucking Great Art is only an auxiliary mental method. The art I chiefly cultivate is called the Chrysanthemum Manual — the exclusive secret book of the Tomorrow and Tomorrow Sect. Once I bring it to perfection, I'll be invincible under heaven!" Zhang Naipao kept not a thing from Zhong Yongliang.
"The Chrysanthemum Manual?" Zhong Yongliang blinked. The name of the art was rather unusual, and it sounded terribly impressive. He was tempted. "Paozi, could I practice it too?"
"Of course you could — though the process is brutally hard. Here's the manual; why don't you have a look at it first." Zhang Naipao handed a thread-bound book to Zhong Yongliang. Should Zhong Yongliang genuinely wish to practice, with Zhang Naipao's present standing in the sect it would be no more than the matter of a single word.
Zhong Yongliang had not expected Zhang Naipao to be so forthright as to hand over even the secret manual. He took it quickly, opened it and began to read — but he had got no further than the first page when he jumped half out of his skin.
On that first page were written eight bold characters: "To master this art, one must first castrate oneself!"
Sweat broke out and ran down Zhong Yongliang's forehead. Surely not? You had to castrate yourself to practice it? Wouldn't that make you a eunuch?
"Paozi... don't tell me you've already..." Zhong Yongliang pointed at the eight bold characters on the manual and asked carefully.
"You're right." Zhang Naipao sighed and nodded. "I am a eunuch now."
"Ah? Then I'd better not practice it..." At Zhang Naipao's words, dark lines instantly spread across Zhong Yongliang's face. Frightened, he shook his head at once. "It's enough that a good brother like you practices it — from now on I'll be counting on you!"
"No, Brother Liang — I was simply too hasty back then. You can read on a little further..." Zhang Naipao pointed at the Chrysanthemum Manual and said to Zhong Yongliang.
"Mm... very well..." Zhong Yongliang nodded, picked up the Chrysanthemum Manual and turned another page. Sure enough, the page beyond bore another line of eight characters: "Even if you castrate yourself, success is not guaranteed."
"This..." Zhong Yongliang was dumbstruck. So the thing actually had a chance of failure? Even after castrating yourself you might not succeed — in which case he had all the more reason not to practice. What if he castrated himself and still failed to master the divine art? Wouldn't that be an even worse disaster?
"There's more!" Zhang Naipao pointed at the Chrysanthemum Manual and went on.
"Uh..." Zhong Yongliang blinked and turned another page. On the third page were eight bold characters: "No castration needed — you can still succeed." Zhong Yongliang's eyes went wide. "No way. Paozi — you got scammed?"