4

    Young Master Wu

    Chu Li Nong will never forget Chen Hu Lang.

    "You lazy one!"

    Even if he were to fall from heaven again and be reborn as a human or a wild beast, Chu Li Nong thought he would never forget Chen Hu Lang.

    "Didn't I tell you to clean the training yard?"

    Chen Hao Xuan and his gang took turns kicking the slender man. Chu Li Nong was hurt all over, his healing spells unable to restore his internal organs in time. If the assault continued, he would surely die from his injuries.

    The only thing that could save Chu Li Nong now was a medicinal herb enchanted with healing properties.

    Chu Li Nong lay breathing heavily, letting numerous feet strike his body until about the time it took an incense stick to burn, the sound of footsteps from outside approached.

    "Young Master Wu, did Chen Hu Lang really ask you to take care of Chu Li Nong?"

    "Yes, Master Li, that's what the master instructed. If the master leaves the human world, I must repay him by taking care of Chu Li Nong," a gentle voice replied.

    Chen Hao Xuan and his gang stopped kicking Chu Li Nong as someone opened the door.

    "Master Li?" Chen Hao Xuan blinked rapidly, looking at Li Wan Chen, the interim master of the Dark Fox Sect replacing Chen Hu Lang.

    Li Wan Chen, around fifty years old, was a close friend of Chen Hu Lang and had been entrusted with temporarily managing the Dark Fox Sect until Chen Hao Xuan was skilled enough in magic to take over the position.

    The two tall men stood still at the broken door.

    Li Wan Chen frowned and lowered his eyes to Chu Li Nong lying beaten on the floor, immediately realizing that these young men were tormenting him.

    Chen Hao Xuan, only twenty years old, still enjoyed tormenting Chu Li Nong, which Master Li had always known, but usually, Chen Hu Lang never paid much attention, so Li Wan Chen didn’t intervene.

    Li Wan Chen was contemplating sending Chu Li Nong away to live outside the sect, thinking it might be better than letting him be harassed in the Dark Fox Sect. But then Young Master Wu appeared.

    "So you are Chu Li Nong?" Young Master Wu Hu Lang smiled gently, his tall and muscular figure, with a handsome and intelligent face, showing friendliness to everyone. "You really are in a sorry state."

    Young Master Wu Hu Lang claimed to be a secret disciple whom Chen Hu Lang had taught magic arts for many years. The proof was the unique magic of the Dark Fox Sect that radiated around Young Master Wu, making everyone feel it.

    Chen Hu Lang asking someone to take care of Chu Li Nong?

    Li Wan Chen was still skeptical, but the magic around Young Master Wu was indeed identical to that of the founder of the Dark Fox Sect.

    "This man is..." Chen Hao Xuan was confused.

    Master Li explained, "He is Chen Hu Lang’s secret disciple, Young Master Wu Hu Lang."

    "A disciple of Master Chen Hu Lang?" Chen Hao Xuan was stunned; he had never heard that his foster father had taught a secret disciple outside the sect.

    Everyone in the dilapidated dwelling swallowed their saliva, feeling familiar with the magical power emanating from Young Master Wu, as if they were standing in front of the former master who had left the human world to become a god in the Land of Sukhavati.

    Even the name resembled that of Chen Hu Lang.

    Young Master Wu smiled softly, "I will show you the arts that the master has taught me," suddenly, magic burst forth, manifesting as a black, malicious fox tail above his tailbone, numbering up to a hundred tails.

    The powerful magic made every man's hair stand on end, even a former Bodhisattva like Chu Li Nong flinched.

    "Yo…Young Master Wu truly is a disciple of Master Chen Hu Lang," Chen Hao Xuan hurriedly paid his respects.

    The magic of the Dark Fox Sect involved emanating magic to envelop the body and enhance strength, the number of fox tails indicating the level of power.

    Chen Hu Lang, the former head of the sect, was able to manifest his magic to produce up to one thousand tails, earning him the nickname Xian Wei Hu[1],

    The Thousand-Tailed Fox of the Dark Fox Sect.

    "Pleased to meet you, Young Master Wu," the associates of Chen Hao Xuan greeted Wu Hu Lang with deep bows, acknowledging his strength as indicated by his hundred magical tails, while Master Li only managed up to twenty tails.

    Young Master Wu must be extraordinarily powerful.

    Li Wan Chen was taken aback by Young Master Wu’s formidable magic. "Master..."

    Wu Hu Lang dissipated all his fox tails and pulled out a bottle of herbal medicine from his robe. He wore a dark gray robe, blending with the disciples of the Dark Fox Sect, all dressed in black like the night sky.

    "Heal him," Young Master Wu smiled slightly.

    Chen Hao Xuan, puzzled, took the bottle of enchanted herbs. "Enchanted herbs..." This potion was costly. Chen Hao Xuan bit his lip regretfully before uncorking the bottle and recklessly pouring it over Chu Li Nong. "You wretch! Get up and thank Young Master Wu now!"

    As soon as the liquid touched Chu Li Nong’s body, a bright green light flashed, and all his pain vanished instantly.

    "Ah..." Chu Li Nong was able to move again.

    Li Wan Chen stared at Young Master Wu, suspicious, wondering how a disciple of such skill had never been introduced to everyone in the sect. The power of Young Master Wu’s magic could have easily earned him the position of sect leader.

    "Chu Li Nong! Get up!"

    Chen Hao Xuan yanked Chu Li Nong to his feet. Chu Li Nong’s tangled hair obscured his gaunt face, briefly revealing his sharp, beautiful dark eyes that glinted with a unique golden sheen characteristic of a bodhisattva.

    Young Master Wu paused slightly.

    Li Wan Chen repeated, "Did Chen Hu Lang really ask you to take care of him?"

    "Yes, he cared greatly for this man," Wu Hu Lang smiled.

    Chen Hao Xuan was impressed. "You are as compassionate as Master Chen Hu Lang himself. Master, you don't need to bother with this wretched being at all. His life isn't worth the trouble."

    "Ha ha, the master instructed me, so I must look after him as he wished," Young Master Wu closed his eyes.

    Everyone felt that this young master was exceptionally gentle.

    "The compassion you show will surely lead you to be reborn in Sukhavati," Master Li shook off his doubts, thinking he might be overly suspicious.

    Young Master Wu truly seemed to be a disciple of Chen Hu Lang.

    If anyone in the martial world could mimic Chen Hu Lang's skills, Chen Hu Lang himself would have already eliminated them.

    Young Master Wu opened his eyes, calmly meeting Chu Li Nong’s gaze.

    In Chu Li Nong’s eyes, Young Master Wu’s face overlaid with Chen Hu Lang’s; a gentle smile covered by a sneer, the cunningly handsome features of the former sect leader clearly visible.

    Young Master Wu shook his head slightly. "You are so pitiable."

    In reality, the other person was saying, "You are so pathetic."

    Chen Hao Xuan and his associates praised Young Master Wu.

    "You are the first to show compassion to Chu Li Nong, apart from Master Chen Hu Lang."

    "Such great compassion."

    "Strong and so compassionate."

    Chu Li Nong was the only one who could see the true intentions in front of him.

    "Come and serve me," Young Master Wu said with a sweet smile, under which Chu Li Nong saw the overlay of Chen Hu Lang's malicious grin.

    "A servant!" Chen Hao Xuan was shocked and quickly shook Chu Li Nong, "Chu Li Nong! Aren’t you going to thank him yet? Young Master Wu has shown you such mercy!"

    Was that really mercy?

    Chu Li Nong struggled to clench his right hand into a fist with his left, standing fully on his feet and slightly bowing in respect.

    "I am grateful for Young Master Wu's kindness," he said flatly.

    From a mere castaway to a servant in a blink of an eye.

    Chen Hao Xuan smiled broadly, "Every man named Hu Lang is compassionate. Master Chen Hu Lang spared your life, Chu Li Nong, which was a great kindness. Today, Young Master Wu Hu Lang takes such a wretch as you to be his servant. Chu Li Nong, you are indeed very fortunate."

    Li Wan Chen nodded, "Consider yourself lucky," he dismissed his concerns about Chu Li Nong instantly, no longer feeling the need to send him away from the sect as previously planned.

    Master Li had always felt sympathy for Song Li Nong. He knew that Chen Hu Lang harbored a grudge against Bodhisattva Chu Li Nong, hence a hellish existence befell Song Li Nong, treated like a beast by everyone in the Dark Fox Sect.

    The compassionate young master laughed softly, Young Master Wu spoke in a cool tone, "Is there still an empty bedroom in the guest house where I reside?"

    That gentle tone seemed almost divine, treating mortals kindly. Young Master Wu smiled warmly while looking at the ragged man, "Then come and stay in my house. It will be more convenient for you to serve me. This place is too far."

    "Young Master Wu!" Chen Hao Xuan was shocked. He disagreed with having such an unlucky creature as Chu Li Nong stay in the guest house but didn’t dare to object, given the other’s status as a secret disciple of Chen Hu Lang with a hundred tails of power.

    "It’s alright. If it is Chen Hu Lang’s wish, then go ahead," Master Li nodded.

    Such compassion was entirely false.

    Chu Li Nong thanked him again, "Thank you for your kindness."

    There was no way the former bodhisattva didn’t recognize the truth.

    Originally, Wu Hu Lang was just a young master of indulgence until his heart stopped, and when his body was devoid of spirit, it was possessed by the god of Sukhavati, Chen Hu Lang, who then appeared posing as his secret disciple.

    The Young Master Wu in front of Chu Li Nong was Chen Hu Lang, seeking to settle old scores, seizing the chance to retaliate against Chu Li Nong in human form. Why would Chen Hu Lang let it go so easily?

    "You accept your fate so readily," Young Master Wu said with a cold smile.

    Chu Li Nong responded with a smile, "Indeed."

    What could Chu Li Nong do when fate had never spared any creature, even if he had once been a bodhisattva, he could not escape his past karma. The only way was to accept and repay those karmas.

    "I shall diligently serve Young Master Wu," Chu Li Nong said, his voice unemotional and serene, no different from when he resided in Sukhavati.

    Chen Hu Lang smirked maliciously.

    "You can surely satisfy me, Chu Li Nong."

[1] Xian Wei Hu: The Thousand-Tailed Fox.