Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 444 - 418: Zhang San Says Goodbye

Chapter 444: Chapter 418: Zhang San Says Goodbye

"Pharaoh, your disciple has come to bid farewell."

Zhang San arrived at Pharaoh’s house, standing at the entrance and respectfully said to the inside.

"Come in."

When Zhang San entered, he found not only Pharaoh but also the Sect Hierarch of the Heavenly Punishment Sect present.

Zhang San’s eyes widened as he stared at Mozi, his face full of confusion.

What the heck is going on here!?

Wasn’t it said that Pharaoh and the Heavenly Punishment Sect were enemies?

And then the Sect Hierarch is here, looking like the two old gents are having a meal together... eating?

"Zhang San, let me introduce you. This is Mozi, the leader of Mohism, and also the Chief of Staff at Great Sui’s Ministry of Works. But the Ministry of Works is a secret department, don’t mention it when you go out."

Zhang San immediately bowed respectfully to Mozi and said, "I have seen Mozi."

Mozi glanced at Zhang San and smiled, "You must be Zhang San, right? What was with that surprise when you saw me just now? Do you think I look like someone you know?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang San realized the voice sounded familiar too.

Looking alike might be a coincidence, but with that voice and those patches, it could only be you!

Zhang San had seen those who help cover up for their own people, but this was the first time he encountered someone blatantly pulling wool over his eyes.

"The disciple had a misunderstanding just now, thinking it was Master and Mistress eating together. When I came in and saw Mistress with a beard, I got a bit... a bit... mistaken... all misunderstandings..."

Mozi almost choked on his food.

Kid, you just wait!

"Zhang San, you’re just in time to be the judge. I invited Mozi to dinner, asking him if he had any good Woodcraft Making items, thinking you could use them when you go up north later. But after inviting him to eat, he’s complaining the food is terrible!"

Mozi pointed to the dishes on the table with his chopsticks and said, "It is terrible indeed! I can’t lie to people, can I?"

Pharaoh immediately retorted, "You complain it’s not tasty, have you even eaten anything delicious before? How picky can you get when you’re that poor?"

Seeing the two old men argue, Zhang San couldn’t help but laugh, "Master, Elder Mozi, let me do the cooking instead."

Afterward, Zhang San turned around and called a servant to accompany him to the kitchen.

Two quarters of an hour later, Zhang San returned with a serving of grilled lamb and two dishes.

"Master, Elder Mozi, please have a taste."

Pharaoh was curious, whereas Mozi could hardly wait.

Then both of them picked up the grilled lamb at the same time.

Zhang San’s grilled lamb was a thick slab, like lamb ribs, only a bit meatier than usual.

Pharaoh took a bite and nodded, smiling at Mozi.

Convinced it must be delicious by the look, Mozi also took a big bite.

That bite made Mozi feel like he had bitten into the lamb’s main artery, still raw and bloody within!

He quietly put down the lamb and turned to the other two dishes.

The first was a green vegetable dish, bright in color and seemingly appetizing.

With one bite, Mozi suspected that Zhang San had killed a salt seller on his way today!

Killed for the goods kind of death!

Two taels worth of vegetables seemed to have at least six taels of salt in them.

At this point, Mozi looked at the other dish supposed to be made with eggs, doubting whether it was even edible.

Upon examining it, he discovered several eggshell pieces mixed in with the golden, tender eggs.

Not a bit of the food had gone to waste, how splendid!

"Master, Elder Mozi, how are my dishes?"

Pharaoh actually wanted to praise his disciple, but he had accidentally swallowed a mouthful just now and it was so salty that he really couldn’t utter any insincere words.

After struggling for a moment, Pharaoh finally said, "Cough cough... pretty good, but no need next time... cough cough cough... get me a glass of water."

While pouring water for Pharaoh, Zhang San looked at Mozi.

Mozi nodded slightly, smiling as he said, "After eating the dishes you made, I indeed feel that your master’s cooking is quite agreeable."

Zhang San stood by, quietly serving the two old men their meal.

Perhaps because the previous dishes were too salty, the two elders consumed rice at an alarming rate.

After finishing their meal, servants came to clear away the utensils, replaced by milk tea.

"Master, I am about to depart for the northern lands. Before I leave, I wish to hear your teachings. Since Elder Mozi is here, why not share them together?"

Pharaoh laughed heartily, "There aren’t any teachings, you are the disciple I’m most at ease with. Although some say you’re suspected to be the Heavenly Punishment Sect’s Saint Heir, I’ve inquired with Li Moxian, and you’re going under cover to the Heavenly Punishment Sect. Hahaha..."

As Pharaoh spoke, he suddenly thought of something and whispered to Mozi beside him, "Keep this a secret, it would be bad if the Heavenly Punishment Sect found out Zhang San is an undercover."

Mozi nodded seriously, "Rest assured, I will not tell anyone. If I were to divulge it, may I die at the hands of the Sect Hierarch of the Heavenly Punishment Sect, in the most miserable way possible!"

Pharaoh did not expect Mozi to swear such a dire oath.

It seemed, despite the many disagreements, this old fellow was quite reliable after all.

Pharaoh continued to Zhang San, "Therefore, I have only one request for you — safety. I’m getting old, and for now, I can still keep those from Legalism in check. In the future, it will be up to you. I hear you get along well with the young people of Legalism. That’s good. Also..."

"Within the army, discipline is severe, you should study it well on your way."

"Once in the military, beware of people setting traps for you, and make more... cough cough... make an effort to get along with others."

Pharaoh said, taking out two scrolls, one large and one small, from his Storage Ring and handing them to Zhang San.

"All military laws are here; you must read them carefully on the way, understand?"

Zhang San received the scrolls with both hands, thanked his master, and then turned his head to look at Mozi.

Mozi pondered for a moment.

"I don’t have much to teach you. After all, you are Pharaoh’s disciple, not mine. But since you made a meal for me the first time we met, you must have a filial heart. And it’s also the first time your master has invited me to dine. He must treat you quite well as his disciple. I’ll give you a small gift."

Zhang San thought indignantly: As the Saint Heir of the Heavenly Punishment Sect, how could you not give me something when I go out?

But after looking at Zhang San for a while, Mozi suddenly asked, "What do you have on you? I feel something’s not quite right. Pharaoh, take a look, why do I feel your disciple is a bit short-lived?"

"If that mouth of yours continues to stink, then clean it!" Pharaoh immediately retorted angrily, "My disciple clearly has the looks of great wealth and nobility; how could it possibly..."

Pharaoh used the Ninefold Scrutiny to look at Zhang San, and then suddenly gasped in shock.

"Why is your heart so dirty!?"

Zhang San was startled.

I know the Ninefold Scrutiny you’re using; it can observe Qi, it can inspect formations, but how can yours even see if the heart is dirty?

Zhang San asked with a puzzled face, "I... I should be a good person though."

"No! There’s a small white dot on your heart. Wait, let me take a closer look! This... how come there’s a small cluster of white fire?"

Hearing this, Zhang San couldn’t help but think of the eyeball in the Turbid Water Well that night, threatening to curse him.

He quickly recounted the events of that night.

Of course, Zhang San only spoke the official version, that is, when he went to break the Formation, he encountered an eyeball, which spoke of cursing him.

Pharaoh’s brows knitted tightly as he looked at the cluster of white fire, stretched out his hand to point at Zhang San’s chest, and muttered: "Extinguish."

The next moment, Pharaoh quickly withdrew his hand as if burned.

"What kind of fire is this? My Twelve Layers Tower is of no use against it!"

At that moment, Pharaoh realized that the curse Zhang San had received was somewhat unusual.

Pharaoh whispered, "Any curse in this world is essentially a Rune, just that the Rune is branded onto the enemy’s body in some way, or traced back through causality to the same bloodline. But all can be erased, yet your curse is not a Rune! Mozi, can you make out what it is?"

Mozi spoke seriously, "In the past, I went to the Land of Eternal Night in the north and came across a sacred place called the Source of Suffering. It seems like only they have and can use abilities that go beyond normal Techniques, Talismans, and Martial skills. They call it Divine Skills!"

"But the Divine Skill in Zhang San’s curse, I need to study it carefully. Wait a moment."

Mozi said and took many things out of his Storage Ring.

Zhang San watched as the floor became filled with wooden boxes with mechanisms, and circular decorations resembling the twelve zodiac signs. Although Zhang San was skilled in Woodcraft Making, he couldn’t understand any of the items Mozi now took out.

Finally, Mozi found what he needed—a Wooden Seal.

"Zhang San, bear with it a little."

"Does it hurt a lot?" Zhang San asked curiously.

"It’s not that it hurts, it’s just..."

Mozi hadn’t finished speaking when he pressed the Wooden Seal onto Zhang San’s chest.

Just as Zhang San was still not sure how to react, a thunderous shout erupted in the room.

"Lie down... eat... argh!!!"

In that instant, Zhang San felt as if every cell in his body was annihilated and then reborn in a flash.

In the moment between life and death, all his nerves transmitted all the information they could.

It hurt.

It itched.

It burned.

It was cold.

Although it was only a moment, Zhang San felt as if he had endured the torment of both ice and fire in a desert storm.

When he finally caught his breath, Zhang San, panting heavily and wiping the sweat from his forehead, looked at Mozi.

"Elder Mozi, have you found out what it is? I can’t withstand a second strike!"

Mozi smiled awkwardly and said, "I have found out. It’s actually just..."

Whoosh—

Taking advantage of Zhang San’s distraction, Mozi pressed the Wooden Seal against Zhang San’s forehead.

This time, Zhang San couldn’t make any sound.

He collapsed on the floor like a dead dog.

"Mo... Mozi... Elder... this is the third time... maybe... we should... take a break first?"

"No worries, I’ve really figured it out this time. It’s not a big problem, just a small fire seed. It’s just that your time will burn away!"

The weakened Zhang San got up from the ground and asked with a puzzled face, "My time will burn away? What does that mean? I won’t become effeminate, will I?"