When the Student Becomes the Master (before battle)

<Xichun!!!>

Now that's impressively sneaky.

So they're not beasts of Hongyuan for nothing, eh... They just had to get between me and my pupil's spar. Mmmh.

…….

…!

Master...! Wait, you've been working for Jia Yuanchun the whole time?

Haven't you known me long enough by now to tell, brief as our acquaintance has been? My service is to no one but the bottle.

To have all twelve masters squeeze into battle when things were just starting to get interesting is quite discourteous, don't you think?

Yeah, and a master stabbing his pupil in her back isn't?!

Just as Sinclair and the Night Drifter were locked in an argument...

…!

The Heishou beasts who followed us into the room swung their purple arms at Jia Xichun without hesitation.

The slithering serpent arm, which suddenly extended into a considerable length...

Haven't I already given you due complaint, my friends?

... were stopped inches from Jia Xichun's neck by the Night Drifter's arm, biting him instead.

Heheh... Now that's one potent venom! I can feel it spreading through my veins.

Listen here, snakes. Haven't I done you courtesy enough? Go back to your holes.

I'll even give you an excuse you could give to your lord... Say that you had to withdraw, as the Night Drifter of the Drunken Palm got in your way.

We serve the same "client"... Might as well let me take all the blame for your failure, hm?

…….

But the Heishou wordlessly stood their ground.

Fine... I didn't think you'd listen to someone who doesn't even hold your leash.

Phoo-ie...! Too bad, too bad. Well, I suppose this should at least make for a fairer fight, with all of her teachers being here and all.

You...

Heh heh, I don't recall ever teaching you to make a face like that in front of an enemy...

... Fine. It's not like stopping one attack makes you our ally.

At least one of my pupils knows what she's talking about.

Perhaps I shall open myself a humble wuguan here in Hongyuan once this contract is over.