The little snake slithered towards Luo Shu with a hiss.
Luo Shu kicked it away while cursing, "Get away from me, you bastard! What are you doing here?"
He looked at Sun Buzhou with an embarrassed expression, "Master..."
Sun Buzhou flicked his sleeve and snorted angrily, "Hmph, Luo Shu, what else do you have to explain?"
The Xuan Yin Snake Gu had already crawled onto Luo Shu and skillfully burrowed into his pocket.
It poked its little head out, like a joey returning to its mother's pouch.
Watching this scene, there was not a trace of wickedness.
Luo Shu fell to his knees with a thud, "Master, I was wrong. I was just confused for a moment. Please forgive me this once!"
Sun Buzhou's head buzzed. Until Luo Shu confessed, he had held onto a sliver of hope that Luo Shu might be innocent.
But when Luo Shu admitted his mistake and begged for mercy, that last shred of hope was extinguished.
"Luo Shu, Luo Shu, how could you be so disappointing? Where did you get this Xuan Yin Snake Gu?"
Sun Buzhou said through gritted teeth.
When Chen Xiao had questioned them earlier, he had thought Chen Xiao was being unreasonable. But now, he felt utterly ashamed, having lost all face.
Luo Shu said tremblingly, "Granny Li from Miao Jiang gave it to me. I've been raising it carefully for three years, but you just didn't know."
Sun Buzhou was so angry he almost spat blood, "Three years? You ungrateful wretch! Granny Li, a renowned physician, gave you this Xuan Yin Snake Gu to save lives, not to harm people!"
Luo Shu lowered his head and remained silent, like a primary school student who knew he had done wrong.
"Speak, why did you do this? Qi Tianhu had no past grievances or recent enmity with you. Why did you harm him?"
Sun Buzhou questioned sternly.
Of course, his sternness was partly for Qi Qingfei's benefit.
After all, Qi Qingfei must have been furious. The fact that she hadn't erupted yet was giving him face.
Therefore, he had to show his stance on this matter.
Luo Shu said softly, "Master, I truly know I was wrong, but I had my reasons. You're getting old, and you love to wander into the deep mountains and old forests. I'm tired of this life. I want to live like a rich person!"
Sun Buzhou sighed. So this was what Luo Shu had been thinking.
He had thought Luo Shu shared his interests, which was why he always brought Luo Shu along on their mountain expeditions.
But another question arose: "You have the right to choose the life you want, and I wouldn't stop you if you wanted to be rich. But what does that have to do with harming Qi Tianhu?"
Luo Shu truthfully replied, "Three months ago, before our last trip to the mountains, someone approached me and promised me a large sum of money if I could kill Qi Tianhu!"
Sun Buzhou quickly asked, "Who was that person?"
Luo Shu shook his head, "Master, I really don't know. And to convince me, he told me that Qi Tianhu was already poisoned by the Heart Refining Dragon Saliva. Even if I didn't act, Qi Tianhu would die sooner or later."
"So I thought, since Qi Tianhu was going to die anyway, why shouldn't I make some money?"
Sun Buzhou pointed at Luo Shu's forehead, angry at his lack of ambition, "You! You have such audacity and such a malicious heart! Qi Tianhu has treated you well during your time here!"
Luo Shu started crying and repented, "Master, I truly know I was wrong. Just spare me this once!"
"Besides, Qi Tianhu isn't dead, so don't blame me!"
Hearing this, Qi Qingfei let out a cold laugh.
It seemed Luo Shu's repentance was fake, and his fear of death was real!
Sun Buzhou shook his head and said, "Apologizing to me is useless. I will hand you over to Qi Tianhu to deal with you."
"No, Master, please save me!"
Luo Shu clung to Sun Buzhou's leg and cried. It seemed he did know the severity of his actions.
Qi Qingfei watched the master and disciple coldly. She wanted to see what Sun Buzhou would say in the end.
If he pleaded for his disciple, Qi Qingfei would show no mercy.
However, at that moment, a cough suddenly broke the silence. It was Qi Tianhu, who had slowly woken up.
"Dad, you're finally awake. How are you feeling?"
Qi Qingfei said excitedly.
Qi Tianhu said weakly, "Daughter, don't worry about me. I feel fine, just a bit weak... But what happened? Why do I feel like I've been asleep for a long time?"
Chen Xiao smiled, thinking, *You haven't been asleep for a long time, you've been 'dead' for a long time!*
Then Qi Qingfei recounted the entire incident. Qi Tianhu listened, stunned and filled with mixed emotions.
At this point, Sun Buzhou said apologetically, "Brother Qi, I'm sorry. I failed as a master and harmed you. I'll hand over this useless disciple to you. Do as you please, whether it's to kill or torture him!"
Qi Tianhu sighed and asked expressionlessly, "Luo Shu, how much did the person who wanted me harmed promise you?"
Luo Shu held up two fingers.
Qi Tianhu asked him, "Twenty million?"
Luo Shu shook his head, "No, it's two, two million."
Qi Tianhu laughed up to the sky, "Kid, you're foolish! Is my life as Qi Tianhu only worth two million? And if you wanted money, you only had to ask. What's two million to me?"
Luo Shu muttered, "You'd give me money out of respect for my master. I want to earn money through my own abilities."
Hearing this, everyone was completely convinced.
This person was truly beyond saving!
Qi Tianhu snorted, "Out of respect for your master, I'll spare your life. But while the death penalty is waived, you won't escape punishment. Leave your hands behind and get out!"
"Master, save me!"
Luo Shu pleaded desperately.
Sun Buzhou was completely disappointed in him, "From today onwards, you are forbidden to call me Master. You have been expelled from the sect. Moreover, Qi Tianhu not killing you has already given me immense face. How else can I save you?"
"No, I can't! I can't leave my hands behind! Ah!!!"
Luo Shu screamed hysterically, suddenly leaped from the ground, and grabbed Sun Buzhou by the neck.
"Let me leave here, or I'll kill..."
Before he could finish his threat, Luo Shu suddenly let go and collapsed onto the ground, his body going limp.
Sun Buzhou, still shaken, looked back and saw a silver needle stuck in Luo Shu's forehead. His pupils dilated, and he had breathed his last.
Sun Buzhou looked at Chen Xiao in disbelief. Chen Xiao shrugged, "You're welcome."
At the critical moment, it was Chen Xiao who had acted, ending Luo Shu's life with a single strike.
Everything had happened so fast. Sun Buzhou's emotions were like riding a roller coaster.
Before he could thank Chen Xiao, an arrogant laugh echoed from outside the door.
"Hahahahahaha, Qi Tianhu, what incredible luck you have to survive this!"