To become an internal member, it was an unwritten rule to become a top ten external member first.
After all, when an external member was ranked top ten, they would have received better internal techniques and the second stance of the Azure Sword Technique.
They would receive Qi Gathering Pills, too – one per month.
That was sufficient to attain the Apprentice Rank and suited to become an internal member.
"Yeah, right?" Lu Zheng nodded eagerly as they continued to walk. "If I was given another year and became an internal member, I would have gained the attention of the elders and would receive invitations to become their personal disciple.
If I was lucky enough, I would acquire the attention of the Clan Head and become his personal disciple!"
Lu Zheng's eyes sparkled.
Zhong Chun was affected by Lu Zheng's immersion of the past, of the time they were still a member of the Azure Tide Clan, causing him to giggle on Lu Zheng's ambition.
"You dream too much." Zhong Chun giggled. "You already know the Clan Head disliked having a personal disciple. At best, you would be lucky enough to receive his monthly teachings, together with the promising internal members, or even core members!"
"Indeed!" Lu Zheng nodded.
Suddenly, as though Lu Zheng remembered something, discerning they haven't arrived at their destination yet, he asked Zong Chun, "By the way, Zhong Chun, how are you? Why did you come back? Were you with your sister?"
Lu Zheng maintained his usual stare at Zhong Chun, while the latter kept staring forward, as he saw his expression turning ugly.
"Why? Did something happen?" Lu Zheng asked, and his tone was filled with concern.
Zhong Chun sighed and halted, appearing to have reached their destination.
Lu Zheng stopped, still staring at Zhong Chun with a worried expression.
Zong Chun replied, "That's why I have returned. It appeared my sister was caught up on the way. I really thought she died, not until I got the wind of the female members of the clan being enslaved to become their sex tool. I came here to save her."
Lu Zheng's face turned unpleasant when he received such dreadful information.
He did hear about it, even hoping his mother was still alive.
Even when she was enslaved, haven't raped yet, he could still save her.
However, he knew given the temperament of her mother, she would rather die than being in such a situation.
Hence, he felt no hope at all.
He was eighty percent confident about it.
The very reason he returned to the clan was to take back the treasure with him and avenge the death of his parents in the future.
He did not have a sister or a brother, so he could not empathize with what Zong Chun was feeling.
However, when he imagined if he had a lover and suddenly received the information that she was enslaved and became a sex tool by others, he would be more infuriated than before.
If he planned to take revenge in the future, he would not wait and avenge now as he waited for his lover.
Sadly, Lu Zheng did not harbor such a heavy feeling, not even to Yang Wei.
Lu Zheng replied in a somber tone, "Alright. I will help you save your sister. After that, we will escape from the city first, cultivate outside, and come back to take revenge on our clan after we grow stronger."
Lu Zheng's eyes filled with resolve and determination when he thought of their plan, startling Zhong Chun.
He lowered his head, closed his eyes tightly, and nodded.
"Right. You will help me save my sister. Thank you for that, Lu Zheng."
Lu Zheng landed his hand on his shoulder, as he said to Zong Chun with a solemn expression, "It is a given. We are brothers!"
Zhong Chun stared at Lu Zheng in a daze, and nodded, while grasping the door knob.
"Thank you, Lu Zheng."
He opened the door, and the noise of laughter echoed inside the room, catching Lu Zheng's attention, causing his head to turn to his right, leaving his gaze from Zhong Chun.
Seeing that Lu Zheng had been distracted, Zhong Chun suddenly took the chance to land an uppercut on Lu Zheng, wanting to knock him out.
Meanwhile, Lu Zheng's eyes widened, completely surprised by the appearance of five internal members and five external members inside the room, facing four individuals, who were bound by shackles.
They were playing with them, and threatening them with verbal words.
Lu Zheng almost thought four of them were dead, but their eyelids were still quivering, some screaming without any voice to echo while receiving a deep cut from a knife.
Most of the four individuals lacked ears, fingers, and even their mouth was opened, as though their tongue was cut.
The scene was observed by Lu Zheng in a millisecond, as though the world worked slowly.
Clasp!
Zhong Chun's uppercut failed to connect on Lu Zheng's chin after it was grabbed by a hand, taking him by surprise.
He saw the hand belonged to Lu Zheng and raised his eyes, only to end up seeing him still staring inside the room.
He blocked his stealthy uppercut, causing him to be dumbfounded.
Zhong Chun tried to shake Lu Zheng's fist away, but Lu Zheng's clasped hand would not budge.
Zhong Chun was stupefied.
He did not know when Lu Zheng became so strong to the point he could even block his stealthy attack when he was completely distracted.
He felt it was abnormal.
As he was consumed by astonishment of Lu Zheng's strength, the latter suddenly intensified his grip, causing Zong Chun's expression to change.
He felt the pain pulsating from his fist, having been squeezed by Lu Zheng's grasp.
Slowly, he realized he could not restrain his voice, screaming in agony, as he let out a yelp.
He tried to punch Lu Zheng, only to end up on his grasp, resulting in both of his hands being crushed by Lu Zheng.
He turned his head, screaming at the ten members of the Scorching Blade Clan, who was engrossed in torturing four individuals, "Help! Help! Help!"
Lu Zheng turned his head, glanced at Zhong Chun with his oceanic eyes becoming colder and colder, as though he could summon a blizzard, as he said in a chilling tone, "Is this how you treat your brothers, Zhong Chun?"