0006 Like Repels Like

Senior Brother!

Whether by Azhu’s earlier description or by the tale in the original work, the position of Senior Brother in the Sect of Stars held an exceedingly high rank, second only to Ding Chunqiu, and for everyone else, it was no exaggeration to say he could grant or withhold at will.

Jiang Mingzhe hurriedly looked up, and before him, without his noticing when, there now stood a young man.

He appeared to be in his mid-twenties, clad in white as pure as snow, tall and lean like a spear. His thick brows and phoenix eyes gave him a deep, striking profile; his high nose, slightly hawklike, hinted at a touch of foreign blood.

Aside from a complexion that was an odd mix of green and yellow, his features and face were handsome enough to call him a beautiful man.

Jiang Mingzhe thought to himself: Could this be Star-Catching Son? So he had already risen to the seat of Senior Brother at this point...

He remembered that in the original story, this man made his first appearance while leading the pursuit of Azhu, who had stolen the Divine Wood King Cauldron and fled far away; at that time he was said to be “twenty-seven or twenty-eight.”

To attain the throne of Senior Brother at such a young age was proof enough that he possessed no ordinary aptitude and means.

Jiang Mingzhe silently grew wary. He remembered that the first time Star-Catching Son struck in the original work, he had used the sect rules as a pretext to force a junior disciple to challenge him, then unleashed Scorching Soul Refining Flame and burned the man alive.

The real reason, however, was that the junior disciple had been born with great strength and advanced rapidly in martial arts, arousing the Senior Brother’s jealousy; so at the first opportunity, he had seized upon a pretext to cut him down.

Star-Catching Son cast Jiang Mingzhe a faint glance, his eyes lingering briefly on the poisonous snake at Jiang Mingzhe’s waist before turning to Azhu with a bright smile. “Junior Sister really does know how to speak. No wonder Master favors you most! Heh heh, this friend looks unfamiliar. Did Master tell you to bring him here as a guest to our sect?”

Jiang Mingzhe’s heart stirred. Azhu had clearly just said she had not seen Star-Catching Son for several days, yet Star-Catching Son seemed to know her movements like the back of his hand. Clearly, he knew she had gone out with Ding Chunqiu.

This Senior Brother likely had quite a few informants within the sect.

Azhu, seemingly not having thought of that layer, nodded and said, “Master has taken him as a disciple. He asked me to bring him back first, while he went alone to chase the Six-Winged Iron Centipede!”

“A new disciple?” Star-Catching Son frowned slightly.

Seeing Jiang Mingzhe with bare arms, dressed in a grass garment and wearing a poisonous snake, he had thought him some reclusive toxic adept whom the master had valued and invited back. He had not expected him to be a newly accepted disciple.

He looked Jiang Mingzhe over again, a flash of cold light crossing his eyes, and his brows knit more tightly.

When Ding Chunqiu took disciples, although the sect’s savage wilderness made it impossible to follow the carefree style of the Free and Unfettered School and accept only handsome men and beautiful women, he was still obviously more lenient and indulgent toward those of better looks.

Though Ding Chunqiu had never said so outright, none of the disciples were fools. Looking at the few most favored among their fellows, it was not hard to guess the importance of appearance.

Why had Star-Catching Son, at such a young age, already cultivated this peerless martial skill above his peers? Besides his own talent and diligence, Ding Chunqiu’s especially careful guidance was also a crucial factor.

He had always been proud of his looks, styling himself the foremost handsome man of the Sect of Stars. Yet at this moment, facing Jiang Mingzhe, he could not help but feel a trace of inferiority.

The woman Ms. Dong, so worldly and well-traveled, had shown Jiang Mingzhe such favor. It was not merely because he was glib.

Beyond his appearance, Jiang Mingzhe’s confidence and vigor, so characteristic of a modern man, also struck Star-Catching Son as dazzlingly intense.

“Heh.”

Star-Catching Son’s expression suddenly softened. He forced out a very false smile. “Master’s judgment is indeed remarkable. This new junior brother is clearly a piece of fine jade waiting to be carved.”

Jiang Mingzhe sighed inwardly. He had read the original story and knew that what this Senior Brother feared most was losing his position. He also knew how much the men and women of the Free and Unfettered School valued appearance.

So even if Star-Catching Son was pretending to be friendly, Jiang Mingzhe knew full well that he had already landed on the other man’s blacklist.

“My name is Jiang Mingzhe!”

Jiang Mingzhe cupped his fists in salute, his face as still as an ancient well, his tone dry and flat, utterly unlike the eager flattery he had shown Ding Chunqiu.

Azhu looked at him in surprise, thinking: Why has this sycophant stopped flattering people? Have I not made clear enough how formidable our sect’s Senior Brother is?

Of course she did not know that Jiang Mingzhe had his own philosophy of social conduct.

Take Ding Chunqiu, for example: he was like a titanic client at the very top of the industry, looking down on the entire chain of trade, with the life and death of all downstream businesses resting on a single thought from him.

For such a figure, so far above him in rank and with no conflict of interest between them, Jiang Mingzhe naturally spared no humble words or generous courtesies in order to curry favor and win goodwill.

Star-Catching Son was entirely different.

The Sect of Stars could have only one Senior Brother.

If Jiang Mingzhe had been uglier, perhaps he could still have hidden his edge and even found a way to make the man rely on him as a useful arm.

But with a face like his, there was no room for him to keep a low profile; conflict between the two of them was destined to be irreconcilable.

It was like rival companies competing for the same major contract: their core interests were in direct and severe conflict, a genuine competitive relationship, and it would not be too much to call them mortal enemies.

At times, in order to survive, even dignity could be put on the bargaining table.

But that did not mean dignity was unimportant.

Since they were destined to be enemies, Jiang Mingzhe naturally could no longer sacrifice his dignity to flatter the man.

Still, a little deception to numb the opponent would not hurt.

So Jiang Mingzhe decided to play the role of a straightforward fellow who knew nothing of social niceties.

“Heh heh.”

Star-Catching Son nodded and smiled. “My Sect of Stars is one of the foremost great sects in the martial world. Even Shaolin and the Beggars’ Gang would find it difficult to compare with us. Thus our rules have always been strict. Since Junior Brother has become a disciple of our sect, you must carefully observe all our regulations and apply yourself diligently to martial training as well. If there is anything you do not understand, feel free to come ask me. As your senior brother, I shall naturally explain everything I know without reservation.”

Jiang Mingzhe nodded woodenly. “All right.”

Star-Catching Son quietly nodded to himself, thinking: This man’s appearance is indeed splendid, yet he is not one with any wit or skill in speech. No wonder that despite his imposing bearing, he seems to be nothing more than ignorant and unafraid. Heh, perhaps some day this fool will anger Master and be thrown to the poisonous insects.

Thinking this, he withdrew part of his vigilance and said warmly, “Since little Azhu is bringing you along, I shan’t trouble myself further. If anyone among our fellow disciples bullies you, come tell me.”

Jiang Mingzhe nodded, not even saying thank you.

Star-Catching Son’s smile did not diminish as he turned and left.

Azhu called out loudly, “Farewell, Senior Brother!”

Though Star-Catching Son did not appear to walk especially fast, in the blink of an eye he had already gone so far that he was no longer visible.

Azhu let out a long breath and patted her chest, her expression relaxing as she muttered in some envy, “He’s almost mastered the Moon-Chasing Skill now, sigh...”

She turned to Jiang Mingzhe and said in a low voice, “You big ginger, I thought you had changed your nature. You don’t even know to flatter Senior Brother? Were you deliberately making him think you were a fool?”

Before Jiang Mingzhe could answer, she went on, “Still, Star-Catching Son is very clever. In time, you’ll inevitably slip up. Like I told you, the key is to make yourself strong. And don’t forget you still owe me three hundred cries of ‘Good Sister.’ Once you use the secret I taught you, you must pay your debt at once.”

Jiang Mingzhe said in surprise, “Wasn’t it two hundred and ninety-seven...?”

Azhu planted her hands on her hips and shouted, “What? Do you think debts have no interest?”

Seeing Jiang Mingzhe make a helpless, vulnerable expression, Azhu laughed uproariously like a duck full of fish, then shoved him forward. “Come on, come on. We’re almost there. I’ll show you the grandeur of the world’s greatest sect!”

Azhu’s tone was quite proud. Jiang Mingzhe quietly shook his head, thinking that in the eyes of these Sect of Stars disciples, they probably truly believed their own sect was invincible under heaven.