[System]
Mission[1]
Rewards[2]
The Xiao Family has committed a great sin and must be captured. All citizens are ordered to report them to the guards immediately upon sight.
The decree rang out across the entire village, sowing confusion. Murmurs spread.
"What did the Xiao family do?"
"Why are they being hunted?"
"No one knows…"
Meanwhile, Chen Xiao lay flat in a bush, covered by leaves and twigs. His breath came shallow as two guards combed the area nearby.
Why is there no time limit? Chen thought anxiously. Is the mission's success determined by our actions instead?
Just then, a small prompt flickered before his eyes
[System Notification]
Cult Eliminated[3]
Chen's heart clenched. Pan Xiao…
Far away in the village center, Pan Xiao sprinted through narrow streets, chased by guards and cultivators alike. Every pursuer bore the ominous red ENEMY mark above their heads.
Steel clashed in sparks.
Clank!
Pan Xiao's sword deflected a heavy strike. With a fluid kick, he sent the man sprawling before another lunged at him from behind. He rolled to the side, avoiding the blade by a hair, and retaliated his sword flashed, cutting clean through the attacker's neck.
He didn't stop running.
But the deeper he went, the more enemies appeared. Guards, villagers, even cultivators filled the town square.
Then, from behind, a familiar presence emerged.
The mayor.
"I see your face isn't the only thing remarkable," the mayor said, clapping mockingly. "Your swordplay is extraordinary as well."
His smile turned sharp. "Too bad I'll have to kill you."
He charged. Dozens of enemies surged forward with him.
Pan Xiao's eyes narrowed. He exhaled, then slid his foot in a circle across the ground. Dust and dirt surged upward, cloaking the square in a thick smoke.
Within the haze, blades sang. Screams echoed. Pan Xiao moved like a phantom, his sword weaving a deadly dance. By the time the dust began to clear, only corpses remained.
The mayor's roar shook the air. "You bastard!"
The smoke parted to reveal Pan Xiao standing calm, blood dripping from his sword.
"Mayor," his voice was cold, "for sheltering me, I'll give you a chance to run."
The mayor laughed harshly. "Run? I beat you one sidedly earlier. You think you can threaten me?"
"No," Pan Xiao replied, pointing his sword skyward. "But they can."
High above, a figure descended on a flying sword. An old cultivator, his robes fluttering, gaze sharp as lightning.
The mayor's smirk vanished. His crimson eyes widened in terror.
"Oh… so I've been found," the old man chuckled. "This old body is really slowing down."
From the rooftops, more cultivators leapt into view, surrounding the square.
"South Sword Sect, ready to strike!" one shouted.
The old cultivator gave a small nod. At once, blades fell like rain as the South Sword Sect disciples cut down the remaining cultists.
[System Notification]
Mission Complete.
Pan Xiao wiped his blade, exhaling slowly. So… the main body survived after all, he thought, glancing at the faint link between him and Chen.
At the forest's edge, Chen Xiao trembled as he stumbled upon a horrific sight.
A man in ragged beggar's clothes sat lazily atop a pile of corpses guards and villagers alike, their bodies mangled.
The man swirled an empty wine bottle in his hand. His gaze, though hazy, was sharp as a blade when it fell on Chen.
"This cult… did well. Almost turned the entire town. But boy…" He squinted. "Why are they targeting you?"
Chen stammered. "I don't know?"
The man clicked his tongue. "Tch. Whatever. I'd best leave before those South Sword Sect dogs sniff me out."
He tossed the bottle. It landed at Chen's feet with a dull clink.
"Boy your lucky I was assigned here by my leader to take care of this new cult. Or else."
And with that, the beggar vanished into the forest shadows.
Chen stood frozen, blood pounding in his ears. Then the rewards felt on him
"this is the treasure?"
[1] survive with your clone against the demonic pursuits
[2] 1 free draw on talent & 1 treasure
[3] +2 Cult maid bleeded out and died