Aunt Lou Ji Xu Yuan's footsteps paused slightly as he glanced back at her.
The surface of the lake shimmered, and a gentle breeze teased the woman's jet-black hair.
Her alluring peach blossom eyes, which seemed like they could bewitch anyone, appeared crystal clear and translucent at that moment.
Xu Yuan was quite satisfied with Su Jinxuan's reaction.
Compared to discussing feelings, most of the time he preferred when others talked about money.
Talking about money might hurt feelings, but talking about feelings could sometimes hurt both money and feelings.
The cultivation secret technique of the Enchantress Divine Physique was indeed precious, but that was only to those with the Enchantress Divine Physique.
Without the Enchantress Divine Physique, no matter how precious the secret technique was, it could only be used to prop up a table leg and collect dust.
"Good, I'll remember too, waiting for you to pay me back in the future," he said.
"Mm.."
Su Jinxuan hummed softly, a hint of a smile in her beautiful eyes, as she carefully tucked the secret technique into her sleeve.
The weather by the wetland lake was clear and sunny, everything so perfectly calm.
Basking in the warm winter sun, the two of them walked on together for a while, but after a short distance, only the woman remained by the peaceful lakeside…
Xu Yuan had left.
Having made his investment, he had to report to Aunt Lou Ji in the Imperial Capital.
He walked towards the northwestern courtyard, where, unlike in his memories, the Protector on duty this time did not stop him.
The status of the Third Young Master still stood, and as his mannerisms became increasingly reliable over the past few days, all the previously restricted areas within the mansion became accessible to him.
Entering the secluded chamber alone, a large spherical crystal used for communication lay quietly at the center of the formation patterns on the floor.
Having used this item a few times recently, Xu Yuan had come to know how to activate it.
The Communication Formation was complex, but the activation was quite simple.
Standing in the center of the spacious chamber, Xu Yuan placed his hand on the surface of the sphere.
The next moment,
Buzz—
A humming sound vibrated as a white light spread from within the spherical crystal, illuminating the intricate formation patterns on the floor as if water flowing into a channel.
After a few breaths,
The light faded, and the sphere that had been lying close to the ground began to float gently into the air.
Looking at the scene before him, Xu Yuan seemed to exhale a sigh of wonder.
Sometimes he was really amazed by the technology tree of this world.
Maybe after a few thousand years of development, they really could create a sort of cultivator's version of a mobile phone.
With the formation activated, the next step was "dialing."
After fiddling for about a minute, Xu Yuan withdrew his hand from the Source Crystal and began to meditate and regulate his breath.
Making calls in this world was troublesome, as the other party couldn't always be expected to be right next to their Communication Formation.
He sat in meditation in the chamber for about half an hour.
Suddenly, a female voice sounded:
"You've waited long enough.
I never thought you, Changtian, would actually take the initiative to contact your sister here."
The voice echoed in the silent chamber, seemingly so sultry it could drip water.
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan slowly opened his eyes, unconsciously recalling the speaker's appearance in his mind.
To be honest, if one only looked at the surface and the personality, this Lou Ji seemed more like an Enchantress Divine Physique than Su Jinxuan.
While Su Jinxuan liked to wear plain white clothes in her leisure time to hide her prideful figure, Lou Ji wandered around the Prime Minister's Mansion every day in low-cut dresses, perfectly emulating the fashion style of a character from a former life.
Very seductive, a venomous femme fatale.
Of course,
The venomous femme fatale part referred to her interactions with the main characters in the storyline.
In the dungeons of the Black Scale Guards, several of his uncles and aunts were still imprisoned, and due to the strength of their Primordial Realm bodies, most punishments were personally carried out by her.
She was the feared leader of the Black Scale Guards.
But that was towards outsiders; Lou Ji had always treated him very well.
She had been good to him all his life.
Once, she even risked damaging her Origin Energy and regressing in her cultivation realm just to use her technique to forcibly change his meridians and marrow.
Unfortunately, it had failed.
And that failure had cast a shadow over his still young mind.
It was too painful.
Having never cultivated before, he didn't understand all this and just felt that this woman was malicious and wanted to torture him…
With that in mind, Xu Yuan said out loud:
"Aunt Lou…"
"Call me sister~" Lou Ji's tone was soft, teasing.
"Alright, Aunt Lou."
"…."
Lou Ji was silent for a second, then laughed lightly:
"Changtian, you're really not cute.
It looks like I'll have to teach you a lesson when you return to the Imperial Capital~"
"You're free to do so," replied Xu Yuan.
"Tsk, getting less and less cute."
"Cough."
Xu Yuan coughed lightly, steering the conversation back on track:
"I've already given the Enchantress Divine Physique's secret technique to Su Jinxuan."
Lou Ji's alluring voice seemed somewhat displeased:
"I know.
You sent Ying'er to ask for that thing from me, so you could give it to that vixen."
Because of his memories, Xu Yuan was used to her tone and directly shot back, "Isn't it a bit inappropriate for you to call her a vixen?"
Lou Ji didn't pay attention to his comment, her tone still jovial:
"I'm not an Enchantress Divine Physique, so why can't I call her a vixen?
You've only known her for a few days, and you're already speaking up for her.
Sister is really heartbroken~"
As she spoke,
Her voice took on a grievance:
"You just gave away a secret technique worth fifty thousand taels like it was nothing.
Because of this, old man Hua Hong chewed me out all day, saying that my Black Scale Guards owe his Tian'an Commerce Assembly fifty thousand taels."
Hua Hong, one of his father's trusted aides.
The head of Tian'an Commerce Assembly, always seen with scholarly glasses.
The ultimate miser.
"So, did you compensate him?" Xu Yuan asked with a smile.
Upon hearing the question, Lou Ji was silent for two seconds, then suddenly snorted unhappily, "Compensate?
Compensate for what?
The money of the Black Scale Guards is earned with our lives; why should we compensate?"
///74///
Xu Yuan understood the moment he heard the words.
The economic forces under his father's command were relatively independent.
It seemed that only in times of deficit would his father or that uncle aide make adjustments to fill the gaps.
As for where the Black Scale Guards' money came from…
The intelligence business was a lucrative industry in any world, in any dynasty.
And seeing how reticent Ying'er was, Xu Yuan felt that the Black Scale Guards were likely also involved in the business of assassins.
With that thought, Xu Yuan returned to his senses.
Then,
He found that the notorious leader of the Black Scale Guards opposite him was still nagging like an aggrieved woman:
"…I've been helping Tian'an Commerce Assembly integrate information and investigate the inner workings every day.
It's bad enough they don't give me a cut, but they still owe me for intelligence fees, and now they have the nerve to ask me for money.
"Heh, something they got for a thousand taels, they expect me to compensate fifty thousand taels for, that old Bi Deng actually has the gall to demand it."
Xu Yuan could feel the auntie's long-simmering grievances from thousands of miles away.
After a pause,
There was a deep inhale from the other side, followed suddenly by:
"Changtian, I'm right, aren't I?"
Xu Yuan's eyes twitched slightly, and he coughed lightly, agreeing:
"Right, it's too much."
No selfishness, all sentiment.
Tian'an Commerce Assembly, just as cutthroat as in my previous life.
A secret technique bought for a thousand taels, sold for fifty thousand taels, fifty times the profit margin.
"Giggle~"
Upon hearing Xu Yuan's agreement, Lou Ji's voice became very cheerful, and she said with a smirk:
"Changtian is the best-behaved, there must be something else you need from your sister, right?
Want Elixir Medicine or intelligence?
Or if you want someone killed, you can tell your sister~"
Lou Ji seemed deeply attached to the word "sister."
Xu Yuan hesitated for a moment but still declined:
"No need, I want to know how the Black Scale Guards are planning to deal with Qin Weijiu."
"Ah~ that…" Lou Ji's seductive voice drew out.
"You can't tell me?" Xu Yuan frowned.
"Call me sister, and I'll tell you~" Lou Ji chuckled.
"…" Xu Yuan.
"Alright, alright, if you don't want to call me that, then so be it, why aren't you talking?" Lou Ji's tone was plaintive, she liked to tease him.
After several breaths, seeing that he remained silent, Lou Ji's laughter gradually faded:
"Actually, Changtian, I'd have come to ask you something after a while even if you hadn't brought this up."
"Auntie, ask your question."
"…" Lou Ji.
Lou Ji huffed lightly: "Cough, are you willing to let her go, that Enchantress Divine Physique?"
Xu Yuan was somewhat surprised to hear this: "Auntie, what makes you say that?"
"…." Lou Ji.
With another light huff, Lou Ji continued in the same tone:
"If you're willing to let her go, I'm thinking of sending her to work undercover.
She might die."
The amount of information in these words was significant.
Xu Yuan had always thought Xu Changge came to Jingjiang Prefecture specifically to kill Qin Weijiu, but now it seemed that was not the case.
If Qin Weijiu were killed, Su Jinxuan naturally couldn't go back.
After contemplating for a few moments, Xu Yuan responded with a question of his own:
"Does Qin Weijiu have someone backing him?"
"Hmm?"
Lou Ji made a sound of mild disbelief, seeming a bit surprised, but then she laughed happily; "Looks like our Changtian has gotten smarter.
Over the past month, we Black Scale Guards have found some clues; Qin Weijiu may not be the final player."
"Nothing more?" Xu Yuan continued to ask.
Lou Ji sounded somewhat helpless: "Changtian, the situation in the Imperial Capital is very complex now.
We are too busy to be concerned with others, and under the circumstances where we cannot alarm them, this is all we can find out.
To continue, we can only use some other methods."
"Is that so…" Xu Yuan murmured in understanding.
"So, Changtian, are you willing to let her go?" Lou Ji asked again, as if she truly cared about his thoughts.
"Of course."
Xu Yuan smiled at her words.
His investment in her was not out of charity.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
From the likes of Lou Ji and Hua Hong, fierce wolves, down to the grass-rooted toughie Zhou Chen, they were all nurtured step by step by his father.
He just hadn't expected that the investment he had just made would be called into action so soon.
After a pause, Xu Yuan still reminded softly:
"But it might be best to consider her own will."
A willing undercover operative and one forced into it were completely different concepts.
Lou Ji replied with a laugh:
"Don't worry, I had already asked her through Ying'er beforehand, and she said she was willing."
Ads by Pubfuture
Pubfuture Ads
Xu Yuan was rendered speechless.
On such a serious matter, it turned out that Lou Ji asking him was just a formality; she had already begun to act behind the scenes.
Regarding this, Xu Yuan was not particularly concerned, he simply continued to remind:
"Aunt Lou, Su Jinxuan's temperament doesn't seem quite suited for being an internal spy."
Xu Yuan was telling the truth.
This enchantress appeared to be not very bright.
In the carriage, he managed to coax a lot of information out of her with just a few words.
Plus, she was not skilled at hiding her emotions.
Being an internal spy, she could easily be caught.
"Not suited to be an internal spy?"
Upon hearing this, Lou Ji let out a light chuckle, "Don't worry, personality and speaking skills can be trained, you know."
"Trained?" Xu Changtian raised an eyebrow.
Lou Ji's voice carried a hint of seduction, "Changtian, if you're interested, I can have Ying'er take you to try as well.
Then you will always call me 'sister', giggle~"
Xu Yuan shivered, "Never mind."
That old saying still holds true, leave professional work to the professionals.
Lou Ji had her laugh, then suddenly instructed:
"Oh yes, even though Su Jinxuan has agreed, it would be best if you personally ask her about it, Changtian."
"Why?" Xu Yuan didn't quite catch on at first.
Lou Ji's voice carried a hint of annoyance:
"Changtian, you really don't understand a woman's heart.
If you don't ask, that vixen will be sad, and she might just end up as one of my Black Scale Guards~"
"….."
Xu Yuan realized that the old aunt was suggesting he cultivate his own loyal faction.
Just like his father and her, Lou Ji, did.
"Thank you," Xu Yuan said earnestly.
"Don't thank me, call me 'sister'," Lou Ji's grudge seemed really deep.
"Alright, 'sister'," Xu Yuan then obliged her.
Upon hearing the word 'sister', Lou Ji laughed even more joyously:
"Good, such a good boy.
Changtian, is there anything else you want to ask?"
Xu Yuan was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked:
"Do you know about Qin Weijiu wanting me to assassinate that Qin Mo?"
"Of course, I know, that beast from the remnants of that village," Lou Ji chuckled lightly, "My initial advice was to use their plan against them, kill that Qin Mo, then take the opportunity to send Su Jinxuan back to Qin Weijiu's side, but your brother vetoed it, saying it might put you at risk and decided to wait until he arrives to discuss it further."
People Suffering From Knee Pain Should Read This!
डायबिटीज रोगी इसे पढ़े बिना एक दिन भी न बिताएँ!
"….." Xu Yuan.
It was a good thing Xu Changge didn't agree, otherwise he would have to find an excuse to get out of it.
He definitely didn't want to walk through the gates of hell following the plot.
"But if we refuse, how do we explain it to Qin Weijiu?"
Lou Ji's voice was light and breezy:
"Don't worry, an excuse has already been sent over, stating that you have a soul-protecting treasure in your possession and cannot be entirely controlled at the moment."
Xu Yuan replied softly, "If that's the case, then there's no problem."
With the critical matters discussed, Lou Ji was not in a hurry to end the call but instead asked with a smile:
"Don't rush, 'sister' still has something she wants to ask you."
"Aunt, please ask," Xu Yuan reverted back to his original form of address.
"…."
Lou Ji hummed lightly, then asked:
"I've heard from Ying'er that you haven't been visiting places like Zuixian Pavilion recently?"
"Hmm," Xu Yuan confirmed.
"Why is that?"
"Why what?" Xu Yuan countered.
Lou Ji's voice was teasing:
"Don't you miss your little ladies?"
"Of course, I do."
Xu Yuan admitted frankly, "But right now, I find cultivation more interesting.
Only by becoming stronger can I prevent such incidents from happening again."
"…."
Lou Ji suddenly fell silent.
The two brushes with deadly danger really changed Changtian a lot….
After a sigh, she spoke softly:
"Changtian, don't worry so much, you should still rest now and then.
Even if something does happen, we, your elders, will be here to support you."
"But I was still targeted," Xu Yuan pointed out.
Lou Ji suddenly felt a bit defenseless:
"Tsk, I'm going to talk to Hua Hong and tomorrow we'll ask the Prime Minister to bring you back to the Imperial Capital.
With the situation so chaotic, what's the meaning of leaving you in Jingjiang?"
Warmed by the concern, Xu Yuan advised, "Aunt, this is a compromise between my father and Marquis Wucheng.
The Commandery Princess probably doesn't want to see me for the time being."
"Sigh…."
Lou Ji sounded somewhat dispirited, "Alright then, when Changge gets there, he should make some adjustments for your safety.
Anything else?"
"Yes," Xu Yuan said.
"What is it?"
Xu Yuan cleared his throat slightly:
"Ahem, 'sister', I would like to have the most comprehensive insider's report on the northern war situation."
////75///
Infiltration Plan Changhong Valley, a secluded and enclosed cave.
An enchanting female voice drifted in from a distance, carrying with it the distinctive echoes of the elongated tunnel:
"Why are you being so cautious?
Even if Qin Mo has broken through, he's just a mere Seventh Grade."
"Heh…
cautious?" A leisurely chuckle rang out, a brisk male voice responded: "Do I seem cautious?
I feel like I am already quite bold."
"Qin Mo left this place two days ago."
"A Seventh Grade is indeed not worth noting, but Yu Lan, guess why this kid found his way here as soon as he entered Changhong Valley?"
"You mean…
the Soul Ring?"
"Mm, I suspect the Soul Ring is in this boy's hands; even with a map he wouldn't have come straight here so decisively.
There's a high chance someone is guiding him in real time."
The cave stretched long and narrow, accompanied by their voices, two sets of soft footsteps approached from afar.
As the footsteps drew nearer, the silhouettes of two people gradually appeared within the tunnel of the cave.
A glowing orb of light gently floated behind them, illuminating their figures.
The woman's figure was gorgeous and alluring, clad in Western Region attire, her toned midriff and vast expanses of snow-white skin bare even in the winter.
Pubfuture Ads
The man's features were handsome, his eyebrows and eyes carried an air of irreverent casualness.
Yu Lan pondered briefly:
"The ancient texts record that if it is really the Soul Ring, it houses a Saint within it."
Upon hearing this, Qin Weijiu's casual demeanor faded somewhat, replaced with a hint of intangible reverence:
"It's precisely because I know this that I am being so cautious."
Yu Lan appeared hesitant: "So, this Qin Mo…"
"He cannot die," said Qin Weijiu.
Originally, his plan was to not take sides, indifferent to whether Qin Mo or Xu Yuan lived or died, which would incite mortal enmity between Prime Minister's Mansion and the burial village.
Now it seemed he needed to intervene and covertly assist Qin Mo.
After all, he possessed a Saint within him.
Yu Lan pondered briefly, her voice soft:
"But the Enchantress Divine Physique has sent word that she hasn't succeeded yet, Xu Changtian is unlikely to leave the city, and if Qin Mo wants to save her, surely he wouldn't be thinking of entering the city, right?"
She paused, her gaze growing somber: "The city of Jingjiang has a large array in place; even for the two of us, it would be very dangerous."
Qin Weijiu's gaze flickered for a moment before he said:
"Now that Jin Xuan can freely move within the Xu Residence, we should find a chance to take her out.
Qin Mo is more important than Xu Yuan."
He paused, a smile flickering in his eyes: "Besides, that girl Jin Xuan seems to have a favorable impression of Qin Mo.
It was really difficult for her to approach Xu Changtian this time."
Pubfuture Ads
"…."
The woman fell silent for a few moments, her voice carrying a hint of icy warning:
"Qin Weijiu, I hope you haven't forgotten who was responsible for what happened over a decade ago; when playing house, it's best to keep things under control."
Qin Weijiu glanced at her and replied:
"After more than a decade, even raising a dog develops emotion, let alone a human.
Rest assured, I'll maintain control."
"Suit yourself, just be careful not to be devoured by the Enchantress Divine Physique," Yu Lan didn't want to say more.
Amidst their conversation, they fell into silence.
The end of the cave gradually came into view, this space secretly wrapped in Formation Patterns.
Qin Weijiu sensed for a moment before glancing at the woman beside him:
"Over to you."
After he spoke, he sat down to one side and began to regulate his breathing.
Yu Lan huffed lightly, her Will-spirit probing and sensing meticulously.
In the silent and dark space, time seemed to have no meaning.
After an indeterminate period, Yu Lan bent down and lightly pressed her hand on the center of the Formation Patterns on the ground.
The next moment, as Origin Qi surged, an orb encased in white light with a dark hollow center appeared within the cave.
Without words, they exchanged glances and entered one after another.
They came here for this.
Pubfuture Ads
Wealth entices the heart, let alone the cultivation resources of an entire Secret Realm.
With Qin Mo's level of cultivation, there were certainly many places he couldn't reach; they came to take away all the precious herbs and cultivation resources.
However, after entering the Secret Realm, the scene inside was completely beyond Qin Weijiu and Yu Lan's imagination.
Instead of the stately immortal paradises they had envisioned, there was only the boundless blood fog that filled the sky and the gigantic shadows wandering between heaven and earth….
"…."
The eerie sight before them caused Qin Weijiu's brows to furrow tightly as he began to operate his Cultivation Technique guardedly.
His eyes glinted with golden light as he peered through the mist to see the massive bodies roaming within and the strange figures floating midair:
"This fog?
And what's with these Demonic Beasts?"
Yu Lan's gaze kept scanning around as she suddenly spoke up with a warning:
"Qin Weijiu, wrap yourself with your Will-spirit and let's head down to talk further."
Although Qin Weijiu didn't understand the reason, he immediately followed the woman's advice and enshrouded himself with his Will-spirit.
Touching down, surrounded by a thick blood mist that almost made it impossible to see his own hands, Qin Weijiu asked softly:
"What is this fog?
A ghostly fog?"
If the death energy from an excessively dense accumulation of deceased Demonic Beasts and humans in a certain place is not dealt with, it would slowly form a ghostly fog.
Inside, spirits and demons reign, a veritable hell on earth.
However, by common sense, such ghostly fog should be as black as ink, so why did it appear here in such a peculiar blood color?
Yu Lan's tone was somber:
"This is not ghostly fog.
It's an interstice caused by foreign ghosts, and those Demonic Beasts have also been altered by them."
"…."
Hearing this, Qin Weijiu's eyes narrowed as he came to a swift understanding.
///76///
ancient texts that recorded the disaster that once plagued the entire world still circulate to this day, and Xu Changtian had naturally read some of them.
Therefore, he knew what these evil spirits were, and what these rifts were.
Just like how ink quickly diffuses through clear water, once a rift created by the corruption of evil spirits emerged, this strange blood fog would continuously erode and pollute everything within the space.
Of course, such erosion and pollution were concerning to the human race.
While the ghost fog spelled doom for the human race, it was paradise for demonic beasts and evil spirits.
Those ancient evil spirits thrived in the environment of a rift.
With that in mind, Qin Weijiu sighed slightly,
"It's actually a secret realm breached by evil spirits, such a pity."
This rift's blood fog could corrupt spiritual herbs and various cultivation resources.
If a cultivator used them directly without proper handling, they could become ghostified.
Of course, it is possible to cleanse a rift.
The only issue was that this secret realm was located in Jingjiang Prefecture, and it would be difficult to reach into Jingjiang Prefecture from where they were.
In other words, they could only abandon this secret realm.
Yu Lan looked around and asked directly,
"Do we leave right now, or do we destroy it?"
The threat of evil spirits was immense.
If the mutated demonic beasts within this area of the secret realm were released, they could decimate the life of at least one city.
Scanning the gargantuan shadows hidden in the blood fog that filled the sky, Qin Weijiu's lips curled into a somewhat sentimental smile.
This was his first time witnessing the sights within a rift.
Demonic beasts altered and corrupted by evil spirits, granted eternal life, yet nothing more than walking corpses.
After a long contemplation, Qin Weijiu shook his head slightly,
"Let's leave it be for now.
That Qin Mo might come back.
As for leaving…
there's no need to leave right now.
The Saint guided that youngster Qin Mo into this secret realm; there must be something within this realm that we can use.
Let's search deeper.
If we don't find anything within three days, we'll leave and look out for Qin Mo."
"Alright."
…..
Outside Changhong Valley,
"Achoo!"
A sneeze echoed through the dense forest.
Qin Mo, who was clearing a path with the Ancient Ingot Long Knife in hand, suddenly stopped and rubbed his nose, muttering with a frown,
"Why do I feel somewhat restless lately?"
Just as his voice trailed off, a slightly teasing middle-aged male voice resonated in the depths of his heart,
"Restless?
Are you worried that someone else will get their hands on the Enchantress Divine Physique first?
I've told you to relax, Xu Changtian won't even be able to touch a finger of hers."
Upon hearing this voice, Qin Mo did not dwell on the content but his eyes brightened as he asked,
"Old man, when did you wake up?"
Ever since he had obtained that lifesaving treasure, the old man had been silent.
Qin Mo, who had become accustomed to the old man's nagging, found it uncomfortable without it, and was genuinely pleased to hear his voice again.
The middle-aged man's mood also seemed to be good,
"Just woke up.
What, did you miss me as your teacher?"
"I never accepted you as my teacher," Qin Mo retorted.
The deep middle-aged voice chuckled,
"Practicing my cultivation technique, taking the Elixir Medicines I left behind, and all the martial skills I taught you, now I even have to ensure your safety, if that's not a master, what is?
Ha, back in the day, countless people kneeled and begged me to take them as disciples.
You, on the other hand, are fortune's fool…"
Qin Mo laughed and replied,
"Alright, alright, I know you're great, old man."
"Heh…"
The middle-aged man's voice was light and laughing, then he turned to ask, "Are you planning to return to Jingjiang City now?"
Qin Mo was slightly silent before replying in a low voice, "Yes, I might need your help, old man."
Realizing Qin Mo's intentions to save his damsel, the man's tone was leisurely,
"How do you want me to help?
A frontal assault?
A mere Third Grade isn't a concern, but there are other formations in the city that may prevent a prolonged stay."
Qin Mo smiled faintly, "Of course not, I'm planning to sneak into the Xu Residence silently and rescue Jin Xuan."
The middle-aged man responded casually upon hearing this,
"You want me to help you conceal your presence?
That shouldn't be hard."
Qin Mo was silent for two seconds, his tone serious,
"Thank you."
The deep voice of the middle-aged man carried a hint of a smile,
"No need for thanks, if you really want to thank me, then call me 'master' just once…"
Ads by Pubfuture
Pubfuture Ads
But he was cut off mid-sentence as he paused abruptly.
The next moment, his voice sped up,
"Someone's coming!
Remember, don't talk to me!"
With that, the middle-aged man's voice went completely silent without waiting for Qin Mo's reaction.
Caught off guard, Qin Mo was momentarily dazed, not understanding what had happened, nor why the old man's voice had suddenly become so urgent.
As he was pondering,
"Swish…"
Qin Mo's head was suddenly topped by a dense canopy that emitted a rustling sound.
And then,
a figure clad in ink-black clothes appeared before Qin Mo.
The sudden appearance made Qin Mo's pupils constrict slightly as he instinctively took a half step back.
It was a woman.
Her face was veiled in black, masking her features, with a curvaceous figure, and her long, black hair like a waterfall cascaded down her back.
She held a Three-foot Black Sword in her hand and carried a bulging travel bag on her back.
Her serene and unchanging eyes were as ancient and cold as a deep pool.
The sunlight filtering through the canopy fell upon her, serene and beautiful.
The woman in black nodded toward Qin Mo across from her and spoke in a low voice, her tone as serene as her gaze:
"Um…
excuse me, do you know the way to Jingjiang City?"
"…" Qin Mo.
What?
All this just to ask for directions?
Qin Mo's eyes held a trace of wariness as he replied in a soft voice:
"I do."
Upon hearing this, a flash of light passed through the woman's tranquil eyes, but her tone remained flat:
"Could you tell me how to get there?"
Qin Mo was silent for a moment, looked up to discern the direction, and pointed east, saying in a low voice:
"From here, it's less than two days' travel to arrive."
The woman gave a slight nod, silently reached into her travel bag, and took out a few pieces of silver, bending over to place them on the ground:
"Thank you."
After she finished speaking,
"Whoosh—"
The woman suddenly vanished as abruptly as she had come.
+91-945-555-0172
The forest returned to silence, and Qin Mo stood quietly for a long time; he quietly walked over and picked up the silver.
At that moment, the previously inaudible voice of the middle-aged man resurfaced slowly:
"Quite formidable."
"What?" Qin Mo placed the silver into his chest.
The middle-aged man's voice carried a hint of reminiscence:
"This young girl is not even twenty-nine but has already reached Great Grandmaster status, her cultivation speed is even faster than mine was."
Shock struck Qin Mo's heart: "A Great Grandmaster before eighteen?"
"Heh…"
The middle-aged man's voice suddenly chuckled:
"Don't be so surprised.
The world is vast, vast enough that geniuses are as common as the hairs on a cow.
"Of course, a girl like the one just now is, in any era, surely one of the few who stand out in her generation."
"…"
Hearing this, Qin Mo's heart felt inexplicably heavy as he looked down at the knife in his hand.
At a similar age, he had only just entered Seventh Grade, while she was already at the Third Grade of the Grandmaster Realm.
Sensing Qin Mo's mood, the middle-aged man's voice came with gentle consolation:
"Don't belittle yourself.
You are accumulating depth to have a sudden rise.
Besides, you've cultivated my technique, and your future achievements will definitely not be smaller than that girl's."
Qin Mo let out a long sigh:
"Okay, good."
The middle-aged man saw his reaction and didn't push further, instead, he laughed and said:
"By the way, lad, why did you not join her?
You're heading to Jingjiang City anyway.
It would have been beneficial for your future to form an association with such a woman."
"Wouldn't traveling together with her expose you?"
"Of course not, I just wouldn't be able to communicate with you."
"…."
Qin Mo was silent for several breaths before suddenly speaking:
"Actually, I did consider traveling with her, but I couldn't shake the feeling that if I were to go to Jingjiang City with her, I would be in danger."
The middle-aged man's voice expressed a touch of surprise: "Why?
Her behavior just now obviously doesn't make her a villain."
She asked for directions, even offered silver.
Qin Mo shook his head:
"Not sure, but I can't shake this inexplicable sense of discomfort."
The middle-aged man sighed deeply:
"Being cautious is good.
When weak, it's best to not wander in front of stronger individuals; even a minor offense could lead to being killed.
"Alright, I'll continue my rest.
You hasten on your journey, I'll awaken once you enter Jingjiang City."
////77///
Broadening Horizons Jingjiang Xu Residence, the library.
Xu Yuan sat by the window, quietly perusing the grade-C internal document that Ying'er had just personally delivered to him.
A communication with Aunt Lou Ji two days ago let Xu Yuan know that the internal documents in his family were also graded.
A very strict grading system,
from grade A to grade J, ten grades from top to bottom.
What kind of status and contribution one has clearly dictates what grade of internal documents they are allowed to read.
The complete information on the northern military situation belongs to the third grade C.
Considering the absurd things he had done before, even Lou Ji found it inconvenient to tell him directly, and he had to ask his father for permission.
After all,
if he went out and sold the information again, that would become a big joke.
It took two days before it was delivered, so it must have been approved by his father.
The sunlight was just right, the geese were rising and falling, and a breeze swept through.
Xu Yuan had always liked this feeling since his past life.
A cup of tea, a book, an afternoon.
Leisurely and comfortable.
But as he continued to read the internal document, Xu Yuan found he could no longer relax.
The Barbarian Tribes….
Xu Yuan rubbed his temples.
In Cang Yuan, there was a world line where the final boss players had to face was the Barbarian Tribes coming from the north, but the current conflict had no mention in the storyline.
Now that he looked at it, it really seemed quite troublesome.
Seven years ago, when Marquis Wucheng was still defending the Northern Frontier, these barbarians beyond the border were beaten so badly they could hardly raise their heads, but ever since Marquis Wucheng was recalled to the Imperial Capital for some reasons seven years ago, the situation took a dire turn.
Essentially, internal strife led to a case of fostering a tiger, resulting in lost control over it.
The relationships within the Dayan Border Army are very complex.
Due to the laws laid down by the Great Ancestor of Dayan and the various Sects at the founding of the empire, the Sects are exempt from taxes, but there is a price.
In local governance, they are required to unconditionally assist the Imperial Court in ensuring the safety of the common people.
In the military system, Sects have to send a portion of their disciples to be scattered among various military forces of the Dayan Empire annually to receive orders, and so on.
The initial intent was good, and these laws did play a positive role when imperial power was strong, but as they evolved over a thousand years, with the rise and fall of imperial power, these laws gradually lost their original taste.
Different factions within the Border Army are numerous, and there's a lot of buck passing between the Imperial Court and the Sects, among the Sects themselves, and between the Sects and the influential families during wars.
The Northern Frontier is the most typical example of this at the moment.
As Marquis Wucheng was called back to the Imperial Capital, the Northern Frontier lost its suppressing force over the various factions, and they scattered like a sheet of loose sand.
It's common to see an allied force ten miles ahead fighting bloodily alone, while our own army eats melons and supervises from ten miles behind.
That Hanbei City has not fallen is solely because the Dayan Empire has deep reserves; even so, the fighting among themselves prevents them from doing anything but nibble at the Barbarian Tribes.
This was roughly in line with Xu Yuan's knowledge from his previous life.
Dayan is indeed worthy of the name of an empire.
Be it the Ancient Abyss in the southwest, the Barbarian Tribes in the north, or the Great Desert to the northwest, they generally only dare to swoop in for the kill when the major forces within the Dayan Empire are at each other's throats.
Then, the protagonist controlled by Xu Yuan in his previous life would defeat them as the final boss.
Gathering his thoughts, aside from the breeze, the only other sound in the room was the rustling of pages turning.
Suddenly,
Xu Yuan's eyes flashed with surprise, and his fingers paused as they turned the pages.
Wait,
these Barbarians are not human?
Xu Yuan saw an illustration in the internal document sent by Lou Ji.
It wasn't a photograph, but the ink drawing was very concise and realistic, depicting a scene of a battlefield.
On the shattered city walls, corpses were strewn everywhere, including soldiers in Border Army uniforms, Cultivators in Sect attire, and those Northern Barbarians.
Looking at it, the Barbarians did not resemble humans at all.
Ads by Pubfuture
Pubfuture Ads
After two seconds of silence, Xu Yuan slowly stood up to find a book from the bookshelf.
A quarter of an hour later, Xu Yuan sat back by the window, holding a relatively new copy of "Records of the Northern Barbarians".
After a quick read, Xu Yuan's expression became somewhat peculiar.
The Barbarian Tribes are not a derogatory term used by the Dayan Empire for those nomadic tribes beyond the borders.
The Barbarian Tribes are just that, Barbarian Tribes.
Although they are humanoid, they are more akin to humanoid creatures with green or black skin.
This was something he didn't know in his previous life, or rather, didn't need to know.
He understood the Ancient Abyss because following it allowed him to play the role of a rustic hero, or even a Dragon Knight.
But as for the Northern Barbarians, they had nothing, no paper-thin wives, so why should he care about them?
The information was sparse, even several of the key bosses didn't have character portraits, and it was unrealistic to expect a 2.5D pixel-style game to have exquisite monster models, as many of the material textures were simply reused with different colors.
Xu Yuan had always thought that these Barbarian Tribes were just a group of somewhat more robust humans.
Only now did he realize that they were not human at all.
These adult Barbarians all averaged more than ten feet in height, and living in the harsh, cold lands had given them deep brown tough skin, resistant to swords and daggers.
Their fists and vital joints had sharp bone spurs, seemingly born for combat.
A type of humanoid monster with spiritual intelligence.
Knowing this, Xu Yuan didn't show any emotions of shock or surprise.
He had seen Stone Buddhas and Seven Lives Pythons, so naturally, he wouldn't be too surprised by this type of humanoid monster.
However, he did understand why those extraneous forces, particularly the Barbarian Tribes, didn't have paper-thin wives.
They are just too ugly.
After putting down the "Records of the Northern Barbarians", Xu Yuan continued to focus on the other internal report.
The internal report ended with the latest weekly dispatches from the Northern Frontier.
Up to the day before yesterday.
After more than a month of fierce fighting, Princess Wu Yuan finally managed to lift the siege of Hanbei City.
7 दिनों में शुगर लेवल नैचुरली कम – लाखों लोग खुश हैं
79 साल की उम्र में भी मर्दाना ताकत 10 गुना कैसे बढ़ाएं?
Of course, the thirty thousand Imperial Forest Army she brought with her was not enough to break the siege by itself; it was more the result of compromise from various local forces.
That being said, the processes described in the internal report were quite an eye-opener for Xu Yuan.
Damn, there really are people who continue their internal conflicts even when faced with the enemy at their gates.
Before Princess Wu Yuan and her army reached Hanbei City,
the various factions trapped inside Hanbei City by the Barbarian Tribes actually still had the strength to battle the Barbarians, even surpassing them in hard power.
But they just wouldn't fight; they just stayed in the city fighting amongst themselves.
No one wanted to be the first to go out, everyone wanted to conserve their strength.
After all, with various formations on the city walls, those Barbarians couldn't possibly break in anytime soon.
And the message had already been sent out, just waiting for the Imperial Court's reinforcements would suffice.
If reinforcements didn't arrive, then it would be a contest of who had more military rations.
If your house runs out of military rations, your soldiers at the bottom still need to eat, right?
If you want to eat without doing anything, isn't that not so good?
As for starting a mutiny within the city?
Heading out to fight the head battle with the Barbarians might give you a chance to live, but starting a mutiny with the big formation inside the city means waiting for death, along with the annihilation of your nine clansmen.
This stalemate didn't break until Princess Wu Yuan led the Imperial Forest Army to the scene.
Once upon a time, the Ninth Princess was a "hostage" sent by the Imperial Family to the Marquis of Wucheng's Mansion in the Northern Frontier.
But since Marquis Wucheng was a loyal member of the Royalist Party, this Ninth Princess was treated better than even the heirs within the Mansion.
When the young princess showed interest, Marquis Wucheng, who often went to battle, always took her with him, and even let her lead the troops when she grew up.
Raised in the army by Marquis Wucheng himself.
With such accumulation, Princess Wu Yuan gained high prestige within the army.
Of course,
the main reason those old slicks cooperated so much was that the first thing this crazy lady did upon entering the city was to call everyone together for a meeting and start beheading.
Dereliction of duty leading to a disastrous battle situation, should be executed.
No sooner had her voice fallen than a Third Grade Great Master and seven or eight Fourth Grade Integration Body deputies were directly turned into mush in the Mansion Hall.
It was done using the city's big formation.
The Imperial Family's bloodline is always the first priority in controlling the big city formations under normal circumstances.
And so, under the coordination of Princess Wu Yuan, the siege of Hanbei City was lifted, and they have now begun gradually to reclaim lost ground.
Although they may not be entirely united, at least they can be considered as working together grudgingly.
///78///
Opinions After reading it carefully, Xu Yuan let out a long sigh.
These days, he had already seen many internal references.
Even though they were all the lowest third class, he had a rough idea of what the rest of Dayan's territories were like.
Yet, the true state of the northern battles still seemed somewhat absurd to him.
Putting down the internal reference, Xu Yuan leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples hard, sighing:
"It's too rotten…."
No sooner had he spoken than Xu Yuan laughed helplessly.
Because he realized that he seemed to have no right to say such a thing.
In the Prime Minister's Mansion, in the northern borderland, they too had their own influence.
Among the Grade Fifth Integration Body deputy generals who were blasted into mush by Princess Jiu, there was someone from his own family.
But in truth, under such circumstances, it was really very difficult to accomplish anything.
If you were fighting bloodily at the front, although you might not get stabbed in the back by allies, having your rewards snatched away was highly likely.
Apart from truly selfless people, who would want to be such a scapegoat?
This is a world competing in rottenness.
Thinking about it, Xu Yuan still couldn't help but criticize:
"But it truly is too rotten….."
"What's too rotten?"
Before the words were finished, a voice tinged with seductive nuances drifted up from the entrance of the library loft.
Looking up.
White silk stockings, an item that increases agility.
Reorganizing his words,
Xu Yuan's gaze moved upwards, observing the succubus-like lady who had walked out from the midst of the simple bookshelves.
She wore a dress similar to a cheongsam made of silk, wrapped in a fur coat, her lotus steps revealing glimpses of fair skin on the sides of her thighs as she moved.
Xu Yuan gave a focused smile, pointed at the internal reference on the table beside the bed:
"Nothing much, I'm just looking at some information related to the northern battles."
Su Jinxuan walked slowly to Xu Yuan, her flawless face showing a slight surprise:
"Don't all you young masters like to indulge in romantic affairs?"
"State affairs, family affairs, world affairs, now that I can cultivate, I ought to care about them," Xu Yuan said, lifting his teacup and taking a sip before speaking softly:
"What brings you here?"
Su Jinxuan's expression revealed a hint of well-placed vexation, and she chuckled with pursed lips:
"I didn't want to come over either, but someone earlier told me to be more self-aware.
I had no choice but to find that person."
While speaking,
her dark eyes blossomed with pink peach blossoms.
A few grains of a mind-bewitching seed entered Xu Yuan's Sea of Consciousness and attached themselves to his Will-spirit.
Xu Yuan looked at her and sensed carefully, clearly feeling that these mind-bewitching seeds had grown significantly stronger.
He understood somewhat why Qin Weijiu deliberately removed the cultivation method of the mind-bewitching seed.
It had been merely three days since he imparted the Secret Technique to her.
Pausing,
Xu Yuan glanced at the endless blue sky outside:
"It's still daytime; you should come back later."
Su Jinxuan didn't leave, instead sitting beside Xu Yuan, smiling as she retorted:
"It's not like we're consummating a marriage; does it make any difference whether it's day or night?"
"….." Xu Yuan.
After a moment of silence, Xu Yuan burned those third-class internal references with a burst of fire, stood up, and said:
"There's no difference in either, but since we're idle, let's go then."
His words took Su Jinxuan aback for a moment, then her peach blossom eyes curved into crescents, and she said with a smile:
"Alright~ but Jin Xuan's body has just recovered, I hope the young master can be gentler and more considerate today….."
"….."
Listening to the words coming from behind, Xu Yuan glanced back at the demoness who was smiling like a fox.
He suddenly felt that,
what Auntie Lou Ji said made a lot of sense.
Although cultivation was important, one should still occasionally visit the Hook Bars to relax.
Tsk,
A demoness disrupts my path of cultivation.
As he walked down the stairs, Xu Yuan softly asked,
"Haven't seen you at the training ground these past two days, have you been cultivating all along?"
Su Jinxuan followed behind him with light steps:
"Not entirely, focusing on the cultivation of the Bewildering Spirit Seed for too long will harm the Sea of Consciousness."
Xu Yuan sighed slightly.
Su Jinxuan's activities during the remaining time had already been communicated to him by Lou Ji.
She was under the 'training' of Ying'er.
"If you encounter difficulties, you can go to the steward of the mansion and ask for a bottle of Soul Condensing Pills."
The Soul Condensing Pill, a fifth-grade elixir made from the souls of demonic specters, had supportive effects on the cultivation of the will-spirit.
The standard price was around three hundred taels per pill, with a bottle costing several thousand taels.
Having managed mundane industries, Su Jinxuan naturally understood its value.
After a silent few breaths, she gently shook her head.
For him, several thousand taels were nothing, but for her, it was far too precious.
Although she often handled tens of thousands of silver taels while managing businesses, all of it belonged to the Tianyu Sect.
The steward's monthly salary, coupled with the allowance of a miss, meant she received about two hundred taels a month.
Obligations are too heavy, and hard to repay.
"Thank you, but I'll pass…"
Xu Yuan glanced at her and let out a light chuckle.
Refusing shows dignity, very good.
"If you consider it precious, actually the secret technique I gave you is even more valuable, with a market price of around fifty thousand taels.
You can just think of it as my additional investment in you."
"…" Su Jinxuan didn't speak.
Seeing her reaction, Xu Yuan did not press on and instead spoke softly,
"By the way, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."
"….."
Upon hearing this, Su Jinxuan's heartbeat inexplicably quickened, and after a moment's pause, she said softly, "You may speak."
As the two reached the bottom of the stairs and exited the library, a beautiful, secluded wetland lake lay outside.
Xu Yuan looked towards the pavilion in the middle of the lake and spoke softly,
"The Black Scale Guards from Imperial Capital told me that Qin Weijiu might have someone behind him."
Su Jinxuan's voice remained steady:
"Mhm."
"Your parents…
um, that incident back then…
Tsk, the one behind Qin Weijiu…
Tsk, forget it."
After considering his words, Xu Yuan still decided to ask directly,
"The Black Scale Guards suspect that there is someone behind Qin Weijiu and hope you can act as an inside agent once you're back by his side.
What do you think?"
"Me?"
Surprised on the surface, Su Jinxuan's heart rate picked up again, but she maintained a calm voice, with a hint of self-mockery, "Does my opinion matter?"
"Of course, it does."
Xu Yuan glanced at her, "If you're unwilling, forcing you to go would only backfire."
"…."
Su Jinxuan's chest rose and fell slightly, and she lowered her gaze, still unable to see her toes:
"Hmm…
then what's your opinion?"
///79//
"My opinion?"
Xu Yuan was somewhat surprised by the question, glanced at the other party, and couldn't help but chuckle:
"My opinion is that you'd better not go."
"Huh?"
Su Jinxuan's eyes flickered twice, asking, "..Why?"
"Because you're too naive."
"…" Su Jinxuan.
"Ah, I didn't mean to insult you, I'm just stating a fact."
"…" The rise and fall of Su Jinxuan's chest sped up slightly.
Xu Yuan glanced at her and said softly with a laugh:
"See, you're angry now, and you're not trying to hide it at all.
How are you supposed to serve as an undercover agent with that kind of temper?"
"I am…"
Su Jinxuan opened her mouth wanting to retort, but Xu Yuan interrupted her first, saying:
"I bet you want to say now that getting angry when insulted is human nature, or that there's simply no need to hide such things in front of me, right?"
"…" Su Jinxuan pursed her red lips shut.
Seeing this, Xu Yuan chuckled and shook his head:
"It seems I'm right."
Su Jinxuan gently pressed her lips together.
Making eye contact with her, Xu Yuan suddenly smiled and raised his hand to pat her fragrant shoulder.
"…."
Su Jinxuan was a bit uncomfortable with the other's sudden display of intimacy.
Since coming out of that secret room, it had been a long time, and this was the first physical contact between the two in a month.
Xu Yuan treated it as if he was patting a subordinate from a past life project, continuing to speak casually:
"You don't know how to hide your emotions, and your thoughts are too easy to guess.
I know you might be in a relaxed state right now, but if you were truly suitable for undercover work, you'd never have a moment of relaxation again.
"Your cultivation level dictates that even when you're alone, you can't be sure whether or not someone is spying on you."
With that,
Xu Yuan glanced back at Zhou Chen hanging behind them by more than twenty meters away and suddenly said softly:
"Do you recognize him?"
Su Jinxuan looked in the direction of Xu Yuan's gaze, somewhat hesitant:
"The guard that follows you every day, named Zhou Chen, should be an expert."
Xu Yuan grinned:
"He's not a guard, but a Guest Elder, a Third Grade Great Master, practicing martial arts.
"Did you know that Zhou Chen can hear your heartbeat from dozens of meters away?
If he uses his cultivation technique, he might even hear it from further away.
Qin Weijiu is no weaker than him, and if you say something critical during a conversation, he'll be able to pick up on any slight acceleration in your heartbeat distinctly.
"Su Jinxuan, do you understand what that means?"
Although it isn't mind-reading, talking about certain matters can easily cause suspicion when it makes your heartbeat quicken.
Su Jinxuan clenched her fists, her heartbeat gradually calming: "I…
I should be able to overcome that."
Xu Yuan withdrew his hand and nodded slightly:
"Good, let's assume for now that you can overcome it, then let's continue.
"As an undercover agent, you would have to think carefully about everything you do, even every word you speak, to consider the potential consequences.
"Some information may seem inconsequential to you and might slip out easily, but that's because you don't have the full picture.
Something you say offhand can be taken by someone else as cause for suspicion.
"The speaker is mindless, but the listener is mindful."
With that said, Xu Yuan looked deeply into Su Jinxuan's eyes:
"Just like when you revealed to me on the carriage your relationship with Qin Weijiu.
If you hadn't told me that, I would have been entirely unaware of your connection to Qin Weijiu and would never have had the Black Scale Guards investigate the matter.
"For you, that might have seemed like a natural thing to do, but for others, it could be seen as information worthy of suspicion."
After speaking,
silence fell between them.
The coldest days of winter were now upon them, with a few ice flowers blossoming on the surface of the lake within the estate.
"So your opinion is..
you don't want me to go?"
Her voice carried a faint, almost imperceptible probing tone.
"It's not that I don't want you to go,"
Xu Yuan, without hesitation, immediately corrected: "It's that I don't think you have the ability to properly serve as an undercover agent at present.
Not only would my investment be lost, but it might also be turned against us."
"…"
The Mistress Enchantress's eyes, drooping down, flashed with a streak of inexplicable loss.
After walking a distance, since she continued to hang her head in silence, Xu Yuan hesitated slightly, let out a long sigh, and suddenly said,
"Su Jinxuan, Ying'er came to see you before, didn't she?"
"….."
Su Jinxuan's pupils contracted slightly, and she immediately raised her eyes to look at him.
She realized that he was referring to Ying'er's previous visit to recruit her as an informant.
If he already knew the decision she had made regarding this matter, why ask her again?
The loss hidden in the depths of her eyes vanished, instead replaced gradually with a trace of suspicion, "Was I just tricked by this guy?"
"Don't look at me like that."
Xu Yuan sighed, rubbing his temples:
"I think Ying'er must have already told you about the specific situation.
Now, I can offer you two choices again."
Su Jinxuan looked somewhat stunned.
"This is your only chance to reconsider."
Xu Yuan stared intently at her peach blossom-like beautiful eyes and lifting a finger under her gaze, said,
"First, you can continue to stay by my side like this.
I will consider granting you a cultivation technique suitable for the Enchantress Divine Physique.
"Pay attention, I'm talking about a cultivation technique, not a secret technique.
With that cultivation technique and your Enchantress Divine Physique, your cultivation speed might not be slower than mine.
"Of course, you should understand what offering you the technique entails.
"This way at least, you would be safe, and once your cultivation level grows, there will be many opportunities for you to personally slay your enemies in the future."
"…"
Su Jinxuan remained silent for two seconds, then spoke softly,
"And the second option…?"
Xu Yuan withdrew his hand, chuckling lightly,
"Everything stays the same, abide by the orders of the Black Scale Guards, but acting as an informant in your current state is likely to expose you.
Even with the training from the Black Scale Guards, I don't think the chances of your survival are high."
Having said this,
he looked up at the endless blue sky:
"The reasons, I've already discussed with you earlier—I trust you can judge for yourself.
As I've said before, it's fine to deceive me, but never deceive yourself."
It felt like a moment, yet eternal.
Two choices, two paths.
The first, to become his subordinate.
The second, still a collaboration.
In the tranquil manor, it seemed only their faint footsteps remained.
Drawing a deep breath,
then slowly exhaling it out,
Su Jinxuan looked towards the distant courtyard, clutching the corner of her cheongsam, her voice very light,
"I…I still choose the second option."
The sky was a clear blue, the sunlight pouring down like a waterfall.
Observing her flawless profile, Xu Yuan gently shook his head, without saying more.
The gap between the two choices was visibly stark; he thought she would choose the first, but she still chose the second.
It was somewhat unexpected, yet understandable.
Self-respect.
For him, it was a casual act of benevolence and investment.
But for her, it was a debt of gratitude too great to ever repay.
He sighed silently in his heart.
Probably,
another female lead was about to meet her end.
Just as he had said earlier, he really didn't have high hopes for Su Jinxuan to become an excellent undercover agent.
He,
indeed still disliked such high-risk investments.
Without any more words,
the two silently entered Xu Yuan's loft.
But for some reason,
in today's cultivation, the Mistress Enchantress was exceptionally zealous, only ending just before the deep of the night.
///80///
Infiltration Beneath the warm sun of a winter's day,
a steady stream of traffic flowed in front of the Xu Residence, with commoners and runners bustling as usual, Qin Mo, having used the Disguising Technique, blended in inconspicuously.
This was his third day since his arrival in Jingjiang City.
Before arriving at Jingjiang City, he had been prepared to infiltrate the mansion under cover of night to carry out the rescue, but after seeing the scale of the Xu Residence, he resolutely abandoned that plan.
It was too big.
The estate was too vast, and without clear knowledge of the interior layout, even if he managed to infiltrate, it was impossible to find someone quickly unless extraordinarily lucky.
Moreover, there were powerful individuals within the Xu Residence, and even with his teacher masking his aura, there remained a significant risk of exposure.
Thus, the rescue mission reached a deadlock.
However, over the past two days while eating at nearby stalls, he overheard talk of a woman beautiful as a Heavenly Immortal from the Xu Residence who had gone out twice.
Qin Mo wanted to try his luck to see if he could encounter Jin Xuan outside the estate.
If he could meet her, he would not need to take the risk of entering the Xu Residence.
But that wait turned into two days.
Qin Mo sighed softly, approached a small noodle vendor next to the Xu Residence, ordered a bowl of noodles with extra meat, found a table, and sat down, discreetly observing the Xu Residence's gate nearby.
Soon, a steaming bowl of noodles was scooped out of the pot by the owner and served up.
As he ate, Qin Mo pondered his next move.
Suddenly,
a rather honest voice came from the table next to his.
"…Old Liu, I heard your son got taken in to work as a long-term laborer at the Xu Residence, that's quite something, huh?"
"…"
Upon hearing this, Qin Mo's brows lifted with keen interest, casting a glance their way.
It was a middle-aged man and a frail old man, both dressed in coarse hemp garments, with some mountain goods on the ground beside them – they appeared to be vendors who had come to the city to trade.
He withdrew his gaze and focused his hearing.
As the honest man's voice faded, the frail old man replied with slow pride:
"What's so great about that?
Spent quite a few pieces of silver and pulled some strings to get him in there."
At this, the honest man lowered his voice:
"Hey, hey…
Old Liu, I heard that a lower-level long-term laborer at the Xu Residence gets one piece of silver per month, is that true?"
The old man named Old Liu glanced at the middle-aged man with a hint of smugness, stroking his thin beard:
"Where did you hear that?
Monthly wages are just over one guan."
One piece of silver could be exchanged for two guan at the end of the month.
"Just over one guan?!
Then in a year, he'd have made his investment back, tsk tsk…." The honest man smacked his lips, his eyes showing interest.
He rubbed his hands together and smilingly pushed a basket of mountain goods toward the old man:
"Brother Liu, our families have been close for generations.
Ahem, could you tell me which connection you used?"
The frail old man glanced at the goods, and his wrinkled face beamed: "The connection?
Hehe, that's simple, as long as you….."
"…."
"….."
After listening intently to the entire conversation,
Qin Mo finished his noodles, left a few coins, and stood up to leave, with a rough plan forming in his mind.
…
…
The next day,
Xu Residence in Jingjiang,
At the southwest side door, used for the entry and exit of the servants and laborers,
the alley was quiet, but at this moment, bursts of instructive voices could be heard.
"…Remember the rules of our Xu Residence well.
Whoever dares to cause trouble will face the house discipline!"
"…Once you're in the Xu Residence, do more, talk less, look less, your wages will never be delayed…."
"…In these tumultuous times outside, being able to work at our Xu Residence is the fortune you've cultivated in eight lifetimes!"
A young steward stood on the steps, lecturing the new long-term workers before him.
It wasn't until his mouth was dry and tongue parched that the young steward waved his hand, signaling the gatekeeper to open the door and prepare to leave.
But as if he remembered something, he stopped his movements, turned his head, and his tone carried a hint of warning:
"Oh, and don't say I, Li Ping, didn't remind you.
Later, the foreman will take you around to familiarize you with the environment.
Keep your eyes to yourselves.
Those young ladies and madams, even the maids are not for the likes of you to look at."
"Especially Miss Su."
"Back then a Sixth Grade Immortal was killed by the Third Young Master with a single palm strike, let alone you lot.
If you stare and make the Third Young Master unhappy, not even the king could save you!"
With that, the doorman opened the door behind him, and the young steward turned and left.
As soon as the steward had gone, the long-term workers below began to whisper and discuss among themselves, and Qin Mo, who had disguised himself, joined in the murmuring amongst the crowd.
After hearing the news at the noodle stand and facing several hurdles, he spent seven pieces of broken silver to buy a spot from a dark-skinned young man.
And so, this scene unfolded.
After waiting outside the Xu Residence for a quarter of an hour, several robe-clad foremen finally sauntered in to choose their workers.
Owing to his tall stature, Qin Mo was picked in the first batch to trim and clean up the gardens within the residence.
New servants and laborers entering the residence would usually be taken around the estate by the managing foremen for an introduction, walking them through the premises while informing them of their work responsibilities and the residence's prohibitions.
Walking along,
even with some preparation, at this moment, Qin Mo and the other long-term workers showed an inevitable hint of awe in their eyes.
The entire Jingjiang Xu Residence was like an imperial palace.
Pavilions and towers, small bridges over flowing water, one private courtyard after another, and even a vast lake constructed within it.
"Kid, can you not gawk like a country bumpkin?"
The voice inside Qin Mo's mind caused his thoughts to halt for a moment, and after a brief pause, he asked inwardly without any outward sign:
"It was just a little surprise.
But old man, won't you be discovered talking to me inside this residence?"
The middle-aged voice was unhurried:
"If I can conceal your aura, naturally I can also speak to you."
"Can you help me find Jin Xuan then?"
"Kid, there's at least one Great Grandmaster in this residence, using my Will-spirit to search for her could very likely get us discovered."
Hearing this, Qin Mo felt a slight disappointment and thought:
"Then I'll just have to find her myself, slowly.
There will be an opportunity."
"Hehe…." With a light chuckle, the middle-aged voice said, "So, looking forward to meeting your little sweetheart, are you excited?"
"We're just friends," Qin Mo replied inwardly with a hint of resignation.
"Hehe, alright, 'just friends.' Remembering back to my young days, those Sects' Saintesses ah…"
"….."
As he listened to the slightly annoying prattle in his ear, Qin Mo silently memorized the paths they had walked in his mind.
After wandering around for half an hour, the group of servants and laborers finally returned to a corner of the lake under the foreman's lead and began to be assigned some simple tasks.
Qin Mo stood quietly amid the crowd, feeling a slight thrill in his heart.
He had been assigned to a position around this part of the lake.
Undoubtedly, it was the place where he was most likely to encounter Jin Xuan.
Then, all that remained was to quietly wait for the right moment…
But while he was lost in thought, Qin Mo's gaze suddenly sharpened.
The vast lake had a long bridge extending from the shore to its heart, where an elegant pavilion was built in the very center.
At that moment, a silk-robed young man with flowing long hair was just walking out from the Lake Heart Pavilion, heading along the bridge towards the shore.
"…." Qin Mo narrowed his eyes.
"Kid, that's probably Xu Changtian, isn't it?"
The previously silent voice spoke up once more.
Qin Mo withdrew his gaze, showing no emotion on his face, and thought to himself:
"I know."
The middle-aged voice teased:
"Hehe, that kid does look quite good, much better-looking than you."
Qin Mo wasn't annoyed and just chuckled inwardly in response:
"Old man, on our way here, haven't we seen enough of these good-for-nothing pretty boys?"
"Hehe, that's true."
The deep middle-aged voice laughed heartily: "Are you planning to visit that pavilion in the lake heart tonight?
It feels like a perfect place for hiding a beauty."
Qin Mo felt tempted but resisted:
"No, old man, you said yourself there's a Great Grandmaster in this residence; we better not act rashly.
Let's wait until after the foreman finishes assigning rooms, then I'll try to get some information from the senior staff.
Jin Xuan won't be without reputation among these servants; there's no need to hurry this moment."
And during their conversation,
the silk-robed young man had already made his way along,
casting a casual glance,
and his eyes met Qin Mo's….