Players: All NPCs in the Sect Are Moles

The group was strolling down the mountain path.

Lin Qingfeng felt they were moving a bit too slowly. ’By the time we walk back, the food will be cold.’ "I’ll give you all a lift!" Before his voice had even faded, Su Ling’er, Wang Xiedi, and the others saw only a blur as the wind howled in their ears!

"WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!"

In the span of a few breaths, the surrounding scenery blurred into streaks of light. Su Ling’er felt a force envelop her, and before she could even react, she came to a sudden stop.

When she came to her senses, she was standing steadily in the familiar courtyard of the Su Mansion’s guest quarters.

"This..." Wang Xiedi and Li Chunfeng were already somewhat used to it, but a tempest raged in Su Ling’er’s heart.

’So... so fast!’

She subconsciously looked at her Eldest Brother, who stood beside her with a nonchalant expression.

’He seems even faster than when he fought the Sect Leader. Has his Cultivation... improved so much again?! Eldest Brother, you... have you been doing something in secret?’

While Su Ling’er was still reeling in shock and doubt, Lin Qingfeng clapped his hands. He pointed enthusiastically at the golden pyramid above, a warm smile on his face. "Oh, right. What do you think? My dear junior brothers and sister, my new temporary palace isn’t bad, is it? Seeing as you don’t have a place to stay, would you like to come in and experience it?"

"My rooms are huge! I can open up a tomb for each of you. I guarantee they’re spacious!"

Su Ling’er, Wang Xiedi, and Li Chunfeng subconsciously waved their hands in refusal. "No, no, that’s alright, Eldest Brother, you can have it to yourself..." But halfway through their sentence, all three froze, their expressions stiffening.

’Wait... did I just hear something outrageous?’

’A tomb?!’

Su Ling’er asked cautiously, "E-Eldest Brother... did you misspeak just now? You meant to say ’bedroom,’ right?"

Lin Qingfeng thought for a moment but didn’t see any issue. He replied with conviction, "I didn’t misspeak."

Unwilling to give up, Wang Xiedi pressed, "It’s really... a tomb?"

"Oh?" Lin Qingfeng raised an eyebrow. His gaze swept over the three of them; he knew it was his time to act profound again.

"Why are you all so astonished? Life and death are two sides of the same coin, and yin and yang share a single origin. Mortals fear death, so they distinguish between bedrooms and tombs for peace of mind. But we Cultivators have long seen through such illusions. Is there a problem with that?"

’There is a problem! A huge problem!! Although what you said sounds profound, what kind of normal person calls their bedroom a tomb?! Do you think sleeping in there will help you adapt to the afterlife ahead of time?! Are all Demon Cultivators this insane?!’

Su Ling’er screamed internally, but on the surface, she nodded desperately in agreement. "N-No problem! Eldest Brother, your realm is profound, and I am in awe! It’s just... it’s just that my mortal attachments remain, and my Cultivation is shallow. I am truly unworthy of enjoying such an... auspicious location."

’She was terrified that if she was too slow to refuse, her Eldest Brother would deem her promising material and stuff her in a coffin to comprehend life and death.’

"Eldest Brother, the place you live... is it... really okay?" Wang Xiedi added weakly.

"What do you all know!" Lin Qingfeng crossed his arms. "This place is in harmony with the heavens above and the earth below! The tower’s structure is stable, it’s warm in the winter and cool in the summer—the perfect choice for a vacation retreat! Besides, I built this myself, brick by brick, in accordance with the Dao. What could possibly be wrong with it?"

"This is a wonderful thing!" Li Chunfeng exclaimed in admiration from the side. "To be able to build such a treasured place in the mortal world... good heavens, how is that not a wonderful thing?!"

"See! See!" Lin Qingfeng pointed smugly at Li Chunfeng. "Mr. Li here has a discerning eye! Unlike you two. I’m giving you a heaven-sent opportunity, and you can’t even grasp it!"

Hearing this, Su Ling’er just wanted to change the subject as quickly as possible.

She glanced at the sky and hurriedly changed the topic, afraid her Eldest Brother would continue to pitch his deluxe tomb package. "Um... Eldest Brother is right, I was being shortsighted. Um... it’s getting late, and my parents are waiting for us for dinner. Shouldn’t we head over?"

...

「The Su Mansion’s dining hall.」

A sumptuous dinner banquet had long been prepared, but the dishes on the table had barely been touched.

Mr. and Mrs. Su sat at the head of the table, their faces showing a hint of barely perceptible anxiety.

"Why isn’t Big Sister back yet?" Su Wenxuan pouted, tapping his bowl intermittently with his little hand. "I’m so hungry. We usually start eating by now."

Beside him, Su Wenjing was quiet and wasn’t making a fuss, simply swinging her two short legs as her large eyes glanced toward the doorway from time to time.

Mrs. Su comforted him in a gentle voice, "Just wait a little longer. Didn’t Mr. Lin say he was going to find your sister? They should... be back soon."

Just as her voice fell, the familiar, lively sound of footsteps and cheerful conversation came from outside the door.

"Dad, Mom, we’re back!"

Su Ling’er’s figure appeared in the doorway of the dining hall.

Seeing her parents and younger siblings sitting safely at the table, which was laden with several of her favorite dishes, a warm feeling flooded her heart.

"I’m sorry we’re late; I kept you and Dad waiting." She said with a hint of guilt as she walked in quickly.

"It’s alright, it’s alright," Mrs. Su said, quickly standing up. She took her daughter’s hand and looked her up and down. "The food’s still warm. Hurry and sit down to eat."

Mr. Su, however, kept a stern face. He snorted lightly and said, "Such poor discipline! It’s one thing to be like this at home, but if you dare to be so lax in the sect, you’ll cause trouble sooner or later!"

Hearing this, Su Ling’er lowered her head and replied softly, "Yes, Father. I know I was wrong."

"Mr. Su is right." Lin Qingfeng immediately seized the opportunity. He set down his teacup and said with a smile, his tone a perfect blend of an elder’s concern and a friend’s politeness, "Ling’er, your father is only saying this for your own good. Within the sect, the rules are strict, not like at home. It’s never wrong to be punctual and trustworthy."

Everyone sat down in turn and prepared to eat. It was then that Su Ling’er noticed the brass rat mask worn on the side of her younger brother Su Wenxuan’s head.

"Wenxuan, where did you get a mask like that?" she asked curiously.

The moment his sister asked, Su Wenxuan immediately stood up on his chair and puffed out his little chest. "Sister! I have joined the Nine Schools Sect! From now on, just like the Boss said, I will be a great hero of my generation! I will open the granaries to feed the masses and bring relief to all people! I will roam the four seas, free among the Nine Schools! Heroes always rise from humble beginnings!"

"PFFFT—!" Su Ling’er almost sprayed out the sip of tea she had just taken.

’Wait, Boss? The Nine Schools Sect?! Why do I get the feeling something terrible happened while I was away?’

’It’s over! It’s all over! You can take a thousand precautions, but it’s hard to guard against a thief in the house... no, wait, it’s hard to guard against a demon lord! I was only gone for a little while, and my own little brother has already been completely duped by Eldest Brother?!’

With a look of shock and despair, she whipped her head around to look at Lin Qingfeng, who was leisurely picking at his food.

Su Ling’er asked in a trembling voice, "Mr... Mr. Lin... could you please tell me... what on earth... did you do... to my poor, pitiful brother... while I was away?"

’Eldest Brother! I’m begging you, spare my family! Even if you don’t turn him into a Demon Cultivator, I’ll have no way to explain it to my parents if you turn him into a beggar!’