Chapter 264 - 250: I Choose You, Su Ling’er
Hahahaha, kekekekeke!
Lin Qingfeng quickly pressed a hand to his forehead, suppressing a wild laugh. He had to maintain his profound image as the First Senior Brother!
’Hmm, this whole scene does sound a bit like a mass arrest after a government crackdown. It’s probably not great for the sect’s image.’
However... Lin Qingfeng’s gaze returned to Su Ling’er.
’In any case, she’s the official "Guide," so she’ll be the one cleaning up this mess later. I gave her the job. If she insists on tagging along and doesn’t do it well, that’s her problem. What does that have to do with me, the leader?’
’Yep, the logic is flawless!’ At this thought, he gave a profound, inscrutable nod.
"Fine. The path of the Great Dao is about following one’s heart and leaving no lingering attachments. Since you have such a desire to pursue the Dao, you may follow."
He thought for a moment and felt something was off. After all, this Su Ling’er was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. In a city of mortals, she was a walking nuclear bomb.
’If she impulsively causes some huge disturbance, how am I supposed to recruit new people on the sly? How am I supposed to collect my commission afterward?’
The sect’s explorable range had now expanded to eight hundred li. He couldn’t even be bothered to recruit ordinary people who didn’t have any "traits." Even if there were no good prospects, he had to pick the best of the best—recruits with some talent in their Spirit Root, and ideally, ones who came with powerful "traits."
He decided to use some more "cultivation philosophy" to rein her in.
"However, this journey into the mortal world is not like being within the sect. You must remember: beneath the Celestial Dao, all are but ants. This, too, is a form of cultivation. Conceal your aura, hide your cultivation, and act as a speck of dust in a sea of people, causing no ripples."
"Remember, do not reveal your Divine Techniques lightly or stir up trouble." Hearing this, the last stone in Su Ling’er’s heart finally fell—First Senior Brother had really agreed to let her come along.
’But... he’s telling *me* not to stir up trouble? First Senior Brother, you’re the one I’m worried about!’
’I’m afraid your cohort will suddenly descend and slaughter the common people! I’m afraid that if someone displeases you, you’ll just kill innocent people in the city, leaving them dead in the streets! Most of all, I’m afraid that on a whim, you’ll make the entire Anhe City run with rivers of blood!’
’And now you’re telling me, a weak woman who has no power to tie up a chicken in front of you... no, who *does* have the power to tie up a chicken, not to cause trouble? Aren’t you... getting that backward?!’
But she could only suppress the landslide and tsunami of retorts in her heart. Bowing again, her face a mask of humility and obedience, she said, "This junior sister will heed First Senior Brother’s teachings! I will certainly restrain myself, guard my heart, and promote the... righteous spirit of our Guixi Sect!"
Hearing that last powerful, resonant phrase, Lin Qingfeng nodded deeply in agreement.
’This child is teachable! Look at that awareness!’
Then, the two of them transformed into two streaks of light and flew together toward Anhe City.
...
「Meanwhile, at the Guixi Sect on Luohai Peak.」
Wang Xiedi and Li Chunfeng were racing down the mountain path. Wang Xiedi couldn’t shake the feeling that he had forgotten something.
’There seems to be... a faster way to get to Anhe City, what was it again...?’ Li Chunfeng, however, wasn’t thinking about that.
He was immersed in experiencing his new Lightweight Skill. This technique, "Wind Manipulation Three Stacks", had to be used continuously to improve and unlock the next stage. The initial part had nothing to do with the sword, but that didn’t stop him from practicing his sword-drawing while using the Lightweight Skill.
He tapped his toes on a rock, his body floating forward several meters as his right thumb flicked the sword’s hilt.
"SHIING—!" He landed, stood firm, drew his sword, and returned it to its sheath.
"SHIING—!" With another step, his body floated forward again, and the Wooden Sword was drawn and sheathed once more.
"SHIING—!"
’This journey is the perfect chance to practice my Lightweight Skill and my quick-draw at the same time. It’s killing two birds with one stone!’ Li Chunfeng’s heart was filled with anticipation for the future.
...
Before long, the two figures arrived in the skies near Anhe City.
Lin Qingfeng casually formed a Technique with his hand, and an invisible barrier enveloped them, completely concealing their figures and auras.
Anhe City, that square block of tofu set upon the verdant earth, finally came into Su Ling’er’s full view.
Her heart instantly clenched.
A glittering river flowed through the south of the city, connecting it to the wider world. Once, in her eyes, it had been the hopeful path home; now, it looked more like a channel for spreading blood.
The eastern part of the city was the highest in elevation, where a pavilion named "Star-Picking Pavilion" stood out like a crane among chickens. Below the pavilion was a cluster of buildings comprising the City Lord’s mansion and government offices—the center of power in Anhe City.
To the north were rows of residences with blue tiles and white walls. To the west, the buildings were jumbled and low, with narrow alleyways.
The south was the liveliest district, with crowds of people bustling across the stone arch bridge and boats passing endlessly underneath...
Lin Qingfeng gave the city’s layout a cursory scan, but Su Ling’er’s gaze was instantly locked onto the Star-Picking Pavilion in the east!
She released her Divine Sense to investigate, her hand almost trembling. Nothing. There was no trace of any Celestial Furnace Sect cultivators there!
’The cultivators sent by the upper sect to guard this place are gone?! Could it be that after the Celestial Furnace Sect elder got thrashed by First Senior Brother’s "Mr. Qian," they got scared and withdrew all their stationed personnel overnight?’
This discovery, far from making Su Ling’er feel any relief, sent a deeper chill shooting up from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.
’Even the Celestial Furnace Sect is scared... Doesn’t that mean Anhe City is now just a lamb waiting to be slaughtered?!’
Her gaze drifted past the city, looking despairingly toward the distant Qingxu Mountain. After the Sect Leader’s death, those surviving fellow disciples... where were they now?
’No... it’s useless. Even if they’re still around, what could they do? Before First Senior Brother, they’d be nothing but a mantis trying to stop a chariot.’
’It’s over.’
Su Ling’er’s heart sank to the abyss. She looked at the First Senior Brother beside her, at his gaze that seemed to look down upon all living things, and it was as if she could already see him raising his hand and giving a gentle wave...
’Maybe he’ll start with the most densely populated south, dyeing that river crimson?’
’Or perhaps he’ll start with the symbol of power in the east, turning those government offices to dust?’
Her breath all but stopped as she awaited the final judgment. While she was lost in her trance, Lin Qingfeng had already brought her down, landing silently in a patch of woods outside the city.
Su Ling’er’s body was stiff. ’This is it, the official start. Then I, too, must...’
Meanwhile, Lin Qingfeng looked at the black Daoist robe he was wearing and shook his head in distaste. He reached out and swiped his hand through the air in front of him.
A shimmer of light flowed past, and his Daoist robe vanished, replaced by a magnificent brocade robe. A translucent Jade Pendant now hung from his waist, and a massive gold ring was on his finger.
In an instant, he transformed from an otherworldly cultivator into a nouveau riche brat reeking of crass wealth.
’Huh? What is... First Senior Brother doing?’
Su Ling’er’s mind went blank. The blood sacrifices, city-wide massacres, and summoning of demons she had envisioned didn’t happen. Instead, First Senior Brother was... changing his clothes?
’What is this? Some kind of special ritual? Or does he think it’s not proper to kill people while wearing a Daoist robe?’
A sense of absurdity rose in her heart, and the fear that had been stretched to its limit slackened ever so slightly. But the next moment, she suddenly felt her body lighten.
She instinctively looked down. Her red disciple’s uniform was gone!
In its place was a practical set of black fitted garments. The sleeves and pant legs were bound, giving her a heroic and dashing look, and a sheathed long-bladed saber now hung at her waist.
For a moment, Su Ling’er’s brain completely short-circuited. Then, a wave of shame and anger, mixed with a sliver of relief, overwhelmed her reason!
’What’s happening?! Where are my clothes?!’
’When did First Senior Brother make his move?! I was standing right in front of him, but I didn’t sense how he changed my clothes at all! What does this mean? It means that if First Senior Brother wanted to kill me—or even flay me alive—I wouldn’t even have time to react!’
’And why did he change my clothes? Is he dressing me up as some kind of special sacrifice? Or...’
Su Ling’er instinctively hugged her arms tightly and took a step back.
"F-First Senior Brother... What is... this..."
’Spare me, Senior Brother! A warrior can be killed but not humiliated! If you’re going to kill me, just do it! Don’t... don’t do all this weird stuff!’
After changing his "outfit," Lin Qingfeng was looking at his minimap.
On the map, a few small green dots representing Guixi Sect disciples were already wandering around Anhe City. ’Looks like some other guys also chose Anhe City to uncover the map. My own journey is about to begin for real!’
Satisfied, he turned his head, ready to assign Su Ling’er her task, only to see her hugging her chest and looking at him pitifully.
???
’What are you doing? I f*cking told you to put on a disguise, why are you letting your imagination run wild again?’
’Forget it. NPCs probably don’t get fashion. Assigning the task is more important!’
"From now on, you’re the bodyguard hired by me, a wealthy merchant. And although I won’t be paying you any wages, you must guarantee my safety. Got it?"
He pointed to himself, then to her. "Alright, these are our identities now. Understand?"
"I choose you, Pikachu! No, I choose you, Su Ling’er!"
"Go! Go on and clear the way!"