Chapter 265 - 251: Illegal Cab Touts
Su Ling’er: "..."
A bodyguard? ’This isn’t how the script is supposed to go!’
’Wait... He’s disguised himself as a tacky, nouveau riche merchant, and turned me into a bodyguard who looks like she can fight.’
’Is Senior Brother... going incognito? Or is he willing to suppress his demonic nature to avoid alerting certain powerful entities?’
’Whatever the reason, this means he won’t immediately start slaughtering the entire city!’
The suffocating fear she felt instantly dissipated for the most part. But what followed was a deep sense of anxiety.
’Can someone like Senior Brother, a true Evil Cultivator, really tolerate being offended by mortals? It’s like letting an ancient, volatile beast wander through a crowded marketplace!’
’What if some clueless mortal in the city offends him...?’
Su Ling’er shivered.
’My real duty as a bodyguard isn’t to protect his safety... It’s to protect all the mortals in Anhe City from *his* "unsafeness"!’
Realizing this, Su Ling’er felt an immense weight settle on her shoulders.
’As for not getting paid... what are worldly possessions compared to the lives of the common people? As long as Senior Brother doesn’t kill anyone, she’d be willing to pay him instead!’
She took a deep breath, her eyes filled with a tragic resolve. Composing her expression, she cupped her fist to Lin Qingfeng. "Yes, Boss. Your subordinate... will do my utmost!"
...
Two unfamiliar figures arrived at the south gate of Anhe City.
A wealthy merchant dressed in a silk robe trimmed with gold thread, and behind him, a female bodyguard with a long saber at her waist.
Su Ling’er followed half a step behind Lin Qingfeng, her once lively eyes now filled with vigilance and gravity.
They walked toward the city gate.
At the gate, several officials in uniforms were leaning against the wall, gambling with dice as if no one else was around. They were cursing and swearing, completely ignoring the flow of people coming and going. Their hats were askew and their collars were open, their entire demeanor radiating an unsettling sloppiness.
With every step closer, Su Ling’er’s heart rose further into her throat.
’It’s over. When did Anhe City’s defenses become so lax? She remembered that when she left home, the inspections here weren’t strict, but they were never this perfunctory. At the very least, the guards used to put on a show.’
’Did the city’s order really decay this much the moment the Cultivators from the Celestial Furnace Sect left?’
But right now, she was more worried about her Senior Brother! From her understanding of the powerful, the higher one’s Cultivation, the less tolerance they had for the insolence of ants. These lazy and rude mortal officials were basically dancing on a tiger’s whiskers!
Her nerves were stretched to their absolute limit. Her Spiritual Power circulated secretly within her, ready for the worst. The moment her Senior Brother showed a hint of killing intent, she would knock these officials unconscious and drag them away, even if it meant getting seriously injured herself! It was better for her to act than to watch them get slaughtered on the spot!
Finally, Lin Qingfeng reached the city gate. One of the officials didn’t even bother to stand up, merely lifting an eyelid and saying lazily, "Show your papers. Then, city entrance tax, ten copper coins per person."
No questions, not even a second glance!
Su Ling’er’s breath caught in her throat!
She stared intently at Lin Qingfeng’s impassive profile, at the hand he was about to raise. Her heart was practically leaping out of her chest!
’Don’t do it! Please, don’t do it!’
Su Ling’er hardened her resolve, making a split-second decision. ’Rather than let Senior Brother do it himself, I’ll be the "bad guy" first. It’s better than them losing their lives! This way, I can both uphold Senior Brother’s dignity and let these men escape with their lives!’
She immediately took a step forward and whispered, "Boss! There’s no need for you to act! How dare they be so disrespectful to you! I’ll go teach them a lesson on your behalf!"
Lin Qingfeng: ??? ’Wait, when was I going to act? How come I didn’t know about it?’
As she spoke, she flicked her wrist, about to release a sharp aura. But a hand suddenly pressed down on her shoulder.
’It’s Senior Brother!’
A chill went down Su Ling’er’s spine. ’It’s over. He must think I’m in the way. Is he going to kill them himself after all?!’
But instead, Lin Qingfeng frowned and whispered back, "What are you doing? Why are you always trying to stir up trouble? Didn’t I tell you to cause less trouble? We just got to the city gate and you’re already trying to start a fight?"
Su Ling’er: ???
’Wait... I... I’m trying to save their lives! I’m trying to protect your grand "incognito inspection" plan! How did I become the one who likes to stir up trouble?!’
However, before she could react, Lin Qingfeng expressionlessly raised his hand, took out a small silver ingot from his sleeve, and with a CLANG, tossed it into the wooden box at the official’s feet.
Hearing the sound, the eyes of the previously lazy officials lit up instantly. The one who had spoken before kicked the dice away and shot up from the ground, his face instantly plastered with a sycophantic smile. He bowed and scraped before Lin Qingfeng. "Aiyo! Sir, this lowly one has eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai! Please, come in! Right this way!"
Without giving the man a second glance, Lin Qingfeng strode through the city gate.
Su Ling’er stood frozen on the spot, her thoughts a complete mess. ’So... why resort to violence when money can solve the problem? I’m even starting to have an illusion... Senior Brother, are you really an Evil Cultivator?’
But her heart, which had been lodged in her throat, finally dropped back into place with a THUD. It was followed by a sense of absurdity that made her want to laugh and cry at the same time.
’But these officials... has your corruption really reached this level? You’re this blatant about it?!’
’Someone gives you a little money, and you don’t even check their basic papers? You just let two people of unknown origin right in? Public morality has truly fallen! Aren’t you afraid of notorious bandits or serial molesters sneaking into the city?!’
Su Ling’er sighed helplessly and followed him inside.
They had just stepped through the gate and hadn’t gone ten paces when several people swarmed them from both sides.
"Hey, hey, hey! This way, Boss! You two look new around here. First time in our Anhe City?" a man in a felt cap with very yellow teeth darted out from the side, his face wreathed in smiles, spittle flying as he spoke.
"Boss, need a tour of the city? I’m Zhang, a living map of Anhe City! Ride my carriage, just one hundred copper coins for the whole day!"
Before he could finish, another skinny man with shifty eyes pushed Zhang aside. "One hundred coppers? That’s highway robbery! Boss, don’t listen to him! Take my carriage! Fifty coppers!"
"Thirty coppers! I’ll do it for thirty!"
"I’ll do it for twenty! Boss! Pick me, pick me! I’ve got an eighty-year-old mother and a crying baby to feed at home!"
In an instant, seven or eight carriage drivers surrounded Lin Qingfeng and Su Ling’er, each one pointing to themselves, their clamorous voices nearly drowning them out.
Lin Qingfeng’s brow furrowed imperceptibly. He looked at the group of NPCs arguing until they were red in the face, their fawning, greedy expressions instantly bringing back some very unpleasant memories.
’Isn’t this the classic scenario of getting swarmed by shady taxi drivers right after you land on vacation? Damn it, this game is way too realistic! I’m definitely going to complain to the tourism board about this later!’
The look of disgust that unconsciously appeared on his face was caught by Su Ling’er behind him. Her heart, which had just settled, shot back up into her throat!
’It’s over! Senior Brother is getting impatient!’
’He tolerated it at the city gate, but that doesn’t mean his patience is infinite! These mortal carriage drivers are so noisy, their spit is about to fly into his face. Aren’t they just asking for death?!’
’What if Senior Brother loses his patience and just attacks...?’
Every muscle in Su Ling’er’s body tensed. She was ready to leap forward at any moment to shield the carriage drivers from disaster, even if it meant just physically knocking them out of the way!
Just then, Lin Qingfeng cleared his throat and waved his hand at the crowd.
"That won’t be necessary." His voice cut through all the noise. The drivers fell silent, looking at him.
Lin Qingfeng reached out and gave Su Ling’er’s tense, rigid shoulder two pats—PAT, PAT.
"Besides keeping me safe, my bodyguard can also serve as a carriage puller. I feel like walking for now. If I need a carriage, she’ll naturally go and pull one herself!"
As soon as he said this, the entire crowd fell silent.
The carriage drivers looked in disbelief at the slender young woman.
As for Su Ling’er, her brain completely shut down.
’A... a carriage puller?!’
Su Ling’er looked at Lin Qingfeng’s matter-of-fact expression, and the fear in her heart instantly turned into a... deep sense of helplessness.
’Fine... As long as you don’t kill anyone, forget being a carriage puller, I’d even slave away like an ox. Say whatever you want... You’re the demon lord, so you’re always right.’
She let out a sigh of relief. Seeing the carriage drivers’ still-skeptical gazes, an idea struck her.
’Since Senior Brother has already said it, I have to establish this "super-strong female carriage puller" persona! As long as I can scare these people away, I can prevent a bloodbath!’
With a cold expression, Su Ling’er silently walked over to the nearest flatbed cart.
"Hey! Miss, what are you..." Before the driver could finish his sentence, he saw Su Ling’er extend a delicate hand, casually place it on the cart’s shaft, and then... with a gentle lift, she easily raised the heavy flatbed cart with one hand, holding it steady.
"..."
"..."
Everyone stared, dumbfounded, at the scene before them.
’What’s with this girl! She’s that strong?’
’No wonder! No wonder this boss dared to travel with just a young woman as his bodyguard and carriage puller! Turns out she’s a true heroine!’
Satisfied, Lin Qingfeng waved away the stunned carriage drivers and strode onto Anhe City’s main street.
Su Ling’er set the cart down and followed behind him. Though she felt a bit humiliated, her eyes held a glimmer of relief. ’I’ve protected the peace once again.’
Her gaze passed over his silk robe and fell upon the street she had walked countless times before.
It had been over three years.
She hadn’t been back in three years...
...
Real World
News Archive
Recently, controversy surrounding the player "Xiaohui" has continued to escalate within the "Ashen Heaven" player community. "Moonlit Red Thread," the former guild leader of the Yin Yuan Pavilion, has continued to denounce "Xiaohui" across multiple platforms, accusing them of being directly responsible for the fall of the Yin Yuan Pavilion.
In response, "Xiaohui" claims that their character is permanently based on the Celestial South Continent and has never traveled to the Jade Dragon Continent. They state they are unaware of the accusations and mentioned they suffer from "Yuyu Syndrome."
Notably, several players have submitted new Memory Stone evidence to the community, claiming a player was active in two different locations on separate continents at almost the same time.
This has become a new focal point for discussion in the community. Some players speculate about the existence of an unannounced sect ability or gameplay mechanic that allows one to "impersonate" others. Other players believe this phenomenon might be due to a system error involving character data—a rare bug.
As of now, the Ashen Heaven Group has not made any official statement on the matter.