Xuanqing Guard

The feeling of being protected by someone is hard to put into words.

He’d been anxious before, hearing that Yu Ao Feng from the Celestial Toad Sect still hadn’t ruled out his suspicion, but now that someone was secretly guarding him, he felt much more at ease.

Besides, anyone who would protect Shen Hao in secret could only be a top expert from the Xuanqing Guard. According to Nie Yun, all those people are Primordial Pill Realm cultivators, meaning they’re from either the Governor’s Office or the Commander’s Office—both are possible.

But shouldn’t there be a reason for someone to protect him? Is it because they see Shen Hao’s potential? Or maybe it’s because he’s clever, a good saber in hand?

Moreover, he’s never heard of someone being protected without being notified—even a secret protection wouldn’t be hidden to this extent. If he had to explain it, it would be: the other party has not only the duty of protecting him in secret, but also secretly monitoring or investigating him.

This clearly shows that those above value him and are also extremely cautious.

Protection by three Primordial Pill Realm cultivators is not something ordinary people get. Kuang Shengyuan, as Chief Officer of the Xuanqing Guard in Fengri City, does he get such privilege? Most probably not.

Still, Shen Hao does indeed have some things that aren’t easy to explain if they’re investigating him.

Looks like the ones interested in Shen Hao’s background aren’t just Yu Ao Feng of the Celestial Toad Sect. The higher-ups in Xuanqing Guard also want to dig up everything about him.

Shen Hao didn’t feel any discomfort about it. If he were training a talent, the first thing he’d do is make sure that person isn’t a spy sent by someone else—gotta investigate thoroughly first.

But the thing is, Shen Hao isn’t even from this world. He crossed over eleven years ago, claimed he was a refugee escaping famine to Li City; on the road, he met a loose cultivator and followed him into the gates of the Cultivation Realm. Later he went to Xuanqing Guard to make a living, clawed his way out step by step through life-and-death trials.

Of course, the Black Beast Tattoo played a big role, saving his life many times—otherwise he’d have rotted away to nothing by now.

So Shen Hao knows exactly what’s written about his origins in the Xuanqing Guard’s files. This secret protection and investigation of him is obviously because his background is unclear on paper.

Shen Hao claimed to be from Jingzhong Xinliang City, since he first met an old beggar when he arrived, spent days together in a rundown hut in the mountains, talked a lot. Among their stories, the old beggar had fled from Xin Liangcheng to Li City years ago due to a natural disaster. The timeline matched Shen Hao’s age then, so he just used it as his own origin.

Looking back, it seems he made that decision a bit hastily.

Fortunately, though, in famine years so many died or scattered that tracing roots is impossible. He just wonders whether it will affect his official career.

Just after settling Nie Yun, Shen Hao, served by Xia Nu, washed up and lay down on his bed. Not long after, he suddenly sat up in shock.

"Is that... the sound of a zither?!"

Shen Hao walked down from the bed in surprise, but didn’t light a lamp. Instead, he approached the window and listened carefully.

Strangely, his ears didn’t actually hear any music, but in his mind he "heard" a melodious zither melody coming from afar, and he could even sense an "invitation" in the tune.

What kind of technique is this? Who did it?

His mind raced: Is this an invitation for me to go over? I’d have to be nuts to follow some music in the middle of the night—what if I walk out and get chopped to bits? Besides, this melody is so bizarre, not heard by ear but directly entering the mind, unstoppable. Don’t even know if anyone else can hear it.

"Should I check with Xia Nu and the others?" To confirm if anyone else could hear this, Shen Hao decided to go to the room next door. But as he turned, he suddenly noticed Nie Yun sitting in the chair behind him—it was unclear when he got there.

"Nie! Damn, you scared me out of my wits! How did you get in here?"

"Escape Skill, of course. You know how to use it too." Nie Yun was fully dressed, apparently meditating in his own room and hadn’t slept.

"Nie, did you hear the zither?"

Nie Yun pointed to his ear and laughed, "That sound was aimed at you—I can’t hear it, but I can sense it."

Can’t hear, but can sense it? Shen Hao didn’t quite get what he meant.

Shen Hao: "What’s going on? Why can only I ’hear’ it?"

"It’s a trick used by Sound Cultivators. They emit a unique soul resonance sound—only souls with a matching resonance can hear it. And since the resonance is identical to your soul’s, regular techniques can’t block the sound, and others barely sense anything."

"Then Nie, how can you sense it?"

"Me? I’ve met Sound Cultivators before, studied their tricks, so I can detect it."

Nie Yun’s answer was vague, but Shen Hao didn’t mind. He cared more about why he’d never heard of Sound Cultivators before.

Seeing Shen Hao’s total ignorance, Nie Yun laughed as he explained, "Sound Cultivators are like Sword Cultivators—eccentric and independent. The difference is Sword Cultivators specialize in swords, whereas Sound Cultivators specialize in music or sound."

Those who specialize in "sound" are even fewer than Sword Cultivators. The threshold is high, progress is slow, their cultivation methods are obscure and conditions harsh—so they’ve become increasingly rare. It’s rare to encounter one these days.

So, tell me: what’s the feeling of the zither tune you’re "hearing" now?

Shen Hao answered honestly, "It feels like it’s inviting me, like I should follow the direction of the melody and go out."

"What are you waiting for? Let’s go, go, go—let’s see what’s up!"

Shen Hao was dumbfounded, totally unwilling to move, "Nie, isn’t this a bit reckless? We don’t even know who it is, and just running over like this isn’t sensible."

"What are you afraid of? I’ll go with you—and those three Primordial Pill Realm cultivators secretly protecting you will definitely follow too. With all four of us guarding you, unless a Profound Sea Realm Cultivator shows up, nobody can hurt you."

This was classic gawker behavior—loving trouble. And thinking about Nie Yun’s usual style, he always loved charging into danger. Sometimes Shen Hao had to admit that Nie Yun’s brain was pretty "quirky."

Seeing Shen Hao still hesitating, Nie Yun continued, "Do you realize Sound Cultivators are practically extinct nowadays? Why would one seek out a junior Gathering Spirit Realm cultivator like you? Aren’t you even a little curious?"

Shen Hao shrugged, "I guess I’m a little curious, but I really don’t..."

"No! You do want to know! Think about it—the cultivation path is long and you can’t always dodge everything. Now you can be sure you’re safe, so why ignore your curiosity? It’s good for your cultivation too."

"Really?" Shen Hao’s gut told him Nie Yun was just egging him on.

"Would I fool you? Ever heard of ’Thoughts are Smooth’? It’s basic cultivation knowledge. If you keep avoiding cause-and-effect, sooner or later you’ll be weighed down by karma. So, let’s get moving and see where this Sound Cultivator is coming from."

Unable to argue, Shen Hao put on his clothes and followed Nie Yun out the door.

Neither of them chose to take carriage or horse, nor did they summon household servants. Instead, they used their body technique and quickly vanished into the depths of the night.