Chapter 10: Huh?! Mistaken Identity?

"At 11 p.m. last night, sword cultivators Li Mou and Feng Mou were detained for ten days and fined two thousand spirit coins for speeding while sword-riding, in violation of traffic regulations."

"We understand that all cultivators are eager to return home and confirm the safety of their loved ones, but please strictly abide by traffic rules."

A massive dark-light mirror hanging on the building was broadcasting the news.

Anyone would know it was a sword cultivator from the Sword Sect—on matters like this, the Sword Sect always holds its own disciples to stricter standards.

Zhang Yunlu, dressed in her blue-and-white school uniform, bit into a roasted pancake while holding a cup of soy milk in her other hand; hearing this news, she muttered under her breath.

She’d been haunted by that scene all night and had planned to ask her older brother to get her a day off, but she didn’t even remember when she fell asleep.

Yet when she woke up, she felt significantly better.

Her dizziness was gone, her legs no longer ached, and the recurring images in her mind had stopped.

Since she had recovered, she naturally wouldn’t waste time staying home—despite her brother’s objections, she insisted on going to school.

The college entrance exam was coming soon; she couldn’t afford to waste time.

As she walked, she thought again of Xu Xing, the man she’d met yesterday.

Xu Xing… exactly which big shot from the Sword Sect is he?

A senior cultivator just emerging from seclusion—and somehow, out of all people, she ran into him. She’d only ever seen such things in novels and movies, never imagined it could happen to her.

In novels and movies, when the protagonist meets a cultivator of that caliber, even if they don’t instantly ascend to heaven, they at least get some discarded treasure or artifact.

Instead, she’d been interrogated nonstop, then tormented all night by those two images, nearly driven to death.

Sigh~ Turns out it’s all lies; there’s no such thing as getting benefits so easily.

They say ancient great cultivators all valued ‘fate and affinity’—didn’t that man yesterday say that if they met again, he’d give her a nice little gift?

But great cultivators appear and vanish without trace, and Xuanjian City is so vast—how could she possibly meet him again?

She kicked a small stone by the roadside, quickening her pace.

The stone rolled forward and finally came to rest at the feet of a young man who looked somewhat simple-minded; he frowned, clearly troubled by something.

Sigh~

Two senior brothers were detained for speeding while sword-riding, and it was True Person Xiao Ning who caught them, with a great elder from the Tai Shang Dao Sect present—they won’t be getting out for ten days.

"I’ll follow Senior Brother’s advice and first complete the sect mission."

Though she didn’t know what Senior Brother Li was secretly planning, publicly all three of them had taken on the sect mission.

Time was limited, and with the two senior brothers stuck for now, failing to complete the mission would cost them contribution points.

But this mission required at least three people; she still needed to find two more sword cultivators above the Nascent Soul realm.

She touched the golden jade tablet at her waist—it wasn’t the kind worn by Sword Sect disciples, but a family emblem of the Lin family.

The Lin family held considerable influence within the Sword Sect, so most Sword Sect cultivators would give them face.

"I hope Senior Brother’s token works."

Otherwise, why would random cultivators help you for free? "First, let’s check the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall."

Sword cultivators contacted through the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall are mostly from our own sect; it’s naturally better to work with fellow sect members on sect missions.

Just then, Zhang Yunlu passed by him; something seemed to stir her, and her sword intent trembled slightly.

Huh?!

His eyes flashed with sharp light—he instantly saw through her cultivation: Qi Refining eighth layer, a common realm—yet it had stirred his sword intent?!

What’s this girl’s background? A flicker of curiosity arose; without hesitation, he followed her.

………

At the third middle school of Xuanjian City, many students entered the campus in groups.

Zhang Yunlu met a few classmates she got along with; they walked and chatted together, clearly enjoying themselves.

In a secluded corner nearby, the Sword Sect youth stared at Zhang Yunlu’s back, his brow furrowed.

As a Nascent Soul sword cultivator, Zhang Yunlu naturally couldn’t sense him.

Yet after trailing her all the way, he still couldn’t detect anything unusual.

'Forget it—first go handle the mission at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. I’ll return later to observe.'

The school had a Nascent Soul principal and a Soul Transformation headmaster; if he followed her inside, he might be discovered—he could only stop here.

He turned to leave, intending to head straight for the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, but when he passed a hidden alley, he suddenly slipped inside.

The alley was empty, utterly silent; a black cat leapt onto the wall and meowed at him.

Meow~ Then it jumped down and vanished. "Friend, no one’s here—you can come out now."

His voice echoed through the alley, but received no reply.

He’d noticed someone following him shortly after leaving the school.

Hmph! In broad daylight, someone dares to tail a Sword Sect cultivator—do they really think his sword is dull?

Suddenly, his back prickled, every hair on his body stood on end.

Without hesitation, he spun and slashed.

Zing! A bright, crescent-shaped purple sword light slashed diagonally, illuminating a masked figure who had appeared out of nowhere—wearing ordinary sportswear, a mask, eyes brimming with unhidden killing intent.

Crack!

The purple sword light was effortlessly crushed; the figure moved like thunder, instantly at his side, grabbing his throat and slamming him into the wall—giving him no chance to strike again.

Wild, scorching magic power surged into his body, a force too immense to resist clamped down on his meridians, sealing all his magic power.

Body cultivator!

And his cultivation was higher than his own!

Why had he sensed a cultivator of this level? Damn! He’d been lured! This man had deliberately let him notice.

Under the crushing pressure of aura, his vision began to blur; the walls around him were plastered with talismans, their faint glow forming a semi-circular barrier that sealed off all sound and movement.

He didn’t want to make a scene!

No wonder he had struck with thunderous force from the start.

"You damn bastards—can’t you just behave for once?!"

The voice was neutral, as if many voices were blended together, impossible to distinguish, yet still radiating suppressed fury.

"I fucking—"

Bang! A fist smashed into his face, leaving him dazed, his vision darkening in waves.

"I didn’t—!"

Bang! "Listen to me—!"

Bang bang!

A barrage of punches left him unable to speak.

What the hell did I ever do to you?! Ding! The golden jade tablet fell to the ground with a crisp sound; the relentless fists finally stopped.

The masked figure picked up the tablet and paused, seemingly stunned.

"You dare lay hands on someone from the Lin family?!"

The youth’s consciousness was already dim, but he still roared out:

"That’s my senior brother’s!" His voice was muffled.

"... Are you from the Sword Sect?"

"Of course I am! Hss~"

He must have pulled a wound—half a shattered tooth fell out, making him gasp in pain.

Suppressing his grievance and fury, he channelled a sliver of magical power to ease the pain.

"I’m Li Fengping of the Sword Sect. Who are you? Why did you attack me without cause?"

"Then why did you run into this alley?"

I was trying to ambush you—how was I supposed to know your cultivation was higher than mine?

"You’ve been following me—I had to draw you out."

"... Sorry. I mistook you for someone else."

Mistaken you for someone else?! What the—! Before he could curse, a pill was forcibly shoved into his mouth.

The pill took effect quickly; a tingling numbness spread across his wounds. When his vision cleared, the masked figure and the talismans on the walls had vanished.

Meow~ The black cat leapt down from his head and landed before him; through its amber eyes, he saw his own swollen face.

The black cat circled him once, then turned and left.

Staring at the empty alley, Li Fengping could no longer suppress his grievance.

What the hell did I ever do to anyone?! Please, collect and support this chapter!!!

(End of Chapter)