Chapter 10

"At 11 p. m. last night, sword cultivators Lin Mou and Feng Mou were fined two thousand spirit coins and sentenced to ten days' detention for speeding while riding their swords, in violation of traffic regulations."

"We understand all cultivators' urgency to return home and confirm the safety of family and friends, but please strictly abide by traffic rules."

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

You can tell it's a sword sect cultivator—in matters like this, the Xiang Jianzong is always stricter with its own disciples.

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 tormented by that scene all night and had planned to ask her older brother to get her leave, but didn't even remember when she fell asleep.

Yet when she woke up, she felt significantly better.

Her head no longer spun, her legs no longer ached, and the recurring image 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 is 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 Xiang Jianzong is he?

A grand cultivator just emerging from seclusion—and somehow, she'd run 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 this level, even if they don't instantly ascend to heaven, at least they get some discarded treasure or boon.

Instead, she'd been pumped for information, then forced to endure those two images haunting her all night, nearly driving her to death.

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

It's said ancient grand 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 grand cultivators appear and vanish without a trace, and Xuanjian City is so vast—how could she possibly run into him again?

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

The stone rolled forward and finally stopped at the feet of a young man who looked somewhat simple-minded; he frowned, as if troubled by something.

Sigh~

Two senior brothers were detained for speeding while riding their swords, caught personally by True Person Xiao Ning, with a great elder from the Tai Shang Dao Sect present—they won't be getting out in ten days.

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

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

Time is limited, and the two senior brothers won't be out anytime soon—if the mission isn't completed, contribution points will be deducted.

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

She touched the golden jade tablet at her waist—it wasn't the kind worn by Xiang Jianzong disciples, but the emblem of the Lin family.

The Lin family holds considerable influence in the Xiang Jianzong, so most Xiang Jianzong cultivators will give them face.

"I hope Senior Brother's tablet works."

Otherwise, why would other 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 handle sect missions with fellow sect members.

Just then, Zhang Yunlu passed by him; something stirred within her, causing her sword intent to tremble slightly.

Hm?!

His eyes flashed with sharp light—he instantly saw through her cultivation: Qi Condensation Stage Eight, a common realm—yet she had stirred his sword intent?!

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

………

At Xuanjian City No. 3 Middle School, many students entered the campus in groups.

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

In a secluded corner nearby, the Xiang Jianzong 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 following her all the way, he couldn't find anything unusual about her.

'Forget it—I'll head to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall first, then come back to observe after completing the mission.'

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

He turned to leave, intending to go straight to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, but when he passed a hidden alley, he darted 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 tailing him shortly after leaving the school.

Hmph! In broad daylight, someone dares to follow a Xiang Jianzong 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.

Zeng! 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 appearing before him, 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 power too immense to resist, clamping down on his meridians and sealing all his magic power.

Body cultivator!

And his cultivation was higher than mine!

Why did I sense a body cultivator of this level? Damn! I was lured! This man deliberately let me notice him.

Under the crushing pressure of his aura, his vision blurred; 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 they came in with such a thunderous method right from the start.

"You damned bastards, can't you behave for once in your lives?!"

The voice was androgynous, as if many people's voices were mixed together, making it impossible to tell apart, yet one could still feel the suppressed fury within.

"What the hell…"

Bang! A fist was already swinging at his face, hitting him so hard he was dizzy, his vision flickering black.

"I didn't…!"

Bang! "Listen to me…!"

Bang bang!

A flurry of punches beat him until he couldn't even get a word out.

Where the hell did I ever offend you! Ding! A golden jade tablet fell to the ground with a crisp clatter, and the relentless barrage of fists finally stopped.

The masked man picked up the jade tablet and seemed to freeze for a moment.

"You actually dare lay a hand on someone from the Lin family?"

The young man's consciousness was already growing fuzzy, but upon hearing this he still roared it out.

"That freaking belongs to my senior brother!" His voice was a bit slurred.

"…" A pause. "You're from the Xiang Jianzong?"

"Obviously! Hiss—"

Perhaps it had pulled at his wound, a half of a shattered tooth fell out, the pain making him hiss and suck in a breath of cold air.

Suppressing the grievance and fury in his heart, he channeled a wisp of magic power to ease the pain a little.

"I'm Li Fengping of the Xiang Jianzong. Who are you, and why did you beat me for no reason?"

"Then why were you running into the alley?"

Like hell I wanted to turn the tables on you—how was I supposed to know your realm was above mine.

"You've been tailing me, so of course I had to lure you out."

"…Sorry, I had the wrong person."

The wrong person?! You son of a…! Before he could even curse it out, a pill was forcibly shoved into his mouth.

The pill took effect quickly; a tingling numbness spread across the wounds on his face. By the time his vision cleared a little, the masked man and the talismans plastered all around had completely vanished.

Meow~ The black cat leapt down from his head and landed in front of him. Through its amber pupils, he saw his own swollen face.

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

Staring at the empty alley, Li Fengping could no longer hold back the grievance in his heart.

Who the hell did I offend?! Begging for favorites and data!!!

(End of chapter)