Chapter 418: Identity Exposed

Han Li scoffed and laughed, "Senior Brother Wu, even if Yun Chang were to attend the Ten‑Thousand Immortals Banquet, she would sit among the first ten tables, surrounded by ancient immortals or Great Luo Golden Immortals. You should give up that hope!"

"Heh, so what? Though Yun Chang is unattainably lofty, there is still a sliver of possibility with me, whereas Empress Wan Jin truly sits on a higher throne, forever out of reach for you!" Wu Hao retorted, unwilling to be outdone.

"Junior brothers, if you spend your time quarreling, you'd be better off cultivating for a while. All you do is spout useless chatter. In my view, the female immortals of Star River Palace are all stunningly beautiful and fairly friendly toward you. Why not settle for one and each choose a Dao Companion? Stop dreaming impractically all day!" Xun An admonished.

"No, no, Senior Brother, we must pursue unrealistic goals; only then can we soothe our wounded souls!" Han Li said half‑seriously, half‑jokingly.

Wu Hao nodded repeatedly from the side.

Inside the main hall of the Green Forest Guard City magistrate office, Cheng Xin, Zhi Hua, Ji Qiu, and Huo Yun were waiting anxiously. Their eyes remained fixed on the entrance to the office.

From the beginning until now, two people went in, five people came out, and now another person emerged.

The newly emerged person was of average height, wore a conical hat, a veil over his face, and his gait revealed he was a young man.

Yet another stranger.

Zhi Hua, Ji Qiu, and Huo Yun turned their heads. Cheng Xin was startled; he felt the man before him looked somewhat familiar.

"Friends, are you here following the Guard General of the Demon‑Eradication Army?" the young man lifted his veil, revealing a handsome, delicate face, though his eyes flickered unsteadily.

Cheng Xin's eyes widened dramatically as he shouted, "Qing Mo fellow cultivator, how did you end up in Immortal City? You gave me a hard time to find you!"

The young man, equally surprised, shouted, "Master Cheng Xin! Honored Dao Ancestor, I never expected to see you here! I came to Green Forest Guard City following my sect elders; thanks to them I hold a sinecure here. I was just receiving a visitor from the Spirit Beast Realm, the Guard General of the Cultivator Alliance. Are you his companions?"

Zhi Hua quickly replied, "That's right, we are. May I ask who you are…"

"This is Qing Mo, a friend of Lady Ye Ying, and also a friend of General Wei Zhuang!" Cheng Xin explained.

"Oh, so it's you. That's great; you've been here a long time and still haven't met Miss Ye Ying?" Ji Qiu exclaimed, suddenly understanding.

Wei Yuning shook his head with a wry smile, "If General Wei hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have known. If I have time in the next couple of days, I'll go see the old friend!"

Huo Yun's expression turned odd; he surveyed the entrance, furrowed his brows, and asked, "Where did the Guard General go? Why hasn't he emerged yet?"

"After Deputy City Lord Xun learned of the incident in the White Realm, he took it very seriously. He has taken General Wei to the Inner City of Immortal City; when he'll return is unclear. He asked me to go out and tell everyone to return, and also to bring your Identity Jade Badges, which General Wei specifically requested." Saying this, Wei Yuning produced a wooden box, "I'll hand them to Master Cheng Xin!"

Cheng Xin smiled as he took it, "Thanks, fellow cultivator! I didn't expect to run into an acquaintance. Do you have a moment now? Shall we step out for a chat?"

"Um…" Wei Yuning pretended to be reluctant, thought a moment, "Alright, I'll keep an old friend company and reminisce!"

With matters settled, General Wei returned to the Inner City, and Zhi Hua's group had to depart for the time being.

Aside from the office, the three—Zhi Hua, Ji Qiu, and the others—stood aside while Cheng Xin led Wei Yuning to a distant corner. Ji Qiu and the others were unsurprised; old friends reunited, they were outsiders and surely had many private matters to discuss.

After half a incense stick burned, Huo Yun coughed, "It's getting late. I'll go check and urge them; we still have to head back later!"

He swaggered up to Wei Yuning and Cheng Xin.

Wei Yuning and Cheng Xin had so much idle chatter; they pretended for ages, exhausting themselves. When Huo Yun arrived, they both almost simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief—no need to say it, he was certainly here to urge them back.

"City Lord Wei, what are you up to? Why the sudden change? Do you think you can fool me like this? Are you planning to ditch us lot? If you dislike us, just say so; no need to play these meaningless games," Huo Yun's barrage sent Wei Yuning's mood plummeting from a peak to a valley.

The only consolation was that Huo Yun didn't shout; he whispered the words in a low voice.

Wei Yuning pointed at Huo Yun, stammering, "You… must have mistaken me, right?"

Huo Yun retorted, "Hmph, you disappoint me. Immortal City may be tough, but I don't believe that without me, Huo Yun you'd be unable to survive! Since you're so cold, at most I'll just leave. The Bounty Office is right inside, there must be a task suitable for me!" With that, he turned to leave.

Wei Yuning was flustered; he hadn't expected Huo Yun to have such a short temper. It seemed fire‑root cultivators were all like that—blunt, just like Wen Lei.

"Alright, alright, I was wrong, Brother Huo Yun, come back, come back!" he called helplessly.

"You really were wrong? Then tell me, what actually happened?" Huo Yun turned his head, smiling.

"Damn, you actually scared me!" Wei Yuning couldn't help letting the profanity slip.

Though Huo Yun didn't know what "damn" meant, he understood it wasn't a compliment and retorted angrily, "You bear… an exotic flame; to us fire‑root cultivators it's like a beacon. Moreover, your flame comes from my three‑clawed crow; even if you turn to ash, I would still recognize you!"

Only then did Wei Yuning grasp the meaning.

It seemed his identity could no longer be concealed before Sect Master Wen Lei. Being of the Light‑type spirit root, he would inevitably arouse suspicion among the Heart Sword Sect disciples, since Light‑type cultivators are exceedingly rare.

If so, his scheme of grafting identities would become a joke.

Still, that's fine; he can now meet Ye Ying and Qiu Hu with his original appearance, and need not worry about being called ugly. It's just a pity that he will no longer cross paths with Feng He; honestly, Feng He was the first woman he had intimate contact with after arriving in this world.

The greatest hidden worry of this identity isn't anything else but the Eight‑Arm Old Immortal; should his true nature be exposed, he and the Eight‑Arm Old Immortal would be forced into a duel. Moreover, figures like Wan Jun and others from the immortal realm could become his enemies. When he later transcends the tribulation and ascends to the immortal realm, how he will face them remains a problem.

Wei Yuning's expression shifted constantly—joyful one moment, worried the next, smiling, then frowning.

Cultivation starts with menial work /book/84054/