Chapter 115: Foster Son

On the fifth day of Ruan Xing's arrival in Central Province, which was the twenty-first day since the Central Province tour group left Nanzhou.

This matter finally had a new development.

At that time, Ruan Xing was walking on the road with Qintai He.

Meng Hui had chosen today to undergo her tribulation; for such a major life event, she had set up an array on an uninhabited mountain peak within the Sect's territory a full day in advance.

Two cyan streaks of light flashed rapidly across the horizon, catching Ruan Xing's attention. She asked in confusion, "They are actually flying their swords across the peak tops? Senior Brother, were those two True Monarchs just now?"

Because most Peak Masters lived on the summits of their peaks, it was customary not to fly one's sword higher than the peak tops when traveling between them; even other Peak Masters rarely did anything in this regard that would cause their fellow sect members to feel displeased.

Qintai He raised his eyes and took a look. "It shouldn't be. Judging by the direction they were heading, they are likely disciples sent out by the Sect Master to handle matters; they might have urgent news to report."

Ruan Xing gave an understanding "Oh," and Qintai He continued, "Anyway, it has nothing to do with us. Let's go."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Qintai He suddenly paused his steps and took out his Sect Jade Token, appearing to have received some message.

After a moment, he said, "My master is calling for me. It seems I won't be able to watch Senior Sister Meng Hui's tribulation today. I am going to find my master; are you still going to watch the heavenly tribulation?"

What was there to see in a heavenly tribulation? She had already undergone the tribulation herself in the simulation.

"If you don't take me, how am I supposed to go? I'm not even close with Senior Sister Meng Hui," Ruan Xing said. In reality, she had only crossed paths with Meng Hui the day before yesterday when she returned to Yaoguang Peak, and they hadn't even exchanged a few words; it would probably be inappropriate to just go over there.

"How about you take me with you to see the Peak Master?" Ruan Xing suggested.

"No," Qintai He refused decisively. "My master didn't say you could come along, so I cannot take you."

"How cold," Ruan Xing muttered, then had to say, "Fine, then you go. Tell me if there's any fresh news later."

Qinghong Zhenjun's Divine Sense had been keeping an eye on her, so he definitely knew she had been clinging to Qintai He these past few days. Since he didn't mention her when sending the message to Qintai He, he likely didn't want to see her.

Yet, his meeting with Qintai He should be related to those two streaks of light from earlier.

Was there any major event in the Xuanbing Sect recently worth the Sect Master personally sending people to investigate? Ruan Xing thought about it, combining the information she already knew; nine times out of ten, it was related to the affairs in Nanzhou.

It was just a pity that in the previous simulation, this matter had not implicated her, so she hadn't paid too much attention to it, which resulted in her not knowing exactly what had happened in her memory.

But now, she wanted to get involved; perhaps it would be a suitable opportunity to leave the Xuanbing Sect and form her Golden Core.

Thinking of this, Ruan Xing immediately opened the Real-scene Simulation and flew her sword toward the direction of the Artifact Refining Peak.

Xu Sirui was the daughter of the Law Enforcement Hall Master, so her information should be relatively well-informed; perhaps she would understand the ins and outs of the matter. If she saw Xu Sirui at the Artifact Refining Peak, she could think of a way to ask.

However, Xu Sirui was not at the Artifact Refining Peak every day. Although she did not cultivate, besides refining artifacts and peeking at Qintai He, she also held a position in the Law Enforcement Hall and would sometimes run back to the Xu Family.

Because she wanted to learn artifact refining techniques while Xu Sirui was away, she had inquired about this information.

She had originally planned to go to the Law Enforcement Hall to check if Xu Sirui wasn't there, but she was in luck; today, Xu Sirui happened to be at the Artifact Refining Peak. Moreover, she wasn't refining artifacts but was sitting on a large rock to the side, chatting excitedly with several other cultivators.

Ruan Xing walked to a spot not far from her, found an Artifact Refiner, cleared her throat, and asked, "Senior Brother, I just obtained a new Flying Sword, but I can't tell what the raw materials are. How should I maintain it?" Of course, this was just an excuse; the Flying Sword in her hand was never maintained, and only those cultivators who particularly treasured their Dharma Artifacts would know such knowledge.

Sure enough, as soon as Xu Sirui heard her voice, she frowned, turned her head, and sneered, "That broken sword of yours isn't even as good as the scrap metal I toss into the furnace at will; what is there to maintain?"

Ruan Xing immediately retorted, "This is a sword given to me by Senior Brother Qintai; it is not a broken sword."

Xu Sirui's expression changed. "Why would he give you a sword?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Xu Sirui knew she had made a slip of the tongue. Her liking for Qintai He was a very niche matter in the Xuanbing Sect; because of Qintai He's family background and personal personality, female cultivators were deterred from approaching him. She also knew that there was no possibility between her and Qintai He, but this was not a topic that allowed others to discuss and mock. She immediately lowered her voice, her tone carrying a threat, "Junior Sister Ruan, this sword of yours is a thin-handled short sword that female cultivators like. How would they know how female cultivators cherish their Dharma Swords? Why not ask me? I can teach you."

The others did not know she had feelings for Qintai He; in fact, on the surface, the two of them didn't even know each other. The others were quickly distracted by Xu Sirui's words. A petite female cultivator chimed in, "I also like using short swords; if there is anything you don't understand, you can also come and ask me."

"Then many thanks to both Senior Sisters." Ruan Xing also happened to want to talk to Xu Sirui in private. "I wonder if Senior Sister Xu is free now?"

Xu Sirui was a bit surprised. She hadn't expected that even with her malice being so obvious, this girl still wanted to speak with her alone. Was she really not afraid that she would beat her up in private? After pondering for a second, she agreed, "Of course. Let's go talk over there."

The two walked to the side, further away from the crowd in the furnace area. Xu Sirui asked impatiently, "Qintai He never gets close to anyone; why would he give you a sword? What tricks did you play?"

Ruan Xing replied, "Hey, I just cooperated with you, so you should also cooperate with me and answer a few of my questions first, right?"

"What qualifications do you have to bargain with me?" Xu Sirui was angry on the surface. Recalling the scene of her own embarrassment at Yaoguang Peak that day, she raised her hand, wanting to teach Ruan Xing a lesson.

Ruan Xing hurriedly raised her short sword to block, interrupting Xu Sirui's movement: "My sword hasn't even been unsheathed; I'm not here to fight you. Once you answer my questions, not only will I tell you why Senior Brother Qintai gave me something, but I can also give this sword to you. How about that?"

"Give it to me and then go find him to complain that I robbed you? Heh, how despicable."

"Forget it if you don't want it." Ruan Xing couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"I want it."

Anyway, Qintai He didn't like her to begin with, so one more or one less item made no difference. If he came to find her personally to ask for it back, she would have more contact with him. "What exactly do you want to do?"

Ruan Xing thought for a moment and asked, "What were you chatting about with them just now? So happy, is there some good news?"

Xu Sirui immediately said with some pride, "Hmph, my Senior Brother Mu has returned. The Sect Master appreciates him very much and has entrusted him with important tasks. This time, after he completes his mission and returns, my father is going to adopt him as a foster son."

Senior Brother Mu? Ruan Xing recalled the two streaks of light she had seen and pressed, "What mission did he complete?"

"Of course it's Nanzhou... Oh, I forgot, you are also from Nanzhou." Xu Sirui smiled contemptuously. "The matter in Nanzhou will soon have a result. The disciples who participated in the Secret Realm were wiped out, and the Elders within the Sect have gone missing or were murdered. The Sect Master and Elders of Nanzhou will all have to face the consequences. Since you are a Registered Disciple of Qinghong Zhenjun, you shouldn't have a master in Nanzhou, right? That's good; it saves you from being heartbroken for them."

"Elder Xu of Nanzhou is your second uncle, right? Aren't you heartbroken that he died?" Ruan Xing watched Xu Sirui's suddenly changing expression, and a flash of inspiration struck her. She pressed, "Why adopt a foster son instead of taking a disciple? The Senior Brother Mu you mentioned is Elder Xu's head disciple, right? Did your father adopt him as a foster son so that he could return to Nanzhou to take over Elder Xu's position in the future? What is so good about Nanzhou? Why keep sending people there? Could it be that your Xu Family is using the affairs of the Nanzhou Sect to line your own pockets?"

She seemed to know where all those missing Spirit Stones went when Elder Xu was in charge of the Sect's affairs.

However, embezzling only a few tens of thousands of Low-grade Spirit Stones each year—was it worth it? Thanks to book friend 2024042849_dD for the monthly ticket~ Thanks to book friend 20190927135209710 for the monthly ticket~ (End of chapter)