Chapter 182: Night Talk

What a life of toil, not a moment of leisure.

Ruan Xing sighed to herself twice before setting out to fabricate two different identities using the Illusion Technique and a Mask Artifact.

One was a gentle Cultivator surnamed Liu, the other a cold and aloof Cultivator surnamed Chen.

As for names, she couldn't be bothered to come up with any.

By evening, Ruan Xing entered Yunyang City using the identity of the Cultivator surnamed Chen.

The family representatives responsible for managing the city were already prepared to welcome her.

Upon seeing the cold-faced Ruan Xing, they didn't stir up any trouble, but instead bowed respectfully in unison and addressed her: "Fairy Chen."

They dared not use such titles recklessly.

They had already learned that a few days ago, the Fengling Yueying Sect, this emerging sect, had sent one Golden Core Stage disciple and seven or eight Qi Refining disciples to clear out the Monster Beasts around Yunyang City! That was using a butcher's knife to slaughter a chicken.

It must have been to intimidate them, the small families within Yunyang City! Perhaps the Cultivator sent to be the City Lord was at the Nascent Soul Stage; their own cultivation was too low to tell, and if they casually called out "True Person" and accidentally angered the person, what would they do? Therefore, respectful titles for high-level Cultivators like "Fairy" and "Immortal Elder" seemed especially important at this time.

A group of small Cultivators lowered their heads until they were almost touching the ground when facing Ruan Xing.

Ruan Xing had no intention of making things difficult for them; after intimidating them, she said, "Just call me City Lord."

Having seen many different towns across the Xianyuan Continent, in her eyes, these two small cities were at best third-tier cities, not worth spending much effort on.

"Yes, City Lord."

The leading Cultivator greeted her with a smile and invited Ruan Xing to a banquet at a restaurant in the city.

The Demon Beast Meat on the table had been hunted by Ruan Tao just two days prior.

After finishing the meal in calm, undisturbed silence, both sides could be considered familiar with each other; with a high-level Cultivator back to oversee Yunyang City, they finally felt at ease.

Ruan Xing coldly instructed them that she liked quiet and not to disturb her unless necessary, then moved into the previously prepared City Lord Mansion.

Of course, this was only on the surface.

In reality, after closing the door, Ruan Xing rushed to Huayang City without a moment's delay.

She became the City Lord in Huayang City under another guise.

After everything was done, Ruan Xing returned to the Fengling Yueying Sect.

The City Lords of these two cities essentially served as mascots, proving that the city had high-level Cultivators and acting as a symbolic warning to other Cultivators.

For so many years, aside from the two incidents Ruan Xing caused, there had been no need for a City Lord to take action.

Therefore, Ruan Xing didn't care whether she lived in the City Lord Mansion or not; she would just bluff her way through for now.

The hour was late, and within the Fengling Yueying Sect, the disciples' cultivation was too low and they were still of mortal flesh, so most were already asleep at this time.

Ruan Xing recalled what Hu San had told her, changed her direction, and went to the Spirit Field.

In the vast Spirit Field, the few remaining seedlings were withered and listless; it seemed the harvest of Spirit Rice this season would be dismal.

It wasn't a big problem; she didn't like eating it much anyway, and she intended to sell things like Demon Beast Meat and Spirit Rice.

After looking at the Spirit Field, Ruan Xing was about to leave when she suddenly heard a burst of rapid breathing.

It was coming from the direction of the temporary living quarters for the disciples.

It was so late, and they weren't sleeping yet—could it be that someone was playing tricks, causing the spirit plants to die so quickly these past few days? Ruan Xing became alert and quietly approached, only to discover a young boy practicing Sword Technique with a wooden stick.

He was panting slightly and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"What are you doing?" Ruan Xing asked abruptly.

The young boy was startled, turned his head to see it was Ruan Xing, and bowed with some joy: "Greetings, Sect Master. This disciple is dull-witted, so I thought that diligence could compensate for clumsiness..."

"What kind of nonsense are you compensating with?" Ruan Xing interrupted him. "If I'm not mistaken, you are practicing a Demonic Cultivation Technique. The Demon Lord's techniques are not suited for solo combat, nor are they suitable for use with Sword Technique. Demon Cultivators have their own methods; why are you practicing the sword? And it's even a mortal's Sword Technique?"

He was purely using the strength of his physical body to practice the Sword Technique, without using any Spiritual Power.

The boy lowered his head, an embarrassed expression appearing on his face, when suddenly he knelt down hard on the ground and said loudly: "This disciple is foolish, I beg the Sect Master to teach me!"

Ruan Xing was silent for a while.

The expression on her face was somewhat complex.

"Are you trying to be opportunistic? You don't think I've forgotten who you are, do you, Xu Can?"

Xu Can froze for a moment, then lowered his head even further and said nothing.

A few days ago, he had been casually grabbed by Ruan Xing to clear out debris in the back mountain. At the time, he had reported his name, but seeing Ruan Xing have no reaction, he assumed she had already forgotten him.

Knowing today that Hu San was going to report to Ruan Xing and that she might come to inspect, he had stayed near the Spirit Field all day, just hoping to gain Ruan Xing's regard and appreciation.

After his little scheme was pointed out by Ruan Xing, Xu Can remained silent.

Ruan Xing sighed, "I'm even starting to think you deliberately destroyed those spirit plants just to see me alone. If I had decided you were a suspect, you wouldn't have had the chance to speak just now. So, don't do unnecessary things; go back and rest."

Xu Can's lips moved for a long time, "... Yes."

After Xu Can left, Ruan Xing saw a white-clad figure sitting on a tree branch not far away.

The hazy moonlight spilled down from behind her, as if draping a light, thin cloak over her.

Ruan Xing couldn't help but mutter, "What's going on? Everyone is staying up late instead of sleeping."

"Does my current body have any need for sleep?" The Fairy heard her words and glanced at her sideways.

Ruan Xing laughed, "That's true. Where is the Demon Lord? I haven't seen him these past few days."

She tapped her toes lightly, flew up to the branch, and sat down next to the Fairy.

The shadows of the leaves swayed with her movement.

The Fairy said, "He is helping you build the Underground Palace. He said he has many caves and underground palaces at his residence in the Northern Territory, so he has experience."

"He's actually taking the initiative to do work," Ruan Xing said, surprised.

The Fairy shrugged, seemingly not wanting to talk more about the Demon Lord, and asked, "You don't like that person just now?"

"It's not that," Ruan Xing said. "His aptitude is fine, and he is smart and decisive, but there's a problem with his background. His father used to be at odds with me and was killed by me. He is an illegitimate son, and according to him, his mother was killed by his father, so I essentially helped him avenge his mother. He wanted to join me, and I left him alive on a whim that day. I wanted things to take their natural course, but he doesn't seem to think so; he used a little scheme to try and fight for a position by my side."

Having ambition is normal, and Ruan Xing isn't averse to it, but she finds it annoying when he uses schemes on her; she prefers those who just get things done.

And Xu Can's ability to get things done hadn't even been demonstrated yet, but he was already anxious to crowd around her.

But in Xu Can's eyes, he had taken poison, studied to pass the imperial examinations, and practiced martial arts and magic; having put in so much effort only to end up no different from the other disciples, he surely felt quite unbalanced.

"Besides, the human heart is hard to fathom; who knows what he might think in the future? I don't wish to keep a ticking time bomb by my side."

"You think too poorly of people," the Fairy said disapprovingly. "Perhaps he truly feels you saved him from a sea of bitterness and wants to serve you? It is only because he admires you that he wants to be closer."

Ruan Xing was noncommittal. "At birth, human nature is evil. I have never minded using the greatest malice to speculate about others."

"So, is this why you wouldn't let me go to the Xumi Realm with you? Afraid I would stop you from doing certain things?" the Fairy changed the subject again.

A flash of surprise crossed Ruan Xing's eyes. "You guessed it? How do you seem so much smarter? You used to be so dull." The Fairy hadn't stopped her from rooting out the Six Suns Study because that sect was already laden with evil fruit.

But once in the Xumi Realm, it might be different; what if the Fairy felt those officials and noble clans were all innocent mortals and wouldn't let her kill them?

Although the Fairy's current strength couldn't stop her, she still wanted to use the Fairy to get things done, so she shouldn't ruin the relationship.

The Fairy glared at her with some embarrassment and retorted, "I am not dull!"

Then, looking a bit dejected, she added, "You said before you would let me help you, but now I am the only one in the whole Sect with nothing to do. You haven't arranged anything for me, and that demon mocks me, saying it's because my personality is too annoying."

"Perhaps I should thank you. Although your ideas are diametrically opposed to mine, ever since I met you, I've realized that black and white, right and wrong in this world are not clearly defined... I am a Puppet Body, and the barrier of the Xumi Realm cannot stop me. If I had been determined to stop you from killing those mortals, I surely would have run in long ago."

"It was the future you described to me that moved me. You said you would make the Xumi Realm better, and I believe you."

"Believing in me is the right choice; I certainly won't lie to you," Ruan Xing smiled.

"You don't look like someone who would do such things. I thought you were cold-blooded and indifferent, not caring about other people's lives or whether they lived well," the Fairy looked at Ruan Xing, as if seeing her for the first time.

Looking up at the crescent moon in the night sky, Ruan Xing said, "The past is the past, and the present is the present. Before, I could barely protect myself, so naturally, I could only look out for myself. Now, however... since I am doing this, I cannot be perfunctory. I don't expect this world to become very good, but in any case, it cannot be worse than it is now."

The Fairy said, "Then if you have anything to do, just order me to do it. I've already boarded your pirate ship anyway."

Seeing the Fairy's earnest expression, Ruan Xing couldn't help but feel moved. "Although you put it well, I still won't let you enter the Xumi Realm for the time being."

The Fairy: "... I know."

She hadn't expected that the little justice warrior of the Mysterious Grade Sect was almost being corrupted by her.

A sin, a sin.

However, since Xu Can wanted to help her, she actually thought of a task suitable for him.

The next day.

Hu San invited the alchemist and Old Chen's family from the medicine shop, and they all expressed their willingness to join the Sect.

She had seen how hard the alchemist worked for a Foundation Establishment Pill in the simulation; now, with a Foundation Establishment Pill as bait placed here, wouldn't the alchemist be hooked? Moreover, this Alchemist He's own cultivation method was incomplete and flawed, only allowing him to reach the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Now that he had joined the Fengling Yueying Sect, he didn't even want his own method anymore, only thinking of learning the Fengling Yueying Sect's methods.

Old Chen's family was the same. They were all mortals and had no cultivation methods at all. Being able to trade their meager skills in farming and tending to spiritual plants for cultivation methods and resources for the whole family—he was making a killing, wasn't he?

Hu San then followed Ruan Xing's instructions and presided over adding them to the list of Outer Sect Disciples.

It was only then that Ruan Xing remembered one thing and hurried to ask the Fairy about the cultivation methods.

Previously, she thought the Mysterious Grade Sect had disappeared into the long river of history, but last time she went to Canghai City, she discovered the Mysterious Grade Sect still existed.

Would practicing the same cultivation method cause problems?

The Fairy indicated that how could she possibly teach the original cultivation methods of the Mysterious Grade Sect?

Having stayed with a Demon Cultivator in the Cave Abode for thousands of years, she had been bored to death every day and had long since improved and deduced the cultivation methods thousands of times over.

Although she was only at the Transformation Stage herself, the methods she deduced had already reached the Return to Ruins Stage, though they had not been truly practiced yet, so she didn't know if one could truly pass the Return to Ruins Stage and ascend.

Ruan Xing felt much more at ease now.

She immediately called for Xu Can, preparing to go to the Xumi Realm.

Xu Can had been struck by Ruan Xing's words the previous night and was feeling dejected; seeing Ruan Xing looking for him again today, he looked at her in a daze.

"Don't you want to work for me? I have a task for you," Ruan Xing added. "If you complete it well, I will let you be a small Guan of the Consulate."

Being able to pull away from the other disciples was a good thing, so Xu Can said joyfully, "Xu Can will certainly not fail the Sect Master's trust."

The two arrived at the Xumi Realm and first went to find Sun Xian.

"How was the morning court today?"

Sun Xian looked at the eager little youth who had appeared beside Ruan Xing, paused, and said, "Not very good. The Chief Councilor didn't speak, and only officials from two factions were bickering. After the morning court ended, I poisoned the family that was arguing the most fiercely. That official died before noon. The Emperor knew but didn't get angry; he only ordered Liu Shouye to solve the case."

"What a nuisance," Ruan Xing frowned.

Using the mortal method of poisoning was just to force them to submit. They knew someone had poisoned them, but they didn't know who did it, so they would suspect, distrust, and fear each other. At this time, as long as the Emperor was firm, the matter could be ended.

But this Emperor didn't seem to take the National Preceptor's words seriously at all; he wasn't genuinely trying to promote the political decree, but was just using this as a pretext to make the officials in the court fight so he could consolidate power and grasp the hearts of the people.

If they kept dragging it out according to the Emperor's way, the Inner Court might not even be established after the new year.

She had originally wanted to use gentler methods, but now it seemed that wouldn't work.

"Follow me," Ruan Xing signaled for Sun Xian and Xu Can to follow her.

Sun Xian was confused. "Do what?"

"Force the palace!"

Inside a luxurious carriage in front of the Imperial Palace sat four people.

Ruan Xing, Liu Shouye, Sun Xian, who had used the Illusion Technique to transform into the Chief Councilor, and Xu Can, who had transformed into the Emperor according to Liu Shouye's description.

As for the real Chief Councilor.

He was probably already stone-cold.

Xu Can nervously adjusted the pearl crown on his head, carefully folding his hands so as not to wrinkle the sleeves of his imperial robes.

He had only left the Xumi Realm a few days ago and had already returned; his mindset had not yet shifted from a mortal to a Cultivator.

"Sect Master, what should I do?" Xu Can asked uneasily.

"You are clever; just adapt to the situation."

Hearing Ruan Xing's words, Xu Can became even more nervous.

"Will this really work?" Liu Shouye was filled with worry.

"Why wouldn't it?" Ruan Xing retorted. "Since ancient times, why have emperors valued civil officials over military ones, and why have they feared the union of civil and military?"

Although the reasons for the Xumi Realm valuing civil over military were not quite the same, the logic was actually the same.

"Right now, the highest-ranking civil official is here," Ruan Xing said, pointing at Sun Xian.

"The highest-ranking military official is here," she added, pointing at Liu Shouye.

"And the greatest truth is here," Ruan Xing said, looking at Xu Can.

"Don't look at us as just four people; when you get down to it, our odds of winning are much higher than that one in the Imperial Palace," Ruan Xing said confidently.

Sun Xian looked at her, speechless. Anyway, Ruan Xing didn't care about things like destiny; she could just summon a bolt of lightning to strike the Imperial Palace, electrocuting a few hundred people to make an example of them, and the emperor and his officials would be scared out of their wits—if she said coal was white, they would all have to praise her for being right.

Ruan Xing smiled and said nothing.

Letting the mortals within the Xumi Realm fear her like a god or a monster was not a good thing.

Thanks to Fei Zui for the monthly ticket~ Thanks to Book Friend 20180226202826427 for the monthly ticket~(End of this chapter)