Qi Jiesheng[1] looked up from the scroll laid out in front of him, resting his gaze upon the young man who sat eagerly across the table.
"All right, everything seems to be in place," Qi Jiesheng started processing the mission request. "By the way, you know those Scarlet Leaf Sect members you brought in a few days ago? All of them are dead."
"Dead? All of them?" Zhao Yunxiao frowned. "What happened?"
"Apparently, they have been bound by some unorthodox technique that restricted them from divulging some secrets," Qi Jiesheng shook his head. "Poor folks didn't even know they were under such a thing, and died just like that."
"Is that so...?" Zhao Yunxiao sighed. "Did we at least get anything useful out of them before their deaths?"
"...I am only telling you this because you are the one who brought them in, but yes. Indeed, we have," Qi Jiesheng leaned over the counter and whispered. "It would appear that the Scarlet Leaf Sect is trying to open a secret realm somewhere. Unfortunately, we didn't get them to confirm which one and where."
"A secret realm, eh? I see," Zhao Yunxiao nodded. "Well, I am sure the sect administrators will figure that out sooner or later."
"I sure hope so," Qi Jiesheng shrugged. "All right, here you go. All the best on your mission."
"Thank you, Senior Martial Brother Qi. Farewell."
Zhao Yunxiao smiled to himself as he left the Outer Disciples Hall, pleased to have found a mission that suited his needs.
With that decided, Zhao Yunxiao headed to the Sect Market to replenish his supplies while casually checking out the pills that were on sale.
There were quite a few uncommon quality Winterwarmth Pills on sale, but the total number of rare quality Winterwarmth Pills was a staggering zero.
That explained why his pills sold out so quickly.
However, that was only for pills that had been put up for direct sale. In addition to those, there were also pills that had been up for timed auction, and those did include some rare quality Winterwarmth Pills.
When Zhao Yunxiao saw the price that they were going for, he could not help but feel tempted.
Some of them were already priced at double of what he had sold his pills for!
However, he quickly shook off the thoughts of greed that had surfaced in his heart.
While the higher sale price was definitely a huge plus, the prolonged exposure brought by these timed auctions would inevitably attract attention, and attention was the last thing that he wanted.
After all, unlike others who had refined the pills with pure alchemy skills and were thus proud to put their names to their pills, Zhao Yunxiao had relied heavily on the Divine Tether – a technique that could get him killed when revealed.
He liked money, but he liked being alive even more!
Even so, Zhao Yunxiao could not help but leave the Sect Market with a heavy heart before heading back to the Lightwind Pavilion.
"Kidnappings?" Nie Hanchang asked.
"That's right," Zhao Yunxiao nodded. "Reports have come in regarding multiple mysterious kidnappings involving numerous villages near Moonrise City. With the city hitting a dead end in their investigations, the city has enlisted the help of the sect just in case it involves other cultivators."
"Oh, it's Moonrise City again! But does the sect normally help cities with their criminal investigations?" Lu Zhiying asked.
"Not usually, but Moonrise City is an exception," Zhao Yunxiao explained. "As the city closest to Purple Plum Mountain, Moonrise City is unofficially under our control. So, it is not surprising that the sect has decided to take up this request to maintain order in the area."
"That makes sense," Lu Zhiying nodded.
"And since it only takes less than a day to get to Moonrise City, there will be some time buffer for us to return in time for the annual assessment even if the mission drags out," Zhao Yunxiao added. "Apart from the fact that there is some uncertainty with regard to safety, this mission checks all the boxes!"
And that included the fact that there were many shops selling pill ingredients in Moonrise City. There, Zhao Yunxiao had no need to worry about not being able to get the things that he needed!
"I'm in," Nie Hanchang said. "I would be able to help with the safety part."
"Can I join as well?" Lu Zhiying volunteered. "If we encounter any enemy cultivators, I promise not to get in the way!"
"Then I am going as well," Gu Qiansi said. "Someone needs to take care of Junior Martial Sister Lu just in case you two go crazy during a fight."
"Looks like all four of us are going then!" Zhao Yunxiao agreed. "Now, when should we set off? I am ready whenever you are."
Gu Qiansi fell silent, understanding that the question was not directed towards her.
Lu Zhiying, on the other hand, immediately turned towards Nie Hanchang. "Senior Martial Brother Nie, when do you think would be a good time for you?"
Nie Hanchang could not help but let out a wry smile.
While nothing had been mentioned explicitly, how could he not know what his companions were thinking?
"Let's leave tomorrow afternoon," Nie Hanchang suggested. "I will be attending the morning portion of Senior Martial Sister Mu's wedding. As for the banquet at night, that's too much of a bore. I know too few people there."
"Is that so?" Zhao Yunxiao smiled. "Sounds good. I will be attending the morning portion as well, so we can leave together after."
"You are?" Nie Hanchang was slightly surprised.
"Yeah, Senior Martial Brother Zuo invited me," Zhao Yunxiao said carefully.
Compared to Mu Manyu, Zhao Yunxiao was more familiar with the groom-to-be – Zuo Haowen.
"...I see."
"You are both going? Are you going as well, Senior Martial Sister Gu?" Lu Zhiying interrupted before Nie Hanchang could respond.
"Senior Martial Sister Mu invited me," Gu Qiansi patted Lu Zhiying lightly on her head.
"Am I the only one who won't be going?!" Lu Zhiying's face fell in disappointment.
"Oh? Do you know Senior Martial Sister Mu, Junior Martial Sister Gu?" Nie Hanchang asked out of curiosity, ignoring Lu Zhiying's complaints.
Why had he never heard of any connection between the two?
"What a funny question. How else would she get an invitation?" Zhao Yunxiao quickly brushed off the question. "In that case, we will see you at the Clear Thoughts Pavilion tomorrow afternoon then, Junior Martial Sister Lu."
He, too, knew that Gu Qiansi did not have any personal connection with Mu Manyu. It was probably because of the fact that she had gone to speak with Mu Manyu recently about the issue with Nie Hanchang, that Mu Manyu had politely extended an invitation to her.
However, Nie Hanchang did not need to know that.
"Ah! How upsetting!" Lu Zhiying pouted a little. "You lot better not be late tomorrow!"
"Don't worry, we will only be there for the morning," Gu Qiansi said while patting lightly on her head.
Having decided on the events for tomorrow, the group soon returned to their individual residences to retire for the night.
Zhao Yunxiao made a quick final check of his inventory to ensure that everything was in order before finally preparing for yet another night of meditation.
This would be the second night in a row that he would be cultivating with the rare quality Winterwarmth Pills. After he was done, he would only have eight left.
Would he be able to obtain more before he was finished with those?
He sure hopes so!
Once again, Zhao Yunxiao lit an incense and regulated his breathing before placing the rare quality Winterwarmth Pill in his mouth.
As the familiar, and at the same time addicting, burst of energy flowed out from the pill to flood his meridians and bolster his efforts in connecting them with the dantian, Zhao Yunxiao's consciousness was once again brought into the world of light.
This time, the dark silhouette stood alone in the vast expanse, facing a tower of darkness that rose high up before him.
All of a sudden, countless black tendrils emerged from the tower of darkness, as though they were living extensions of the tower itself. These black tendrils shot towards the dark silhouette in various fashions, some whipping across the air while others stabbed straight towards him like spikes.
Once again, a combination of both physical and essence energy erupted from within the dark silhouette as he started meeting the storm of black tendrils with a flurry of fists.
Bang-! Bang-! Bang-!
Each collision resounded like thunder, the impact pushing the dark silhouette back one step after another. However, he kept punching out at the oncoming tendrils, ensuring that not a single one of these black tendrils would get past.
Compared to the black arrows of last night, these black tendrils were actually way stronger. However, the dark silhouette was also more proficient with his movements and techniques now, enabling him to meet these black tendrils blow for blow.
Or at the very least, it helped him do so to a certain extent.
Stab-!
The first black tendril that slipped past his fist-powered defence pierced straight through his forehead. The world of light collapsed, and everything turned dark.
But soon after, Zhao Yunxiao's consciousness returned to the world of light, where the dark silhouette was once again facing the black tower and its countless tendrils.
Second round.
***
Zhao Yunxiao opened his eyes with cold sweat all over his body and a stabbing pain in his head. However, that was probably to be expected, considering the sheer intensity of the image training that he had kept at while cultivating all night.
It was amazing just how much more one could do when filled with energy from high quality cultivation pills.
But that was not the important part. Zhao Yunxiao promptly ignored the sweat on his body and eagerly inspected his dantian.
The results were just as expected. Yet again, the rare quality Winterwarmth Pill had proven its worth!
Zhao Yunxiao let out a deep breath to calm his excitement. At the same time, he was even more assured of his decision to go procure pill ingredients as soon as possible.
The pills would be running out in eight days, and now that he had a taste of such high quality cultivation pills, he did not want to go a single day without them!
Was this what addiction looked like?
Well, if being an addict could help his cultivation advance much faster without compromising his foundation, then so be it!
Zhao Yunxiao quickly completed his daily practice before heading out. This time, he was headed to the Inner Grounds.
It was the big day for the inner disciples Mu Manyu and Zuo Haowen.
They were certainly not the first disciples of the sect to get married, but most such weddings did not draw in nearly as much attention.
While neither of them could be considered leader-class among the inner disciples, their amiable personality forged great relations, and their undeniable talent regularly produced results to prove their worth. Because of that, both of them were rather popular not just in their respective factions, but also among other factions in general.
That was the reason why their wedding had turned into a grand celebration that was attended by sect protectors, deacons, and disciples of all factions. As the attendees gathered in a grand square, they were greeted by huge congratulatory banners that flew overhead and celebratory songs that lifted the mood.
The morning portion of the wedding involved official rites with their respective faction elders as the witnesses to their union, followed by games that they had organised for their friends and acquaintances. The afternoon was a time for rest, followed by a grand celebratory banquet at night.
As Zhao Yunxiao stood beside Gu Qiansi and Nie Hanchang in a corner of the grand square... as everyone's gaze focused upon the beautiful bride and handsome groom... he found his gaze lingering elsewhere – upon the man whom he had always regarded as his saviour, the man who had brought him back to the Black Tortoise Sect in his time of greatest need.
Elder Ying Qingmu.
Mu Manyu belonged to the Wei Faction, while Zuo Haowen belonged to the Ying Faction.
As the head of the Ying Faction, Elder Ying Qingmu was present to personally witness the wedding between Zuo Haowen and Mu Manyu.
How enviable.
When it came his turn to be married, would Elder Ying Qingmu accept his invitation to bear witness to his wedding?
Not the way he was right now, of that he was certain.
If he wanted Elder Ying Qingmu's acknowledgement, he definitely had to get stronger. Much, much stronger, to a point where Elder Ying Qingmu would have no choice but to acknowledge him!
"Are you all right?" Gu Qiansi whispered.
"Y-Yeah, I am," Zhao Yunxiao answered wryly.
"Who's worried about you? I am asking Senior Martial Brother Nie," Gu Qiansi rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, I am fine as well," Nie Hanchang answered with a helpless sigh as his gaze lingered upon the bride. "I haven't seen her this happy in a while. It's nice in a strange way."
"It's good to see that you have managed to accept it and let go," Gu Qiansi smiled before shooting a glance at Zhao Yunxiao. "Maybe you can learn a little from Senior Martial Brother Nie. It's high time for you to let go as well."
"Hmm?" Nie Hanchang looked at Gu Qiansi in confusion. "Let go?"
Zhao Yunxiao chose not to respond, and thus neither did Gu Qiansi. Seeing that, Nie Hanchang chose not to probe further either.
The ceremonial rites proceeded smoothly, and soon it was time for the games – a fun twist to the usually solemn wedding ceremonies.
As the two elders took their leave, the other attendees were each handed a small amulet. With these amulets, attendees were able to submit their answers to a set of trivial questions about the couple.
The atmosphere was light and jovial as the wedding chaperone threw out question after question, making the attendees answer them in order.
These questions involved guessing the thoughts, actions, drawings, writings, and past actions of each of the two main characters. After each question was asked, attendees were given a few options to choose the answer from, and anyone who got it right would have their amulets emit a light green glow.
From beside him, both Zhao Yunxiao and Gu Qiansi could see that Nie Hanchang's amulet glowed green after every question about Mu Manyu.
He answered every question about Mu Manyu correctly.
Every single one of them.
Zhao Yunxiao and Gu Qiansi could only exchange helpless glances without trading words.
In the end, points were awarded for all questions. So, while Nie Hanchang did get everything about Mu Manyu, he failed to rank highly among the attendees since he knew too little about Zuo Haowen. This also meant that he failed to qualify for the small prizes being given out to the top three attendees with the highest points.
Unlike Zhao Yunxiao.
Gu Qiansi had to consciously suppress her urge to roll her eyes as she watched Zhao Yunxiao casually walk up to collect his reward as the top scorer after answering every question correctly – regardless of whether they were pertaining to Mu Manyu or Zuo Haowen.
This guy...
It was a fortunate thing that he was not a spy for an opposing cultivation faction!
[1] Outer disciple of the Black Tortoise Sect. Works at the Outer Disciples Hall, specifically handling the administrative work for sect missions.