《Got Yeet into Murim (Xianxia-Wuxia Hybrid)》 Chp 1: A Lost Cause Blood... River of blood... No, a sea of blood. Surrounded by the sea of blood, a young girl in white. She was kneeling, by herself. Her eyes, closed shut. A mere teen, she had pale skin, and a pleasant face... if only... If only, she didn''t seem... so tired. Her long, white dress drenched halfway into the scarlet fluid. Her feet, her bottom, fully dipped in such filth. Filth no one, no sane person, would gladly associate with. They wouldn''t stay there, not for a second. Nope. Yet, she was just... there. Silent. Alone. ... ... After a long while, she opened her eyes, taking the horizon into her sight. Filling the horizon, mountains of corpses. Men, women, children, the elderly... Their opened eyes, filled with shock and horror, as if... injustice had befallen them. Their death was unjustified, unprovoked. And as their life left their body, they had cursed the vile perpetrator... With all their will, all their soul. ... Ten, twenty, thirty, a hundred... The girl already lost count of how many mountains there were. Blood flowing down such mountains, forming a sea of blood all around her. The surroundings had no tree, no water, no cloud... as far as eyes can see. The air was stagnant, and there was no noise, no living existence. It was a world reeking of death. A quiet world, where only she was left... Left within such a world, any normal person would be terrified. Yet... The girl, embracing her knees, did not react. As if numb to such massacre, the sight rose no interest. As if, the whole thing had nothing to do with her. Why should she show any interest at all? She tilted her head lazily. Her long, shiny black hair went to the side, touching the sea of blood. Soon, she completely fell sideway, splashing the scarlet liquid. The scarlet color filled her eyes... dead eyes. Her expression, devoid of energy, negated her beautiful face. From pale to blue, it was a face quite close to that of a cold corpse. Did she die already? She sighed. "It''s... getting..." Boring. That was what she was about to say. Yet the word didn''t come out of her mouth. Too much hassle. Some of that scarlet liquid also entered her mouth, but she didn''t care. She didn''t want to speak, nor move, nor think. Even speaking a few words, was too much work. Even moving was pointless, was too much work. Even thinking about her surrounding, was too much... Work. ... Work? Why should I work? Aren''t we all gonna die anyway? Look at these people forming mountains and lakes... Did they not work? Look at their muscles and calluses... They seemed like hard workers... no? What did they achieve, in the end? As she thought so, her head hurt. Such thinking was close to a philosophical question, it hurt her head badly. [Wake up.] A familiar, yet annoyed voice called upon her, urging her to wake up.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Who... So, noisy... She ignored such call, closing her eyes yet again. ... Cold wind blew. A jade eagle flew across the sky. Crossing passed the high clouds, its sharp eyes gazed through a mountainous region. Spanning thousands of kilometers, the region was vast. More importantly, the qi within the region was thick and pure. Lush, and rich with natural resources, it was a dreamland for many cultivators. It was a region known as the Pure Jade Mountain Range... The birthplace of so many famous cultivators, and home to countless spirit beasts in Core Formation and above. Within the mountain range, lay a majestic mountain. A truly gigantic mountain, at its bottom, was an ancient-like city. Home to over a hundred million people, commoners, and cultivators, it surrounded the mountain as if a thick belt. With its peak reaching the clouds, the mountaintop was shrouded in mystery. Most people, even cultivators, could only gaze at the mountain in deep longing. Without proper connection or cultivation, even seeing the top was not possible. While it was not possible for many, not a few had such privilege. Close to the top, beyond the clouds, thousands of tall houses and courtyards, with hundred of giant pavilions and halls stood in place. In the very middle of the mountain, a giant gate with two Qilin statues stood guard. It was the entrance of one of the top ten Super Sects on the continent, the Jade Qilin Sect. Established ten thousand years ago, it was the very foundation of the mountain-wide city surrounding the majestic mountain. It was said that the mountain was the home of a Dao Seeker Spirit Beast. It took the Jade Qilin Sect''s ancestor seven years to fully suppress the great beast and finally brought forth prosperity in the whole region... Down in the great city below, even powerful Core Formation cultivators, all they could do was catch a glimpse of the sect. Whenever the clouds turned thin, and light passed through, cultivators would make a commotion; "Look! I can see the Green Jade Pavilion!" "Hey, isn''t that the Great Qilin hall?" "Dream on! That''s an ordinary section elder''s hall." "Ah? How could that be? It looks too grand to be ordinary!" "Hmph! Poverty limits imagination. Even an ordinary elder''s hall looks majestic to you," "Ah? You''re also down here with me. How do you know it''s not the Great Qilin Hall?" "The Great Qilin Hall is located on the top, shrouded by thick cloud. How could ordinary cultivators like us catch a glimpse of it?" "Hey, isn''t that person there wearing the sect''s uniform? How envious..." The people discussed in avid interest. The sect had multiple halls directly under the supervision of a Soul Formation Elder. Each hall was tasked with training talented disciples for the sect. The discussed Great Qilin Hall, however, was the most famous. It was directly led by the sect master himself, so their disciples were a level higher than others. As the discussion went on, the cultivators shared what news they happened to hear regarding the Great Qilin Hall. It turned out, last month, the famed Inner Disciple of the Great Qilin Hall managed to establish her foundation at the age of sixteen. Many gasped at the news. Some even questioned its validity, calling it mere rumors. Many didn''t blame them. It was too surprising and overbearing. Even geniuses in great clans barely made it to Foundation Establishment at such age. Such a person usually was a direct heir. Yet an Inner Disciple managed to achieve that? And the news even stated that she was merely a commoner, with a family background to back her up. Her name was... "Xiao Lin? Never heard of her. Who is she?" "She''s a northerner, so I''ve heard." "Really? Filthy... Sorry, I mean, is she a beauty?" "Maybe. I heard she didn''t belong to any famous clan," "How could it be? A nameless disciple managed to achieve Foundation by 16?" "You jest! Even becoming the sect''s Outer Disciple is hard. An Inner Disciple is prestigious!" "Still... Such a person wouldn''t be unknown before this?" "Well, that''s because she was overshadowed by a certain person..." "A certain person? Who?" The people in the streets, restaurants and pavilions alike, seemed to be discussing the same thing. They said; "Well, that person used to be the sect''s prime hope. She was the sect''s direct heir," "Oh! I know her! She''s famous four years ago... What was her name again..." "Uh, so what''s the relation between this one and this girl Xiao Lin?" "Huhu, how things have changed... How ironic." "Stop leaving me hanging and finish already, old Wang!" "Well, that Xiao Lin girl, that new genius... used to be that heir''s..." "W-what! That can''t be true!" "Did they switch talent or something?" As the old man called Old Wang revealed what he knew, the listeners could not believe their ears. The discussion went on. Things became heated and listeners became excited. It seemed there wasn''t that much entertainment for cultivators, or perhaps they were just curious. As they did so, up in the mountain, beyond the clouds... ... Fierce beast, with jade eyes, staring unto the unknown. As if a mix of lion and dragon, its appearance gave off constant pressure and inspiration to those around it. A body of a horse, and thick twin horns, it was the mystical Great Qilin. With humongous physique, it was a monster able to completely raze cities to dust. Fortunately, the one on top of this mountain, was merely its statue. As if guarding the location, it was the Great Qilin Hall. This hall was truly gigantic. It was the prime location for the top Inner Disciples of the sect to practice, after all. They had different age groups, but the youngest age group was around twenty or younger. Today, a young girl went out from a small alternate door of the hall. Seemingly around sixteen of age, she turned her head to her left, seemingly avoiding the crowd gathering further in front of the huge hall door. She was low-key, and with her simple dress, she blended in with the surrounding. However, she did not go far. Her presence still caught the attention of the many young disciples around the hall. "Elder sister Xiao Lin!" "Elder sister, wait for us!" Seeing the girl in green, over a dozen or so teenagers rushed towards her. Boys and girls, all around her age, gathered around her. They were Qi Refinement disciples of the sect. Excitement filled them, they rushed toward her. Seeing the dozen or so rushing towards the spot, more and more young disciples gathered, surrounding her. Seeing their excitement, the girl seemed a bit anxious. This girl, was very one discussed in the topic of many cultivators recently, Xiao Lin. Forcing a smile, she greeted them; "G-guys, what''s up?" "Congratulations, elder sister, for your recent breakthrough!" ""Congratulations!!"" All of them saluted together, all in deep respect. Their action took her by surprise. She thought of letting ''that person'' know first, yet it seemed... some elders and senior disciples took liberty with the news. Just a month ago, she managed to break through to Foundation Establishment. It was a feat not many dared to even dream of achieving at such a young age. Being able to show promise early on was crucial. The reason was that early age, before twenty, was considered the golden age for constructing the body and thus, the cultivation path. Only a few top disciples managed to achieve it before twenty. Even excellent Inner Disciples of the sect only achieved it in their twenties. While it was already a month since, it was the first time she went out since she was too focused on stabilizing her condition. She did not tell anyone at all, but such news could not be suppressed even if she wanted to. The news was spread by the elders and senior disciples attending the Great Qilin Hall. It was just the first step onto the path of cultivation, but still... It was considered a blessing after all. "Congratulation, elder sister!" "Congrats junior, I knew you have potential," "Don''t forget us when you join the higher class soon!" "Yeah, with elder sister''s potential, being an elder is a sure thing!" "An elder? Elder sister could even be Ancestor''s disciple! What elder!" "Right! The hundred-year event, just two years away..." "Yeah, yeah! Who else is qualified?" The disciples surrounding her rained her with praises and their high expectations. A bit awkward, she entertained them for a while, before realizing her immediate business. "Thank you, everyone. Thank you, I''d like to chat, but I must hurry..." Refusing the goodwill of hundreds of her peers and even seniors was difficult, but she had to do it. She had been in seclusion for three months already. She was worried about a certain someone. Did she take a bath daily? Did she eat properly? She didn''t make a mess of her bed again, right? Is she still sleeping till the afternoon? Did she avoid her pills and skip her cultivation session again? Recalling the face of other maids attending to that person, she knew that could be the case. Others weren''t as attentive as her. They already grew weary and disappointed with that person, so their work was only so-so. Seeing her in a rush, the crowd reluctantly gave way. However, seeing she was heading to a certain mountain peak, one of the girls spoke out; "E-elder sister, do you have to attend to her?" Her question surprised the others. They were thinking the same thing, yet dared not say it. Since someone was brave enough to start, the others chimed in; "Y-yeah. You''re already in Foundation. You can leave such a job to others," "Right. You shouldn''t be her maid anymore. She''s a lost cause, while you..." "Sister, you''re our sect''s new hope! You can''t waste your time attending to her!" "That''s right! If she''s bullying you, let us..." Xiao Lin halted. She knew well what they meant. Going there and attending to that said person, she was indeed wasting her time. This precious time, could best be used for either studying or cultivating. She was in her prime after all. She needed to establish her position as a new genius in the world, otherwise... Many opportunities would be forgone, lost. However... "She''s not bullying me," That last statement she caught on bothered her the most. Turning around, she smiled at them, albeit bitterly. "Nobody forced me to do this. I do this cause I want to, so¡­" They thought that person was bullying her, not giving her enough time to cultivate. Not only that, there were nasty rumors¡­ Rumors that Xiao Lin didn''t even want to hear. Rumors such that, due to jealousy, that person was giving her a hard time, even threatening her with expulsion should she protested. She didn¡¯t know who the bastard who initiated such nasty rumor, but if she caught that devil¡­ ¡°Please do not spread such a rumor. If not because of the young lady, I wouldn¡¯t even be here,¡± When they implied that she should sever her current relationship with that person, she trembled. She gritted her teeth. She was angry, yet, she didn''t blame them. After all, what do they know? She still remembered, as clear as day. Back then, eleven years ago... It was a life filled with hunger and cold. All-day, dirty, despised... every time she woke up, there was nothing to look forward to. With her blonde hair and blue eyes, she was a ''filthy northerner'' after all. There was so much hatred among people because of the recent invasion and war. She could not comprehend what that meant, but all she knew was... Nobody would take pity on her, especially not there. It would be fortunate enough if she could get some edible leftovers from the trash before the dogs did. Barely surviving in the back alley, with no one else to depend on... A hand was extended to her. A gentle, warm hand... The hand she missed even to this day. No, especially today. It''s been three months, after all. ''Young lady...'' Didn''t bother explaining anymore, Xiao Lin leaped into the sky. With her newfound cultivation, she decided to fly on her own without using any flying artifact. With her turning her backs on them, the crowd looked on in silence. They felt there was injustice, but... They could not comprehend, why Xiao Lin, the genius of the sect, could not separate herself from that person. Someone who, even the sect elders had lost hope for... A lost cause. Chp 2: Black Sheep of The Family [Wake up...] Another familiar voice, yet this time, it did not sound annoyed. It sounds sweet... and caring. As if the voice, truly wished her to wake up... To wake up, properly. [Wake up, young lady...] "Annoying..." So she said. Yet, as she did, she opened her eyes. A bright, yellow sun... no, it was... hair. Bright blonde hair covered her view. Sideway, she heard the whisper for her to wake up. The culprit whispered so directedly into her ears. She was so close, lips almost touching her right ear. "Enough ASMR... I''m... awake," "Young lady, good morning," "Lin lin," What''s she doing here? Instead of coming here, just go cultivate. She wanted to protest, but... she was too drowsy to do so. Xiao Lin helped her raise herself halfway on the bed, then wiped her face with some wet tissues. The soft, warm tissues caressed her skin with much gentleness, all while she was doing nothing. Xiao Lin then took out a soft brush from a box, further cleaning the lady''s eyes with it. The brush was special to her. It only had one job, but she always carried it with her. As if happy doing so, Xiao Lin was humming to herself while the young lady was looking at her with dead eyes. Her humming seemed to have a certain tone on its own, as if a song. It was lighthearted. It was... full of hope. Soon, she took out a talisman. The gold talisman had a special inscription within it. It was a ''Cleansing and Refreshing Talisman''. She had this one very specifically made for her young lady, and it was a rechargeable version too. Activating it with a simple hand gesture, warm mist circulated around Yun Zhi, soon cleansing her whole body and dress. As if she had taken a complete bath, it was refreshing. No need to waste time bathing, how convenient! "Young lady, I''ll brush your hair next," "Emm," Sitting on her back, she took out a hairbrush. Soon, she brushed her hair with the same gentleness. Each time she brought down the hairbrush, a wave of energy surged within the lady. It was so comfortable, the young lady actually snoozed off. All while they were doing so, two maids were peeking at them just outside the room''s door. Seemingly a bit conflicted, they looked at each other, whispering; "How come elder sister Xiao Lin still come here? I thought," "How do I know! And she''s doing our work too," "Well, good for us anyway..." "What''s so good about it! She''ll scold us later," "Hehe, that''s the best part..." "Creep! You''re an M!" As they were bickering, Xiao Lin''s attention was all on her young lady. "Young lady Yun... should I brush more?" "Emm, more... stronger..." "Ahh, You''re really spoiled, young lady..." Xiao Lin complained, yet there was no dissatisfaction in her voice. She was smiling ear to ear, as if it was her dream job. Serving her young lady, lady Yun Zhi, seemed as though a bliss for her. People might call her a genius, praising her all day, greeting her with admiration... Yet compared to this simple satisfaction, those were nothing. The two maids, observing, could only ponder why Xiao Lin still held her in high regard. Ever since her behavior changed four years ago, people started to distance themselves from her. Who could blame them? Her behavior was beyond reprimand. It was strange though. Just five years ago, she was glorified. Able to achieve the thirteenth layer of Qi Refinement at twelve, even winning the Grand Qi Refinement Tournament, she was acknowledged as the top genius, in the whole continent. Even the little demon from the mysterious and powerful demonic cult acknowledged her as his rival. Alas... A year later, she failed to build her foundation. However, that should not be a big fuss. There were many, even among geniuses, who had to try at least twice to achieve Foundation Establishment. Yet, strangely... She seemed to be out of drive ever since, not wanting to do even daily cultivation. Her spirit seemed to have left. Her behavior turned stranger ever since. She started to murmur gibberish words people could not understand... Neet, yeet, yolo, mofo, lol, gg... All confusing words that never existed and baffled experts. As if possessed, she also ignored orders from the elders and even the sect leader, her father. Later, even her grandfather, the sect''s ancestor, was ignored. His wrath was witnessed by some elders, so the news could not be suppressed.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. At fourteen, she avoided people completely and continued to stay in her room. For young cultivators, being active outside was more profitable to the body than long isolation. She even did not attend the conference for the young blood, held only once a decade. After not participating in anything and not being in the limelight for a year, vile rumors spread. A rumor that she had given up on the path of cultivation spread like wildfire. It was initiated by vile people within their own sect and abroad. However, as it was not fake news, it was hard for her family and the sect to deny as days passed. More and more people started to call her a disappointment, sighing at the sect''s great loss. It would not be much fuss if she was a normal, good heir. However, since she was originally the prime hope of the sect, the light of the continent, she was deemed as an even greater... Failure. The black sheep of the family, and the sect. The great humiliation. The other top sects and clans often used her as the subject of ridicule. Even among the Jade Qilin Sect''s so-called allies, they used the word ''concern'' to initiate discussion on her among their peers, knowingly putting salt on the sect''s sensitive wound. The room, was a world of its own. Without care about what''s happening outside. "Oh, Lin lin, congrats..." "Young lady..." "Just call me... by name already," "I, I can''t possibly...!" It''s been four years since her failure to establish her Foundation. Xiao Lin did not understand what happened. Being her only maid then, she had seen her afterward. Laying on the ground, she was in total shock, as if something heavy was put on her all of a sudden. Her eyes were dead, as if light could not penetrate through. Her father was so terrified, he had to alert the ancestor that very day. The old monster came out of his seclusion right away, yet even this peak existence in the cultivation world, could not comprehend what happened. Her body seemed fine. Yet her soul... was shaken. Even when they asked her what she experienced, she kept her mouth shut. As if having her vitality sucked out of her, she became lifeless, almost like a zombie. Fortunately, it turned better after a month or so, but... She was never the same. She turned into a completely unmotivated person. Her condition had become worst in the last year. She wouldn''t even care to wash herself up. If left on her own, she might not even take a bath for three days. Some people said she had become too lazy from being spoiled rotten, but that just did not fit the whole story. She was very hardworking before! If she claimed as the second most hardworking disciple, no disciple would dare to claim first. Now that Xiao Lin, her handmaid, managed to establish Foundation before her lady... a feeling of guilt arose within her. After all, after Yun Zhi''s ''fall'', all cultivation resources she received, she gave to Xiao Lin. She was reluctant, but she still took some for use after her insistence. Yun Zhi was her lady, yet she gave all her cultivation resources to her maid. She was still in thirteenth Qi layer, a shy away from Foundation. For four years, it remained stagnant. Xiao Lin felt the irony of their situation. She used to have such a low position even among the youngsters, and she was on top. How cruel... She had used around ten percent of those resources she gave her. Thanks to that, she managed to get ahead, but... it didn''t feel as good as she thought. If only... If only Yun Zhi would show even a bit of envy or resentment towards her, perhaps she wouldn''t feel so guilty. When she was still wondering whether to thank or to apologize, Yun Zhi snuggled into her lap. As if wanting to continue her sleep, she held her thick thighs within her arms. It was plenty warm. And soft. "Y-young lady! It''s almost noon, you have to wake up..." "Naaa... Can''t I be spoiled... today?" "Y-you keep saying this every day the last time I took care of you!" "Ehh, why so stingy," "No... it''s not about me being stingy... mo," While Xiao Lin was complaining in a murmur, she took the liberty. Rubbing her face on her thighs, she felt the comfort she had not experienced for the last three months. Yep, the other maids just won''t do. They only did the bare minimum and did not even care that much about her. While she was grateful since she could sleep even more, she was missing out on this kind of warmth. Xiao Lin relented, patting her young lady''s back while she was snoozing. Yun Zhi and Xiao Lin, the lady and the maid... While their status and role in the sect seemed to have taken a complete turnover, this small moment reminded them of their younger days. Back then, Yun Zhi was the one taking care of her, now... The role seemed to have reversed somehow. As they were enjoying their quaint moment, it did not last long. BOOM--- A sonic boom erupted in the sky, shattering the tranquility that transpired a moment ago. Xiao Lin was startled; "A strike?!" But she was quick, covering Yun Zhi as if protecting her. She activated the room''s protective formation, blocking the whole area from outsiders. This formation was made by Grand Elders, so it should be able to withstand even attacks by top cultivators while blocking the prying eyes of Spirit Search. The maids outside were also shocked, but they did not react the same as her. Instead, they went out to check. Outside, a figure they knew well... stood in all their majesty. Lightning crackled around him, as if announcing the descent of a heavenly figure. In the sky, one could see the clouds clearly being separated by overwhelming force. Such force... was the top existence here. An old man, but with an appearance similar to a hot uncle. With white robe, white hair, and short, white beard, he was like another world''s existence. As if the world''s filth and dust, could not even touch him. It was the sect''s Ancestor, the Dao Seeker, Heavenly Sage Yun Tao. He was otherworldly handsome, but the maids could not stand there to appreciate such a view. Dared not tarry, both had knees down to the ground, saluting while eyes closed. Were they not curious as to why he came? Of course, they were. However, the sect had rules. It was not their position to ask anything to such a high figure. Unless being addressed, they could not ask any question. "Why''s the Grand Formation active?" His question was simple and slow, yet his tone carried such authority. The maids shivered, barely gathered their courage to reply; "M-my lord, elder sister Xiao Lin just arrived. She might''ve misunderstood," "Hm, fine. Stay," "Yes..." Walking in without a care, the Grand Formation only stopped him for a second. Ripples in the air occurred as he walked. As if sensing the authority of the guest, the formation did not block his way. "Lin-er, I''m entering," The man said so. Seeing the familiar figure entering, Xiao Lin realized her mistake. She kneeled while saluting; "Xiao Lin, pays respect to Lord Ancestor! Please punish me!" "You''re just protecting her. No need for such nonsense," "Xiao Lin thanked Lord Ancestor!" "Fuu... eh, why all the fuss," Yun Zhi, the center of all this, was still snoozing when she spoke. With sleepy eyes, she turned to see Yun Tao. "Ehh, this handsome uncle looks familiar..." Yun Tao''s eyes twitched. He did not see her for just a month, but it seemed her condition worsened. She acted as if she had already forgotten about him, her grandfather. Or did she really? "Y-young lady, that''s our Lord Ancestor, your esteemed grandfather..." "It''s fine, Lin-er. This lord is not here to waste time." "Lord Ancestor?" "I''m bringing her away. There might be a way to help her," "R-really?!" With such revelation, Xiao Lin could not help but react in excitement, almost jumping forward. Soon realizing her mistake, she lowered her gaze, saluting; "Please forgive me, Lord Ancestor... I forgot my place," "...It''s fine. She might need to leave for a long time. Prepare her stuff and say your goodbye. Be quick," "A long time... Lord Ancestor, can I..." "No," He knew what she wanted to ask. Being close to his granddaughter, she would ask to be by her side. While he had treated her kindly because of her loyalty, he knew where to draw the line. Leaving them be, the ancestor was greeted outside by the sect leader and elders. Meanwhile, Xiao Lin, a bit saddened by the sudden intrusion, caressed Yun Zhi''s face. While she was a year younger than the young lady, she got used to being her de facto guardian. Sighing, she took out her ring. It was a storage ring, with shining green jade. With it, she cleared all the wardrobes and daily essentials within the room. "Lin lin... what''re... you doing..." "Preparing your departure. Just stay there, young lady," Gazing it for a while, she took out some brushes and make-up she kept inside and stored them into a different ring on her other hand. The earlier ring was put onto Yun Zhi''s finger. "Young lady... I''ve packed your things. There are also cultivation resources inside. Use them well," "Ehh, I gave them all to you," "Nuh um, I used what I need already, a lot. It won''t be right for me to use more," She barely used 10% of them, yet she made it sound as if she had used a lot more. Soon, she helped her change her sleepwear into something acceptable, a simple white dress. Knowing the Ancestor wouldn''t like waiting for long, she supported her to stand, bringing her outside with haste. === Chapter 2 End === Chp 3: Salted Fish When they came out, Xiao Lin could see about a hundred Elders and a thousand Honor Guards, well lined up to receive the Lord Ancestor. In front of everyone, besides the Lord Ancestor, were the eight Grand Elders, and also Yun Zhi''s father... The Sect Leader, Yun Chen. "Xiao Lin, pays respect to Sect Leader!" Yun Chen could see how well Yun Zhi was dressed, despite her dispirited demeanor. He knew immediately how much effort Xiao Lin put into preparing this young lady of hers. Seeing the proper girl, all grown up and already stepping into Foundation, he smiled. The sect had yet another genius to look forward to. Comparing her to his daughter right now... Aiii... Why did it come out to this? Did he do unjust things in his past life or something? "You''ve done well, Lin-er. You''ll be promoted to Core Disciple soon. Zhi-er, come," With her father calling her over, Yun Zhi felt dread. Whenever this old fossil called her over, it was always something about cultivation, study, or work... Can''t you give me a break? Taking cover behind Xiao Lin, she protested; "No." "...Stop being spoiled. We can do this the easy way, or..." "No is no!" "This little," Through the years since her change, she had become a hardcore shut-in. Apparently, she called herself a neet, asking others just to ignore her and live their merry life. I don''t disturb you, you don''t disturb me. Over the years, she barely had seen the sun. Her skin became as pale as a corpse. If one didn''t force her, she wouldn''t even come out for weeks. Even worse, she absolutely abhorred work. Forcing her to work was equal to torturing her. At a glance, her behavior could easily be misinterpreted as being spoiled, super spoiled. People who did not know the whole story would no doubt be appalled. Even the elders, who knew quite well she was suffering from something mysterious, could not help but felt repulsed and disappointed. Seeing her disgraceful behavior in front of so many, Sect Leader Yun raised his hand, and was about to do it the hard way... "S-sect Leader, please wait," Xiao Lin covered for her. Seeing Sect Leader Yun was about to take drastic measures, she turned to Yun Zhi; "Young lady, they aren''t here to make you work... Lord Ancestor wants to take you somewhere to cure you," "But... don''t wanna. I''m not sick." "Don''t be like this... Besides, didn''t you say you often have nightmares and headaches? After you''re cured this time, I''m sure they''ll go away," "Really?" "Really," "But, it looks like I''ve to travel far..." "You can just sleep on the way. You''ll be flying anyway, so it''ll be a comfy ride! You''ll feel the wind in your face. Un, it''ll feel great," "Uhh..." Looking at Xiao Lin''s excited expression, Yun Zhi felt conflicted. She didn''t want to go. However, she wasn''t stupid. Even if she protested and threw a tantrum, if her father wanted it bad enough, she couldn''t stop it. Seeing the assuring face of Xiao Lin, Yun Zhi sighed. It was too much work to protest. Might as well get it done and be over with. The world truly is unfair. Can''t a salted fish be left alone? I just wanna eat and sleep... "I guess, if I''m sleeping anyway..." "Good! Then," She sent her over to her father, who nodded in appreciation. Yun Chen raised his finger. With that, Yun Zhi floated freely by his side. Just as Xiao Lin had stepped back, she recalled something. Taking out a talisman from her storage ring, she called; "Sect leader, a moment please?" Seeing her asking so sincerely, he nodded. Approaching the floating Xiao Lin, she grabbed her hands. "Young lady, please take this," "Ehh... Cleansing talisman? Isn''t this yours?" "I want you to have it... It''s qi-rechargeable, so it''ll last a long time. Just don''t overcharge please," "...Lin lin... Isn''t this item, you always..." "A pity I don''t have anything worth much... Just consider it a parting gift." "T-then, I''ll also give Lin lin a parting gift. Wait," As though thinking something through, she had her eyes entirely on Xiao Lin. Nodding, she recited; Eyes as clear as the blue sky Hair as bright as the morning sun Friends are easy to come by Yet a true friend is... like a son? She tried to compose a poem, but it was terrible. It was a jumbled mess, words were all over the place. It was nonsense, at best. She should never attempt to be an artist, ever. Upon hearing the poem, Lord Ancestor and the Sect Leader, thought the same thing... Her mind is still there. Yun Zhi had always been bright, able to master different fields much quicker than even their top sect disciples. However, she was not perfect. Her interest in poems was deep, yet unfortunately, she had no sense for it. The fact that she wanted to repay Xiao Lin with her very own poem, proved that... Whatever thing she was inflicted with, she had yet to lose her mind completely... Not yet. There''s still a trace left. At the same time, the elders, as well as Xiao Lin, upon hearing the nonsense poem, felt cringed all over. They had heard her no-sense poems multiple times, only smiling forcibly as a kind gesture. Xiao Lin however, grinned. A sincere grin, replying; "Terrible poem, young lady... but," Terrible, yup. Still, it was made for me... "I''ll take it. No one''s taking it from me, I''ll treasure it," "Alrighty. Take care, Lin lin," "You too, young lady..." "My name," "Ah, name...?" She reminded her to call her by name. By that, she meant the nickname Xiao Lin used to call her affectionately when they were children. Xiao Lin had to change the way she addressed her after an elder warned and had her undergo training about the ethics and rules of the sect. Knowing this was a private matter, and it was a goodbye...This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. "Take care, Zhi Zhi..." A tiny bit of tears came out of her eyes. She had just met her again after three months of isolation. On the very day, she had to say goodbye. And... this might even be a long goodbye, one she had never experienced before. Yet a smile still beamed out of her face, as bright as day. She had to send her with a smile, at least. After that parting smile, Sect Leader Yun brought Yun Zhi over to his father, the Lord Ancestor. With the ancestor gesturing to the elders, all of them flew into the sky in batches. All flew, to escort the top figures in the sect safely to their destination. That day, down the Pure Jade Mountain Range, the people in the city and surrounding area were astounded. All eyes toward the sky, they watched in awe and terror... Not knowing what to expect. Was it another war, some disaster, or...? The sight of over a thousand cultivators from the Jade Qilin Sect flying high in the sky, mesmerized them. These were elites of the elites. The experts in the city sensed that most of them were Yuan Ying experts. Yuan Ying experts were top leaders in a mid-sized clan. To see a thousand of them move in tandem... Moreover, there were even a hundred elders, all Soul Formation experts! What big move was this? Leaving behind trails of lights as they moved through the zenith, everyone watching... stood in complete bedazzlement. Shaaa---- Huge waves in the sky. Cultivators with deep cultivation flew together. Their flight was uniform, as if in a formation. Everywhere they passed, people made a commotion. The sight was more magnificent than seeing dozens of airships passing over. After all, these people all had high cultivation. People of their caliber would not have simple background. Many surrounding experts pondered whether a huge war would erupt, or an extermination would occur. Their flight did not remain a mystery for long. Their flight path made it obvious that they were heading toward one of the top places in the continent... The Heavenly Knowledge City. As the sect did not bother covering it up, the news would soon spread throughout the region. All of them were from Jade Qilin Sect, escorting their leaders to cure their young lady of her ailment. This news shut many people up. Especially those, who never wished she would ever be cured. Soon, they were able to see the city. A megacity with over a hundred million people, it spanned throughout the wider region. With huge halls and towering pavilions, people kept coming into the city from all over the world. Some braved the most perilous journey to make their pilgrimage to this part of the world, a place known as... The holy land of knowledge. Surrounding the megacity were mountains and huge trees, faunas with variant colors. Multiple airships were flying high up the sky close by, and many kept hovering by the air docks, awaiting their turns. In the city center, in a shape of a gargantuan tree, stood aloof a monstrous library, covering a wide area right in the middle of the city. With its huge one-hundred and fourteen floors, it towered other buildings, making itself known as the very landmark of the city. Millions of people came and went through the library on a daily basis, making it the busiest place in the region. The people in the city, even in the suburban areas, could always tell where the city center was due to this library. Vibrant natural colors accompanied the lively landmark, aptly called the Tree of Knowledge. The sight of it alone mesmerized many... Still, no matter how close, none could pierce their gaze into the library from the outside. Yet intriguing enough, just like a tree with sparse leaves, the building let sunlight freely passing through... Thus, even at its very bottom, life flourished. "The Tree of Knowledge..." "I''ve heard about it many times, but..." "Simply heavenly," "Quite unbelievable," Many of the Honor Guards, the Yuan Ying experts escorting the Lord Ancestor and Sect Leader, committed the view into memory. Though it was a shame, they could not visit the library or the city, not yet. Their destination was the highest mountain facing them, the place where the overlord of the region resided. The city and the library, were both established and reigned by this overlord.. The reclusive, Sacred Star Sect. As one of the top sects on the continent, it had similar power to that of the Jade Qilin Sect. Though it was well-known, it was also regarded as reclusive. This was because contrary to most powers, it kept its inner circle so few that it remained a mystery to everyone. Rumors had it that it only had the Founder as its Sect Master since the beginning, none other. And, the Sect Master so far had one disciple, just one. Which begs the question, how could the sect function, then? The sect still had its stewards, powerful cultivators under the command of the Sect Master. The stewards controlled the region through the sect''s proxy, and adhered to the principle of freedom within the rule of law. It turned out really well. The major powers under the sect appreciated the fact that their patron sect did little to interfere with their business, if at all. As long as they adhered to the law, the sect would remain quiet most of the time. The Sacred Star Sect, being the master of the Heavenly Knowledge City, had a similar reputation. It craved knowledge more than any other. Any major power would pay tribute not in material riches or treasures, but with discovery or research findings. The oddball sect came into existence during the same era as the Jade Qilin Sect, and they even shared a common history... "Huahh-- brrr---" Sleepy. And quite cold too. Yun Zhi, barely managed to wake up, caught sight of the megacity. That huge tree library in the city center especially, was quite special. Even for her, who had lost a lot of interest in the living world, still had that inkling of interest. Soon, the shining mountain caught her eyes. It had the same vibe and light as that library... Even more so, for the mountaintop. Though it was veiled by the clouds, its shine could not be dimmed. Still, such shine was only visible in her eyes, not in others. She just could see differently... That mountain... She knew their destination was there. As they flew, her father already briefed her on their destination and purpose. They were heading towards the Sacred Star Sect, where her grandfather''s old friend resided. The Venerable Star Saint. Founder and Sect Master of the Sacred Star Sect. A peerless expert even the Old Ancestor dared not offend. Knowing Yun Zhi could not listen for long, her father explained her situation to her in the simplest way. Her condition was too bizarre, but the saint might be able to help her. However, there were conditions. One of them was to bring her here, and she might need to spend quite some time recovering. Another condition was... Well... "You''ll know when we meet the wise saint," "Ehh, why so mysterious, so troublesome," Yun Zhi complained in a lazy tone "You... aii," Her father decided to save his breath. Ever since the change began, she became a neet who complained over simple things. She seemed to have lost interest in many things, and disliked putting forth extra effort. It was a complete reversal from her previous attitude, truly frustrating. She used to always put forth the extra mile, shocking every elder responsible for teaching her. But now... While her current behavior irked him, the father just sighed, knowing well she was not her normal self. Right then, she was being towed in flight by him. Most of the time, she only slept. Even when they were passing through the three majestic long-range teleportation portals, she held not much interest at all. Usually, youngsters would be filled with excitement. After all, long-range teleportation portals were too rare and costly to be used casually. Activating just one would require a huge amount of resources. Going through the portals was also the reason why they had to fly here by themselves, and not by airships. By going through three teleportation portals, they managed to bring Yun Zhi over within just a week. If they boarded an airship, it might have taken them a month or so. While this region was just next to theirs, the territory of both regions was vast, so it could not be helped. Since Yun Zhi''s condition was becoming worse, they had to make it quick. Time was of the essence. "Dad... why bother? All this work... so much travel," Seeing them all excited as they were about to arrive, Yun Zhi voiced her protest, as if what they were doing was either pointless or not worth it. Hearing so, Yun Chen reprimanded; "It''s all for you, foolish daughter. Stop questioning," "Ehh, I never ask for help or anything... besides, I''m just a salted fish..." "Don''t call yourself that!" "... You know dad, if you''re... so worried about the rumors," Yun Zhi paused. She might not have her previous liveliness or spirit, but she was no idiot. She knew her condition was being used by others to tarnish the sect''s name, bringing much shame to her father and that hot uncle, uh, grandpa? "Just throw me somewhere far away... I can just all dry up and not disturb anyone... Yeah, just like a proper, salted fi..." "Stop, saying, that... or I''ll get really mad," "Uhh, fine..." Facing her father''s anger, Yun Zhi halted her complaining... uh, reasoning. Looking at his mumbling daughter by his side, Yun Chen felt guilt. He hated anyone calling her salted fish. Moreover, to hear his own daughter addressing herself as one... As though a sharp needle had pricked his heart, it hurt so... It was an empty kind of pain, yet it was clearly... there. Years ago, when she no longer had any desire to do anything, rumors spread. At the time, he truly felt like his face had been marred. He sought her out with much fury, and scolded her badly for it... as if she was the one at fault. "Why are you like this?! Do you know what they call you? Salted fish, salted fish! Where am I going to keep my face? Do you know how embarrassed I was? I can''t even face the elders!" "Ehh, salted fish? Um, maybe they''re right? Let them say what they want dad... I can''t be bothered. Let me be," "You... Useless!" Pak! ...! His reminiscence grasped his breath. As if seeing the whole event again in front of his eyes, he pondered... ''Back then... why couldn''t I... stay my hand?'' When he slapped her and called her useless, the girl did not protest. She just returned him a silent smile... A smile with that red, bloody cheek of hers, as if agreeing to his insult. You''re right dad, I am useless... That face, as if giving up entirely, haunted him. Though he didn''t use his qi, it was still strong. The cheek swelled bad. Xiao Lin, who was watching at the time, was already in tears. Embarrassed and enraged, he left the two alone. The younger Xiao Lin embraced his daughter, checking on her frantically. ''Why did I do that... Zhi-er...'' He felt guilty about it, but he was too prideful. He never apologized for that slap and insult. The man knew her condition might not be her fault, it was too strange after all. Yet, he still could not avoid blaming her for a time, but... Worse than that, he failed to protect her from this vileness, spread by short-sighted people. It was fine if it was just their enemies, but... Even their allies and people in the sect, already left behind manners and values... As if, the whole ordeal they were facing, was a blessing to them. "Did you hear? The young miss turned into a salted fish!" "Yeah, but not just any salted fish! A salted fish... with super extra salt!" "Ah? One you can''t swallow at all, and had to throw upright? Huhu," "What the hell? A top genius became like that just cause she failed once?" "You for real? Did she think she''s some kind of God, can''t even accept failure?" "It seemed our Jade Qilin Sect had lost its most valuable gem... Aii, a pity!" "Aiya, truly a pity... aiya..." Recalling the various vile comments made by his own people, he sighed. ''Vile people,'' Was it envy, or jealousy? Was it a conspiracy, wanting to tarnish their name further? Did they feel better, putting salt into the gaping wound of their own sect? The funny thing was, these people were the very same people who kept praising her back then, when she was performing above others. How many congratulations did he receive from the very same people, for having such an amazing daughter? For having secured the future of the sect? Such change... When people on top fell flat on the ground, the ones at the bottom stepped on them without hesitation... Why? ''Whatever the reason was, it didn''t matter... Zhi-er...'' He failed to protect his daughter from this evil intent circulating around the sect... It even influenced the youngsters in the sect. Even they no longer see her favorably. ''What kind of father am I...'' How will he ever face his wife should they ever meet again? Will she not blame him? Before she left, didn''t he vow to protect her, no matter what? Sighing, he noticed they had passed the city, now within the vicinity of the Sacred Star Sect''s mountain gate. As they went closer, the power of the Myriad Star Formation of the sect reigned in on them. "This... their formation?" "What a formidable force..." "Our flight qi... dissipate?" "Wonderful... wonderful formation!" The escorts felt it clearly. Even elders in Soul Formation Stage were affected, not to mention those in Yuan Ying. They still had some distance from the gate, but it had shown its power without being tyrannical. Such power, was able to put a strain on their flight without harming them, slowly forcing them to a halt. When that happened, the Old Ancestor sent his message over, politely informing his friend of his arrival. A reply came, and the restriction came off. He flew up towards the highest peak on the Sacred Star Mountain, while his entourage followed suit. Chp 4: Instinct Beyond the clouds. On the mountaintop, a golden gate emerged. Built into the mountain, beyond this golden gate of the Sacred Star Sect, was its most important place, the Founding Hall. The hall was wide, enough to accommodate even ten thousand people comfortably. Ancestor Yun and Sect Leader Yun Chen, along with the floating Yun Zhi, only these three were allowed in. Even the Grand Elders at Peak Soul Formation, had to stay patiently outside. Golden light flickered in the surrounding walls. In the middle of the hall, stood a man with a silver robe. Eyes on a circle of green light, it was a formation covering half of the hall. He stood with utmost attention to the formation, as if even a speck of invading dust would catch his eye. Yun Zhi saw him. Tall and with vibrant energy, his shining black hair and more youthful appearance than her all-white grandfather. Yet, her impression of him was still quite similar... "Woah... handsome uncle," "Zhi-er!" Reprimanded by her father, she pouted. Turning toward the three, the man smiled politely. "Star Formation Gate, link established. You came just in time, old friend." "You''ve worked hard, good friend. I''m ashamed," "Don''t be, lest things be awkward. Come," Greeting the old ancestor nonchalantly, the handsome uncle was none other than the Venerable Star Saint. As a mysterious existence who stood at the peak, not many people knew him personally. However, that did not mean he did not have connections. Yun Zhi''s grandfather Yun Tao was one of his few friends. As a fellow Dao Seeker, he had no qualm addressing him conveniently. Besides, it was Yun Tao who requested his help, and he was actually doing him a huge favor. He had spent a lot to establish and link the formation, and had been careful not to ignore even the slightest trace of error. This Star Formation Gate was a tricky formation, one entrusted to him by a mysterious figure. Looking at the three, he nodded to Yun Chen before paying attention to the floating girl. He smiled at Yun Tao; "So this is your granddaughter. Quite a fine lady," "She was... Until that happened," "Hm... Have you briefed her of the other condition?" "This... Forgive me, friend, I haven''t yet," "Well, no matter. Now might be the right time," He observed the young lady. Aside from being a bit undernourished and lacking sun exposure, she actually had a solid base. Her body was better than any genius youngsters in the Thirteenth Qi layer. A shy away from establishing her foundation, he could see no reason why she would fail, none. Like her grandfather had mentioned, he could sense nothing wrong. Then, it meant that whatever inflicted her, required a deeper understanding of the nature of the cause. Something that, even Dao Seeker Cultivator, top existence in the continent, did not qualify to analyze. Seeing her confused face though, reminded him of that mysterious lady... Could all this... calculated earlier? It was intriguing, and he was certainly curious. However, he knew his limit. That lady had done him a huge favor. And, considering her ability, there was no need to go to a great length just to deceive a junior. Sighing, there was nothing else for him to do other than trusting her. "Yun Zhi, Zhi-er, can I call you that?" "Ehh... no problem, handsome uncle. I don''t mind--" "Zhi-er..." Seeing her daughter so blatantly ignored manners in front of such a senior, her father had a cold sweat. Yet, contrary to his dread, the saint did not mind in the least. "Haha, good! Then, why don''t we start explaining?" Turning to his friend, the saint hinted that for the grandfather to tell her first. Nodding, the ancestor approached Yun Zhi, explaining; "Zhi-er, there is a chance for us to deal with your ailment once and for all. But, there are conditions we need to fulfill before we proceed..." "Ehhh, not more work, right?" "This girl, no, not much work... First, you just have to," She just had to accept the Venerable Star Saint as her master, paying him respect and offering him tea as per tradition. Hearing the weird condition, she felt suspicious. Turning to the handsome uncle, awkward, she asked; "Ehh, Uncle, Yun Zhi think highly of you... For you to... Aii, get an honest job... scamming young girls won''t get you anywhere--" ""Zhi-er!"" Hearing her utter nonsense, both her father and grandfather reprimanded her in a hurry. What scamming young girl? Does anyone need to scam you? He''s a Dao Seeker, you slacker! Hearing her unexpected response, the saint seemed amused. Was such fearlessness comes from her unique ailment? She seemed able to say what she was thinking directly. This could also be the reason why so many people in the sect avoided her, including maids and elders. Responding to her reply, he said; "It''s nothing of such. It''s just a condition you and I had to abide with. Think about it, why would I want to scam anyone, especially a junior like you? If I want anything, I would just be out and clear about it, wouldn''t you say? After all, power is... not everything, but quite close." "Eh, makes sense..." What he said, seemed to fit her logic more than her initial analysis. However, she still caught what he had said. She asked; "You and I had to abide? Who could force you, uncle? You''re a Dao Seeker, right?" "Aha, you caught that one? My mistake then. My patron told me to... She said if I''m doing a favor, it ought to be justified. Otherwise, people would take it for granted. So,"This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. "So me being your disciple... would justify you helping me out, uncle?" "Rightly put," "Is it costly? The cure?" "Oh? Yes, quite high, even for me. But calling it a cure... not accurate. There''s no direct cure, just a way." "W-what do you mean?" Startled, Yun Zhi felt dread. If it was not a cure, then what the heck the formation in front of her was for? "I''ll be sending you to someone who can. He or she will help you," "What... why can''t it be you who help?" "Unfortunate, I don''t have such ability. But worry not, the one on the other side can be trusted," "But, where..." Was it another long-range teleportation? She had enough of such a freaking pathway. It was like going on a water slide. Fun, you say? Well, it might be. But, instead of just a few meters high... Hell, it was a water slide from high orbit, pushed by ferocious flowing Qi. Every time she went through that, her head turned all dizzy. Which was earth, which was heaven? Who am I, even? It was that dizzy! She turned to look at the formation. Reminding herself of what the saint had mentioned before, she recalled it was... "Star Formation Gate... T-teleportation? Star, Gate? Link?" "You caught on quite fast. Yes, this one will send you to another star," "F-frick me! Uncle, you''re gonna yeet me out of the bloody planet?!" ""Yun Zhi-er!"" Her father and grandfather could not take it anymore. The way she spoke was truly bizarre. What if she really offended this saint? There was no telling if her grandfather could find any other expert as capable as him within even a hundred years. After all, all Dao Seekers were aloof people. They might entertain you for a while since you''re a peer. But, to do such a huge favor... Sending anyone to another star, was not feasible even to most Dao Seekers. It was a feat only immortals in heaven were capable of. That was why, among the Dao Seekers, the saint had a special position. He was not yet an immortal, but close. He might even know some of them. ''So, girl... You better behave, or else!'' The stare of both top cultivators reigned down on her, making her whole body shiver. "Ehhh---" Yun Zhi, realizing how adamant they were, she could only lament her fate. She was about to be yeeted out of the planet, and she still had to be grateful? Thinking about it, why, why? Ahh, her mind almost fried. Her brain had not used this much processing power in over four years... "For now, don''t think too much," The saint assured her. Smiling at her with full sincerity, he said; "Instead of thinking, just use your instinct. It''s faster and better, considering your current condition," "Instinct..." "What does your instinct tells you about me? Is it trust, or avoid? Just let it guide you," "..." That statement calmed her. That''s right. She had not use her brain much for many years. Trying to analyze so much at once would not be good. The brain had rusted quite a bit... the gears were clunking like an old engine... Instinct, huh... Observing his face, she recalled her first impression. She had always had confidence in her first impression. Back when she was six, she had asked her father, why people seemed so obvious with their character. They should hide them, or at least try. At first, her father was confused. It sounded as though from the very first time she saw anyone, she knew whether that person had good value or not, to be trusted or not. In her eyes, their character was all in naked form! While it was not a hundred percent, it pretty much told her what situation the people in front of her had faced, and the decision they had taken before. Later, she learned from a theory, that people''s faces carried certain signs based on their previous thought and action. A lecher carried a certain edgy, unpleasant face that invited her the urge to slap him. A thinking person tended to be careful with their eyes, breathing, and mouth. They leaned on observing more first before concluding anything. They held their judgment till all facts were scrutinized. A dishonest person carried an unnatural sharp face, in an unbalanced manner. It shouted betrayal even a hundred meters away. When they said things, some of their inner thought slipped out as a joke... take note. A foolish person could not control his mouth and tended to believe things easily if it was in his favor. As long as that was what he wanted to, or the news was brought by favored people... They could not see beyond the immediate consequences of certain actions. A leader would be sensitive to details, would not demean his people, and would be genuinely concerned with his people by the virtue of action. They would sacrifice their time, energy, and resources for the good of their people. The planning would be meticulous and detailed, and the action taken would be decisive. Words carried little value to judge them, since those in a leadership position were all capable speakers, to some degree. Their face would carry maturity and determination... not confusion. When asked about their work, they could clearly tell the process, the challenges, and at least, the solution they were considering. And there were several other characteristics she had familiarized herself with. And she was able to tell, by instinct... Who they were... Through their face. Such was her natural talent. Her father and grandfather did not take her seriously at first. But, as she analyzed different cultivators whom she had just met, with no prior background information... Both were convinced. "Lin lin..." The saint''s statement reminded her of Xiao Lin. At the time, she was barely six and Xiao Lin was five. Seeing her for the first time, it was a pitiful sight. However, rather than feeling pitiful or sympathy... She felt admiration. Xiao Lin''s face was that of innocence... It was not surprising, since she was a mere five. However, there was more. Her face was as if saying, that she would go the extra mile to those who took her out of the hellhole, that city. Her expression was screaming help to the whole world... yet, no one was picking it up. No one, except her. At the time, Yun Zhi was visiting a border city with her father. The city had suffered a terrible invasion from the northern cultivator alliance. It was a terrible time, and much more so for a young one who carried the blood of the northerners. Racism and intolerance were at their peak. She was often beaten up just by the virtue of her hair and eye color... by her blood. Save me, please... At that time, the poor child''s message to the world... The young Yun Zhi, answered it. When she was hungry, she provided for her. When she was thirsty, she handed the cup to her. When she was sick, she tended to her. When she was fearful, she assured her. And, when she was unwelcomed, she invited her. That was why, to Xiao Lin, she was... Her whole world. ... As for Yun Zhi, meeting Xiao Lin, was a pivotal event in her life. She had no siblings, so... having Xiao Lin, was similar to having a little sister. She wanted to feed her, entertain her, amuse her, make her happy... It was a longing of sorts. Due to her position and ability, she had been wary of others since childhood. However, she could be herself when she was with Xiao Lin. Taking her back into the sect was perhaps her best decision so far... Some people who knew about it back then, did not think too much about it. They thought that it was a mere child''s whim, as if picking up a toy. Perhaps after a few months, she would lose her interest. Yet, contrary to it, she did not do it out of a whim... "That was, from instinct... different from a mere whim, but..." All of a sudden, she remembered the cleansing talisman Xiao Lin gifted her. It was her first use of her allowance, requesting a special talisman that was rechargeable. She had treasured the talisman, taking it with her everywhere she went. Now... Sending her little Qi into her storage ring, it was there. The talisman Xiao Lin had used to cleanse her whenever she turned dirty from the soil, drenched from training, or simply too busy to take a bath. She had used the talisman on her for who knows how much. "...Lin lin, little sister," She truly appreciated Xiao Lin''s existence, and vice versa. Of course, there was no guarantee that this time, it would bear the same fruit. Taking someone as the master meant to fully pledge allegiance to him. It was as if taking a second parent, some said it was more than that. Plus, she had no idea what awaits her on the other side... Was it an immortal, or a monster? Would they even help her? Then again, the whole ordeal just depended on this question; ''Is this uncle, trustworthy?'' Before taking a stranger as a master, even if he was her grandfather''s friend, she still knew to be deliberate about it. It should never be a mere whim, but... Right then, she took a good look at the saint''s face. This uncle had all the resemblance of a young adult. Her grandfather also looked youthful, but he at least had all his hair and small beard white. He, had all hair black, no beard, and had such a vibe coming from him. It was a pure, lively vibe. Taking in the saint''s visage, Yun Zhi uttered; "Mysterious, deep secrets... a lot of responsibility... do not take as enemy," Her black eyes glimmered as though she was reading an open book. Seeing her analysis of his character read out in the open, the Venerable Star Saint nodded in faint agreement. However, he did not expect it to go even further; "A lot of knowledge... beyond this world, connection... the whole world under gaze... under one''s feet," Yun Zhi continued uttering. "Definitely will... deliver, promise. Trust? Blurry... but, definitely never betray... Ugh," She shook her head. A headache, a splitting one. She held her head together, as if preventing it from bursting. "...She''s more than we thought, old Yun," "Hm? What do you mean?" The saint addressed the grandfather, causing him quick confusion. The saint replied; "Still, it''s better if she could keep it to herself. Otherwise, she''s inviting trouble," "Ah, you mean her impression of others? Well, I certainly say it''s amusing... but, why don''t we help her first?" They both observed her, soon waving their hands at once. Vibrant energy swept over Yun Zhi, and soon, her headache passed. It didn''t hurt anymore. Gaining her calm, she had her eyes directly into the saint''s eyes. As if conveying something to him, she nodded, soon kneeling and saluting; "Disciple Yun Zhi, pays respect to master! Please receive my kowtow," "Em, but no need for kowtow. Just serve me tea," "Is instant one okay?" Uhuk uhuk! Just as the saint admitted her, she immediately changed her tone to casual. The abrupt change had her father by her side, coughed out loud. This girl is too brazen! What instant tea? Properly brew one! "Haha, very well!" The saint clearly did not mind. Yun Zhi took out a teapot from her storage ring, put in water, then heated it up to a boil using her Qi. Right then, she put in a pack of tea leaves. Swirling the pot in her hand, she soon poured out the tea into the cup from her ring. True to it being an instant, the tea was done quite fast. Kneeling, she offered him a cup with both hands. "Disciple Yun Zhi, offered master a cup. Please accept," "Em," Her demeanor was seriously not graceful. It was as if someone who hurriedly making tea for an uninvited guest she did not like. Then again, the saint did not complain. He knew her condition. Even keeping up her focus in the long conversation she had with him, already put a strain on her psyche. For common people, it''s like forcing them to serve customers for several days in a row, with no rest. Any normal people would collapse soon after, so... Her making him an instant tea, was enough. The Venerable Star Saint accepted her tea. ... It was bitter. Seriously bitter. Chp 5 Got Yeet into the Gate The tea was bitter. Yet the saint kept his calm, finally revealing his name; "Good disciple, your master''s name is Wang Jie. People called me the Venerable Star Saint, but you, my disciple... Just call me Master." "Yes, hot uncle... I mean, master..." "You''re hence my second disciple, and I shall address you the same as your father and grandfather, Zhi-er. Your elder disciple brother isn''t here, so we''ll have to leave that for later," "Okay, later, don''t mind. So when will we start? Actually, can I rest first? Too tired," "Take this first. It is my gift for you, my disciple," Tapping her forehead, Wang Jie channeled his Qi in, placing a technique directly into her mind. Since the technique was not complicated, Yun Zhi managed to accept it. Still, it caused a little dizziness. "W-what''s... this?" "You should be able to tell now," "Piercing Star... Scripture?" "Study it well later," "Ehhh," The current her hated study. It''s too much trouble, too much work. Didn''t she come here to be treated? How come she needed to study now? How troublesome. However, this scripture seemed a bit interesting. It strengthened the mental strength of its practitioner, among other things. Nothing to do with her, though. Seeing her able to read through the scripture, Wang Jie gestured to grandpa Yun Tao and her father Yun Chen. Making Yun Zhi float right into the center of the green formation, he was about to start. "Disciple, when you arrive, there will be an immortal receiving you. Be respectful, and do the task he assigns well," "D-do task? Master, am I not here for treatment?" "That''s right, but everything has a price," "Shouldn''t I just... sleep the whole time... Isn''t that what a patient had to do? Just lie in bed and get pampered?" "Different illness, different treatment." "Treatment? Isn''t this just forced labor! Master, you''re selling me out?!" She turned to her father and grandfather, eyes pleading. She didn''t want to work, nuh-uh! Too troublesome, too tiring. Why slaving yourself to something when you can just sleep? Eyes meeting, the two turned sideways, as if ignorant of her plight. "Dad, grandpa! You two old fossils actually selling me out?!" "What? You remember me now? I thought this old fossil is just a stranger..." "You!" "Zhi-er, it''s for your own good," "Dad, I don''t wanna!" "Stop being so spoiled!" "Ehhhh," How come no one could understand her? Even speaking with them was too much work. It actually hurt her head. That was part of the reason she didn''t bother explaining anything over the years. Well, she didn''t know what was happening anyway. She still remembered herself being active, going here and there years ago. Thinking about it, it was like someone else. No, it was like an alien. How could a human be so hardworking, anyway? Training for sixteen hours a day? In a cold environment, on hot days... Cultivating, studying, sparring all the time? What kind of life was that! Humans ought to be lazy! That''s human nature, um! Going against nature, would spell disaster! As she was mumbling her muddled thought, her master already activated the Star Formation Gate. Buzzing and vibrating hum filled the hall. As if a hole had appeared, it tried to suck the whole existence there into it... All of a sudden, a water-like vortex appeared, as if a violent water tornado. Eyes opened wide, everyone bore witness to the appearance of a... Gate. Purplish portal, with twinkling stars, forming a deep hole in the air. It was a gate connecting stars. While it would not appear directly into a star, it would appear within another star system than the one they were residing in. Over there, his contact would receive her. Turning to all of them, the master nodded. "It''s time, my disciple," "W-wait, master! Listen to me... You see, I''m quite useless. No, I''m absolutely useless! Didn''t you say your contact is an immortal? What task? I can''t even take a bath properly! What if I irk him somehow? Wouldn''t you be at a disadvantage? What if he blamed you?"Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "Hmm... What you said do make sense," Seeing her master being gullible, she perhaps saw a light of hope. "Right? So... as your filial disciple, I don''t want to cause master trouble... So, I suggest we first put the whole ''Yeet to another planet plan'' on hold. Don''t you think it''s a lousy plan?" "So now you''re saying my plan is lousy?" "N-no! I''m just saying... It''s a good plan! It just might need some work... some refinement... hehe," In order to save herself, it was the longest argument she made in years. She was breaking a cold sweat. Doing task? That sounds like a lot of work! And it was not like she could delegate everything to Xiao Lin... She''s not here! Her savior... ''Lin lin... damn it, I should''ve dragged you with me!'' Floating in the middle of the formation, she could not even move an inch, even if she used all her Qi. The difference between a top Dao Seeker and a disciple in Peak Qi Refinement, was like Heaven and Earth. Her only hope for avoiding work, ehem, avoiding forced labor, would be to convince this new jerk of a master... One, who was about to sell her off to an Immortal. Immortal? That sounds like a completely non-negotiable boss... Nuh-uh! What if the other side was a black company? The type which squeezed everything out of its worker? That''s entirely possible! At this rate, she''ll die exhausted! "M-master.. Oh, my handsome K-pop master... There''s no need for this plan... We can just all sit down and nego... talk it over, right?" "Well..." She was starting to get desperate. The master listened with much amusement. What the heck was K-pop? And nego? The words coming from her really made one curious. "Ahaha... Don''t you worry, good disciple. My plan is foolproof." "M-master... Have you ever considered me? I''m the ultimate fool... Just a mere foolproof plan won''t do," "You''re funny, disciple. Don''t disregard yourself so low," Seeing his suspicious smile, she knew he was just teasing her, pretending to listen to her argument. The whole thing was already decided before she even arrived. He raised her near the spinning vortex, the gate. Turning to her father and grandfather, he said; "If you two need to say anything, now''s the time," "Em, Zhi-er, don''t make trouble. Just listen to the immortal on the other side," The grandpa said so first. Then, he turned to her father. Her father looked at her with a bit of guilt in his eyes... Her eyes were still pleading with him, making him question himself. This child had truly suffered. While others might be envious of her position and good birth, the effort she made since she was three... was more than anyone in the sect. For her to be reduced to this shell of her past self... Becoming a whining, dispirited lady... With blackened eyes, and pale skin from being a shut-in... Where did that bright, enviable girl able to amaze everyone, go? Did she evaporate into nothingness, leaving behind only this... Thinking it was for her best benefit, his eyes cleared from any lingering guilt. "It''s time to grow up, Yun Zhi-er." Turning to look at her master, Yun Chen suggested; "If we let the Senior Wang do it alone, she might blame you later... Why don''t we yeet her together, Senior Wang, father?" Unknowing to him, he had used the word yeet from Yun Zhi''s vocabulary. While her master had not heard of it until today, it was easy enough to determine its meaning. With his suggestion, the two Dao Seekers agreed. Invisible force warped around her, Yun Zhi knew... She was finished; "Master, you scammer! Grandpa, you traitor! You''re selling such a cute girl over to foreign power? This is human trafficking! Wuuh, I knew it, handsome men are all liars! You guys are too much--" "Yun Zhi-er!" Her father reprimanded her. His usual strict tone, and no-nonsense attitude, staggered her. She had always dreaded this figure, the one who always tried to force her to work. However, this time... She rebelled. "Dad, I know I''m useless, but isn''t death penalty like this, too much?" "What death penalty! You just don''t know what''s best for you!" "Forced labor like this... To another planet... By an Immortal boss... Isn''t that a death penalty?" "It''ll be hard, but all you have to do was endure," "Dad... I can''t do this! Do work for an Immortal? I''m afraid... You know I''m just useless! Why don''t you just kill me right away--" Pak! A slap on her face. It was her father, Yun Chen. Ever since the last time he slapped her, never did he imagine he would do that again. However, this time... the reason was the exact opposite! "You! are! not! useless!" Shouting out loud each word, he was frustrated. His daughter had lost hope in herself. Just how strong her ailment was, for her to be this hopeless. The elders had lost hope for her, her teachers, her peers, their allies, even their adversary... But he, at least he, her father... should never lose hope. As for Yun Zhi... That slap was really strong. Moreover, she had a familiar feeling. Didn''t this exact thing happen before? Why did it happen then? Her memory flashing back, she recalled... Her father was under a lot of pressure. The elders were urging him to find another prime genius instead of her for the sect to nurture. With her abrupt change in attitude, he had to make a decision. However, no matter which decision he took, it would completely make him lose face. Should he denounce his own daughter as the prime disciple of the younger generation? That way, the sect''s resources for her could best be used for other promising disciples such as Xiao Lin. But, if he did that... That was the same as acknowledging the rumors, that she was no longer her best... The sect no longer found her good enough. People would jeer and smear at the prime failure, the former prime disciple of the sect... her. But, if he insisted on keeping her as the prime disciple, it would not be fair to other promising disciples. While there was still favoritism in the sect, the primary practice was still merit-based. Doing so would invite a lot of dissatisfaction, even rebellious ideas among elders and influential figures within the sect. The hatred would also be directed at Yun Zhi, his daughter. When her father came to confront her, she had no idea he was under such pressure. She thought he was only caring for his vanity, and she was just... too tired. Her condition made her lethargic, and the headache just prevented her from thinking any better. She was ignorant of the situation... It was only thanks to Xiao Lin, who kept persuading her not to take it to heart, and informed her of his actual situation. You! are! not! useless! "Dad..." His statement just now, pricked her heart. Was that truly what he thought, or was it just his hope for her? That slap still hurt, though. Tears in her eyes, this time, she didn''t smile like before. She held back her wish to protest, seemingly holding back her sniffling. While she was already seventeen, she was aware of something else... That her ailment, seemed to trap her in quite a childish mind. Did it keep her in her thirteen-year-old mind? Thinking about it, while her body had grown, it was rather slow... Xiao Lin used to be a lot smaller than her. But now... she was bigger and more bountiful... Ehh, no need to be jealous, I don''t mind at all! Medium is premium, um! Ehh... why did I got slapped again? Shaking her mind''s tendency to drift away, she finally recalled her current predicament... She was about to be yeet-ed! To another planet! To a badass boss! This, is, bad! "Dad..." "Zhi-er..." Looking at her swelling red cheek and tears, Yun Chen trembled. He truly cared about his daughter... After all, she was the fruit of his love. But he... just didn''t know how to express it. Soon, he decided to just let it out... just say what he wished to; "Zhi-er, stay strong. Your mother was a strong person, she never gave up... She never gave up on you, so I won''t either!" "My... mom?" His statement confused her. That memory within her was blurry... All she could recall was, a soft voice, a warm embrace, and a mouthful of sweet liquid... Soft voice... Such a voice, as if caressing her entire being. Warm embrace... Covering her, as if, never wanted to let her go. That sweet liquid... So fulfilling, so delicious... becoming a part of her, time and again. That blurry memory... Was her only memory of her... "Mom..." She didn''t know why her father mentioned her mother at such a time, but... For some strange reason, her desire to rebel, had been hampered by a lot. Yun Chen looked at her for the last time. If she was anxious about it, he could claim even twice the anxiety. After all, she was... His precious daughter. Turning to his father and his daughter''s master, he nodded; "...It''s time," With their Qi, they raised her on par with the gate. Together... They threw her into the purplish Star Formation Gate. !! Damnit, so they''re throwing me out while I''m confused? How cunning! "Scammers, traitors! Watch your back, I''ll remember this~~" YEET! BYE-BYE, MY PLANET! I''LL SORELY MISS YOU! DON''T FORGET ME! With the sudden violent gulp as she was yeeted into it, the gate shivered. Soon, it compressed itself and disappeared into nothingness. Within the hall, everything went quiet. Chp 6 Guardians What the heck! Throwing me out into another star system, just cause I didn''t make trouble here and there? Why don''t you throw those disciples who offend other sects over?! Well, sometimes some annoying elders came to bother, so I just yeet them out of my room. That can''t deserve me the death penalty like now, right? ''Those three, yeet me out to another star system, and sold me off to an immortal. Your honor, I demand justice!'' ''This K-pop uncle... why looked so annoying? Ah yes, all handsome men... not dependable!'' Briefed? Ah, yes... Something like that did happen... What did they say again... I have to do forced labor... sell my body... for a badass boss... black company... Ah! Hey, guys! Nice day, ain''t it? Um, you see... Some big badass immortal up there sent me over... Just telling you guys to stop all this corrupt and criminal nonsense. Try to live honesty from now on, chill, and we''ll all be good? If you don''t there''ll be bad things happening... Yeah, very bad... so, peace! What a joke! Those who can''t even protect themselves, who can''t even say NO to tyrants? You want me to help them out? Hellll no! Let them be! I can''t even take care of myself! I''m too lazy to even take a bath! Please, send me back! You won''t regret such a wise decision! The surface was bright, oh so very bright... The sensation of being burned alive... oh so memorable... Extreme Yang entering my body, cooking me... I wonder, if anyone would taste me... Will I be delicious? Maybe, if a charcoal is delicious... Dang! This world guardian is too shameless! Beneficial? What beneficial? Vitamin-D? This is complete torture! Can''t you let a frail maiden, yours truly, be pampered? I just wanna laze around and do nothing back home! Is that too much to ask?? Send me back, please... Stingy dried-up squid... ...Hot, too hot! I''m dying! Dang, so merciless! At least, let me drink some water! === Chapter 6 End === Chp 7: Lady Xue Bai it''ll be fine from now on. Turning to Immortal Yen, she asked; a long time ago." A long time ago meant a life even before the last life she had on earth. The curse made her whole being went haywire. During her time being a normal person on earth, she did not activate the curse. However, when she was about to establish her Foundation, the curse manifested. What the heck? Is it so hard to send me back... Why am I so unfortunate... Do I really have to work? Give me a break... Simple missions then! This girl was too spoiled... Does she mean it like this? Lady Xue Bai... Truly, a true immortal. Beautiful, and kind... Dependable, reliable... Chp 8 A Gift A tranquil scene... As if a loving mother, pampering her baby. Providing warmth, and sustenance. Yun Zhi was fast asleep, and with it, her breath was becoming clearer. While she was asleep, Xue Bai was clearing the devil''s curse, one which focused all hatred on her. This devil was a human devil, so even doing this actually consumed leverage. However, since this leverage came from Yun Zhi''s suffering of injustice, she decided to use part of it to deal with the main curse. With it, the center of the curse would collapse over time, with some extra leverage to spare. This whole process might take some hours... Thus, while she had just started, she make an incantation gesture. From her snow-white hair, six of herself emerged. They were her clones, and from each of them, two more appeared... totaling eighteen around herself. Closing her eyes, she ordered; "I''ll be busy with this child. Deal with other star systems for me," The clones, as if capable of independent thinking, nodded. They disappeared into the surrounding directions. As she did, World Guardian, Immortal Yen observed. The fact that she had dispersed her clones meant that she would not like any world guardian like him contacting her directly. She wanted to focus her all on this child. ''So this one... her primary body,'' The fact that she came here in her primary body was unexpected. He had thought she sent her clone over. It turned out he was mistaken. He continued to observe the two from afar... One hour, two hours... Four hours... Six hours... ''How come...'' Immortal Yen was astounded. He knew how busy a Sector Guardian was. Being responsible for ten thousand systems was no joke. She had to deal with issues a world guardian like him could not cope with. But, for her to spend her precious time with this little mortal girl... She was cleansing her spirit world, her dream world of the filth due to the malicious curse. While she was doing so, she also imparted some basic knowledge to her. First, was about their enemy, the devils. Contrary to many people''s belief, devil was not a race. Devil came from the word ''doer of evil''. Basically, people who robbed, we called them robbers. Those who scammed, scammers. So those who continued to do evil as their way of life, fell into the category of devil. They continued to oppress and spread corruption throughout their life. Devils consisted mainly humans and demons. For Yun Zhi, her role would be to counter human devils. She would need to remind other humans not to fall for the deception, their corruption. Some humans simply became corrupted because they got affected by their nasty environment. Environment played a big role. A simple example was problem children. Many children became problematic due to a mismanaged family. Divorced, or disharmony between parents, ripped their psyche apart. They then turned to a quick solution... Drugs, underworld, bad company... Sooner or later, if they did not change course, they would be in it for the long haul. The same goes for prostitutes. Did any of the girl dream of becoming prostitutes while growing up? Hardly any. For police officers, did any of them dream of taking bribes and making it big that way when they first enlisted? Hardly! Circumstances forced them into it. And with time, they became numb and even happy to do it. "Don''t be too hard on yourself..." Lady Xue whispered. As she was cleansing her spirit world, she also told her not to take things too hard. If she did her job, whatever the result, she would not be blamed. Yun Zhi''s role, was not really to take on humans one by one, but more as to create a proper environment... One which evil would not prosper. It was akin to creating a society conscious of being clean. If they became conscious of its importance, you don''t have to reprimand each and every one of them. They would carry their own weight, their own responsibility. They would remind each other from time to time, soon creating a better society. A society where, even their water drain could sustain delicate fish, with water as clear and clean as the mountain river... where flowers bloom along the way. Impossible? Yes, if it was not done by everyone. Possible, if everyone did it. It was the same as oppression and corruption. If people became conscious of it, and embarrassed about it, soon it would clear itself away. The problem was that... society had accepted those as the norm. That was not normal. As for what type of oppressions or corruptions there were in the society, Lady Xue believed Yun Zhi could observe them for herself. Too much information fed into her mind might numb her, limiting her ability to think openly. Second thing she let her know, was their true enemies... The hypocrites. Similar to devils, they, however, were worse. While devils were conscious that they were doing dirty work, these hypocrites weren''t. They truly believed they were doing the right thing. Such people were those who upheld screwed "justice", often murdering people in the name of God. Many of them were religious leaders, condemning others to hell just because they did not share the same belief. There were also leaders of cults, spreading nonsense into the minds of many gullible people. These hypocrites... They could be an even worse opponent than the devils. For they were extremist, yet still pretending to wear a sheep''s clothes. For this kind of people, the worst retribution had been prepared. The One in Heaven would not even look at them for pardon. Third thing she let her know, was the most important. The message. Made to be as simple as possible, it was not like it could not be complicated. It just meant that being simple was better. The message was simply that, the One in Heaven had ordered... "Do not oppress, do not be oppressed. The One in Heaven observed, so live well." Lady Xue whispered in a soft, caring voice. This simple line carried deep meaning. As long as one pondered, one would benefit much from it. It was not made to restrict life, but to expand it to the very best of its potential... Xue Bai watched over her with gentle eyes. She did say it was not hard work, but... It won''t be easy, either... The meaning of ''hard'' was quite different from person to person. After all, she had faced a lot more hardship. And this young girl... was about to face the real world soon.
Warmth... Fulfilling... Something was filling her up, something delicious... ... "...Huh?" Eight hours had gone by. Finally, Yun Zhi had awoken. Still feeling a bit sleepy, something else surprised her. She didn''t have a headache! Usually, when she woke up, a headache would follow. It had been happening for four years, so she almost took it as a norm. The feeling of waking up, refreshed... That was something else! It felt, as if the world... was welcoming her. This is so... amazing! "Big sis..."Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Noticing Xue Bai smiling at her, she knew... This Sector Guardian, had a hand on it. While sleeping, she also had a good dream... It was a dream she could not recall what exactly, but... it was sweet. So sweet, she was drooling from her mouth, right down onto Xue Bai''s arm. "Ah, b-big sis... Sorry, I..." "Why are you so flustered? This is nothing," This girl really was adorable. Xue Bai had fun. While to Immortal Yue, she might be wasting her precious time, but to her... It was a moment that reminded her that she used to be a mortal as well. She couldn''t go back to that life, but still, this is... A precious moment. Unfortunately, such a moment could not last. "I need to go," "Ah... right, of course," "I''ve cleansed your spirit world. You shouldn''t have a nightmare in the short run... And, before I let you go..." "...?" "I just want to say, you have a... pair of beautiful eyes." Xue Bai tapped Yun Zhi''s forehead. A tinge of light emerged, seeping into her head through her eyes. Warmth spread through her consciousness. It was nothing like the heavy knowledge her grandpa dumped into her while she was sleeping. It made its way into her brain cells as if a long-lost family... No demand, no heavy request. Just, visiting. A friendly, cordial visit. Bringing gifts and fruits. The World Guardian saw this clearly. Concern was written on his face as he approached Xue Bai. "Lady Xue, that''s..." "I already restrict it to your world''s limit. Don''t worry," "I see, please forgive your subordinate''s insolence," It''s still quite barely acceptable. What she had given her was basically a favor. A huge favor. Could it be she''s... Did she spend her own leverage for the girl? That''s the only explanation! The world''s law cannot be bent without a price. As guardians, their role was to enforce the law. If the devils bent the law, such action would accumulate as leverage points. They were a valuable resource for guardians, who could not give favors nilly-willy. Favors given had to be paid, in full! Could it be that she got attached to this girl, from just this short encounter? ''She only uses a tiny bit, but still... Lady Sector Guardian seemed to favor this little girl... a little too much,'' As for Yun Zhi, she was in silence. She could not hear their conversation, as she was too occupied with the light entering her eyes. She trembled, as if having epilepsy. However, there was no pain, only sharpened focus in her mind. With the light, she saw countless herbs, their details, and instructions on how to best use them. These herbs weren''t from the world she was from, but the world she was in orbit... The blue, green planet covered with white clouds under her gaze. As her eyes took on the glorious planet, a myriad of herbs within the light turned more and more familiar... Yun Zhi staggered, mumbling; "Herb guide... divine medicine... How to inspect... Scan ability..." There was also another side ability coming with the light, as if it was a free gift. Buy one, free one! While she already considered herself a salted fish, no desire to do anything but eat and sleep, she was no fool. Such knowledge... such ability... What the frick! Isn''t this quite a cheat? If she knew all the herbs and how to concoct the best medicine, as well as knowing how and when to use them... Wouldn''t that be... She sensed trouble! She turned to look at the ''big sis'', a bit confused and wary. Xue Bai sensed her unwillingness; "A mere farewell present, please accept." "Big sis, this... is too much for me to accept... You''re already kind enough for this lowly me... Can''t you take them back?" "Oh my... lowly? Don''t say that..." Yun Zhi knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. Moreover, they had just met. She was thankful enough for her previous kindness. Why would this big sister give her such a valuable present? There might be a big catch behind it! Wanting me to be indebted? A future work slave? Forever paying the interest? Nope nope nope nope nope! Big sis, you''re too cunning! You kept giving me carrots, you reign me in with guilt? I might like you a bit, but I won''t be your slave! So sorry! But, if you wanna take me as a pet, I''ll gladly accept! As if seeing through her muddled mind, Lady Xue smiled. "Ahh, what to do? You found me out. I actually do want you... to do me a big favor," "I... I knew it!" She wailed, soon pleaded, "B-big sis, spare me, please... I''m just a useless person, you can''t ask me to do heavy and demanding work... I''m just a weak mortal, wuwu," She started to cry, as if facing great injustice. With such a high debt, she can''t be asking her for her kidney, right? Seeing her grieving out of nowhere, Lady Xue tilted her head. Soon, her fingers gently wiped away her tears; "This girl... Just be healthy and happy... Is that too much to ask?" "Wuwu... hm? W-what did you say, big sis?" "Be, and stay healthy and happy. That''s all I ask." "You... you''re not asking for my kidney?" "Eh, why would I need your kidney for?" The girl was a tad bit odd. Xue Bai found it amusing, but also glad. As she took her closer, she scanned her mind. It was still a mess, but... there were signs of recovery. The Spirit world was crucial for a sane mind. Because of her continuous nightmare, her mind became a mess. Now... ''Not hopeless, at least...'' She mulled. Xue Bai had seen through her past. Yun Zhi did not have a good childhood. Being pressured as the top genius of a great clan, she had nothing but demand upon demand piling up onto her. She was her clan''s direct heir, and successor to the family''s secret art. That was why, her four years of not accomplishing anything was deemed too shameful for her grandfather. Even her own sect and servants spoke ill of her in a hush. Soon, her name was regarded not in the most appreciative way. What a turn of events. From a genius, to an utter failure. The curse took much of her liveliness away. Now, she was nothing more than the shadow of her former self. Xue Bai watched Yun Zhi with deep meaning. It was part sadness, part guilt. How she wished she could help more, but... She could not compromise other worlds. Soon however, Yun Zhi''s question wiped away her concern; "Really, no interest for this?" "Uweh? It''s a gift!" Lady Xue giggled, "Why would a gift has any interest?" "R-really?" "Really. Even a debt should be free from interest, it causes inflation, everyone suffers," "Eh... um," Big sis is too nice to me... Could I ask her to adopt me? Then, maybe I can laze around in her house doing nothing? Hehehe... "So... stay healthy, and happy, alright? Just do your task slowly..." "Ehh," She was about to complain, yet the words did not come out. It would be too shameless to complain now... Not after all big sis Xue had done for her. Seeing her controlling herself, Xue Bai patted her head. Such patting, one Yun Zhi had never felt before... In response, she giggled with much joy. Xue Bai felt a bit hesitant, yet she still turned to the World Guardian. She was ready to leave. "Immortal Yue, I''ll leave this child in your hands," "Leave it to me, Lady Sector Guardian," Seeing her leaving, Yun Zhi felt as if she was about to lose something... Something precious. "Big sis..." "I''ll see you later, alright?" She just could not wait anymore. There was something else happening in her sector which required her direct attention. Turning to Immortal Yue, she commanded; "Follow standard procedure. Give her useful things as a counterweight... As usual, per her merit," "Yes!" "For her condition, best be simple. Just set some red lines and give her the most simple task first." "I understand," "Zhi-er... Be healthy... and happy," As she said so, she patted the girl''s head for the last time, before laying a kiss on her cheek. Soon, not waiting anymore, she tore through the fabric of space, then disappeared along with it... "Big sis... Xue Bai," Seeing her disappearing in front of her very eyes... made her felt how weak she was. She was longing for such a company... but she could not even chase after her. Big sis Xue''s attention to her was no weaker than Xiao Lin, and her warmth, was even better. She felt truly protected, energized by her mere presence. Even her father and grandpa could not come close. What is an immortal? This is, an immortal! "You really are an artwork," "Geh, uncle immortal!" "Let''s just get down to business, shall we?" "T-that smile... d--don''t try anything funny! Or else..." "Funny? I like funny..." Was it because she was being all clingy to big sis Xue? Did this guy become jealous? Or was it... Right, she was complaining about him from before... Big sis Xue was too kind! She only reprimanded him, and not even putting a leash on this crazy uncle! What kind of adult, bringing a girl to visit the sun? My complaining, was justified! You can''t blame me! Seeing the mischievous smile plastered on the once serious K-pop uncle, Yun Zhi felt dread. The smile which said, where''s your big sis now, huh? "It''s over..." Tears came down her eyes... This time... It was not fake. Chp 9: Got Yeet into the Planet Uwaahhhh--- YEET! Oh my new planet, here I come! Don''t be too hard on me! She was shouting nonsense. All while falling down, hard. Entering the planet as if Halley¡¯s comet, she was burning through the atmosphere. However, contrary to her worry, she did not feel pain at all. However, it was still nerve-wracking. She was shaking all over! The trembling was something else. It was nighttime, and she could see some satellites with their lights as she was dropping down from orbit. "Hi, hi?" She was burning up, but she still had the time to wave the satellites with much enthusiasm. However, that didn''t last long. She kept going down at a rapid rate! Soon, she went into the clouds. The cold air and high water content cool her down. Ah, so peaceful... As she was wondering if she could just sleep there, she realized that was not possible, yet. Passing through the clouds, her eyes met an array of lights... Lights of various colors filled the horizon. It was a megacity, a modern megacity. With many skyscrapers and countless high-rises, a huge bridge connecting the city''s two riversides, and a stadium with ten thousand capacity... It was a modern marvel, a sight to behold. The engineering feat of modern humans could not be underestimated. While they were all weak, they were able to build such a civilization using their ingenuity. Em, engineers and workers really are praiseworthy. They could build so many things so fast... Just as her mind was praising them, she finally remembered her current plight. She was free-falling at such a high speed! "Oh right, my ring...!" She tried to take a flying artifact from her storage ring, but... She forgot. That uncle immortal, took her storage ring. Said that it might cause an uproar... threatened world balance... that kind of shit. "That jerk uncle immortal!" She cursed as she touched down onto the planet. Or so it should be. It was a huge splash, right in the middle of the city...
BOOM--- sha sha sha---- The sound startled the many city dwellers. It came from the city''s lake, right in the middle of the park. However, because it was so late at night... No, it was early morning, people could not be sure where it came from. Because of the time, no one gathered for such an occasion. Instead, the residents nearby just woke up from their sleep, and peered through their window in confusion... What was that dear, some kind of explosion? I think it''s a truck''s tire exploding... Probably an accident somewhere? Was it a firework? Damn, that sounds like a gas explosion! The whole incident did not cause much uproar. It just caused the nearby police stations, to be extra busy till morning. Residents were calling in, with the worry of a gas explosion close by... Ring--- Ring--- Ring--- "Damn it, what the hell''s going on?!" The policemen at the station, cursed the confusing occasion. They had to assure the residents that there was no gas explosion reported whatsoever, even bringing themselves the ire of some overly concerned old folks...
Early morning. Birds chirping. The sun didn''t even get up yet.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. In the middle of the city''s park, it was too early, so there weren''t visitors. However, two old-timers were carrying their fishing rods, chatting with much vigor. One thin, wise-looking uncle, while another was a chubby, small-eyed uncle. He was a bit excited; "I told you, old Li, someone must have used some explosion in the lake!" "You mean the loud bang? I thought some truck got into an accident?" "No, no... I heard it coming that way. There''s no road there, only our lake!" "Then... what do you suggest us do?" "Hmph, must be those no-good thugs! Dare to use explosives to fish? They have guts. Why don''t we call the police over? Maybe that way, they won''t disturb us anymore..." "Brilliant idea, fatty Qian... Then the police can close down our little camp too while they''re at it," "Err... dang! I completely forgot!" The two old men had shabby clothes and a rugged appearance. While they do take baths every so often... being homeless, they rarely do so every day. The incident last night startled them. However, with their condition, they weren''t in any mood to make a report. Should the police notice their little camp in the middle of the public park... They would have to search for a new home, again. Such a frustrating way of life. But what can they do? Each of them had their own hardship, and they had no idea how to proceed from here on out. The best they could do, was to continue living... Even if they had to camp in the public park, it was still a lot better than sleeping by the roadside. Too cold, too exposed. Thugs and gangsters would disturb them every so often, and people would give them nasty stares as well. If they had any belongings, even that wouldn''t be safe. Compared to the streets, living in the park was heaven. Well, they had to keep quiet and stay hidden during the day... but, that was a small price to pay. Approaching the barely lit lake, the two had fishing rods with them. Well, it was too much to call them fishing rods. Each was more like a wooden stick with strings attached, clearly the handiwork of amateurs. One could tell that it was once a fishing rod, maybe picked up from the trash, modified. It didn''t look good at all. However, it could do the job... What else could they ask for? Placing cupboard paper on by the lake, they placed the bait and threw their hook over. One of the activities here, was fishing. While it was an illegal activity for the lake, as long as one wasn''t caught... it''s fine, right? They could control the fish''s population within the lake, and also filled up their stomach. Two birds with one stone, eh? "Hm... there''s no smell whatever..." "You think the smell''s similar to fireworks?" "Maybe the water already hid the smell away?" "I dunno... Look at those water lilies... They''re still fine?" "Weird... Maybe that explosion''s not from here... Further away, maybe?" The lake was vast. It was equal to perhaps several football fields, so an explosion in just one part wouldn''t show in others. Nonetheless, it was just a guess. They had no obligation to check; "Forget it, fatty. We''ll just lose our prime time. The park-keeper will make rounds in two hours. We better catch something first," "Aiya, alright... You have no patience, old Li." "Why should we do something we aren''t sure of? Better not here, anyway. If there''s no explosion, then there''s fish!" They took their position and threw out their rod''s hook. With the whole scene still dark, the two old men merged with the surroundings. The quiet atmosphere was tranquil, making the two snooze off with their rods deployed. Soon, fatty Qian''s rod caught on something! Old Li reacted; "So fast!" "Dang, I think this one''s big!" "Really? Lemme give a hand," "Careful, old Li! This one''s really..." Heavy. The rod was bending so much, that the two were worried something would snap. Fortunately, the fish did not give much of a fight. However, it was still the heaviest the two had caught so far... "Y-you sure this one''s a fish? I think we might get a tire or something?" "How could there be a tire inside the lake?" Just as the two were arguing, they managed to raise the fish up... It was covered with the lake''s flora, making it look as if a lake monster... "The shape''s a bit off... Is it not an alligator?" "How could an alligator be here! You''re just a coward, fatty!" "How mean... I''m just being cautious..." Old Li, seemingly being brave, took a long stick nearby, and poked ''the thing'' from a distance. So much for bravery... Fatty Qian just looked on, witnessing the old man''s funny antics. "Weird... I don''t think it''s a tire..." "H-hey, I think I saw it moving..." Fatty Qian took a step back, ready to use his ancestral ''Thousand Steps Technique'' before its too late. Old Li, seeing his cowardice, mocked him; "Why are you such a coward? That''s why you''re not popular with the ladies--" "Old Li, b-behind you!" "...!!" A figure stood behind the old uncle. A lake monster, standing up as though it was a human... "G-ghost!" "Run---!" The two did not tarry. For some reason, the mastery of their ancestral ''Thousand Steps Technique'' took flight. "What the heck?" Yun Zhi stood still, trying to figure out what happened. She was filled with water plants, slimy things covering her up and down. These slimy feelings even got into her pants. Her medium-long hair was all messed up, covering even her face. From a passerby''s point of view, she looked like a lake monster... coming up to land to grab her unsuspecting prey. "No wonder those uncles took flight," Those two seemed like normal humans, but they move fast... Well, it probably looked that way since she was a bit groggy. When she fell directly into the lake, she might have gotten a little concussion. Since she fell into the lake and lost consciousness, her survival instinct started to make use of her embryonic breathing. She had not used that breathing for quite some time, but it still worked. It was a basic breathing technique for all disciples in Jade Qilin Sect, allowing them to breathe underwater and in an environment with low oxygen. "That kind of fall shouldn''t hurt me at all... why?" She was still a Peak Qi Refinement cultivator. When she was about to hit the lake, the speed lessened. It seemed a bit odd for her to lose consciousness. Then, she remembered that jerk uncle immortal. He said he''s taking her cultivation for ''refinement'', making it better and less tyrannical. Since this world was such a weak world, the law governing this world was way weaker than her world. Her Qi layers could rip apart buildings without her knowing. For such a shabby reason, he confiscated not only her storage ring, but also her cultivation! Shameless! What is a shameless immortal? This is, shameless immortal! She tried to sense her Qi layer... to no avail. It seemed all thirteen layers were completely abolished. Fortunately, her strong dantian was still there. It was empty, but as long as it was intact, she could still refine her Qi layers. That shameless immortal said he would return her Qi layers depending on her merit, but... She didn''t trust him! Not at all! Hmph! Why must I be stuck with such a jerk immortal? Can''t big sis Xue be my direct boss? That would be heaven! Taking off the various flora latched onto her, she noticed her body still had traces of Qi. It had merged into her body, so removing her Qi layer did not remove it entirely. As someone so close to establishing her foundation, she had a solid, strong body. While she still looked delicate and had fine skin, all her bones, muscles, and skin had a certain toughness, one not comparable to normal mortals. There was also her Jade Qilin Transformation Method... "Hm... I should be able to slap an elephant dizzy and get away with it," She estimated her current strength. Not having Qi was a pity, but her remnant Qi and Qi senses were still there. Her solid Qi-body was at least twenty times stronger than even muscle-maniac adults devoid of Qi. And her acute Qi senses allowed her to react so much faster than even a fly. In other words, even a raging elephant could not hurt her... In theory, anyway. Why would she provoke an elephant for no reason? Troublesome, no benefit! "Ugh, I''m slimy all over..." She didn''t mind not taking a bath for three days. But right now, the smell from the lake and this slimy feeling... certainly didn''t invite inspiration. Then, remembering something, she tried to take her ring... Dang it~ Xiao Lin''s cleansing talisman~~ My treasure~~ She wailed. She was about to use that talisman to cleanse herself. A pity, that jerk immortal, shameless as he was, took everything from her. What is greedy? This is, greedy! "Hmph, wait till big sis Xue comes over, we''ll see how high the heaven is!" She shouted. Somehow, it felt nice, shouting out loud. Strange... Before this, even speaking normally was troublesome... It felt like her throat was parched, though she wasn''t thirsty. But now, it felt like she had just drank ice cool water... This was not from the lake, right? Or was it... "Ah, big sis..." It was a sensation she could not forget. It was because of her. How bizarre. They had just part ways for a few hours at most, but she already thought of her several times. Did she become attached to her? This was not a charming technique placed on her, right? Well, right now... not something she should worry about. She had a mission to do. An important mission... Cleansing herself. Chp 10: Homeless Camp When did she try to eat them? All she did was stand up, and was about to ask them where they were... If such a ghost really exists as per narration, shouldn''t you guys flee right away instead? Why were you all listening like it was none of your business?
Is this really okay... However, that didn''t last long. Fatty Qian insisted; I''m still cute! What malnourished? I''m still growing! Not much to show for? So what! Medium is premium! It''s not vanity! Hmph, we''ll see! Chp 11: World Background Chp 11: World Background
She told them her background. She had been living overseas all her life. In recent years, her family was in distress due to her illness. However, to make things worse, they entrusted her to a terrible uncle here. That uncle should be the one who took care of her, yet, he did not uphold his responsibility. After having taken all her belongings, her uncle wrapped her up, and threw her into the lake. Her only dependable family, big sis, worked overseas, so she did not know that uncle''s evil plot... The homeless were enraged; "A murder plot?!" "So greedy, what a heartless man!" "Such evil heart, I can''t believe it! "H-how could your uncle do such a thing, to a blood-related--" "We''re not blood-related," "E-even so!" Their dissatisfaction was genuine. The aunties were assuring her, while the old uncles urged her to go to the police, to file a report. While they weren''t ready to meet the police, they were ready to accompany her right to the police station. Hearing so; "I can''t, he got a lot of influence. That could make things worse." She politely rejected. If the police could catch that jerk immortal for her, she would not hesitate, not a bit! "Oh... right. It''s not easy already for her, to survive such evil plot." "Yeah, to meet the police... Wouldn''t that be shouting ''I''m still alive, come kill me,'' to the evil uncle?" "Ahh, definitely not. Definitely! If he has so much influence... better for you to make a new ID," "Was thinking the same thing," "Change your identity, change your fate!" "Being alive is more important, after all!" With her tear-jerking story, she managed to build up the reason why she did not have an ID with her, as well as why she would need a new one. And since she had been mistreated by her evil uncle, devoid of proper education, she did not have a clue as to the norm of society. She also explained she had an illness, of which she always felt lethargic, with a blurry memory. It was only recently that her memory cleared up, so she had a lot of questions about society''s rules. About this, she got some of her answers. The old uncles explained; that the Identification (ID) was the most important. The government was strict. People needed ID for most transactions in the city. It was only between petty or local traders, one did not need to show an ID. Even going to the 24-hour mart, one still needed to scan their ID. If a patrolling Murim team requested your ID, you were required by the law to show one within 30 seconds or face questioning. "That harsh?" "Well, yeah..." "You can say you are lucky if it''s just some questions," A patrolling Murim team was an elite patrol team. Different from the normal police, they had the authority to arrest or kill those who resisted. Even checking a building, if it was deemed suspicious, did not require a warrant. For petty criminals, the Murim people were an existence they tried to avoid as much as possible. It was better to be caught by the normal police than the Murim patrol team! ''Could they be Qi Refinement people?'' This world was not a cultivation world. If a Foundation Establishment was called basic, then the world was not a high-level world. This was the knowledge shared by big sis Xue with her during her sleep. As for her world, Core Formation was considered the basic. Yuan Ying, an expert. This world, however, was so weak that a cultivator in Foundation could wreak complete havoc here. This was due to the weaker natural law. The Qi here was thin and of low quality as well, Yun Zhi could feel it. Comparing the Qi here and the Qi she had while in Jade Qilin Sect was too much. Muddy water compared to fresh, refreshing milk? How''s the taste? If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Which one''s better? Do you need to ask? The taste couldn''t even be compared, much less the benefits! ''This Murim world is weak, but... I''m also weak,'' She had her cultivation taken from her by that ''jerk uncle''. He said he needed to uphold the law, protect the planet... What the heck! You gave me a job, but you took away my tools? How am I going to complete it? She wondered how she could face these small bosses while having no Qi whatsoever. It''s not physically possible! Nuh-uh! Having heard about Murim on her first day here, it was obvious that Murim had a lot of influence in this world. So much so that their existence could not be hidden from the public. It was said that around 1% of the population was Murim people. Unfortunately, these homeless people did not know much about Murim. All of them were normal civilians, the so-called powerless people. All they heard was hearsay, with no evidence. As far as they know, the Murim people were the true rulers of the cities and nations, not those puppet politicians. The Murim people protected, and also attacked if needed. Citizens looked upon them with fear and terror, but also with admiration and respect. Since they were the first line of defense against dangerous criminals, the evil cultists, and spirit beasts, they were an existence necessary for society. "Evil cultists? Spirit beasts?" Terms she had heard in the cultivation world. However, it was better to get an explanation here, since the situation might be different. The uncles explained; "Evil cultists are the extremists! They killed and destroy just to fulfill their selfish belief! Last year, they bombed the bridge, killing many, causing a terrible traffic problem," "Selfish bastards, those cultists!" "Hush, old Li. We powerless people should keep our voice unheard!" "Right... don''t invite trouble, don''t invite trouble!" "So what? Wanna kill me? See if I care! I have nothing left anyway," There was visible indignation, yet also fear when mentioning the evil cultists. Old Li, in particular, was agitated. For what reason, none of them seemed to know or curious enough to ask. They all had their bitter past anyway. As for the Spirit Beasts, she got her answer soon; "Spirit beasts live outside cities, usually in a lush forest, remote valleys, or in deep mountains." "Right, they''re a lot stronger than normal beasts." "I heard even a tank got clawed open by an armored tiger?" "That''s right! It was three... four months ago?" "Did you guys see more and more news about them recently? I saw some news in the shop," "Not sure... They say there are some government blockades in some areas, so the news..." It seemed these spirit beasts were a threat to humanity. They existed in certain locations and were powerful enough for the government to mobilize military brigades to deal with them. Fortunately, due to the high human population as well as protection by the army and Murim people, Spirit Beasts rarely came into cities. Their instinct could tell it was not a wise choice. It did happen a few times a year, but it was nothing to worry about. Most of them were young Spirit Beasts, lively and confident... They were strong, but not strong nor wise enough to win against the military and Murim experts protecting a city. However, those who lived in the villages had a higher risk. There were almost no powerful Murim people in the outskirts. With their proximity to lush forests and wild areas, the rate at which an incursion happened was higher. While the story was that super strong grandpas often meditated in the middle of nowhere, there were simply too many villages compared to these legendary figures. During such an incursion, the only way for the villagers or townsfolk to survive a spirit beast was either to run or to hide. The latter was better since not many could outrun a spirit beast anyway. Did you run? You''re an open target! Some of these beasts had quite an intelligence. They played around with their victims first before killing them. While the mainstream news avoided such sensation, words of mouth spread among the populace. As old-timers, they naturally caught some of the news. Throughout the years, the incident of an incursion only happened once every month... However, it seemed it was happening more and more often. Many more youngsters from the village came over to the city, not just to find a new life, but also to save their life. Living in terror was not a good way to live. After their explanation, Yun Zhi realized why these uncles and aunties did not go to the villages. Security concern. This was one of them... A crucial concern. If anyone said that security was not among the most important aspect of life, they naturally never encountered an entity hell-bent on killing them... yet. Such naivety was funny and pathetic. There were simply too many questions, but she endured, asking only the one she needed the most for now; "Uncles, aunties... I might need to get a new ID soon. Do you know how?" "This is... Actually, even we want to get one as well, but," "We only heard stories and heard rumors... As for how," "Even if we know, I''ve heard the black market demanded a huge price for it, up front." The homeless uncles and aunties could relate. Even many of them had abandoned their identity due to fear that their previous life would come back hunting them. However, was it easy to procure a new ID? Going through the court would be useless, since that just meant changing name, not identity. A good identity must be a clean slate, one people who could be a threat to you could not relate... So in this regard, she could only go to the black market... And it would not be easy. None of them knew how to do so. Perhaps, only those in big companies or Murim knew. "So... Sadly, we can''t help you," "Aii, how embarrassing. We''re adults, but..." "I see... Well, it''s fine. I''ll find some other way..." "What about your big sis? She''s good to you, right?" "Yes, you''re right auntie. I should focus on contacting her first," Yun Zhi did not expect much from them anyway. For now, she had to deal with another bigger issue. Residence. She asked if there was a temporary stay she could go to. With nothing on hand and no ID, her options were limited. A temporary shelter did not exist in the city. It used to, but authorities took it down since it was deemed as encouraging people to be homeless. Seeing her a bit conflicted, their pity took hold of them. Her plight this time was not outside their reach anyway... So old Li, being the veteran there, offered; "I know! For now, why don''t you stay with us?" "Hmph, old Li, for you to be so generous..." "What? I only want to redeem myself..." "Don''t worry, little Yun, your aunties won''t let you be outside, cold and alone..." The aunties, despite being poor and miserable, were not petty. While they could not support her for long, at least a few weeks could be done. Until she could find a better place, they were ready to shelter her as best as possible. "...Thank you..." Well, it''s done. She didn''t want to be in such a shabby place, but her body still needed rest. Better to be in good company while that happened. Being out there alone, even for her, was unwelcome. While the camp''s condition was poor, it was not dirty. The camp, being managed by everyone, was kept in tip-top condition. Old Li, surprisingly, was the camp''s leader by default. He was the oldest and supposedly wisest among them, so... No one wished to take that role anyway, and old Li was supposed to be a manager of sorts before his fall. They didn''t know what exactly, but they just knew he did a good job with the rules and order. It had been four months, and yet the park authorities still did not notice their existence. It seemed he did form a good relationship with the guards there, so the guards turned a blind eye for now. Hearing her thanking them in such a shy manner, they somewhat rejoiced. "Don''t worry about it!" "We don''t have much, but we aren''t cheapskates!" "Yeah, we''re all adults here. Adults shouldn''t be petty to children," "Children..." That last statement was asking for trouble! Old Li, you''re really brave, hmph! Well, she was dizzy, so she''ll let that one go this time... The homeless wanted to share some of their similar stories, but Yun Zhi excused herself. Aside from sleeping inside the lake, she didn''t sleep much last night. So tired... Better take a rest soon! Knowing she had just gone through a dire life trial, they sympathized and had no complaint. Soon, she snuggled into a tent belonging to one of the aunties. The old auntie put a clean rag on her, shielding her from the morning cold. Her first proper rest in the new world, new planet... turned out to be with the homeless. The princess and prime disciple of Jade Qilin Sect, one of the top ten sects in a continent in the cultivation world... snuggling into a homeless'' tent. Well, at least the place was clean. She had no complaint. Without much thought, she fell asleep like a baby... Chp 12: The Boss Called Huu... Hu, hu... An embrace... A warm, cozy embrace... She was out in space... A supposedly cold and lonely place... Yet, somehow, it brought nostalgia. Why? It felt like a long-lost family, taking her into her embrace... Not saying a thing, not telling a thing... Yet, all the message needed to tell her, was shown... Her care, her love... While she was like, a good baby... Accepting everything she showered onto her, no complaint. "Big sis Xue..." In her sweet dream, The coziness of being with big sis, continued...
Hours went by. She was sleeping like a baby. With the natural cover under the trees, it was a bit dark and comfy. The air was also fresh, full of moisture. Though it was cold, her body had already undergone a transformation back home, so it didn''t bother her. Otherwise, how could she have slept inside the lake for some hours without any problem? Yun Zhi was sleeping sideways, curling her body up. Her new pink shirt and black pair of trousers made her look like any other modern teenage girl. Sleeping inside the homeless tent was so cozy. While the place was shabby, it didn''t matter much once you shut your eyes. Clean and tidy, there was no bad smell. The people there took a bath every other day, but they always cleaned themselves and did not neglect their waste management. They aired their tent and let sunlight hit its inside regularly. It might not look much, but it seemed old Li did a good job handling thirty-odd people. It was already afternoon. She had good shut eyes, and the homeless people had already gone on their way to earn some paltry earnings. "Huuuu--- hm?" She groggily opened her eyes. It shouldn''t even been that many hours since she slept, but she already felt refreshed. "Hurm, big sis Xue..." She said that name again. The effect of her help was significant. Her sleep was calm and effective. In addition, there was no nightmare. That nightmare seemed to vanish altogether. Instead, that cozy dream... "Be healthy, be happy..." Big sis Xue, the immortal she had met... The truly inspiring immortal she had met. Her wish kept repeating in her mind. For some reason, she seemed familiar to her now. Was it because she had cleansed her spirit world, or maybe cause she lifted the devil''s curse, or maybe because she was so nice to her? She couldn''t seem to get over her. Now that she had woken up, she wondered what she should do. Without a clear direction, even a refreshed mind would wander... Big sis Xue''s wish was too general, so she pondered what option to make. Her mission was also too general. Should she carry it out immediately? If it was her previous, cursed self, she would no doubt continue her beauty sleep. But, because of her new big sis, she felt like it would be worth changing herself. "What... should I do?" [You have awakened] "..." For some reason, there was a nice blue and shiny panel in front of her eyes. It was a panel similar to a game loading screen. There was also a voice generated by it... Somehow, that voice irked her, as if urging her to slap someone... why? [What an interesting story, I wonder who your uncle was.] "Geh!" That jerk uncle immortal! The first immortal she met, yet he was such a jerk that she wished she hadn''t met him!Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. [What''s up with that ''Geh''? It sounds like you don''t like me dropping a call.] "T-there''s no way that''s the case, boss..." She put up a forced, awkward smile. This damnable immortal was her direct boss. While she hated him, there was no way she could say that directly to her boss, right? Any corporate slave would understand, would sympathize. This sick boss! Not only did he confiscate my storage ring full of treasures, took my cultivation away... He fricking yeet me into the planet, right into a lake! Ah, also roasting me on the sun! Like I''ll ever forget! Hmph, you''ll see. The next time I see big sis, you''ll file a formal complaint! "W-why are you calling, boss? It''s my first day here, so I''m still unfamiliar with things..." You can''t mean to tell me to do my job seriously on my first day, right? I''m an intern right now! I don''t know a thing! [Boss? Nice, I like how that rings... Ah, right. I just want to inform you of some things. First, your ''big sis'' might not drop by our star system for at least two or three years, so...] "..." So, you''re stuck with me! That''s what you''re saying, huh? Grrr! It was not surprising. She had over 10,000 star systems under her supervision. It was already odd she dropped by as soon as Immortal Yen filed his report about her. It seemed she passed through a long distance at extreme speed. For her to take Yun Zhi''s assignment so seriously... She was like a CEO of a multinational company with over 10,000 permanent workers and many more contract workers. And Yun Zhi didn''t even qualify as a contract worker... She was maybe in a temporary contract... no, an intern! The lowest in the company, everybody''s little servant. Hey, make us coffee, intern! Right away, senior... In this regard, Immortal Yen was confident. The sector guardian had always paid extra attention to new messengers. However, she could not be bothered after the initiation, since she had too many issues to solve. The devils were quite active in the myriad world, and she had to be everywhere all the time. ''Lady Xue''s too kind to lowly mortal, shhh...'' Immortal Yen did not despise mortals. He just thought they did not worth that much attention. However, work still had to be done. That was why Lady Xue said he was not bad. He did his job exactly as it was needed. It''s just that, his treatment of an intern like Yun Zhi... might not be so warm. That was why she warned him not to torture her with his antics. [Second thing, I just got you a simple notification system. The system works with Artificial Intelligence. You just need to do the task assigned. That way, I don''t have to call you every so often.] "Is... is that so?" Damn, this is good news! Dealing with a machine should be better than this jerk uncle. I love you, AI! Still, she had to do tasks... She still hated work, but for big sis'' sake... "I guess I had to work then... but boss, can I have free time for a few days at least? I want to know how things work around here..." [Don''t worry about that. Each task won''t constrict you too much. Besides, your ''big sis'' did ask me to give you the simplest task first. I''ll abide by my order.] "Ah right, right... Big sis Xue did say that, and you will abide her order eh, hehe..." Hurray for big sis! Hallelujah! [Heh, you''re really funny. Your story is funny too. So, mind telling me who your uncle who took all your belongings and dropped you into the lake was?] "Geh, t-that''s just misunderstandings!" He was actually eavesdropping? What a nasty habit for an esteemed immortal... Don''t you have other healthy hobbies?! [Haha, I''m actually big-hearted, so I won''t trouble you little one for that. I''ll give you your cultivation and storage ring, and your belongings too when you reach the required merit. So don''t be petty about it...] "Oh... A-alright boss... Y-you''re the best," [You don''t have to say things you don''t mean. Ah, your system is just a simple notification system, so it can''t give you advice, don''t expect too much. You need to think for yourself, since you''re our agent. Well, I''m out.] "Ah, roger that, boss... take care," Did this uncle eat something odd? She felt like he was not as bad as he was before. However, the fact that he took her storage ring and cultivation was still true. Hmph, maybe he''s still afraid of big sis? That must be the case! After that, she wondered about the system. It''s just a simple notification system? Like telegram? "Hey, system? You there?" There was no response. She tried changing the way she called it, but still nothing. Somehow, it was a bit disappointing. Then again, perhaps it was a good thing. That meant she didn''t have any task for now. So... for now, her most important task was... To get enough sleep! Sleep for peace, sleep for justice! She snuggled into the old pillow and blanket, taking on her sleep with due diligence.
Hours passed. It was near dusk, not the best time to sleep. Since that was the case, she woke up by herself. However, she was still a bit sleepy, with drool on her. Going outside, she went to the tent''s rainwater container. Covering her surroundings, she washed her face and important parts with a clean towel, taking away much of her dirt and filth from sweat. Just as she was about to say hi to the others in the camp, she heard a commotion. It was a bit far, beyond the forest. Strangely though, it was not the voice of the homeless, but the voice of young men. Laughing loudly while provoking the elderly, Yun Zhi felt uncomfortable. It seemed, she didn''t need to find trouble. Trouble had invited itself in... Since she could very well see the same notification from before, in front of her...
[Mission 1: Submission]
OBJECTIVE:
  1. Suppress at least 1000 thugs into submission
SUPPRESSED THUGS: 0/1000 REWARD: Qi Refinement Layer 1 + Others (Optional) TIME LIMIT: 14 Days
"..." It was her very first mission. On this new planet, new life... "One thousand? How troublesome," So she said. Yet somehow, she had no hesitation as she walked out of the camp. Somehow, still half asleep...
"You don''t hear me? Just do some pig noise! Oink, oink! Then make a circle with your bare butt out... How easy can it be?" "Yeah, do it. I''m recording and will upload it later. You''ll be famous everywhere, uncle pig!" "Ahh, the pig is too stupid, it can''t understand you, big bro!" A burst of massive laughter ensued, as if the statement was so hilarious. It was made by a group of five high schoolers, with loose shirts and thug-like behavior. And, crawling under their legs, was Fatty Qian. He seemed desperate, tears in his eyes. They had just taken his fishing rod, and had threatened to break it unless he fulfilled their request. At first, it was a simple request like laying on the ground with his stomach out and barking... Soon, it escalated. They wanted him to act like a pig as well. Fatty Qian, who was naturally soft-hearted and not so bright, did fulfill their request first. But now, even he knew these thugs did not know when to stop. By his side were two other old uncles and two aunties, who only dared to berate the thugs. "You youngsters, how shameless can you be?!" "Don''t you respect your elders? That rod was from his daughter!" "Just give it back to him, he already did your three requests!" "Yeah, you promised, didn''t you?!" "Ahh? Did I promise to give him after three requests? I said I might, might, might consider it! You elders are just too gullible," A bald young man, barely eighteen or so, laughed as he refuted them. As he did, the others laughed out loud as well. It seemed this bald guy was their leader. With small metal chains and ear piercings, he was the very image of a small-time thug. "Now, pig... Oink, oink! Hey, a pig doesn''t wear trousers, take them off! Else... hehe," As he continued to threaten fatty Qian to emulate a pig, Yun Zhi came out from the forest. As she walked out, she still remembered who was it that handed her the clothing she had right now. That fatty cheek smiled as he put it on her hands. They were his precious treasure... one which money couldn''t buy. His naive-like run when he went to his tent and when he came out from it... She knew, though he was already over forty, the guy had kept his innocence with him. A fool, easily tricked and despised by others. People with a shred of intelligence wouldn''t want to keep him close. She too, thought she wouldn''t want to be close with such a person. That would be like, inviting disaster. Someone whom others could trick easily, as a friend? Nope. Even if they were kind-hearted, you''re just compromising your own security. No way! Just exchange greetings for a bit, and be on our way. That would be for the best! "..." "Hm? Where did this chick come from?" "Whoa, bro! This chick''s hot!" "Looks like your charm magnet works, bro!" "But bro... She looks a bit young though," "Who cares?! She''s hot!" The thugs exchanged thoughts as if she was already theirs. If it was her previous cursed self, she would say, ''how troublesome''. However... She said nothing. For some reason, her inside was boiling. With a dark circle under each eye, she looked at these five thugs... As if, looking at a pig. A filthy pig... No... A filthy, dead pig. Chp 13: All Hail the Queen! Chp 13: All Hail the Queen! Somewhere overseas¡­ Deep inside a military base, a gigantic chamber similar to a command center was hectic. Large screens were fixed neatly over its high wall, with high-tech computers and equipment filling the space. The place was filled with people, both in military uniforms and civilian clothes. They were both operational planners and researchers in charge of satellites, military satellites to be exact. On one side, on the order of his superior, a trembling operator pressed the ¡®enter¡¯ button. On the largest screen on the wall, it revealed a picture of a girl, waving her hand while seemingly laughing¡­ Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked up, silent. Soon, the whole place burst out in response. While the picture seemed a bit blurry because of the burning plasma, the girl was a bit adorable, so they all thought it was cute. Thinking what had transpired on the large screen was a silly prank, someone shouted ¡°Very funny¡± out loud, urging others to go back to work¡­ While this might be taken as a breach of discipline, they did not want to make a fuss over it. Maybe someone was having a bad day and wanted to liven up the mood? While they were working in a military installation, there were still plenty of civilians there who had quite a good sense of humor¡­ As long as this did not repeat, they would just remember this as a joke. Who would fall for such an obvious forgery anyway? A young girl, waving at their satellite while falling from high orbit¡­ Burning in purple plasma as she entered the planet¡¯s atmosphere¡­ As if a brilliant meteor in the night sky, thrown down the planet¡­ ¡°The image¡­ is real,¡± The shaky yet clear voice from a senior officer, turned the whole place silent. So silent¡­ The sound of a paper falling, could be heard.
In the park, outside the forest. ¡°Is it fun?¡± That was her welcoming question. From her looking at the situation with amusement, the five thugs seemed astonished. However, it was a pleasant surprise for them. It seemed this sassy girl had a taste. They replied; ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s fun. Wanna join us, babe?¡± ¡°This pig is quite adorable too,¡± ¡°Yeah, look at his snort!¡± The homeless, turning to witness Yun Zhi approaching, turned confused. Was this little girl not what it seemed before? They could swear the fact that she was adorable, far from being comfortable with the likes of these thugs. Yun Zhi, giving them a meaningful look, turned to the thugs as if joining them. The homeless, however, sensing something amiss, knew not to interfere. Even fatty Qian, clueless as he was, knew she was not going to join them. She, the girl wearing his daughter¡¯s clothes, couldn¡¯t be such a sick person! He refused to believe it! Yun Zhi asked the thugs; ¡°Well, I wanna join in the fun. You mind? What¡¯s your next plan?¡± ¡°Huhu you got guts, girl! How about we strip him naked, take videos of him tied on a poll, and post it on OurTube?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea, big bro!¡± ¡°It¡¯s bound to go viral!¡± ¡°Ehhh, a bit boring¡­ Why don¡¯t we strip the pig naked, tied ropes on its feet, rock on its front legs¡­ then sink the beast down the lake over that pier there? We¡¯ll pull it out before it drowned¡­ Maybe ten or twenty times¡­ Imagine the expression! That ought to go viral fast!¡± Hearing Yun Zhi¡¯s nasty-fine idea, the five thugs had their eyes open. What is bullying? This is, bullying! Where did this amazing girl come from? Such cruelty, so admirable! Hearing her idea, the thugs looked at each other. Realizing they didn¡¯t have ropes, Yun Zhi gave them a disapproving look. Do you guys want to do this, or not? Realizing her meaning, two of them volunteered; ¡°T-then we¡¯ll go buy some! There are some hardware stores nearby!¡± ¡°Can you lend us some money, big bro?¡± ¡°Hmph, it¡¯s always my money, oh well¡­¡± ¡°Buy a big and long one. The longer, the better. Otherwise, it won¡¯t hold the pig,¡± She gave the order as if it was natural. Sensing her authoritative yet calm demeanor, the two did not protest. She was probably used to ordering others around, so she might be from a wealthy family. They were not idiots. It was best not to offend someone like this¡­ Soon, the two took off towards their bike just outside the park. Seeing the two go, the three wondered how long it would take. Seeing Yun Zhi, they remembered this girl had yet to introduce herself. The bald one, their leader, took the initiative;Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°Hey there, sexy girl. I believe we haven¡¯t introduced ourselves? The name¡¯s Mo Hong, leader of these parts¡­ Hehe, have you heard of Steep Valley High School? I¡¯m the second leader there!¡± ¡°Oh my¡­ no wonder you look so bold. How about these two? Are you guys his buddies or servants?¡± ¡°Oh, we¡­ We¡¯re big bro¡¯s buddies!¡± ¡°Right, right!¡± ¡°Oh, I forgot. These guys are my buddies¡­¡± ¡°Oh really¡­ But, who¡¯s strongest among you guys? I¡¯m confused,¡± ¡°Obviously it¡¯s big bro!¡± The two quickly acknowledged that fact. Seeing these three being like this, Yun Zhi knew she did not need tricks, as she was stronger than them by a long haul. But still¡­ Why bother doing more? She loved doing the least work! She was a NEET, and a neet loved the easy path. ¡°Ehh¡­ I like strong men¡­ But you¡¯re the leader? Hard to judge, I guess?¡± ¡°W-what do you mean about that, girl!¡± ¡°I mean, you¡¯re the leader, but you don¡¯t look as strong as the two¡­¡± ¡°W-what... Why not!¡± ¡°Look at your muscle. A bit skinny, and your shoulder¡¯s not quite as wide as the two¡­ I don¡¯t know,¡± ¡°Hmph! I¡¯m the second strongest in school, everyone knows!¡± ¡°Ehhh¡­ How about this? The strongest among you can do kinky stuff with Yun Yun¡­ That¡¯s my name anyway. It¡¯ll be fun,¡± She licked her lips, stirring up the heat in the boys. ¡°R-really?!¡± Seeing the leader had been provoked, Yun Zhi knew, that just a little more incentive to these dogs in heat would do. As long as the bait was good enough and the sacrifice was not much, they were willing to do it. To spice things up, she said; ¡°But, I don¡¯t like men who rely on their background¡­ I wanna, like, spend time with a real man¡­ if you know what I mean?¡± ¡°H-hmph! You¡¯ll see, I¡¯ll show you! You two, attack me all at once. I¡¯ll let you guys attack three times for free!¡± ¡°Eh, b-but¡­ big bro?¡± ¡°Big bro¡­ you¡¯re already strong¡­ Is there any need for us,¡± ¡°If you two win¡­¡± Yun Zhi gave them a dirty look, ¡°I¡¯ll play with you two guys all at once? I don¡¯t mind doing it here in the open,¡± Her statement shocked them silly. Hearing her shameless incentive, the two almost lost their mind. They had thought they had to give way to this big bro of them like always. As it turned out, this girl had quite a gall¡­ She¡¯s suggesting a threesome¡­ How awesome! Is this a dream? Has the spring come? And, as it turned out, to protect his pride, their big bro already gave his word that he would honor the final result. With this, they no longer had any reason to back down! Don¡¯t blame us, big bro! Meanwhile, the homeless uncles and aunties, hearing her being so suggestive, turned dizzy. As they thought, people who lived overseas sure think differently¡­ They were so bold and open-minded! We couldn¡¯t even compare! When Yun Zhi gave the thugs the signal, they fought against themselves, two against one. It was an epic fight¡­ not really. Yun Zhi yawned as their movements lacked stability and decisiveness. They were simple and amateurish. All they did was swing their punches and kicks as strong and as fast as they could. The movements were large, full of openings. There were no roots in their stance, no borrowing the power of earth, no sharpening of senses before they started, no instinct¡­ No nothing. It was disappointing. Finally, as it reached its climax, the bald leader, Mo Hong, managed to land a fierce punch to one of them. He, however, also suffered a few blows. Soon after, in a one versus one, he had the advantage, taking down a much bigger opponent with a tackle. Delighted, he turned to Yun Zhi; ¡°Haha, look! Didn¡¯t I say so?!¡± ¡°Wow~~ Amazing. You really can¡¯t judge a book by its cover¡­¡± ¡°Of course! This big bro is really strong!¡± He said so, referring to himself. He completely ignored his two buddies, who now lay on the ground, groaning in pain. Yun Zhi gestured him over to the forest, beyond the bushes. It turned out she was still shy after all. Well, it was still in the open, so no complaint! Eager to taste the fresh meat served right before him, the bald leader already forgot about fatty Qian¡¯s rod. With her giving the homeless a meaningful smile, they knew what to do. As for Yun Zhi, just as they both went to the bushes, she told him; ¡°Take off your shirt, bend over that tree, and wait,¡± ¡°Eh, oh, okay¡­¡± Confused, yet excited, this was probably what she meant by kinky stuff. He took off his shirt in a hurry. And when he was bending over, she went behind the tree, picking up a thick, hard stick. With her telling him to close his eyes as she prepared herself, the excited guy followed the order blindly. ¡°Hm, you know I like strong men, right?¡± ¡°R-right! And I¡¯m strong, that¡¯s why you choose me, right?¡± ¡°Of course, the thing is¡­ Can you endure a little teasing? Sadly, I can¡¯t get excited unless I do this, it might hurt¡­¡± ¡°A little teasing? Hurt? Haha, what, just a little? Go ahead and tease me plenty!¡± With him bending over, he thought she was about to spank him like in those kinky XXX videos he watched with the boys last month. Oh my, huhu, a new experience out in the open! Not many girls would be so daring to do this in a room, much less in the open. Look on boys, this big bro was about to reach a new height! ¡®I can brag about this with the boys!¡¯ Or so he thought. Sadly, he had yet to reach eighteen. With his ID, he couldn¡¯t get into those sweet love hotels or get himself any place in the red-light district. The non-uniformed police there were strict. If his father knew, he would kill him! While he was a thug, he never scored big with the girls. Due to his baldness, the girls just couldn¡¯t get excited over him. They just used him for his money and left him cold turkey when he got desperate. Such was the fate of a bald guy. Why was Heaven so blind, making such a handsome guy, bald? He continued to blame Heaven for years! That was why, this time, Yun Zhi¡¯s offer was seriously alluring. A girl who just wanted a strong guy? Who was a strong guy? That would be me! Yun Zhi, sighing at the high schooler¡¯s naivety, wondered if she really should play around with his heart like this. Yet, reminding herself of his cruel treatment of fatty Qian, she buried whatever sympathy she had for this guy, a male currently in heat. ¡°You absolutely must not scream, alright? Sigh, that always turned me off terribly. Weak men do that¡­ Ah, it¡¯s fine to groan though. I love hearing a guy holding it in with all his might, em, hehe¡­¡± ¡°L-leave it to me! This big bro absolutely won¡¯t scream!¡± ¡°Oh my, how handsome¡­ don¡¯t disappoint this sister, okay?¡± ¡°No worry, I won¡¯t!¡± He was confident. I mean, how strong could a girl''s hit to the butt be, anyway? Those who screamed must be a wuss! Just go ahead and do it! This big bro is strong! ¡­ Too bad for him. She had a stick.
Augh! Oughh! Arrkkk¡­ Neighhhh¡­! Auuuuu~~ Different sets of sounds came from the bushes. Those who listened had blushes on their face. Even the homeless uncles and aunties, already hiding in the distance, could hear that faint moaning sound of a young man, holding it in. Meanwhile, the two groaning in pain earlier also listened in. Soon enough, the two who went out to buy the rope, found the two on the ground. Before they could ask, they heard that similar, suspicious sound. Without much explanation, only eye contact, and hand signs, the two understood what had transpired. Their imagination ran wild. What heaven was their big bro experiencing, to be making such beastly sound? Eyes filled with envy of their big bro, they could only kneel, grit their teeth, and clench their fists. Oh well, it was their big bro¡¯s first time, anyway. If anything, they should offer their congratulations! Big bro finally became an adult!
¡°Alright, now I ask you, slave! Who¡¯s your queen?!¡± ¡°Y-you, my lady!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t hear you!¡± ¡°You¡¯re my only Queen, my lady! Forever loyal!¡± ¡°Good slave, good slave!¡± She held a leash on his neck¡­ his own shirt. Her feet on his spine, she took aim and delivered another heavy blow right on his butt. Damn, the stinging pain pierced through his being, right up the spine, straight into the cerebral cortex. Tears in his eyes. Yet, he didn¡¯t scream. This was already for how many times, she forgot. The bald guy kept holding it in. His will to hold it in as if his dear life depended on it, was admirable. Though he was a thug, he still deserved some reward¡­ Reward? How about another hit, filled with love? That oughtta teach you, to respect your elders! For some reason, hey, this is fun? Yun Zhi, doing so for about a few minutes, found herself another calling. However, realizing how shameful she would be if big sis Xue knew, she thought, this would be the last time¡­ Yeah, last time¡­ really. This was just to discipline a naughty boy, after all, nothing dirty whatsoever. After holding it in for a little past five minutes, the bald guy finally had his whites overruling his black eyes. With a scream filled with unwillingness, he collapsed to the ground. It was a defeat, sure, but it was an honorable one¡­ Or so he thought. Yun Zhi, feeling a bit satisfied, harrumph. Well, it took longer than expected since she didn¡¯t want to break any bones. However, it turned out to be quite satisfying, so¡­ Err, upholding justice was fun! Still, he just couldn¡¯t hold out long enough. She had some unique ideas she wanted to try¡­ too bad. When she walked out of the bushes with the stick, everyone could see her, sighing in disappointment. ¡°W-what¡­ She¡¯s sighing? Big bro didn¡¯t perform well?¡± ¡°Well, it was his first time, so¡­ that scream just now gives me the chill,¡± ¡°Damn big bro, you make all of us embarrassed!¡± ¡°Too bad he didn¡¯t have anyone to practice before, aii¡­ eh, what¡¯s that stick for?¡± Yun Zhi, noticing the four school thugs still there, looking dumb while kneeling¡­ She thought, why not? Walking towards them in a happy gait, she already eyed the thick, long rope the two had just brought in. Chp 14: All Hail the Queen (II) Chapter 14: All Hail the Queen (II) ¡°Ugh¡­ what the heck?¡± ¡°What happen¡­?¡± ¡°Ouch, my head¡­¡± ¡°Fu fu fu¡­¡± ¡°My, my queen?!¡± Mo Hong, along with his four thug buddies, woke up confused. They had just realized, it was already dark and cold. For some reason, they had no idea how they all lost consciousness. Well, the bald Mo Hong did have some idea, but¡­ Why am I all tied up? And everyone else, too¡­ Looking at his buddies around him, they were all lined up, tied up¡­ The feet got tied, and hands too, with a bag of stones. Moreover, they felt like they were floating¡­ Actually, they were. They were brought to the pier right on the lake. The pier, waving a little from the wind moving the water, confirmed their suspicion. Ahh, the night wind was so chilly¡­ ¡°Wait? Hey, you guys! What¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°I, I don¡¯t know¡­ Big bro, what happened?¡± ¡°All I remember was a stick¡­¡± ¡°Ah yes, a stick¡­ Guh!¡± That stick suddenly swung above their head. It was Yun Zhi, head bowed, facing the five men lying on the pier. Looking at their confused face, she smirked; ¡°Any questions, brothers?¡± ¡°Yun Yun¡­ No, my queen! What are you doing?!¡± ¡°R-release us! Wait, my queen?¡± ¡°Big bro, what did you say?¡± The five were confused, and could not think straight. Yun Zhi explained; ¡°Well, we¡¯re just doing something we all agreed¡­ We¡¯ll submerge the pig into the lake¡­ Well, five pigs to be exact. Let me explain¡­ You five are the pigs¡­ And I¡¯ll be the conductor, ok? Ah, I already got someone to record everything¡­ don¡¯t worry. We can upload later,¡± ¡°Record? What do you¡­ Ah, my clothes!¡± ¡°W-where¡¯s my trousers?!¡± No wonder the night wind was so chilly. Because they were so confused, they realized it a bit late. Not like it would help, anyway. After Yun Zhi hit the bald guy into fainting, she approached the four with a smile, hitting their head while they least suspected it. They had been out of it for hours. Within that time, she had all the homeless gathered. She explained what had happened, and also cleared out whatever misunderstanding of what happened behind the bushes. Since the five thugs had the gall to bully one of them, she told them to remove the clothes including the trousers, leaving behind mere underwear, the last bastion of their honor. When the five woke up, they could see around thirty adults looking at them, menacing. Unfortunately for them, it was dark, plus all the homeless were wearing either some masks or clothing to cover their face, so the five could not recognize them at all. Five of the adults were holding smartphones, taken from the five of them. Since all five had fingerprint recognition, the phones were all vulnerable. ¡°What¡­ what are you? Why are we all tied up?!¡± ¡°No¡­ A-are we... sacrifices?!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you guys are cultists?!¡± ¡°Mommy~~ I don¡¯t wanna die!¡± ¡°Shut up. We¡¯re not cultists.¡± Yun Zhi refuted, silencing the crying thug. Sitting on one of the pier¡¯s pillars, Yun Zhi had one of her knees up. She got down. Waving her stick, she hit each of them one by one, several times in succession; Ooohhh~~ Uwaaa---- Awwwuuuu--- Nu, nuooh?? Ah yes, my queen! Right there! All responses confirmed her suspicion. Within the stick, sparks of Qi could be seen through her eyes. Others couldn¡¯t, but she could. It seemed due to her strong Qi drawing ability, she could still use some Qi from the surroundings. In addition, her Qi control seemed even more refined than before. This world had such a thin Qi, but she could draw them better than in her world. The park, with a lot of trees, was able to produce a small amount of Qi. By infusing the Qi around her into the stick, she was able to deliver shock-like therapy to the victim. Testing its effect on the bald guy and his buddies, she concluded it had some exciting effects. Since the victims were mortals, the effect seemed to be¡­ charging the body with Qi. Hitting the butt was most effective. The Qi moved from the rectum into the dantian, then charged itself through the spine, releasing any stress and congestion in tiny veins, all the way to the prefrontal cortex, the forehead. In short term, it could release some ailments, unblock congealed blood, and produce a mixed feeling of extreme pain and pleasure. Hm, what to do? This stick beating Qi-technique¡­ Seemed morally questionable? It was a bit bizarre too, but¡­ ¡°I like it,¡± Grinning silly¡­ She sure liked it! Morally Questionable? Who the frick cares! Personally, I like it! That¡¯s all that matters.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. I just need to be careful¡­ Big sis doesn¡¯t need to know this¡­ As for the long-term effect, she still ought to observe it more. The power that big sis Xue gave her, she still had yet to explore. No, could it be that this was one of them? She suspected it, but so far, it was just a guess. There should also have some sort of scanning ability, but she had no idea how to activate it. Did big sis Xue forget to mention it, or was it because she was too dense to realize? Or maybe¡­ she needed at least a little Qi layer to activate it? Somehow, this whole messenger business was a bit ad hoc¡­ Must she, an intern, figure things out by herself? Couldn¡¯t there be a detailed explanation, a manual? Or at least, someone responsible to explain to this lowly new intern? Perhaps they¡¯re understaffed? Well, considering even that jerk uncle got employed¡­ Ah, I know! It¡¯s all his fault! He¡¯s clearly shirking responsibility! Satisfied with blaming that jerk uncle immortal, she was done thinking. Waving her hand, it was a signal. The homeless, knowing well what to do by now, gathered beside the thugs. Three uncles for each thug, they lifted them and¡­ ¡°W-wait, what are you¡­¡± ¡°No~~ I don¡¯t wanna die!¡± ¡°Stop joking around, my Queen! My loyalty¡ª¡° ¡°Uncles, what are you guys waiting for? Do it!¡± Yun Zhi shouted her order. Her voice was crisp and clear, decisive. The homeless uncles, who were hesitating, finally threw them all down the lake. The rope on them followed down together but soon stopped. It had been tied up with the pier¡¯s pillars, so they would not fall far. After counting a slow one to ten, she ordered them to pull the five back. It took all three uncles to exert their strength to pull them back. The water resistance was no joke. Emerging from the questionably ¡®clean¡¯ lake water, they had water coming out of their mouth. ¡°Buuu--- buu---¡° ¡°Uweekkk¡­¡± ¡°Cough, cough¡­!¡± ¡°Kuuuu--- S-stoop¡­¡± ¡°Fu, fuuuehh¡­¡± All five had different exclamations, but they had finally experienced it¡­ The taste of their own medicine. All of them had already tasted the naturally green lake water. Was it like a spoiled tea? It sure had a unique taste, um! Eyes bloodshot due to exposure down below and being hanged upside down then, they now questioned life in much deeper thought. Bullying? What is, bullying? This is, bullying! Now, we know the pain! All this time, they were the ones who did the bullying, not the ones being bullied. It was a few hours ago when they were busy bullying that fat uncle¡­ Now, the role was reversed¡­ ¡°My Qu, queen, p-puh leasss sutopuu¡­¡± ¡°Again!¡± ¡°Nooo---¡± The uncles threw all five into the lake again. All the while, the recording team did not stop! For some reason, Yun Zhi said she needed the videos for different purposes. One of them was that, with these, the thugs would not disturb them anymore. After around the same time, she ordered their return. This time, she asked them; ¡°Do you know your fault? The error of your way?¡± ¡°N-no! What did we even do?!¡± ¡°P-please, my Queen! We¡¯ll obey! Let us go!¡± ¡°Go? Oh, still not enough¡­ Again!¡± ¡°Nooo---¡± She repeated the ¡®holy bath¡¯. These five thugs needed to learn their lesson before it was too late. If they couldn¡¯t confess to their fault now, later in life, they would just be even worse. Not only disrespected elders, also did not care about their face. Uploading shameful videos? What a joke! If you¡¯re uploading something, do it with complete decisiveness! Do it, like¡­ now! Again, with her gesture, the uncles took them all up. This was already the fifth time. The thugs had had it. Whatever bad things they did in the park today, they decided to confess everything to them¡­ on record. Even if they got disciplined by the school or the ministry, it was better than this hell-hole! A wet, hell hole¡­ Time passed. To guard their camp, ten or so already went back. There were only twenty uncles here, five responsible for the videos, while the rest, for taking them up. This was already the ninth time. The thugs had all confessed to their mistakes and errors, such as disrespecting elders, threatening them, and dishonorable behavior. It was a ton of confession, but somehow, Yun Zhi still was not satisfied. She already forced them to confess everything, but, there was something else they did not confess. The reason was, the mission notification; [SUPPRESSED THUGS: 1/1000] She already knew the one suppressed. It was the bald guy, the result of her five-minutes physical therapy. Perhaps, using the stick was better than this time and labor-consuming way? Gesturing to the uncles to release the bald leader, he was thanking her, non-stop. She signaled again, so the four took another dip into the lake for the tenth time. Meanwhile, she spoke to Mo Hong; ¡°All of you are hiding something. What secret? Confess now or else,¡± ¡°M-my Queen¡­ It¡¯s not like I want to keep it a secret, it¡¯s just¡­ They¡¯re too strong,¡± ¡°Your gang huh? As I thought, it¡¯s not just a school gang?¡± ¡°Err¡­ yeah. We have a superior gang¡­ A bike gang¡­ No, my loyalty is only for you, my Queen! It¡¯s just that the gang leader¡¯s too strong! He¡¯s a second-rate warrior!¡± ¡°Second-rate warrior? What the heck? Explain!¡± Mo Hong explained. It was the ranking of Murim warriors. Murim warriors were the main force within any Murim organization. For these warriors, they were ranked as third-rate, second-rate, and first-rate. These were the foot soldiers and field officers of Murim. The lowest of them was third-rate. These were just warriors who practice some techniques and did not qualify for much, but they possessed better sense than common people. They were usually servants and guards in non-important areas. Still, they should be able to handle five thugs like them easily. The leader of their bike gang, however, was a lot stronger. That was why even though Mo Hong already submitted to Yun Zhi, he still hesitated to answer her question, not until she specified it like now. If a third-rate could defeat five of them easily, a second-rate could defeat even fifty of them, easily! He had personally seen him defeating even a rival gang, jumping into the enemy leader riding a speeding superbike! It was an eye-opener, clearly showing everyone the difference between a Murim person and a common person. Though he was young, he was already that strong! It was said that he was close enough to enter first-rate. If not for the lack of elixir and support from the clan in recent years, he would have! ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡± ¡°Eh¡­ D-don¡¯t tell anyone I told you, my Queen,¡± ¡°Just out with it!¡± ¡°Y-yes! His name is Fang Shen, we call him leader Fang,¡± ¡°Fang Shen¡­ his identity?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know much, but¡­¡± That leader, Fang Shen, was a second young master of a Murim clan. However, years ago, due to some problem within the clan, he fell out of favor with the elders. He used to be one of their hope, but now... people said, the elders seemed to ignore him. Now he became a lowly bike gang leader. However, the gang was still strong! With numbers reaching hundreds, they also employed school gangs like them to give them protection fees among high schoolers around the area. The gang controlled about a thousand thugs like them! Hm¡­ Fang Shen¡­ We seemed to have faced a similar challenge. Should I try recruiting him? Well, if he¡¯s good enough, I¡¯ll have a dependable subordinate. No need to work my ass off all the time! I could sleep¡­ I mean, conserve my energy! That would be wonderful, huhu¡­ ¡°Um¡­¡± ¡°What is it, uncle?¡± As she was busy having her wet fantasy, the homeless uncles originally hesitated to disturb her. However, it¡¯s been quite some time¡­ ¡°Little Yun, I think they¡¯re dying down there?¡± ¡°Oh crap! Pull them up!¡± When the uncles pulled them up, they already had water entering their lungs. Infusing more Qi into her stick, she hit their chest in a certain rhythm, forcing the water out! Soon, they were able to breathe, though a bit weak¡­ Ah, human life¡­ How fragile! Seeing the four already passed fatal danger, she whispered to their leader Mo Hong; ¡°Don¡¯t worry with that Fang Shen or whoever, I¡¯ll deal with him. I¡¯m also from Murim¡­ somewhat,¡± ¡°R-really, my Queen?¡± ¡°Yeah, you don¡¯t realize it? I was infusing Qi into your body when I was hitting you, stimulating your body, your dantian, your Qi veins¡­ If my theory is correct, you might be able to practice soon,¡± ¡°By¡­ by practice, my Queen, you mean¡­ Murim martial arts?¡± ¡°What else would I mean by practice? Practice golf? Get real,¡± ¡°T-then! This is huge!¡± He was excited, eager. Even that Fang Shen had no means to let others, especially grunts like him, practiced martial arts. However, his Queen was able to promise such a thing! Could she be telling him the truth? She was not lying, did she? Thinking about how wonderful it was to be hit by her stick, despite the pain¡­ Could it be, that it was really Qi? He had never felt Qi before, so he had no idea how it felt. However, since the feeling was out of this world, he had no choice but to accept it. Besides, it was just¡­ Too, damn, good! Even if you were lying just now, as long as you continue to hit me¡­ I¡¯ll serve you, my Queen! Yun Zhi, a bit baffled by this bald guy¡¯s glittering eyes, decided not to mull over it. She whispered; ¡°Force your buddies to submit to me. This queen doesn¡¯t care how. Get it done,¡± ¡°Y-yes my Queen, right away! I know exactly how to!¡± Just as she gestured, the uncles woke the four up. With a bit more water coming out of their mouth and ears, they turned to their big bro in confusion. How could they let big bro go already? Did big bro betray their gang? Did big bro really didn¡¯t fear leader Fang anymore?! That would be suicide! No, leader Fang doesn¡¯t kill people but¡­ He might just beat him up silly! ¡°Big bro, d-did you tell them?¡± ¡°Hmph, stupid fools! Just submit to the Queen, or I¡¯ll beat the shit out of you guys!¡± ¡°But big bro¡­ leader Fang is too vicious! He won¡¯t let us go scot-free!¡± ¡°Yeah, big bro! Think this over!¡± ¡°Hmph, what do you know? Listen,¡± From confusion, their eyes turned clear. Having listened to him, they knew that the young lady was not ordinary. Big bro Mo explained, that she might be a Murim person! She knew how to use Qi, and she might even be able to make them become a warrior too, just like leader Fang! ¡°Big bro, is that the truth?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not being scammed, right?¡± ¡°What scam? You think I¡¯m a fool?¡± ¡°Well, somewhat¡­¡± Thuk! A nice hit on the head! ¡°Listen, don¡¯t you guys feel it too? When she hit us with that stick¡­¡± ¡°Ah, t-that feeling¡­¡± ¡°No¡­ That¡¯s just imagination, right?¡± ¡°That forbidden feeling? No, no¡­ I¡¯m not an M!¡± ¡°It hurts¡­ but, hehe¡­¡± When she hit them, they did feel it. The extreme pain, but with it, extreme pleasure. It was like something penetrated them from behind¡­ as if electric shock seizing them, crawling all the way up to the upper spine, into their head. Every strike she made on them, made their back tingle! How could this be?! Ah, that forbidden feeling! Even if they enjoyed it, there was no way they could admit it. Even for lowly thugs like them, the scum of society, it was¡­ Too shameful, too sinful! Mommy, forgive your sinful son! Every day, I¡¯m straying away from God¡­ === Chapter 14 Ends === Chp 15: New Goons Chp 15: New Goons
[SUPPRESSED THUGS: 5/1000]
¡°Nice¡­¡± Mo Hong¡¯s persuasion worked. Still, it took her too much time just to take care of these five. However, the next batch should be a lot more. To finish this within two weeks, she had to aim to finish it in one week. It was better to be way ahead of schedule. Otherwise, one might fail the task due to the time limit. ¡®Hm? Is there any punishment if I fail cause of the time limit?¡¯ She wondered, but the notification system did not inform her. Knowing that jerk uncle immortal, it might not be something good... Well, it didn¡¯t matter. She just had to finish it way sooner. Thinking about it¡­ Finishing things way earlier and better, was her old habit, one she had before her cursed self emerged. Slowly, she was recovering her old self. ¡°Sleepy, but not so tired now¡­¡± She was able to entertain herself with the five for hours. It was unimaginable just a day ago. Even though she no longer had her Qi layers, with her current mental and spirit capability, she could do her work better. Bullying, I mean, disciplining high schoolers. ¡°Alright, you five. Since you¡¯re my men now¡­ Give me everything you have¡­ Just a show of loyalty, I won¡¯t make things difficult for you,¡± ¡°Y-yes, my Queen¡­¡± ¡°I can¡¯t hear you,¡± ¡°¡°Yes, my Queen!!¡±¡± All five of them answered at once. With that, they gave her everything they had¡­ their information, ID, address, contact number, social media password, secondary phone, all money, bank details¡­ even a girlfriend¡¯s name. ¡°Holy shit, Hwang, you got a girlfriend? How? When?!¡± ¡°Eh, hehe¡­ It just so happen last week¡­ w-we only hold hands,¡± ¡°You traitor!¡± ¡°No fair!¡± ¡°We trusted you!¡± They were having a boys¡¯ scuffle, so Yun Zhi let them be. Since it was late, she excused herself along with the homeless uncles. Giving all of their phones back, she kept just two secondary phones for communication. Since the bald Mo Hong had an extra phone with him, she took his secondary phone as hers. The other one, she gave to old Li for security. Hm, for power¡­ They had a power bank, so she ¡®borrowed¡¯ that as well. The park had several power outlets on the benches and pillars, so no problem there. As for the videos taken, all had been backed up on clouds, so there was no worry. ¡°It¡¯s late, so I¡¯m going back to rest. You boys can beat yourself up for all I care. Ah, have a good bath. You guys smell¡­ I¡¯ll contact you later,¡± ¡°Yes, my Queen! Have a safe trip!¡± ¡°Oh, and¡­ if you dare not answer my call or message, you know what will happen, do you?¡± ¡°¡°W-we wouldn¡¯t dare!!¡±¡± ¡°Nice. Then, I¡¯m off.¡± For now, she just wanted to sleep. As for planning for the rest of the 1000 thugs, she¡¯ll have to ask the rest of her accomplices later. As they said, more heads were better than just one¡­ for her head had not been able to think well for a long time. Right now, she was just a sleepyhead.
Morning. It was surprising. Yun Zhi was able to wake up, along with the homeless. The aunties did wake her up, but she woke up so smoothly that she started to question whether she was dreaming or not. With her ruffled sleep hair, she took a look outside. With it still being a bit dark, with only a few lines of sunlight, it was quiet cold¡­ but, refreshing. This cool-mist filling the whole forest¡­ The chirping of birds singing in the morning¡­ And the rummaging of homeless people preparing their morning routine¡­ Ahh, waking up early is the best! Especially when it¡¯s a complete holiday, and you had gotten a good sleep. I haven¡¯t woken up early for so long¡­ The incident from yesterday morning, when she woke up from being fished from the lake, did not count. Back when she was still the much-admired prime disciple, she would always wake up earlier than others. She believed it was called the prime time, the time when it was the quietest, where all humans and cultivators alike did not have much chatter, whether physical or mental. She would always wake up around half or two-thirds of the night. It was the best time for study and reflection. Much of her mental and technical breakthroughs happened during this time. It was a time when the planet was having a unique change. What exactly it was, she had no idea. She just had that unique feeling. Of course, the time she woke up now, was a lot later than that. However, to normal people, it could still be considered early. In a way, she became proud of it. She used to wake up in the afternoon, making a lot of people whisper how lazy and spoiled she had become. Now, perhaps¡­ She could change that perception? ¡°Ah well, too early to say¡­¡± She was getting ahead of herself. Recovery must be done slowly, not rushed. Otherwise, it could make things even worse. Her lazy inertia from her cursed days was still there. The devil¡¯s curse was the most terrible. While that had been lifted, she still had that million curses placed on her¡­ So her body still felt a bit heavy, making her feel lazy from time to time.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. However, rather than doing nothing, she went out to see the aunties¡­ Sitting in a squat by a tree, she observed. Seeing them packing up the tents to make it less obvious to the outside world, she smiled. It was quite tranquil. A life of relaxation, surrounded by nature and good-natured people. While they had no wealth, they had the heart. The incident from yesterday, they were a bit shocked, but¡­ ¡°Ah, little Yun, you¡¯re awake?¡± ¡°Aiya, this girl, why are you sitting like that? Come, come,¡± ¡°Little Yun, have some coffee¡­¡± ¡°Hey, she¡¯s too young for black coffee¡­¡± ¡°Ehh¡­ I¡¯m seventeen already¡­ Eww, bitter!¡± ¡°Ha ha, yes, yes¡­ the young lady all grown up,¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Fatty, stop treating her like a child,¡± ¡°You¡¯re one to talk, old Li!¡± She rolled her eyes. There¡¯s still this perception that she¡¯s too young though. But, she endured it. Not because she wanted to be polite, it was just too troublesome to change it. Well, being spoiled had its merit. It certainly felt like being pampered by everyone. Still, the people here really had a positive vibe. While they were a failure in the realm of making money, they still had much good side. Yesterday''s event did not change the way they treated her so much. They just realized that her identity was not so simple. However, contrary to her expectation, they did not shower her with questions, nor stare at her with suspicions. It was as if all of them already accepted the fact that, everyone had their little secret. Perhaps it was because of the difficulty of life they had faced, they seemed even more mature than people their age. Being with them made it seem like being around people with the temperament of a grandpa and grandma¡­ not easily provoked. While they were gathering for a simple breakfast, they asked; ¡°So what¡¯s your plan for today, little Yun?¡± ¡°Will you try contacting your big sis overseas?¡± ¡°¡­Maybe. I¡¯m thinking of contacting those thugs, let them do some work,¡± ¡°Ah, little Yun¡­ This uncle is grateful for yesterday¡­ But will that be alright? You don¡¯t think they¡¯ll bring trouble?¡± Fatty Qian, remembering yesterday¡¯s event, still couldn¡¯t believe it. From the one being the bullied, he turned out to be the one bullying the thugs. Ah, submerging them into the lake was satisfying! Still, he did not want little Yun to let her guard down around them. Who knows what they would do to her? Little did he know, she did not regard them as security concerns at all. They were just that weak. Responding, she assured; ¡°Well, if they do¡­ We still have those videos on several cloud servers¡­ You know what to do, right? You can access them anywhere, even internet caf¨¦,¡± ¡°Ah, right, that¡¯s our trump card. Well, just be careful, don¡¯t push them too far,¡± ¡°I know, I know¡­ Anyway, uncle Li, take this¡­¡± ¡°Huh? What¡¯s this for?¡± She handed old Li some money she got from the thugs yesterday. It was not much, but to them homeless¡­ It¡¯s a lot. ¡°Something I borrow¡­ Use it. Maybe some things for everyone¡¯s breakfast¡­ I think that¡¯ll last a week at least,¡± ¡°A week? This could last a month!¡± ¡°Eww¡­ don¡¯t be stingy. Buy some eggs and veggies too¡­ It¡¯s painful to eat empty rice porridge¡­¡± ¡°Ah, right¡­ You¡¯re still growing¡­ my bad,¡± ¡°Uncle Li, you¡¯re asking for trouble¡­¡± She had the urge to slap someone. Fortunately, the aunties held her back. Otherwise, some old man might be seeing some star lights in the morning. With the sun coming out, she excused herself. Contacting the thug leader Mo Hong, she instructed him to give her a ride¡­ ¡°Bring me a helmet too. A new one!¡± ¡°Eh, my Queen, I have an extra here¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t wanna mix my head with yours!¡± ¡°Y-yes, my Queen! I¡¯ll buy one just for you, right away!¡± She did not want to wait, so she went to sleep by the lake while Mo Hong went to buy her a helmet. Before he arrived, he sent her a message, prompting her to move.
When she was on the way to the park¡¯s gate, it was already bright morning. Some visitors were walking about, some were elderly, some with children. As she was going halfway through the park, she saw a few people with Qi potential, some with Qi-senses already awakened, and some with Qi-body. It was a Murim world, after all, they couldn¡¯t be too weak. However, a certain person near the lake attracted her. It was an elder, doing Tai Chi by himself. Moving slowly yet gracefully, he was like an otherworldly grandpa. To common people, his elegant movement invoked certain awe and admiration. Looking down from her high position, she recognized him as having several Qi layers. By estimate, he should be at fourth Qi layer. ¡®Is that considered high or not here? Maybe mid-rank? Meh, nevermind¡­¡¯ A fourth Qi layer was worth nothing back in her world. She defeated countless teenagers of that level when she was barely six or seven. As for this world¡¯s rankings, she could do some research on the net later. Ruining her morning by being caught watching a stranger? Nope, just avoid any for now, especially one stronger than the current her. She would rather enjoy the scenery¡­ It was a tranquil and relaxing atmosphere, fitting for a park. Since it was workdays, there weren¡¯t many people. Wait, workdays? When she met with Mo Hong, he was at attention. Standing by his superbike, he bowed 90 degrees while shouting; ¡°My Queen, I¡¯ve done your order!¡± ¡°Pipe down, will you? You¡¯re embarrassing me¡­ By the way, don¡¯t you have school?¡± ¡°School? Ah, it¡¯s holidays now. So I can spend time outside. Here, my Queen,¡± Handing her a brand new helmet, she put it on. The pink helmet was comfy, and clean too. Since it was a good brand, the helmet had toughness and comfort mixed well together. Not to mention, it looked good too, but¡­ ¡°Eh, why pink?¡± ¡°S-sorry? I thought you like pink?¡± He looked at her pink shirt, the one shouting ¡°I¡¯m Queen!¡±. ¡°Not really¡­ It¡¯s just, I don¡¯t have other shirts. Speaking of which,¡± That reminded her. She needed to buy some stuff¡­ including essential things. She also noticed that the park had a large washroom just outside, equipped with some shower rooms. There were toilets inside the park, but not a shower room. Thinking about it, why did she have to take a bath in the fountain yesterday? Old Li¡­ really need some spanking. Then again, it might be locked at the time, so no need to blame him. ¡®I need to find a place soon, but,¡¯ So she thought. However, she still found it comfortable there. Maybe she would stay for a few more days¡­ just for the experience. With her ability, finding a proper job with good enough pay to provide a living wouldn¡¯t be difficult. However, she loved the surroundings. ¡®I¡¯ll think about it after dealing with the thugs,¡¯ Better finish the mission first. Thinking about it, she turned to Mo Hong. ¡°I¡¯m buying essentials. Just bring me to a good market, nothing fancy¡­ since I¡¯ll be using your money,¡± ¡°Y-yes, my Queen!¡± With him taking the helm, she rode on his superbike. While Mo Hong had some expectation, being able to perhaps gain some skinship, she didn¡¯t latch onto him. Placing her knee on his back, she dozed off¡­ ¡°M-my Queen¡­ I don¡¯t think sleeping on a bike is such a wise¡­¡± ¡°Shut up and drive. I¡¯m not sleeping.¡± ¡°Y-yes!¡± She sure did not. It was just her habit of ¡®conserving energy¡¯. Occasionally, she opened her eyes to enjoy the scenery. However, it was just one eye. The other eye kept being shut, resting. She alternated them regularly. While her condition had improved, the cursed condition still had the effect of millions of curses. Sometimes, she just had to rest. With that, they went to buy things. It was just a regular morning market. Shirts and trousers, proper clothing¡­ Mo Hong also recommended to her some biker¡¯s jackets and jeans. Since they looked better than expected, she gladly took them. Later, they shop for a portable water filter, towel, soap, and shampoos. And because she was a cultivator, she could control her womanly needs, so she did not need those extra hygiene products. However, some good blankets and pillows were a must! These were the essentials of life! Sleep is life! Sleep is eternal! You don¡¯t sleep? Then you ain¡¯t living! ¡°M-my queen, are you buying these?¡± ¡°Of course. I need these babies. Why, you don¡¯t agree?¡± Holding both pillows and the thick blanket, she defended her purchase as if defending her chastity. How dare this goon put forth such a question? Courting death! ¡°N-no, nothing like that! Just to remind you¡­ We¡¯re riding a bike, my Queen¡­¡± ¡°Eh, just call someone to take them back to the park. Do it secretly, like going to a picnic or something. Call old Li later to take them,¡± ¡°The park? Why?¡± ¡°I¡¯m staying there, for now at least,¡± ¡°Y-you¡¯re staying in the park?¡± It was beyond expectation. He thought she was just living nearby¡­ It turned out she lived right there. Wait, did she really say so? With her ability, she was no doubt a Murim person. She knocked all of them out easily. A Murim person could earn so much money in such a short time. But, why was she staying there, and where could she be staying in that vast park? Is she an Immortal? No, maybe she¡¯s hiding from her enemy? ¡°Don¡¯t worry about money. I¡¯ll pay you back later,¡± ¡°N-no! That¡¯s not what I¡¯m worrying about¡­ but, rather than money¡­ C-can you hit me in return?¡± ¡°With my fist?¡± She made a cruel face, teeth-gnashing, and fists crackling. She didn¡¯t expect this guy to have such a hobby. Looking at him as if human trash, she was as if a young lady fighter, preparing to knock a perverse man out with her Muay Thai. Seeing he was about to get trashed, Mo Hong defended his request; ¡°Wait! D-didn¡¯t my Queen tell me¡­ that those hits are good for us? I just thought,¡± ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s what you mean¡­ You wanna be a Murim person?¡± ¡°Y-yes! I¡¯ve read on some websites¡­ to become a martial artist, one¡¯s Qi vein must be suitable. If not, all hard work¡­ for nothing! Zero, nada, nein! I suspect mine was just like everyone else, not suitable,¡± ¡°Hm¡­¡± This guy had a deep interest in martial arts. When he was a child, he had asked his stern father for permission to join a martial arts class. After four months in the class, the teacher there confirmed that¡­ he was not suitable. What was it called, aptitude or talent? His veins were too thick and congested, not allowing Qi to flow well. At best, he could only reach a third-rate warrior with his talent... but even that, could take 30 or 40 years! This caused him depression for the rest of the year. He had to bury his dream of becoming a fearsome martial artist from then on. His childhood dream¡­ And now, someone capable, said she could perhaps allow him to join such a world! If he did not grab her thick thigh right here, right now, he would perhaps regret it for the rest of his life! Thick thigh saves life! ¡°Well, that¡¯s not wrong¡­ but, you¡¯re a thug,¡± ¡°A thug?¡± He blanked out, trying hard to understand what his Queen actually meant. Soon, he understood. She did not wish to help someone with questionable principles¡­ even if he was her goon. After all, he might abuse such power. ¡°Ah, my Queen, I¡¯ll change! I will change! I won¡¯t cause trouble for you, the elderly, and any others anymore¡­ promise! From now on, for you, my Queen, I¡¯ll be a warrior of justice!¡± ¡°Hmm, well, no need to be so extreme. But, if you¡¯re sincere, I don¡¯t see why not¡­¡± ¡°R-really? So my Queen¡­ my request?¡± ¡°Eh, I¡¯ll consider it, if you help me out. I need to do something first,¡± ¡°Anything for my Queen!¡± So he said. Never did he suspect, if he would ever regret those words¡­ Rankings (As Reference) Ranks: (From low to high) 3rd rate: Awakened Qi-Sense. Basically seedlings for Murim. Criteria: Sense sharpened, quicker reaction time, slightly stronger body. 2nd rate: Qi-body Usually veteran in military. Young adult Murim. Clear mind in battle, gut instinct, body nourished by Qi. Genius at age 14-17 are here.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. 1st rate: 1st layer Special Forces, Young adult genius. Could use Qi to strengthen physique or attacks. First Qi layer could slow down bullets, acting as invisible flak jacket. Expert: 2nd layer Usually officers in Murim, Mature genius Able to stop small arms with 2nd Qi layer. Veteran Murim warriors (30+) at this rank. Some skill in air gliding. Master: 3rd layer (Those with Murim ''name'' or ''title'') Superior Master: 4th Layer (Veteran Murim/Elders) Peak Master: 5th Layer (Grand Elders) Grand Master: 6th Layer (Large Clan Leader) True Master: 7th Layer (Super Clan Leader) Beyond: 8th Layer (Legendary Figure) Old Monsters: 9th Layer-10th Layer Description will be updated as the story progress. Higher rank will be mentioned much later. Chp 16: Need for Sticks Chp 16: Need for Sticks After Mo Hong vowed his full loyalty to his new Queen, Yun Zhi had him look for a special type of tree. In a moment, he called a friend who worked in a furniture business. His friend was a bit mature, and already finished high school two years ago. He was his senior, a former thug. When he got into the job market, he settled in. He was no longer as hot-headed as he was during high school. When they met, Mo Hong conveyed his lady¡¯s wish, asking for advice. When the guy asked if she was searching for special wood for furniture, she denied it. ¡°Not wood, part of a tree. I want to make some good sticks.¡± ¡°Y-yes? So you¡¯re searching for a certain wood¡­ I mean, tree? Stick?¡± ¡°Yeah. Is there any tree with a lot of life force? I just need a part the size¡­ like my arm,¡± ¡°Err¡­¡± He turned to look at his bald junior. A lot of life-force? What the heck was that? Seeing him all confused, Yun Zhi knew the fault lay in her. She explained; ¡°Any tree which can live long, and strong, tough, durable... It can withstand the weather¡­ heat, cold, and flood for many days, no problem. Also can resist splitting, cracking, termites, fungus, weathering¡­ Oh, also rotting and warping. Finally, if it is made into furniture, it can last for at least¡­ a hundred years, even more?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± So specific! What the heck? Are you reading it out of a book? How does your mind work? Listening to her explanation, only one tree came into mind. It was quite a popular material and considered a bit high-end. ¡°You mean teak tree? Its quality is famed for what you said just now,¡± ¡°Teak tree? Can you show me?¡± ¡°Ah yes¡­ We have several high-quality pieces of furniture made from it. I¡¯ll show you,¡± He showed the two the best furniture made using the said tree. It was expensive, and the artwork was awesome. The beauty of it was a feast to the eye. However, it was the material that matters most to her. He explained; ¡°In Southeast, the tree itself was called Jati tree. It had a relation to the word ¡®pure¡¯? Well, just maybe. I suspect the old wisdom knew things we do not,¡± ¡°Sometimes, that¡¯s the case.¡± Responding, she nodded. Perhaps the old wise men in ancient times did know. Touching the furniture, she could sense the Qi flowing into it without much resistance. It was a lot better than the stick she used before. However, she also felt like¡­ much of its original quality had been lost. In the process of cutting and modeling it into furniture, much of its life force had been taken away. She figured it might even be as much as ninety percent or more. The very quality of the tree itself was broken. Turning such a wonderful tree into furniture, was such a pity. Humans could only use the tree in such a primitive way. It was akin to turning a juicy girl into a steak¡­ Wait, something was wrong here¡­ never mind. If its branch, fresh from its best tree, landed on her hand¡­ How powerful her Qi strike would be? She suspected it could even go as much as thirty, even fifty times better than that random stick she picked up in the forest. At such a rate, wouldn¡¯t she pretty much open common people¡¯s Qi veins even faster than the best elixir in this world, remodel their dantian, and create pathways for future experts? For a backward world like this, with thin Qi and skewed talents, this would be a great change. It could even bring about either a destructive revolution, or¡­ She said; ¡°¡­I¡¯m interested in the material itself, fresh. Is it possible to order a fresh branch, from the best tree? It must be the very best.¡± ¡°Well¡­ Unfortunately, not here. But I can ask around, but I dare not guarantee¡­ I know! You could also try searching online. If not, you could also ask around several groups of tree enthusiasts. You could make a request there, or online. These days many could fulfill your request¡­ for a fee.¡± ¡°Tree enthusiasts? Who are they?¡± ¡°Oh, they¡¯re old-timers who love trees. Some of them do come here just to admire the materials, some just weep¡­ said we¡¯re killing trees. Since they didn¡¯t cause any harm, we just treat them how we would the elderly. I know some of them, the better ones. I¡¯ll ask them for info,¡± ¡°Alright, thanks. If you have any useful info, please tell brother Mo. We¡¯ll compensate,¡± ¡°No, no¡­ It¡¯s my pleasure to help out a friend. Just that, if you need any furniture in the future, you can come to me. I¡¯ll give you the best price!¡± ¡°Heh, alright. Thanks,¡± As she had no intention of buying any furniture, for now, both of them thanked him and went on their way¡­ Back on their bike, she instructed him to mobilize all his goons¡­ eh, buddies, to scour the internet for the best teak branches. As the second leader in his school, he had around thirty or so subordinates. They were all familiar with online shopping or forum. It would be great if they could secure the very best, so she reminded him not to hold back, and promise them a reward if they did a good job. Realizing the importance of this mission, Mo Hong promised to get more funds from his mom, even if he had to beg for it! Yun Zhi was amused. This new goon of hers knew how to please his master. Not bad. For a thug. ¡°When we got those sticks, I¡¯ll try them on you first,¡± ¡°M-my Queen¡­ I shall do my best!¡± ¡°Em, that¡¯s the spirit!¡± Her work turned out to be easy sailing for now. Her expenses so far, all came from him. She realized she couldn¡¯t rely on Mo Hong for money in the long term. For now, this would do. However, she ought to secure a way to get more funds later. Thinking of what advantage she had over this world, some ideas emerged in her mind. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
It had been a few days. Within this period, she pretty much had a tranquil life. The new blankets and pillows smuggled by Mo Hong¡¯s buddy were so comfy! Thanks to that, she improved her sleep quality. Being woken up by the aunties was also a pleasant thing. Since she was becoming closer and closer to her old self, it was easier to wake up early. During breakfast, she had good meals with the homeless. With boiled eggs and veggies, it was no longer torture to finish a bowl. Instead, it was pleasant, enjoying such meals with good-natured people. For other meals, with the money from Mo Hong, the stalls outside the park gave good arrays of choices. In addition, with the new clothes she bought, she could change her attire each day. Only by now did she realize the joy of changing into new, clean clothes often. She would also use the paid shower outside the park. With a tiny fee, one could refresh the mind and body with fresh, clean water¡­ Just taking a shower, already filled me with joy¡­ I guess I did take things for granted before¡­ Reflecting on these simple pleasures of life, she wondered why humans even bother with conflicts, greed, envy, and jealousy¡­ Life is temporary. Happiness is fleeting. Why bother being busy? Chill out and go¡­ sleeping? Eh, not quite¡­ Again, she was composing a terrible poem. After the shower, she lazed around. Lying on a cliff by the lake, she relaxed, merely observing the park visitors. From her high position, she could see people running through the park¡¯s track. Some of them did have traces of Qi. The amount of Qi-able people was even higher than she thought. From what the internet suggested, only 1% of the population could use Qi. However, it might be more than that. Well, this world was designated as Murim world, after all. The population seemed a lot stronger than her previous, normal earth. The park suggested around five percent, though that seemed a bit too high. ¡°Maybe Qi-able people just enjoy being active?¡± Perhaps that was the case, as the park was quite a nice location to relax or do physical activity. It had great scenery, a clean environment, a cool lake, and useful utilities. People naturally were attracted, especially active people. It was well-maintained and had some measure of security too. Well, how the homeless could bypass this security was still a mystery to her. The park opened at 6.00 am and closed at 10.00 pm. However, she had seen them going in and out outside this schedule¡­ Hm, Old Li must have a hand on it. This place could also be used to make a few connections, without forcing it, of course. The few old grandpas who were practicing Tai Chi or whatnot by the lake, were also martial arts experts. Her eyes were able to pierce through to see it, all too clearly. An old man in a white Tai Chi robe, around seventy or so, was even at fourth Qi layer. Ah, was this the same old man from before? He sure was diligent. In this world, he should be considered a named expert. There were several others too, slightly weaker. However, she did not wish to mingle with these old experts, not yet. These days, she was just enjoying the tranquillity of life¡­ However, it was not like she had gone back to being a neet either. It would be too shameful if big sis Xue knew. She had no regard for that jerk uncle immortal, but big sis¡­ I shouldn¡¯t go back to my cursed self. Let¡¯s at least plan things¡­ Planning her next move, she already got a fine idea of the hierarchy of the bike gang. With leader Fang as their number one, there were also five others. One of which was leader Fang¡¯s woman. Through them, he had all the schools within the region heeded his will. All of them were good fighters, so she suspected them to be third-rate warriors, those who at least, could sense Qi. Those who could sense Qi already activated their Qi sense. Having Qi sense did not mean having Qi layers or could use Qi. It merely meant that, compared to a common human, they could absorb a minuscule amount of Qi into their body. Such practice, plus their Qi sense, made their reaction time and five senses much more acute compared to others. During fights or intense conditions, this kind of advantage could not be said to be small. And, when Qi had nurtured their body much further, it would evolve into a Qi-rich body. This kind of body allowed one to be faster, and stronger than third-rate warriors. They were thus called, second-rate. Able to fight multiple third-rate warriors, second-rate warriors, though their name was not intimidating, were admired by these high-schoolers. They could perform feats only seen in movies back in Yun Zhi¡¯s previous normal world. Jumping from car to car, or building to building, they were still human, but¡­ A normal human would not dare to consider them their peers. Jumping from moving cars? Lorries? Too fast, too furious! ¡°Well, I should also be, second-rate?¡± Judging from her condition, Yun Zhi concluded she could be considered a second-rate warrior, for now. Without any Qi layer, she could not draw Qi directly from within her body. She could only draw the Qi from her surroundings and placed the Qi inside a stick, or in theory, any natural element. However, integrating Qi into elements such as water was too strenuous for one without a Qi layer. She had tried many times, only for the Qi to disperse after some minutes. However, her condition could be said to be much better than expected. In fact, she could be said to be infinitely close to a first Qi layer. She called out the notification system and checked her mission.
[Mission 1: Submission]
OBJECTIVE:
  1. Suppress at least 1000 thugs into submission
SUPPRESSED THUGS: 5/1000 REWARD: Qi Refinement Layer 1 + Others (Optional) TIME LIMIT: 14 Days (10 Days 9 Hours Left)
Looking at her notification, she knew what the reward was, or what a first-rate meant. ¡°A first Qi layer. I could use Qi from inside again,¡± Using Qi from inside meant that she would have storage of Qi. It was similar to having a little battery for use. Using Qi from the surroundings was not quite effective. It was similar to generating power using solar panels, but¡­ without a battery. She could use it directly, but it was slow. Without battery¡­ no, Qi layer, how effective could she be? Quite limited. This meant that she could not do much destruction in this world, even if she wanted to. There were bound to be people who came to stop her rampage. Perhaps, this was what Immortal Yen, that jerk uncle, meant by maintaining balance. Her role was not to force them down their oppressive habits through force. It was just to deliver a message¡­ ¡®The One in Heaven observed, do not oppress, do not be oppressed¡­ Live well.¡¯ ¡°Spoiling these people¡­¡± She could hardly believe it. That jerk uncle immortal, still considerate of mortals? If he released her into this world with her 13th Qi layer right away, she was like a walking bunker-buster launcher, able to generate such power infinitely, given enough time. This world¡¯s suppression was too lax, so her power here got magnified. Not to mention the police, even the army wouldn¡¯t be able to stop her. After all, she could just hide among the crowd, and the army wouldn¡¯t be able to nuke her. Without being nuked, she was pretty much invincible! That way, her work would be so simple. Just get straight to the politicians, people of power, clans, and corporation bigshots¡­ make them submit! Grovel at my feet, mortals! Obey your Queen! ¡°¡­Aiish,¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do. We want them to make their own choice, without forcing them. Freedom of choice is a big deal for us. If you put the Sword of Damocles above their head, what choice could they make? You¡¯re there just as a reminder,¡± She remembered what Big sis Xue said. They wanted to give them the freedom of choice. That way, they could see or prove which among mortals, was truly deserving. The devil leader had said that he would corrupt all humans, and he shall prove that humans truly did not deserve the high praise of the Lord. That was his promise. With a bet of showing that he was correct, that guy was given time and stages for it. For guardians like Immortal Yen and big sis Xue, they had no authority to stop the devils. They just had to ensure the whole thing was conducted fairly. Any law-bending by the devils, they would use that as leverage to interfere. And as for them, the messenger had to be human too. And had to be balanced with the world as well. ¡°So I had to do my work, with both hands tied¡­ aii,¡± And Yun Zhi was the one who had to bear it all. Her Qi layers taken, her storage ring, and all treasures confiscated, all for the sake of ¡®being fair¡¯. What the frick! You stripped me of everything¡­ Well, nearly. She was glad at least, not to be yeeted down here all naked. But¡­ right now, among the Murim people, she was considered at the bottom. If she offended a much higher Qi layer master, wouldn¡¯t she be stepped to death? Nope nope nope! Courting Death, not my business! I¡¯m just a messenger¡­ A mailman! Even if it¡¯s police summon, or a court order¡­ Do you beat up the mailman delivering a mail you didn¡¯t like? Well, some crazies do that! Damn those Karens! She pitied her weak condition. Still, her body was a tempered body. Being so close to achieving Foundation Establishment, plus with her secret Jade Qilin Transformation Method, she suspected her body alone could fight a 2nd Qi layer without any Qi. She thought back to her analogy of being able to slap an elephant and got away with it¡­ It turned out, she should be able to do even better. The law in this world was so lax. If there was any mammoth here in this world, she should try to slap it silly. She was confident she could either knock it out, or if not possible, run. Then again¡­ Why invite trouble? Even if she was any stronger than this, it was better not to provoke big powers in this world. Being hidden and unknown, was her greatest protection, her greatest insurance! Should you show your wealth out for the world to see, Without the ability to protect it from organized crime? That would be utter foolishness! Well, for her first mission, it would be fine for her to show just a bit. Thugs pretty much only know the language of violence and strength. Money would be fine too, but right now, she had no access to that. She already had some idea, but it required her to have at least first Qi layer for it to be effective. For now¡­ She had a call. It was Mo Hong, with good news. It turned out, there were several sellers of teak tree branches. The highest quality was a tad bit expensive, but it was still within their budget. With videos and pictures provided by the sellers, she was able to see signs of Qi. Thus, she was able to decide. Among twelve available, she ordered the best five. ¡°Well, time to fulfill my promise to my first goon,¡± Time to try some sticks. With some cakes. === Chapter 16 Ends === Chp 17: Stupid Bear
Chp 17: Stupid Bear
Morning, inside the vast park. The sun had just risen, filling the fresh morning air with its energizing light. On one of the hills here, the place was rather isolated. The hill had a tower built on top of it, just to observe the whole scenery. It was supposed to attract visitors. However, since the hill had a rather steep slope, it took visitors quite some time to get up there. For some reason, the developer didn¡¯t put any stairs, only cemented pavement, so getting up there was not a casual walk, but almost a climb. Perhaps they wished for it to be an exercise of sorts? This stopped many casual visitors from making their way up. There were barely any visitors, especially so in the morning. Today, however, there were thirty or so people, all high schoolers. Seeing such an unruly crowd, even if people did wish to come here, they would avoid them by instinct. Stepping up the steep slope, some of the big boys had to force themselves up; ¡°Hah hah, Mo Hong, you don¡¯t have better things to do? What use a prank is, if we know?¡± ¡°Hehe, Don bro, you still think I¡¯m lying? Well, we¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll at least see. Such a steep slope¡­ You¡¯ll owe me two chickens for this!¡± ¡°No problem! I¡¯ll treat everyone after this.¡± In their WhatsUp group, Mo Hong had excitedly shared his nonsense about becoming a Murim martial artist. Not long after, he pulled his fellow goons and boss here today as witnesses. One of them was this Don bro, called boss by others. He had a big frame and a fierce face. However, he was also quite a gentleman. When they managed to reach the top of the hill¡­ ¡°B-boss! There¡¯s a beauty meditating over there!¡± ¡°Oh! She¡¯s into immortal cosplay? Naisu!¡± ¡°Should we invite her to join us? Maybe¡­¡± ¡°With so many handsome brothers around, hehe¡­¡± ¡°You fools! With so many of us here, you want to scare the girl to death?!¡± ¡°Ehh,¡± The so-called beauty, was Yun Zhi. Wearing her white Taoist robe and a white lace mask covering her eyes, she was partially hiding her identity, just to be safe. While she wanted these thugs to submit, better for her face not to be captured by cameras. These guys need to learn how to obey her first. After all, what she was going to do today could bring much chaos into the Murim world. Turning common people into potential martial artists? That could turn the balance of power anywhere. After all, only around one to two percent of the population were suitable to practice known martial arts. Without proper Qi veins, Qi could not flow well, and dantian could not be nourished. Of course, even if these guys spread the words, only na?ve school students or youngsters would believe. The words of these thugs? Hmph, they wouldn¡¯t be taken seriously at all. She had checked the internet, and there was no precedent of such a feat recorded. Changing the Qi veins of a person¡­ Such a thing should be considered rather impossible, or close to. However, should it be proven to be true, powerful forces would go crazy for her. Hunters would be released, and live bounty offered. At that time, having her face revealed would be a terrible disadvantage, a terrible mistake. That was why, she took some measure of security¡­ Isolated place, her identity and face hidden. She did not even give her real name to anyone in this world yet. For Mo Hong, he and the guys knew her as Yun Yun, the homeless called her Little Yun, and for her future ID¡­ hm, she didn¡¯t think about it yet. For this school gang, she would just be called Young Miss for now. Only Mo Hong kept calling her Queen, but she was too lazy to change it. Sitting there, quietly meditating, she already knew of their arrival from a distance. And as Mo Hong mentioned before, he was his school¡¯s second leader. So¡­ Coming with him today, was his boss, aptly called Don bro. Since he looked like a Don mafia in movies, people called him so. He had facial hair rivaling grown-ups, so much that it was intimidating. However, appearance could be misleading. When the guy saw Yun Zhi, sitting there quietly when their group arrived, he got his protective instinct triggered. Though she was wearing an eye mask, she could not hide her delicate feature. She was adorable, reminding him of his clingy little sister before she turned out to be a girl delinquent. So when his men gave such suggestion as to invite her, he scolded his men for their unruly behavior! What if we scare her silly? You wanna be the villains that much? He might be a thug, but he still had some sense of pride. His mom had always told him to protect girls, so he did. Unfortunately for him, due to his big size and face looking like a brown bear, girls were all terrified silly from him merely striking up a conversation. They were as if rabbits, about to be pounded by a bear. He almost got into trouble with the police, just because he braved himself to talk to a group of girls. It was pitiful, truly. All of these thugs, coming from an all-boys school, did not have a good sense of how to handle girls. They only followed what the so-called pickup expert influencers said online¡­ mostly nonsense. All the time, the girls ran away before they could even say ¡®Hi¡¯.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. As everyone reached the top and noticed Yun Zhi¡¯s existence, Mo Hong did not tarry. ¡°My Queen, you¡¯re already here!¡± ¡°Un,¡± Responding to Mo Hong, she simply nodded. Seeing the confusion of his fellow buddies, he introduced; ¡°Boss! This is our young miss I mentioned,¡± ¡°Eh? Didn¡¯t you say she¡¯s an expert?¡± ¡°Yeah, I did¡­ why?¡± ¡°She looks too young¡­ She¡¯s younger than my little sister¡­¡± ¡°Don bro, isn¡¯t your sister fourteen? Your eyes ok?¡± ¡°Fourteen?¡± Pak! Yun Zhi, hearing so, took one of the sticks by her side into her hands. Charging it with more Qi, her eyes locked onto the one called Don bro, confusing him. ¡°You, you said¡­ I look younger than your little sis?¡± ¡°Eh, that is the case¡­ why?¡± ¡°And, she¡¯s fourteen¡­?¡± ¡°Well, her birthday is in four months¡­ So technically, she¡¯s still thirteen¡­¡± ¡°Good, very good! You¡¯re really brave!¡± Yun Zhi had had it. I look like a loli, you say? My body is too small, you say? I seem too immature, you say? Thirteen, you say? God damn it! This stupid bear actually riled her up! She originally wanted to play aloof and cold, as if an otherworldly expert. She had seen the aunts in her sect playing the role of fairies, so she had a little desire to at least act like that sometimes. Of course, the true fairy in her eyes, was only big sis Xue. Every time she remembered her, she wanted to like her even more. She even had her white robe washed clean and put a mysterious eye mask on, just to put on airs. But this bear¡­ This bear ruined everything! If not because of her promise to Mo Hong for him to go first again, she would strike this big brown bear right away! However, the second victim¡­ No, second honored person had been decided! He dared to say such a thing! Of course, Don bro never said so much. Her mind just made everything up in a split second. With her being angry, she could not differentiate between reality and imagination. Meanwhile, her target, not knowing if he said something wrong, could only wonder. Did she eat something bad? Her words did not make much sense. Well, I do look like a brave man, but¡­ This was the young lady Mo Hong said he was introducing. He said as long as they followed her will, they would prosper, never should they be the villains again! While they were respected in their school and nearby area for their role, the public at large still saw them as human trashes, failures of society. But, with this... From what Mo Hong had described it... After this, they might even be hailed as heroes! The hope of society! It sounded like a scam, but¡­ who wouldn¡¯t be curious or tempted? Even though they were thugs, who among them didn¡¯t dream big? To become a hero, admired by many¡­ instead of hated, cursed as lowly thugs by even the neighborhood grannies? Bullying others was fun, but¡­ Being a hero sounded a lot more fun! Still, seeing how young and adorable Yun Zhi was, Don bro felt like he was truly cheated. This Mo Hong might be a bit rich, but he was a bit na?ve¡­ Yun Zhi, suppressing her desire to pout, called out; ¡°Hmph, Mo Hong, come over!¡± ¡°O-oh yes, my Queen!¡± Mo Hong, having been called, eagerly stepped up. The sticks had arrived yesterday, they already tested it. For today, she promised to help him breakthrough. And the very first person of honor, was Mo Hong. It was supposed to be a wonderful experience. Too bad for him, she was just provoked¡­
Awuuuu--- Howling sounds rang in the air. The sound of a wolf, grieving his lost companion¡­ Or so many thought. On top of the hill, Mo Hong was crying out. It was a cry filled with agony, yet at the same time¡­ His eyes, were filled with joy. The mixture of both terrified the innocent thugs watching. What the hell is this? While this young miss was wearing all-white Taoist robe, with an adorable, innocent young face¡­ It was all a deception! She¡¯s a wolf in a sheep¡¯s clothing! She was luring us all here, ready to feast! Don bro, watching the whole proceeding... was trembling. Along with his goons, he gulped several times, and was sweaty all over. He had already suppressed his desire to take flight many times. How bizarre¡­ He had always had confidence in his bravado, submitting only to the likes of Leader Fang and his five ¡®knights¡¯. As someone not from Murim, he still had the assurance that he was stronger than normal guys, and thus, had ample confidence to face even ghosts! He was, the strongest man in school¡­ The school leader, the Boss! That was his self-esteem! However¡­ ¡°Ha ha ha ha¡ª press, I said¡­ press ¡®em cakes! Push it up to your spine!¡± The laughter of a seemingly innocent young girl, freaked him out. He suddenly recalled some animes he used to watch with the bros¡­ Such a girl, how to define her? Yandere¡­ No¡­ This girl had no love inside her¡­ She¡¯s¡­ a complete psycho!! Madness, absolute madness! Absolutely don¡¯t mess with her! ¡°B-boss¡­ should we,¡± ¡°M-mommy¡­ I¡¯m scared¡­¡± ¡°Some chicken¡­ for my life¡­?¡± His men, standing silly around the place, were trembling. They started to regret coming here, lured by Mo Hong¡¯s promise of a good meal. Thinking the same thing as their boss, they also wanted to run, but¡­ Is that even possible now? Only then did they realize, they had encountered, not an innocent beauty, but¡­ A tigress, in her den! There was no escape! The tigress was wearing an ancient white Toaist robe, but¡­ In their eyes, it was as if she was wearing a black corset, and black garter belt. The stick was as if a whip, continuing its merciless lashes on its slave victim. The word ¡®Queen¡¯ kept being shouted in the air, pleading for more, strengthening their skewed imagination. Is this¡­ the world of the adults? No¡­ this is too much! Mommy, save me! I don¡¯t wanna be corrupted anymore! Meanwhile, a certain pervert¡¯s kept shouting in the air, asking for more; Ah yeah, Queen, right there! More, more¡­ Queen¡­ I¡¯m almost there! Oh yeah, come, come¡­ I feel it... It¡¯s coming! With great pain, comes great pleasure! Qi vein opened up, third-rate coming up. He was about to become a martial artist! ¡°Ora ora ora ora---¡± Ferocious, but pure Qi, kept being hammered into him from his back. It was as if, torture, yet the victim was enjoying it. As for Yun Zhi, she was venting out. That bear over there, dare called her a little girl? Underdeveloped? Immature-looking? Loli? You blind, ah? What''s the use of those eyes if you''re not using them? Why don''t I take them off for you! I¡¯m seventeen! Hmph, courting death! You¡¯ll see! Channeling more Qi into the new stick she got, she did not care much whether Mo Hong could bear it anymore. Hit upon hit landed on his cakes¡­ Yet, rather than begging for mercy¡­ He was begging for more. Hmph, if that one¡¯s a stupid bear¡­ this one¡¯s a pervert! ¡°More? You want more, eh slave? Take this!¡± ¡°Ahhh, my Queen, I¡¯ll be forever loyal¡ª¡± ¡°Press your pelvic muscles, scum! How dare you loosened up!¡± ¡°Ah yes, right there~~¡± For some reason, he was really annoying today. She hit him quite hard, but¡­ damn, he¡¯s really tough. How long till he mind-break? Perhaps he already¡­ Whatever! As long as this guy didn¡¯t die, she couldn¡¯t care less. On her hand, the premium product channeled quite a good Qi into his body. This tree stick was the best among the five she had ordered. These new teak tree branches had arrived a day ago. She had checked and confirmed. The effectiveness of the best stick turned out to be at least forty times more than the one she used previously. The rest were around thirty, close to forty times. Yesterday, to help his body a bit better, she had him took some expensive ginseng and herbs. It was nothing fancy, just something you could find in any Eastern Herb store. Later, after the medicines settled down, she hit this guy Mo Hong as a test. Hey, it was better than expected. The Qi she channeled reacted with the medicines, making his body absorb them a lot better. With him asking for more, she ended up hitting him for a good five minutes. It was five minutes of pure ecstasy for the young pervert¡­ Truly shameless! Since it tired her out, she refused to continue anymore! Such tiring work, what the heck? Why am I doing this again? I should go to sleep now! Hmph, you better pay me more! She decided not to do extra work for nothing, even after her partial recovery, it was still tiring. Resting and sleeping, was a better option! But right now¡­ Because of her anger, she managed to go for a bit more than yesterday¡­ Qi kept flowing in, nourishing the body¡­ And that, seemed to bear some fruit. === Chp 17 End === Chp 18: Qi-body Chp 18: Qi-body Mo Hong, enduring the pain and pleasure course, was panting like an old dog in heat. It had been more than five minutes. However, it was not in vain. Yun Zhi could feel his Qi veins being cleared out. This was why yesterday, she told him to invite everyone here. She calculated and figured out, that she might be able to help him break past that wall¡­ The wall between a common person and a martial artist. What wall she was thinking about? When a common person became a third-rate warrior, he would feel a certain sensation ¨C Qi. This change was subtle, but his movement later would not. After such a breakthrough, he should be able to show the change through his fighting moves. His senses would become sharper; his body controls better. If before, he could only handle two guys at once, right after the breakthrough¡­ He should be able to handle five, no problem! If they could witness Mo Hong breaking through, then, it would be easier to have them submit to her. Having a leader with such ability? Only a complete fool would reject! With this kind of incentive on hand, she would rope the thugs in. They just needed to see something higher, better of becoming than continued being lowly thugs¡­ Martial artists! That was the dream of the collective masses. Who wouldn¡¯t be jealous, seeing their peers able to glide through the air or jumped from building to building? Also, able to take down beasts or showed off in front of the ladies? With the prevalence of the internet, more and more people realized how awesome it was to be a martial artist¡­ Sure, she could just beat all of them up, and that would be the quickest way. But, she had concern if that might raise deep loathing. Some people could tolerate their face being stepped on, others¡­ not so much. As they said, what goes around comes around. If she could avoid using force, she would. Why incite violence, or give incentive for revenge? That would be utter foolishness! Still, this brown bear called Don bro¡­ Hehe, ah, there¡¯s always an exception, no?
A complete five more minutes. When she hit him hard that one time, he howled like a wolf in heat¡­ Calling out, for his life companion¡­ For a short while, the few visitors in the park wondered where could that wolf-like howl come from, in the city? While the park was vast, it could not possibly be a home for a wolf? Thinking that it was just a dog in heat, people then ignored it. His howling voice, however, made the thugs surrounding him shuddered. His whole body, as if ripped subtly, began to crackle. His eyes, twitching. A certain light was flickering within. His breathing went in deeper. It was as if the air in the surroundings was not enough. Qi within him continued to nourish his body. It was the very sign of breaking through¡­ Awakening a Qi-body. ¡°Small talent? Ah, a Qi-body?¡± In her cultivator world, it was a sign of small talent, something all cultivators had to possess. However, it was enough for anyone to reach Foundation, given the right condition. While it was considered not much, it was still shocking. She had only expected him to activate his Qi sense, but¡­ For this goon of hers to actually awaken his Qi-body in one go¡­ What did that mean? Activating Qi-sense meant that he had just stepped into the level of third-rate. However, awakening Qi-body meant¡­ He jumped straight into a second-rate warrior, the same level as that Fang Shen, the leader Fang they were all afraid of! ¡°Dang¡­ He just crossed level¡­ in this world too,¡± Yun Zhi did not expect it. For this guy to actually have talent! And she had just hit him for around, hm, twenty minutes? No, that old random stick shouldn¡¯t be counted¡­ Five yesterday, ten today¡­ Only fifteen minutes, and he managed to jump two levels? How is this possible? She had heard his story. He had practiced a little martial art and built some flexibility when he was younger. He also practiced horse stance for at least thirty minutes a day back then, so that was why he was stronger and more stable than his peers. However, he still was not qualified to practice ¡®real¡¯ martial arts.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. His teacher deemed him unsuitable. His Qi veins were too poor. Too poor, he said? What nonsense was this? His Qi veins should be quite good! Yun Zhi pondered, did the teacher make a faulty judgment? Or could it be that his Qi veins were blocked by something, toxin, cholesterol, heavy metals, or bad blood perhaps? It could also originate from his organs. And the current Murim know-how had no way to help him out. That was her theory¡­ It might just be an honest mistake on the teacher¡¯s part. Well, without any Qi layer, she had no way of checking for sure. Checking through the veins required an adequate amount of Qi and delicate Qi control, it could not be done by the current Yun Zhi. Too risky. She would only be able to do so after she recovered some Qi layers, preferably past the 3rd layer. After that layer, the senses of a cultivator would be enhanced so much that they could check one¡¯s Qi veins by checking their pulses. Still, without even checking thoroughly, there was no mistake¡­ This Mo Hong managed to awaken a Qi-body. The cells within his body vibrated and had a cooperating resonance with the Qi she had channeled into him. What was this so-called Qi-body? One could say it was the very dirt-basic of starting cultivation. With this Qi-body, the body started to be able to accept Qi better. She herself got this body while she was still a baby, a crucial condition to qualify as a genius. Among the talented in her world, they reached this kind of body while they were still toddlers. For this world, however, having such a body before eighteen could already qualify one as a genius. This world¡¯s surroundings had such a thin Qi, making it harder for anybody to nourish this basic Qi-body. Any martial clan would cultivate such a genius without fail. However, achieving Qi-body was still the most basic to be called a Murim person. It barely qualified someone to be the foot soldier of Murim, second-rate. Common Murim person reached this level in the late twenty, when their body turned strong enough through external stimulation. Many of them relied on ginseng and other Qi-rich herbs to successfully cultivate a Qi-body. The cost was not cheap too. Many of them got stuck as a second-rate, breaking through to first-rate only after forty. To reach master-level? Only the most battle-hardened, or talented could do so. After wrecking her rusted brain for a good minute, she decided to let it be, for now. ¡°Oh well, it¡¯s a good thing, so¡­¡± Who cares how it happens! Time for the second victim¡­ eh, patient! Hehe¡­ Calling the big bear over, she could see his dread from far away. ¡°Hey you, one called Don bro! Come over!¡± ¡°M-me?!¡± When his name was called, Don bro felt the fear of his life. He was big and looked intimidating, but right now, he was no different than a teddy bear¡­ A terrified teddy bear. Damn Mo Hong, what have you done?! If you wish to die, die yourself, why drag us with you! Wu wuu, for some reason, this little sister is too sinister! I¡¯m outta here! ¡°Ah, y-young miss¡­ This brother suddenly had a stomach ache¡­ Must be my chronic diarrhea¡­ Ah, I¡¯m ashamed¡­ please excuse me¡ª¡± ¡°Diarrhea? Good, what a coincidence¡­¡± ¡°G-good? Nuohh??¡± Don bro, finding the excuse of going to the toilet to escape, got caught on the neck by Yun Zhi! And for some reason, Don bro, who had the strength of three men, could not escape! He was like a little mouse, caught by a big cat. Eh, more like a big mouse, caught by a small cat... That small arm, managed to lock him in place¡­ With a menacing smile, she said with a jolly laugh; ¡°Hehe, this little sister, happens to know just the right treatment for diarrhea¡­ be thankful,¡± Dread filled his face, as dumb as he was, he finally knew what offended the young miss! Don bro could only lament, the fact that¡­ He did not keep his words to himself.
Uwooooohhh--- A roar. Much like a bear, a roar filled with pain¡­ What did it do wrong? How could a human be so strong? Don bro, with his large body on the ground, got hit non-stop on his bum. While Yun Zhi seemed a bit furious or annoyed while doing it to Mo Hong, this time¡­ She seemed to enjoy it. And enjoyed it fully, she did. ¡°Ha ha ha ha--- press, I told you, press!¡± ¡°F-forgiveness, young miss! Mercy--- I¡¯m dying~¡± ¡°Young miss? There¡¯s no young miss here! This little sister is just disciplining her naughty, older brother!¡± Pa!! Another hit! Filled with sisterly love! ¡°Uwoooohhh---¡± ¡°Press your pelvic muscles, you scummy bro! You wanna die? Direct the Qi up!¡± For some reason, Don bro was getting special treatment. Mo Hong could only stare with envy, at how Yun Zhi was willing to spend a good ten minutes hitting, no, cleansing his Qi veins¡­ What did Don bro do? Why is he getting this special treatment? I wanna do that too! Not fair, I found her first! ROAR---- Soon enough, with him roaring out loud, Yun Zhi stopped. Her stick, already deplete of Qi, also reminded her to stop. Her breathing was a bit erratic, she was tired. No wonder, she had all her pent-up frustration out, all at once. Wheww--- She took a deep breath, calming her nerves¡­ Soon, Don bro¡¯s roar died down¡­ leaving behind a twitching lump of flesh. His goons, watching with eyes filled with terror, dared not utter a word of rebellion. They could just pray their boss would survive this ordeal. This cruel, nasty ordeal. ¡°Ah, aiya¡­ I didn¡¯t kill him by mistake, did I?¡± Thinking about it, she did go all out. She had not been able to exercise at all since her cursed state. So¡­ Ah, he didn¡¯t die. That¡¯s good. She still wanted to hit him more. For now... Satisfied? No, it was more than that¡­ what would the word be? Ah yes, refreshing¡­ What is refreshing? This is, refreshing! She aired her robes, letting the cool wind caress her sweat-covered skin. Meanwhile, Don bro, with his back still stepped on by Yun Zhi, was trembling erratically. His breathing was getting deeper, his eyes clearer. It was a sign¡­ ¡°Qi sense activating¡­ Hmph, no cross-level this time?¡± Finding it amusing, she pondered. Though there was no cross-leveling, this bear-like person had an easier time reaching Qi sense. However, considering she had just used the same amount of time with this superior stick, Mo Hong did do better. Then again, she had a feeling that this bear might be able to allow more Qi to flow through his veins, compared to normal martial artists. His Qi veins seemed to be larger, and more stable. It would be a pity if he continued being a normal civilian. Even worse, a thug all his life.
SUPPRESSED THUGS: 6/1000
Oh, nice! The notification pleased her. At least, she knew she was heading in the right direction. Suppressing the leader and sub-leader meant that she would suppress the whole gang. It should be thirty or so soon. She just had to take their pledge later. It won¡¯t be long now¡­ Welcome, new goons! I love you all! ¡°All right¡­ now that we¡¯re done, both of you! Hey, I told you to keep pressing your pelvic muscles! You need to direct whatever Qi you still have, up your spine, into your crown! You wanna waste my effort? Breathe the way I¡¯ve taught you, you¡ª hm?¡± Shaaa--- A tingling feeling. Was it the wind? No¡­ Just as she was about to again instruct them on the proper way of breathing, she sensed something¡­ from a distance. There was no mistake, she even knew which direction. ¡°This feeling¡­¡± Someone was peeking. And it was not close. Her eyes peeked from her side, past her own hair¡­ Her vision traveled, piercing to more than a few kilometers away¡­ From the hill, past the lake, onto another hill on the other side of the lake. And on that hill, an old man with a familiar white Tai Chi attire was eyeing their way, right on top of a tree. For some reason, that thin tree seemed stable enough to support the elder, tip-toeing on its very top. ¡®Ah¡­ So it¡¯s that elder. Did the shouting attract¡­ Well, no wonder,¡¯ How troublesome. For trouble to come so early, so uninvited. She sighed. It was a mistake on her part. Chp 19: A Superior Master Chp 19 A Superior Master
Yun Zhi stood there, in silence. It had just been a short time. Yet trouble already come. An elder like this, while he was just at fourth Qi layer, could be a troublesome opponent for the current her. Against those her age, she might be peerless. However, against people with experience, it was better to be extra careful. The technique one had honed through the years would not lie. Even if two people with the same Qi layer went against each other, it might not be a balanced match. Experience, muscle memory, technique, sharp senses¡­ All these required years of honing. And, someone this old, seventy perhaps¡­ In a world with such a thin Qi, and garbage Murim cultivation method, he managed to reach forth Qi layer. While she was not impressed, she still not dared underestimate old people. As they said, never disrespect your elders. They knew tricks! ¡®My fault¡­ The noise¡­ I need them to pipe down next time,¡¯ It was most likely their loud noise, attracted this predator right into her den. Looking at the two people on the ground, her eyes twitched. You two, wailing like you¡¯re going into labor¡­ And you called yourself men! She wanted to curse, but decided against it. It was not a good habit after all. Big sis Xue might catch her doing it sooner or later¡­ That would be beyond embarrassing. Besides, she was the one who intensified the whole thing. She could just go soft on them¡­ Bah! No sense in regretting it. The elder, with eyes as sharp as a hawk, continued to look on with interest. At the time, he was paying her special attention, as if trying to judge what she was. Yun Zhi could sense his confusion, soon pity, then boiling anger¡­ and lastly, changing into amusement. What the heck you¡¯re thinking about, old man? What¡­ So many emotions, are you watching a drama? Go watch your drama elsewhere! Later, from Yun Zhi, his gaze landed on Mo Hong and Don bro. It was obvious that his vision was able to see that something was not quite right. Did he recognize their breakthrough? However, she would not let this one pry any longer. This was her secret. She would not want just anyone knowing it. She would not care if the words were leaked through these thugs, but, to a master like him¡­ From surfing the internet these few days, she had a better idea of what rankings the Murim had. If a first-rate, with first Qi layer, was considered elite soldiers in Murim¡­ Above it would be experts and masters. At second Qi layer, were the experts. They were officers in Murim, respected wherever they went. With enough experience handling their Qi layer, they could manipulate its defensive and offensive ability beyond those who just got their first Qi layer. They were leaders of special forces, fearsome and dependable. And at third Qi layer, were masters with ¡®titles¡¯. These masters, sometimes called monsters in internet forums, were more than capable of dealing with small arms, no problem. Had one of them go on a rampage, even the police would be helpless. They were already beyond common human control, and would prompt the response of the Murim Security Division. But, this elder was even higher than that. Yun Zhi did not care to remind herself much of the details of lower layers, but¡­ for him, she recalled. At fourth Qi layer, they were masters whose "titles" were acknowledged by many, even the government. They could use aura freely, able to form both offense and defense Qi aura into tangible existence. Their movement skills were also notable. Often, their movement was mistaken for flying. In battle, small arms aren''t effective to them, the same as pebbles. However, they were still cautious of Gatling guns or heavy, anti-armor rounds such as 50-cals¡­ A hit from such a heavy shot would injure them, so they were not invincible existence. However, it might take more than a regular army battalion to take them down. After all, hitting them would be a really hard task. Being stronger and better than a Master, they were aptly called¡­ ¡°Superior Master,¡± In Yun Zhi¡¯s mind, each of them was comparable to an attack helicopter¡­ No, a gunship. A hella-big helicopter gunship, capable of hunting tanks from afar¡­ How troublesome. She was quite confident in dealing with those at 2nd Qi layer, maybe even 3rd Qi layer¡­ but 4th Qi layer? That might be a bit of a stretch¡­ Well, that all depended on how he was going to do this, anyway. Still, one thing for sure¡­ She could not compromise on her secret. This power of hers was just being discovered. And she had yet to fully utilize it to her own benefit¡­ There was not even enough protection for her, should the secret be out in the open... It was too early! This one should be a Mid-boss! How could a Mid-boss enter a beginner village, anyway? ¡®Should I tell him off?¡¯ A Superior Master spreading her secret? That would be unacceptable! It was an entirely different matter than one coming from thugs. People and organizations would pay attention! Her eyes, from mere concern, turned sharp¡­ It was one of a predator, defending her territory. ¡°Guys¡­ do as I say,¡± After she told them to cover the two with large tree leaves, she turned to the peeping tom. Could you mind your own business, old man? She never said it out. Yet her eyes, spoke for her.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Sensing that it might not be enough, her lips moved¡­
A few moments back¡­ ¡°A group of youngsters? That¡¯s weird¡­¡± The elder with the Tai Chi attire, observed. From the lakeside to that hill, it was several kilometers, yet the elder could see them. He had heard weird noises coming from the hill, and while he ignored them at first, the final roar was not normal. It was Don bro¡¯s roar, and he was disturbed by it. ¡°No good. I better check this one out,¡± Jumping up onto the nearby hill, he managed to see the group of youngsters better. While they looked like adults, immature looks were obvious on their faces, suggesting they were still in high school. Moreover, they looked like those no-good students, those he abhorred¡­ Thugs. Why were they here? Finding it weird that so many had gathered in one place, he still could not see clearly what was happening. His vision was blocked by them crowding on several people in the middle. He needed higher ground. Looking around, he found out that there were too few people that early morning, so his next action might not cause too much commotion. Jumping up the tallest tree on the hill, his vision became clear. To his surprise, in the middle, two men were groaning on the hill, as if pressing on their lower part. Was this a bully case? Their butts were clearly hit by something¡­ He knitted his eyes¡­ ¡­ A stick? Held by a lady¡­ no, a young girl. She had her foot on that big man¡¯s back¡­ She was wearing a white Taoist robe and a lace mask, usually worn for ceremonies or during filming. How so weird¡­ No, was this what her granddaughter called¡­ cosplay? What an odd hobby¡­ but what happened here? Are they filming? No¡­ no cameras¡­ Was she a victim? Did the thugs force her to hit her own companions? Possible. Such a situation happened all the time. These thugs would do nasty things to ease their boring life. They had no direction, so they could only do unproductive things like this. The elder was enraged. Looking at the girl¡¯s milky complexion, she could not be any older than his youngest granddaughter. Such a fragile existence¡­ For them to force her to¡­ Thinking about it, he was about to go berserk. These thugs really dare! The park, a tranquil place, was used by them as their den? A place to bully others? The two groaning on the ground, might be their victims? They looked like adults too¡­ A baldy and a hobo? Such disrespect towards older people! Look like this old man, with rusting bones, had better pay them a visit! A little lesson from an older generation! He was about to sweep through the lake. However, as his vision landed on the young lady¡­ Her eyes, slightly hidden by her hair, clearly locked onto his¡­ ¡­!! This¡­! How could this be? How is this possible? She saw me¡­ No, she sensed me? ¡°She knew I¡¯m watching? From that far?¡± He was amused. Normal people wouldn¡¯t be able to sense his gaze at all. Moreover, while he was on top of a tree, people who saw him, would just think he was some crazy martial elder having no fear. However, she clearly knew he was looking her way, from such a distance. It would not be surprising if she was a martial art master. Above first-rate warriors and experts, were masters. Reaching third Qi layer, one could do stuffs ordinary people could only imagine. One of them was possessing acute senses, even more than first-rate warriors. They could see far away, so accurately. However, he could see her looks¡­ Her age¡­ She could not be more than fifteen! ¡°What an awesome young lady!¡± He shivered, completely forgetting the whole situation with the suspected bullying. Even in his clan, such potential was really rare. Though she had yet to form her Qi layer, she had the makings of a Superior Master¡­ No, even a Grand Master, higher than himself! She could have such potential! It was when he was amused by his imagination, that his eyes caught her eyes, changing¡­ It was no longer eyes filled with concern. Instead, it was¡­ sharp. Not a victim¡¯s eyes¡­ But, that of a predator¡­ Eyes as if saying¡­ You¡¯re bothering me, old man. Scram! He trembled. Seeing such eyes, made him feel that it was a shame. So young, yet already so fierce? The eyes even managed to give him goosebumps. However, even as his surprise had yet diminished, her lips moved. It was done obvious, and slow, as if giving him the clear chance to read them. ¡°Elder, this matter, is a secret of our group, so¡­¡± ¡­!! The elder was surprised. Not only she could sense him, but she was also confident that he could read her lips from this distance. This girl¡­ continued to surprise him!
As for Yun Zhi, she worded her sentence carefully. Why offend others with your loose mouth? Her previous cursed self would do that, but not the current her. She might think rudely of others, but why let it out in the open, anyway. The elderly still needed to be respected. She originally just wanted to nod, but the elder might continue peeping had she just done so. She wanted to shoo him away, but decided to ask nicely. Seeing that the girl was confident he could read his lips, he also wondered if the girl could do the same¡­ He moved his lips; ¡°This old man is just curious. The young lady need not worry,¡± After the elder said so, Yun Zhi sighed. Seeing the old man was adamant about watching, she cursed. Shameless! What a stoic, shameless old man! Peeking at other¡¯s secrets, from such a distance¡­ Well, the military and police did worse, but still¡­ She had no choice. "Guys, see the leaves? Pick them up..." She announced it clearly, word by word. It was not really for the guys, but for the old man. The elder read her lips, baffled. With her sigh and order, he confirmed it. This girl, so young, not even in first Qi layer¡­ was able to read his lips from such a distance! That really was something! Also, with her decision from getting his response¡­ Such decisiveness! She halted their activity right away. Such decision, and also senses¡­ This young lady definitely wasn¡¯t simple! While she did not have any Qi layer, she was first, able to trace his gaze over some kilometers away, from one hill to another. It was not a feat even a first-rate warrior could do, only Masters and above could. No¡­ even a normal master could not be as accurate as her senses. Second, she was able to read his lips over here! How ridiculous¡­ And she was¡­ He just guessed it, but she should be a second-rate warrior! How could this be? Is she hiding her inner Qi, no¡­ He was sure she was just a second-rate warrior. Yet her senses were already so acute, so sharp! What did that mean? Murim people¡¯s senses were charged by the inner Qi they had. This amplified their ability by a large margin. This young lady however, her default senses, without being charged by any inner Qi, was capable of tracing and communicating with him. At such a distance, even a Master could not read lips, but she was able to do it easily. ¡°Such age, such senses¡­ yet, a pity¡­¡± The girl had such potential, yet how regrettable, that her moral¡­ Was clearly corrupted! How did her parents or guardians raise her?! No, was she raised by criminals? Or maybe¡­ the cult?! It was possible! For some reason or another, the cult had ways to nurture genius better than even the nation¡¯s Murim Alliance. Their methods had always baffled them, as if some mysterious entities had been guiding them. If it was the cult¡­ He definitely must do something! This girl, was definitely not a victim of bullying. In fact, she might be the one doing the bullying! He also noticed, that the thugs around her were obeying her orders. They picked up large fallen leaves around them, covering the two men with them. Was this her way of saying¡­ She wanted her crime to be hidden? Could she be planning¡­ murder? Was the injury sustained by the two groveling on the ground, even more serious than he thought? And that was why she told him to look away? The elder¡¯s imagination ran wild. Whether he had watched too many dramas or something, he kept thinking of all sorts of possibilities. In the end, he feared the worse. This capable young lady¡­ could be corrupted! Alas! ¡°What a waste¡­ Is it too late? Is she already committing murder?¡± With her covering them up, he suspected that this could be a murder scene! Was she planning to clean up her enemy? Killing and murder, that was no surprise to him. Murim people fought each other often. With his identity, he had seen just too many, but¡­ At such a young age, barely knowing life, she already mingled with such a terrible group? A girl this young¡­ as young as his cute granddaughter¡­ This pained the elder¡¯s heart. Did the younger generation become so corrupted already? Is this the future of my Shen nation? Then why did I fight so fiercely back then?! What for?? Why, how! Back during his youth, an unmarried girl like this, would be so pure, so innocent. They wouldn¡¯t even know where babies come from¡­ Their smiles, purified the heart¡­ Such smiles, are truly worth being protected. Not to mention humans, these girls¡­ They wouldn¡¯t hurt a fly! What a woe! Modern age¡­ The age of internet¡­ So much corruption¡­ so much vanity¡­ What a corrupt age we¡¯re living in! ¡°This¡­ I better put a stop to this!¡± With a determined look, he knew what to do next¡­
Meanwhile, Yun Zhi was contemplating¡­ The elder was amused before. When she gave him the look, it changed into shame, then adamant, and soon, remorse¡­ as if blaming something. It was a rather weird, dramatic old man. So many emotions changing. ¡®Still, how much did he see? Should I confront him?¡¯ From his reaction, she could not be sure if he could hear their conversation before. However, he could read her lips and observed her breathing. All he needed was to put his attention to it. This was proven by his response to her request not to look. She was just too lazy to hide her breathing just now, so¡­ If he noticed her breathing pattern, there was no way he would think of her as normal. The breathing method she was about to teach these boys was the most basic in her sect. However, it was still a treasure. Normally, martial artists wouldn¡¯t steal other¡¯s breathing methods. This was because it was too much hassle to learn a new breathing method. It involved habits after all. In addition, some techniques needed specific breathing methods to direct the Qi into certain parts of the body, maximizing the effect. However, if the breathing method was way superior to theirs, then, who wouldn¡¯t?! That was why experts usually hid their exact breathing in front of other experts. However, for those who were just learning, they could not do such a thing! It was too complicated. It was like asking a complete amateur to ride a bike without holding their hands on it. Then again, she was thinking too much. What was most important was the recent breakthrough of these two. Two people breaking through at once could be seen as suspicious. After all, it should be a rare occurrence. In addition, they were gathering as if they were expecting it, who wouldn¡¯t be suspicious? Not sure how much the elder had seen, she had the thugs covered the two of them with leaves. She still needed to direct the two to achieve stability. It was a forced breakthrough, after all¡­ ¡°If this kind of ability got out, I¡¯ll be in trouble¡­¡± Still, she didn¡¯t think he saw much. If he decided to be on his way, then there was no need to confront him at all. Her eyes previously had said, I don¡¯t want to offend, but mind your own business. Elder, just go back home¡­ Be with your children, grandchildren¡­ Don¡¯t gossip about me, a nobody¡­ Mind your own business! As she was praying so, she noticed the old man had disappeared from the tree. Hoping for him to actually return home, she scanned the surroundings¡­ Only to notice, The elder, was skating in his sandals over the lake¡­ Coming over here, with a determined face¡­ Ah, elder, right now, it¡¯s summer¡­ You should do ice-skating in the winter¡­ Looking at his fierce face, Yun Zhi knew, a confrontation¡­ Could not be avoided. === Chp 18 Ends === Chp 20: Bullshitting the Elder Chp 20: Bullshitting the Elder
¡®I¡¯ll fix that attitude of hers, before it¡¯s too late!¡¯ The elder vowed to Heaven. Seeing the girl, he was trembling in excitement. How rare was it to find such a talent? Even for a famous clan like his, there was only one every few decades! So far, in his Murim clan with over a thousand talented people, perhaps only his current Ancestor had similar potential. And another one close enough, was the clan leader. He had only exchanged glances and some words with the girl, but¡­ he was sure of it! The ability to sense his presence from such a distance, even read his lips, without even entering into the very first Qi layer? He had never heard of such a thing! Such talent could not be wasted! ¡°This old man might need to be a little rough, but,¡± Even if he had to make her hate him for a bit, he was determined to fix her before she became a full-fledged villainess. Even if he had to offend whatever forces behind her¡­ That would be worth it! He had seen many talented, even genius people falling into the hands of the cultists and criminal ways. Were they born that way? No! They were formed by their surroundings, by corrupted people around them. Sliding through the lake¡¯s surface, he was as if a speedboat, speeding through the large body of water like it was no big deal. Seeing him coming in fast, Yun Zhi sighed as she ordered; ¡°¡­Guys, whatever happens next, don¡¯t interfere. Take cover and shut up,¡± When the thugs, all heard her order in all seriousness, they wondered what transpired. Following her gaze towards the lake, they saw... a speedboat-like figure, coming in from the lake. As dumb as they were, they understood. Trouble was coming! And it was not a common person too! Responding to her command, they nodded like their life was on the life. And that was the case. It would be trouble if any of them got hit. There wouldn¡¯t be any body left¡­ It would be like a hot bun being hit by a punch, all scattered. Having a casualty here? The police would get involved, and things would all be complicated. Moreover, while these thugs were all lowlife, she still didn¡¯t think they deserve death¡­ Not yet, anyway. Hopefully, they were thugs just because of their immaturity. ¡°Bring the two away! Keep your distance!¡± With her giving orders, they took the two and took shelter under the metal tower. While they were still confused, some already made their guesses; ¡°A Murim person is coming!!¡± ¡°It¡¯s like a speedboat!¡± ¡°Is it a master? Looks so powerful!¡± ¡°Must be! Only masters could be so fast, able to run on water!¡± ¡°Is it the young missy¡¯s enemy?! How terrible,¡± ¡°Oh no¡ªWe¡¯re dead!¡± They were anxious, some fearful. Yun Zhi wanted to reprimand them, but since it was their first time encountering a situation like this, she let them be. It was better to focus on the incoming elder. For whatever reason, he seemed too fierce to be friendly. Did her gaze from before really offend him? If so, what a stingy old man! You can¡¯t even give a girl some face¡­ As she was about to curse him, the elder jumped from the lake. His jump was so exaggerated, he landed right on top of the tallest tree on the hill. And the tree he landed on, did not even shake. Ehh¡­ For some reason, this elder really likes high places? Yun Zhi smiled awkwardly. She wondered what to say, only to decide on the normal standard she practiced before her cursed state. ¡°Junior Yun, greets senior.¡± ¡°Oh? Junior Yun, you say? This junior seems to have some manners?¡± ¡°As I should be¡­ I wonder why senior drop by? Did this junior, for some reason, offends senior?¡± ¡°Offend? Hmph, still feigning ignorance?¡± This girl was too cunning! With such an adorable face and innocent look, she dared make it seem like she did no wrong! I saw you, you know! With her youthful appearance, if he did not witness her covering her victims, even he was tempted to believe her. But, should he let her be, and it turned out she was bullying others¡­ After some years, she would be a villainess! A complete, utter villainess! I must stop that from happening! Filled with a sense of justice, the elder wished to correct her way before it was too late. He told her; ¡°I saw what you did with the two men. You were holding a stick¡­ Right, that stick,¡± Pointing to the stick she had thrown on the ground, he sighed, ¡°At first, I thought you were threatened to do so¡­ But,¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡°Two men? Who¡­¡± ¡°You still feign ignorance! I saw you covering them up! Where are they? You didn¡¯t plan to bury them, do you?!¡± ¡°Ah, you mean those two?¡± She wondered, only to realize he was referring to both Mo Hong and Don bro. Silly elder, those two weren¡¯t adults, not yet. They were just big boys! ¡°Ah, elder¡­ If you mean those two thugs¡­ I just give them a little discipline, nothing more! This is just a misunderstanding, misunderstandings! They¡¯re there, and they¡¯re fine.¡± Could you get down already old man? My neck¡¯s stiff from looking up! She pointed to the crowd under the tower, and the pile of leaves in the middle. Eyes clear of guilt, yet a bit teary as if being wrongly accused¡­ she explained; ¡°I¡­ This junior just gave them a lecture, and some pointers for them to change their way. They can¡¯t stay a thug forever, wouldn¡¯t you agree? Hope elder wouldn¡¯t blame,¡± ¡°So, they¡¯re thugs? The same as those kids?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ They¡¯re stubborn, so this junior had to be a little rough¡­¡± ¡°Oh, really¡­ I see,¡± A most plausible explanation, indeed. But¡­ She¡¯s basically saying she was not bullying them, but was just teaching them thugs a lesson. Seeing her so close, he confirmed she indeed had a Qi-body and had yet formed her first Qi layer. Inspecting with scrutiny, he felt her body had certain compactness¡­ It was strange, as if she came from those external martial art clans. Those bulky, muscle-heads¡­ But, she was too lean for that. ¡°They¡¯re over there. See? They¡¯re still moving¡­¡± Soon showing the elder the two¡¯s bodies under the leaves, still moving, she assured him there was nothing to worry about. They were in pain, but their life was not in danger. However, the elder did not buy it right away. Recalling her sharp eyes from before, he was determined not to be fooled by her innocent looks. If they were alright, then why did she cover them up? There¡¯s something wrong here! He jumped straight towards them¡ª Sha--! But! Yun Zhi blocked his way. Her speed, while a tad slower than his, was no less amazing! ¡®This girl¡­!¡¯ ¡°What are you doing, little girl?¡± ¡°Elder, we¡¯re just doing our little activity¡­ They¡¯re thugs, true¡­ But I¡¯m already acquainted with them¡­ I won¡¯t harm them more than necessary, promise. So¡­ there¡¯s no need for an esteemed person such as yourself, to concern yourself with us,¡± Could you just be on your way, old man? Go away¡ª Shu, shu! The elder, listening to her excuse, was amused. Still, that amusement was only for a bit. She only fed on his suspicions even more. ¡°Oh, I see¡­ Then, it won¡¯t be a problem for this meddling old man, to check on your ¡®friends¡¯ would it? I just have some concern over their well-being, it won¡¯t take long,¡± ¡°Junior thanked the elder then. But, if you check¡­ there might be a big problem for me,¡± ¡°Problem? Explain, what kind of problem!¡± Shaaa--- Having been denied more than necessary, he indeed felt something was wrong. As the elder demanded an explanation, his Qi spread through the area, suppressing even the crowd of thugs in the distance; Whoa! What the heck?! The wind¡ª It¡¯s from the elder! A ringing sensation hit everyone in the small area, taking hold of everyone as if static electricity¡­ ¡®Qi suppression,¡¯ Yun Zhi raised her hands as if defending herself. While it seemed amazing, she was unfazed. Qi suppression? So what? She had experienced Qi suppression from even a Dao Seeker. While it was just a mild suppression, the quality was still a lot higher than this. Suddenly;
Side Mission 1: Persuade the Elder
OBJECTIVE:
  1. Persuade the elder to keep your secret, be an ally.
Ally: 0/1 REWARD: Mystery Gifts UPON FAILURE: Lowered Survival Rate TIME LIMIT: 6 Hours
¡®The heck?¡¯ The notification came out abruptly. It was a simple side mission; it just took her by surprise. How does this simple notification system works, she wondered? It couldn¡¯t be that jerk uncle was observing her, right? He had some much free time? That K-pop uncle ought to be doing better work than that! What if he¡¯s peeping on her while she¡¯s bathing?! If that truly happened, she needed to change his call sign¡­ That jerk uncle immortal would be promoted to jerk pervert immortal¡­ This side mission was strange. Was it important? Since it was regarded as a side mission, it was probably not. Still, that ¡®¡¯upon failure¡± effect was no joke. Hmm, she did not mind being friends with an old person. But, to make one an ally¡­ How troublesome. Oh well, since she needed to deal with this old man one way or another¡­ Why not? While the thugs behind her had to kneel due to the elder¡¯s suppression, she was still standing. With much calmness, she observed the elder¡¯s face. This time, she noted the elder¡¯s personality¡­ From his face... ¡®Righteous, old-fashioned, soft-hearted to the young, but cruel to his enemy¡­ Curious, meddlesome in some situation,¡¯ That was what she could see. Personality was written on everyone¡¯s face, that was what she believed. It took only a while, and everything was laid bare to her. She guessed he probably did not wish to harm anyone unless necessary. Against someone like this, she figured, it was better to give a little to gain more. Give an inch, gets a mile! As long as she fulfilled his curiosity, let him meddle a bit¡­ she could use his righteousness somewhat. That old-fashioned attitude could be trouble though. She couldn¡¯t deal well with people like this¡­ Still, it¡¯s worth it. ¡®Ah, let me use your righteousness a bit¡­¡¯ ¡°Elder, ugh! Cough¡ª¡± ¡­?! Coughing badly, she kneeled, as if suffering a deep injury. She changed her breathing, making it erratic. Covering her mouth, her saliva dripped down¡­ mixed with blood! What, what? What¡¯s happening?! Such a reaction shocked the elder, immediately stopping his suppression. Did he go too far? While the suppression should put some stress on her, it would not injure her whatsoever. He stopped short from supporting her from falling, seeing that she still managed. Her other hand was holding on to her heart as if holding on to her dear life. He could observe her hand and chest, trembling and beating as if in chaos. ¡°L-little girl, are you okay?¡± ¡°Elder¡­ my old injury¡­ ah, it stings¡­ kuhh,¡± ¡°O-old injury?¡± ¡°Elder¡­ why did you, do that¡­ I thought, cough--¡± Her soft and innocent voice was filled with confusion. As if saying, she never offended the elder, why would he be so fierce? At that time, the elder realized his mistake. Yes, there was no way he could injure her normally. However, what if she was suffering from a serious chronic injury? He thought it would be safe, but¡­ Say you bumped into someone healthy, it would not be a problem at all. However, if you did that to a chronically ill patient, then¡­ That might be a problem! That person would not be able to handle it. Yun Zhi wanted to do more than this, but she worried if she was being overdramatic. Well, she was a bit tired anyway, so¡­ She could play that part well. With a pale face, eyes as if lethargic¡­ She looked at him with a pair of confused, innocent eyes. Her watery eyes as if telling him, she had no idea what had transpired... Ugh, this girl... D-did I really go overboard? My suppression shouldn''t injure her so much... Seeing his fierce eyes turned a bit soft, she smirked inwardly. Thankfully, her other hand was covering her mouth. A little more push! Must look natural, ah! Her voice, softened into a more endearing one, pleaded; ¡°Elder¡­ Are you going to kill little Yun? Did little Yun offend the elder? Little Yun doesn¡¯t wanna die¡­¡± ¡°K-kill? What nonsense! I¡¯m only here to stop you, little girl, from bullying people! Young as you are, you¡¯re a person from Murim, aren¡¯t you! It¡¯s unbecoming for a Murim person to bully civilians! You¡¯re going down the wrong road! I just¡ª¡± The elder gave an outburst, as if defending his action while displaying his guilt. How funny. This old man now seemed a bit cute to Yun Zhi¡¯s eyes. She uncovered her bloody mouth, eyes still seemed confused; ¡°Bully? When did little Yun bully people¡­ ugh,¡± Yun Zhi started to use ¡®Little Yun¡¯ to refer to herself, making her take on the position of the younger generation, appealing to his weakness. Seeing her struggling with pain, the elder, heart softened, said; ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s this old man¡¯s fault. I was being rash¡­ L-let me check,¡± He was about to check on her pulse, yet she raised her hands! ¡°Forgiveness, elder¡­ This illness is a private matter¡­ my secret, no, my family¡¯s secret. Little Yun hopes the elder will understand,¡± ¡°Secret? Your illness is a secret? How?¡± ¡°Elder¡­ This illness concerned my family¡¯s unique practice¡­ Our martial art. I happened to make a grievous mistake years ago¡­ So my condition¡­ If you know about it, and happen to blurt out when you¡¯re drinking or in public¡­¡± ¡°W-would that be a problem¡­?¡± ¡°Yes. If my family¡¯s enemy happens to pick it up, then¡­ I would be,¡± ¡°Your family¡¯s¡­ enemy,¡± The elder¡¯s imagination ran wild. That¡¯s right. This girl had such a huge potential. There was a high probability she came from a powerful family within the Murim world. A powerful family would have tons of enemies. However, he had no recollection of a family named Yun¡­ Still, the Murim world was vast. Could a character like him, esteemed as he might be, know everything? The term Murim world did not specify one country in particular. It was just a borrowed word from a peninsula to the East. Murim referred to the powerful martial arts society which governed countries and ultimately, the world. The country they resided in was just one of them. Could she be¡­ Looking at her white, high-quality Taoist robe and attire, he could feel a certain vibration coming from them. It was not a material he was familiar with. Somehow, it was able to channel Qi¡­ Being so close, he was certain, that even a heavy Kevlar armor... could not match this material! How is this possible? It was so thin too¡­ Could this be tempered Qi clothing? Yet, the thinness did not make sense to him... Still, what he was certain, that family of hers¡­ Was likely, not a pushover! Chp 21: Bullshitting the Elder (II)
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. === === Chp 22: Martial Test Chp 22: Martial Test
¡°Just a week ago?¡± ¡°Almost, yes¡­¡± She didn¡¯t want to, but there was no avoiding it now. Yun Zhi explained things clearly to the elder, with some details hidden, as agreed. Hearing her, he hardly believed it. Still, if that was true¡­ then it¡¯s a big deal! No wonder she wanted him to keep it a secret. If this got out, not only her family¡¯s enemy but any big Murim clan would hunt for her. They would at least force her into a contract with them. The more malicious one might do nasty things to coerce her into cooperating¡­ Able to trigger a person¡¯s potential within a week¡­ ¡®This girl¡­ is she exaggerating, but¡­¡¯ Elder Fang mulled. It was a bit hard to believe, but this girl¡­ had no reason to lie. In fact, she had every reason to tell him the truth. He only needed to dig a bit deeper, and he would know if she was lying¡­ Thinking about it, there was no need to do that. It was awesome, sure¡­ but it was not like she could make new potential from nothing. Moreover, triggering third and second-rate warriors¡¯ already existing potential, while valuable, would not change Murim¡¯s balance of power. It was an entirely different case if she could trigger the potential of non-talented people. ¡­Which was what exactly happened, but Yun Zhi had hidden it well. ¡®Elder, please don¡¯t dig any deeper¡­ please don¡¯t¡­ You¡¯re a cute elder¡­¡¯ In her mind, Yun Zhi was praying so, awkwardly. She had already given him a little truth to satisfy his curiosity and to get all the facts matched. To protect herself, she downplayed her own achievement, giving him only a portion of the truth. Still, just this portion managed to shock him. Fortunately, from what she could observe, his eyes had no greed. For Elder Fang, while he was curious, he had no desire to put her in danger. ¡°Ah, this old man truly is curious¡­ How you do that¡­ but, since you insist on keeping it a secret¡­¡± ¡°Please. The fewer details, the more people will think this was just bull¡­ I mean, too good to be true tale. I will be safer then,¡± ¡°Hmph, worry not. I¡¯m already so old. Not interested in others¡¯ secrets. Besides, I already took the vow. Either you did it with a special technique or divine medicine, I¡¯m not going to pry into this anymore. Be at ease. Instead¡­¡± And instead of refuting her claim, he decided to test her in another area. He still needed to check her background, some way or another. He wanted to believe her story, but if this girl had some connection with the cult¡­ It would be his mistake to let it slide. The Murim Security Division had always taken the matter regarding cultists seriously, so he wanted to at least clear his suspicion. As one of its leaders, it would be irresponsible for him to just believe her story without checking. He must be credible, at least. He said; ¡°Let this old man test your martial prowess, your art. Since you don¡¯t have any ID and are not from this country, this is the least you can do¡­¡± ¡°Elder¡­ you¡¯re already in several Qi layers¡­ I¡¯m still weak, one hit from you, and I¡¯m dead,¡± ¡°Hmph, why do you worry so much? This is just a test. I won¡¯t use Qi in my attacks! In fact, my attacks won¡¯t even land!¡± ¡°Is it really necessary, elder?¡± ¡°Of course. I still have my duty¡­ Forgive me for saying, but I need to rid of certain suspicions, so I need to at least, see how your martial arts do in combat.¡± ¡°But¡­ why?¡± ¡°This little girl¡­ Listen! What¡¯s a better test for a martial artist, than a spar? It¡¯s a form of communication. Remember, as old as I am, I¡¯m still an officer from the Murim Security Division. You don¡¯t have ID, so I need to check, it¡¯s just formality.¡± ¡°It¡­ won¡¯t hurt?¡± ¡°Of course, like promised, I won¡¯t use Qi, and won¡¯t land any attacks¡­ I¡¯ll match my speed to yours¡­ You just have to avoid them!¡± Seriously! This girl was too cautious, no, too afraid of pain! While Yun Zhi sounded cowardly, she actually would not die from just one hit. However, this was too troublesome. If she sparred with him, won¡¯t he realize about her special Jade Qilin Transformation Body? She had yet activated it since she had no inner Qi, but even in its dormant state, any hit on her would prove its existence. It would be like hitting a super-condensed diamond, even a tank round would just ricochet. Well, let¡¯s push him a bit more, with some cuteness! Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Eyes watery, she pleaded; ¡°Elder¡­ Can you spare me that¡­ I¡¯m still afraid¡­¡± ¡°Afraid? Then¡­ Aii, it can¡¯t be helped. You¡¯re an immigrant with the power of at least a second-rate warrior¡­ a danger to public security¡­ You might punch a civilian to death by accident¡­ I¡¯ll have to detain and take you in. We¡¯ll have to record and document you, then do some experiment¡­¡± ¡°Uweehh? F-fine! I¡¯ll do that test or whatnot! Just don¡¯t detain me, please!¡± ¡°Wise choice,¡± Dang! My cuteness didn¡¯t work! This elder isn¡¯t as stupid as he looks! Well, as long as his attacks won¡¯t hit¡­ Elder Fang smirked. He might be soft-hearted, but he was still a veteran. There was no way he would just let her go without further checking. For a Superior Master like him, a short spar would tell him more about the person¡¯s personality than spending weeks talking. Gesturing her to follow, the elder jumped down the metal tower, onto the ground fifteen meters below. Yun Zhi, sighing, followed suit. When she did, she realized her mistake; Crap! I¡¯m jumping down five stories without hesitation! I¡¯m supposed to be a weak little girl! ¡°Elder!¡± ¡°Hm? This child, why so reckless,¡± Noticing her jumping, he moved his hands as if practicing Tai Chi, forming a gentle vortex. Welcoming Yun Zhi into its embrace, it slowed her fall down to nothing in the air. His feat, witnessed by the surrounding high-schooler thugs, made them wide-eyed in amazement; Wow¡­ Did you see that?! So that¡¯s martial art! So the stuff on TV was true? Are they gonna spar? ¡°Ha ha, thank you¡­¡± ¡°Why did you jump? Did you forget your body¡¯s condition?¡± ¡°Eh hehe, I thought elder would¡­ Well, you did help,¡± ¡°Haiish, ready your stance. Ah, you won¡¯t mind doing it here right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine¡­¡± Seeing the boys, eyes all glittering, hmm¡­ This might work in her favor. After all, she still needed to make them submit to her. While their leaders had done so already, it was better to instill some awe into their hearts. Showing off mildly, should be a good way to convince them. She turned her right side to the elder, then lowered her stance. With her palm to her front, up to her shoulder, another hand was on standby just below her breasts. She felt awkward. Due to her cursed state, she had not sparred with anyone in four years¡­ Did her body become rusted? Her maid Xiao Lin did force her to make some moves, but it was far from being a spar. Thankfully, the thousands of sparring she did when she was younger did not lose its touch, not entirely¡­ Her eyes turned sharper. As the elder nodded, she added; ¡°My illness¡­ Well, just please don¡¯t hit me elder¡­ My body is fragile¡­ Little Yun doesn¡¯t want to die yet,¡± ¡°Aiya, you worry too much! Give it your all!¡± Fragile? Yeah, right! Fragile, like a diamond body¡­ Absolutely no need for that to be revealed! She believed that holding back as much information from others, would be the best form of defense. If you share information about yourself with others, even with goodwill, some people would use it to their advantage and your disadvantage. She had felt this pain personally. While Elder Fang seemed kind, there was no telling who the people around him were. He gestured for her to attack, and she moved. Shaaa---! A basic punch to the chest, as if a missile, launched from the ground. As the elder swiped it to the side, she followed the swiping direction, changing her fist into a palm, hitting the elder¡¯s stomach¡ª almost! With ease, he tiptoe-jumped from the ground, head barely passed Yun Zhi over as he somersaulted to her back. Yun Zhi, not giving up, lowered her stance. Her legs swiped the ground several times, intent on taking the elder to the ground. The elder jumped, making a palm attack. As he promised, the speed allowed Yun Zhi to avoid just by tilting her head. He changed the palm¡¯s direction, but she knocked his wrists with her forehead. As it happened, his feet touched her right shoulder. ¡®Heavy¡­!¡¯ It was a light touch, yet the weight of it¡­ felt as if a truck hitting her, determined to isekaied her to another world. Using her shoulder as a springboard, he rebounded a few meters away. As he did, Yun Zhi changed her legs into a crouching stance. Using earlier momentum, she dashed toward the elder, with her fist held by her other hand. Activating his Tai Chi vortex, he took the attack. ¡­! Well done! Realizing the heaviness of such an attack, he smirked; This girl might be complaining, but¡­ Her attacks, are all decisive! This is already expert level! One¡¯s behavior while in combat spoke volumes about one¡¯s true nature. She had that complaining and avoiding risk attitude, but in combat, her attacks revealed her true inclination. Once decided, she would do it till the end! The vortex, taking Yun Zhi¡¯s attack, completely threw her off. She flipped to the side, lowered her stance, and gained balance. With sharp eyes on the elder, she decided to at least show her worth; If I hold back, he would sense it. This elder might prolong things¡­ I need to at least show something¡­ Something I don¡¯t mind being known¡­ Racking her brain for whatever lost technique she had learned, she found it. It required a little Qi, but with her surrounding Qi, it should be enough even without inner Qi. She didn¡¯t like it, and had buried such technique due to an incident, but¡­ Considering its practicality, it should satisfy his curiosity somewhat. Gathering the surrounding Qi into her hand, she formed a sharp Qi to the side of her palm¡­ Sword Qi! While this Sword Qi was just of the lowest rank, it contained incredible sharpness, one which allowed her to cut through cars like a hot knife through butter. It should not be enough to harm him, so¡­ It¡¯s fine. The best it could do, was scratch him. Like a kitty¡­ While she did so, she hid the palm from his vision. Elder Fang, realizing something was not right, knew she was up to something. Not daring to underestimate the opponent, he kept his attention to her hidden hand¡­ She dashed forward, then turned around, circling the elder. With her speed, she was kicking up clouds of dust around him on purpose. The ground on the hill suddenly had a ring on its surface, the result of her work. Dust was everywhere, blinding visions. What happened?! Why so much¡­ The young lady¡­ she did it! Amazing, she¡¯s blocking the elder¡¯s sight! My Queen! The thugs were excited. It was their first time witnessing a Murim fight directly. Murim fights happened often, but not so often that just any civilians could witness it in public. What usually happened in public was pretty much a show, much like a circus, but this spar¡­ While a show still amazed them, it was nothing compared to this. The speed shown by the elder was something else, but the young lady did not disappoint. Truly exceeding their expectation! Recalling her fragile look the first time they met her less than two hours ago, they couldn¡¯t believe it. So this was martial arts! If a fragile-looking girl could be so imposing, what would happen if big boys like them do the same? As their fantasy overflowed, the dust already gathered. Yun Zhi already felt tired. This might be the most exercise she did in four years¡­ No, it definitely was. The elder, purposely letting her blind him with dust, closed his eyes. No need to stop her¡­ What tricks she have? Would that pose a problem to him? How much experience does he have anyway? Seventy years! The difference in experience between him and her was immense. He had fought blinded before, so it was no big deal. Instead, knowing she was going to take him by surprise, he was looking forward to it. ¡®What a stubborn elder¡­ Not going all out, but¡­¡¯ Observing the elder, Yun Zhi knew he had no openings. Even against someone so much weaker than him, he had no desire to show any weakness. What a stoic elder, so troublesome¡­ Delaying it any longer won¡¯t give her any advantage, so she decided to just end it here. With a swoosh, the elder sensed something was coming! His hand grabbed it¡ª What the heck? It was a shoe! A small-sized, lady¡¯s shoe¡­ Swoosh! Another one came, and he grabbed it with his other hand¡­ Another shoe?! That¡¯s right, shoes come in pairs¡­ The elder, being so old, probably forgot that¡­ With him grabbing both, it created an opening of less than half a second¡­ An opening, that Yun Zhi would never let go¡­ To waste. Chp 23: Swordmaster, Overwhelmed!
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Chp 24: Waking Up
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Chp 25: Shameless Grandpa. Chp 25: Shameless Grandpa. After giving instructions to her subordinates, she returned to the elder. He was interested in seeing the homeless camp, making it as if he was going to sightsee. It was no wonder though. For a young lady who seemed to be from a rich, reputable family, to mingle with the homeless¡­ One would think it was weird. However, he thought it was interesting. Perhaps she was taking in valuable experience? The experience of living with the homeless could open up her mind to the hardship of common people¡­ That could be counted as a noble reason! No matter what, there ought to be some reasons why she had stayed there for a week. As they walked over there, he asked; ¡°There must be a reason why you stay there, is there?¡± ¡°W-well¡­ I just feel safe there¡­ Without ID¡­¡± ¡°I see, I see¡­ makes sense.¡± The elder kept his mouth shut, admiring this witty girl. She already subdued so many thugs as her goons, so could she not find a good place to stay? No way. Normal people would be repulsed at the thought of living with the homeless, even for a night. She was still young, but¡­ He thought of those noble characters in ancient times, who went way out of their comfort zone, finding out what hardship people were facing. They were bound to achieve greatness in the future! Great kings, wise emperors¡­ Yun Zhi, carrying the pillow and blanket, led the way. As he followed her, the elder¡¯s steps were light, his mood merry. ¡®This elder¡­ seems to misunderstand something¡­ Should I¡­ Well, why bother?¡¯ She knew something was up, but didn¡¯t bother correcting it. Actually, the truth was simpler than expected. It was already a bit comfortable, so she just¡­ couldn¡¯t be bothered. Changing place? Too troublesome! Noble reason? What noble reason! Laziness! She was just too lazy to care¡­ Ah, comfort zone¡­ Why go all the way into the vile city? Who knows what predator lurked in the darkness there! Plus, those traffic jams¡­ You can¡¯t eat those! ¡°Ah yes, little Yun, when we arrive, just say I¡¯m your relative¡­ You¡¯re my grandniece. Met you several times at family reunions. Came here to search for you after the secret about your vile uncle was out. I¡¯m the closest, so¡­ Call me Grandpa Fang, and make it natural,¡± Haa? Her face twitched. It was all out of the blue. This elder even prepared a background story for his arrival, surprising her. And this story¡­ What a pro! This way, they wouldn¡¯t hold back, not a tiny weeny bit! It seemed he made himself her relative for various reasons. One reason could be to make them let down their guard. Who wouldn¡¯t blabber all the details if she introduced him as her relative, right? More so, one who cared enough to search for her ¡®remains¡¯. ¡°Eh elder¡­ calling you grandpa? Why, I wouldn¡¯t dare¡­¡± ¡°What wouldn¡¯t dare? Think about it, would I mind much, if I''m detaining a stranger¡­¡± ¡°Grandpa Fang! Look, we¡¯re already near!¡± The word ¡®detain¡¯ was the magic word. Hearing such a word, she let go of any ego she had, gladly calling him grandpa! And while doing so, she seemed natural, as if she had done so often¡­ Truly a pro. Well, whatever! I didn¡¯t lie much, anyway! Hearing her addressing him as such, he hummed in joy. Ah, having such a genius as a granddaughter¡­ Who wouldn¡¯t jump in joy? Even if it was just an act, he still felt blessed. Fate had allowed them to meet, so there¡¯s no way he would just let her be, nope! Shameless? Who cares! I got a genius grandniece now! When they arrived, the elder was visibly surprised. Surprisingly so, since the camp was clean and well-organized. He could also see branches and leaves used as camouflage. The trashes were gathered into two spots, to be either buried or burned at night. If one was to see it outside the forest, there would be no sign whatsoever, not even one trash around. As Yun Zhi explained, he understood more. In the morning, unneeded tents were wrapped into their most compact form, then placed behind the bushes to further hide them. Unless one went into the forest close enough, they wouldn¡¯t notice it. The place was not big, but enough for thirty-odd people. As he heard how disciplined they were in managing the place, he grew more interested in this¡­ Old Li, the leader of the homeless.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. He was able to make the process as simple as possible, making the homeless ashamed if they failed to do so. Since there was barely anyone at camp during the day, there was no need for so many tents out. There were only a few well-hidden ones available, seemingly used for everyone to rest for a short while. It was afternoon. As fortune made it so, Old Li had just returned from collecting trash cans. It was a bit hot today so he had returned early. Seeing Yun Zhi with the elder, he was curious, wondering who he was¡­ Before he could say anything, she greeted him; ¡°Uncle Li¡ª meet my relative, Grandpa Fang¡­ He came here to find me,¡± ¡°Ah? Relative? That¡¯s great news! Congrats, little Yun!¡± ¡°Ah haha, it¡¯s great, yeah¡­ yeah,¡± Relative? Yun Zhi didn¡¯t want this fossil, really. This shameless grandpa... W-well, he was kind enough to give her the blanket and pillow¡­ but still! However, thinking how she might trouble the uncles and aunties here if she was stubborn, she agreed. Also, if they knew their camp was revealed to a ranking government official, it might make them worry, so she guessed this arrangement had its merit. The elder wouldn¡¯t be so petty as to abolish the camp, right? Well, as long as he was satisfied¡­ Anyway, the real reason was, she didn¡¯t want any detention. Being detained would render her existence naked to the authority, all details recorded¡­ Photograph and such. That would be a serious disadvantage for her future missions. She might get an ID for that, true¡­ but it was a hundred times better if she could get an ID using a more incognito way. Meanwhile, Elder Fang greeted uncle Li with much joy, taking his hands with glittering, watery eyes; ¡°You must be my grandniece¡¯s savior! I got the horror when I knew that traitor threw her into the lake! You can¡¯t imagine how glad I was¡­ Huhu¡­ thank you, thank you¡­ hu hu,¡± ¡°E-elder¡­ It was all a coincidence¡­ It wasn¡¯t actually me. It was Fatty Qian who fished her out of the lake¡­ I only, helped a bit,¡± ¡°So there¡¯s another savior! This old man would like to thank both of you, from the bottom of my heart!¡± It was quite a drama. Elder Fang showed his joy in knowing Yun Zhi¡¯s survival, without restraint. As old Li witnessed this, tears emerged from his eyes¡­ He was worried the whole week, about what would happen to little Yun in the future. Having a rich family could either be a blessing, or a curse. If the family had no mercy or love towards each other, what else could it be but a curse? They would use all kinds of vile methods to get rid of one another. Considering her age, appearance, and wit, he felt that being homeless would be a waste of her potential. Her future should not be like this! Thus¡­ He was thinking of asking for some help, but he couldn¡¯t even help himself, so how? And, as it turned out, her relative came by! And it was someone trustworthy too. To shed so much tears and snort¡­ to be so glad that she survived that treachery¡­ He could feel his sincerity, his love for his grandniece! So the rich weren¡¯t fully corrupted at all! This elder¡­ Yes, if it¡¯s him¡­ The Heavens have eyes! To not abandon this young girl completely¡­ Little Yun still has some luck! ¡°Elder¡­ Fatty Qian went out to work, so¡­¡± ¡°Ah, a shame¡­ I guess it can only be next time¡­ But, Mr. Li, was it? What elder, you can just call me old Fang,¡± ¡°What? How could I¡­ you¡¯re my senior¡­ I wouldn¡¯t dare, Elder Fang¡­¡± ¡°What Elder Fang! My grandniece called you uncle, you saved her life, provided for her¡­ We¡¯re like a family already¡­ Ah, I didn¡¯t bring any gift¡­ you must forgive this old man,¡± What a sweet talker! Yun Zhi¡¯s horizon got expanded. As it turned out, this shameless grandpa had it in him¡­ To sweet talk others, even using the clich¨¦ ¡°We¡¯re like a family already¡± line¡­ She felt nauseated, holding onto a tree to bear with it. It was old-fashioned, but towards old Li, it was still effective. He was all giddy. She wondered how this elder got this ¡®sweet talk¡¯ skill? Well, considering he was a government official, he could very well pick this skill up here and there. As she was wondering, it seemed the two had hit it off. Three other uncles also joined the conversation, and the elder welcomed them with joy. Dang, these old-timers¡­ They¡¯re acting like it¡¯s the family¡¯s new year reunion¡­ They conversed so naturally, with much laughter¡­ as if they were old army buddies, united after years of separation. As they did, Yun Zhi could hear the details¡­ The elder was confirming the information he received from her earlier, bit by bit. So that¡¯s why he got his rank¡­ At first glance, he seemed like a na?ve elder¡­ It seemed, no matter how much he already trusted someone, the habit of a pro still remained. He continued to match the details. The start where she got fished out of the lake, the incident with the thugs, and her daily routine in the camp¡­ The routine seemed to establish her character, to see if it matched what he had seen and heard. Hearing so, Yun Zhi heaved a sigh of relief. Some old people could be tricked, some just refused to be tricked. She didn¡¯t lie to him because she knew he was the latter. Well, not all the truth. The finer details, no need to tell, right? After a good thirty minutes of conversing, the elder went into the more serious issue; ¡°Old comrades, Little Yun¡­ I¡¯m taking her home. You all alright with that?¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s only natural¡­¡± ¡°Right. Such a young girl shouldn¡¯t be here¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, we could even barely fend for ourselves¡­¡± They didn¡¯t show it, but they were actually reluctant. Yun Zhi had brought much joy and happiness to the camp, where only older people resided, people who had distanced themselves from normal society. Seeing her carefree behavior, they felt as if life still had something to look forward to each day. She was not their daughter, but¡­ She was their joy. Every morning, having a simple meal with that adorable, witty girl¡­ Truly a joy they hadn¡¯t felt for years. Though just for a short while, they were truly grateful¡­ The talk had turned a bit heavy, knowing this might be the final goodbye. However, the joyfulness of the elder turned the whole mood bright again; ¡°Ah ha ha, I won¡¯t separate her from all her saviors¡­ She¡¯s free to come here anytime. I¡¯ll just rent a place for her to stay nearby, since her family is rather¡­ unstable for now. You guys catch me?¡± ¡°Ah, of course, elder¡­ Old Fang! We understand!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let her be ready for today. I¡¯ll pick her up this evening¡­ hm?¡± Seeing Yun Zhi waving for him, the elder excused himself. As he got away from them and got to her, she asked in a hushed tone; ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this, elder?¡± ¡°Grandpa, it¡¯s grandpa¡­ Where¡¯s your manner? Hish,¡± ¡°Eh, fine¡­ grandpa. What¡¯s with you making the decision all by yourself? Shouldn¡¯t you ask me first?¡± ¡°You mean you leaving this place?¡± ¡°What else!¡± She was actually irritated. He decided that she had to move, without even consulting her. If this was not disrespecting her, what was? Still, the elder defended his decision; ¡°Little Yun, you¡¯re a Murim person. And you¡¯re also young. You don¡¯t belong here. Don¡¯t worry about the rent, I¡¯ll pay for you,¡± ¡°Grandpa Fang, I¡¯m not worrying about that¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make a fuss. I¡¯ll help you apply for an ID¡­ I guarantee it¡¯ll be done in a week,¡± ¡°Apply¡­ ID,¡± This made her almost agree. The ID was crucial on this planet. In this modern society, having no ID was like having no rights. There were too many disadvantages. Only people in deep rural areas, who had no need to venture out to cities or towns, had no ID. It would be too much work to deal with the black market, not to mention the risks involved. Knowing this could be a heaven-sent opportunity, she added another condition, a request; ¡°Fine, but only¡­ if you help me out with something,¡± ¡°Oh? What is it?¡± ¡°Do you know¡­ someone named Fang Shen? A bike-gang leader, around eighteen?¡± ¡°Fang Shen¡­ Shen-er, where did you hear about him?¡± ¡°Ah, well¡­ I told you already, that I want to subdue the thugs in the area, right?¡± She explained her mission, in an acceptable way. She still remembered her big sister¡¯s teaching, that to remodel yourself, one of the ways would be to lead the roughnecks. It would hone leadership, and at the same time, do a favor to society. As for Fang Shen, she had heard about him from her goons, so she had him as the target for ¡®remodeling¡¯ for days now. Her explanation was simple and concise, so the elder did not question much. Soon, he explained who Fang Shen was; ¡°He¡¯s the Fang clan¡¯s second young master. You can say I¡¯m his granduncle¡­ He got some issues in the clan, so now he¡¯s being rebellious¡­ We ignored him since he¡¯s being selfish. Right, since you¡¯re now my grandniece¡­ You two should consider yourselves relative.¡± ¡°Seriously? What a coincidence¡­¡± A serious coincidence! For some reason, the mission and side mission coincide. Coincidence? Bullshit¡­ It must be the work of that jerk uncle immortal. He had everything calculated¡­ As she thought about it, the elder responded as well; ¡°Right. Had it been a while ago, I would detain you for suspicion of¡­ targeting a Fang family member,¡± ¡°G-grandpa¡­ You wouldn¡¯t detain your own cute grandniece, would you¡­ hehe?¡± ¡°Hmph, as grandniece, shouldn¡¯t you listen to your elder? Don¡¯t be like him! Messing around, causing troubles,¡± ¡°F-fine¡­ That place must be nice, though.¡± ¡°Hmph, you think this grandpa is stingy? I¡¯ll let you see!¡± Yun Zhi agreed with her new living arrangement. She also asked him to help her with the ID and with any legal issues in the future. The elder agreed. In exchange, she must allow him to check on her at least once a week, anywhere would be fine. If she was going to do anything big, she must consult him first. Hearing so, she said; ¡°Thinking about it, I might do something big this week¡­ so,¡± ¡°What? Not some chaos right? Out with it!¡± ¡°W-well, it¡¯s about the bike gang¡­¡± Listening to her explanation, the elder¡¯s eyes opened up, wider and wider. As she did, a notification appeared by her side.
[Side Mission 1: Persuade the Elder]
OBJECTIVE:
  1. Persuade the elder to keep your secret, be an ally.
ALLY: 1/1 STATUS: Accomplished. RATING: Excellent - AAA REWARD: Two Mystery Gifts + Bonus.
=== Chp 25 End === Chp 26: Freebies, spare me!
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Chp 27: Prime VIP This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Chp 28: Mysterious Gifts, Unexpected Bonus Chp 28: Mysterious Gifts, Unexpected Bonus
As would a pro, the team responsible arrived within an hour¡­ The whole inspection took around two hours, of which she opted to take a nap in the living room all the way. While she did, Manager Lee supervised the whole process personally. With advanced detection tools, the team searched every nook and cranny. It was a tedious process, but it had to be done. Soon, they even dived into the pool to check if there were any water cameras installed. After they had triple check everything, Manager Lee heaved a sigh of relief. There was nothing out of ordinary. Coming close to the lady, he reported; ¡°Young lady, we¡¯ve done as you instructed,¡± ¡°Hm? Ahh, excuse me¡­ I¡¯m too tired,¡± ¡°It¡¯s us who should apologize. You couldn¡¯t use the room immediately upon arrival¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t mind, this sofa is really comfy¡­ so, how did it go?¡± ¡°There was nothing out of ordinary. We have checked the whole area including the rooms.¡± ¡°The washrooms?¡± ¡°We paid special attention to them, and there was none, please be at ease,¡± ¡°I see. You¡¯ve worked hard. Give my thanks to the team,¡± ¡°I shall do so. Thank you, young lady. Ah yes, the tent your ordered has arrived. I¡¯ve put it near the pool. Is there anything else?¡± ¡°Thanks, but no. You may leave¡­ I wish to rest,¡± ¡°Then, I pray for your good rest, young lady¡­¡± Sending them out, she sat facing the pool, alone. Her feet, enjoying the cool pool water, splashed some without care. She knew she had to wait. With the arrival and presence of all those sweaty men earlier, the air-conditioners had been blowing in with full blast. It took them a full ten minutes to enter silent mode, so she just enjoyed the time. With some fruits and dessert on the table by her side, she was feasting on them without a hint of worry¡­ Soon, she stood up. Closing her eyes, she kept silent for about ten minutes. Silent breath, silent mind¡­ Soon, she smiled; ¡®Nothing out of the ordinary, huh? Truly a pro,¡¯ Fingers going for her sleeve, she hurled something up, up into the high ceiling. Crack! A round thing pierced through, embedding itself into it. It was a glass marble, the cheap kind you could buy anywhere. Still, it was strong enough to pierce through the ceiling¡­ and something else inside it. A piece of it fell¡­ and Yun Zhi grabbed it in mid-air, examining it. ¡®Most likely thermal camera,¡¯ It was the kind that could camouflage itself well. The camera could see through light obstacles, so they could be well-hidden over a thin surface. As the marble pierced through, she could feel its hardness and how well-built it was. With such quality, she figured it must have been military-grade. Walking into the living room, she again did the same¡­ Standing in silence. Her hand raised. Thaat! The second marble pierced through. This time, between the small lines in the spherical light in the living room¡¯s ceiling. Since the small lights up there were separated, her attack did not damage them, piercing cleanly into just the camera. It seemed the team earlier couldn¡¯t search the ceiling well enough. While she was snoozing, she could sense their work. They did it very well, not half-hearted. That was why she didn¡¯t blame them. It couldn¡¯t be helped. The ceiling was too high, so either their scanning tools weren¡¯t powerful enough, or these military-grade cameras were in a whole other league of their own. She figured the rooms and washrooms would be alright, but she still needed to check. ¡®Who¡­ could it be the elder? How shameless¡­¡¯ How troublesome. The heat-based cameras might not show her being naked, but her whole movement could be recorded. Based on the elder¡¯s identity, he could secure military-grade equipment on short notice. Still, she wondered if that was the case¡­ The notification, coming from that jerk uncle immortal¡­ could it be mistaken? While he was irritating, it couldn¡¯t be false. The elder was being designated as an ¡®ally¡¯. Could this not be his doing? What sort of a person, spied on his ally anyway? ¡®He¡¯s shameless alright, but¡­¡¯ She didn¡¯t believe he would spy on her, someone he considered his ¡®grandniece¡¯. There might be a third force in play. Could it be the elder¡¯s enemy? If that was the case, then what a shame. She might need to switch places asap. Thinking about it, perhaps¡­ The last person? It was a month ago, so it couldn¡¯t be her that was the target. Most likely, this place was often used as a residence for the clan or the elder¡¯s guest of honor. The two cameras probably didn¡¯t mean much. Perhaps they were abandoned¡­ Still, she did not like betting her security on probability. She took out the phone the elder had given her. It was a secure phone, one that was used by intelligence forces. It could only be used to call and receive other secure numbers. Other than getting closer physically, it was practically impossible to hack due for various reasons. She pressed the speed dial, number 1. The call went through. ¡°Hello, grandpa?¡± ¡°Little Yun? How¡¯s the residence? Is everything to your liking?¡± Grr¡­ this place was a bit of an overkill¡­ A luxury residence fit for a hundred people, and 7-Star amenities? There are even military-grade thermal cameras as a bonus, nice! She wanted to say that but decided against it. The elder probably had no idea as well. Knowing he was not an idiot, all she needed to do was to give some hints¡­This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Grandpa, do you know the last guest using the place?¡± ¡°Hm? Of course I know. I can¡¯t say who though. Why?¡± ¡°Well¡­ just guessing. There are some things I¡¯m not comfortable with.¡± ¡°What? Then just call Manager Lee. That boy¡¯s bright, he¡¯ll know what to do,¡± ¡°¡­Already did, and he couldn¡¯t detect them¡­¡± Listening to her hint, he went silent for a good five seconds. Having deep experience in the field, he could not just ignore what she had said. After all, her senses could surpass even some masters. ¡°¡ªDetect¡­ I see. Where was it?¡± ¡°Two, in the living room and pool ceiling. I¡¯ll check over other areas after this,¡± ¡°Are they still intact?¡± ¡°Annoyed me so I break them,¡± ¡°Already¡­ Alright, listen, if you find any other, don¡¯t break them. I¡¯ll have a team investigate this¡­ Since you¡¯re young¡­ I¡¯ll send them over as ¡®your friends¡¯, is that alright?¡± ¡°But¡­ do I need to show my face?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯re from a squad I picked personally. They know how to keep things quiet. Ah, you can wear a mask¡ª¡± ¡°What good of it, my passport had my face for all to see,¡± ¡°Ah, forgot, forgot¡­ Don¡¯t worry too much. That place is secure, so it¡¯s probably other elders¡¯ doing, not our clan¡¯s enemy.¡± ¡°Oh, nice. Family spying on each other¡­ how harmonious,¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be such a pessimist¡­ It¡¯s normal, normal!¡± Normal? Normal my ass! Is it normal to install a military-grade thermal camera to spy on guests? Well, aren¡¯t we off to a good start¡­ Sighing, she wondered if she should just find another place. This place sure was nice, but what would the meaning be, if the security was compromised. As she walked through the whole residence, her senses couldn¡¯t pick up any other irregularities. Was that all? Scrutinizing the whole place, what the elder had mentioned made sense. With such security, she doubted outside forces could secure even one thermal camera inside the residence. Other elders, eh¡­ And why did Elder Fang say it was normal, like it happened on a daily basis? What kind of inner fighting were they having? The team assigned to her would only arrive after an hour, so she recalled something. She had yet to redeem her rewards! It was something to look forward to. She took her new tent, the one Manager Lee had it delivered. With it, she went to the master bedroom¡­ now, her room. The room was just too big, with a wide window presenting the outside scenery for her to see. Overlooking the water-theme park and the back of the golden palace, it added to the feeling of grandeur of having a luxury room all for herself. ¡®This place sure is nice¡­ still,¡¯ There was no need to be attached to any place. As someone who had gotten used to luxury and yet also knew how to live as a homeless, she didn¡¯t feel any attachment. It was better this way. If needed to, she would disappear without hesitation. After taking a good shower, she checked the tent, making sure it was not tampered with. Satisfied, she opened it¡­ As would be a high-quality self-deployable one, it deployed itself almost automatically. It was a medium-sized tent, more than enough. With thick covering and some kind of reflector, it was insurance¡­ to ensure that no eyes were watching. Again running a check on the tent, she was satisfied. It was time to check the spoil of war¡­ no, mission reward. [You have 2 mysterious gifts and 1 bonus item. Redeem?] ¡°Redeem the first gift,¡± [Redeemed first mysterious gift] Within the tent, appearing out of thin air, was a golden talisman¡­ With some light as it emerged, it was as expected. Redeeming the gift outside could attract attention¡­ but why did this talisman feel familiar? Grabbing it, she examined¡­ This inscription¡­ this remaining Qi¡­ so familiar¡­
Cleansing and Refreshing Talisman
Grade: None. Special: Rechargeable Description: A gift from a maid to her master
¡°¡­Jerk uncle immortal, are you kidding me?¡± Isn¡¯t this Lin Lin¡¯s cleansing talisman? What do you mean, mysterious gift? You sound like you¡¯re giving it to me! Lin Lin gave it to me, so it¡¯s already mine! You took it from me! ¡°That uncle¡­ Besides, I¡¯m not with the homeless anymore, so¡­¡± This would be perfect, if only she was still with the homeless camp. But now that she got a nice place all for herself, that jerk immortal gave her this? What sort of a joke was this? Is he serious? Is he mocking me? ¡°If you¡¯re going to give this back to me, shouldn¡¯t you do so on the first day?¡± She wanted to shout but decided against it. A bit frustrated, she tried to think of good things¡­ good people¡­ or good immortal. Yeah, let¡¯s think of big sis Xue¡­ That ought to work like a charm, no? Thinking that it might increase her luck a little bit, she said out loud; ¡°Oh, right¡­ Big sis Xue ordered the esteemed uncle immortal to treat me a bit better¡­ so the second gift can¡¯t be a trashy one, right? Yeah, it can¡¯t be¡­ Can¡¯t imagine how disappointed big sis would be, if a world guardian under her was stingy¡­¡± Raising her voice on purpose, she waited for a bit. That jerk uncle might be listening? Even if he had prepared a bad gift, he wouldn¡¯t be so shameless as to put her things as the second gift, right? She didn¡¯t expect much, but¡­ at least, something decent. Not that she¡¯s complaining about the talisman, but it was hers in the first place. Considering the world¡¯s law, a mission reward should not bring instability to the whole place. However, she had mentioned Xue Bai in the hope that the World Guardian would at least have her into consideration. Feeling that the time was right, she said; ¡°If you¡¯re ready, I¡¯m redeeming the second gift,¡± [Redeemed second mysterious gift] Light emerged. This time, it was brighter than the first one, by a whole lot. Seeing the gifts, they seemed to come in as a pair¡­ Something about a meter plus long¡­ Slender, metallic¡­ ¡°Huh? Swords?¡± This time, it was equipment. Double swords in fact. However, it was not identical. Their sheaths were black, but that was it. One was a katana, its red handle had a hole with a long golden strap. Unsheathing it a bit, she saw the blade. It was as expected, having only one sharp edge, yet its sharpness¡­ Sent some chills down her spine. ¡®This one¡¯s eerily sharp¡­¡¯ She had seen sharp swords before, but among the swords in Qi Refinement level, this one takes the cake. Of course, it couldn¡¯t compare with swords of higher level, but in terms of this world¡¯s level¡­ This one could be ranked quite high. Meanwhile, the other sword had an entirely different nature. It had a green handle, a thin yet wide design, and symmetrical¡­ It had emerald jades decorating it, with traces of Qi within. Holding and examining its blade, it didn¡¯t give her that eerie feeling of sharpness, but¡­ a feeling of proper control, light, and easy to move around. It was double-edged, tough but light. The tip was sharp and heavier than the rest of the blade¡­ flying sword. With a thought, the system showed her each of their descriptions;
Blood Katana (Locked, Level 0)
Real Name: ---- Grade: Superior. Special: ? Description: Specialized in cutting, slicing, devouring. Sharper than an ordinary blade. Definitely not OP for this world.
Jade Flying Sword (Locked, Level 0)
Real Name: ---- Grade: Superior. Special: ? Description: Specialized in flying, piercing, breaking. Lighter than an ordinary blade. Definitely not OP for this world.
¡°This kind of description,¡± Devouring? Breaking? What the heck? It was simple, but vague. Thus it begged many questions. Who wrote these? The ¡®definitely not OP for this world¡¯ was a little sus. These weapons were also tagged as Locked, Level 0. Level 0? There are other levels? And what¡¯s with the deal with question marks on the special? Do I need to unlock it? And what¡¯s the deal with real name having those dashes? Having nothing better to do, she played around with them¡­ Thinking she might have to use them later, she thought of a proper place for her to practice. Since this world was designated as Murim world, there ought to be several good places for her to practice, even in the city. Well, if there weren¡¯t any¡­ She figured it might be worth it to take a trip to the mountains. But, it¡¯s too troublesome. That takes too much time and effort. Still, the determining factor was¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t really want to use swords¡­¡± For some reason, she had an inclination to reject swords. It was a conflicting feeling. As if looking at lovely creampuffs, yet denied herself the luxury since they were not good for her health. These swords¡­ she knew they were top-tier, considering this world¡¯s level. The designs too, were beautiful to her, to say the least. They made her wanting to familiarize herself with them. However, her heart didn¡¯t quite like unsheathing a sword for the purpose of taking lives¡­ As for the reason, eh, she couldn¡¯t quite remember¡­ Once the blade is out, never hesitate! Cut! Cut all enemies! Cut, all the way! A voice rang within. It was her father, correcting her on the way of the sword. ¡°I¡­ hate you, dad¡­¡± From as far as she could remember, all she did was study, train, cultivate¡­ Her childhood¡­ those were all she did before her cursed state. Even when she didn¡¯t want to remember, the exact teaching would appear when there was a trigger. Be it during matches, alchemy, creating talisman, or formation¡­ all she needed to remember, was the necessary trigger. But, it wasn¡¯t like this at first¡­ During childhood, she had always liked swords, training with them for fun. To her eyes, they were beautiful, unique treasures. Cutting through wood and rocks clean, seemed a bit magical to this young child. The sheer sound of one piercing the air, was nothing short of a pleasant song in her ears. Still, she didn¡¯t want to unsheathe her sword to kill anything¡­ Not even a tree, nor a beast! When forced to, she cried terribly, rebelling. She even dared go against her teacher, a sect elder. When her father knew, he subjected her to a thorough ¡®education¡¯. After several months of undergoing such a powerful ¡®teaching¡¯ under the mental oppression of a Soul Formation cultivator, her body remembered everything just through outside triggers. Holding the swords, was a trigger to her father¡¯s teaching. Her eyes turned sharp as if she was about to kill¡­ Kill. No mercy! Hands a bit shaky, she let them go. Her heart pounded, and her breathing got disturbed. She felt all her blood and remnant Qi went straight to her muscles. Her eyes turned bloodshot as if anticipating movement. She took a deeper breath, regulating her breathing back to normal. Soon, her heart calmed down. ¡°I better not touch these¡­ not directly at least,¡± Outside the tent, she took a thick blanket on her bed, then return, wrapping them up as if wrapping babies. Leaving them inside the tent, she wondered why that uncle immortal gave her gifts she wouldn¡¯t use. What a waste¡­ At the thought, she remembered one more thing to redeem; ¡°Redeem the bonus item,¡± [Bonus item redeemed] Light emerged. This time, it was not golden¡­ but green. Surprisingly, the light was refreshing, bringing in a cool breeze filled with life. It was as if, the world¡¯s whole forest had descended upon her. ¡°¡­A, choker?¡± It was a bit unexpected. A green cloth choker, landed gently on her hand. Chp 29: Young Friends Chp 29: Young Friends
Auto Self-Preservation Talisman (choker form)
clean after being captured, especially by vile forces. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.
... young friends the elder had mentioned. With the task of investigating the thermal cameras in her room, they had arrived post-haste. ops,¡± friends, please be comfortable with me. Call me Yun or Yun Yun.¡± 360 camera into the cavity, she turned it on, connecting it with Blue¡¯s laptop below. Blue recorded the footage, then changed the camera¡¯s mode into night vision, soon thermal vision, and several others. Finding nothing out of ordinary, he told Mia to come down. She took the cloth net, wrapped it up, and placed it into her bag. Taking out a thick white plaster of sorts, she covered the cavity with it. grandpa is quite strong, but¡­¡± gulp, gulp,¡± Mia drank a mouthful of strawberry juice, as if worried the others would confiscate it. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ fuahh, mess, nicee,¡±