Worried that Pei might be too crushed, Jiang Ke’er decided to take him to the Xiaoshan Sword Sect that night so he could spar with normal humans and relax a bit.
“You’re actually pretty gentle and considerate, tough on the outside but soft inside.” Qiao Xiaoxian saw through Jiang Ke’er’s intentions and gazed at her with admiration. “You’d definitely make a great mother.”
If not for that second half, Jiang Ke’er could barely pretend Qiao Xiaoxian was complimenting her.
But with that added, she suddenly felt like needles were pricking her back, and her whole fox being felt off.
“Good apprentice, hurry up and run.”
Seeing that it was already dark and fewer people were coming to fix fishing rods, Jiang Ke’er hastily summoned her flying sword and shot straight toward the Xiaoshan Sword Sect with Pei.
Pei asked, confused, “Shifu, why is the Xiaoshan Sword Sect always willing to spar with me? Did you kidnap their Sect Leader’s wife?”
“What are you thinking? Your shifu isn’t that despicable.” Jiang Ke’er rolled her eyes repeatedly. “The no-refusal sparring rule was set by His Majesty.”
“Don’t try to fool me. I checked after leaving the village, and there’s no such rule. And they wouldn’t spar in complete silence like that, as if they were being threatened. It must be…” Pei mercilessly exposed Jiang Ke’er’s lie. “Even if it existed, what makes you think I could manage it?”
“You definitely kidnapped their Sect Leader’s wife.” Pei said with conviction.
Jiang Ke’er was frustrated. “Why does it have to be the wife? Can’t I have kidnapped their Sect Leader instead?”
Pei shot her a look of contempt. “Bragging! If you had that kind of ability, would you still be a blacksmith in the Novice Village?”
Jiang Ke’er chuckled at that. “Too naive, kid.”
“Hmph… But why is it that we’ve nearly smashed their Mountain Gate to pieces and their Sect Leader still hasn’t shown his face? That’s going too far!”
“Who knows.”
For the Sect Leader of the Xiaoshan Sword Sect, this was a beautiful day.
He had finally made up his mind to leave the Sect and give himself a long vacation.
He would fly far away and travel across mountains and rivers! No longer would he worry about being scared witless by suddenly appearing illusory realms! Because he had also learned the root cause of that terrifying experience.
A terrifying Monster was active near the Xiaoshan Sword Sect. He had interrogated those mute disciples and learned that a Grandmaster existed.
And his own existence was clearly getting in the way of that being, which was why it had used a terrifying illusory realm to exile him.
As long as he stayed far away from the Xiaoshan Sword Sect, he could enjoy a peaceful life!
“Here you are, brother~”
A mere half of Shenzhou’s distance away. This was one of the brothels he frequented, a full…
He’d heard that a new batch of girls from Nanzhan Buzhou had recently arrived here, very skilled at seduction. Perhaps here he could awaken his little brother who had fallen into slumber.
He skillfully picked someone, entered the room, and began battle.
Indeed, the rumors were true. These girls from Nanzhan Buzhou had wild temperaments and a unique charm. Even his traumatized little brother was gradually being healed…
Looking at the healthy wheat skin of the woman before him and the well-proportioned lines of her waist, the Sect Leader of the Xiaoshan Sword Sect swallowed his saliva and finally made up his mind.
The groundwork was sufficient. It was time to sound the horn of Resurrection—
[Where do you think you’re running, you.]
A sinister voice came from nowhere.
Then came the familiar feeling of falling.
Spiritual Pollution’s Monster.
Why did he always have to be the victim?
Tears fell, unbidden.
One night passed, and the Xiaoshan Sword Sect gained fifteen more mute disciples.
Pei was unaware of this. Tonight’s battles had restored a bit of his confidence, and he finally felt somewhat better.
“Ahhh! Shifu, save me!”
Unfortunately, when he saw bugs, birds, and small mammals, he would still let out piercing screams of terror, like a timid little girl.
Especially bugs.
Even the mosquito buzz in his ears could make him jump up and crash through the ceiling. When passing through the Cicada Forest, his whole body would tremble, his back drenched in cold sweat.
This was the first time Jiang Ke’er had seen someone this afraid of bugs.
Strange, he’d never been like this before.
“Shifu, I… can I not go home tonight?” Pei said with a miserable face, pleading with Jiang Ke’er. “Please let me stay here for one night.”
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Ke’er was surprised and teased, “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of running into a Stray Dog?”
“I… Yes!” Pei gritted his teeth and actually admitted it.
Admitting he was afraid of dogs was much better than being afraid of snails.
If anyone found out he was afraid of snails, he’d really have no face left to show anyone.
“Then I’ll just take you straight home.” Jiang Ke’er turned her sputtering flying sword around and delivered Pei directly to his home.
It was where Pei currently lived. Pei’s Mother had rented a small house not far from the Blacksmith Shop…
“Shifu, then… can you come pick me up tomorrow…” Pei looked at Jiang Ke’er with injured, tearful eyes.
“No.”
Jiang Ke’er left mercilessly.
[Obtained 10000 Villain Points from Pei.]
Back at the Blacksmith Shop, Jiang Ke’er smiled bitterly and shook her head.
“Apprentices really are troublesome things.”
Without disturbing Qiao Xiaoxian who was in cultivation, she sat by the small table in the Courtyard and pulled out a small flask of plum wine.
Toasting the moon with one cup, she couldn’t help but think of Li the drunkard who would have “three shadows in moonlight” a hundred years later.
Two hundred years from now, what would Shenzhou look like then? Would she be fortunate enough to see it?
Of course she would. She was an Ancient God after all. Ancient God plus Queen of the Earth—the biggest evil force under heaven! What was she thinking? What pointless worry.
She mockingly swallowed a small cup of sweet and sour plum wine, tossed a soft, chewy green rice ball into her mouth, savoring the impact of delicious food and the cool night breeze, then tilted her head to foolishly watch Qiao Xiaoxian in cultivation… The sensation of happiness burst to its peak in that moment!
Bubbles as colorful as a maiden’s dreams surrounded her. She couldn’t help but smiled blissfully hug her tail, pink bubbles seemingly wafting around her head.
She thought, this was probably what it meant to be a life winner… Oh no, a fox life.
Her expression turned somewhat solemn. Unfortunately, before she could enjoy it for long, Qiao Xiaoxian opened her eyes.
“Someone is coming this way with killing intent… Cultivators from Nanzhan Buzhou.”
Qiao Xiaoxian had already advanced to Honored One, her perception slightly surpassing Jiang Ke’er’s, and she could clearly sense the True Qi characteristics of the incoming party. So she detected the distant situation first.
“Nanzhan Buzhou…”
Jiang Ke’er frowned slightly, because she’d been hearing that term far too frequently lately.
Originally, Nanzhan Buzhou and the Kingdom of Dasi had been completely hostile, and even in the year Emperor Jing passed away, he was still fighting for his life against Nanzhan Buzhou.
Later, too many things happened in Dongsheng Shenzhou—civil war had greatly weakened its strength—and after Lord Li ascended the throne, he was forced to temporarily cease hostilities with Nanzhan Buzhou and sign a non-aggression treaty.
Since then, both sides had opened their state borders to each other, exchanging commerce and culture.
As a result, many novel things from Nanzhan Buzhou had recently flooded into Dongsheng Shenzhou, becoming hot topics of the day.
But no matter how hard Jiang Ke’er racked her brain, she couldn’t think of any grudge between herself and Nanzhan Buzhou.
Although she’d nearly offended every big shot in Shenzhou, she truly had never provoked anyone from Nanzhan Buzhou.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.