187: Chapter 186 New Mission 187: Chapter 186 New Mission The older the ginger, the spicier it gets.
As soon as he entered the door, Hou Niao fell into Yu Zhengxing’s trap; but then again, ordinary people wouldn’t have been enough to make this uncle waste his time and feelings digging pits.
Clearly, Yu Zhengxing was well aware of the details of his joining the Quanzhen Sect, and it wasn’t just the slight understanding he claimed to have before he regarded him as a key individual to nurture.
He wasn’t overly concerned because he believed in himself!
With adventure comes responsibility, and opportunities coexist with risks.
He had understood this truth long ago, and that was why such opportunities made him feel particularly secure, and not like stumbling upon a Longevity Pill fallen from the sky or digging up a Treasure Gourd in a mouse hole.
After discussing some cultivation issues with Yu Zhengxing, who didn’t see himself as a master but displayed the patience of one in answering questions, this was a kind of psychological constraint.
Those nominal disciples of his were not true disciples in his heart but merely servants helping with trivial tasks.
He might only have one true disciple; whether Hou Niao would become another was something only time would tell.
After finishing his questions, he decided to take his leave, “Well, I should head back now and try hunting some Demon Beasts.”
Yu Zhengxing looked at him peculiarly, “This old man hasn’t given you a mission yet, and you’re thinking of running off after reaping the benefits?
Lucky for me I didn’t take you as my disciple, otherwise, you’d definitely be the death of me from frustration!”
Hou Niao was also quite astonished, “And here I thought you were summoning me just to lure me into a trap.
There’s actually a mission?”
Yu Zhengxing, somewhat irritated, tossed him a Jade Scroll and a Treasure Gourd, “I have a friend from Anhe Daoist Sect who unfortunately passed away.
Make a trip to his hometown on my behalf and help with some posthumous affairs.
I owed him a favor in our youth, and now that he’s gone, I never had the chance to repay it.
Furthermore, Gu Xiqiao, a trader from Anhe Country, sold inferior Qi Sensing Pills in Miao Gao Town, making huge profits.
When his deception was uncovered, he fled back to Anhe Country and sought refuge with the Linjing Dao Mansion; resulting in several dozen youths of Miao Gao suffering, unable to cultivate for the rest of their lives.
Three of them ended up imbeciles, and two lost their lives!”
Go, find him, kill him, and make clear the reason!”
Hou Niao took the items, inside the Treasure Gourd were the assets left for his friend’s orphan; the Jade Scroll contained details about his friend and all about Gu Xiqiao.
“Understood.” Hou Niao didn’t ask further.
But Yu Zhengxing still explained a bit, usually he wouldn’t offer such explanations to his subordinate disciples, just assign them tasks to be carried out, why bother with so many questions?
But this disciple was different, he valued him highly, so he didn’t want any misunderstandings.
“The most important reason I chose you for this is because I couldn’t find anyone else from Anhe Country by my side.
Sending you back to your country to kill your own countrymen, do you have any reservations?”
Hou Niao was unmoved, “I am from Anhe Country, but also from Jinxiu.
Regardless of nationality, anyone who dares to make ill-gotten gains at the expense of children does not deserve my mercy.”
Yu Zhengxing nodded approvingly; what he admired most about this fellow was his calmness and rationality that exceeded his peers.
Not every cultivator can be sensible; many would abandon the most basic principles of being human for the so-called sentiments of fellow townspeople, kinship, or national ties.
Having issued his instructions, and seeing that Hou Niao still lingered, he felt puzzled, “Just now, you were in such a hurry to scram, but now that the task is assigned, why are you sticking around and not leaving?”
Hou Niao hemmed and hawed, “Just now, I thought we were returning to Yinling, which is close by, so running back wouldn’t be a big deal; now that I know we’re going back to Anhe Country, the journey is far, and it’s too conspicuous to be running all the way there—it’s also not appropriate.”
“You see, along the way, there’s food and fodder for horses and various expenses.
With the soaring prices in Anhe, ever since I joined the sect, I haven’t received any salary.
A poor man has less spirit, and a thin horse grows more hair…”
Yu Zhengxing was speechless.
This creature was quite peculiar.
Since joining the sect for over two years, he had been fined enough for five or six years, a debtor with a never-ending list of poverty.
Although sword cultivators are known for their simplicity, there should be a limit.
The saying goes that the emperor doesn’t skimp on food for his soldiers, yet the one in front of him wasn’t just a hungry soldier but a debtor.
How on earth had he managed to get by these past two years?
Annoyed, he tossed out a Treasure Gourd, “Spend it frugally, I’ve got a whole family to support, too.”
Hou Niao’s eyes sparkled with joy, and he nodded and bowed, “Blessings upon you.
With just the savings from your daily expenses on food and clothing, one meal skipped would be enough to fund my trip.
Consider it a one-day diet for the entire mansion, it benefits the stomach and protects the liver, and even saves on toilet paper.”
Hou Niao rolled out of the mansion, but he wasn’t in a hurry to leave.
Instead, he found the largest tavern in Miao Gao Town and had a sumptuous meal.
Indeed, being in the Grain Avoidance Realm meant not needing to eat normally, but old habits die hard.
The stomach remained the same size, and the human love for delicious food transcends everything, unrelated to one’s cultivation Realm.
While he was happily feasting in the main hall, someone on the second floor noticed him and let out a faint sound of surprise.
He lacked Divine Sense, but his other senses were still sharp.
Looking up, he caught a glimpse of a familiar silhouette turning away to leave.
In Miao Gao Town, he didn’t have many friends.
If he had to choose, there would only be those two…
The sounds of footsteps on the stairs grew louder as two beautiful figures dashed down, followed by several young and handsome men, each with an extraordinary presence.
Dugu Lan took the lead with a few strides and greeted him with a smile, “Brother Hou, it’s been over a year since we last met.
Your renowned name has already spread throughout Yinling.
The locals light incense in your honor, calling you a demon-suppressing hero!
Compared to our mediocre existence in Miao Gao Town, it is truly like heaven and earth, incomparable.”
Xiao Qiang followed closely behind, speaking less.
But the soft and sweet ‘Brother’ she uttered seemed as if it could melt bones and enrapture souls.
Hou Niao responded with a perfunctory greeting.
Such an unexpected encounter was not what he wished for.
He didn’t think visiting Miao Gao Town necessitated a visit to the two women, adhering to the principle of avoiding the cultivation family if possible.
His own troubles were enough, with the national religious strife and all—he didn’t want to get entangled in any familial grudges or feuds.
“Are the two junior sisters well?
It’s been a year, and your cultivation has reached new heights.
Your grace outshines the past.
Like two competing flowers, you render the beauty of Miao Gao Town colorless.”
The two women exchanged smiles, and Dugu Lan shot him a look, “What kind of place is Yinling?
Brother Hou, having patrolled for over a year, it seems your eloquence has only improved.”
Xiao Qiang’s beautiful eyes wandered, “Brother, are you here in Miao Gao for business?
Or just passing through?
Why didn’t you come to see us sisters?
If I hadn’t been observant, we might have missed this chance, and who knows when we might meet again.”
Hou Niao dreaded their way of talking as if they were close, which they really weren’t—it was just an acquaintance.
There was no need for such warmth, but he feared it was more for the others to hear.
Perhaps not intentional, yet such skills of pandering and flattery were deeply ingrained in the blood of these family scions, effortlessly slipping out.
As expected, one of the nearby Qian Xius picked up the conversation,
“What’s the honored surname of this brother?
Why don’t the two junior sisters introduce us?”