Chapter 364: Senior Brother, Pulling Mobs
Creak, creak—
The cold wind, carrying flying frost, rattled the oil paper windows on the second floor of the inn.
Inside, the oil lamp cast a dim yellow light, accompanied by the creaking of the wooden bed struggling to bear its load, and faint, charming moans with an alluring fragrance.
“Mmm~ mmm~~ So good…”
On the bedding, Gu Mingxin slowly opened her eyes, feeling a splitting headache and overwhelming weakness. After a while, she forced herself to sit up and turned her head towards the source of the sound.
She saw the silhouette of Lu Meimei, rising and falling, reflected on the screen beside her.
She frowned slightly with annoyance and coughed:
“Cough, cough—”
The next moment, Lu Meimei’s silhouette on the other side of the screen froze. She turned her head towards Gu Mingxin, got off the man, wrapped herself with a silk scarf, and walked out from behind the screen.
“Sister Gu, you’re awake?”
Gu Mingxin glanced at her coldly and asked, “How many days have I slept?”
“Three days. Sister Gu, do you want to join? Junior Brother Wu just brought back a rather handsome young man. You can enjoy yourself and replenish some True Essence.”
“A handsome young man?”
Upon hearing this, Gu Mingxin’s mind immediately flashed to Liang Xiaoliu’s face. Disbelieving, she quickly got out of bed, went around the screen, and looked at the other bed.
On that bed lay a young man in his twenties, now under the bewitchment of Lu Meimei. He was in a daze, smiling, and wriggling his waist on the bed.
Seeing this, Gu Mingxin clicked her tongue with slight annoyance and limped back to her own bed to sit down.
Lu Meimei looked at her like this, somewhat puzzled, and asked, “Sister Gu, don’t you need it? Or are you disgusted that I’ve used him? How about I find another handsome man to replenish your body?”
Gu Mingxin looked at her for a moment, then replied as politely as possible, “I don’t have that kind of hobby.”
“Huh?” Lu Meimei looked surprised and asked, “Could it be that Sister Gu hasn’t tasted a man yet? You’re already at the Core Formation stage! Doesn’t the Tian Mo Sect send you men? Are they that stingy? Do you want to…”
Gu Mingxin felt a little tired and quickly interrupted, “I want to be alone.”
“Oh… Then I’ll be next door. If Sister Gu needs anything, just call me~”
Lu Meimei smiled, then walked back around the screen. The creaking sound gradually arose, making Gu Mingxin restless, but she couldn’t say anything.
In the Demonic Sects of the Eastern Domain, ordinary female cultivators at the Core Formation stage almost invariably had four or five male companions. As a direct disciple of the Tian Mo Sect Master, she, having lived for over twenty years and still maintaining her virginity, was considered a rare species.
However, it wasn’t that she wasn’t interested; it was simply that her requirements for men were too high.
“Liang Xiaoliu… Heh heh… Heh heh heh…”
Gu Mingxin muttered the name, and a creepy, ghost-like smile appeared on her face.
“Heh heh ha ha… Ha ha…”
Suddenly, two sets of footsteps from the door made Gu Mingxin vigilant. She turned her head and saw Wu Tianci pushing the door open. Relieved, she slowly let out a breath.
After Wu Tianci entered, he took off his snow-covered bamboo hat. Seeing that Gu Mingxin was awake, he quickly walked over.
“Senior Sister Gu, how are you feeling?”
“True Essence is depleted, but my body is otherwise unharmed.” Gu Mingxin replied plainly, looking up at him. “How is it on your end?”
“To be honest, not very good…”
Wu Tianci glanced back at the young man currently under Lu Meimei.
After Gu Mingxin fell unconscious that day, he had Lu Meimei use her Bewitching Technique to interrogate the person he brought back. However, that person was quite resilient. After saying only a few words, he severed his own meridians and died.
So, during the days Gu Mingxin slept, he followed the clues and found a lot of information.
The young man Lu Meimei was currently draining was someone he had captured from a pill shop in the nearby Pixiu Town yesterday.
The young man’s name was Wang Er, and he was an informant for a black market force in the Northern Region.
He had managed to extract a lot of intelligence from him.
Wu Tianci was silent for a moment, then replied as concisely as possible, “Senior Sister Gu, we have been placed under a high bounty.”
Gu Mingxin’s eyes narrowed. “We?”
“Yes… Among the Demonic cultivators who came to the Northern Region, only I, you, and Senior Lu have high bounties.”
Wu Tianci frowned and nodded. “This is not good. I’ve heard that the Snow-clothed Guard in the Hantian Kingdom is already secretly investigating the three of us. Once our identities as Demonic cultivators are discovered…”
Gu Mingxin finished his sentence: “Then the Hantian Kingdom’s Empress will guess all the actions of the Six Demonic Sects in the Northern Region. All the Demonic cultivators who came to the Northern Region will be exposed…”
“Yes, all our efforts wasted.”
Wu Tianci nodded, adding, “Furthermore, after this incident, we will inevitably be investigated by the sect. After all, this exposed our identities.”
“…We’re doomed.”
The Six Demonic Sects had spent decades of effort and cost to send their over thirty Core Formation stage Demonic cultivators into the Northern Region without the Hantian Kingdom knowing.
And now, Liang Xiaoliu had, with just a bounty, turned decades of effort into nothing, and even implicated her with the crime of ‘betraying the sect.’
When the Demonic Sect elders found out, they would surely question why they were targeted with a bounty. No matter how they explained, the best-case scenario would be for them to be labeled as troublemakers who deliberately exposed their whereabouts and ruined the grand plan.
Gu Mingxin could already imagine her Master’s furious reaction upon their return to the Tian Mo Sect. It was even possible that she would be expelled from the sect.
Gu Mingxin covered her forehead and let out a desolate laugh.
“Ha ha… Liang Xiaoliu, I really… ha ha ha…”
Wu Tianci was silent for a moment, then continued, “According to what I’ve heard, the high bounty on the three of us is backed by the Mansion Lord of Chi Long Mansion.”
“It wasn’t Liang Xiaoliu…” Gu Mingxin suddenly froze and asked, “It was the Mansion Lord of Chi Long Mansion?”
“Yes.”
A hint of anger flared in Wu Tianci’s eyes. He suddenly remembered his father, who had died in Chi Long Mansion.
If his father died in Chi Long Mansion, it was possible that his Storage Bag had also fallen into the hands of the Mansion Lord of Chi Long Mansion. He wished to continue investigating, preferably encountering that young lady surnamed Li.
However, that was just a wish…
Wu Tianci was silent for a moment, and then replied rationally, “Senior Sister Gu, many forces in the black market are watching us now. We definitely can’t send out a Jade Slip. It’s best for us to return to the Eastern Domain as soon as possible and report this matter.”
Gu Mingxin raised an eyebrow and countered, “Why? To atone for our sins?”
“Yes, to have the elders withdraw all the Demonic cultivators from the Northern Region. Otherwise, if this continues, we will sooner or later be caught by the Hantian Kingdom’s Snow-clothed Guard and wiped out. Over thirty Core Formation stage Demonic cultivators—this is not a small price.”
Hearing this, Gu Mingxin’s eyes flickered with a hint of light.
She shook her head slightly and said, “As you said, it’s best for us to turn back and return to the Eastern Domain now, but…”
“…”
Gu Mingxin glared, “Wouldn’t that fulfill Liang Xiaoliu’s wish?”
“Senior Sister Gu…”
“He wants us to retreat in the face of difficulty. If we truly retreat like this, wouldn’t we become fleeing wild dogs in his eyes?! No matter how many people he sends, I will kill them all… Even if the Hantian Kingdom’s Empress comes, I’ll knock out two of her front teeth!!”
“…”
“Of course.” Gu Mingxin’s expression gradually softened. “If Junior Brother Wu is unwilling to follow, you can take Sister Lu back with you.”
Wu Tianci frowned slightly, paused, then cupped his fists and replied, “…No need. Since Senior Sister Gu has said so, then I will naturally follow you.”
“Then don’t go back on your word.” Gu Mingxin stood up and patted his shoulder. “Tell me, the Mansion Lord of Chi Long Mansion placed the bounty in Linghe Immortal City, right?”
“…So we’re going directly to Linghe Immortal City next?”
“Mhm~”
Gu Mingxin nodded, walked to the bedside, pushed open the window with force, and looked through gritted teeth at the white mountains beneath the snow clouds in the distance.
“Young Master Liang, I look forward to seeing you again…”
…
Feather-like snow drifted for a thousand li.
A crescent moon hung high in the sky. On the mountainside of Yuxue Peak in the southwestern Northern Region, a cave glowed with the flickering light of a bonfire.
Inside the cave, six or seven Foundation Establishment stage Demonic cultivators dressed in black sat around the bonfire, sheltering from the cold wind of the night.
“The elders want us to search for some formation eye in the Northern Region… We’ve been wandering in these mountains for weeks, and we’ve only encountered a few snow tiger beasts. Could it be that there’s no formation eye here?”
“Who knows? Anyway, we’ll search. If we find it, it’s a great achievement. If not, it’s none of our business.”
“Senior Brother is right. By the way, I heard there’s a town not far from here. Why don’t we go and catch some girls to replenish our bodies? It’s so cold and bleak in the Northern Region… We have to constantly protect ourselves with spiritual energy, so we need to replenish.”
…
Ying—!!!
Suddenly, an eagle’s cry from the cave entrance broke the conversation of the few people.
The six people’s hearts tightened instantly. They turned to look towards the cave entrance and saw a girl, with her eyes closed and wrapped up warmly, holding a Fire Phoenix as she walked in.
“Blind girl?”
Li Longling sighed softly, “That’s very rude.”
She then turned to the Fire Phoenix on her arm and gently called out, “AFeng.”
Ying—!!
AFeng’s eyes flashed with a fiery light. Spreading its wings and opening its beak, it spat out a stream of scorching fire, directly at the six people by the bonfire.
The six reacted quickly, immediately jumping aside to evade the Fire Phoenix’s fire-elemental spell. Then, they turned and drew their swords, attacking Li Longling from all directions.
However, at that very moment, a dark shadow shot in from outside the cave entrance. The ice-blue Spirit Sword in his hand was like a paintbrush, drawing five lines between the chests of the six people.
Swish—
After drawing the lines, Ye Anping came to Li Longling’s side and gently swung the Snow Jade Myriad Spirit Sword in his hand to the side.
The six Foundation Establishment stage Demonic cultivators fell like broken puppets, face-planting onto the ground, and became still.
“Hoo…”
He scanned the six people, used his Spiritual Sense to check if they were alive or dead, and then said, “Longling, these Demonic cultivators happened to help set up a tent, so we can shelter from the wind and snow. Let’s rest here tonight.”
“As Young Master Ye says.”
Ye Anping nodded, then helped Li Longling up. They stepped over the bodies of the Demonic cultivators and sat by the bonfire. He took out a preserved frozen chicken bought from a town on the way from his Storage Bag, stuck it on a branch, and placed it beside the bonfire set up by the Demonic cultivators.
Soon, the frozen chicken was thawed by the flames, and the soy sauce fragrance from the meat diffused throughout the cave.
It was at this moment that one of the six Foundation Establishment stage Demonic cultivators lying by the entrance opened his eyes, glanced at them, immediately got up, summoned a protective magical artifact, drew his flying sword, and fled out of the cave.
Li Longling, sitting by the bonfire, noticed one person escaping and was slightly surprised. However, she saw Ye Anping, who was roasting the chicken, looking very calm through the Fire Phoenix’s eyes, so she didn’t get up to chase.
She hesitated for a moment and reminded, “Young Master Ye, one person escaped.”
“Yes, I deliberately let one go.” Ye Anping nodded, took out five Talisman Scripts, and burned the remaining five Demonic cultivator corpses to ashes. Then, he said, “Longling, do you know what ‘pulling mobs’ is?”
“‘Pulling mobs’…?”
“Yes, it’s letting one person attract the attention of a group, making them chase after oneself.”
Li Longling pondered for a moment, then nodded, “So… it’s like ‘daring the dragon to enter the phoenix’s nest’?”
“Yes.” Ye Anping nodded. “I don’t know where my Junior Sister and Senior Sister Xiao are right now. I need to draw Gu Mingxin’s attention to myself first, and make her chase after me.”
“…”
“If she chases me, then I will definitely see my Junior Sister and the others before she does. Now that I have the Snow Jade Myriad Spirit Sword, if Junior Sister encounters Gu Mingxin before I do, then they will be in danger.”
Li Longling pondered for a moment and understood.
These past few days, they had been placing bounties and eliminating Foundation Establishment stage Demonic cultivators, all to prevent Pei Lianxue, Xiao Yunluo, and Feng Yu Die from falling into danger.
“But, with such a huge bounty… Does Young Master Ye think that Demonic cultivator named Gu Mingxin can survive the black market swordsmen?”
Ye Anping shook his head slightly. “If she could die by the hands of those swordsmen, that would be great. It would only cost a million Spirit Stones to deal with her, and it would be a hundred-to-one profit.”
“It sounds like Young Master Ye believes she won’t die?”
“Gut feeling.” Ye Anping looked at the roasted chicken in front of him. “Probably not. And she most likely won’t obediently return to the Eastern Domain after being frustrated. She will definitely find out through various means that the bounty was placed by you, Longling, and then follow our tracks.”
Li Longling hugged her knees, shrunk her neck, and moved closer to Ye Anping, saying, “So Young Master Ye is using me as bait.”
Ye Anping was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at her. “Longling, don’t worry, I will ensure your safety.”
“I’m not complaining.” Li Longling pursed her lips and asked, “I’m just curious, why use me as bait?”
“I am Gu Mingxin’s bait, and you are Wu Tianci’s bait.”
“Oh?”
“His father, along with your father, raised the Blood Lotus in Chi Long Mansion and eventually died by my Eldest Brother’s hand. That person is extremely intelligent, but prone to acting rashly. You are his ‘impulse’.”
“…”
Li Longling nodded silently and moved closer to Ye Anping again, leaning her shoulder against his.
“Then where do we go to find Senior Sister Xiao?”
“Someone will come to tell us their location.”
“How long until that person comes?”
“I don’t know, but it should be soon.”
“…”
Does this mean my alone time with Young Master Ye is about to end…
Li Longling sighed somewhat dejectedly. After hesitating for a moment, she tilted her body and rested her cheek on Ye Anping’s shoulder.
Ye Anping paused slightly and looked to the side. He saw a hint of loneliness on the face of the girl with closed eyes, illuminated by the bonfire.
Although she was blind and didn’t have as captivating eyes as his Junior Sister, Li Longling was still a delicate and lovely girl.
Outside, the cold wind and snow howled. Inside, the wood and firestones crackled in the bonfire.
Ye Anping was silent for a moment, then hesitated and said, “Speaking of which, I haven’t checked the Talisman pattern I imprinted on your meridians last time. Now that I have some free time, how about…”
“…Hm?”
Li Longling heard this and froze. The scene of Ye Anping treating her eyes in Chi Long Mansion last time replayed in her mind, and her cheeks instantly flushed red.
“N-now?”
“If you don’t mind, Longling.”
“I don’t mind…”
Li Longling remembered that Ye Anping had touched her feet last time. She pursed her lips, untied the laces of her velvet boots, pulled out her two snow-white feet from her shoes, turned her body, and placed them on Ye Anping’s thigh.
Her toes wiggled slightly on Ye Anping’s leg. Li Longling immediately tucked her chin and nose into her collar, looking very shy.
Ye Anping exhaled slowly, gently held her ankle, and stroked the sole of her foot with his finger.
“Ying…”
“Hold on.”
It was at this moment that a loud shout suddenly came from the direction of the cave entrance, reaching Ye Anping’s ears.
“Yaya! Anping!! What are you doing?!”
“…”
Ye Anping stopped his fingers and turned to look. He saw a small golden figure, carrying a bundle on its back, standing at the cave entrance with an furious expression, looking at him.
— The person who came to tell him his Junior Sister’s location had arrived.
Li Longling felt Ye Anping’s hand stop and asked in confusion, “Young Master Ye, what’s wrong?”
“…Next time.”
“Ah?”
Ye Anping sighed, picked up her shoes to put them on her, then picked up the roasted chicken, its skin crispy, and handed it over, asking, “Longling, do you want to eat roasted chicken?”
“…No, thank you.”
“Then does AFeng want it?”
?
The Fire Phoenix turned its head and glared at him: Are you feeding chicken meat to a chicken?
Ye Anping paused, then gave an awkward smile: “Sorry, lost my train of thought.”
Then he began to eat the roasted chicken by himself.
Xiao Tian narrowed his eyes and flew to his side, glancing at Li Longling. “Why did you bring her with you?”
“…”
“Forget it, Yu Die misses you. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you, I can’t even eat roasted chicken.”
Ye Anping rolled his eyes and gestured with his eyes for it to get to the point.
Xiao Tian sighed helplessly and smiled, “Yu Die is digging for spiritual herbs near Hanyue City in the Northern Region. Girl Pei and Girl Xiao seem to be looking for someone. They’ve been asking around everywhere. Where is Xiyue? Where is Xiyue? …”
Ye Anping knitted his brows. To be honest, he still didn’t understand why his Junior Sister and Xiao Yunluo had come. Even hearing Xiao Tian say this, he still didn’t react.
Looking for someone? Who?
Xiao Tian rested his chin on his hands and recalled for a moment, then raised his eyebrows. “It seems to be Xiyue or something? I’m not too sure. I heard Yu Die say that Girl Pei and Girl Xiao ask around in every town they visit. ‘Where is Xiyue? Where is Xiyue?’ and so on…”
Ye Anping: ?
…
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