In recent years, the Rebirth Church has undergone earth-shattering changes. Before, the leader possessed cultivation at the Ninth Realm and Ninth Level, constantly tormented by poisonous insects. Thus, we, the Four Great Envoys, had to constantly refine Blood Soul Pills for him to suppress the evil spirits and insects within his body.
Ten years ago, a new disciple joined the Rebirth Church. Initially, his cultivation was only at the Sixth Realm, but within a mere ten years, he advanced to the Eighth Realm. Compared to other new disciples, he was ruthless in sacrificing living beings, his methods even more brutal than ours, the elders. Later, the leader was finally consumed by the poisonous insects, and that new disciple became the new leader. The four of us suspect he killed the leader. However, the new leader can suppress the ferocity of the insects for us and has various divine abilities we have never seen before. These abilities seem to originate from a new world, not from this world’s Daoist magic. The leader is currently recruiting talented individuals, sending us to other regions to recruit various evil cultivators. He has promised us that within two hundred years, he will ascend to the Tenth Realm. At that time, we four envoys will rule the four regions, and he will no longer remain in this world. He swore an oath in front of us, so we are all willing to exert ourselves for him.
The information revealed by Cang Xie’s remnant soul made Jiang Huai, who was diligently taking notes at the side, pause slightly. If the new leader’s words were just arrogance, it would be fine. But if he was so certain he could break through to the Tenth Realm and mastered so many Daoist magic techniques that Cang Xie had never seen before, could it be… that he was a wanderer from the Upper Realm?
Chu Xianning’s brow furrowed slightly. Fortunately, Jiang Huai quickly took her hand and gently said, “Elder Sister Jiang Zhi has been stabilizing her cultivation recently. She has already broken through to the Ninth Realm, Eighth Level, and can appear during the Five Regions Grand Competition. I will ask her for help then to completely uproot this Rebirth Church.”
Chu Xianning’s brow slowly relaxed, and she looked back at him, “What is your relationship with Jiang Zhi, exactly?”
“I can’t quite explain it clearly myself.”
“Then, what is the price for asking her to help?”
“That… it’s not a big price. I’ll tell Master later.” Jiang Huai’s eyes twitched slightly. Chu Xianning stared at him for a few seconds, then didn’t ask further. She conjured a spiritual fire spell and incinerated the corpses of Hong Yue and Cang Xie. Then, she mounted her sword and said softly, “I’ll send you back to the sect first, then go eliminate the remaining evil cultivators Hong Yue mentioned before returning.”
“Master, what are you saying?” Jiang Huai stepped forward discontentedly, gently embracing her waist again. Pretending to be unsteady, he rested his chin on Chu Xianning’s shoulder and said softly, “Even if my spiritual energy is depleted, I still have the Overlord Art at Seventh Level, nearing completion. After a short rest, those mere Sixth Realm evil cultivators will be finished with a single punch.”
“Go back and rest.”
“That won’t do. The thought of these evil cultivators surviving for even one more day makes me restless. I am determined to eliminate them as soon as possible.”
Chu Xianning’s eyes looked straight ahead as she mounted her sword, no longer refuting Jiang Huai. After a few seconds, she finally said very, very softly, “You clingy boy.”
“Heh, I am a clingy boy. Master smells so good.” Jiang Huai leaned closer, shamelessly sniffing the faint fragrance on her skin. Chu Xianning’s body trembled slightly, and she subconsciously pulled her neck back, but she didn’t complain anymore. She just said softly, “It’s fine if you hug me, but you’re not allowed to think of anything else.”
“Yes, I understand.” Jiang Huai obediently agreed.
Chu Xianning slowed down her sword-riding speed. Those evil cultivators still didn’t know their hiding place had been exposed, so there was no need to rush. It was a good opportunity to recover some of her spiritual energy. Jiang Huai hugged her slender waist, and after a while, he moved closer to her neck and whispered, “The reward Master promised…”
“After we return to the sect.”
Chu Xianning gently bit her lip, and after a while, she softly said, “You now… even when discussing swords with me, you could probably defeat me with ease, right?”
“That’s definitely not true.” Jiang Huai shook his head. “As soon as I hold a sword towards Master, my hands go weak. The moment Master makes a move, I lose all strength and only await punishment obediently. It’s been a natural reaction since I was young, etched into my bones.”
“Who knows? Perhaps after your cultivation advances, you’ll harbor a desire for revenge?”
“How can Master think of me as such a heartless wretch?” Jiang Huai hugged Chu Xianning even tighter, then softly replied, “If I become stronger, then naturally I should think about protecting Master well and repaying your kindness.”
Chu Xianning tilted her head slightly. “Is your repayment to Master to cling to my waist like this and nuzzle my neck?”
“I have no strength to stand unsteadily due to my depleted spiritual energy.”
“And you’ll have strength to kill evil cultivators?”
“The thought of these beasts makes my blood boil. Even if I have no strength, I’ll still find some from my bones.”
Jiang Huai spoke nonsense with a serious face. Chu Xianning playfully pinched his waist, but her action was very light, more like flirting than a reprimand.
***
In the past, every year, Jiang Huai would accompany Chu Xianning down the mountain to vanquish evil. As a transmigrator, Jiang Huai was initially somewhat soft-hearted. However, when he was only eight or nine years old, Chu Xianning took him down the mountain to fight evil. After witnessing the heinous methods of those evil cultivators, his sword strikes became unwavering.
At that time, Chu Xianning usually took the lead, protecting Jiang Huai, who would watch from behind as she fought her way through the enemy, her white Daoist Robe spotless. Initially, Jiang Huai was greatly frightened, thinking that sometimes, compared to the evil cultivators, his Master was more like a bloodthirsty demon. Her Suoxue Sword had been with her for nearly six hundred years. The blade had previously been tainted with evil energy, transforming from a pure sword to one filled with murderous intent. However, after being tempered and cleansed by the Sword Tempering Fire, all the evil energy had been washed away.
In the sky, Jiang Huai gently held Chu Xianning’s soft body in his arms, inhaling the faint fragrance on her. His heart gradually calmed down. Although they were close, Jiang Huai had no impure thoughts at this moment. The setting sun was blood-red, and the clouds were like a sea. Jiang Huai gazed at Chu Xianning’s slender, snow-white neck and couldn’t help but nuzzle his cheek against it. Chu Xianning playfully pinched the soft flesh of his waist in return, and Jiang Huai obediently retreated.
The world seemed to suddenly become quiet, everything turning gentle. As the sun finally set and the world gradually darkened, Chu Xianning and Jiang Huai arrived at the first gathering place of evil cultivators mentioned by Hong Yue. The master and disciple duo drew their swords, exchanged glances, and instantly their figures flashed. Chu Xianning released her Eighth Realm cultivation aura, suppressing the poisonous insects within the bodies of all evil cultivators below the Sixth Realm. Their eyes instantly turned blood-red. For these evil cultivators, it was better to kill them all than to let any escape. Every evil cultivator who wished to tread the path of evil needed to feed their internal insects with the heart blood of hundreds of ordinary people before they could enter the Dao. Chu Xianning and Jiang Huai were both efficient. Using the most straightforward sword techniques, they slaughtered this group of evil cultivators, leaving the aftermath in disarray. Without a moment’s hesitation, the two mounted their swords and headed to the next location.
After a day and a night.
Late the next night, the two had eliminated the last evil cultivator stronghold mentioned by Hong Yue. It was likely that in a while, Chu Xianning’s name would appear in the monthly booklet published by Ziyun Pavilion. Chu Xianning led Jiang Huai back to Tian Xuan Sect on her sword. By the time they arrived at Tian Xuan Sect’s courtyard, it was already dawn, and the moon had set, leaving the sky pale.
“Go bathe,” Chu Xianning said calmly. Jiang Huai obediently went to bathe. He washed away the bloodstain in the bathhouse. When he came out, he saw Chu Xianning holding clothes. Chu Xianning brushed past him, and he waited quietly outside the bathhouse door. After a while, Chu Xianning emerged. She had changed from her gorgeous black dress into a simple, plain white nightgown, but it still couldn’t conceal her cold, ethereal demeanor, like a lotus emerging from water.
“I’m a bit sleepy and want to sleep for a while.”
“Sleep,” Chu Xianning replied calmly. Jiang Huai winked at her. Chu Xianning remained silent. Jiang Huai winked at her again. Chu Xianning gave him a disgusted look and turned towards the room, but she didn’t say he couldn’t follow. So Jiang Huai hopped along beside her, returning to the room with her. Chu Xianning sat on a chair by the bedside and said faintly, “You sleep first.”
“Hm? What is Master going to do?”
Chu Xianning took out a notebook from a drawer in the cabinet, ground ink, and picked up her brush, calmly saying, “I’ll record the events of these past few days.”
“Oh, right.” Chu Xianning had a habit of writing a diary. Jiang Huai obediently lay down on the bed, wrapping himself in the quilt Chu Xianning usually used. Chu Xianning’s quilt smelled fragrant. He lay on his side, watching Chu Xianning record diligently, gazing at her profile, and suddenly felt less sleepy.
After a while, Chu Xianning finished recording everything and turned around. Jiang Huai then winked at her, “The bed is already warm.”
Chu Xianning glanced at him with a slightly reproachful look, bit her lip, and finally climbed onto the bed. As she moved towards Jiang Huai, he had already lifted the quilt, covering both of them. Jiang Huai leaned closer, gazing intently at the lying Chu Xianning. Chu Xianning closed her eyes and said calmly, “Weren’t you very sleepy?”
“I want a kiss before I sleep.”
“Oh.” Chu Xianning answered softly but did not refuse. So Jiang Huai leaned closer and gently kissed her delicate, porcelain-white cheek. The touch was soft and fragrant. Chu Xianning did not open her eyes. She extinguished the firefly stones in the room with her spiritual energy and said calmly, “You did very well on this venture down the mountain.”
“Heh, wait… So what?” Jiang Huai suddenly felt that Chu Xianning’s words seemed to have a second half that was not spoken, so he warily picked up the conversation. He heard Chu Xianning say calmly, “I will grant you three wishes as a reward.”
“H-how many?”
“Three.”
“Anything?!” Jiang Huai’s voice trembled slightly. His surprised expression made Chu Xianning, whose cheeks were usually cold, flush slightly. She immediately responded displeasily, “Don’t get greedy.”
“Oh… Then, is wanting to kiss Master’s rosy lips considered getting greedy?”
“Barely not.”
“Then… is wanting to hug Master and sleep soundly tonight considered getting greedy?”
“Barely not.”
The moment Chu Xianning finished speaking, Jiang Huai had already leaned in, holding her beautiful, soft body in his arms. Although Chu Xianning was slightly unaccustomed to it, she still allowed him to hold her like this. Jiang Huai moved closer to her neck, greedily sniffing the faint fragrance on her. Chu Xianning slightly turned her body, her clear, cold eyes slowly opening, and she calmly asked him, “What about the third wish?”
“This…” Jiang Huai was stumped for a moment.
