Steward Mission: Raid on Marsh Python Liao

The whistling sound of something cutting through the air brushed past his back.

In that soul-chilling instant, every hair on Lin Xuankong's back stood on end.

With a Spirit Crane Flip, he leaped more than a zhang away. His eyes blazing with killing intent, Lin Xuankong looked toward his attacker—then froze.

He saw his own young lady holding an iron rod as thick as a bowl in her hand, looking at him with delight.

"Upstairs just now, I saw you purge the impurities from inside your torso. I never expected you to advance to mid-stage layer two so quickly, so my hands itched and I couldn't resist testing you!

Your reaction is pretty quick. I just wonder how many of my attacks you can dodge.

Remember, when you can't dodge, circulate your qi and blood to the spot the iron rod hits! I'll suppress my strength to mid-stage layer two. You should be able to easily take a full-force blow at that level!"

Before she had even finished speaking, she swung the iron rod and lunged at him.

The wooden building's rear courtyard immediately rang once more with whistling sounds of air being torn apart.

Li Xiaolan used the attack patterns of the Spirit Crane Finger. Her movements were light and graceful when attacking, yet her speed was as swift as a crane's beak pecking at rice, and her power was frighteningly immense. Within three breaths, she launched dozens of moves.

One strike landed on that large bluestone, smashing the man-tall boulder apart with a thunderous crash into hundreds of pieces. Cold sweat instantly beaded on Lin Xuankong's forehead as he kept dodging.

After evading more than a hundred moves, Li Xiaolan said while attacking, "Remember, when the iron rod hits you, you must circulate your qi and blood to that spot!"

Lin Xuankong, who had been dodging repeatedly, was about to answer when Li Xiaolan's figure flickered before him. A finger stabbed toward his forehead. He nimbly dodged to the right, only to realize that the young lady's move had been a feint—the iron rod sweeping toward the right side of his abdomen was already close at hand!

It was too late to dodge again, so he hurriedly mobilized his qi and blood and concentrated it in his abdomen.

With a booming bang, the iron rod smashed heavily into the right side of his abdomen!

Lin Xuankong was utterly certain that if it had been himself from over ten days ago, such a blow would have shattered his organs, broken his bones, and snapped his tendons. He would have breathed his last on the spot, and the neighbors of Wutong Alley would have had a feast that night!

Yet protected by the incomparably condensed and powerful qi and blood of mid-stage layer two, he was merely driven back several steps, leaving a string of deep footprints in the ground.

His internal organs were completely unharmed; even the muscles and skin on his abdomen had not suffered the slightest injury!

He rubbed the right side of his abdomen in astonishment, secretly marveling at the wonder of martial arts. That massive bluestone had been smashed into bits, yet he was completely unscathed!

If, in another short ten days or so, he advanced to that bearded martial cultivator's Late Second Layer realm and his defense underwent another transformation, just how strong would it become? Would every part of his body become as hard as Hundred Refinements Fine Steel?

Li Xiaolan examined him carefully for a few moments, then waved the thick iron rod, which had already bent into a ⌒ shape.

"Congratulations, congratulations! You reached mid-stage layer two so quickly! Hmm, such wonderful news calls for extra dishes today. Ten dishes?"

After saying that, she rubbed her little belly.

Lin Xuankong was speechless. Was there such logic in this world? She had whacked him with an iron rod, yet still wanted him to treat her to a meal. That blow just now had been terrifyingly powerful—was the young lady jealous of how quickly he cultivated? That shouldn't be it!

The young lady truly was happy for him, and had even specially helped him test his strength.

Still, he could not let her develop this habit. How could such a huge iron rod be used so casually?

Thus, Lin Xuankong ruthlessly cut the ten dishes down to six.

After the two finished the dishes delivered by Fragrant Tower,

a series of rap rap rap knocks came from the outer gate.

Lin Xuankong rose and opened the door. Yang Shan stood outside holding a Red Tassel Spear, respectfully clasping his hands. "Steward Lin, the Hall Master has assigned this month's first mission! Deputy Steward Li, Deputy Steward Ma, and the other disciples are waiting at the Cattle Horse Street Barracks."

Lin Xuankong's eyes lit up. After waiting more than ten days, the first of the Full Manager's three missions had finally arrived. The qualifications to cultivate the Yin Talisman Art were finally within sight!

"Good. I'll head to the Cattle Horse Street Barracks immediately!"

A short while later,

Lin Xuankong entered the Steward Building of the Cattle Horse Street Barracks amid the waiting disciples. The disciples all rose and saluted him, while Lin Xuankong walked straight to the seat of honor.

He looked at Li Er and Ma Rusong, whose expressions were somewhat solemn. "What mission has the Hall Master assigned to the barracks?"

Bald Li Er raised his brows. "Steward, it's a mission to assist the Outer City. This one will be quite challenging!"

Ma Rusong beside him looked grave. "Reporting to Steward, it's a rescue mission. The danger is considerable!"

A rescue mission in the Outer City? Lin Xuankong accepted the document Ma Rusong handed over and read it carefully.

Hall Master Order:

A few days ago, Outer City Steward Han Lu was surrounded in Xunhe Town by more than a hundred Marsh Python Liao People. A flying eagle report has arrived: the situation is urgent beyond measure!

Therefore, Lin Xuankong is hereby ordered to lead the Cattle Horse Street disciples and depart before the first quarter past noon today for Xunhe Town. You must join up with Han Lu and repel the Liao People Tribe besieging Xunhe Town. Should you succeed, there will surely be generous rewards!

--

Seal of Xu Zhenhuan of the Great Marsh Hall.

They were going to Xunhe Town in the Outer City to deal with the Liao People Tribe!

Lin Xuankong could not help frowning. Ever since he began practicing martial arts, his strength had advanced by leaps and bounds, but he had never fought the Liao People Tribe controlled by demonic creatures!

Deputy Steward Ma Rusong said solemnly:

"Steward, according to the reports sent back, Steward Han Lu is leading more than thirty disciples and several thousand townspeople in resisting them from behind the city wall.

"However, among the Liao People Tribe surrounding Xunhe Town are four Early Second Layer Liao Chieftains. Most of the rest are formidable Mid to Late First Order Liao People, equivalent to four Early Second Layer and a hundred Mid to Late First Order Martial Cultivators. This is absolutely going to be a hard battle!"

Bald Li Er rolled his neck. "But I heard Marsh Python Liao People have White Scales on their foreheads. Those White Scales are quite valuable, one of the key materials used to make amulet equipment worth a fortune!"

The corner of Ma Rusong's eye twitched. "White Scales are indeed extremely valuable, but you've surely heard how terrifying the giant tails of Marsh Python Liao People are. If our forty-odd people handle this poorly, we'll be adding oil to the fire and serving ourselves up as dishes!"

Hearing that, Bald Li Er scratched his bald head hard. He did not argue, merely turning to look at Lin Xuankong.

The surrounding disciples could not help tightening their grips on their longswords, their expressions shifting slightly. These disciples had clearly fought the Liao People Tribe before and knew the danger involved.

After hearing Ma Rusong out, Lin Xuankong's tightly furrowed brow, which had formed because they were facing the Liao People Tribe, gradually relaxed.

Mid to Late First Order Marsh Python Liao People were equivalent to Mid to Late First Layer Martial Cultivators, while Early Second Order ones were equivalent to Early Second Layer Martial Cultivators?

If it had been himself more than ten days ago, encountering an Early Second Layer opponent might have required a fierce battle to determine life and death!

But he had now advanced to mid-stage layer two. His speed, strength, and explosive power far surpassed what they had been before, especially his defensive power. Now, against an Early Second Layer opponent, he could easily fight and defeat them!

Moreover, he had trump cards such as the Twin Vine Demonic Pearl and the Man Luo Demonic Pearl... Four Early Second Layer opponents were not much of a threat!

It was simply that these Liao People controlled by demonic creatures differed from ordinary Martial Cultivators. He needed to learn the characteristics of this Liao People Tribe in detail!

Lin Xuankong swept his gaze over everyone. "Since this is the Hall Master's order, go make your preparations. Inform your families, bring sufficient food and medicine, and collect an extra weapon from the barracks storeroom. Assemble in formation at the Assembly Ground before noon!"

Though the disciples were deeply worried, once the Steward had spoken, they could only clasp their hands in acknowledgment and head outside.

Lin Xuankong stopped Yang Shan. "Go to the storeroom at once and bring me every document related to the Marsh Python Liao Tribe."

"Yes!" Yang Shan accepted the order and left.

Ma Rusong, who stood nearby, waited until all the disciples had gone before he could not help speaking.

"Recently, the Liao People Tribe has been extremely active. I heard from fellow disciples that the East Second Street Barracks went to assist West Mountain Town the day before yesterday. Of the sixty-odd fellow disciples, more than thirty died. Even the Steward was severely wounded and lost an arm!

"Yesterday, the South Street Barracks went to assist Sun Mountain Town. More than twenty died, and Steward Hua was killed on the spot. The remaining two Deputy Managers failed to complete the mission and have already led their people back!

"Steward Lin, even if we join up with Steward Han, we will have only seventy-odd people. Facing more than a hundred Liao People is far too dangerous. We might even be wiped out to the last man!

"Besides, your talent is Four Seals, just like Steward Gu Beicheng's. Steward Gu Beicheng's barracks has never been assigned such dangerous missions. Go speak with Grand Manager Jiang and the others who think highly of you. Perhaps this mission can be reassigned to someone else!

"Even if you do not seek out Grand Manager Jiang, at least go find Steward Ma and see whether you can transfer some manpower over!"

Lin Xuankong fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "I'll first learn about the Marsh Python Liao Tribe. As for borrowing manpower from Steward Ma, I'll consider it!"

At once, Ma Rusong's expression became somewhat unpleasant. He snorted coldly and flicked his sleeve as he left.

He thought to himself, They have to depart at the first quarter past noon. With time this tight, only asking Manager Jiang to reassign the mission or asking Steward Ma for more manpower will help! What the hell is the point of reading up on the Liao People Tribe!

This Lin Xuankong is old and his blood is waning. His strength is surely far inferior to Li Er's and mine—perhaps he's only at the late first layer!

If more than forty of us really go, relying only on Li Er and me to hold the line, it will be a case of nine deaths for every one life. There's a seventy or eighty percent chance we'll be wiped out!

No, I must think of every possible way to withdraw from this mission and get away from this senile Lin Xuankong. If that pile of rotten old bones wants to die, then die he may—how can I throw away my life alongside such an old, weak fellow!