The Straw Sandals and the Eggs

Qingting Sou stroked his chin, tilted his head to look at Li Fan, who was exuding murderous intent, and suddenly let out a soft laugh, attracting the pair of beastly eyes to stare directly at his face.

"When did you start following me?"

Li Fan's face didn't move, but his body shifted to the side. His left hand gripped the Yellow Jade Sword Case box at his waist, ready to fire, while his right hand reached into his sleeve and pinched the dog frisbee.

"I haven't left," Qingting Sou admitted with a smile. "Yuhengzi alone is enough to inform the abbot. I've been following you since last night. Just to be on the safe side, I had to test you. And here's what I found out: you're very shrewd!"

Li Fan's pupils suddenly contracted, his eyes almost shrinking to slits. He paused for a moment, then said, "... Shenxiao Yuqing Bikong Dunyin? You're actually a direct descendant of the Shenxiao Sect! A candidate for sect leader!"

Qingting Sou's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, you actually recognize this? Could it be that we've met before? But this isn't the place to talk, come with me..."

Li Fan was taken aback, then sneered, "What's going on with you guys? Since you've been secretly watching us, why haven't you made a move? You want to chat with me? If you're going to fight, just do it properly, don't play these silly tricks!"

Qingting Sou grinned. "I was originally going to make a move, but I do know Golden Dragon White Star, and besides... you're not one of them, are you? Then we can have a chat."

Then, quite brazenly, he turned around, exposing his back, and walked out of the barn.

Li Fan's expression was unpredictable, but he couldn't figure out what the other person meant.

Because at this moment he discovered that he could use his Divine Sense to detect and lock onto Qingting Sou's location, so even if he wasn't outside his field of vision, he could still kill him with his flying sword. Clearly, the other party was showing sincerity and had no intention of fighting.

But why?

If Qingting Sou's previous pretense of going to Changsi City was actually a covert operation, then after Li Fan killed the Yu Family brothers, he had countless opportunities to launch a surprise attack. Why would he choose to take the initiative to "have a chat"?

' The Profound Heaven Sword Intent, it's actually not bad to talk about it. A candidate for the leadership of the Profound Sect, yet he can use Azure Sky Escape to evade Divine Sense detection... Ruthless! He can kill you instantly, and he's already killed you seventeen or eighteen times in this short time. Let's find a more open place and find an opportunity for me to freeze him for a moment. The outcome will then be fifty-fifty.'

So Li Fan squinted, straightened up, took two steps, turned his head to look at the girl's corpse on the ground, then turned and walked out of the barn, soaring into the sky, riding the demon-slaying chariot, chasing after the traces that Qingting Sou had deliberately revealed, flying towards the northwest.

After flying for dozens of miles, he saw a city in the distance Qingting Sou did not enter the city, but landed outside the city and walked into a wine shop at the crossroads post station.

Li Fan frowned as his Sword Light flashed far down the official road.

They were almost in the city, the road bustling with traffic and merchants. A fight would involve too many people, and with so many people, if there was an ambush, things could easily change. They could abandon Qingting Sou and run away, but that would likely mean they'd have to fight each other from now on...

Li Fan hesitated for a long time, thinking that he would have to fight sooner or later. Finally, with Profound Heaven Sword Intent's guarantee of "50/50! If I can't defeat him, I'll have Kun swallow me!" he gritted his teeth, touched the golden cicada on his chest and the Daoist robe under his shirt, and followed him with a stiff upper lip. He went into the wine shop, found Qingting Sou, and sat down in front of him.

"This is the Xiping Protectorate," Qingting Sou smiled at him, picked up a wine cup and poured himself a wine dish, drinking and eating broad beans at the same time. "It is called Xiping, but it is actually south of Changsi City. It is only because the Immortal Palace opened up this place in the past that it was surrounded by towering mountains, wild beasts and miasma, which was beyond human reach. So the army was stationed here to cultivate the land, and it has always been an important town guarding the southwest of Li Country."

However, they are only stationed there to keep watch. The southern territory was actually carved out bit by bit by the rogue cultivators of Bamboo Mountain, through bloody battles and hard work.

Li Fan looked at him without saying a word.

Qingting Sou pointed outside the wine shop again, "Did you notice that beggar girl across the street just now? Don't you think her skin is very fair, compared to the one in the barn?"

Li Fan didn't turn around, but narrowed his eyes, a murderous intent rising within him.

Qingting Sou seemed oblivious, and said to himself, "Her skin is fair because she was pampered by her parents and brothers, didn't have to work in the fields, and had a few acres of poor land, so she had no worries about making a living."

Just two weeks ago, a group of thugs passed by her house, raped her mother, and killed her entire family. She only escaped by hiding in the chicken coop. So she has been squatting at her door with two eggs for several days, hoping to find someone to avenge her.

But those swordsmen were recruited by Xiping Prefecture and are now military commanders of the Xiping Prefecture Guard. The government doesn't dare to punish these commanders, and no one wants to risk their lives for two eggs. Besides, her constitution isn't good enough to cultivate immortality. She was probably kicked when she was begging for help, injuring her internal organs. So, whether it's black or white, she'll probably be gone in a couple of days."

Li Fan stared at him for a while, then suddenly turned around and looked at the beggar girl across the street. She looked to be only thirteen or fourteen years old, clutching two eggs in her hands, curled up in a ball in the street corner, lost in thought...

How do you know all this so clearly?

Qingting Sou chuckled. "While you were hesitating outside, she came over to me with eggs, asking if I could help her get revenge. I told her I had an appointment and would ask her later. What, she didn't ask you when you came in, did she?"

"So didn't I already say you wore the wrong shoes?"

Li Fan turned his head and looked at Qingting Sou in silence.

Qingting Sou poured another dish of wine, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. "Hoo... Actually, killing two people is really simple. I could sneak into the garrison headquarters and throw two grenades to kill them all, but I can't do that. Do you know why?"

Li Fan narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

Qingting Sou smiled and poured himself another dish. "Duhu Huang Hai Xiping Prefecture, or rather the Huang family of Xiping Prefecture, has been a registered Outer Sect Disciple of Ink Bamboo Mountain for generations. In a sense, he is in charge of the five guards of Ink Bamboo Mountain Xiping Prefecture, with 15,000 troops under his command, which serves as a deterrent to the capital."

The direct reason why he has recently been recruiting soldiers on a large scale, plundering wealth, and running rampant in the countryside is that the former Inspector General of Xiping Prefecture was assassinated and the Censorate was burned down. Now that Li Country and Bamboo Mountain have turned against each other, naturally no one from Wen Jin's faction dares to control this local tyrant.

Killing him is easy, but if you replace him with another Protector-General, still surnamed Huang, you can wipe out his entire family, but if you replace him with another family, wouldn't the one who controls this army be a powerful clan from Xiping Prefecture? Wouldn't they be a powerful family affiliated with Ink Bamboo Mountain? Wouldn't they be our 'fellow disciples'?

Besides, if the fighting really gets out of hand, with so many soldiers, as long as they have a knife, whether they become soldiers or bandits is entirely up to them. Do you expect them all to have a chivalrous heart and know how to reflect on their actions? How can you possibly kill them all one by one?

Of course, there's another point: with the storm brewing, his official position is extremely important. Many forces, both Outer Sect and outside the government, from the northern and Northern Faction, are trying to win him over—they'd kill him if they failed. Otherwise, why would he be so eager to recruit soldiers, plunder military supplies, and prepare to besiege the city for self-defense?

This person is too influential. I, Qingting Sou, am now a respected figure in the Southern Faction. If someone were to hold it against me for killing him, it would cause a huge uproar. So, I cannot let him die by my hand right now."

Li Fan frowned. "... But you still led me here, really just for this egg?"

Qingting Sou continued, chewing on a broad bean, "Yes, of course I also want to test you, to see who you're traveling with."

But don't worry about me. I'm not like the Yu Family brothers. I just want to see what you'll choose. I'm not going to kill you over an egg or a pair of boots.

After all, all crows under heaven are black; everyone is vying for power, and there's no real distinction between good and bad. It's all about checks and balances. Once those checks and balances are lost, chaos ensues. And once chaos reigns, it doesn't matter if the crows themselves die, but the common people below will be implicated and suffer, wiped out like weeds.

Of course, I originally came from the Central Plains, so I know that the Ink Bamboo Mountain in Li Country has been well-managed in recent years, and there has been no major fighting so far, which makes me feel reluctant to do so.

As for powerful families and warlords, well, it's all the same old thing, they're pretty much the same everywhere. Oh, you know that best, don't you? After all, you've seen your own family's arrogance before."

Li Fan, "...?"

Qingting Sou smiled and said, "There's no need to pretend. People in your family all look alike. You especially resemble your ancestor. It might have been hard to tell when you were a child, but now that your cultivation has greatly improved and your Dao body has fully developed, you can recognize him at a glance."

Can't you guess why the Yu Family brothers are so determined to kill you? Just look in the mirror...

Li Fan, "... Whether you believe it or not, I've really forgotten quite a few things. I don't know what you're referring to. If you're truly trying to remind me, please start from the beginning. Otherwise, I'm too dull-witted to understand. Thank you."

"Alright then, let's start from the beginning," Qingting Sou seemed to recall something for a moment, "That was probably about ten years ago, no, it should start from two hundred years ago, right?"

"Hey! You're taking way too long to start from the beginning! And the time span is too big!" Li Fan quickly stopped him. "Never mind, I'm in a hurry, so I'll just explain why you all want to kill me! Aren't I a disciple of Ink Bamboo Mountain?"

"Heh, a disciple of Ink Bamboo Mountain. Huang Hai is also a disciple of Ink Bamboo Mountain. You probably don't care about this kind of camaraderie, do you?"

Li Fan sneered, "So in your eyes, he and I are the same kind?"

Qingting Sou seemed indifferent, "To put it bluntly, yes, they're birds of a feather."

After all, someone of your background should never have been allowed into the Inner Sect. At most, you would have been recorded by name outside. But unexpectedly, you are a reincarnated True Person, a natural Dao Seed, and have been favored by the Mountain Lord. Moreover, your cultivation has progressed rapidly, and achieving the Nascent Soul Stage is just around the corner. This has disrupted the 'balance' that the North and South factions have maintained tacitly behind the scenes.

So the Yu Family brothers' idea was to kill you now to prevent future troubles. Yuhengzi objected because you were Zhang Jiugao's personally chosen successor, while Liu Qing, out of consideration for her sister, felt that expelling you from the Inner Sect was enough.

As for me, haha, I actually realized you're a disciple of the Luo Sect reincarnated after your spiritual transformation, and judging from your temperament, you don't seem like someone who stands on the north side. So I guess you probably just wore the wrong shoes, after all, you can't choose your parents.

But that Yuan Tianxiao got some information from who-knows-where and has already gotten involved and stirred things up. I'm afraid that if this misunderstanding continues, it will cause trouble sooner or later, so I came directly to tell you the truth. But it's still a little late."

Li Fan was silent for a moment, then said, "... Sorry, I'm a bit confused. I didn't understand a word you said. You should start from the beginning."

Qingting Sou smiled, not taking it to heart. "So we have to start from the beginning. Two hundred years ago, I was arrogant and associated with the remnants of the Luo Sect. However, I colluded with the demonic path, which violated a major taboo of the Xuanmen. As a result, I was stripped of my cultivation and expelled from the Shenxiao Sect. I fled south to Li Country, where I was fortunately rescued by the Mountain Lord."

He knew I was a rebel against the righteous path, but he respected me and thought I was "quite interesting," so he saved my life and let me hide in the Bamboo Mountain Qingting Peak to cultivate.

Jiang Liuqing was the one who took care of my injuries at the time. She was one of the initiators of the Southern Sect of Mozhu Mountain. It was she who recruited me to join the Southern Sect, with the aim of uniting the independent cultivators, helping each other, and continuing to expand the sect to the south.

Having so many enemies in the north, I truly had no desire to return to the Central Plains. So I accepted her invitation; after all, the world is vast, and where couldn't I find a place to stay?

Of course, I'm not telling you this for any other reason than to let you know that I actually had quite a close relationship with the Luo Sect before, so I've always known that Yuan Tianxiao is a member of the Luo Sect, and naturally I can see through your background as well."

He took a sip of wine, pointed at Li Fan's clothes, and said, "Although these rogue cultivators from Ink Bamboo Mountain don't recognize that Daoist robe, if the people from the Three Great Sects find out, it's a death sentence. Don't wear it out to show off."

"You're quite wealthy, aren't you? I deliberately tore your clothes, and you still took out a new set? Yeah, the Guo Family is indeed rich. Have you already contacted them?"

What... what is the Guo Family...?

Li Fan was momentarily confused.

Qingting Sou thought he was still intentionally hiding something, so he smiled and continued, "The two factions, North and South, openly advocate developing towards the South or the North, but there's a hidden agenda that's hard to say openly. After seeing what's happened along the way, you should have guessed it, right?"

Li Fan suddenly recalled Lu Qi's words, "'Are those nominal disciples of the Outer Sect actually considered disciples of Ink Bamboo Mountain?'..."

Qingting Sou nodded. "Do you think Ink Bamboo Mountain is short of money when it gives newly initiated disciples a tattered fur coat, hemp clothing, and straw sandals? It's just that they explained the rules of the sect from the very beginning, what kind of person they teach, and what kind of path they require."

However, the social standing of a powerful family is a given. Although one cannot choose one's parents at birth, most people will eventually choose to go back, take off their straw sandals, and put on a pair of comfortable and nice boots.

This shouldn't have been a problem, since the rules of Lou Guan are there. The transmission of the true Dao is strictly controlled, and at least one must reach the Golden Core realm to be taught. Therefore, most of the disciples who can attain the Dao are seekers of the Dao who have both moral character and cultivation. It has nothing to do with those who obtain Dao certificates and fame through fraud.

However, over the years, Ink Bamboo Mountain and Li Country have prospered together, which has also enriched those aristocratic clans. Seeing Ink Bamboo Mountain flourish and grow bigger, those disciples who are registered in the Outer Sect naturally have many extra thoughts.

Just imagine, someone with a privileged family background, a master, and resources, yet still unable to obtain the true Dharma right before their eyes, letting slip away the divine power within their grasp, watching helplessly as they succumb to the Five Declines of Heaven and Man and their lifespan dwindles—who could truly accept that?

Therefore, the conflict between the North and South factions has deepened over the years, and in recent years it has reached the brink of disintegration.

The aristocratic families were plotting to persuade the abbot to lift the ban and share the many divine skills that Ink Bamboo Mountain had been hiding with the Foundation Establishment disciples, saying that this would give many disciples with limited aptitude another path to follow.

But in fact, the previous abbot had already promised that his disciples were free to pursue unorthodox practices. Why are they still complaining? To put it bluntly, it's because they look down on the Fourteen Peaks as a lineage of rogue cultivators. The local noble families and aristocrats of the Li Country are actually after the true and unique skills of Lou Guan, and they look down on other unorthodox practices.

Only an honest person like Master Zhang was fooled. He didn't even consider that if he really did as the powerful clans wished and took all the resources of Ink Bamboo Mountain to distribute to their disciples who were stuck in the Foundation Establishment stage, who would truly benefit in the end?

Of those who will be stuck at the cultivation level, are most of the disciples with Dao heart and aptitude handpicked by Lou Guan himself, or are there more patriarchs and heirs from powerful families among the Outer Sect?

If this continues, the entire Ink Bamboo Mountain will eventually be hollowed out by those families from the Li Country, who will replace the original members and usurp everything. In the end, won't the sect's disciples all be selected from the sons of wealthy and powerful families? What opportunities or connections will those who wear straw sandals have left?

Therefore, the Southern Faction's current response is to maintain control over the task of selecting children from outside the mountains, and each time they go out to select children, they try to choose those wearing straw sandals to join their school.

Perhaps due to being in a hurry, a mistake was made this time, allowing Jade Toad Granny to sneak in and eat quite a few people. It's even possible that you, the one in boots, managed to infiltrate the Inner Sect.

So now you understand why the Yu Family brothers wanted to kill you, right?

"What you said before seemed reasonable and well-founded, but I really don't understand the last sentence..." Li Fan felt like vomiting blood. "So what's the point of killing me! I really am a commoner! These boots are brand new!!"

Qingting Sou chuckled, "I know you've actually been wronged. After all, someone like you who underwent physical transformation and started anew likely came from a background of deep-seated hatred, like the Luo Sect. Your pursuits probably weren't simply about wealth and glory; you likely shouldered the great task of annihilating the Three Great Sects, avenging your grudges, and revitalizing your sect. This time, it just so happened that your physical transformation and subsequent possession occurred at that moment..."

No, upon closer reflection, perhaps you orchestrated this on purpose, using this child's destiny and fortune to sow discord between the northern and southern factions of Ink Bamboo Mountain. You have ulterior motives, don't you? So, killing you wouldn't be entirely unjust, would it?

Haha, alright, alright, I won't guess anymore. It's just that both the Mountain Lord and the Luo Sect were kind to me back then, and even your ancestor in this life saved my life. So we are really destined to meet.

I'm only showing my face to give you a warning, to repay a favor from back then. I witnessed what happened with the Yu Family brothers; they did strike first, and they were simply outmatched, so there's nothing to say about that. But I still have a question for you.

Now that you know about these conflicts and entanglements within the Ink Bamboo Mountain Sect, what are your plans? And what exactly are your Luo Sect's plans?

"I don't want to get involved in your fighting..." Li Fan thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Besides, there's no such thing as 'our Luo Sect.' I, Qingyue, just want to cultivate in peace. Please, if you're going to die, die somewhere far away. By the way, where is Duhu Huang Hai of Xiping Prefecture?"

"Oh? Didn't you say you didn't want to get involved? Why are you still going to step forward and kill him?" Although he asked this, Qingting Sou didn't seem surprised at all.

Li Fan said, "Who wants to get involved in your mess? I just want to get an egg to eat. From now on, I'll still be free to roam the world and kill anyone I don't like. I don't care about any of you, whether you're from the Southern Faction or Northern Faction, or any kind of shabby family."

As for you, sir, you seem to know my ancestors... This Li family, they must have done something to seriously offend the Southern Faction, right? That family shovel is too much...

Alas, although you may not want to believe it, my body is only ten years old this year, and I don't know much. However, if you all insist on taking my life because of this, I don't want to say anything more, just one sentence.

I, Qingyue, will never sit idly by and wait to be slaughtered. I have no choice but to fight to the death for a glimmer of hope!

Qingting Sou remained silent for a long while, then suddenly laughed, "You really don't remember anything? But I've never mentioned that you came from the 'Li family,' have I?"

Or do you really think that simply changing your name can sever all worldly ties, cast aside all the causes and effects of Human Dao, and escape these grudges?

Li You."

Li Fan took a deep breath, then sighed, "I really don't know who Li You is... Believe it or not..."

He stood up and left, Qingting Sou only said behind him, "Huang Hai isn't actually in the manor right now; he's probably fled to Changsi City. However, the swordsmen who killed her parents are all in the government office in the north of the city."

So Li Fan nodded and went out to earn eggs.