Robbery

If Kun hadn't mentioned Fuling, Li Fan wouldn't have remembered he still needed to inquire about Jiang Ji's news. He would have flipped out on the spot and reported the shady establishment as soon as he left.

As it was, he had to endure his displeasure, holding up the jade pendant and shaking it, paying twenty-five guan. The flat-haired waiter was quite skilled, catching the food tray with one hand, taking the twenty-five guan in his hand without changing his expression.

"Twenty-five guan, please," the waiter looked at Li Fan, "Esteemed guest, why not order a pot of Lotus Dew? It's only five hundred guan a pot."

Li Fan let out a cold laugh, "Only?"

The waiter shrugged, "At least you can invite a fairy to accompany you for drinks after her bath."

The minimum cover charge here is five hundred guan! Are your fairies that precious? Are they made of gold and jade? Sigh, I can't afford it, I can't afford it. Twenty thousand guan is nothing, the wealth gap is too big. The things rich people do are unimaginable...

Li Fan rubbed his forehead, "Ahem, forget it. I'll just feast my eyes. Oh right, waiter, I have another matter."

The flat-haired waiter counted the money, took the jade pendant, and pocketed the twenty-five guan. "Just give the order, guest. I will obey your every command. Do you want me to feed you by hand? Or like that, mouth-to-mouth?"

"Who wants you to feed me!" Li Fan almost drew his wooden sword to beat him. "I want to ask why the business across the street is closed?"

"Jiang Ji? If you've ordered something from them, guest, you can pick it up in a few days. It's not a big deal. Jiang Ji has the backing of a Spirit Transmutation cultivator, so they'll be fine in two or three days. You don't need to worry." The flat-haired waiter's words were perfunctory and evasive, but his eyes flickered, clearly knowing something.

He couldn't let this cold noodle and steamed bun slice cost him twenty-five guan for nothing. Li Fan thought for a moment and asked again, "I'm not here to buy anything. I'm here to visit an old friend I haven't seen in a long time, but I can't find her and I'm worried something might have happened."

"You're looking for Fuling? May I ask who you are..." A Foundation Establishment cultivator coming to Jiang Ji to look for a friend, who else could it be? The waiter across the street was also familiar with Fuling, but he looked wary.

"I'm not a bad person, I'm a fellow disciple," Seeing that the waiter was inquiring about his background, Li Fan figured he must be on good terms with Fuling. He reached into his robes and took out the golden pendant Fuling had given him, the one that calmed the heart. "Look, she gave this to me."

The waiter glanced at the round head of the beast carving, clearly recognizing it. Seeing Li Fan's Bamboo Mountain disciple attire, he believed him. "Since you are Fuling's old friend, guest, I dare not hide anything. Jiang Ji's caravan was ambushed. They lost their goods and people died. Now the culprits have been found, and she has invited a few old friends to go and fight them."

"Going to fight?" Li Fan was surprised. He was so busy killing monkeys this morning that he hadn't seen her. "When did she leave?"

"This morning. Fellow Daoist, you're a step too late. Otherwise, perhaps you could have lent her a hand," the waiter shook his head. "I wanted to help too, but I'm just a rogue cultivator with no powerful magic treasures and an old injury. I would only be a burden."

"Who are the opponents? How dare they touch the property of a Spirit Transmutation Cultivator?" Li Fan was genuinely surprised. These immortals were so ruthless these days, like slaughtering sheep. But that was just bullying the weak. Knowing that a Spirit Transmutation cultivator was backing them and still making a move, how could there not be a conspiracy?

The waiter shook his head, "This isn't directed at the Spirit Transmutation Cultivator. Jiang Ji was likely caught in the crossfire... Have you heard, guest, that a Golden Core cultivator from Bamboo Mountain recently perished?"

"You mean Senior Brother Lu?" Li Fan immediately understood. "It's Lu Family's enemy? Jiang Ji was delivering Lu Family's goods!"

That's right, it couldn't be wrong. Even Mu Long's position as her attendant was something Fuling and Lu Yu had asked for.

Hearing that Li Fan even recognized Lu Yu, the waiter finally relaxed and his expression softened. "Indeed. I heard that the Lu Family asked Jiang Ji's caravan to deliver a batch of private goods. Who knew that the Lu Family head was assassinated, and Jiang Ji's caravan was also robbed.

A Fellow Daoist has found out that the culprits who attacked were the personal enemies of the Lu Family. The new head of the Lu Family, Lu Xing, invited a few fellow disciples to reclaim their property. Fuling also said that Jiang Ji's lost goods and dead people were involved, so she invited a few fellow cultivators to go and fight them together.

However, I didn't ask for the details of the culprits' identities or their hiding place. And they left in Lu Family's Swift Wind Flying Shuttle. It's been a whole day, Fellow Daoist, I'm afraid you won't be able to catch up."

"Thank you for telling me."

Li Fan cupped his hands and thanked the waiter. He had no interest in watching the stage show anymore. He stuffed the twenty-five guan into Kun's mouth and immediately got up to leave.

'Profound Heaven Sword Intent states, does the host wish to pursue and help?'

As soon as Li Fan walked out of Ke Shan Zhai, he summoned his immortal crane and flew into the sky. "Of course, I have to help. What valuable goods could a mortal caravan be carrying? An immortal's drink costs five hundred guan. It's fine if it's lost. But that Lu Xing, as the new head, is making such a big fuss. It's clearly an attempt to seize an opportunity to make a name for herself. Just to solidify her position as head!

But doesn't she realize that in this world, even if four great dragons are lost, they can't be found, and the killer of her own father still doesn't know if they've left the vicinity of Bamboo Mountain? The bandits who attacked a civilian caravan were so easily found out by a 'passing Fellow Daoist', isn't that absurd?

If they were just some reckless mountain bandits or rogue cultivators, it would be one thing. But if it's a well-planned scheme to ambush the Lu Family, wouldn't that drag Sister Fuling into it as well? I'm worried, I have to go and see."

'Profound Heaven Sword Intent states, then does the host know where to find them?'

Li Fan thought for a moment, "I don't know, but there's someone who probably does."

He rode the crane for a while, then descended from the clouds and went straight to the outer sect's mess hall. He downed five bowls of Five Immortals Soup in one go. As expected, Master Zhang was summoned again.

"Why is it you again..." Zhang Jiugao looked at Li Fan, his eyebrows twitching.

"Master Zhang, I have something to ask you." Li Fan bowed. "Do you know the whereabouts of Real Person Wanshu's disciple, Fuling?"

Zhang Jiugao glanced at Li Fan, "I only remember that she mentioned to me not long ago that if you came asking, just tell you, 'It's a trivial matter, Qingyue don't worry, take care of yourself, I'll be back in a few days.'"

Li Fan narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment. "Then, Master Zhang, do you know the whereabouts of Lu Xing, the registered disciple of the outer sect? She gave me five thousand wen, which is one wen too many. I want to return it to her."

"..." Zhang Jiugao was stunned for a moment, opened his mouth, hesitated, and then closed it again. It seemed he really knew the inside story.

"Master Zhang, disciples in the Foundation Establishment Realm are not allowed to leave the Ink Bamboo Mountain territory without a Golden Core true person leading them. At a time like this, you wouldn't want them both to get into trouble, would you? Why didn't you stop them?" Li Fan pressed further.

This rule, although Senior Brother Lu had casually mentioned it when he took them to Mount Buzhou's Mu Long, was actually established back when the three major sects were killing each other like madmen. Now that times had changed and peace had lasted for a long time, no one paid attention to it anymore, and disciples traveled freely.

But now that something had happened, shouldn't Bamboo Mountain at least impose some restrictions on its disciples?

Zhang Jiugao glared at him, "I tried to stop them, but they produced Du Gongshi's decree and filled a vacancy in the Ministry of Works, saying they were going out to procure materials for the workshop and prepare mechanisms. The inscription on the Taoist certificate was complete and not forged, so how could I forcibly prevent them from leaving the mountain?"

Li Fan squinted, hesitating whether to tell this old man that the current official Taoist certificates and talismans were probably just bought with money...

"You don't need to chase after them. A group of them went, each carrying magic treasures, and they are not afraid of ordinary Golden Core cultivators."

Just as the old Daoist was about to leave with a flick of his sleeve, Li Fan looked at his retreating back and felt something was wrong. He frowned and thought for a moment, then tried to bluff, "Could it be that Bamboo Mountain intends to use these Foundation Establishment disciples as bait to lure out the culprits who assassinated Senior Brother Lu?"

Zhang Jiugao turned back and gave Li Fan a meaningful look. "How did you guess?"

Li Fan bowed. "Lu Xing doesn't seem like someone reckless and unprepared. She appears gentle and considerate, but her personality is arrogant and decisive. Could it be her strategy, to sacrifice herself as bait?

And Master Zhang, you risked your life for the sake of ordinary disciples' lives. When you were anxious about the disciples' injuries before, your right eyelid twitched incessantly. Now that Fuling, whom you've known for longer, is in danger, you remain calm and your aura is steady. You must have made arrangements for the follow-up, right?"

Although it was all a guess, ordinary disciples called him Master Zhang, but Fuling, who usually paid the most attention to etiquette, called him Zhang Jiugao, like a rude old man, which meant they were very close. Now he showed no signs of worry, which was suspicious. But the old man's awkward expression suggested he had guessed correctly.

Zhang Jiugao stiffened, his eyebrows twitched. "...Stop the nonsense. Since you know, stay honestly within the sect."

"Tsk." To think this guy actually escaped by flying sword! Did I get no reward for guessing correctly? At least tell me where they went!

Li Fan was so shameless he didn't know what to do, so he had to return to Wangshu's small abode first.

Fuling had also left him a note on the table, essentially saying, 'I've made plans with Fellow Daoist to handle some minor matters. I'll be back in a few days. Rest assured, recover from your injuries, and don't worry.'

'Profound Heaven Sword Intent says, since Bamboo Mountain already has arrangements, host, you don't need to worry about it. You're still a burden right now. Hurry up and cultivate to Golden Core, and you can be arrogant once you open the sword box.'

That's what it said... Right, I almost forgot about the lottery draw! System! Draw!

'Lottery draw complete, prize is being transmitted.'

'Prize is being transmitted.'

'Prize is being transmitted.'

"..." Li Fan sat by the table waiting. Kun also lay on his head. They both stared at the empty tabletop. After about a quarter of an incense stick's time.

A flying disc fell from the void and landed on the table with a 'thud'.

Li Fan stared, "..."

Kun also stared, "..."

'Profound Heaven Sword Intent says, what is this thing?'

"It looks like... a dog frisbee?" Li Fan hesitantly picked up the frisbee to examine it. It was white. He tapped it. It seemed to be made of plastic...

'Dog frisbee delivered. Lottery is on cooldown, current progress 0/200.'

It's really a dog frisbee! Couldn't you at least give it a Xianxia-style name! And this lottery really has all sorts of junk! It cost me 200 energy points!

Li Fan almost lost it. He couldn't hold back and threw the dog frisbee out.

As soon as the frisbee flew out, it was caught by Yuan Xuanbao, who was riding a flying kite to visit.

"Huh? Junior Brother, where did you get this jade disc? The material is so rare, not like ordinary mortal jade."

"I picked it up randomly..." Li Fan looked at the frisbee, which he couldn't get rid of, and was brought back by Yuan Xuanbao. He was speechless. He didn't have time to study it for now, so he put it into his jade pendant and ignored it. "Brother Xuanbao, are you alright?"

Yuan Xuanbao nodded and smiled, "This time, it was a blessing in disguise. Although I only gained a little insight into the 'Profound Knowledge' and couldn't break through, I still benefited greatly. I believe I can break through to Golden Core within two to three years. Please accept this small gift."

As he spoke, he took out a pair of weapons and offered them. Li Fan subconsciously took them.

"Are these... Jian?"

It was a pair of four-foot-long bamboo joint jians. Every seven inches, there were four ridges. It was unclear what alloy they were cast from, but they looked like polished white iron, bright and shiny. The head was pointed and sword-shaped, with a dull edge but extremely solid. The handle was wrapped in tiger skin. They were incredibly heavy in his hands, at least a hundred pounds. If he hadn't reached Foundation Establishment, no, even with Foundation Establishment, Li Fan couldn't have held them. He had to channel his energy and stimulate the meridians and acupoints in his arms to barely hold them.

"These jians are called 'Hanging Eyes White Forehead'. My Yuan family has been a military family for generations, and these are ancestral weapons. They are not exactly magic treasures, but they are forged from fine steel and are very well-made.

The way of using jian is similar to swords, but they were specifically made to break armor on the battlefield. Qingyue, since you plan to follow the path of the sword, you can use these twin jians for daily practice. The efficiency of strengthening your muscles and bones and circulating your energy will be doubled."

'Profound Heaven Sword Intent says, oh, these twin jians are quite good. Host, accept them. You can even melt them down to forge swords later.'

What are you talking about, you guy!

"Brother Yuanbao, this generous gift, I, holy crap... I can't accept it..." Li Fan wanted to return them, but they were too heavy. If he let go, his arms wouldn't be able to lift.

Yuan Xuanbao laughed and waved his hand, "These are small things, Qingyue, don't be polite. Practice well with these twin jians.

I will be accompanying a Fellow Daoist out of the mountain to duel in the next few days and may not be back for a month or two. I came to say goodbye."

"What?" Li Fan was shocked, and the twin jians almost hit his feet. He had to put them into his jade pendant. "You're also going out of the mountain to duel with someone? It couldn't be the Lu Family!"

"Oh, you've heard about it too." Yuan Xuanbao actually nodded. "Do you remember Lu Qi? Senior Brother Gao came to find me this morning and said that the Lu Family had a batch of goods stolen. It's currently being investigated as the work of demons from Tiantai Mountain. Lu Qi probably wants to avenge his family and plans to go alone to reclaim them. Everyone respects his character and worries about him going alone, so many fellow Daoists have invited me to go and help."

Li Fan frowned, hesitating, "Brother Xuanbao, don't you think something is strange about this? How did Brother Lu know that people from Tiantai Mountain stole his family's goods? They haven't even figured out who killed Senior Brother Lu yet. Are you not worried that this is a trap if you go like this?"

Yuan Xuanbao looked at Li Fan, hesitated for a moment, and then leaned in, lowering his voice, "I know it's not."

"What? What's not?" Li Fan didn't understand for a moment.

Yuan Xuanbao was a bit embarrassed but still said, "We all know it wasn't people from Tiantai Mountain who stole the goods. But the people from Tiantai Mountain don't know that."

"Oh... Huh?"

'Profound Heaven Sword Intent says, hehe, so that's how it is. This is 'a crime is fabricated, and then the pretext is found'. The Lu Family has picked a personal enemy and is gathering a gang to rob them!'

... Holy crap? It can be like this?

"Cough, cough, Qingyue, you are still young, and you have the protection of True Person Spirit Transmutation. But what about us disciples who have been stuck at the threshold for a long time? We can't just wait to get a share from the sect, right? Moreover, what about the cost of pills, precious medicines, magic treasures, and immortal food now? There haven't been any major wars for a long time, and we can't earn much money doing miscellaneous tasks for the sect, so we have to find opportunities to earn some extra money ourselves, cough, cough!"

Yuan Xuanbao coughed twice. "In short, Ink Bamboo Mountain had a Golden Core cultivator killed. This matter naturally cannot be let go.

So what if there's no evidence? It's just the methods of those rival families anyway. So we'll use this as an excuse to settle old scores and also to deter the demons, letting them know that our sect is not to be trifled with.

Qingyue, you don't need to worry. In this matter, we Foundation Establishment disciples are just using the Lu Family as an excuse to charge ahead and break the formation. There are people watching our backs, so it's fine.

You've only just joined the sect, and you still have a long way to go in your cultivation. You don't need to risk your life like us who are stuck at our current realm. Besides... alas, let me be honest, the more people brought along, the less each person gets. Qingyue, you are not familiar with those people yet, so I can't bring you this time. These twin jians are my compensation for you."

Holy crap, so this is what you guys were up to... And I was worried for half a day. And you're still concerned about getting less money if more people are brought along? Then it seems there's really no danger...

Oh, so that old man Zhang Jiugao was so thin-skinned that he ran away! That makes sense. If it were him, and a pure and kind disciple who had just joined asked, 'I'm worried about Senior Sister's safety, I want to help!', would you have the face to answer, 'Don't worry, they're just going to rob and kill people'?

"...But is it really okay to cultivate like this?" Looking at Yuan Xuanbao's receding figure on the wooden kite, Li Fan felt a sense of confusion.

Profound Heaven Sword Intent cackled, "Heh heh heh, kid, do you think the food and clothes of immortals just fall from the sky while they sit in their caves meditating?"

Do you think those noble families and imperial courts offer you carts of gold, silver, jade, and fine wine for your expenses willingly?

Which sect wasn't built like this? Do you think only the Three Great Sects kill people like flies, and only we Sword Immortals are crazy about dueling and beheading? Hehehe, if you were to talk about the dirty deeds Bamboo Mountain did back in the day, it would scare you to death! I disdain to gossip behind people's backs.

Moreover, this is nothing.

I remember when I was herding horses in North Star Mountain, there were thirty-six disciples in my batch. To compete for a patch of grassland, we slaughtered the entire Lei Han Tribe's barbarians, killing over two thousand seven hundred people. Only seven brothers survived, and only then did we monopolize the horse business for the sect, get promoted, and be selected as disciples to inherit the sword by the main mountain.

What you have now is just playing house.'