"It'd be too dangerous to take a Suppression Mission. Better to play it safe and wait."
Li Gan recalled that his master, Zhou Buping, had previously told him to avoid Suppression Missions if possible. That showed just how much danger they involved.
If he had no other choice, he could simply skip taking an Inner Sect mission.
After all, he didn't rely on the sect for cultivation resources.
He could steadily improve his strength just by striking the bell, and might even live forever. Why take such a huge risk?
So he headed for the Mission Hall exit.
The young Inner Disciple watched Li Gan's retreating figure and rubbed his chin. "This Junior Brother looks familiar. I feel like I've seen him somewhere."
But for the life of him, he couldn't remember where.
Just then, someone approached from the side and called out to Li Gan. "Junior Brother Li?"
"So it's Senior Brother Pang."
Li Gan turned around and immediately recognized the conspicuous bald head.
Back during the True Disciple Selection, this man had done all the talking. He was quite the chatterbox.
And with that gleaming bald head, he was especially hard to forget.
"Looks like Junior Brother Li still remembers me," Bald Pang Bai said happily.
"Senior Brother Pang Bai from Wuqu Peak?"
The young Inner Disciple froze at the sight.
Pang Bai was practically a celebrity among the Inner Disciples. He had even taken part in the last True Disciple Selection. Though he had failed, he had a good chance of reaching the Xiantian Realm and becoming an elder one day.
Compared to an ordinary Inner Disciple like him, Pang Bai was on an entirely different level.
Yet a Senior Brother Pang worthy of his admiration was chatting with that Junior Brother. What was going on?
Wait, the True Disciple Selection?
A flash of insight struck him, and he suddenly remembered.
That was it. This Junior Brother who had called him Senior Brother had to be one of the nineteen people who had participated in the True Disciple Selection.
But Li Gan rarely showed his face among the Inner Disciples, so no one recognized him.
Even after the True Disciple Selection, most of the Inner Disciples still had no idea who Li Gan was.
"A True Disciple Seed like him just called me Senior Brother?"
The young Inner Disciple felt a little thrilled.
He had never felt so respected before.
"Junior Brother Li, are you here to take a mission?" Bald Pang Bai asked.
"Yeah." Li Gan nodded.
"These Suppression Missions are too ordinary. I'm sure they don't interest you, Junior Brother Li. Why not team up with us and take on something big?" Pang Bai said with a cheeky grin.
"Uh..."
Li Gan didn't even want to take a Suppression Mission. How could he possibly take on something bigger?
"Junior Brother Li, I've already gathered a few people for this mission. Two of them even took part in the True Disciple Selection. If you join me, that'll make four of us. We'd have a very good chance of completing it."
Pang Bai began trying to recruit him.
He didn't know Li Gan's background, but anyone qualified to take part in the True Disciple Selection was sure to stand out among the Inner Disciples. His strength couldn't be bad.
"I can't compare to you, Senior Brother Pang. I don't have what it takes for a high-risk mission," Li Gan refused outright.
"What a shame," Pang Bai said, making no attempt to press him.
They weren't close. He was only taking a chance.
Just then, an empty placard on the mission board flipped over, revealing a new mission.
It was an Escort Mission.
As soon as it appeared, the Inner Disciples waiting nearby erupted into a frenzy. They surged forward to grab it.
This had been going on in the Mission Hall for some time. Every time a mission other than a Suppression Mission appeared, someone snatched it up at once.
Just as the crowd rushed forward, a figure flashed past, and the placard vanished from the board.
"Where's the mission?"
"Damn it, who grabbed it?"
"That was insanely fast!"
"Damn, that was my mission!"
While the Inner Disciples stood there, baffled, Li Gan was already holding the mission token and heading for a nearby service window.
Pang Bai watched him, a little stunned.
Junior Brother Li Gan had actually joined the ordinary Inner Disciples in scrambling for a mission that wasn't a Suppression Mission.
"What a coward. He won't even take a Suppression Mission. No matter how high his Cultivation Base is, a martial artist like that won't get anywhere."
Pang Bai shook his head.
He had already decided Li Gan wasn't someone worth getting close to.
Good thing Li Gan hadn't agreed to join them. Otherwise, he might have dragged their mission team down.
The worst thing in a team was a freeloader who showed up but did no work.
Li Gan didn't care what anyone else thought. He took his mission token and left the Mission Hall in high spirits.
The mission was fairly simple.
Three days later, he would escort a mother and daughter from Linjian City back to their hometown for a family visit.
The Moon Worship Cult was active in their region, so they had hired an Inner Disciple of the Divine Sword Sect to escort them.
The requirement was a Fifth Layer of Postnatal Realm or higher.
With his Cultivation Base at the Postnatal Realm Ninth Layer, the risk should be fairly low.
After all, there was nothing special about the people he was escorting.
Still, anyone able to hire an Inner Disciple with a Cultivation Base of the Fifth Layer of Postnatal Realm or higher and pay five hundred Contribution Points probably had ties to someone in the middle or upper ranks of the Divine Sword Sect.
Three days flew by.
After striking the Chen Bell, Li Gan headed down the mountain.
After staying on the mountain for so long, getting out for a walk and a change of scenery felt pretty nice.
He could take in the culture and scenery of this world.
So, although he only took a mission once a year, he rather enjoyed it when he didn't have to worry about the risks.
Following the directions, Li Gan arrived in Biyun Town, north of Linjian City.
A cluster of elegant houses stood around a lake, surrounded by beautiful scenery.
Yun Manor.
Li Gan stood outside one of the estates. It had an imposing gate and sprawling grounds; anyone with a residence like this in Linjian City was no ordinary person.
"I heard there's an elder surnamed Yun at Zidian Peak. I wonder if this Yun Manor has anything to do with him," Li Gan mused.
As soon as he reached the gate, a servant came to greet him. "May I ask if you're Young Hero Li Gan of the Divine Sword Sect?"
"That's right." Li Gan nodded.
"Please follow me, Young Hero Li," the servant said respectfully.
The manor was tastefully laid out, with artificial hills, flowing water, flowers, and trees. Li Gan soon met its owner, a young woman in her twenties with a little girl of seven or eight by her side.
"This humble wife is Lin Yun. I'll have to trouble Young Hero Li to escort my daughter and me over the next few days." The young woman gave a slight bow.
"Madam Lin, don't worry. I accepted the mission, so it's my responsibility," Li Gan replied.
Everything was ready at Yun Manor.
Once Madam Lin and her daughter climbed into the carriage, they set off at once.
A coachman and a maid accompanied them as well.
After observing them, Li Gan thought Madam Lin had probably practiced martial arts. She looked delicate, but her breathing was steady; she might have reached the ranks.
The coachman had clearly practiced martial arts, too.
Only the maid was an ordinary person.
After they left Linjian City, the broad, level road let them make good time.
"Big Brother, what's your Cultivation Base?"
A little face appeared as the curtain was lifted. The girl watched Li Gan curiously and asked.
"Xiaowen, don't ask people about private matters," Madam Lin called from inside the carriage.
The little girl stuck out her tongue, then asked, "Big Brother, my dad is an Inner Disciple of the Divine Sword Sect, too. Do you know him?"
"I'm afraid I don't. What's your dad's name?" Li Gan asked with an amused smile.
The adorable little girl wasn't shy at all. If anything, she was a bit of a social butterfly.
"My dad's name is Yun Xi. He's really amazing!"
The little girl's eyes curved into crescents, her chubby cheeks glowing with pride.
Yun Xi?
Li Gan had never even heard of him.
He rarely interacted with the Inner Disciples.
Even among the dozen or so people who had taken part in the last True Disciple Selection, he still couldn't remember all their names.
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