Favored Above All

A Ranger-only mission, and the Side Quest had also changed to the Yunhai Sword Sect.

That meant the mission might have a follow-up.

With Shen Qingchan's strength, protecting her shouldn't be difficult.

These missions didn't display star ratings, so most of the time, he had to judge their difficulty himself.

Mu Ye reckoned that with his current strength, it shouldn't be too difficult.

He accepted!

"Then I must thank you," Madam Shen said.

Mu Ye nodded, then took out the piece of Bitter Flesh, intending to turn in the Shen Mansion Side Quest.

"Do you know what this is?"

"Bitter Flesh made from processed demon meat..." Madam Shen was well-informed. "The process is highly secretive and requires soaking it in various medicinal ingredients. Even so, it can't eliminate the effects of eating Bitter Flesh."

"The imperial court banned it long ago."

Mu Ye then told her about the Iron Leg Sect, and asked, "Madam, do you know who's backing the Iron Leg Sect?"

"The Taiping Feng Family." Madam Shen's eyes flickered. She slowly sat down and took a light sip of tea. "The Feng Family holds an hereditary royal title from the imperial court. Hundreds of years ago, the Feng Family's Grand Ancestor was one of the heroes who fought alongside the Tianqi King to conquer the realm. The family has passed down its title ever since. Although it's been downgraded several times, it still holds considerable standing because it commands the Xifeng Army, a force of three thousand soldiers."

"Decades ago, the Feng Family did something that went against the court's wishes and was demoted again, ending up in Taiping City. Its status and reputation hit rock bottom."

"But even a skinny camel is bigger than a horse. No one in Taiping City dares provoke them lightly."

"Still, this generation of the Feng Family has produced a Feng Wuque, who's said to have some talent in Martial Arts... He went abroad to study martial arts several years ago. I heard he returned half a month ago."

"The Iron Leg Sect wouldn't have any way to get its hands on a large amount of Bitter Flesh..." Madam Shen mused. "Demon meat requires killing demons, then soaking it in a specially prepared medicinal bath. Aside from Demon Sealers, the people most capable of killing demons are those with an army."

"The imperial court's armies are all equipped with weapons made to fight demons, such as Heaven-Shattering Thunder and Blood Pagoda..."

"Usually, only those two groups can get their hands on demon meat."

"You mean..."

Mu Ye nodded slightly.

Of course, the words he'd overheard were the key.

"I understand." Madam Shen rose to her feet. "After Shen Tianxing's death, many people in Taiping City wanted to gobble up this fat piece of meat. The Feng Family maintains an army, and times are unsettled now. They need money, so naturally they'd set their sights on Shen Mansion."

"They also have the means to get their hands on two Man-Eating Demon Foxes."

[Shen Mansion Side Quest 'At One's Bedside (II)' completed]

[Reward: 100 Paradise Coins]

Mu Ye felt like this Side Quest had practically been handed to him.

In fact, he knew less about the Feng Family than Madam Shen did.

He'd merely inferred, from the news that the Feng Family's young master had returned to Taiping City, that the people he'd overheard that day must have been from the Feng Family, speaking with Tie Longgang.

He hadn't expected Madam Shen to know so much more about the Feng Family.

At that moment, Madam Shen turned around and looked at the man before her. Suddenly, she let out a soft sigh.

At the sound, Mu Ye knew Madam Shen was about to get strange again. The Side Quests were probably going to come in a whole chain.

"I received an invitation today," Madam Shen said.

"From the Feng Family?"

"That's right."

"Feng Wuque of the Feng Family broke through to Third Grade, so they're holding a banquet and setting up a challenge platform, inviting the Martial Warriors and experts of Taiping City to offer their guidance."

"All the renowned experts in Taiping City should have received invitations."

Madam Shen continued, "My guess is that the Feng Family wants to assert its authority, then use this opportunity to suppress Shen Mansion and force my hand."

"You're that sure, Madam?" Mu Ye wondered. Did this woman know too much?

"I'm not sure. It's only a guess..." Madam Shen lowered her head slightly. She noticed that, somehow, her shadow had overlapped with his, making it look from afar as though they were leaning against each other. Her eyes wavered, but luckily, she had her head bowed.

"Then why not just stay home?" Mu Ye said.

"If I don't go, I'll be slighting the Feng Family, and they'll have even more reason to come after you." Madam Shen lifted her head. "I'm going, of course. I'd like to ask you to come with me."

[Shen Mansion Side Quest: At One's Bedside (III)]

[Mission requirement: Accompany Madam Shen to the Feng Family and return safely]

[Yes/No]

[This is a one-star mission. Difficulty: high.]

A star-rated mission had appeared.

"Accepted." Mu Ye looked at the mission panel and smiled confidently.

Madam Shen stared at him wide-eyed. After a long silence, she finally asked, "Why are you willing to help Shen Mansion? By rights, you're only a Demon Sealer. You don't need to get involved in this mess..."

[1. I'm only looking after Madam Shen because Hero Shen entrusted you to me.]

[2. It's not that I'm willing to help Shen Mansion. I'm only willing to help you, Madam.]

[3. To be honest, I fell for you at first sight, Madam. I want your body.]

[4. I once had a younger sister. She looked a lot like you...]

[6. ...]

Mu Ye looked at the options and began to ponder.

Each one seemed more ridiculous than the last.

But these had to be the choices that could break through the affection threshold.

Over the past few days, Madam Shen's affection had reached 25, but it wouldn't go past 30.

Saving her life had only raised her affection by ten points. Clearly, earning Madam Shen's favor was no easy task.

Thirty was a dividing line. It counted as being highly favored.

Mu Ye tried all four choices, and was surprised to find that only 1 and 4 didn't lower her affection. Choice 2 raised it to 28, still not enough to break through 30.

Choice 3 raised it to 29.

That really surprised Mu Ye. Choice 3 was way too damn blunt.

Not losing affection would have been good enough, yet it increased it the most?

Besides, it didn't fit the Demon Sealer's cold, mysterious persona at all. It was practically the opposite.

And that could increase her affection?

In his previous life, countless young women would probably have called that choice cringe.

I don't understand women... Mu Ye thought.

"Looks like none of them can break through 30." Mu Ye looked at the sixth option.

It even let him enter his own response, which was a pretty distinctive feature for a game.

Although it offered choices, most of the time there was also an option to write his own response. He didn't have to stick to the ones provided.

"Should I try one myself?"

Mu Ye gave it a try and found that his own response was even worse than the choices.

Figures. How could an ugly, straight guy like me understand women? Mu Ye shrugged.

It was just a game. Did he really need a woman?

Mu Ye thought for a moment, then simply entered:

"I'm only trying to redeem myself in this world."

After saying that, Mu Ye walked away without looking back.

Madam Shen froze. She watched his retreating figure, wanting to speak but stopping herself.

[Madam Shen's affection increased: 35/100 (Favored Above All)]

"?" Mu Ye.

What the hell? It went up by that much?

Mu Ye was puzzled. Those words had nothing to do with Madam Shen. They were purely the Demon Sealer's own reflection on himself in a world like this.

Mu Ye couldn't figure Madam Shen out. She was too complicated. If she were real, putting aside her identity as a Cultivator, he felt she'd be several levels above him.