Cooperation

Cooperation

Chen Ye furrowed his brow, already planning to refuse.

Mo Ci had warned him long ago that anyone capable of flying on a sword had to be at least a cultivator of the Tongxuan Realm.

Su Chunyi was at least in the Tongxuan Realm, three whole realms above Chen Ye, a mere Qiling cultivator. She was also a disciple of the Qinghe Sword Sect, the greatest sect under heaven. If even she couldn't handle the trouble, wouldn't he be courting death by rashly getting involved?

Still, Chen Ye couldn't help asking, "Miss Su, is that madman impersonating the Qinghe Sword Sect really that difficult to deal with?"

Su Chunyi gently shook her head, a trace of dejection in her expression. "To be honest, I've been here for some time, but I still haven't found any trace of the impostor. The children who were forcibly taken have been confined at the Qinglian Taoist Temple outside the city. Fortunately, many women are looking after them, so their lives aren't in immediate danger.

"I've been investigating in secret for days, and the matter only grows more baffling. It seems the county magistrate of Cui County didn't forcibly conscript boys and girls at the behest of demonic cultivators. Rather, it seems he received instructions from someone in the imperial court."

Chen Ye couldn't help but stare in astonishment. "The mortal imperial court? What do they want those children for?"

Su Chunyi could only shake her head helplessly. "That's precisely what I can't make head or tail of. I have no idea where to begin. Before I left, the elders of my sect repeatedly warned me that this journey was fraught with danger. I would encounter my lifelong nemesis, so I mustn't act rashly, much less alert the enemy. That's why I urgently need your help. In my view, you're the only one who can uncover the truth and expose the real culprit."

There was one more thing Su Chunyi hadn't said aloud.

This was her first time descending the mountain to gain experience. The elders of the Qinghe Sword Sect had specially cast a divination for her, using authentic immortal techniques. The results showed not only that she would face a powerful foe, but also that she would meet a benefactor who could help her escape danger.

At that moment, Su Chunyi felt she had found that benefactor.

Though the young Daoist before her was only at the Qiling Realm, his words and insights had earned her admiration.

Cui County was far too prosperous, with the forces of all sides deeply entrenched. Su Chunyi had investigated for days, yet the truth remained as elusive as flowers glimpsed through a fog.

The Qinghe Sword Sect's rules were strict, forbidding the wanton killing of innocents and the bullying of the weak. Su Chunyi couldn't simply kill the county magistrate of Cui County, then seize his soul and search it for the culprit. She had to find conclusive evidence before she could act.

There were benefits to following the rules, but when faced with matters where good and evil were hard to distinguish, it took more thought and time. As the years went by, few could hold fast to the righteous path.

Su Chunyi had investigated for days without making any progress. Meeting Chen Ye could truly be called the protection of her founding ancestor.

With his ability to see into people's hearts, finding the culprit behind it all should be as easy as reaching into a pocket. Once the culprit revealed himself, Su Chunyi could draw her sword and cut him down.

Chen Ye truly wanted to refuse Su Chunyi's invitation.

After all, he had already obtained the ingredients for the Qi Condensation Pill. Finding a place with good feng shui and setting up a pill furnace was the most urgent matter. Nothing was more important to him than improving his cultivation.

But Chen Ye couldn't help weighing things up.

This might be a golden opportunity to befriend an orthodox sect.

Leaving aside his identity as a demonic cultivator, even if he were nothing more than an innocent Rogue Cultivator from an unorthodox sect, how many chances in his life would he get to connect with a disciple of a prestigious sect?

The Qiling Realm was merely the first step across the threshold of cultivation. Condensing a dantian qi sea was only half a step further.

What came after that?

The road of cultivation stretched on without end. Every step required mountains of heavenly treasures and earthly riches.

Su Chunyi had casually produced the ingredients for a Qi Condensation Pill just to get answers to a few questions. If Chen Ye had been the one gathering them, he had no idea how long it would have taken—and he might not even have found ingredients of such high quality.

If he refused Su Chunyi now, it would be like shutting the door on the Qinghe Sword Sect, a towering tree.

This was the Qinghe Sword Sect, the greatest sect under heaven! Even two Demon Venerables had paid with their lives to prove its worth.

If he could establish ties with such a prestigious sect, he might not get Su Chunyi to give him cultivation resources for free, but even a discount on future purchases would be a sure win.

Besides, the Qinghe Sword Sect might have a way to save his master.

After weighing it all, Chen Ye finally decided to take the risk. The rewards this time could very well exceed his wildest expectations.

"I'm willing to help, but I have one small request."

When Su Chunyi heard that, a smile spread across her face, blooming like spring flowers in an instant. Her radiant beauty left Chen Ye dazed for a moment.

"What is it? Please, go ahead. I'll do everything I can to make it happen."

It took Chen Ye quite a while to recover from that innocent smile. A little flustered, he said, "I'd like to refine the Qi Condensation Pill first. After I've formed my dantian qi sea, I'll start investigating the forced conscription of boys and girls. Would you be willing to wait a few days, Miss Su?"

As the saying went, a bird in the hand was worth two in the forest. Whatever benefits the future might bring, Chen Ye still put cultivation first.

Su Chunyi considered this briefly, then nodded. "Cultivation is the foundation. I have a quiet room that you can use. For the next few days, focus on your cultivation without worry. I also need to go and gather more information. Once you emerge from seclusion, we'll investigate this matter thoroughly together."

Chen Ye hurriedly clasped his hands in thanks, thinking to himself that Miss Su was far too easygoing.

He couldn't help but wonder again: were orthodox cultivators all this reasonable? If so, how had his own master, Mo Ci, been hunted for hundreds of years? Just how many outrageous things had he done?

Sigh, I've gone and betrayed my master again without meaning to. That's no good. Someone might realize I'm a little demon.

Su Chunyi turned to Chen Ye and said softly, "Please come with me. The quiet room where I usually meditate and cultivate is outside the city."

"Outside the city?" Chen Ye was slightly taken aback. After a moment's thought, he replied, "If it's a long way, perhaps I should just find somewhere in the city to cultivate. My place is a little run-down and dirty, but it's quiet enough."

The place had originally belonged to Wang Sanqi. The thug usually stayed at his elder brother's home, so the dilapidated house had long since become a garbage heap. Still, it would be livable after a little tidying up.

Su Chunyi gently shook her head and patiently explained, "Refining the Qi Condensation Pill isn't particularly difficult, but you still need somewhere you won't be disturbed. I can carry you out of the city on my sword light; we'll arrive in the blink of an eye. And you needn't worry that it'll draw too much attention. I can conceal us with an illusion, and no one will notice."

Chen Ye immediately understood, thinking, No wonder I'd never noticed Miss Su's whereabouts before. The Qinghe Sword Sect is skilled in illusions too.

Cultivators in the Qiling Realm were extremely sensitive to changes in spiritual energy. Su Chunyi's illusion could actually fool a cultivator's senses. It seemed her cultivation might even surpass Mo Ci's.

Chen Ye couldn't help but sigh inwardly. He truly envied cultivators from prestigious sects. They probably didn't have to run around working themselves ragged just to get a few cultivation resources like he did.

After a long sigh, Chen Ye looked up at Su Chunyi, a sly glint in his eyes. "Miss Su, if you're going to take me out of the city on your sword light, I have a request. I hope you'll lift the illusion."

Su Chunyi looked puzzled and gently advised, "Wouldn't that frighten the people around us?"

Chen Ye's lips curled into a meaningful smile. "Exactly. That's the whole point."