"Last night at eleven, Sword Sect cultivators Lin and Feng were caught speeding on their flying swords and violating traffic regulations. In accordance with the traffic code, both have been sentenced to ten days in detention and fined two thousand Spirit Coins."
"We understand that cultivators are eager to return Homecoming and make sure their family and friends are safe, but please be sure to follow traffic regulations."
A massive Mystic Light Mirror mounted on a building was broadcasting the news.
It was obvious they were Sword Sect sword cultivators. The Sword Sect had always been strict with its own cultivators about things like this.
Zhang Yunlu wore a blue-and-white school uniform and bit into a baked flatbread. Holding a cup of soy milk in her other hand, she couldn't help muttering to herself when she heard the news.
She'd spent the whole night tormented by those images. She'd even planned to ask her older brother to call in sick for her, but she didn't know when she'd finally fallen asleep.
Unexpectedly, though, she felt a lot better after waking up.
Her head wasn't dizzy anymore, her legs didn't ache, and even the images that had kept replaying in her mind had stopped.
Since she'd recovered, of course she wasn't going to stay home and waste time. So, despite her older brother's objections, she'd insisted on coming to school.
The college entrance exams were drawing near. She couldn't afford to waste time.
As she walked, she thought again of Xu Xing, whom she'd met yesterday.
Xu Xing... Just who was this big shot from the Sword Sect?
A mighty cultivator emerging from seclusion had somehow, against all odds, crossed paths with her. She'd only ever seen something like that in novels and movies. She'd never thought it would happen to her.
When the protagonists in novels and movies met someone of that caliber, they might not rise to the heavens in a single step, but at the very least, they'd get some treasure the big shot didn't want.
Instead, she'd been pumped for information, then forced to endure those two images all night, tormented half to death.
Sigh~
It really was all a lie. Getting something out of it wasn't that easy.
They said the ancient mighty cultivators believed in something called "fated affinity." Hadn't that person said yesterday that if they met again, he'd give her a nice little gift?
But mighty cultivators came and went without a trace, and Mystic Sword City was huge. What were the odds of running into him again?
She kicked a small stone off the roadside and quickened her pace.
The stone rolled along before finally stopping by the feet of a seemingly honest-looking young man. He frowned as if troubled by something.
Sigh~
The two senior brothers had been detained for speeding on their flying swords. True Person Xiaoning had personally arrested them, and there'd even been a senior expert from the Supreme Dao Sect present. There was no way they'd be out for the next ten days.
"Guess I'll do the sect mission first, like Senior Brother said."
Although he didn't know what else Senior Brother Lin had planned behind the scenes, on the surface, the three of them had accepted a sect mission.
Time was limited, and his two senior brothers wouldn't be getting out anytime soon. If he failed to complete the mission, he'd lose contribution points.
But the mission required at least three people. He'd have to find two more sword cultivators at the Nascent Soul Realm or above.
He touched the golden jade token at his waist. It wasn't the kind worn by Sword Sect disciples, but the emblem of Lin Qiuxian's family.
The Lin Family held considerable influence in the Sword Sect, so most of its sword cultivators would do them a favor.
"Hope this token Senior Brother gave me comes in handy."
Otherwise, why would other cultivators help him for no reason?
"I'll check the local Miscellaneous Affairs Hall first."
Most Nascent Soul sword cultivators contacted through the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall were from the same sect. For a sect mission, it was naturally better to work with people from his own sect.
Just then, Zhang Yunlu passed by him. Something seemed to stir, and his sword intent trembled slightly.
Hm?!
A gleam flashed in his eyes as he saw straight through Zhang Yunlu's cultivation: Qi Refining, eighth level. A thoroughly ordinary realm, yet she'd somehow stirred his sword intent?!
What was this girl's background?
Curiosity welled up inside him. Without much hesitation, he followed her.
At the entrance to Xuanjian City No. 3 Middle School, groups of students walked into the school together.
Zhang Yunlu ran into a few classmates she was fairly close to, and they walked along chatting, looking cheerful and at ease.
In a secluded corner not far away, the young man from the Sword Sect stared at Zhang Yunlu's back, frowning deeply.
As a Nascent Soul sword cultivator, he was naturally beyond Zhang Yunlu's notice.
But after following her all the way, he still couldn't spot anything unusual.
Forget it. I'll handle the business at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall first, then come back and keep an eye on her after I finish the mission.
There was a director at the school in the Nascent Soul Realm and a principal in Spirit Transformation. If he followed her inside, he might be discovered, so this would have to do for now.
He turned to leave, intending to head straight to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. But when he passed a hidden alley, he slipped inside in a flash.
The alley was empty and utterly quiet. A black cat leaped onto the wall and meowed at him.
Meow~
Then it jumped down and vanished.
"Friend, there's no one here. You can come out."
His voice echoed through the alley, but no one answered.
Not long after leaving the area near the school, he'd noticed someone following him.
Hah!
Following a Sword Sect sword cultivator in broad daylight? Did they think his sword was dull?
Suddenly, his back prickled and every hair on his body stood on end.
Without a moment's hesitation, he spun around and slashed.
Swish!
A bright, crescent-shaped arc of purple sword light slashed diagonally through the air, illuminating a masked figure who had appeared from nowhere. The person wore ordinary sportswear and a face mask, and their eyes held undisguised murderous intent.
Crack!
The purple sword light was crushed with ease. The figure moved like a thunderbolt, reaching him in an instant, grabbing him by the throat, and slamming him against the wall. They didn't give him the chance to launch another strike.
A violent, scorching force of magical power surged into his body. An overwhelming strength locked his qi channels in a vice grip and sealed the magical power throughout his body.
A body cultivator!
Their cultivation was higher than his!
Why had he even noticed a body cultivator of this level?
Fuck!
He'd been baited!
The person had deliberately let him notice them.
Under the pressure of that formidable presence, his vision began to blur. Talismans covered the surrounding walls, and their dim glow formed a semicircular barrier that sealed off every sound and movement.
They didn't want to make a scene!
No wonder they'd started with such a thunderous attack.
"You damn scum, can't you behave yourselves for once?!"
The voice was androgynous, as though several people were speaking at once, making it hard to tell them apart. But the anger simmering beneath it was unmistakable.
"I fucking..."
Thud!
A fist slammed into his face, leaving him dazed as his vision went dark in waves.
"I didn't...!"
Thud!
"Just listen to...!"
Thud, thud!
A flurry of punches beat him so badly he couldn't even get a word out.
What the fuck had I done to you?!
Clink!
The golden jade token hit the ground with a sharp sound. Only then did the unrelenting punches finally stop.
The masked figure picked up the token and seemed to hesitate.
"You even dared to attack someone from the Lin Family?"
The young man's consciousness was already growing hazy, but he still yelled in response.
"That fucking thing belongs to my senior brother!" His words came out slurred.
"..." After a moment of silence, the figure asked, "You're from the Sword Sect?"
"No shit! Hiss~"
Maybe he'd aggravated an injury. One of his broken teeth fell out, and he sucked in a sharp breath from the pain.
Suppressing his hurt and anger, he summoned a trace of magical power to ease the pain.
"I'm Li Fengping of the Sword Sect. Who are you, and why did you hit me for no reason?"
"Then why did you run into the alley?"
I wanted to fight back. How the hell was I supposed to know your cultivation was higher than mine?
"You'd been following me, so of course I wanted to lure you out."
"...Sorry, I mistook you for someone else."
You mistook me for someone else?!
You son of a...!
Before he could finish cursing, a pill was forcibly shoved into his mouth.
The pill took effect quickly. A faint tingling spread through the wounds on his face, and by the time his vision cleared a little, the masked figure and the talismans around him had all vanished.
Meow~
The black cat jumped down from above his head and landed in front of him. In its amber eyes, he saw his own swollen head.
The black cat circled him once, then turned and left.
Staring at the empty alley, Li Fengping could no longer hold back his hurt.
Who the fuck had I offended?!
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