Huh?! Mistaken Identity?

"At 11:00 PM last night, sword cultivators Lin and Feng were caught speeding on their flying swords, violating traffic regulations. In accordance with the traffic management ordinances, both have been sentenced to ten days of detention and fined two thousand spirit coins."

"We understand that all cultivators are anxious to return home and confirm the safety of their loved ones, but please, you must abide by the traffic rules."

The massive Mystic Light Mirror hanging on the building was broadcasting the news.

Just by the sound of it, they were Sword Sect cultivators; the Sword Sect had always been quite strict with its own disciples regarding such matters.

Zhang Yunlu, dressed in a blue and white school uniform, bit into a toasted flatbread while holding a cup of soy milk in her other hand. Hearing this news, she couldn't help but mutter to herself.

She had been tormented by those visions all night long; she had even planned to have her older brother help her call in sick, though she didn't even know when she had finally fallen asleep.

Yet, to her surprise, she felt much better after waking up.

Her head no longer spun, her legs didn't ache, and even the visions that had been looping in her mind had ceased.

Since she had recovered, she certainly wasn't going to stay home and waste time, so she ignored her brother's protests and insisted on going to school.

With the college entrance exams approaching, she couldn't afford to waste a single moment.

As she walked, she found herself thinking of that Xu Xing she had met yesterday.

Xu Xing... just which big shot from the Sword Sect was he?

For a high-level cultivator who had just come out of seclusion to run into her—of all people—was something she had only ever seen in novels and movies; she never expected it to actually happen to her.

In novels and movies, when a protagonist meets a big shot of that caliber, even if they don't ascend to the heavens in a single step, they at least end up with some treasure the big shot didn't want.

Yet, not only had she been interrogated, but she had also been forcibly harassed by those two visions all night, tortured until she felt like dying.

Sigh.

It was all a lie, as expected. It wasn't nearly as easy to get a windfall as the stories suggested.

It was said that the great cultivators of antiquity all valued "karmic affinity." Hadn't that person said yesterday that if they met again, he would give her a nice little gift?

But great cultivators came and went like shadows, and Xuanjian City was so vast—how could it be so easy to run into him again?

Kicking a small pebble on the side of the road, she quickened her pace.

The pebble rolled forward and eventually stopped at the feet of a youth who looked somewhat honest and simple. He was frowning, seemingly troubled by something.

"Sigh."

His two senior brothers had been detained for speeding on their flying swords, and it was True Person Xiaoning himself who had caught them, with a powerful senior from the Supreme Dao Sect present as well. There was no way they were getting out for these ten days.

"I suppose I'll just follow what Senior Brother said and go complete the sect mission first."

Although he wasn't sure what other plans Senior Brother Lin had in private, the three of them had officially accepted a sect mission.

Time was limited, and with his two senior brothers unable to get out anytime soon, he would lose contribution points if the mission wasn't completed.

However, this mission required at least three people, so he still needed to find two more sword cultivators at the Nascent Soul Realm or higher.

He touched the golden jade plaque at his waist. This wasn't the kind worn by ordinary Sword Sect disciples, but rather the mark of Lin Qiuxian's family.

The Lin Family held significant influence within the Sword Sect, so most Sword Sect cultivators would give them some face.

"I hope this plaque Senior Brother gave me is useful."

Otherwise, why would other cultivators help you for no reason?

"I'll go check the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall here first."

Most of the Nascent Soul sword cultivators he could contact through the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall would be from his own sect; it was naturally better to work with his own people on sect missions.

Just as he was thinking this, Zhang Yunlu passed by him. Something seemed to trigger her, and her sword intent trembled slightly.

Hm?!

A flash of brilliance crossed his eyes as he saw through Zhang Yunlu's cultivation: eighth level of Qi Refining. A very ordinary realm—how could she possibly trigger his sword intent?!

What was this little girl's background?

Curiosity welled up in his heart. Without much hesitation, he followed her.

At Xuanjian City No. 3 Middle School, many students were walking to school in groups.

Zhang Yunlu also ran into a few classmates she was on good terms with. The group chatted as they walked, looking quite harmonious.

In a secluded corner not far away, the Sword Sect youth watched Zhang Yunlu's retreating figure, his brows furrowed tightly.

As a Nascent Soul sword cultivator, Zhang Yunlu naturally couldn't detect him.

But after following her the whole way, he still couldn't see anything unusual about her.

Forget it, I'll go to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall to handle my business first and observe her again after I finish the mission.

There were Nascent Soul-stage department heads and a Spirit Transmutation-stage principal inside the school; if he followed her any further, he might be discovered. He had to stop here.

He turned to leave, intending to head straight for the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, but as he passed a hidden alleyway, he ducked inside.

The alley was empty and very quiet. A black cat leaped onto the wall and meowed at him.

Meow.

It then jumped off the wall and vanished.

"Friend, no one is here. You can come out now."

The voice echoed through the alleyway, yet received no response.

Not long after leaving the vicinity of the school, he had discovered someone was tailing him.

Heh!

In broad daylight, to dare stalk a Sword Cultivator of the Sword Sect—did they truly think his sword was dull?

Suddenly, a tingling sensation crawled up his back, and every hair on his body stood on end.

Without the slightest hesitation, he spun around and slashed.

Clang!

A brilliant, crescent-shaped purple sword light cut diagonally through the air, illuminating a masked figure who had appeared out of nowhere. The stranger wore ordinary sportswear and a face mask, their eyes burning with undisguised killing intent.

Crack!

The purple sword light was crushed with effortless ease. The attacker moved as swift as thunder, reaching him in an instant to seize him by the throat and slam him against the wall, leaving him absolutely no chance to strike a second time.

Violent, scorching mana surged into his body, and a strength too immense to shake off clamped down on his meridians, sealing his entire cultivation.

A Body Cultivator!

And their cultivation was even higher than his own!

Why would a Body Cultivator of this caliber allow himself to be detected?

Damn it!

He had been baited!

This person had let him notice them on purpose.

Under the crushing pressure of the attacker's aura, his vision began to blur. He noticed talismans plastered along the surrounding walls, forming a semi-circular zone of faint, shimmering light that sealed off all movement and sound within the area.

He didn't want to make a scene!

No wonder they had resorted to such thunderous methods right from the start.

"You damn bastards, can't you just stay quiet for a while?!"

The voice was neutral, sounding as if many people were speaking at once, making it impossible to distinguish, yet the suppressed rage within it was palpable.

"I, the hell..."

Bam!

A fist greeted his face, sending him reeling and causing his vision to black out in waves.

"I didn't...!"

Bam!

"Listen to me...!"

Bam! Bam!

A barrage of heavy punches left him unable to even speak.

Where the hell did I offend you?!

Cling!

A golden jade tablet fell to the ground with a crisp sound, and the relentless rain of fists finally ceased.

The masked figure picked up the tablet and seemed to freeze for a moment.

"You actually dare to lay a hand on someone from the Lin Family?"

The young man's consciousness was already fading, but he still roared out the words.

"That damn thing belongs to my Senior Brother!" his voice came out slurred.

"..." After a moment of silence, "You are from the Sword Sect?"

"No shit! Hiss~"

Perhaps he had aggravated a wound; half a shattered tooth fell out, and he gasped in pain.

Suppressing the grievance and fury in his heart, he mobilized a sliver of mana to soothe the ache.

"I am Li Fengping of the Sword Sect. Who are you, and why are you beating me for no reason?"

"Then why did you run into the alley?"

I was trying to counter-kill you, you idiot! Who knew your realm was higher than mine?

"You were following me the whole time; of course I had to lure you out."

"...Apologies, I mistook you for someone else."

Mistook me for someone else?!

You mother...!

Before he could curse out loud, a pill was forcibly shoved into his mouth.

The medicinal pill took effect quickly, and a faint tingling sensation spread from the wounds on his face. By the time his vision cleared, the masked figure and the talismans plastered all around had completely vanished.

Meow~

The black cat jumped down from his head and landed in front of him. Through its amber feline eyes, he saw his own swollen head reflected back.

After circling him once, the black cat turned its head and left.

Gazing at the empty alley, Li Fengping could no longer suppress the grievance in his heart.

Who the hell did I ever provoke?!

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