Thirty Years of Internal Energy!

"The Yin Lotus Cult?"

Ning Que frowned.

Mu Yuwei and Yin Jiuyou had discussed the main forces operating around the Cave of No Worries and the Escort Guild, but Ning Que had been absent at the time, matching wits and courage with the courtesan queen at the Flower Delight House. Naturally, he had never heard of the Yin Lotus Cult.

After listening to Mu Yuwei's explanation, Ning Que could not help marveling inwardly, I never thought I'd run into cultivators so soon...

Although this so-called Yin Lotus Cult had nothing to do with the sects or orthodox lineages of cultivators, and its practices were merely disreputable "heretical sorcery,"

but had already far surpassed the Martial Way.

An ordinary person who witnessed it might well be frightened to death!

"Before I joined Flowing Sand, I had dealings with the Yin Lotus Cult. They trick people into joining, brainwash them in the name of their teachings, and feed them gu worms until they can control their hearts and minds!"

Mu Yuwei continued describing the horrors of the Yin Lotus Cult.

"In earlier years, there were quite a few incidents around Qingzhou City where innocent civilians suddenly attacked and killed government soldiers. It looked like they were the killers, but in truth, they were being controlled. The ones pulling the strings were the Yin Lotus Cult!"

"They feed flesh and blood to a kind of gu worm called the Heartless Gu, then implant it inside a person's body. It silently eats away their heart and takes its place, allowing them to be controlled!"

Ning Que deduced, "So the courtesan queen chose two people yesterday because, first, she had already recognized that Miss Zhuge was a woman, and second, she wanted to pick a random guest, control him with the Heartless Gu, and make him kill Miss Zhuge..."

"Exactly! They just had the bad luck to choose you, Little Juzi..."

"As for the zither music Liu Ningzhi played at the beginning, that was also a means of confirming that Miss Zhuge was a woman!"

"That music only affects men. It makes them dizzy and causes hallucinations, but women feel nothing."

Clearly, Mu Yuwei had extensive dealings with the Yin Lotus Cult. She even knew this.

"In short, the waters of Qingzhou City run far too deep. Until we rendezvous with headquarters, you still aren't safe, Little Juzi!"

Yin Jiuyou spoke.

Yin Jiuyou never forgot his mission: to bring the Little Juzi safely to rendezvous with headquarters.

Once they arrived, no strange expert or extraordinary master would be worth fearing!

"Two more days. Let's hope nothing happens during those two days..."

Qi Shanhe muttered to himself.

After everyone returned to their rooms, Ning Que brought Zhuge Qing some food.

Since she would no longer be disguising herself as a man during the remainder of her stay, she was easy to recognize.

Given her sensitive identity, he told Zhuge Qing to remain in the inn and not go outside, no matter what happened.

Glancing at Zhuge Qing as she ate, Ning Que's expression changed profoundly.

Who could have imagined that a little girl would stir up upheaval throughout a city as vast as Qingzhou City?

The efficiency of the Provincial Governor's residence was nothing a remote border town like Lotus Town could match. The net outside was drawing tighter.

The soldiers had even traced their search to the inn.

Every guest stopping for a meal had to be checked.

Naturally, Ning Que's room was no exception.

It was worth noting that, besides searching for the Provincial Governor's daughter, the soldiers also carried several wanted posters depicting Ning Que and Yin Jiuyou.

Apparently, they were investigating both matters at once.

Ning Que, Yin Jiuyou, and the others had disguised themselves beforehand, so even an inspection by the soldiers posed no problem.

The difficulty lay with Zhuge Qing.

Fortunately, Ning Que had discovered a concealed door in the inn where someone could hide, right behind the wardrobe.

He had Zhuge Qing hide inside.

The soldiers looked around, found nothing, and left.

"They're gone. Come out."

Once the soldiers were far away, Ning Que called softly toward the wardrobe.

"Whew... that scared me to death!"

Zhuge Qing emerged through the concealed door behind the wardrobe and let out a long breath.

She found it terribly nerve-racking and thrilling.

It was only thanks to this inn's unusual layout that there was a concealed door.

Without it, she would definitely have been discovered.

Ning Que figured the innkeeper must have some shady connections.

Knowing the inn would often shelter guests who could not afford to be seen, the owner had installed this concealed door as a hiding place.

After eating and drinking his fill, Ning Que willed it.

A system panel visible only to him immediately appeared before his eyes.

[Name: Ning Que]

[Background Editing: Son of the former Juzi of Gathering and Scattering Quicksand (current progress: 8%)]

[Current karma points: 1,910.]

[Acquired techniques: Back-Penetrating Fist (proficiency 25%), Demon-Subduing Saber Technique (proficiency 25%).]

Compared with last time, his proficiency in both the Demon-Subduing Saber Technique and the Back-Penetrating Fist had increased by five percentage points.

His Flowing Sand background progress had also increased by three percentage points.

It seemed he had moved another step closer to rendezvousing with headquarters.

He could actually perform his next Background Editing now.

But Ning Que was in no hurry. He opened the shop panel.

He had never bought anything from the shop before!

The reason was simple: everything in the shop was exceptionally expensive and required a great many karma points.

However, a section called "Daily Treasures" caught his attention.

As its name suggested, Daily Treasures offered treasures that refreshed every day.

They could only be purchased that day. Tomorrow, they would disappear and be replaced by other treasures.

[Ding! Today's Daily Treasures are: thirty years of internal energy!]

"Thirty years of internal energy?"

Ning Que's eyes lit up.

Now that was something good!

The Demon-Subduing Saber Technique and Back-Penetrating Fist he possessed currently relied purely on martial skill.

He himself had no internal energy at all.

In the world of martial heroes, internal energy was essential.

With internal energy supporting them, martial techniques could unleash twice their power, or even several times as much!

It could even make someone impervious to blades and spears, immune to a hundred poisons!

In short, the benefits were numerous, and the price was very cheap: only 500 karma points!

"Redeem."

Ning Que willed it.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host on redeeming thirty years of internal energy!]

As the system notification sounded in his mind, Ning Que instantly felt his body undergo another earth-shaking transformation.

The energy within him flowed without end, vast as a sea of mist.

The benefits of thirty years of internal energy were immense: he could see a thousand miles and hear ants fighting.

Not only that, Ning Que also made an unexpected discovery.

As the thirty years of internal energy flowed into his body, his proficiency in both the Back-Penetrating Fist and the Demon-Subduing Saber Technique shot straight up to 80%!

Ning Que licked his lips, his eyes burning with eagerness. "This really is good stuff..."

Ning Que assessed his current strength. He should be stronger than Qi Shanhe and on par with Yin Jiuyou.

"What are you thinking about?"

Seeing Ning Que staring into space, Zhuge Qing, who happened to be bored herself, walked over and asked curiously.

"Nothing."

Ning Que withdrew his gaze and said with a smile, "Just wondering whose hands will bring this dynasty to its end..."

Surprise filled Zhuge Qing's beautiful eyes, along with a trace of curiosity. "Why would anyone want to end this dynasty?"

Ning Que paused, then the smile on his face deepened.

He did not answer her question, merely saying lightly, "You must have heard my story..."

"I've heard your story?"

Zhuge Qing looked even more surprised. "What story?"

Ning Que still said nothing and simply climbed into bed.

"Good night."

As far as Ning Que was concerned, Zhuge Qing would only be spending three days with him.

After those three days, when Flowing Sand's headquarters arrived, he would send her back to the Provincial Governor's residence.

They were merely strangers brought together by chance, so there was no need to say more.

But the seed of curiosity had already been planted in her heart. Without learning the whole story, Zhuge Qing could not sleep that night.