"This work really isn't fit for humans!"
After several consecutive days of harvesting spirit rice, Chen Ming collapsed into a chair. He had never imagined harvesting it could be so exhausting. After all that farmwork, his back no longer felt like his own.
Before transmigrating, he had never worked the fields. Doctor Mo had been born into a wealthy household and had never worked them either. Neither man had done this sort of rough labor in his previous life!
The poor pursued letters while the rich practiced martial arts-that held true in every era. No matter how talented a poor person was, without some fortuitous encounter, they had virtually no chance of turning their fortunes around. Most could barely keep themselves fed and clothed. Practicing martial arts? They could forget it, let alone cultivating immortality!
Thinking about it now, Han Li's luck really had defied the heavens. Born in a poor mountain village, he had enjoyed fair winds and smooth sailing all the way to becoming a cultivator.
After handing over the spirit rice and resting for a few more days, Chen Ming began letting water into the Spirit Field to soak it. The field needed to remain submerged for at least several days before the next round of farmwork could begin!
"Junior Brother Mo, where are you going?"
Chen Ming had just reached the mountain gate when a woman's soft voice sounded behind him.
Ever since joining Spirit Beast Mountain, Chen Ming had hardly interacted with anyone there. He was practically invisible in the sect. Whenever he returned, he only checked on the spirit rice at the foot of the mountain, then headed back to wander around the mortal world if nothing needed his attention!
Chen Ming stopped in puzzlement and looked back. A slender, plain-looking woman in inner disciple robes was smiling at him. When she saw him turn around, she even cast him a flirtatious glance.
"May I ask what you need me for, Senior Sister?"
You mustn't be too handsome. When you're too handsome, you can't keep a low profile even if you want to. Being too handsome is a burden, too, Chen Ming thought. Looking at the senior sister gazing at him with apparent affection, he gave her a slight bow before asking his question.
Xu Yun was an inner disciple of Spirit Beast Mountain. A few days earlier, she had happened to visit the Mission Hall to handle her missions and spotted Chen Ming, who was also there to turn in his spirit rice mission. She had then asked around about him!
Today, she had accepted a mission down the mountain. She had just reached the mountain gate and was about to summon her flying sword when she spotted Chen Ming heading downhill, so she called out to him.
"I happen to have a mission down the mountain, Junior Brother, and I'd like you to come along. We'll split the reward thirty-seventy: thirty for you and seventy for me. How does that sound?"
Xu Yun spoke softly as she walked toward Chen Ming.
"Senior Sister, is this mission dangerous? The money doesn't matter, though it'd be even better if you took thirty and I took seventy!"
Chen Ming pretended to ponder for a long while before answering with a smile.
"Don't worry. It's just an ordinary mission. Besides, you'll have me with you, won't you? I'll protect you, so you can rest easy."
Smiling, Xu Yun took Chen Ming's right hand in both of hers and spoke gently.
"In that case, there's not much else I can say. Please lead the way, Senior Sister."
Chen Ming spoke helplessly.
"Get on!"
Upon hearing his answer, Xu Yun released his hand and took a flying sword from her storage pouch. Using an incantation, she gave it a light toss, and it hovered in the air. She pushed lightly off the ground and jumped onto it, then turned to address Chen Ming.
The flying sword hovered only about a meter above the ground. Chen Ming jumped lightly and landed behind her.
"Stand steady. We're taking off. You'd better hold on to my waist. It wouldn't be good if you fell!"
Xu Yun teased him.
"Senior Sister, what is this mission?"
Chen Ming ignored her teasing and simply asked his question.
"How should I put it? Strange things have been happening in Qu Ling City. Several people have been disappearing every day lately. Our main task is to investigate the situation and deal with the root of the problem."
Choosing her words, Xu Yun gave him a rough account of the situation.
After hearing this, Chen Ming fell into thought. He remembered seeing Jia Tianlong, a man who should never have appeared again, in a village not far outside Qu Ling City over a month ago. He suspected there was more to this matter than met the eye.
Before long, they landed in front of the City Lord's Residence in Qu Ling City. After they dismounted, Xu Yun put the flying sword back into her storage pouch.
"Immortal masters, please come inside!"
When the two arrived outside Qu Ling City on their flying sword, a soldier had already run to the City Lord's Residence to report it. City Lord Liang Yu happened to emerge just as they dismounted, and he hurried over to greet them with a smile.
"Why does this immortal master seem a little familiar? Have we met somewhere before?"
As Liang Yu led them inside, he suddenly noticed that the male immortal master looked familiar. Unsure for the moment, he asked quietly.
"Lord Liang, you have so much official business to attend to, yet you still remember me. I'm deeply honored!"
Hearing this, Chen Ming knew Liang Yu had recognized him but simply did not dare say so outright now that he was an immortal master. Since that was the case, Chen Ming had nothing to hide and answered calmly.
"So it really is Society Leader Mo! I thought I might have mistaken you for someone else. I never expected it would truly be you. You're even more handsome and dashing than you were back then! Handsome! Simply too handsome!"
Liang Yu immediately began flattering him, while thinking, When did Mo Juren become a cultivator? It looks like I mustn't squeeze the Amazing Flood Dragon Society too hard next time. He also felt a little relieved that he had not gone too far before.
They entered the reception hall of the City Lord's Residence and sat down. After the servants brought tea and withdrew, they exchanged a few pleasantries before discussing what had been happening in Qu Ling City lately.
The account began with Yaozhai Village, ten li west of Qu Ling City-the very village where Chen Ming had seen Jia Tianlong that day.
Over the past month or so, more than a thousand people had disappeared around Qu Ling City. Several smaller villages had even become ghost villages without a single person left.
As a result, fear had gripped Qu Ling City lately. Quite a few people had even moved away to nearby cities.
The well-informed wealthy clans, gentry, and major merchants in the city had fled faster than anyone. Otherwise, they would never have invited people from an immortal sect to resolve the matter.
If this was not resolved, Qu Ling City would sooner or later become an empty city.
After hearing City Lord Liang Yu's account, Chen Ming and Xu Yun took their leave and headed to the scene to investigate!
Looking at the deserted Yaozhai Village, Chen Ming pondered for a long while. Should I tell her what I saw that day?
"Junior Brother Mo, have you discovered anything?"
Seeing Chen Ming remain silent, Xu Yun could not help asking.
"Senior Sister Xu, let me put it this way! A little over a month ago..."
(Note: one million words omitted...)
After some thought, Chen Ming finally told her what he had seen here that day.
"So that's what happened. It seems you're my lucky star, Junior Brother!"
After hearing Chen Ming's account, Xu Yun pondered for a moment, then spoke with a smile.
Xu Yun guided the flying sword in the direction Chen Ming indicated. Before long, the two arrived at the edge of the cliff.