There's Something Wrong with Your Thinking

The situation had changed so drastically that Ying Huaixu had no idea how this mission would turn out anymore.

He Xiuyuan was equally dumbfounded as he stared at the people the Divine Firmament Sword Sect had sent.

Unlike Ying Huaixu, He Xiuyuan was actually trembling a little.

"Ying, we're in trouble. That extra intel you added even brought Senior Brother Qiu here. Is your information reliable?"

Ying Huaixu nodded. "Don't worry. I really did hear that information, but this was the sect's decision. Even if things turn out to be different afterward, what does that have to do with us?"

"Our mission was only to gather information and report everything we knew in full detail. Not only are we blameless, we deserve credit!"

Hearing that, He Xiuyuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Ye Ningshuang gazed up at the disciples riding their swords through the sky, her eyes burning with eagerness.

"Senior Brother, will we be able to do that someday?"

Ying Huaixu nodded. "Yes, and you'll be even stronger than them!"

Ye Ningshuang flushed. "R-really?"

Ying Huaixu nodded.

Then the three of them found a rooftop and sat down side by side.

Now that the Divine Firmament Sword Sect's people had arrived, there was nothing left for them to do.

Even if something did come up, Ying Huaixu figured they would only be running errands. So for now, they simply left the main stage to the people Qiu Shiyi had brought.

He had to admit, the Divine Firmament Sword Sect's people were remarkably dependable.

Boom, boom, boom, boom...

Massive white jade pillars descended from the sky one after another.

The white jade pillars landed at various points around Falling Radiance City.

As the pillars fell into place, an enormous formation instantly enveloped all of Falling Radiance City.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

The Divine Firmament Sword Sect's disciples immediately scattered on their flying swords.

Some remained hovering in the air, while others blocked every exit through the city gates.

It wasn't just the gates. Even gaps dogs could crawl through-and holes fit only for rats-had someone specifically assigned to guard them.

Ying Huaixu stared blankly.

When he played the game, he had never paid much attention to how these NPCs operated.

Even when it came to the Divine Firmament Sword Sect's backstory, he had only skimmed it without feeling anything in particular.

But now, watching how the Divine Firmament Sword Sect handled things, Ying Huaixu wore a strange expression.

The scene brought a phrase to his mind.

Seal the exits. Leave no one alive!

Of course, the reality was different from what Ying Huaixu imagined.

The Divine Firmament Sword Sect's arrival in Falling Radiance City with such a show of force naturally alarmed some of the city's independent cultivators and locals.

But not many panicked.

Instead, they began making their way toward the gates in an orderly fashion, choosing to leave the city.

One look was enough to tell that the Divine Firmament Sword Sect had probably done this more than once.

The Divine Firmament Sword Sect's disciples did not stop them, either.

They merely watched calmly as each person who could leave the city passed through.

Ying Huaixu asked curiously, "They're just letting them leave?"

He Xiuyuan explained, "The Divine Firmament Sword Sect's lockdown formation also includes the Questioning Heart Formation and the Sin-Severing Formation!"

"Anyone who can walk out is basically free of karmic sins. Those who carry karmic sins can't get out!"

He Xiuyuan finished the melon slice in his hand, put the rind into his Storage Bag, then picked up another slice beside him. Looking at some people in the distance, he continued, "See those people with the grim expressions?"

Ying Huaixu nodded.

He Xiuyuan explained, "Those are people who've done plenty of bad things. They know how powerful the Questioning Heart Formation and the Sin-Severing Formation are, too, so they don't even have the courage to approach the gates!"

Ying Huaixu was shaken.

When he played the game, he really hadn't felt much of anything.

But now, he genuinely thought the Divine Firmament Sword Sect was pretty badass.

"By the way, why did you put the melon rind away?"

He Xiuyuan paused, then remembered that Ying Huaixu had only recently joined the sect and explained.

"Disciples of the Divine Firmament Sword Sect aren't allowed to litter, whether inside the sect or outside! Corpses are the exception, of course. We don't have to clean those up!"

"Senior Sister Lü Qingyi set that rule!"

Ying Huaixu: "..."

That did remind him of something, though.

Lü Qingyi's backstory had described her as a little girl who was prickly but secretly affectionate, loved cleanliness, and was even a bit full of herself.

And Lü Qingyi's favorite things were sweet foods.

What she hated most was people who littered.

Although his first meeting with Lü Qingyi had felt somewhat different from the game, it seemed her tastes hadn't changed.

Just then, Ye Ningshuang suddenly asked, "Does that mean all those people who don't dare approach the gates are bad people?"

He Xiuyuan nodded. "Probably. When our sect sets up this formation, it's telling them they have only one day to evacuate. Anyone who doesn't leave will be wiped out by the Divine Firmament Sword Sect!"

"Because this isn't a request. It's an order!"

Ye Ningshuang nodded, then asked another question. "Then can I kill those people?"

He Xiuyuan: "?!!!"

He said nothing, merely turning an exasperated gaze toward Ying Huaixu.

What He Xiuyuan meant was, Look what you've turned her into!

But a moment later, He Xiuyuan could barely keep his composure.

Because Ying Huaixu asked the very same question.

"So basically, anyone in that crowd who doesn't leave is evil, and we can kill them freely?"

He Xiuyuan could only gaze helplessly at the sky.

He suddenly felt as though these two were born to be disciples of the Divine Firmament Sword Sect.

Should I change my mindset from now on?

If I want to keep having fun with these two, it seems I'll have to become a little more unhinged just to keep up with their thinking.

Despite those thoughts, He Xiuyuan still said, "There's no rush. Our current orders are to stand by. Besides, we're giving them a day to prevent any chance of killing the wrong people!"

"Once that day is over, no one who remains will be spared!"

As soon as He Xiuyuan finished speaking, he heard a series of strange sounds.

Scrape... scrape...

Ye Ningshuang was excitedly sharpening her sword.

Ying Huaixu poured water for Ye Ningshuang, helping her sharpen it.

He Xiuyuan rubbed his temples.

"Seriously, could you two stop being so enthusiastic about killing people? You're starting to scare me!"

Ying Huaixu shook his head.

"No, no, no, Senior He. There's something wrong with your thinking!"

He Xiuyuan: "???"

"There's something wrong with my thinking? What's wrong with it?"

While guiding Ye Ningshuang as she sharpened her sword, Ying Huaixu said, "Are we people who slaughter the innocent indiscriminately?"

He Xiuyuan: "..."

"See? Since you're not answering, I'll take that as a no. And aren't the people weeded out by the sect all thoroughly wicked villains?"

He Xiuyuan nodded.

Ying Huaixu spread his hands. "There you go! We're not enthusiastic about killing people. We're enthusiastic about punishing villains and rooting out evil!"

Ye Ningshuang's sharpening hand paused, then her eyes gradually lit up.

The previously troubled Ye Ningshuang suddenly broke into a toothy grin.

"Senior Brother is right! We don't like killing people. We just like punishing villains and rooting out evil!"

He Xiuyuan closed his eyes.

He couldn't listen to any more of this. If he did, he felt he might lose his mind!