Character: Chu Xisheng Reputation: Ninth-Rank Lower (surpassing) Martial arts: Incomplete Form of the Wind-Chasing Saber Technique (first level) Cultivation art: Origin-Nourishing Art (first level / unranked) Martial Dao Points: 25 Talents: Eagle Eye, Wind-Chasing, Lightning-Pursuing Hands (first tier) Status: Six Yin Soul-Returning Incantation Lifespan: 19 days
Chu Xisheng's pupils widened, revealing his surprise.
The system had actually changed again. The reputation field had gone from Ninth-Rank Lower (stable) to Ninth-Rank Lower (surpassing).
His Martial Dao Points had also become 25.
Earlier, Chu Xisheng had exchanged one Martial Dao Point for a Divine Strength Pill, bringing the number down to 15. Yet now he had suddenly gained ten Martial Dao Points.
What was the reason for this?
Chu Xisheng looked thoughtfully toward the fourth-floor window.
He judged that the change in his reputation and Martial Dao Points was very likely connected to the new blame he had shouldered, but he had no proof.
Chu Xisheng sat on the ground and rested for a while. Only after the weakness and trembling in his limbs had mostly subsided did he stand.
He looked around and saw that everyone nearby, including the martial academy's many instructors and the Embroidery Guard, was watching him with a measure of admiration.
Just then, someone clapped him hard on the shoulder, and a booming voice sounded beside him.
"Not bad, kid! I never thought you could actually kill that eighth-rank Spellcaster, much less survive doing it. Still, I watched you use your saber just now. You have excellent talent, but there's no method to your bladework. You need proper practice."
Chu Xisheng glanced sideways and discovered that it was Qiu Feng, head instructor of the northern courtyard. The man was watching him with a smile. "You've rendered a great service this time. Thanks to you, the Library Tower's eighteen thousand-odd books and several thousand scrolls of true intention illustrations and picture albums were preserved. Academy Master Lei is fair in his dealings. There's bound to be a substantial reward afterward."
Chu Xisheng was an upright person. He reflected that he could not shoulder blame indiscriminately, nor could he pocket someone else's credit. Cupping his hands, he explained, "You misunderstand, Instructor Qiu. Actually, the person who killed that Spellcaster today wasn't-"
Halfway through his sentence, he saw the Martial Dao Points field flicker. The number 25 seemed to be shifting toward 23.
Chu Xisheng's face twitched, and he immediately changed tack. "Actually, I joined forces with a female disciple surnamed Lu. Together, we killed that Spellcaster."
It was just like the NBA's Staples Miracle Game back in the day, when Brian Cook and Kobe had combined for 83 points.
Kobe had scored 81 and Brian two, but you could not say Brian had contributed nothing to Kobe's 81 points. He had provided an assist, at least.
Chu Xisheng had contributed too. He had provided a saber and a talisman paper that could connect the inside to the outside.
"A female disciple surnamed Lu?"
Qiu Feng, head instructor of the northern courtyard, wondered whether there was a female disciple surnamed Lu among this year's newly admitted inner disciples.
Qiu Feng was not certain, but since he had never heard of her, she was clearly no outstanding figure. She had probably just lent Chu Xisheng a hand.
"Yes, that junior sister is about my age. She said her surname was Lu."
Chu Xisheng explained, "She was the main force behind killing that Spellcaster-"
He could not finish, for a deafening boom suddenly erupted overhead. An azure figure abruptly burst through the wall of the Library Tower's twelfth floor.
The figure rode a blood-colored sword, man and sword as one, flying into the distance like a streak of rainbow light.
Academy Master Lei Yuan and several others followed close behind, gliding through the sky like swift hawks in pursuit.
Chu Xisheng looked up and saw that the azure figure was also watching him from the air, his gaze venomous and cold, brimming with murderous intent.
A large band of villains was also breaking out of the Library Tower. One roared furiously, "A brat whose cultivation art hasn't even reached a rank dares ruin our Bloodwind Regiment's great undertaking! You must be tired of living. You little bastard who killed my brother, listen well! Within ten days or a month at most, our Bloodwind Regiment will take your wretched life!"
Chu Xisheng went blank.
He had not intended to claim all the credit, and he could not shoulder all the blame either.
Seeing his poor complexion, Qiu Feng patted his shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry. Cao Qianhu has spread a heavenly net this time. Not one of those Bloodwind Bandits will escape. Even Li Daogui will find it hard to get away today."
"Academy Master Lei is striking in fury this time, and Library Tower Master Ye Jingyuan is an expert who keeps his depths concealed. Cao Qianhu's cultivation is even close to the fourth rank. They'll definitely capture the man and bring him to justice."
"No." Chu Xisheng tried to explain. "Junior Sister Lu cultivates both spells and martial arts, and her saber technique is exceptional. She was the one who killed that Spellcaster. I only lent a hand-"
Qiu Feng merely assumed he was saying this out of fear of retaliation from the Bloodwind Bandits.
The problem was that a core member of the Bloodwind Bandits had spoken with absolute certainty. The truth was already clear.
Besides, where among the inner disciples was there someone who cultivated both spells and martial arts and possessed exceptional saber skills? The fellow was simply speaking without thinking.
He shook his head with a laugh, then launched himself into the air, scattering saber light as he intercepted a scar-faced Bloodwind Bandit above.
Chu Xisheng gazed ahead with exceedingly mixed feelings, his expression seeming both sorrowful and pleased.
After that villain's roar, his Martial Dao Points had actually increased by another two, changing from 25 to 27.
Just then, he suddenly sensed something and looked up. On a Camphor Tree several dozen yards away stood a familiar figure.
It was Chu Yunyun, who should have gone to the Daoist Temple to condense her Spirit Seed.
With a War Halberd on her back, the girl looked him up and down.
Seemingly satisfied that Chu Xisheng was unharmed, Chu Yunyun gave him a relieved smile. At the same time, her figure flashed away, vanishing into a patch of shadow behind the crown of the tree.
The corners of Chu Xisheng's lips rose too, and warmth welled up in his chest.
The Bloodwind Bandits scattered in flight, stopping at nothing. As they fled, they set fires in every direction and wounded and killed people in the academy, trying to fish in troubled waters amid the chaos.
The Embroidery Guard and the academy's instructors also dispersed, doing their utmost to surround, pursue, and intercept them.
A group of powerful martial cultivators clashed fiercely, setting fires blazing throughout the academy and sending sand and stones flying everywhere. They left devastation in their wake, with great stretches of shattered walls and ruins.
The battlefield soon spread beyond the academy, affecting nearly half of Xiushui Commandery's city.
The City Guard joined in as well, several thousand men casting a net of pursuit and putting out fires everywhere.
Even so, seven of the thirty-odd Bloodwind Bandits escaped.
Chu Xisheng was deeply disappointed. This meant that the Bloodwind Bandits' threat might very well come true.
The Black Cloud Flying Goose Saber in his hand was also taken away.
It had originally been the personal saber of an Embroidered Guard Hundred-Household. Cao Qianhu had temporarily lent it to him, and naturally it had to be returned once the matter was over.
Once the pursuit reached a temporary conclusion, Academy Master Lei Yuan and Library Tower Master Ye Jingyuan both wore expressions as dark as iron. The four head instructors looked equally grim.
Using the search for stolen goods and Explosive Flame Talismans as a pretext, Embroidery Guard Thousand-Household Cao Xuan rummaged through cupboards and chests on every floor of the Library Tower, leafing through books everywhere.
Even Chu Xisheng's fellow disciples were put to use.
Though the Bloodwind Bandits had already fled, Cao Xuan used rooting out spies as an excuse to force them to search for Qin Muge's notes and annotations.
Only late that night, after the entire Library Tower had been searched from top to bottom, did the Embroidery Guard withdraw from the academy.
Only as he was leaving did Cao Qianhu take an interest in meeting Chu Xisheng.
It was nothing more than a meeting. From twenty yards away, the green-haired, green-browed Thousand-Household cast a distant glance at Chu Xisheng, then laughed. "What fine looks. A young hero indeed."
He waved a hand, and an Embroidery Guard Chief Banner Officer brought over a tray.
On the tray lay a bottle of Origin-Nourishing Pills and fifty taels of demon silver.
Chu Xisheng's expression was somewhat stiff, however. What he truly wanted was not on that tray.
This Embroidery Guard Thousand-Household held such high office, yet was so far from generous and straightforward in his dealings.
"That's all? This is the substantial reward your Thousand-Household promised?"
Ye Zhiqiu stood beside Chu Xisheng with her heavy sword resting on her shoulder. Showing no concern for the Embroidery Guard present, she cast a contemptuous sidelong glance at the tray. "What a skinflint."
The Chief Banner Officer smiled without speaking, cupped his hands toward Chu Xisheng, and returned to Cao Xuan's side.
Ye Zhiqiu glared at Chu Xisheng again, exasperated at his failure to know better. "See that? Your life is only worth a hundred taels of demon silver in their eyes. Don't be so foolish again, risking your life like an idiot just because someone goads you with a few words.
"Do you realize that if I'd been just a little slower in coming to your aid, you'd be dead now? Stay in the academy and practice properly. Once you've learned the true teachings and completed your training, plenty of wealth and honor will naturally await you. Why insist on sticking your neck out?"
Chu Xisheng looked up at the sky, unsure how to explain.
If that Lily Maiden had not tricked him, he would have had to be mad to accept such a deadly task.
No matter how much money that man Cao offered or how many promises he made, Chu Xisheng would not have agreed.
Their household registration and travel permits did indeed have problems, but at worst, he could abandon this identity and go far away with Chu Yunyun to seek another way forward.
Although that would mean three months of effort flowing away down the river, it was still better than losing his life.
Still, he had gained quite a lot today.
Chu Xisheng looked at the 27 Martial Dao Points on the illusory screen, then rubbed the bottle of Origin-Nourishing Pills in his hand, thinking that at least he had not taken this risk for nothing.
Though the Embroidery Guard's stinginess exceeded his imagination, when Chu Xisheng thought of how he had merely tagged along with the Lily Maiden and obtained these rewards for free, they became appealing again.