Get Lost

"If it hadn't been for Miss taking me in back then, how could there have been a Qingyun Sect outer disciple?"

Lu Ren smiled.

"Lu Ren, don't say that. I only took you in because I pitied you back then. Even without me, someone else would have helped you!"

Wan Cuilan said, her face reddening.

Lu Ren and Wan Cuilan reminisced for a while before changing the subject. "Miss Cuilan, has Nie Liuxiang appeared recently?"

Wan Cuilan let out a long sigh. "My Father hired two experts who have opened ten Spiritual Apertures to protect me day and night, so Nie Liuxiang hasn't dared to show himself. But those two have been pushing their luck. Their fee started at one Low-grade Spirit Stone a day, but now it's two a day. They haven't done anything at all, yet they've already earned over a hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones from my Father these past few days!"

"Though my Wan family runs a rice business, a hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones is no small sum to us. If this goes on, my Wan family will go bankrupt sooner or later!"

As she spoke, Wan Cuilan's voice began to choke with sobs.

"Miss Cuilan, as long as Nie Liuxiang lives, your Wan family will never know peace. Dragging this out isn't a solution. Dismiss those two, and I'll protect you!"

Lu Ren said.

"Alright!"

Wan Cuilan nodded, choosing to trust Lu Ren without the slightest hesitation.

Inside a pavilion in the Wan residence!

Two middle-aged men were enjoying fine wine and delicious food.

"Haha, come, come, drink! Wan Sanqian really is willing to spend heavily for his daughter. He's even willing to pay two Low-grade Spirit Stones a day!"

"Tomorrow, we'll raise the price and make him pay four Low-grade Spirit Stones a day!"

The two drank and chatted, so delighted they forgot where they were.

Bang! Wan Cuilan, having overheard their conversation outside, angrily shoved open the door. Standing in the doorway, she snapped, "You two are taking advantage of a crisis to rob us. Get out! I don't need your protection!"

The two had not expected Wan Cuilan to be eavesdropping outside.

Yet neither showed the slightest panic. They continued savoring their wine and food.

One of them, a burly man, set down his chopsticks and burst into laughter. "Little girl, we are taking advantage of a crisis. Without the deterrence of us two, Nie Liuxiang would have kidnapped you long ago!"

"You want to drive us away? Have your old man come tell us himself!"

The other burly man slowly rose to his feet, his voice cold.

"You two may leave. From today onward, I will protect Miss Cuilan!"

At that moment, Lu Ren, clad in a Qingyun robe, walked in as well.

Hearing the voice from outside, the two Spirit Stream Realm Martial Artists immediately flew into a rage.

"Who dares to be so bold as to steal our business?"

The burly man roared.

Though the two were not sect disciples, they had lived with their lives balanced on the edge of a blade for years. Anyone who dared steal their business was simply courting death.

Yet when they turned their gazes over and saw Lu Ren in his Qingyun robe, the fury on their faces gradually turned to fear.

A Qingyun Sect outer disciple!

Disciples of the four great sects, especially outer disciples, held lofty and honored status. Ordinary people simply did not dare provoke them.

However, the burly man frowned again. "I've dealt with quite a few Qingyun Sect disciples before. Qingyun Sect outer disciples must all be in the Spirit Stream Realm. If I'm not mistaken, you're only an Aperture Opening Realm Martial Artist, aren't you?"

Martial Artists of the Aperture Opening Realm and Spirit Stream Realm possessed completely different auras.

"What? An Aperture Opening Realm Martial Artist? You've got some nerve, impersonating a Qingyun Sect disciple!"

Upon hearing this, the other burly man flew into a rage.

Among the four great sects, outer disciples had to be in the Spirit Stream Realm. That was common knowledge. This man was only an Aperture Opening Realm Martial Artist, so he absolutely could not be a Qingyun Sect disciple.

Impersonating a Qingyun Sect disciple was a grave crime!

If they could hand over someone impersonating a Qingyun Sect disciple to the Qingyun Sect, they would certainly receive a reward!

Lu Ren displayed his identity token. "I don't have time to waste on you. Get lost at once. With me protecting Miss Cuilan, that is more than enough!"

One of them stared at the token in Lu Ren's hand, then sneered. "Trying to fool us with an iron token? You dare impersonate a Qingyun Sect disciple? I'll kill you first, then we'll talk!"

Whoosh! He struck a palm toward Lu Ren.

No matter what, an Aperture Opening Realm Martial Artist could not possibly be a Qingyun Sect outer disciple. Once he killed Lu Ren, he might even be able to claim a reward from the Qingyun Sect.

Lu Ren's eyes turned cold, a chilling smile hanging on his lips as he watched the incoming palm without moving.

"Die!"

A cruel expression appeared on the burly man's face.

"Haha, this fellow claimed he was a Qingyun Sect outer disciple. He must have been scared stiff!"

His other companion laughed as well.

But just then, a streak of sword light flashed forth, its icy gleam slicing through the air.

Pfft!

Blood sprayed forth, followed by a miserable scream.

"Ahhh! My hand!"

The burly man staggered back with a shriek. One of his hands had vanished without a trace, severed by Lu Ren's sword.

"How is that possible?"

The other companion's heart trembled.

His second brother had remained in the Aperture Opening Realm for over thirty years and opened ten Spiritual Apertures. He could have lorded it over all others within the Aperture Opening Realm, yet the man before him had cut off his hand with a single sword strike. What terrifying strength.

"Ahhh! Who exactly are you?!"

The burly man screamed miserably.

"I already told you, I am a Qingyun Sect outer disciple. If you don't want to die, return every one of the hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones you swindled from the Wan family rice business!"

Lu Ren shouted coldly.

"You really are a Qingyun Sect outer disciple!"

Both men were shocked at that moment, then understanding dawned upon them. An Aperture Opening Realm Martial Artist with such strength had to be a genius among geniuses.

Fear appeared on the other companion's face. He stepped forward and said shakily, "Young hero, we only have fifty Low-grade Spirit Stones left. We'll... we'll return them all to you!"

The companion took out fifty Low-grade Spirit Stones, then picked up his second brother's severed hand and fled the Wan residence in a sorry state.

Wan Cuilan, standing nearby, had long since gone pale with fright. Having grown up sheltered, she had never seen such a bloody scene.

"Miss Cuilan, here are the Spirit Stones. From today onward, I will protect you without leaving your side!"

Lu Ren returned all fifty Low-grade Spirit Stones to Wan Cuilan.

Wan Cuilan nodded in a daze, her face blank. For a long while, she could not recover her senses.

In the days that followed, Lu Ren stayed by Cuilan's side, serving completely as her personal guard.

Nie Liuxiang did not appear either.

One month later!

Nie Liuxiang still had not appeared.

Over that month, the people of Linjiang City also learned that the Qingyun Sect outer disciple personally protecting Wan Cuilan was the destitute youth she had taken in two years ago.

For a time, all of Linjiang City buzzed with excitement.

"Miss Cuilan truly has the Wisdom Eye to recognize a jewel. She simply picked up a treasure! That's a Qingyun Sect outer disciple!"

"Now that Nie Liuxiang knows Miss Cuilan is the benefactor of that Qingyun Sect outer disciple, he can probably only abandon his plans!"

"Crossing a Qingyun Sect outer disciple never ends well!"

Every corner of Linjiang City was filled with discussion.

Wan residence!

"Miss Cuilan, a month has passed, and Nie Liuxiang still hasn't made a move. He has most likely given up. Time waits for no one, so I'll return to the sect first!"

Lu Ren said to Wan Cuilan.

Wan Cuilan gave a slight curtsy. "Young Master Lu has shown me great kindness. Allow me to personally escort you out of the city!"

"Then many thanks!"

Lu Ren smiled.

Wan Cuilan immediately ordered someone to prepare a carriage and personally sent Lu Ren out of Linjiang City.

Wan Cuilan drew back the curtain. Seeing that they had already left Linjiang City, she could not help saying, "Young Master Lu, we are already out of the city. Let us meet again someday!"

Lu Ren turned around instead and said, "Miss Cuilan, please take off your skirt and give it to me!"