Chapter 45: Utterly Clueless
Wang Bantian was dead. Zhong Yanhan had razed the bandit stronghold, and the abducted civilians were all saved.
The woman who had been taken hostage faced Zhong Yanhan with a look of terror. She tried to thank her, but her words failed her.
“Th-thank you, Fairy…”
It was others who then crowded around, expressing their gratitude to Zhong Yanhan.
The civilians were all intimidated by Zhong Yanhan. Their thanks were rushed, and after offering the bare minimum of etiquette, they all fled.
It was as if Zhong Yanhan was more terrifying than the bandits.
But she didn’t care. Instead, she pondered why Wang Bantian had suddenly fumbled at the end.
“Miss Zhong, everyone’s gone,” Ye Changsheng told her. “It seems they were all quite afraid of you.”
“…I didn’t come here to save people. I only came to eliminate that scoundrel. Everything else was secondary. It doesn’t matter.”
Ye Changsheng couldn’t help but chuckle. “Miss Zhong, please forgive my rudeness, but do you happen to not have many friends?”
“Friends?”
Zhong Yanhan furrowed her brow.
“I’ve never had friends.”
*As expected, it’s a miracle if your way of dealing with people could ever make you popular.*
Ye Changsheng considered whether he should remind her.
However, seeing Ye Changsheng’s expression, Zhong Yanhan’s attitude grew even more displeased.
“Your full name is Ye Changsheng, correct?” Zhong Yanhan said righteously. “Why is it so necessary to have friends?”
Ye Changsheng thought about it and replied, “If one encounters difficulties, they can help each other.”
“I can solve any difficulty on my own,” Zhong Yanhan retorted. “Are friends air? Are friends drinking water? Are they necessities for human survival?”
“No.”
“Then why is it so necessary to have friends?” Zhong Yanhan stared at Ye Changsheng. “Rather, I hate the word ‘friend.’ I will absolutely never
make any friends, and I will never trust anyone from now on.”
*Wow, such a solitary declaration.*
Since others’ thoughts were so firm, Ye Changsheng’s concern seemed a little superfluous.
“Do you perhaps have many friends?” Zhong Yanhan asked back.
“Huh?”
Ye Changsheng thought about it.
*Damn it! I don’t seem to have many either.*
All his acquaintances were girls, and his old brothers had all drowned in the river.
Seeing Ye Changsheng’s speechless reaction, Zhong Yanhan pressed on: “You’re like this yourself, and you have the nerve to talk about others?”
“I was just trying to remind you. I’m also trying my best.”
“Ye Changsheng, the moment I saw you, I could see right through your thoughts,” Zhong Yanhan said. “You’re interested in me, don’t think I don’t know.”
“…I don’t deny it.”
“If you truly want to do something to me, then do it while I’m injured and can’t fight,” Zhong Yanhan said frankly. “Do you expect me to develop feelings for you and respond to you after you helped me? I’m sorry, that’s impossible. I won’t become your friend either.”
*Masterful! Shutting down the conversation completely.*
This was the first time Ye Changsheng had encountered someone like this.
He had a strong feeling in his heart that Zhong Yanhan must be a super beautiful girl when she wasn’t speaking.
If she was speaking, that was another matter.
“Moreover, you’re too naive. Seeing that I’m injured, you helped me. Aren’t you afraid that once I’ve healed, I’ll counter-kill you?”
“Miss Zhong, you want to kill me?” Ye Changsheng feigned surprise and took a step back.
“That’s very common in the cultivation world,” Zhong Yanhan sighed. “So I say, you’re excessively naive. Do you understand how perilous the path of a cultivator is?”
“It’s alright, I guess? If I die, I’ll just reincarnate and start over.”
“…I’m truly impressed. You embarked on this path with no resolve whatsoever, and you won’t even know when you’re being used to death.”
“But Miss Zhong is a good person. She helps the common folk get rid of evil, and she doesn’t care even if she’s misunderstood. It shows that there are many good cultivators.”
“Heh, a good person? That’s just because we haven’t had any conflicts of interest. Otherwise, you wouldn’t even know how you died.”
“That’s quite realistic…”
“Let me ask you, what is your cultivation realm?”
“I’m a newly advanced Qi Refining Realm cultivator, just a while ago.”
“I can feel it, you’re not lying. Being able to state your own realm directly shows you’re quite bold… Here, you saw Wang Bantian’s fate, didn’t you?”
Zhong Yanhan pointed at the corpse.
“He was at least at the third level of Qi Refining, and he wasn’t my match at all. If I wanted to kill you and take all the Spiritual Stones and Treasures on you, what would you do?”
“I would fight Miss Zhong,” Ye Changsheng said. “By the way, I don’t think I would lose. When I get serious, I’m super powerful.”
“…I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”
Zhong Yanhan was speechless. She completely regarded Ye Changsheng as an ignorant young master, completely unaware of the dangers of the world.
Especially his eyes, which remained as calm as ever. That was a look only someone who had never suffered a setback could possess.
She suspected this person probably didn’t even understand that his cultivation was among the lowest tier on Qixia Isle.
Zhong Yanhan summoned a cheap iron sword and used the Art of Immaterial Control.
“Get on, Ye Changsheng. I’ll take you to Lubei Town. After that, we’ll be even.”
Ye Changsheng also jumped on, and he was carried away from Black Stone Mountain.
…
Upon arriving at Lubei Town, Zhong Yanhan parted ways with Ye Changsheng.
Zhong Yanhan seemed disinclined to have any connection with Ye Changsheng.
But he didn’t mind. Zhong Yanhan was, at most, a minor interlude in his mission.
Although he was somewhat interested, he wouldn’t go out of his way to do anything.
In this world, there was the concept of karma and fate.
If one tangled too much with certain people or things, karma would be generated.
As relationships fermented, karma would become fate.
And this fate could lead to good or bad outcomes.
Either way, it would bring trouble.
Even if Ye Changsheng acted out of interest, he usually only dabbled.
Primarily, it was to prevent unnecessary trouble that could affect his mission.
*Bang.*
Ye Changsheng was walking down the street when he suddenly bumped into a young man with a dejected expression, a stubble on his face, and a wine gourd in his hand.
*Holy shit!*
Ye Changsheng was startled.
This person was actually the Senior Brother of White Emperor Sword Sect, Zhou Bujue. He looked as if he was drowning his sorrows in alcohol.
Zhou Bujue also searched his memory for information on Ye Changsheng.
Ye Changsheng spoke first, “Esteemed brother, have we met before?”
Zhou Bujue chuckled. He remembered who Ye Changsheng was—the couple he saw showing affection in Shuiyun Town previously.
“Drink today for today’s wine, worry tomorrow for tomorrow’s sorrow! The wine in Lubei Town is truly intoxicating.”
Zhou Bujue raised his wine gourd, drank it down in one go, and staggered away.
Chapter 72
*It’s hard to imagine that the former spirited Chief Disciple of White Emperor Sword Sect has become so withdrawn.*
*Is he going to switch careers to become a wine sword immortal, achieving enlightenment through wine?*
Back then, Ye Changsheng hadn’t expected that he would later join the White Emperor Sword Sect. He might even have to call Zhou Bujue Senior Brother in the future.
“Then I wish the future Senior Brother success in overcoming his inner demons soon!”
