Chapter 113: The little fat sheep by the mouth
Even with all the hidden thoughts Yu Le might harbor, Mo Cunzhi didn’t truly concern himself with them. To him, Yu Le was just an immature and naïve child.
He figured that the subtle provocations and faint malice might be due to Yu Le still harboring resentment for the thirty lashes with the soul-crushing whip he had received earlier, or perhaps it had something to do with Bai Feishuang.
Whatever the reason, Mo Cunzhi couldn’t care less.
“Let’s go.”
“Alright, Senior Brother,” Yu Le replied cheerfully.
Mo Cunzhi flew ahead on his sword while Yu Le leisurely sat on Senior Sister Bai’s jade leaf, following behind him.
Their pace was steady, neither fast nor slow, and even slower than the trip they had taken to the Meishou Mountain secret realm.
Yu Le was a little surprised. He had expected this Senior Brother to take the opportunity to give him a hard time, perhaps by flying quickly on purpose to force him to struggle to keep up. Yet, unexpectedly, Mo Cunzhi really did seem to be looking after him.
“Senior Brother, where are we headed?”
“Linzhou Immortal Market,” Mo Cunzhi replied.
Yu Le had come across random books in the library, where he had read about strange events, interesting tales, and blessed places. Linzhou Immortal Market was one such place, a land of abundance with spiritual veins flowing as freely as water, attracting countless cultivators. Over time, it had grown into the largest marketplace in the entire cultivation world.
There were no fixed cities there, nor were there any sects. Only a few Nine Tribulation cultivators held the fort, and all the rules were spontaneously formed and passed down. It was a place of freedom, prosperity, and bustle.
Naturally, in such a place, a few demonic cultivators would always take advantage of the situation.
Yu Le was quite satisfied and continued chatting idly with his senior brother.
“Senior Brother isn’t here to exterminate demons? There are demons in Linzhou Immortal Market for you to deal with, aren’t there?”
“There’s a notice board in the market, listing where demonic cultivators are causing trouble.”
“Oh, so Senior Brother plans to check the notice board first and then seek out those demonic cultivators.” Yu Le smiled warmly. “Are you going to take me along to exterminate demons, Senior Brother?”
“No.” Mo Cunzhi was not like his junior brother and sister, who always took their little junior brother’s feelings into consideration.
This answer was exactly what Yu Le wanted. He certainly didn’t want to be under his senior brother’s watch at all times.
Acting like a considerate junior disciple, Yu Le said, “When we arrive at Linzhou Immortal Market, Senior Brother can go about his business. I’ve never been there before, so I’ll just explore the market on my own.”
Mo Cunzhi didn’t respond.
By the time the two arrived at Linzhou Immortal Market, it was already evening. From afar, Yu Le gazed down at the gathering lights, feeling that the scene resembled looking down on a city from an airplane at night.
Of course, he had never actually had the chance to fly on an airplane before. Before he turned eighteen, his eldest brother wouldn’t let him travel, and after he became an adult, when he wanted to embark on a spontaneous trip, his eldest brother refused to allow it.
Once, he had gone through great lengths to deceive his shrewd and perceptive brothers, only to be caught by his eldest brother at the airport right before he boarded the plane.
Noticing that his previously talkative junior brother had suddenly gone quiet, Mo Cunzhi glanced at him.
Yu Le sat on a jade-green leaf, his legs dangling over the edge, his robes billowing around them. The tousled hair on his forehead brushed against his youthful, vibrant face.
As he gazed down at the lights below, a soft smile appeared on his face, making him seem unusually gentle.
However, that purely gentle and genuine smile only lasted for a fleeting moment. Yu Le quickly turned back to meet Mo Cunzhi’s gaze and showed a half-smiling, half-mocking expression.
“Why is Senior Brother looking at me like that? Are you unsure of how to deal with me?”
“I’ll find you a place to rest,” Mo Cunzhi replied coolly.
“But, I don’t want to sleep right now. I just want to go eat something delicious,” Yu Le responded.
He had already broken through to the Spirit Refining stage, no longer needing the tasteless Bigu pills to survive, but his craving for food had only grown stronger.
What was the point of life if one couldn’t eat good food?
Whenever he felt hungry, Yu Le would start to miss his brothers, especially his fourth brother.
Why couldn’t they have placed him and his fourth brother in the same world?
“Those who cultivate must abstain from indulgence in food,” Mo Cunzhi said.
Propping his chin in his hand, Yu Le smiled. “Senior Sister Shuang makes excellent pastries. Has Senior Brother ever tasted them? When I was recovering from my injuries, she made me different kinds every day—fuling cakes, yam cakes, lotus seed cakes, red date cakes…”
Mo Cunzhi said nothing, his cold face covered in a thin layer of frost, resembling the pale crescent moon in the sky. Suddenly, he began to descend.
Yu Le chuckled softly and followed him down. The two of them landed in the wide open area outside the entrance gate of the market.
This was the entrance to Linzhou Immortal Market, with roads leading in all directions and a ferry dock nearby.
Even on such a night, many cultivators, just like them, were arriving from all corners.
Using a sword to fly consumed spiritual power, so most of the cultivators here were in the Qi Condensation stage, and many had arrived by large boats or carriages.
Tall gates flanked by bright, glittering lanterns hung on both sides, their light spilling out and illuminating intricate designs.
Within the market, the streets were also lined with lanterns, fueled by never-ending oil from demonic beasts.
This largest and widest street cut through the heart of Linzhou Immortal Market and was called Celestial Street.
“Keep up,” Mo Cunzhi said.
Yu Le was too busy marveling at the lively scene he had never witnessed before to pay any attention to Mo Cunzhi. He waved dismissively, “Senior Brother, go about your business.”
Suddenly, a weight pressed down on his shoulder as Mo Cunzhi grabbed it, forcibly changing his direction and steering him forward.
For a brief moment, Yu Le almost thought it was his eldest brother who had caught him, and he nearly reflexively shrank his head and flashed an innocent smile.
But when he glanced to the side, he saw Mo Cunzhi’s hand firmly gripping his shoulder. His fingers were pale and cold, marred by old scars that had never fully faded—definitely not his brother’s hand.
Yu Le narrowed his eyes, then relaxed with a careless shrug, letting Mo Cunzhi lead him toward the most prominent building on the street.
Outside stood a smaller archway with a sign that read “Wan Market.” Within, numerous open hall doors welcomed a steady stream of people coming and going.
Upon entering the first hall, Yu Le saw numerous black, red, and white notices posted all over the walls, and immediately knew this was the place where people came to take on missions.
Disciples of renowned sects loved to take missions here, both to sharpen their skills and to build their reputations.
“These notices detail requests for help from various places,” Mo Cunzhi explained briefly.
Yu Le scanned the notices and quickly understood. The white notices, which were the most abundant, involved simple tasks that could be handled by Qi Condensation cultivators.
The red notices were more complicated, requiring cultivators in the Spirit Refining stage, or teams of Qi Condensation cultivators to handle.
As for the black notices, they were missions to eliminate powerful demonic beasts or ruthless demonic cultivators causing havoc.
The black notices were the rarest among the mass of red and white ones in the hall. Mo Cunzhi, familiar with this place, took just one glance before pulling a notice from the board.
Yu Le only caught a glimpse of what was written—something about a demonic cultivator from Qianbo Cave who had kidnapped hundreds of children for cultivation. He didn’t catch the rest.
Mo Cunzhi then led him out, walking leisurely through the market.
Besides taking missions, there were also small trading areas, places to purchase spiritual tools and pills, places to inquire about information, and areas for socializing and making friends—everything one could need.
After leaving the market, Mo Cunzhi led Yu Le to a nearby inn.
The inn was neither large nor small, simple yet clean. A young manager was reading behind the counter, and when he looked up and saw Mo Cunzhi and Yu Le, his expression turned to one of surprise.
“One room,” Mo Cunzhi said, ignoring the manager’s reaction and taking out some spirit stones.
“Brother Mo, it’s rare to see you with someone. Who’s this?” the manager asked as he pocketed the spirit stones.
“My junior brother,” Mo Cunzhi replied curtly.
He then handed a communication talisman to Yu Le and, with his usual calm demeanor, said, “If you need anything, contact me.”
With that, Mo Cunzhi left Yu Le there, taking the black notice and disappearing into the night.
Yu Le leaned against the counter, watching his senior brother leave, then turned to meet the curious gaze of the manager.
“If you’re Brother Mo’s junior brother, that means you’re also from the Wuyue Immortal Sect. A pleasure to meet you,” the manager said.
Yu Le smiled back and struck up a conversation. He learned that his senior brother always stayed here whenever he came to town, making him a regular at this inn.
The manager’s surname was Nian, and despite being a mid-stage Spirit Refining cultivator from a prestigious sect, he was running this inn for reasons unknown.
“Manager Nian, do you know where I can find some of the best local food?” Yu Le asked.
“You’ve asked the right person! I’ve been here for ten years, and I’ve tried everything around. Let me tell you all about the best places to eat…”
After Nian enthusiastically listed off several recommendations, Yu Le thanked him and prepared to leave. The manager quickly called out to him.
“Hey, little junior brother, your senior brother told you to stay here. It’s so late, where are you going?”
Yu Le had already stepped over the threshold and turned back with a grin. “Do I look like someone who listens?”
Manager Nian thought to himself, ‘No, you certainly don’t.’
…
Yu Le wandered around the area until he found the most grandiose restaurant. It stood by the lake, its three sides open, with bright lanterns lighting up both the inside and outside.
He noticed a spot by the window on the third floor and thought it would be the perfect place to enjoy the view.
This restaurant was known for its fish dishes, and while they were tasty, the flavors were a bit on the mild side. Since the food here was made specifically for cultivators, infused with spiritual energy, it was naturally hard for it to taste bad.
After coming to this world, Yu Le was having his first “normal” meal. In good spirits, he swirled a small cup of wine in his hand.
Sated and content, he turned his head to look at the painted pleasure boats on the lake outside. His mind began to ponder where he could find a suitable demonic cultivator.
Doing what his senior brother did—taking a mission from the black notice board—was out of the question. The demonic cultivators listed there were infamous and far beyond what he could handle at his current level.
Setting down the wine cup, Yu Le picked up a pair of clean, intricately carved chopsticks and absentmindedly twirled them in his hand.
A flower lantern hung by the window, casting soft light on his youthful and handsome face. His long eyelashes fluttered, and the gentle night breeze outside stirred his dark hair.
This beautiful young man, sitting casually and elegantly as he spun his jade chopsticks, made for an eye-catching scene to anyone watching from above.
“Pardon the interruption, fellow Daoist?” a voice called out.
Yu Le turned his head to see a young man, eyes full of admiration. He was good-looking, though there was something slick about his demeanor, and his gaze seemed rather unruly.
“I am He Ni, a disciple of Mizhan Mountain. I couldn’t help but notice your remarkable presence and came over hoping to make your acquaintance. I hope I’m not intruding,” the man said, bowing slightly.
Yu Le smiled. His luck was truly good today—he had barely begun to think about finding a suitable target, and someone fitting had walked right up to him.
Though this person had tried to hide it, his methods were crude. The demon core inside Yu Le could already sense faint traces of demonic energy emanating from this man.
He hadn’t expected the core to have such an effect.
“My name is Yu Le,” Yu Le said, lifting his chin slightly with a proud air.
He Ni’s heart fluttered at the sight. He guessed that with such natural talent and striking looks, this youth was likely a personal disciple of a large sect—young and full of curiosity, out on his first experience in the world.
He Ni typically avoided provoking disciples from prominent sects, but seeing such a stunning youth just as he was about to leave, he couldn’t resist.
“Fellow Daoist, are you here alone? You seem a bit bored sitting here by yourself. Would you be interested in joining me for a boat ride on the lake?” He Ni asked, trying to sound casual.
Worried that Yu Le might get suspicious, he quickly added, “It’s not just me—there are several other disciples around our age who will be there as well. We often gather to exchange cultivation insights.”
“Small gatherings like this are quite common in Linzhou Immortal Market. People come from all over the land, and it’s a good opportunity for everyone to sit together and chat, even if we don’t know each other.”
“And besides, the waterways here are beautiful. If you come to Linzhou and don’t take a boat ride, it’s like you haven’t been here at all!” He Ni finished his pitch with enthusiasm.
Yu Le seemed amused, his peach blossom eyes curving slightly in a smile.
“Since you’re inviting me with such enthusiasm, I suppose I’ll go,” Yu Le agreed.
He Ni was overjoyed and eagerly led him downstairs to the boat.
Just as he had said, there were indeed several other young cultivators on board. Yu Le quickly scanned the group but was slightly disappointed to find that none of them emitted any demonic energy like He Ni did.
They chatted on the boat, and during the trip, they watched performances by dancers on the lake. Musicians played along, and the gentle sound of the pipa flowed continuously.
He Ni stayed close to Yu Le, flattering him while subtly probing for information, trying to uncover his background.
Yu Le effortlessly spun lies, making them sound more genuine than the truth. After an hour of conversation, He Ni had concluded that this youth was just a bold, reckless, and prideful novice.
He also learned that Yu Le was only traveling with one senior brother, who had left to complete a distant task and wouldn’t return for a few days.
A heaven-sent opportunity, He Ni thought, ‘This is practically a fat sheep delivered to my mouth!’
Yu Le thought the same thing, eyeing the fat sheep who was still hesitating to make a move. Deciding to push him a little, Yu Le stood up and, feigning impatience, said, “This is getting a bit dull. I’m heading back. Tomorrow, I have other places to visit.”
He Ni quickly said, “Brother Yu, are you staying at an inn? I feel we’ve hit it off so well that I would like to invite you to stay at my residence tonight. It’s very close to here, right by the lake, secluded and spacious, with its own spiritual vein.”
Yu Le didn’t agree immediately. “Before my senior brother left, he told me to wait for him at the inn.”
He Ni, not wanting to let the night slip away, continued to persuade him. He alternated between praising how much more peaceful his residence was compared to an inn and reassuring Yu Le that there was no need to worry, as his elders were away and he was the only one at home.
“I’ve lived here for quite some time, and many people in the market know me. Everyone is aware that I enjoy making friends and often invite guests to stay over.”
After some back-and-forth between them, Yu Le eventually agreed to accompany He Ni back to his residence.
It was indeed a large estate by the lake, complete with maids and servants. He Ni, full of hospitality, had them serve various fruits, spiritual teas, and a selection of desserts.
“I noticed you seemed to enjoy these at the banquet earlier,” He Ni said warmly. “My family’s cook is quite skilled with pastries as well. Would you like to try some?”
Yu Le glanced at the offerings but appeared disinterested. “I’ve eaten too much today. I don’t have much of an appetite left. I’d rather rest.”
He Ni, still smiling, showed no sign of disappointment. “My apologies for not considering that. Let me show you to your room.”
The room was filled with a light, calming fragrance. The scent was subtle yet soothing, immediately filling the air as they entered.
Yu Le seemed quite pleased as he nodded. “Thank you, this place is perfect. I’ll rest now.”
He Ni stood by the door without moving, but when Yu Le looked at him with confusion, He Ni’s figure suddenly swayed. His expression turned eager, and he shut the door behind him, feigning concern. “Brother Yu, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Yu Le replied, “I feel dizzy… don’t you feel the same?”
“Heh… I…” He Ni took a few steps forward, but he genuinely started to feel dizzy.
What was going on? He had already taken the antidote for the drug in this room, so why was he still feeling lightheaded? Panic started to creep in as his strength left him, and he collapsed to the ground.
He watched in horror as the beautiful youth approached and squatted down before him.
“The reason you’re dizzy is because you stayed too close to me all night. I’ve been wearing a special powder,” Yu Le explained casually.
He Ni’s eyes widened in shock as if he’d seen a ghost, staring at the sinister, purple-black demonic energy seeping from Yu Le’s hand.
“Demonic energy! You too…!”
