Free Web NovelUsing the Paper Cicada Immortal as a hub, distance was no longer a barrier, and Zhang Huainan and Lu Yibei completed a subtle form of mutual gaze.
Zhang Huainan, "..." Holy crap! Why does this Miss have Lingtai Pure Karma? Could Senior Brother Qingji have seen everything I just did?
Subway, old man, phone.jpg
Lu Yibei, "..." Holy crap! Isn't this old man the one who sold melons on Xuanwu Slope? How did the Paper Cicada Immortal end up in his hands?
Shrinking in the corner scared "Gu Qianqian" limited.jpg
A mutual gaze lasting less than a second left both of them greatly shocked and filled with fear.
"Uh, hello, Senior."
"Mm, hello to you too."
After the awkward conversation, both of them simultaneously shifted their gazes away, falling back into silence.
----
Lu Yibei, "..."
She felt that Fu Xinyi had not followed her instructions to find a deserted place to properly discard the Paper Cicada Immortal, but had instead taken the Paper Cicada Immortal and reported her directly!
The future of becoming the signboard girl of Da Chunyang Palace with only raw melon sprouts as daily rations flashed in her mind, and she couldn't help but shiver.
Tsk, who knew that Fu Xinyi, that clear-eyed and handsome top student, would be such a two-faced person behind the scenes.
This thing might very well be the legendary 【Black Emperor】. Not only is there no chance I'll get to watch him perform eating melons, but I might even end up having my head held down and being fed melons by him.
This is big trouble now!
------
Zhang Huainan, "..."
When he first saw this Miss just now, he felt she looked familiar. After thinking carefully, he remembered seeing this Miss on the Night Watch's latest special attention list.
That was a special list similar to a wanted list but with slight differences. Almost everyone on the list was a solo Psychic.
Most of them possessed considerable strength, and from a certain perspective, they were a potential threat to social stability. However, there was no evidence to show that they intended to, or had ever caused Spiritual Energy attack incidents.
Having the ability to do something doesn't mean they will definitely do it, so they were only given special attention as a preventive measure.
And at the end of that list, in the ninety-seventh position, Gu Qianqian's name was prominently listed.
Lingtai Pure Karma is in Gu Qianqian's hands, and she can also make Paper Cicada Immortal. It's likely she has an extraordinary relationship with Lu Yibei, probably like Hua Sang, a match arranged by Lu Ming for that kid.
If she tells Lu Yibei what she saw through the Paper Cicada Immortal just now, and Lu Yibei tells Senior Brother Qingji's remnant soul, this old man's situation will likely become quite difficult, just like when Senior Brother Qingji discovered I was peeking at the previous sect master's diary.
This is big trouble now!
----
After a moment of contemplation, Zhang Huainan's expression suddenly became kind, and he smiled with slightly narrowed eyes, "Little Girl, where is Lu Yibei?"
"!!!"
Hearing this, Lu Yibei, who hadn't yet thought of how to deal with the current situation, trembled slightly and felt flustered.
No, what does this old guy mean?
Has he seen through my disguise?
Or is he saying that he's been monitoring me ever since Xuanwu Slope, knows everything, and is now hinting for me to confess, offering leniency for honesty?
After waiting for a moment and seeing that Lu Yibei didn't speak, Zhang Huainan continued, "Gu Qianqian, you're called Gu Qianqian, right? You don't need to be afraid, I know your relationship with Lu Yibei is unusual."
Lu Yibei, "???"
Wait a minute? Something's not right!
He didn't recognize me and still thinks I'm Gu Qianqian?
If that's the case... I am Gu Qianqian, what can I do for you?
"Lu Yibei isn't nearby right now, so just say whatever you have to say to me. Telling me is the same as telling him," Lu Yibei said.
"Not here?" Zhang Huainan glanced at the broken sword in the young girl's hand and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "If he's not here, then forget it. Don't tell him anything about me afterward either."
Lu Yibei was startled for a moment, then nodded slightly, "Mm, I understand."
That's right, I know everything!
Although it's not clear yet what good knowing this will do... Lu Yibei thought.
"Oh, right, Gu Qianqian." Zhang Huainan changed the subject, "Your encounter with this old man is also a stroke of luck. I wonder if you'd be interested in joining my Da Chunyang Palace?"
If I just let her go like this, this old man still isn't quite at ease!
Once she joins Da Chunyang Palace, she'll be this old man's grand-disciple. She surely can't do things that deceive her master and destroy her ancestors, right?
What's more, this Gu Qianqian has good talent. If someone can give her proper guidance, she should be able to achieve remarkable things in the future... Zhang Huainan thought.
"This..." Lu Yibei was startled for a moment, then came back to her senses and quickly refused, "Thank you for your kind offer, Senior, but I already have a master. Joining Da Chunyang Palace again would not be proper."
Although, rashly refusing this unknown strong person carries at least a 20% chance of incurring his wrath, which is a big risk.
But I can't possibly stay in Da Chunyang Palace with Gu Qianqian's face fixed on, can I?
Capturing her and forcing her into Da Chunyang Palace is even more impossible.
"Is that so?" Zhang Huainan sat up straight, slowly stroked his beard, and nodded thoughtfully.
That's right, having a master is also reasonable.
Otherwise, for a solo Psychic at such a young age, without a master, to escape completely from the pursuit of multiple illegal Spiritual Energy organizations just by relying on herself, her talent would be a little too terrifying.
"Since that's the case, this old man won't force you. I'll keep your Paper Cicada Immortal for you for now, and if necessary, I can give you some pointers."
Zhang Huainan said with a smile, looking amiable and eager to nurture talent as he spoke, but immediately afterward, his expression sank, and his whole demeanor became strange.
"What happened today is a little secret between the two of us, not to be told to outsiders. Anyone who breaks the promise will swallow a thousand needles!"
Lu Yibei, "..."
Damn it! The old guy talks so nicely, isn't he just trying to monitor me?
He can lock onto me just with the Paper Cicada Immortal, there's no way to hide!
In this situation, even contacting Chatterbox Girl would probably be discovered by him... What should I do?
As if sensing her thoughts from Lu Yibei's unpredictable gaze, Zhang Huainan smiled with relief.
"Haha, Gu Qianqian, don't worry. This old man has lived a life of integrity and won't do such strange things."
Lu Yibei, "..." You, a cunning merchant who sells raw melon sprouts, are talking about integrity with me?
"Later, this old man will seal this Paper Cicada Immortal with a Spell and put it away. Unless you contact me actively, I will never pry into your life casually. How does that sound?"
"..." Lu Yibei pondered for a few seconds, then gritted her teeth and said, "I don't believe it, unless you write a note, uh, no, swear! The kind with a Spell!"
At this point, let's just go with this!
Only a fool would believe a verbal agreement. To restrain the actions of a Psychic, an oath is much more reliable!
Anyway, if the sky falls, even if everyone lies flat, Gu Qianqian's mighty body will be there to hold it up.
Hearing this, the corner of Zhang Huainan's mouth twitched. He remained silent with a dark face for a while, then said in a deep voice, "In that case, you must also swear not to tell others what you saw through the Paper Cicada Immortal."
Although he felt that this Gu Qianqian was being a bit pushy, as the dignified sect master of Da Chunyang Palace, a gentleman is open and straightforward, so swearing an oath was fine.
Lu Yibei pondered for two seconds, her eyes darted around, and she nodded, "Mm, that's very fair!"
"Alright! Then let's do it!" Zhang Huainan said, raising his right hand, "By the bright heavens above and the vast earth below, with heaven and earth as witness, I, Zhang Huainan, hereby swear not to pry into Gu Qianqian's life!"
Lu Yibei, "???"
Wait a minute? I didn't hear wrong, did I?
He said he was Zhang... right?
For some reason, I suddenly feel confident again about making him perform eating melons.
"What are you spacing out for? It's your turn!" Zhang Huainan reminded.
"Oh, oh!" Lu Yibei snapped back to her senses, quickly raised her right hand, and said, mimicking Zhang Huainan's words, "By the bright heavens above and the vast earth below, with heaven and earth as witness, I..."
Halfway through her sentence, she seemed to suddenly remember something, pausing for about half a second before continuing, "Hereby swear that Gu Qianqian will not reveal a single bit of what she saw and heard through the Paper Cicada Immortal today to anyone else!"
Thus, two oaths that were both valid and yet "invalid" were established, and a subtle sense of connection instantly formed in their hearts.
Zhang Huainan sensed that Gu Qianqian would definitely not reveal what she saw through the Paper Cicada Immortal today, and nodded with satisfaction.
Although he noticed that the oath "Gu Qianqian" took felt a bit off, since the oath was already established, he was too lazy to bother with these minor details.
This was originally just a matter of a sentence. He agreed to swear the oath mainly to dispel the doubts in "Gu Qianqian"'s heart, so she could keep the secret with peace of mind.
At his age, how could he be so petty and haggle over every little thing with a Little Girl?
What's more, regarding whether the little secret would be revealed, he would perform a divination later. If Gu Qianqian didn't keep her word... then he would just have to let her know what it means for a hundred-year-old man to get angry and hit people.
Anyway, there were many simpler ways for him to find Gu Qianqian than prying through the Paper Cicada Immortal...
Lu Yibei sensed that Zhang Huainan would definitely not pry into Gu # Nоvеlight # Qianqian's life, and also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness, thank goodness!
I didn't expect saying it like that could actually fool him...
Lu Yibei only suddenly realized halfway through the oath that if she swore as Gu Qianqian, it was very likely to fail. But the die was cast, so she could only slightly adjust the word order and bite the bullet to continue speaking.
However, I absolutely cannot let him know that the Gu Qianqian he saw was me in disguise.
Otherwise...
His oath guarantees not to pry into Gu Qianqian's life. What does that have to do with me, Lu Yibei? Lu Yibei thought.
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----
That night, within the Bamboo Scroll Illusion.
A large, black, and ugly fish resembling an anglerfish floated in front of the Alchemy table, silently outputting Spiritual Energy into the mass of dark red flesh on the table.
As Spiritual Energy was continuously input, the mass of dark red flesh proliferated and differentiated, quickly taking on a rough outline of a domestic piglet. But the changes didn't stop there; the flesh on the piglet's back wriggled, rapidly transforming into six pairs of wings, and then...
With a "poof!", the dark red flesh instantly exploded into a mist of blood.
"Ah--!" The system sighed deeply, "Failed again, it's too difficult!"
Ever since it picked up the flesh and blood of these Invasion Beasts, it had successfully created a large number of plants and animals adapted to the Bamboo Scroll Illusion. However, the pig with chicken wings that Gu Qianqian strongly requested had not yet been successfully created.
After all, strictly speaking, creating other plants and animals was still replicating existing species, merely making minor adjustments to their habits based on the unique characteristics of the Bamboo Scroll Illusion.
But wanting to create pigs with long chicken wings is equivalent to creating a completely new species. Even with the flesh and blood of an Invasion Beast, without a template, success requires painstaking effort.
"Just spoil her! Wasting so much time on something like this, isn't it not worth it?!"
The system cursed itself a few times, sighed silently, and took out a small piece of Invasion Beast flesh and blood, preparing to try again. It then felt a Spiritual Energy fluctuation from outside the house indicating the opening of a Bamboo Scroll Illusion passage, followed immediately by Gu Qianqian's pig-slaughtering-like shriek.
"system, system, hurry! Something big has happened!"
"Alright, alright, what's with all the shouting? What's wrong with you now? Are you being chased by someone again?" the system asked impatiently as it floated outside.
Although a large number of Psychic and urban legend were swallowed by Qinan Bamboo's special space last time and lost their lives, the pursuit of Gu Qianqian by those illegal Spiritual Energy organizations has not been as aggressive recently as before, but it hasn't completely stopped either.
Gu Qianqian would be backstabbed from time to time, and the system had long since gotten used to it.
Anyway, they were just coming to deliver themselves. If she really couldn't win, she could run. It was just adding combat experience for Gu Qianqian, and also getting some nutrients for cultivating Invasion Beast flesh and blood.
Gu Qianqian rushed in from outside, saw the system floating towards her, adjusted her breathing slightly, and quickly said, "It's not someone chasing me! It's, it's..."
"What is it?"
"One of my tasks was completed inexplicably, and it's an epic task!" Gu Qianqian said seriously, "I clearly didn't do anything! system, are you malfunctioning? But even if you are malfunctioning, you still have to give me Jiang Li!"
"You're the one malfunctioning!" the system cursed and started pondering inwardly.
Epic tasks mostly involve Calamity-level factors other than those that destroy the world, at least A+-Level...
Gu Qianqian has been staying in Hua City recently and hasn't gone anywhere, so how could she have completed it?
Could I really... No, damn it, I was almost led astray by that idiot Gu Qianqian.
Thinking this, the system silently opened the task list condensed from its Power. Upon seeing the latest item in the completed list, it was slightly taken aback.
【Refused to Join Da Chunyang Palace (Completed √)】
"What the heck! Gu Qianqian, when did you come into contact with people from Da Chunyang Palace?"
"Hmm..." Gu Qianqian thought seriously for a moment, shook her head, and said, "I've never... Oh! Right, could it be the Daoist priest who wanted to sell me 'Xiantian Gong' a few days ago?"
"I really wanted to buy it at the time, but he wanted one thousand five hundred grams of gold, and I only had fifty-two yuan and eight mao. When I haggled with him, he even spat at me."
"Are you stupid? That was clearly a scammer!"
"Huh? It was fake?" Gu Qianqian pouted and said, "But I saw it, it was published by the ZG Social Sciences Press!"
"God damn ZG Social Sciences Press publishing 'Xiantian Gong'. Even if it were real, 'Xiantian Gong' belongs to Quanzhen, and Da Chunyang Palace belongs to Zhengyi!" the system retorted.
"Forget it, you go rest first! Let me have some peace."
"What about my reward?" Gu Qianqian pressed.
【Ding dong—! Congratulations to the host for completing the epic task, receiving rewards: McDonald's Happy Family Bucket X10, Roasted Pig Trotters X20】
To prevent Gu Qianqian from pestering it further, the system generously gave her what she wanted. Since it had the flesh and blood of the Invasion Beast, its reserves were gradually increasing, and it also became more generous. After a bit more development, it could even "add points" directly to Gu Qianqian like those systems in novels!
Although that was just changing the skin of "force-feeding medicine", it could perfectly circumvent the problem of Gu Qianqian disliking taking medicine.
"Yay!" Gu Qianqian cheered, collected five roasted pig trotters, and happily ran off.
Watching Gu Qianqian run off into the distance, the system sighed silently.
It's driving me crazy. At this rate, when will she ever become Calamity-level?
Perhaps the advancement path I planned for her at the beginning was wrong. I shouldn't have let her try to develop in the direction of "Shen Nong". That's a Power that requires great wisdom to obtain.
For someone like her, advancing towards the direction of the "God of Blind Ignorance" might lead to a meteoric rise.
After complaining about Gu Qianqian for a few sentences, its thoughts returned to the inexplicably completed epic task, and the system's mood gradually became heavy.
I remember, Disaster seems to have gone to Da Chunyang Palace recently, right?
Could it be her?
First Plague Tai Sui, then Blasphemy, and now Yagn Nie... What exactly does Disaster want to do?
The system thought for a moment, calmly analyzed, boldly hypothesized, and finally came to no conclusion, but it was very happy.
Although it couldn't figure out why Disaster was frequently contacting other world-destroying factors this time, it knew that Disaster had messed up big time!
The task 【Refused to Join Da Chunyang Palace】 appeared in Gu Qianqian's task bar precisely because it knew what would happen to Da Chunyang Palace in the near future.
In fact, it wasn't that it hadn't tried to let the host join Da Chunyang Palace, following the path of cultivating with a large backer. But the outcome was that one morning, upon waking up, most of the disciples of Da Chunyang Palace, including the host, had become followers of Yagn Nie, turning into eerie half-human, half-object existences.
Everything happened silently and without warning. Before the incident, there were no obvious signs, as if it were wild grass secretly growing madly in the fine rain.
"That guy wouldn't think that just because she luckily defeated the avatars of Blasphemy and Plague Tai Sui, she can do whatever she wants, right?"
In the system's view, facing Yagn Nie now, Disaster wouldn't necessarily perish, but she definitely has no chance of winning!
The previous Plague Tai Sui and Invasion Beast; the former was just an avatar, not the main body, while the latter was similar to her, an existence with a low initial Spiritual Energy fluctuation level but an extremely high growth ceiling.
But Yagn Nie is different. From the day it awoke, its Power was complete. The only thing it lacked to reach peak strength was the accumulation of Spiritual Energy, and having enough followers could solve this single deficiency.
And judging by the speed at which it corrupts Psychic and urban legend, in just about half a month, the area around Da Chunyang Palace will be completely overrun.
Could Disaster possibly stop Yagn Nie from awakening?
Impossible! Something Zhang Huainan couldn't do, how could she possibly do it at her current level?
Unless a miracle happens! the system thought with certainty.
"Emmm, should I be considering Disaster's next move after being severely wounded by Yagn Nie now?"
"If that's the case... Uh, wouldn't it be a bit too cruel? Then let's do this... Hehehehe..."
As it thought, the system's laughter gradually became perverted.
----
After feeling Zhang Huainan's prying gaze disappear, Lu Yibei waited for a moment, confirmed that his lewd gaze didn't reappear, and then loudly spoke sarcastically and used foul language for a while, finally sharing a few of Zhang Huainan's embarrassing teenage stories as a friendly risk.
Of course, all the words revolved around the title "Old Thing".
Firstly, if she were discovered saying this, there would still be room for sophistry.
Secondly, after witnessing Zhang Huainan's strength, she suspected that he would sense it as long as his name was mentioned.
After a round of probing, seeing that nothing happened in the end, she breathed a sigh of relief. She looked at the fallen Fang Ji, pondering how to deal with this guy, when her phone suddenly vibrated twice.
She took out her phone, unlocked the screen, and took a look. It was a message sent by Lin Nian via Zhifubao.
Lin Nian: "I found the information you wanted. The identity Hu Chuan faked four years ago was called Gu He."
Gu He? Lu Yibei noted down the name, then waited for a moment. Seeing that Lin Nian was slow to send the remaining information, she couldn't help but frown.
Gu Qianqian: "And? I gave you so much compensation, don't tell me you only found one name."
Lin Nian: "So much? How dare you ♦ say that? Hu Chuan is clearly not a high-level Psychic! That little bit of compensation isn't even enough for the change!"
Lu Yibei, "..."
Hiss, how did this Little Girl turn into an angry Elder brother as soon as she got online? She's quite like how I was during my years as a keyboard warrior!
But what does it mean that Hu Chuan is a high-level Psychic? Does his Spiritual Energy fluctuation level already reach A-Level?
But Zhang Shuo is an A+-Level Psychic. Although he's already very strong, cultivating an A-level Spirit Ability User is not only time-consuming and labor-intensive but also not necessarily successful. There's no reason for him to do that!
Thinking this, Lu Yibei typed.
Gu Qianqian: "He's a high-level Psychic? Where did you get that information?"
However, when she clicked to send the message, she immediately received a 【Send failed】 notification.
She stared at her phone for a few seconds, suddenly realizing that Lin Nian might have blocked and shielded her.
"Hiss hey~! This Miss! I'm the only one who blocks others, this is the first time I've been blocked by someone else, you're quite brave! Just wait, you'll see if I cause you trouble or not!" freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
Lu Yibei muttered to herself, just about to find Netizen Laosepi for help to empty Lin Nian's savings and locate her, when suddenly, two black figures "Swish!" descended from the sky and appeared before her, startling her.
Looking closely, her eyebrow twitched instantly.
Who else could the newcomers be but those two guys who wrote her threatening letters?
Lu Yibei, "..."
I've already actively avoided you, and you still chased me all the way here yourselves?
Looking for a beating, are you? Then don't blame me, Gu Qianqian, for being ruthless!
Thinking this, Lu Yibei tightened her grip on the Lingtai Pure Karma, silently mobilized her Spiritual Energy, and was about to make a move, when the scene that appeared before her the next moment froze her in place.
Only two muffled thuds were heard, "Thump! Thump!", as Shem and Saleh successively knelt on one knee, clasped their hands, raised them above their heads, and said in unison, "Greetings, Holy Child!"
Lu Yibei, "???"
Holy crap! The Miracle Saint? Where? Are they talking about Fang Ji?
In her panic, she looked around for a while, then looked at the two men in front of her and couldn't help but frown.
She saw the two men looking up at her with burning eyes, firm as a rock, their gaze seeming to say, "Stop looking, we're talking about you!"
Lu Yibei, "..."
They... Are they talking about me? What's going on? I'm ♦ dumbfounded!
