Chapter 72 – Quid Pro Quo

  Three interesting events took place while Jun De was staying in the City Lord’s Mansion.

  The first was a purge of cultivators that was so sudden and done so efficiently that Jun De wasn’t aware it had occurred until it was long over.

  The bustling streets of Yunlai City were thinned almost overnight. Certain shopkeepers were no longer opening their stalls in the cultivator marketplace. A popular Alchemist’s shop was suddenly boarded up.

  If Jun De had ventured into the city, he would have found that conversations in restaurants and tea houses turned quiet when specific names or events were mentioned. It was as if a cancerous element of the population had been cut away, and the citizens were now in recovery.

  Several days after the purge had occurred, Jun De noticed the change in the quiet of his residence. Patrols from the City Lord’s Mansion had increased, and many of the servants that he had begun to recognize were now absent, replaced with new faces.

  Entire city blocks had been locked down without notice, and anyone caught on the streets by the City Guard was never seen again.

  Word spread that City Lord Han had ordered a complete internal purge of demonic cultivators that had managed to worm their way into Yunlai City.

  What made things more dramatic was the fact that they weren’t just among the citizens and common cultivators of the city. They had made their way into the ranks of the City Lord’s own household and his guards.

  The second event of interest that affected Jun De happened after Yunlair City entered a tense calm. It was as if the sword of Damocles hung over the citizenry, and they were just waiting for it to fall.

  It didn’t take long for it to happen.

  A proclamation soon echoed throughout the city like thunder, and the City Lord himself emerged from his palace to speak to the city.

  Standing beneath banners that fluttered in the wind, City Lord Han wore robes that shimmered with spiritual energy. His Nascent Soul cultivation was on full display, and it pressed heavily on everyone who saw him.

  The entire city stilled to listen to his words.

  “The demonic cultists have overstepped their bounds. They infiltrated my city to prey on my people. This cannot be allowed to stand. From this moment, I swear upon my Dao heart that I will not rest until their stronghold is razed to ash, and every trace of their heresy is scoured from this land!”

  Later that evening, in a private area of the palace that was warded against eavesdropping, City Lord Han met with Vice Sect Master My and informed her that he would be joining the Tranquil Mountain Sect’s expedition against the Demonic Cultivators.

  The last event that occurred during Jun De’s stay at the City Lord’s Mansion was one of his own makings.

  Jun De, who was increasingly desperate to avoid Shen Ruolan and her talk of marriage proposals and having him ‘enter her family as a son-in-law,’ resorted to the only solution that made sense to him.

  He was going to use Elder Mu Yanyu as a shield. And, to do that, he needed to make her think that he was desperate to cultivate.

  Everyone already seemed to believe he was a cultivation fanatic, so Jun De didn’t think it would be too hard to have the Elder provide him guidance and a quiet, remote place for secluded cultivation. Preferably a place that even Shen Ruolan couldn’t enter.

  Jun De found Elder Mu Yanyu alone in her private courtyard, which the City Lord had provided to her. She was sitting under a plum tree with her sword resting across her knees. Her Core Formation Qi made a shimmering haze around her, but the Elder’s control kept it from affecting her surroundings while she meditated.

  She opened her eyes as Jun De approached, and the sharpness that was usually seen there faded significantly at the sight of him.

  “My apologies for disturbing you, Elder Mu.” Jun De said as he bowed low in greeting.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “There is no need for forgiveness, you are not disturbing me.” Mu Yanyu replied calmly, before gesturing for Jun De to join her. He bowed and sat on a cultivation mat that was placed across from her.

  “Elder Mu, I came to ask for advice in my cultivation and to give you some things I found beneath the Hollow Stream Sect.”

  She tilted her head slightly as she watched him with interest as Jun De produced a carefully wrapped book from his storage bag and gently handed it to her. Mu Yanyu unwrapped it slowly to reveal a leather manual that was incredibly old, but well preserved.

  Her expression became focused as she opened the first few pages, and her eyes scanned the delicate script within. After several silent moments, she finally spoke.

  “This is an Orthodox Cultivation Method, ‘The Flowing Stream Scripture.’ The internal structure of the technique is methodical, and it guides a cultivator through Qi Condensation into Core Formation with a solid foundation.” Mu Yanyu closed the book gently and tapped the cover with her fingertip as she contemplated the manual.

  “The Hollow Stream Sect may have been a minor Sect when compared to our own, but this method is refined; it has been developed over many generations. It is a rare treasure for a Sect of their size.” Elder Mu concluded, and Jun De nodded.

  “I found it in the vault when I arrived, and I thought it should remain with the Tranquil Mountain Sect.”

  Mu Yanyu gave him a long, unreadable look before her lips curved into a faint, approving smile.

  “That would be for the best. I’ll have it formally added to the Sect’s collection so that it may benefit future Disciples.” Mu Yanyu stated, and she placed it in her own storage ring for safekeeping.

  “There were other items as well.” This time, Jun De was slightly reluctant to reveal his other treasures. But the thought of Shen Ruolan or her family bursting into his courtyard and demanding he marry her forced him to act.

  He wanted Elder Mu to feel indebted to him in order to protect him from Ruolan, and for that, he would use everything he had in his storage ring and bag.

  With a deep, slow breath, Jun De carefully withdrew the sword he had found from his storage bag. A thin wave of frost rippled out across the courtyard, and the temperature dropped the moment it appeared. A pale mist drifted low to the ground, curling in the sunlight.

  The sword was long and sleek, forged from a silver-blue metal that shimmered faintly like moonlight on ice. A cold aura radiated from it, incredibly heavy and chilling to the bone.

  Jun De didn’t touch the weapon directly. Instead, he used a stream of his Qi and the control method he learned from his purchase in the market to gently set it on the stone tiles in front of him. The ground froze, with frost radiating out from the sword immediately in a ring.

  Mu Yanyu, who had been watching him, nearly ceased breathing when she saw the weapon. Her eyes widened in recognition the instant she saw the blade.

  “That is the Moonfrost Sword.” She said softly, almost reverently. She hesitantly reached out to touch the blade, but halted. Her fingertips hovered above it, and Jun De could see how much she desired to grasp the hilt and wield it.”

  “It is the Sect Treasure of the Hollow Stream Sect. It is a High-Grade Core Formation weapon forged from Ten Thousand-Year Cold Iron.” Her eyes were locked onto the blade, studying the fine lines etched into the metal, the snowflake-shaped guard, and the pale light that pulsed along its edge like a heartbeat.

  Jun De remained still, allowing Mu Yanyu a moment before speaking.

  “It was in the vault I found. I didn’t want to risk touching it or leaving it for the demonic cultivators, so I placed it in my storage bag.”

  Mu Yanyu nodded absently, her thoughts clearly churning as she stared at the sword.

  “If you are planning on refining it, you will need to wait until your cultivation reaches the Core Formation Stage.” Mu Yanyu finally replied. Jun De noticed that she didn’t seem to doubt that he would reach that high in his cultivation, and she treated it as if it were inevitable.

  Jun De shook his head before replying calmly.

  “I don’t train in a sword technique, and I feel as though this weapon doesn’t suit me. I would like to offer it to you, Elder Mu.”

  For the first time in many years, Mu Yanyu was stunned into silence.

  “To me?” She replied, her shock cracking her expression and revealing her true emotions to Jun De. It was very rare for anything to catch her off guard, and even rarer for her to show it.

  “You are the Vice Sect Master of the Tranquil Mountain Sect, and powerful enough to use it properly. Giving it to you for safekeeping is not completely altruistic; we are all depending on your strength to protect us in the coming conflict, Elder Mu.”

  For a long moment, Mu Yanyu didn’t answer. She simply stared at him, her fingers curling slightly at her sides.

  “This is not a casual gift, easily given. Do you understand what this is worth? The Hollow Stream Sect protected it for generations.” Mu Yanyu said finally, making one final attempt to dissuade Jun De.

  Jun De met her eyes and once again shook his head.

  “It’s not for me. I don’t want to carry a sword I can’t use. I trust that you’ll find a much better purpose for it.”

  Mu Yanyu felt something shift in her chest. It wasn’t the weight of duty or responsibility, but a strange and unfamiliar warmth that rose quietly and stirred her heart. She had received many treasures in her life, but none had ever unsettled her heart like this one.

  “You’re far too generous for your own good, Jun De.” She said, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Jun De smiled, and she felt that it lit up the courtyard and drove away the cold being emitted from the sword that rested between them.

  “I’m afraid I am not that generous, Elder Mu.” Jun De said, keeping the spirit stones in the storage ring on his finger a secret for the time being.

  ‘The Cultivation Manual and a priceless Sect Treasure are more than enough to pay for her protection from Shen Ruolan, right?’ Jun De thought.