Chapter 29: The Disguised Double

The moment Zora stepped into the inn lobby, she saw Turi Qi, her brow furrowed, walking straight toward her. "There is an urgent mission. Since we happen to be in Ning'an County, the Sect Leader has assigned it to us."

Yiling Ke, following close behind, felt a pang of exhaustion. "...Good grief. Why are there more and more monster missions lately?"

Vane entered; no strong emotions could be seen in his eyes anymore.

They gathered in Turi Qi's room. She traced a talisman in the air with her fingertip, and a golden stream of light manifested, revealing several lines of text.

Yiling Ke: "No task scroll... it really must be urgent..."

Turi Qi read word for word: "The Heavenly Pearl of the Hall of Immortal Pursuit indicates that a person from the Demon Realm has appeared in Ning'an County. They can use face-changing and skin-shedding techniques to blend into the crowd, intending to breach the city’s protective formations..."

The Sect Leader wouldn't throw a mission involving a powerful demon at them. This person from the Demon Realm had been roaming mortal settlements for days, relying not on strength but on disguise. Therefore, they only needed to be cautious and vigilant.

Turi Qi: "We will split up to investigate if anything strange has happened recently. We'll meet back at the inn."

They separated. Vane was originally following behind Zora, but she felt he was even more silent than usual. Though he appeared normal on the surface, she realized his aura was somewhat unstable as she drew closer.

Zora: "Are you hungry?"

Vane paused. "No."

"Your aura is unstable."

"..."

He seemed to be thinking of an explanation, but Zora had already waved her hand. "We'll act separately."

An unstable servant could become a blade that drags one down.

...

Ning'an County was quite large. Song Zhihuai walked alone down the street, and wherever he went, the crowds parted.

People in front of him scrambled to move away. When he passed, they turned their heads hurriedly, unable to look him in the eye, only stealing glances at his back once he had gone.

"...An immortal, right?"

"Must be. Truly an immortal... one cannot approach..."

"I feel like I wasn't even this scared when I went to see the government official last time..."

"I feel like he’s going to draw his sword at any moment."

One person said fearfully, "Let's stop talking and just go."

"Move, move."

A man pushing a cart of unsold lettuce saw the icy youth approaching and was so terrified by his sharp aura that he swerved his cart violently, the wheels creaking loudly as several leaves fell to the ground.

Song Zhihuai walked while thinking about the mission. The falling leaves pulled his thoughts back, noticing the empty space around him and the citizens who dared not look at him. He couldn't see their expressions, and the people pretended to be busy with their own affairs.

...What simple and modest townspeople. They must see that I am on a mission, so they all hurried to make a path so I can walk more smoothly.

At this thought, Song Zhihuai’s gaze softened significantly. Although he hadn't asked about a single strange occurrence, the trip wasn't in vain.

Yiling Ke was feeling dizzy.

She looked at the formations around the outskirts of Ning'an County and used her spiritual power to draw them out. In the eyes of a formation master, those arrays weren't just patterns; they contained countless laws and calculations.

The spiritual power threshold required for different ranges, the conditions set to trigger the array—there could be no loopholes. Depending on the trigger, the formation master had to set different stages of effects... Even the ranges couldn't be done haphazardly; the size and shape had to be calculated in advance, often built from fixed geometric shapes.

Bienie, Yangma...

Chutong, Chumen...

The girl quietly watched the runes on the ground. Within her mind, the formation boosted her mental capacity, allowing her to calculate hundreds of times in an instant. Once she solved the final step, she suddenly leaned against a tree and gagged.

"Blegh—"

A child passing by gave her a look of surprise. Yiling Ke waved her hand: "It's nothing... just been calculating too much lately and felt a bit sick... blegh—"

The child, also a student at a school, immediately felt a surge of empathy. He sighed and entered the county gate.

The formation sank into the ground and vanished.

"Ugh..." Yiling Ke took a water skin from her storage bag to drink. The array was indeed a bit weak... but it could still hold. She could check them but couldn't repair them—her cultivation wasn't high enough. Regardless, the main hall was posting missions, so it should be fine.

Not far away, a tall building was brightly lit with various lanterns hanging at the entrance. It was bustling with voices, one wave of high-pitched enthusiasm after another.

Zora saw a man acting suspiciously and followed him, watching him exchange information with someone before heading toward the Sanpin Pavilion. Outside the pavilion, a woman in thin clothing leaned against the door, her red lips matching the lanterns above. She flattered the guests as they entered; seeing someone hesitant, she would immediately speak in a soft, gentle voice to make them decide to walk in with a laugh.

Zora observed from the shadows for a long time. The suspicious man looked around before sneaking toward the backyard of the pavilion.

...

"Hurry, hurry up!"

"It's because you're too heavy!"

In the backyard, two men were arguing in low voices. One crouched down while the other stepped on his back, trying to climb into a lit window on the third floor.

Zora stood still, watching their clumsy silhouettes.

They probably aren't from the Demon Realm.

She thought to herself.

People from the Demon Realm aren't this stupid.

"That bitch Chun Ling, what is she being so high-and-mighty for!" The man panted, cursing as he climbed with difficulty. "Even if she’s the Courtesan, wasn't it me who propped her up! And then she gives me an attitude, bah! Just a thing for people to sleep with, yet she thinks she's something noble! Tonight I'll teach you a lesson!"

The backyard guards had been bribed; it was silent, and no one stopped them.

Creeeak—

The third-floor window was suddenly opened. A beautiful woman seemed to want some fresh air, but the man seized the opportunity and grabbed her wrist. Chun Ling’s face turned pale; she was alone on this floor, and even if she screamed for help, someone might not arrive in time.

"Chun Ling, why are you hiding!"

The man was very strong. In her panic, she was about to be pulled through the window when she saw someone standing in the backyard. Before she could tell who it was, Chun Ling screamed: "Save me!"

Zora pulled out her remaining osmanthus cakes. When Chun Ling called out, Zora was still looking down, taking bite after bite.

There was another man in blue on the ground who realized someone was in the yard. He looked closer and saw it was a young girl. Chun Ling also saw her and her heart sank.

The man in blue leered: "A little bird raised in the backyard? Perfect. I paid so much, two will be just right!"

The man in blue charged at her.

Zora looked up: "?"

He was indeed charging at her.

Cultivators couldn't "randomly" kill mortals. But they could kill those with ill intent.

Thus, River Snow left its sheath. With just a casual swing, the man before her froze. A line of blood appeared on his neck, his expression stuck in a disgusting grin. His head slid off the severed surface, and his headless body slumped down. Zora was originally used to just slitting throats, but having cultivated her strength, she didn't master the output well and cut the whole head off.

With another swing, a blade-wind swept up. The man climbing the windowsill was instantly sliced in two. His headless torso fell from the height, his limbs twisting upon impact, while his head, having almost climbed into the room, rolled inside.

Chun Ling’s lips were white, her shock not yet settled. Zora looked up at her from afar and suddenly flipped into the room.

The girl asked directly: "Has anything strange happened recently?"

"...Wh-what?"

Zora repeated: "Has anything strange happened recently?"

She must be a disciple from some sect.

Chun Ling’s heart pounded violently. She deliberately avoided looking at the severed head on the floor and suppressed her fear. "...Benefactor, nothing strange has happened here."

Zora nodded and turned to leave. Chun Ling hurriedly stopped her.

The woman was strikingly beautiful, her eyes upturned and her lips full of spring. Her graceful body trembled slightly under her red dress. She tried to suppress her terror and pleaded: "...I beg the Benefactor to dispose of these two corpses. Chun Ling will never forget your kindness. My wealth and my life are at your disposal."

She knelt as she spoke, slowly pressing her forehead to the floor. She could see that this girl was not one of those purely kind, righteous, or soft-hearted cultivators.

Dispose?

Zora looked down at the top of Chun Ling's head. After a moment's thought, she poured a bottle of medicine onto the corpses, and the flesh and clothing immediately dissolved into liquid.

Chun Ling looked up slightly and saw the cakes in Zora's other hand. The woman stood up, clutching her skirts, and lowered her eyes. "If the Benefactor doesn't mind, Chun Ling has some cakes and snacks here..."

Zora finally focused on her.

Chun Ling leaned over to arrange the cakes and food that had been constantly sent to her since she became the Courtesan. After Zora sat down, she leaned over to pour wine. Everyone in Sanpin Pavilion knew how to serve people, especially at a simple table.

Zora ate bite by bite, while Chun Ling watched her expression, trying to gauge her savior's personality. Her jade-like hand pinched a piece of mung bean cake and placed it gently near Zora’s lips.

Zora merely gave a look of confusion. She hadn't been served this closely before, so she reached out to take the cake herself.

"You don't need to be so close to hand it to me."

Chun Ling: "...Yes."

During the silence, the woman asked: "What is the Benefactor’s name?"

"Zora."

"I am called Chun Ling."

Zora took a sip of the wine she handed over and nearly burned her tongue off, pushing it back quickly. Chun Ling was very skilled at serving food and drink; Zora’s mouth never stopped.

Midway through eating, Zora vaguely felt that this name was a bit familiar. Aside from memorizing plot points related to her mission, she skimmed through everything else; she didn't remember it and had no interest in knowing. Now she flipped through the original story in her mind again.

"Chun Ling" only appeared a few times. Her first appearance was as an attendant by the Sword Sovereign’s side. Everyone said the Sword Sovereign only allowed her to stay at the December Sect because he pitied her. Turi Qi had been heartbroken by this, leading to a series of stomach-aching plot points where "you're jealous, I'm jealous, I'm intentionally making you jealous to test you," and so on.

In the end, Chun Ling actually ambushed the Sect Leader, and only then was the demonic energy in her dantian exposed.

"...The days I spent as a courtesan were my most painful, and yet my happiest days." The woman had been expressionless, kneeling in the Hall of Immortal Pursuit. The various Immortals were furious and decided to kill her, locking her soul into the Drunken Man's Bay arrays to never be reincarnated.

Drunken Man's Bay was ostensibly the territory of the formation masters, but its predecessor was a place to suppress criminals, named "Sinners' Bay." Eventually, there were fewer criminals and more formation masters guarding the place, and it naturally became a new sect.

Before being escorted to Drunken Man’s Bay, they announced her crimes in the Hall of Immortal Pursuit. The woman turned a deaf ear, her lips twitching as she muttered to herself.

"I was being trampled upon then, and he saved me. Naturally, I had to be driven by him..." Her voice suddenly rose. "Your Sword Sovereign is nothing like the radiant man you claim he is! What kindness! He just used me! He actually towards his own disci—"

Before she could finish, a sword pierced her heart. Chun Ling looked at the cold eyes of the man before her in a daze, blood spilling from her lips.

"The criminal has been punished," Lord Wanghua retracted his sword, letting the woman's body fall to the ground. He said coldly, "Extract her soul and escort her to Drunken Man's Bay."

...

That was it. The last time her name appeared was in Turi Qi’s repeated memories.

Zora looked over curiously. Chun Ling immediately offered a smile—not the seductive smile used for guests, but one with a comfortable, perfectly angled curve.

Then the person from the Demon Realm she said saved her... could it be the target of this mission?

Zora thought.

Suddenly, someone opened the door and walked in—a youth with a ponytail, dressed in black martial attire.

Vane saw Zora: "Why are you here?"

Zora was about to speak when he added: "Come back with me quickly, they are waiting at the inn. It’s better to avoid this place."

"..." Zora frowned. "What I do here is none of your business. What right do you have to speak?"

In the past, even if Vane offered a suggestion, it was with an extremely subtle attitude.

"We are fellow disciples..." He drew closer.

"No." Zora stared at him. The puppet strings couldn't control the person before her. She said sincerely: "You are just my servant."

As soon as the words fell, a sword left its sheath, the cold light sharp. Chun Ling hadn't expected her to suddenly attack her fellow disciple and hurriedly retreated to the corner.

"...Wait, why attack me..." The person still wore a forced smile, taking a few steps back.

Her sword was pure, without killing intent or ferocity, like a breeze passing over a face. The blade pierced his neck without hesitation. Within a few heartbeats, several killing moves had passed.

"Tch." The person was no match. Suddenly, Zora cut off his head, and he seized the chance to turn into a wisp of black smoke and slip out.

Zora followed immediately.

Moving through the dark alleys, turning a corner, Yiling Ke looked surprised: "Zora? Why are you here?"

Zora stared at her. Would Yiling Ke die within a few of her moves? No, a formation master could resist. She wasn't good at stopping to use her brain or mouth; that kind of differentiation was too time-consuming and inaccurate. Matters concerning life and safety were naturally better the more accurate they were. So, the girl struck with her sword immediately.

"Yiling Ke" indeed didn't use a formation, managing to barely dodge with a terrible expression. Her left arm was severed, exposing muscle and white bone. Her face contorted, saying venomously: "Not a shred of hesitation. You truly have a heart of stone."

The response to her words was the brightness of a sword's edge.

Yiling Ke and Turi Qi were already in the inn lobby.

Yiling Ke: "I found nothing."

Turi Qi comforted her: "It's fine. Urgent missions aren't mandatory. We just do our best."

Vane stood to the side, not listening to them. He stared at the entrance where the street was gradually emptying, his face dark.

A girl stepped into the inn. Yiling Ke called out in surprise: "Zora? You're back so late—!?"

Zora didn't answer. she drew her sword and took a stance, her blade dripping with blood.

"Wa... wait..." The surprise stopped abruptly. Yiling Ke took a step back in shock. "Sword cultivators can't hit formation masters! This is bullying!"

Turi Qi was confused: "Junior Sister Zora?"

Vane raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing Zora’s expression. The next moment, he seemed to distinguish whether she was real or fake very quickly. He stepped forward and said: "You encountered the mission target."

As he spoke, he felt his arm lose control, forced to lift for an instant.

The youth quietly looked at his arm, then turned back to her, his dark eyes reflecting her figure.

Zora finally put away her suspicion of him and answered: "Mhm. Indeed. So I had to see if I could kill you within a few moves. Those who can be killed are fakes."

Yiling Ke trembled: "...Wh-what a simple and violent verification method."

Turi Qi took her words to heart, nodding seriously: "This is indeed the most clear and simple method. If we don't act and just keep guessing, it will only let that weak person succeed." She stood up. "Then let's do it. We must let Junior Sister Zora be at ease first. Let's go outside."

A few heartbeats later, Yiling Ke almost crawled back into the inn on her last breath, finally slumping into a chair. Ignoring the waiter’s surprised look, her mind was filled with Zora's heartless sword. Though it was only a few moves, the lethality was truly too great, far too great! Yiling Ke was still terrified, panting: "Heh... heh... sword cultivators are terrifying, so scary..."

Turi Qi followed her in: "Did Junior Sister Zora see that person's face?"

Zora shook her head: "No. He was just a wisp of black smoke. After I killed ten Yiling Kes, five Senior Sister Turis, twelve Vanes, and four Senior Brother Songs, I lost him."

Vane had been deliberately avoiding Zora's gaze since a moment ago, only looking over when she looked elsewhere. But when Zora turned back, he moved his gaze away again.

Hearing this, he merely gave her a glance, his expression calm.

Yiling Ke's hand holding her teacup trembled slightly.