Chapter 97: World Three【11】 Part 1

Yin Honglian smiled, choosing to sidestep the question. “Actually, the information Lin Yuxiu revealed was quite fantastical. He claimed to have discovered a Secret Realm. He doesn’t know where the entrance is, only that the exit is near the Devil Sect headquarters.”

“There are supposedly many good things inside. The cultivation technique he currently practices was obtained in that Secret Realm,” Yin Honglian said, answering the question Jing Ke had posed earlier.

“So your Cult Leader wants to know about this so-called Secret Realm, and that’s why Lin Yuxiu wasn’t killed?” Although phrased as a question, Jing Ke’s tone made it clear she was already certain of the answer.

Yin Honglian nodded. “Yes, our Leader is very interested in this Secret Realm.”

“Oh. Anything else? Any other valuable information?” Jing Ke asked.

Yin Honglian raised an eyebrow. “Jing Ke, do you not know Lin Yuxiu well? You don’t seem the least bit interested in the Secret Realm he mentioned.”

“Why should I be interested in him? Is he some great, important figure?” Jing Ke retorted.

Yin Honglian took a sip of tea to clear her throat. “Because Lin Yuxiu was a latecomer to martial arts. In less than three years, he cultivated Inner Strength that would normally take an ordinary person ten or twenty years of hard work to achieve.”

“Doesn’t a technique that potent pique your curiosity at all? A Secret Realm containing such a technique must be an extraordinary place, right?” Yin Honglian asked.

She was probing, mixed with a tinge of genuine confusion.

“Pfft—” Jing Ke couldn’t help but laugh. “Lin Yuxiu is powerful? Even if I gave him one hand tied behind my back, he wouldn’t be my match. A technique practiced by such trash holds no value to me.”

Jing Ke’s words sounded outrageously arrogant, but they were an undeniable fact. Lin Yuxiu, who could repeatedly escape the Devil Sect headquarters, was nothing more than a small fry to Jing Ke, utterly unworthy of concern.

Yin Honglian was momentarily speechless. Although her own martial prowess wasn’t inferior to Lin Yuxiu’s, at just over twenty years old, she wasn’t significantly stronger than him either. Hearing Jing Ke’s words, she felt like she was being indiscriminately caught in the crossfire.

“Yes, you’re absolutely right. Lin Yuxiu is indeed useless,” Yin Honglian could only say. Since her own strength couldn’t match this Jing Ke, and poisoning her hadn’t worked, all she could do was maintain a smile.

“So, do you have any other valuable information?” Jing Ke urged.

She’d been out wandering for nearly half a shichen. Her little disciple was waiting at home to eat. She didn’t have that much time to waste.

“The Martial Arts Alliance is also very interested in the Secret Realm and technique Lin Yuxiu encountered. Losing so many people this time, being willing to fall out with us completely—Lin Yuxiu was a major factor,” Yin Honglian hinted vaguely.

“The Martial Arts Alliance is currently tied up fighting our people, but it’s hard to say what will happen later. If you don’t want to be bothered by the Martial Arts Alliance, Jing Ke, you could come visit our place. Though we’re called a Devil Sect, our garrison is actually in a scenic area with clear mountains and beautiful waters, perfect for living in seclusion.”

Yin Honglian smiled and, to show her sincerity, pulled a jade identity token from her robes.

“This is a token representing the Left Protector. If you ever encounter Devil Sect members, just show this token. Not only will they not bother you, they will even serve you,” Yin Honglian said, proactively pushing the token towards Jing Ke.

Jing Ke stared at the jade token for a moment. The pattern on the top half seemed somewhat familiar, as if she had seen a similar design somewhere before.

“You’re just giving me this token?” Jing Ke asked. “Aren’t you worried I’ll misuse it?”

“Think of it as making a friend, and also a gesture to recruit a future hero destined to shake the Jianghu,” Yin Honglian said with a smile.

Jing Ke didn’t fear the Devil Sect, nor was she afraid of the Martial Arts Alliance. But she was now responsible for someone else. If she single-handedly resisted both factions, she might inadvertently endanger her little disciple.

“Let me be clear. Accepting this token doesn’t signify any intention to ally with the Devil Sect. Your Right Protector remains my enemy, and he will eventually die by the sword of our Master and disciple pair,” Jing Ke stated.

“I don’t get along well with that murderous brute. If you manage to kill him, just notify me. For the sake of having worked together so long, I’ll help collect his corpse,” Yin Honglian immediately declared her stance.

Jing Ke gave Yin Honglian an inscrutable look. Seeing she had no more valuable intelligence to offer, Jing Ke stood up and left directly. She took the jade token that was placed before her as well.

The fewer potential troubles, the better. If this token truly was as effective as claimed, it might prove incredibly useful someday.

Seeing Jing Ke accept the token, Yin Honglian slowly let out a breath of relief.

Accepting it was good. It meant the Devil Sect hadn’t been placed in opposition to Jing Ke. Throughout, the only one who had offended Jing Ke was that furious, impotent, slaughter-happy Right Protector.

Seriously, that brute was utterly incompetent. If Jing Ke truly was from that lineage, wouldn’t he have fatally offended the Leader’s greatest potential ally, perhaps even one of only two remaining kin?!

Jing Ke hadn’t spent a single Wen today but instead received a token of considerable worth. Even disregarding its symbolic value, just the jade used to craft it could be sold for a lot of money.

After carefully inspecting the token and confirming it hadn’t been treated with any strange drugs, Jing Ke handed it to her little disciple. She didn’t hide her dealings with the Devil Sect Left Protector, explaining the token’s origin and specific function.

“It can command Devil Sect people?” Upon hearing her Master’s words, Luo Yuezhu nearly dropped the token.

“Master, this…” Luo Yuezhu looked bewildered, her eyes wide as she stared at her Master.

“It’s in your hands now. Whether or not you use it, and how you use it, is up to you,” Jing Ke said. “The Left Protector isn’t connected to the attack on the Luo family. She just belongs to the Devil Sect.”

“If, when you seek revenge, you throw this token at the Right Protector’s face, it might make him falter for a moment, allowing you to find an opening and strike him down with your sword,” Jing Ke offered an example to help her little disciple brainstorm uses for the token.

Dazedly, Luo Yuezhu acknowledged. If it could truly make an enemy reveal an opening, this token seemed quite useful after all.

“Master, if Devil Sect members can recognize this token, then can the Martial Arts Alliance recognize it too?” Luo Yuezhu asked.

“Probably. Ordinary members might not, but core members and higher-ups likely would,” Jing Ke said, pondering for a second. “You could put the token in a pouch, then attach it to your belt.”

Luo Yuezhu nodded, earnestly memorizing her Master’s instructions. She decided to treat the token as a surprise hidden weapon to use against opponents.

Under Jing Ke’s protection, the Luo Residence household passed through the month of November without incident. Notably, Third Master Luo made a special visit mid-month. After hinting that he had spent double the amount to withdraw the assassination contract, he announced he would be departing Peace Offering City that very day.

Jing Ke acknowledged this flatly, then casually mentioned being attacked by an assassin on the way back from his place the other day. She forced Third Master Luo to cough up fifty taels of silver from his dwindling funds before grudgingly letting him leave.

Truthfully, Jing Ke had wanted to eliminate this man who had once bullied her little disciple. But considering he was technically one of her disciple’s few remaining blood relatives, she suppressed the impulse. This matter could wait until her disciple grew up. If she wanted to kill him, she could any time. There was no need to rush now.

November passed, and the twelfth lunar month quietly arrived.

On the first day of La Yue, snowflakes began drifting from the sky, swirling like willow catkins, descending in large drifts.

Upon rising from her bed, Luo Yuezhu saw the snow falling through the half-open window. She hurriedly dressed and pushed open the door to watch the snow. The snow had actually started falling around the beginning of the Yin hour. By the Mao hour (5-7 AM) when daylight appeared, the rooftops and open spaces in the courtyard were already covered in snow about two finger-widths thick.

“Master, it’s snowing!” Seeing her Master push open the neighboring door, a bright smile lit up Luo Yuezhu’s face.

“Mm, it’s snowing,” Jing Ke said, walking over to gently brush the snowflakes from her little disciple’s hair.

“It’s snowing today, so I’ll grant you a day off. How about taking a carriage out to see the snowy scenery?” Jing Ke offered.

An exceptionally strict Master would also want to reward their disciple upon seeing good performance, wouldn’t they?

“Okay, thank you, Master! Will Master ride in the carriage with me?” Luo Yuezhu asked.

Luo Yuezhu’s birthday was on the third day of the second spring month, still over two months away, so she was still ten years old. The childlike wonder in her heart hadn’t been completely extinguished.

“Mm, with you,” Jing Ke said. Since it was snowing, there was no need to suffer the cold riding a horse outside. She might as well enjoy the pleasure of a carriage ride.

They set off immediately. After a simple breakfast, Luo Yuezhu led her Master onto the carriage, with the familiar Servant Boy acting as the Groom. Their plan was to head out of the city and look around.

There weren’t many shops outside the city, mostly just small tea stalls convenient for travelers to rest. So, before leaving the city, Luo Yuezhu had the Servant Boy stop briefly in front of a pastry shop. Only after purchasing enough pastries to fill three stomachs did the carriage roll out through the City Gate.