Without even asking Gu Linshu whether he wanted them, Wen Li casually stepped forward to loot the four cultivators’ storage bags. After feeding the corpses to her corpse bugs for a hearty meal, she burned whatever remained to ashes.
She gave it some thought. Having just arrived in the Northern Province, she didn't possess any hair or personal belongings from enemies to plant as evidence, so she asked Gu Linshu:
“Do you have anything belonging to your enemies? Knowing their identities works too.”
Gu Linshu pondered for a moment before shaking his head. “N-no. Basically... my parents already killed them all.”
“...” Wen Li had an epiphany. No wonder this kid was so ruthless at such a tender age—turns out he had stellar role models.
She then brought Gu Linshu back to where they had first crossed paths. After killing the Foundation Establishment old man and wiping away all traces of the deed, she rushed back to Yue City with Gu Linshu.
Before the two even reached the city gates, they could see a group of people standing on high alert from a distance. The leaders were a handsome man and a beautiful woman, their dignified bearing clearly fostered by years of wielding immense power in high positions.
The moment the two cultivators spotted Gu Linshu’s return, their stern, tense expressions melted away, instantly replaced by gentle warmth as they flew forward to welcome their child.
Their identities were self-evident. They had undoubtedly received word of Gu Linshu being abducted; had Gu Linshu not sent back a talisman assuring them of his safety, the entire row of cultivators standing at the gate would likely have charged out of the city on a rampage.
“Shu'er, how are you? Are you hurt anywhere?” The beautiful woman was Gu Linshu’s mother, Yan Jingyu. She rushed forward, pulling Gu Linshu into an embrace and checking him from head to toe for injuries.
“Mother, I'm fine.” Gu Linshu shook his head to reassure her.
The middle-aged man beside her was Gu Linshu’s father, Gu Feiyuan. His gaze settled on Wen Li. “I presume this Daoist friend is the one who rescued my son?”
Wen Li couldn't discern their cultivation levels, but she knew a Third-Grade Cultivation Kingdom possessed at least four Soul Formation cultivators. Since both individuals before her were the leaders of the Wangyue Sect, they had to be in the Soul Formation realm.
Even though a Soul Formation cultivator politely addressed a Foundation Establishment like her as “fellow Daoist,” Wen Li knew better than to act presumptuous. She hurriedly waved her hands.
“No, junior hardly lifted a finger. In fact, it was your esteemed son who handled everything himself; I merely ran errands alongside him.”
Despite her words, Gu Feiyuan remained courteous. “Even so, my son is indebted to you, fellow Daoist. Please, do not look down on our humble abode, and allow my wife and me the chance to express our gratitude.”
Wen Li smiled faintly. “Then it would be impolite to refuse. Thank you very much.”
Gu Linshu looked up at her without saying a word, following his parents as they brought Wen Li back to the Wangyue Sect.
The moment they crossed into the city and entered the true Wangyue Sect grounds, Wen Li was nearly blinded by the dazzling golden brilliance everywhere. Looking closely, she realized—oh, aren't those High Grade Rank 1 night pearls being used as mere lighting?
Huh, aren't those the path-guiding cranes she had once seen Nascent Soul cultivators fighting tooth and nail over? Here, they were kept as mascots.
And that... Wen Li caught sight of a spirit crystal—the very kind consumed to open the Interprovincial Passage. Right now, it was inlaid into a chair in the main hall. To be precise, an entire set of tables and chairs was crafted from spirit crystals!
Wen Li looked down at her patched, faded garments. Wow. She hated rich people!
When you were born with a golden spoon, you never needed to worry about a backup plan.
“Heh.” Thinking about this, Wen Li laughed out loud from sheer indignation.
Beside her, Gu Linshu turned his head in confusion.
“Wh-what's wrong?”
Without looking up, Wen Li muttered, “Just another day of laughing at my own poverty.”
“Oh. I've... n-never experienced that. Wh-what does it f-feel like?”
Gu Linshu asked in earnest. He had no concept of what qualified as being poor—did it mean having only half of his ten black-gold spirit stone cards left?
“All right, hush. Don't speak.” Wen Li pressed a finger to her lips.
“Oh.” Gu Linshu obediently shut his mouth, but paused before adding, “Wh-why won't you let me sp-speak? My parents s-said that if I talk more, I w-won't stutter.”
Wen Li hadn't expected this little stutterer to be such a chatterbox. With his parents walking right ahead, however, she couldn't blabber carelessly. She simply nodded in agreement.
“Oh. They're right.”
Their little interaction didn't escape Gu Feiyuan and Yan Jingyu up front. The couple exchanged a glance, but said nothing.
The four took their seats.
As a guest, Wen Li naturally didn't touch her chopsticks first. Only after Gu Feiyuan raised his wine cup did she lift hers in response.
“Thank you, fellow Daoist, for lending a helping hand to my son today.”
Wen Li replied, “It was nothing, just passing through. But I've always been upright and outspoken, and I despise bullies who pick on the weak. Helping out was no trouble at all.”
She merely brought the cup to her lips and took a gentle sip without swallowing it all, which couldn't quite be considered faking it.
Gu Feiyuan—who had already heard everything from Gu Linshu, knowing full well that after Gu Linshu killed the four men, Wen Li helped destroy the corpses, asked for enemy items to frame someone else, and even took Gu Linshu back to finish off the old man to silence him—smiled faintly.
“Fellow Daoist is indeed righteous and forthright, leaving not a shred of evidence behind.”
Hearing this, Wen Li instantly knew Gu Linshu had spilled every single detail of how she “saved” him. Not in the least flustered, she stated candidly, “I am merely a rogue cultivator. Traveling out in the world, I treasure my life above all else, so I must exercise the utmost caution.”
Yan Jingyu, who had just finished peeling a shrimp for Gu Linshu using her spiritual energy, expressed surprise. “You are actually a rogue cultivator? To reach Foundation Establishment Great Perfection on your own is truly remarkable. No wonder you have developed such sharp and vigilant habits.”
Her words smoothed over the slight tension.
Wen Li smiled. “Madam flatters me.”
The rest of the meal proceeded smoothly without further incident. If their son hadn't been involved, cultivators of Gu Feiyuan and Yan Jingyu's stature would never have sat at the same table with a Foundation Establishment junior, let alone inquired about their background.
After the meal, Gu Feiyuan arranged for Wen Li to stay in the Wangyue Sect, urging her to remain as their guest for a few days.
Wen Li didn't refuse and accepted the offer.
Now, strolling around the guest cave abode assigned to her and finding no hidden traps or surveillance, she lay down peacefully on the bed.
【Host, hurry up and trick your third disciple!】
With her legs crossed, Wen Li stared at the ceiling, utterly drained of motivation. “Trick him how? The kid has all the wealth and talent in the world, not to mention parents in the Soul Formation realm. If a mere Foundation Establishment like me tries to swindle him into taking me as his master, his parents will probably obliterate me before he can even answer.”
That meal earlier had seemed like an expression of gratitude, but it carried an undercurrent of intimidation. After all, her appearance had been far too coincidental, and her methods ruthlessly decisive.
Still, seeing that she was merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator posing no real threat, they had dropped a few subtle hints and left it at that.
The system paused for a long while before chiming in: 【How about... you try knocking Gu Linshu out and kidnapping him directly?】
Wen Li rolled her eyes. “Didn't you see the crowd of high-level cultivators waiting to welcome Gu Linshu when we returned? If he hadn't come back, that wouldn't have been a welcoming party—it would've been an army mobilized to slaughter whoever took him. I want to live. You go ahead if you want.”
【Ugh, this won't work, that won't work! Why don't you find the next disciple first, and come back after his sect gets wiped out and he turns evil?】 The system's suggestions turned equally sinister.
Wen Li actually pondered the idea seriously. “Wait a minute. Last time Feng Ling chased me, didn't I get a supreme immortal sword on credit? The condition was to unlock everyone within three years. Since I've already unlocked Gu Linshu, I don't necessarily have to take him as a disciple right now. Forget it, I'm bouncing.”
No sooner said than done. She rolled out of bed and surveyed the priceless items decorating the room. Everything was ridiculously expensive.
She tried to resist, but couldn't help reaching out to grab them, stuffing them straight into her storage bag—not even sparing the night pearl used for lighting.
Wen Li's eyes then landed on the spirit crystals embedded in the wall. Taking out a kitchen knife, she began carefully prying them loose.
【Host, you're acting like you haven't seen money in eight hundred years. You clearly have some savings of your own!】
“No, you don't understand the craving of someone driven mad by poverty. When you've experienced snatching food directly from a dog's jaws just to survive, you'll still be addicted to accumulating money even after getting rich.”
The system couldn't comprehend.
“What are you doing?”
“Duh, deducting some travel expenses.” Wen Li thought it was the system speaking. But wait...
【That wasn't me!】
The voice had come from right behind her.
Rate on N.U.
