Chapter 338 - 212: Qi Blood Second Transformation

Chapter 338: Chapter 212: Qi Blood Second Transformation

"...The Cloud-Entering Sword Skill. I’ve made some small progress."

Xie Yuan fell silent for a moment, making one last effort.

A soft chuckle seemed to come from behind the desk, making Xie Yuan’s face burn.

Li Xingtuo put down his brush, sized up Xie Yuan, and said with a faint, teasing smile:

"Requesting leave? Do you think you’re ready to roam the martial world with your partner now?"

"..."

Xie Yuan was completely silent.

’How does this guy seem to know everything?’

’Of course, I didn’t go out of my way to hide the fact that I was sending letters. I just had an outer disciple deliver it for me, so anyone who cared to look could have tracked it. But for Li Xingtuo to know about such a trivial matter... is he paying too much attention to me, or does he really have his eyes on every single thing that happens in the Sect, big or small?’

’He wouldn’t be using the Floating Light and Shadow Sword to peep on everyone, would he? A Sect Leader who likes to sneak a look from the back door?’

Recalling the gossip from those Grandmasters, Xie Yuan couldn’t help but feel a little suspicious.

But this gave him a new appreciation for Li Xingtuo’s perceptiveness. Thinking about all his previous self-righteous and presumptuous attempts at concealment, he realized they had probably all been seen through long ago, much to the other’s amusement. Xie Yuan’s toes couldn’t help but curl.

’Forget it. I’m eating your food and using your resources. Sooner or later, I’ll learn every Cultivation Technique in your Sect, and then we’ll be even!’

Li Xingtuo chuckled.

"Fine, fine. The Cloud Mountain Sword Sect isn’t a prison. If you want to take leave, then take leave. But how many days are you planning to be gone, and where are you going for your training? It’s not exactly peaceful out there right now."

Xie Yuan pondered for a moment before saying:

"Sect Leader, this disciple plans to take leave for half a month. My... friend and I heard that women and children have been continuously disappearing along the Yunyan border. The situation is quite widespread, so we plan to investigate."

Hearing this, Li Xingtuo nodded in approval.

"Excellent! Aiding the weak, punishing evil, and promoting good are the duties of us disciples of the Sword Sect. It seems you aren’t just freeloading here every day, eating until the kitchens on Ruyun Peak cry for mercy... Wait a moment."

He seemed to recall something. He rummaged through a nearby stack of scrolls, pulled one out, and looked at it, his brow furrowing slightly.

"We’ve had disciples investigate this matter before, but... it seems to be related to the local government, so they couldn’t proceed further."

Li Xingtuo mused for a moment, then said slowly:

"This matter has wide-reaching implications; it probably won’t be easy to uncover the truth in one go. If you encounter obstacles, don’t act rashly. Just come back and ask for help. This case... might not be so simple."

The implication was that even in Li Xingtuo’s eyes, the matter was complicated. He wasn’t optimistic that two young people could unravel all the tangled threads and resolve it smoothly.

"Yes! This disciple accepts the order."

Xie Yuan said, cupping his fists.

Li Xingtuo nodded and waved his hand, dismissing him.

"Go on. But if you do find something, I’ll record it as a merit for you. You can use it to exchange for an advanced Cultivation Technique or something."

He said it casually, but it made Xie Yuan pause once more before he obediently withdrew.

’An advanced Cultivation Technique... I just learned the Cloud-Entering Sword Skill, so he obviously doesn’t mean for me to switch my Swordsmanship.’

’That can only mean the Sword Sect’s Inner Power, the very thing I just set as my goal.’

’Why do I feel like I’m standing naked in front of Li Xingtuo, as if he’s seen through everything, right down to my underwear... That old peeping tom.’

Still, he hadn’t expected to get such surprising information just from asking for leave.

Even before his breakthrough, Xie Yuan and Situ Qin had already decided on the goal for this trip together: to pass through the Yunyan border and solve this major human trafficking case.

Both Xie Yuan and Situ Qin despised the trafficking of women and children. They never imagined the reason the case couldn’t be solved was because it involved the local government...

Xie Yuan nodded slightly. He went back, packed his things, informed Lin Cheng, and then headed down the mountain by himself.

The city of Yunzhou Prefecture seemed to be as crowded as ever, its streets teeming with people and carriages.

Xie Yuan familiarly made his way to a grand lane with high gates, entered a large estate that took up half the street, and was led by a maid toward a waterside pavilion.

Before he even reached the pavilion, Xie Yuan heard the melodious sound of a zither drifting out from within, each note like heavenly music to his ears.

Xie Yuan stood at the entrance to the pavilion, listening quietly. Only after the piece was finished did he hear Situ Qin’s cheerful voice from inside:

"Master Xie, what are you doing eavesdropping at the door? Get in here!"

Only then did Xie Yuan enter the pavilion, clapping his hands and saying:

"It’s been a while, Miss Qin, and your zither skills have improved again! As soon as your song began, it was as if I was hit by an Immobilization Skill—I couldn’t move. I was so moved I almost cried!"

"That flattery is way over the top. Take it back and try again!"

Situ Qin, sitting by the lakeside railing, giggled.

Today, Situ Qin wore a lake-blue long dress, its layered skirt pooling on the ground. She looked graceful and gentle, a sight that stirred Xie Yuan’s heart.

But her large eyes were still incredibly lively. Her dark pupils gazed at Xie Yuan as if she had many things to say, but in the end, her eyes just curved into a warm smile.

Xie Yuan sat down right next to the zither and said:

"I’ve reached the Qi and Blood Second Transformation Realm. When are we setting off?"

"I received your letter. I’m ready too."

Situ Qin tucked a stray strand of hair, her tone a little strange.

"I just didn’t expect you to be so fast..."

Xie Yuan coughed.

"Let’s rephrase that. ’Astonishingly rapid progress’ sounds better."

Situ Qin blinked, looking puzzled.

"What’s the difference?"

"In the future, you... Haha, it’s nothing. Isn’t my cultivation slower than yours? You broke through a long time ago."

Xie Yuan shook his head and sighed.

"But my cultivation level was so much higher than yours to begin with. I never thought you, Master Xie, could actually catch up, even if you’re still a little bit behind..."

Situ Qin’s tone was a mixture of surprise and admiration. She held up her slender hand, making a "little bit" gesture with her index finger and thumb.

Hearing the beauty’s praise, Xie Yuan couldn’t help but feel a little smug. However, he also understood that "a little bit" was just her being modest. If Situ Qin truly focused on her cultivation, her progress would be no slower than his.