White-Robed Chief

The woman in white said, “After reviving him, let him stay here first while you make a trip to Hu State City. We’ve received another recommendation there. Go and see if he’s worthy to be brought back. If he seems fine, I can transmit the scripture to both of them in one go.”

“Understood,” Miss Ruolan replied.

The woman in white waved a hand.

Miss Ruolan picked Chu Li up by his waistband and glided out of the backyard. She brought him to the front courtyard and found a small house before entering its bedchamber and laying Chu Li down on the bed.

“Bang!” Miss Ruolan suddenly struck Chu Li on the chest with her palm.

Chu Li felt an extremely strong force surging into his precordium. It felt as though he had been struck by lightning as the strange force entered his body and caused his heart to start beating again. As this raging force circulated throughout his body, he was filled with vitality and came back to life.

Miss Ruolan took a deep breath as her charming face paled slightly.

Chu Li knew that her extraordinary palm energy contained a profound mystery of its own.

Miss Ruolan watched him with unblinking eyes while steadying her breathing beside the bed. Her chest rose and fell noticeably in sync with her breathing.

As Chu Li’s eyes fluttered open, he stared at the caisson ceiling in a daze.

Miss Ruolan said, “You’re awake?”

When Chu Li turned his head and looked at her before his eyes widened. “Miss Ruolan, you’re dead too?”

Miss Ruolan replied, “I’m not dead, and neither are you.”

“That shouldn’t be.” Chu Li had integrated the traits of stubbornness and stupidity so well into his being that he was a carbon copy of the man. Right now, he seemed like he had genuinely turned into Zhao Dahe. “I very clearly recall that I was been killed by that bastard Feng Xi. How could I have survived?”

“You’re not dead,” Miss Ruolan said.

She knew that she should not judge a book by its cover, but no matter how she looked at him, his droopy eyelids, flat nose, and thick lips were an eyesore – she could not bring herself to like him at all. She tried her best to face him calmly, but it took great effort to not treat him coldly because of his ugly appearance.

Furthermore, he did not have a very likable personality given his stubbornness and quick temper.

Chu Li was dumbfounded. “Really, I’m not dead?”

“No,” Miss Ruolan replied. “You’re in Ben State City now. A few days later, the Saint will transmit our martial arts to you. Then, you’ll become a lower mountain disciple of the Holy Church of Light.”

Chu Li replied delightedly, “So, was it Miss Ruolan who saved my life?”

Miss Ruolan responded, “It wasn’t me. It was just a test to see whether or not you’ve hidden any martial art skills as well as to check your response before death.”

In many cases, it was very hard to tell a person’s true nature. She had seen too many people who had appeared to be brave and fearless on the surface but would change into a completely different person before a powerful enemy. When their struggles and resists were rendered useless, they would kneel and beg for mercy in hopes of having their lives spared.

Due to this, she felt that the best time to gauge a person’s heart was when they were staring death in the face.

“Did Commander Zhou know about this too?” Chu Li grunted.

Miss Ruolan nodded. “Of course, he knew! The Saint has a divine skill that allows her to read people’s minds. Zhao Dahe, if you’ve done anything shameful and have kept it a secret, or if you bear any treacherous intent, you better consider coming clean and leave as soon as possible. If you wait for the Saint to discover it herself, you’ll be put to death right away.”

Chu Li muttered with resentment, “So Commander Zhou knew about it too!”

Miss Ruolan looked at him with a frown. “Is there anything you’d like to come clean about then? Or would you like to leave?”

Chu Li went on muttering, “I’ve misjudged him after all!”

Miss Ruolan’s frown deepened into a scowl.

Chu Li hurriedly waved his hand. “I’ve done nothing shameful, and what does ‘treacherous intent’ mean?”

“It means that you have ulterior motives behind joining the Holy Church.”

“If I want to kill Feng Xi, does that count as bearing treacherous intent?”

“Feng Xi is a disciple of the Church. Our rules prohibit any internal strife among the disciples. If you were to kill Feng Xi, according to the Church’s rules, you’ll have to be put to death as well!”

“So, I can’t kill Feng Xi once I join the Church?” Chu Li stared at her wide-eyed.

Miss Ruolan slowly nodded.

“Then I refuse to join the Church!”

“If you don’t join the Church, you will never be able to defeat Feng Xi.”

“Says who!” Chu Li scoffed in discontent, but his expression became disgruntled.

Feng Xi was a Grandmaster after all, so how could he ever defeat him? No matter how strong he was, he would not be able to even land a finger on Feng Xi without an excellent Light-body Technique.

He had so thoroughly immersed himself in the identity of Zhao Dahe that his current thought process was no different than that of Zhao Dahe.

Miss Ruolan said, “Are you dead right now?”

“No.”

“Well then, this means that Feng Xi didn’t kill you. He was only doing this to test you – it was nothing like what Feng Changwen had done to you.”

“I suppose so…”

“Since he hasn’t killed you, there’s no need for you to return the favor. You only have to teach him a lesson.”

“Yes, I will definitely teach him a good lesson!”

“The Church forbids its disciples from killing one another, but sparring is allowed.” After having grasped Zhao Dahe’s way of thinking, Miss Ruolan guided him patiently and advised him accordingly. “You can force him to spar with you and seize the opportunity to give him a fierce beating.”

“One round isn’t enough.” Chu Li shook his head and said seriously, “At least ten rounds!”

Miss Ruolan smiled faintly. “As long as you’re capable of going up against him!”

A satisfied grin appeared on Chu Li’s face.

Miss Ruolan believed that there was nothing wrong with Zhao Dahe. However, since he was somewhat a dimwit, the main question would be how they were to put him to good use. He could hardly be given any major responsibility, so he would be treated as an instrument for killing.

“Stay here and don’t run around over the next few days. You’re not allowed to go to the backyard. You’ll be killed if you go there on purpose,” Miss Ruolan warned.

“Who’s at the backyard?” Chu Li asked.

Miss Ruolan replied, “That’s something you don’t have to know. It’ll be best for you to just stay in your room and not come out.”

“Then, I’ll just sleep,” Chu Li said.

Miss Ruolan nodded lightly. “Yes, that would be best.”

Then, she stood up and left.

…

At King An’s Imperial Residence in the Fairy’s Capital of the Ji Dynasty.

Chu Li appeared in the Tianshu Courtyard and found that only Xiao Shi around, practicing her breathing technique in clothes as white as snow. When she noticed Chu Li, she merely threw him a sideways glance and refused to acknowledge his presence.

Chu Li smiled. “How come my Lady is here alone?”

Xiao Shi continued to ignore him.

Chu Li was all smiles as he fixed his eyes on her.

Xiao Shi huffed. “Younger Sister was here earlier tonight. She just left.”

Chu Li nodded.

Using his Omniscient Mirror, Chu Li observed the situation in a residence behind the Imperial Residence. At present, Shen Yinghu was reading a book in a gazebo on a lake in the backyard while Xiao Qi meditated in the gazebo.

The lake water was calm and still, and it seemed like she was becoming one with the lake.

Chu Li frowned. The more tranquil her inner state became, the firmer it would grow. Thus, it would be increasingly hard for him to break through her inner state.

“You haven’t been back for a few days!” Xiao Shi ended her breathing practice and turned her gaze to him. “Is it because life is more interesting in the Li Dynasty?”

Chu Li chuckled and replied, “I’ll be able to infiltrate the Holy Church of Light soon.”

“So soon?” Xiao Shi seemed shocked.

Chu Li answered, “It’s been progressing quite smoothly.”

As he went and sat down by the stone table, Xiao Shi took the teacup Yang Xu had just brought out and served him. Her hand was almost as pale as the white porcelain teacup, and it was difficult to tell them apart.

After Yang Xu left them, Chu Li recounted everything that had happened to him over the past few days while Xiao Shi listened with great interest.

“What does the Saint look like?” Xiao Shi asked.

Chu Li shook his head. “Her face was veiled, so I couldn’t see what she looks like.”

Xiao Shi said, “She’s supposed to be the most beautiful woman in the Li Dynasty.”

Chu Li looked at her with a grin.

Xiao Shi rolled her eyes at him and went on, “You shouldn’t continue with this undercover agent stuff. You might lose yourself after becoming too mesmerized by her beauty.”

Chu Li broke into laughter.

Xiao Shi continued, “As for mind-reading… I’m not saying this to scare you, but the Holy Church of Light really do possess such a mystical art. It’s called the Mind Illumination Scripture. It’s very hard to cultivate because it requires talent of the highest degree. She might’ve cultivated this mystical art.”