“You’re quite bold to rob people from the Yin Yang Sect in broad daylight!”
The pale-faced scholar’s expression darkened.
The black-clothed woman hiccupped loudly, swayed slightly, then gripped the hilt of her enormous sword.
“Hiccup! Old man, I am robbing you, so what? What are you gonna do about it?”
She swung the massive sword as if it were a toy, sending a gust of wind that made the Yin Yang Sect disciples stumble back in fear.
The pale-faced scholar’s eyes flickered with hesitation.
This woman… her strength matches mine. And that girl has a single water spirit root—she’s a top-tier dual cultivation partner!
He clenched his jaw and turned to his subordinates.
“Hold her off—I’ll go get the Hall Master!”
An Unexpected Turn
But before his men could move, a gnarled hand grasped his wrist.
A skinny old man with half his face covered by a mask grinned at him, revealing a mouthful of crooked, rotten teeth.
“What’s the rush, young man?”
With a gentle squeeze, the short sword in the scholar’s hand began to bend and twist, making a creaking sound.
The pale-faced scholar froze in place, unable to move under the old man’s immense pressure.
Behind him, he heard a muffled groan, followed by thuds as his subordinates collapsed to the ground.
He whipped his head around, and his face drained of all color.
Three figures in black stood ominously in the street.
One tall and thin.
One of medium build.
One short and stout.
They carried swords on their waists, and each had a bulging bag slung over their backs—filled with unknown contents.
Where did they even come from?!
Why are there no city guards stopping them?
Why has no other sect intervened?!
Robbing the Robbers
A calm voice drifted from above.
“Enough talk. Grab everything and let’s go.”
A man stepped out onto the rooftop, dressed in black robes, with a hood partially covering his face.
His waist was adorned with various weapons—and among them…
The Hall Master’s sword!
The pale-faced scholar broke into a cold sweat.
When was our Hall Master robbed?!
His smugness evaporated instantly.
Forcing an awkward smile, he bowed deeply.
“S-Senior, I was blind and didn’t recognize greatness. Please, take the girl. I will leave immediately—right now!”
The old man clicked his tongue and grinned wider.
“Tsk tsk. Not so fast.”
“Drop all your magic tools, spirit stones, and storage bags—on the ground.”
The scholar’s face twitched. But under the old man’s terrifying gaze, he had no choice.
One by one, he emptied his belongings.
“The jade pendant too.”
“…”
“Your robe as well.”
“Elder Li, that’s enough.”****”
The black-clothed woman finally spoke up.
Elder Li sighed dramatically, patting the scholar’s robe.
“What a pity. It’s a nice robe.”
The scholar nearly burst into tears.
“C-Can I leave now?”
The old man grinned, stuffing the stolen short sword into his storage bag.
“Go on, then.”
The scholar didn’t hesitate. He turned and soared into the sky without a second glance, leaving his fallen subordinates behind.
“Drag your men away, boy!” the old man called after him.
The scholar flew even faster.
A Change in Focus
Now, five pairs of eyes turned toward Li Qingran.
She stepped back, instinctively shrinking into herself.
“J-Junior thanks the seniors for saving me!”
Despite their intimidating aura, she felt no hostility from them.
The old man grinned.
“You have great talent, little one. Want to join our sect?”
Li Qingran hesitated, then shook her head.
“Junior wishes to join Lingxi Valley.”
“You can practice medicine in our sect too.”
The black-clothed woman burped, lazily swinging her massive sword.
Li Qingran opened her mouth to refuse again, but—
“Hey! You can’t do this!”
A loud protest came from the rooftop.
The hooded man yanked off his mask, revealing a sharp-jawed cultivator with graying temples.
He pointed at Li Qingran dramatically.
“We are from Qingyun Sect!”
Li Qingran blinked in confusion.
Qingyun Sect?
One by one, the others removed their disguises.
The black-clothed woman shook off her veil, revealing long, jet-black hair and a beautiful but slightly drunken face.
Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes half-lidded, but her smile was mischievous.
She lifted her sword onto her shoulder and smirked.
“Little sister, as you can see—we just robbed people from another sect.”
The old man chuckled.
“And now that you know our identity—”
The man on the rooftop grinned.
“You have to come with us! Otherwise, we’ll have to kill you, hehe!”
Li Qingran: “…”
What kind of messed-up reasoning is this?!
She wasn’t that gullible.
The man on the rooftop had a sign on his waist—one that read:
【Sword Pavilion】
Sword Pavilion… Sword Gate…
Her heart skipped a beat as her mind made an unexpected connection.
But before she could process it, her feet suddenly lifted off the ground.
The black-clothed woman had grabbed her and pulled her onto her flying sword.
“Hold on tight, little sister~” she giggled.
The others mounted their own swords, their faces beaming with excitement.
The sword shot into the sky, wind rushing past them.
Li Qingran’s eyes squeezed shut from the force. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around the woman’s waist.
“Junior sister, if you’re scared, you can hold on tighter~“
The woman’s playful voice drifted into her ears.
Li Qingran exhaled slowly.
Forget it.
At least… they’re just like Master.
They don’t activate the windproof formation when flying their swords.
