Chapter 129: Azuremist sect.

Chapter 129: Azuremist sect.There were many things Lee could tell his new friend, but to not sound like a drama queen, he simply said, "The woman you saw, she’s a real bitch. When you see her the next time, run and don’t look back."

"Why would I see her ... you think they are following us?" Xiao Lian asked, and threw a worried glance around, but the mountain slope they were currently going down had nothing but threes.

"She’s in the Nethermoon sect. Technically one of ours." Lee said, "The other guys too. You heard her – it was some kind of a training mission, and my guess is that she was leading the group of outer sect’s disciples so they could hone their skills, or something."

"But why would she kill the guy? The punishment ..." Xiao Lian said, but Lee interrupted him.

He said, "There won’t be any punishment, because no one saw anything ... Although even I didn’t know she’s so vicious. From the looks of it Deen and Edward are the next. Me too, if she finds me."

"What? Why?!" Xiao Lian stopped, his face pale as if he was one of the potential targets.

"My guess is she decided to start from a clean slate." Lee explained, "She probably doesn’t want anyone to know where she came from, and what she has done. What’s more important, one of the guys in the group, Edward, was once her fiance. Actually I’m surprised he’s still alive."

"So you came from the same world?" Xiao Lian asked the obvious, but seeing Lee nod, fell deep in thoughts again.

They walked mostly in silence for the rest of the day, and only the next morning Xiao Lian was back to his old self.

***

The Azuremist sect was of similar size to the Nethermoon sect. In fact, both were subsidiaries of the Celestial Abyss sect, the main hegemon of this world. It had subdued dozens of smaller sects, but there were many independent ones as well.



Of course, it was impossible to survive without having some kind of relationship with the Celestial Abyss even if the sect formally didn’t belong to it, but usually it was in a form of pseudo-voluntary tribute.

The main difference that set the Azuremist sect apart from the Nethermoon sect was the fact that the former was located in mountains. While Lee wasn’t certain whether it had any advantages regarding cultivation, it had clearly defensive applications.

The two were stopped at a large gate between two cliffs and had to register their delivery. After receiving visitor’s tokens, they proceeded to the Mission Hall, which here was named Task Pavilion, and delivered the package.

Apparently, when picking up the mission, Hiao Lian failed to notice the fact that they had to bring a return delivery back to the Nethermoon sect. Apart from Xiao Lian blushing from embarrassment, of course, it wasn’t a big deal. All they had to do was to throw a package of a similar size, back in the bag.

Both noted they had to return to Han Li and express their thanks. Even after falling in the water, the contents of Xiao Lian’s bag were dry and clean. Lee’s, of course, because of the bandit’s head he stuffed in his, was a different matter.

He tried to get rid of it right away, though.

"By chance, do you have wanted missions to kill bandit leaders?" Lee asked the disciple performing the clerk’s duties in Task Pavilion.

"Sure." The guy said, "But you’re not our disciples and can’t receive the reward."

"Can we get at least something?" Lee asked, and pulled the head out, "I really don’t want to carry this thing all the way back to the sect."

Most people around them took an involuntary step back, but the clerk curiously inspected the head.

He said, "Let me check if you have killed someone noteworthy. You can’t get payed for killing random people, you know?"

After going through a bunch of papers, mostly drawn pictures, he found one that depicted an angry guy, who somewhat resembled the head Lee held.

"The best I can do is to give you hundred silvers for that." The clerk said, "That’s what the town guard was ready to pay for this guy."



"Oh! I should’ve thought of that!" Lee shook his head, and awkwardly laughed, "We should’ve visited one of the towns on the way."

But hundred silvers wasn’t bad. Lee didn’t know what he could buy for that, but at least now they had some regular currency.

"Thanks!" He said, "Which way is the Spirit Rise? We need to deliver a letter."

"All deliveries are received here." The clerk said, "Whom is the letter addressed to?"

"Elder Mu Qiyun." Xiao Lian said.

"Ehmm ... there is no Elder Mu in the Azuremist sect." The clerk said, "Are you sure you didn’t mix anything up?"

Lee and Xiao Lian looked at each other in confusion, and could only shrug. The pretty senior sister was the one who approached them knowing where they were going to. If anyone messed up, it was her fault.

Of course, that was Lee’s train of thought. Xiao Lian immediately began to worry he was going to let her down.

What neither of them noticed, was a disciple sitting further in the corner. The guy wore an inconspicuous black clothing and seemingly aimlessly looked around, while closely listening to everything that went on. The moment Elder Mu Qiyun was mentioned, he noted the two messengers and rushed off.

***

Lee and Xiao Lian were almost at the sect’s gates, when a plump disciple in a turquoise blue robe caught up to them. He was completely out of breath and caught Xiao Lian by the hand to stop them, but couldn’t explain his reasoning while gasping for air.

’Who would’ve though.’ Lee pondered, while waiting for the guy to catch his breath, ’Turns out sick people could also become inner disciples. Or maybe his dad is an elder or something.’

The guy was really fat, although, his face seemed too slim for the proportions of the body. He was far from being physically fit thus it was strange that he wore fancy clothing that implied him being an inner disciple.



"Sorry ... huh, huh ... sorry, you two ... huh ..." The fatty tried to speak, while still gasping for air, "Elder Mu was furious ... huh, huh ... furious my junior brother sent you off ... huh ... and now I had to look for you, sorry about that."

"Why did the guy at the Task Pavilion send us away?" Xiao Lian asked.

"He belongs to the Task Pavilion and currently his and our elders have ... well ... they have a difference in opinion. I’m sorry! Here, take these as a compensation for your trouble." The fat guy pulled out of his pockets two small bottles, apparently made of jade, "Please don’t tell anyone about this, I have enough trouble as it is!"

"These are ... sensory pills?" Xiao Lian’s eyes widened as he stretched out his trembling hand.

"Yes, these will allow you to better sense the elemental particles during cultivation, increasing chances to ignite your sparks." The fatty said, "I had two left over, so it’s great they can be useful to you."

"We can’t accept these!" Xiao Lian said, "They are too valuable!"

"Elder Mu Qinyun’s reputation is worth much more." The fatty said, pressed the two bottles in Xiao Lian’s hand and took the letter he just pulled from the bag.

"Take care! The elder will scold me if I don’t get back soon! Have a safe trip!" The last part he shouted already from a distance, because once again, huffing and puffing, he rushed away.

"Brother Lee!" Xiao Lian held the two jade bottles so tight, it seemed he could crush them, "We’re so lucky!"

"Mhm." Lee couldn’t really say anything about it, but it felt not right to take a candy from a stranger. The fatty didn’t feel right and, in fact, nothing about that letter or the reward was normal.

On the other hand, Lee had been in this world for less than three months and during this time all he did was get beaten up. It was hard to tell what was normal and what not.

In the end he decided to not worry about unnecessary things. He was more excited to get to the closest town. He really wanted to try out something he hadn’t done for a long time.