186: Chapter 186 Half a Sister-in-Law

Zhou Da chimed in with a lewd tone, "Exactly, do you really think you're some kind of pure and immaculate Fairy? With an Inferior Spiritual Root, how could you Cultivate so fast? Who knows how many Zhao family disciples you've engaged in Dual Cultivation with behind the scenes. That figure of yours... tsk, I really wonder how wild you are in bed."

The night wind carried the faint noises from upstream into your ears. The five senses of an Origin Qi Realm Martial Artist far surpassed those of an ordinary Mid Qi Condensation Cultivator, so you could naturally hear those people muttering.

You opened your eyes.

Under the cold moonlight, your gaze did not fluctuate in the slightest, holding only pure chilliness. You stood up, dusted off the hem of your clothes, and headed straight back the way you came.

Qian Peng and the other three were huddled together laughing lewdly when they suddenly felt the light in front of them dim.

Raising their heads, they saw that you were already standing right in front of them.

"Have you said enough?" You looked down at them from above, your tone completely devoid of any fluctuation.

Qian Peng was startled at first, but seeing that it was only you and that you still had that delicate appearance, his courage suddenly surged. He stood up, patted his clothes, and smiled flirtatiously, "Fairy Lin, not sleeping in the middle of the night and running over to find us brothers—could it be that you've figured things out and need us to 'take care of you'?"

You looked at him: "I'm asking you, have you said enough of what you said just now?"

Qian Peng's expression changed slightly, but he still looked disdainful: "What words? Fairy Lin, you've just achieved a Breakthrough to Mid Qi Condensation, could it be that you've suffered from Qi Deviation and are hallucinating? The few of us brothers are chatting here, how does that interfere with you?"

"The Young Patriarch's worn-out shoe, raising cultivation by relying on Dual Cultivation." Your articulation was clear as you repeated their words from earlier, "You dare to say it, but you don't dare to admit it?"

Ma Ping stood up and sneered, "Lin Shuangwan, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Even if we said it, so what? If you did it, why can't people talk about it? We're all Guest Elders, do you think you're superior to others?"

You didn't waste any more breath. With the five fingers of your right hand slightly spread, you were about to strike directly. Relying on spiritual power, she might not be their match, but at this distance, she could beat them to the point where they couldn't take care of themselves!

Just then, a sharp sound of breaking air came from the night sky.

A cyan-gray sword light cleaved through the night. Zhao Zhanyuan descended on his flying sword, put away his magic sword, furrowed his brows tightly, and swept his gaze across the few of you.

"What is going on?" Zhao Zhanyuan's voice was cold and stern, carrying the coercion of Late Stage Qi Condensation.

The Cultivators resting nearby were also awakened by the commotion over here and gathered around one after another.

Qian Peng's expression changed, and he quickly put on a flattering smile, "Senior Brother Zhao, it's nothing, nothing at all. We were just joking around with Fairy Lin; Fairy Lin probably misunderstood something."

Zhao Zhanyuan ignored him and instead turned his head to look at you.

He naturally remembered you. Last time at the market, he had seen with his own eyes that you were close with his cousin, Young Patriarch Zhao Zhanyuan. That fellow Zhao Zhanyuan had always been as cold as ice toward women, yet his attitude toward you seemed somewhat different.

At the time, he even thought this matter would succeed, and was happy for his cousin in his heart. Although your Spiritual Root was a bit lacking, with this appearance and figure, the talent and looks of the descendants born to the Zhao family would definitely not be bad. Even though the two of you seemed to have no movement now, in his heart, you were more or less half a "sister-in-law".

"What he said is true?" Zhao Zhanyuan asked you.

"It's not." You looked at Zhao Zhanyuan, "They were gossiping behind my back just now, saying that I'm a worn-out shoe discarded by the Young Patriarch, and that I raise my cultivation by engaging in Dual Cultivation with others."

As soon as these words were spoken, the surroundings instantly quieted down.

Zhao Zhanyuan's expression sank instantly. This was not only insulting you, but even more so, orchestrating rumors about the Zhao family's Young Patriarch.

"Senior Brother Zhao! There's no such thing!" Qian Peng panicked and hurriedly waved his hands, "We definitely never mentioned the Young Patriarch! We just... just casually joked around a few times, absolutely without any malicious intent! According to the Zhao family's rules, we didn't even make a move, so we didn't break the rules!"

Zhao Zhanyuan stared at Qian Peng, his gaze like a blade, "You think this is joking?"

"Senior Brother Zhao, this really is a misunderstanding..." Ma Ping still wanted to quibble.

"Shut up."

Zhao Zhanyuan took a sudden step forward, and the spiritual power coercion of the eighth layer of Qi Condensation erupted, pressing directly down on the three of them. Qian Peng and the other two felt a tightness in their chests, retreating several steps in succession, their faces turning pale.

"In my team, orchestrating rumors about fellow Daoists and presumptuously discussing the Young Patriarch—do you think the Zhao family's rules cannot deal with you?" Zhao Zhanyuan's tone was bone-chillingly cold as he directly announced the punishment, "Qian Peng, Ma Ping, Zhou Da, starting from today, 2 contribution points will be deducted from your daily task earnings and fully compensated to Guest Elder Lin. Do you have any objections?"

Qian Peng and the other two widened their eyes with panic in their hearts. 2 points a day—that meant this trip's mission would be almost entirely in vain for them, and they might even end up owing points!

They could see that Zhao Zhanyuan was brazenly favoring you. Although they were puzzled and filled with resentment in their hearts, this was the Zhao family's territory after all, and the other party was at Late Stage Qi Condensation.

"N—No objections, obey orders." Qian Peng gritted his teeth and lowered his head.

"Let it go this time." Zhao Zhanyuan withdrew his coercion and glanced coldly at them, "If you dare to cause trouble under me again next time, you can just scram right back. Understood?"

"Understood." The three of them slinked back into the crowd in disgrace.

After this incident, everyone's gaze toward you changed. Everyone was no fool; Zhao Zhanyuan's favoritism was obvious even to a blind person. In the subsequent journey, no one ever dared to come and find trouble with you again.

Five days later.

The team officially entered the outer periphery of the Ten Thousand Mountains. Towering ancient trees blocked out the sunlight, and the forest was permeated with a damp and rotting aura.

Zhao Zhanyuan gathered everyone: "According to the plan, form your own teams of three to five people. During the day, search for the traces of the Red-Scaled Python in the designated areas, and you must return to the camp before sunset. Begin grouping now."

You stood in place and did not actively look for teammates.

Not long after, a female Cultivator wearing the Zhao family attire walked over. Her name was Zhao Qinghe, with a fifth-layer Qi Condensation cultivation base, delicate looks, and a rather bright and cheerful personality.

"Guest Elder Lin, our team is still short of one person. Would you like to join?" Zhao Qinghe took the initiative to invite.

You looked at the two male Cultivators behind her, both of whom were collateral branches of the Zhao family with cultivation around the fourth layer of Qi Condensation. You nodded: "Alright, many thanks."

Zhao Qinghe smiled: "What are you being polite for? We look out for each other. You draw Talismans well, and when we encounter danger, we'll have to count on your Talismans."

Over the next few days, your group was responsible for searching the area on the east side of the camp.