Chapter 119 - Scumbag
Unbeknownst to Xun Yimu, she had unwittingly become a pawn in someone else's hands.
Guo Fan had used Xun Yimu's Mirage Sea Dark Iron for upgrades and even utilized her formations to apprehend spies from the devil religion.
What made it even more unsettling was that another woman had played a part in this.
What was even more disconcerting was that she had willingly divulged everything.
She had essentially handed over everything to him free of charge.
Guo Fan's plan was progressing smoothly, especially with the Tide-watching Sword-listening Conference approaching. Mobilizing large groups of people would draw unwanted attention. According to Yijun, their plan was set for the final day of the conference when the tide would be at its most powerful.
Consequently, there wasn't much to be done during the conference itself.
Fang Xiang concurred and inquired if there were any other requirements. Guo Fan requested a map, not just any map but a map of the Tianshu Earth Vein.
In the gaming world, it might have been a standard item for players, just a small map. However, in the Upper Central Realm, it held immense value. It provided real-time information about terrain and climate changes and helped with self-location, but only within areas the creator had explored. It had no effect beyond that scope.
Nevertheless, this map could be gradually expanded and supplemented by subsequent users.
Such maps were typically handed down through generations and could only be utilized by individuals at the Void Refining Stage or higher. The longer the map's history, the greater its worth.
The map in Night's Fall Sword City was among the highest grade, covering nearly the entire Middle Continent, with only a few uncharted, perilous regions like the Frightening Slopes.
Su Feng had personally crafted Guo Fan's clothing. The two Universe Creator Arrays were akin to backpacks, and now, with the addition of the small map, they had some resources at their disposal.
Except for the inability to earn EXP from monster hunting, they were virtually self-sufficient.
Guo Fan retrieved the map and realized it was already evening. He had reported to the Sword Pavilion in the morning, been caught by Sun Fen in the afternoon, and now the night had fallen. Lanterns illuminated the Oriental Lychee Tavern, and foot traffic had dwindled. Deciding to spend the night at the tavern seemed like a sensible choice.
He had to admit, the city lord's secret guards were truly remarkable.
Upon waking the following morning, Yueh found herself nestled in the city lord's embrace.
Fang Xiang gazed at him, one hand casually supporting her head with a smile, while the other lovingly stroked the back of the hidden guards. The blanket exuded an aura of motherly warmth.
Guo Fan's expression held a hint of amusement. He couldn't help but feel that allowing Fang Xiang to handle matters in the harem was more efficient than doing it himself.
He sat up and dressed, and as he looked up, he saw Yijun hanging upside down. “!”
“Huuu…”
Guo Fan let out a sigh of relief, his racing heart settling. He couldn't help but think that this child was becoming increasingly mysterious. What was going on?
He sighed and bid Yijun a good morning. Yijun nodded and retreated back to the top of the bed, instantly seeming to disappear again.
Guo Fan bid farewell to Fang Xiang and returned to the inn. The first person he spotted upon entering was the bewildered and absent-minded Luo Shun.
Luo Shun sat at a table outside the inn with a lost expression, sipping tea slowly and muttering to himself, “Why, why is it like this…” He seemed as though he was about to draw his sword and search for something.
It was as if he had drunk a cup of black tea the previous night and woken up to discover some perplexing twists in his life.
“?”
Guo Fan was momentarily taken aback. Just a day ago, Luo Shun had been contemplating the world and planning to forsake the immortal path to save the heroic young man from the Upper Central Realm. Yet today, he appeared as a despondent figure drowning in alcohol and deeper concerns.
“Senior Cui? Reverend Cui? Brother Cui?” Guo Fan approached and nudged him, waving his hand in front of Luo Shun's eyes. Luo Shun snapped out of his reverie and looked up to find Guo Fan. He suddenly said, “Oh, Xia Shui, you're back.”
“Um, Senior Cui, what's going on…?” Guo Fan inquired in confusion.
Luo Shun let out a deep sigh and set down his cup. “Ah, I'm planning to seek out the Destiny's Song Sword Cultivator. I want to challenge her once more. I managed to rebuild my Sword Heart, but as soon as I drew my sword, she appeared out of nowhere, inquiring if I had encountered someone. Then she cast a spell and vanished…”
He appeared somewhat lost and helpless, shaking his head as he continued, “I believe it's because the Destiny's Song Sword Cultivator is a righteous individual, and she must have come across some form of injustice. Perhaps some vile scoundrel needed to be brought to justice. But what baffles me is that she didn't regard me as a serious opponent in the least.”
The chief disciple of the Honed Reaver Sword Sect chuckled bitterly, adding, “Otherwise, she wouldn't have simply left.”
Indeed, she had left to administer justice to a scoundrel from the Liu family.
This Liu family scoundrel had over 200 ships under his command, and he had attached iron chains to them. In her presence, he had attempted to overturn a carriage, nearly costing him his life. In the end, he had pretended to be a child raised by the Night's Fall Sword City Lord. This heinous act had left another woman blushing with anger in front of her.
“…”
Damn it, so the culprit is you!
Guo Fan's lips curled into a wry smile. The same guy who had blocked his strike earlier had now recovered from his leg injury. It felt like he was living in fast-forward, unable to keep up with this whirlwind of events.
Even if he managed to win this time, Luo Shun would still end up being the loser!
Guo Fan had to admit his own carelessness in this matter. If he hadn't assumed that Luo Shun could handle it on his own, he would have been better prepared. At the very least, he wouldn't have been caught off guard.
Nevertheless, dwelling on his anger towards Luo Shun was pointless now that the situation had passed. It seemed like Luo Shun was going through a tough time himself.
Guo Fan considered challenging once more with renewed confidence, but he soon realized that the other party didn't even regard him as a significant opponent. His heart took another blow, casting a long shadow.
Guo Fan let out a sigh. They were all people living difficult lives, so why make things harder for one another?
He poured a cup of tea, clinked it with Luo Shun's, and consoled, “It's hard to say. Destiny's Song Sword Cultivator has more pressing matters to attend to. He's simply too occupied at the moment. Everyone has their own concerns. Senior Cui's strength and determination are certainly noteworthy, but the timing may not be right.”
Luo Shun clenched his teeth. “Little brother Xia Shui, you're right. I've already conquered my own doubts. After challenging him a second time, I drew my sword. I'll gather the courage to challenge myself a third time. I'll challenge myself—it's not about others' attitudes!”
As he stood up, Luo Shun felt like he had finally awakened. Just as he was about to express his gratitude to Xia Shui, he was taken aback. “By the way, Xia Shui, where were you last night? You didn't return overnight.”
Guo Fan was startled, but before he could respond, a fragrant breeze swept by. Tan Ling whispered, “It smells like a woman, and there's a distinct scent of spices from the Oriental Lychee Tavern. Did you visit a brothel?”
Guo Fan cleared his throat. “I only stayed for one night…”
Behind Tan Ling, Gu Chao's inquisitive young voice chimed in, “Isn't that place very dangerous? You shouldn't go there.”
The child's eyes were wide, and his face was filled with innocence. Guo Fan was left speechless.
Meng Jin, who had descended from upstairs, finally found an opening to sarcastically remark, “I thought the deity from Jolcana Road had some important business to attend to, but it seems he spent half a cup of tea's worth of time at a brothel. Why do we Immortal Cultivators resemble mortals, unable to resist our desires? Indulging in pleasures.”
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m