Chapter 14: Trouble, Time to Run Away
"No!" Xu Ning cried out in his heart.
But there was no other way. Xu Ning could only bite the bullet and say, "This humble one is Xu Ning."
The middle-aged man nodded. "Would you be willing to come with me to the Flowing Cloud Sect as a menial disciple?"
Lin Lu's eyes flickered upon hearing this, filled with anticipation, hoping Xu Ning would agree.
On the other hand, Xu Ning's heart pounded instantly. What was coming had finally arrived.
With a final grit of his teeth, Xu Ning forced himself to speak. "Reporting to the Immortal, I have promised my master that I will care for him in his old age and avenge him."
"If one day my worldly affairs are resolved, I will definitely go to the Flowing Cloud Sect as a menial disciple!"
The middle-aged man's eyes narrowed slightly, seemingly trying to discern something from Xu Ning's expression and actions.
Just then, Zhao Datou, standing nearby, spoke up at the opportune moment. "To be honest, Immortal, this lad is indeed my disciple."
Zhao Datou knew very well that if the Immortal suspected Xu Ning of lying, he would kill him without hesitation.
Therefore, Zhao Datou stepped forward immediately to vouch for Xu Ning.
The middle-aged man, accustomed to the treacherous nature of the cultivation world, rarely encountered such a sincere young man. After confirming that Xu Ning and Zhao Datou were not lying, he nodded:
"Your name is Xu Ning, right? I am Hu Chen. Once you've settled your worldly affairs, come to the Flowing Cloud Sect. I'd like to see how long you can maintain this pure heart."
Xu Ning was overjoyed and quickly bowed. "Thank you for your understanding, Immortal. I will never forget my original intention."
Hu Chen nodded, then turned and drew his longsword, suddenly throwing it. "I said, those who don't come die!"
The longsword instantly disappeared into the sky, only to fly back a short while later.
However, to everyone's surprise, the longsword was now stained red with blood.
Clearly, the longsword had just killed someone, presumably someone who hadn't come to have their spiritual roots tested.
Standing to the side, Xu Ning couldn't help but feel fortunate that he had the foresight to come quickly. Otherwise, he would definitely have been among those stained with blood.
Moreover, Xu Ning knew perfectly well that the blood on the longsword was deliberately left for them to see. After all, the longsword was clearly a spiritual weapon. How could it possibly be stained with blood?
Even his high-grade mortal kitchen knife wouldn't get blood on it now.
It was a form of intimidation, meant to intimidate these mortals.
Sure enough, when the longsword returned, Hu Chen gave it a slight shake, and the blood instantly slid off, leaving not a single drop on the blade.
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This scene once again astonished everyone.
Immediately afterward, Hu Chen, along with Lin Lu and Zhao Xiao, leaped into the air, soaring across the sky and disappearing from everyone's sight in the blink of an eye.
Only then did everyone breathe a sigh of relief and disperse.
"Xu boy, you missed your chance at immortality!" Zhao Datou walked over at this moment, looking at Xu Ning with complicated eyes.
"Old man, don't always think you're a burden to me, that you owe me something. I have my own ideas. It might not be a chance at immortality. It could be my dying wish!"
Xu Ning was really afraid that Zhao Datou would think he didn't go to the immortal sect because of him, since Zhao Datou had previously believed that Xu Ning's refusal to marry and start a family was because of him.
This feeling of indebtedness made Xu Ning feel very uncomfortable.
Zhao Datou hesitated and said, "I remember you asked me before if I had ever seen a cultivator."
Xu Ning said, "I was just asking. I don't yearn for it!"
Although Xu Ning said that, Zhao Datou was still somewhat preoccupied.
Xu Ning said, "Don't overthink it. You'll know in a while!"
After saying that, Xu Ning turned around and left in a hurry.
Back in the forest, Xu Ning swung his axe and chopped down a large number of trees.
The plan had changed, and he needed to prepare to escape earlier, so he had to upgrade the thatched hut to the mortal-level legendary level as soon as possible.
Therefore, the land he had planned to use to grow thatch was obviously not enough.
As for the trees he had cut down, Xu Ning didn't waste them. He planned to sell them later.
He dug up the tree roots with a hoe, loosened the soil, and then scattered the thatch seeds he had collected, deciding to start a new round of watering tomorrow.
After pruning the trees, he tied them to Tie Dan and then headed home together.
As soon as Xu Ning arrived home, he heard a commotion outside the thatched hut.
Something had happened! Xu Ning quickly hurried to the courtyard.
The courtyard was already crowded with people, most of whom Xu Ning recognized—they were from the village.
"Old Zhao, if you don't give my family an explanation today, we're not leaving!" A middle-aged man's eyes were red, his face filled with determination.
Beside him, a woman was kneeling, crying and wailing.
Seeing Xu Ning return, the people nearby quickly pulled him aside and explained the whole incident to him.
The man's name was Lin Laosan. Before Hu Chen left, he used a longsword to kill this family's child who hadn't come for the spiritual root test.
They believed that the village chief, Zhao Datou, had tipped off Hu Chen, leading to their child's death, so they came to demand an explanation.
Many villagers were present at the time and knew that Zhao Datou hadn't tipped off Hu Chen. They had told Lin Laosan.
But Lin Laosan ignored them, insisting it was Zhao Datou's doing and demanding an explanation today.
Zhao Datou's face was flushed, and he was speechless.
The other party insisted on one thing: when the immortal came, he was with Zhao Datou, and afterwards, Zhao Datou led the immortal to test spiritual roots.
They were certain that Zhao Datou had put the list on their heads, which led to his child's murder.
In fact, everyone understood that the immortal's hand was connected to the heavens. He could kill people from afar with a flying sword. Tianxiang Village wasn't big, so they must have known who hadn't come and who had.
Their own family's absence was not Zhao Datou's fault at all.
Seeing that there was no way to resolve the matter peacefully today, Xu Ning suddenly stepped forward, came to Zhao Datou's side, and looked at Lin Laosan's family, saying:
"This is not my master's fault, but out of humanitarianism, I've decided to compensate your family with half of my master's land!"
Xu Ning wasn't that he couldn't beat the other party, but he felt there was no need to get entangled further. He had originally planned to flee anyway.
Moreover, Xu Ning had noticed during this time that too many people in the village coveted Zhao Datou's land. He knew that once Zhao Datou passed away, he, Xu Ning, would also be caught up in the land dispute.
This was something Xu Ning didn't want. He'd rather not have it.
Zhao Datou looked at Xu Ning anxiously, seemingly wanting to say something but hesitating, only to be stopped by Xu Ning's gaze.
Lin Laosan, his eyes thoughtful, said, "Half isn't enough, is it?"
Xu Ning replied, "This is compensation, not damages. It's half. If you don't want it, then I won't give it to you!"
To be honest, Zhao Datou's land holdings were among the largest in the village. Half of it was already quite a lot. After thinking for a long time, Lin Laosan nodded in agreement.
Xu Ning said, "Okay, let's divide the land tomorrow! Everyone go home first!"
Since it was already agreed that the land would be divided tomorrow, Lin Laosan didn't want to say anything more and took his family home.
As soon as everyone left, Zhao Datou immediately and anxiously pulled Xu Ning into the house.