Chapter 346: Incorrect

Chapter 346: Incorrect

Taken off-guard, the City Lord blinked. Shes Wang Xiu, the notorious outlaw. I need her exterminated before my beloved arrives next week.

There isnt anyone else? Someone else you need killed? Hui prompted, hopeful.

Hmph! Naturally, if you do well, I will give you more dangerous targets. I might even consider adding you to my Shadow Guards if youre successful enough! But first, you have to clear the debt

Hui stood. He reached into his pouch and drew out two hundred spirit stones. Your passes. Farewell. I'm a busy man. Dammit! Im so close, and he gives me this garbage chain-quest-like request? Id rather pay the stones! Does he think I have infinite time to do whatever he wants? Im a man on a mission. I have to find Li Xiang and revive my sect, okay?

The City Lord blinked at the stones in his hand, then at Hui. Huh?

Hui walked past him and put his foot on the windowframe. He glanced down at the kid as he did so. Ah, thats why the scene looked so wrong. Hes tiny! He might even be shorter than Boss Xiaoran.

You dare ignore me, Chen Xigui? Are you willing to face the wrath of the entire city? the City Lord snapped.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

Glancing down at him, Hui sighed. He paused. Are you really sure there isnt someone else you need dead? A vigilante woman, maybe?

Self-aware, Hui internally put a hand on his chin. Im bolder than usual. Is it the heart-demon?

No, I thinkI think its because this Chen Xigui looks twelve years old! All I can see are those brats who used to tease me on my one precious minute of break. Even back then, I never treated those kids with respect. And now hes bullying me, too, giving me such a shitty quest! Naturally, Im unable to see him as a noble City Lord deserving of worship and respect.

Ah I guess my first life did corrupt me, after all.

Is this an all-children problem? NoI dont see Zhubi as a brat but Zhubi isnt a brat! Obviously, I wouldnt see a not-brat as a brat. Therefore, Chen Xigui is a brat. Thats the only explanation.

Wait, wait. I have more women I need killed, Chen Xigui assured Hui, hurrying after him.

See? A brat, Hui decided. He turned and lowered his leg from the windows ledge, giving Chen Xigui a polite smile. Junior Brother should have said so earlier. Please enlighten this lowly one.

Junioraddress me as City Lord! Chen Xigui demanded.

Junior Brother City Lord, you said there are other women? Hui asked, smiling.

Chen Xigui harrumphed. He opened his mouth to protest, but shut it and shook his head instead. Indeed. I was going to give you this job after you squashed the first threat to prove your strength, but if you insist on rushing to your death, so be it. Shadow! Bring him the other one.

The black-clothed man hurried up to him, passing a second scroll. Conscientiously, Hui rolled up the scroll he was holding and traded with the black-clothed man for the second scroll.

Holding his breath, he opened it. Li Xiang Li Xiang!

A peerless jade beauty gazed back at him. Dressed in graceful yet practical white robes and clutching a sword, she gazed directly out of the portrait, her gaze just as piercing all those years ago. A pink enamel pin glistened in her hair.

Its her. Its Li Xiang!

Although he smiled internally, externally, Hui put on a cold air. This paltry cultivator? Is she so terrifying that Junior Brother City Lord cannot handle her himself?

Naturally, I can handle her myself. However, Im a busy man. I cant waste my time hunting down such elusive worms. Do you have a problem with it? Chen Xigui asked, crossing his arms.

Mmm, Hui said aloud. Im starting to wonder if this Junior Brother is actually as strong as he seems. Is he boosting his strength? Or perhaps is his foundation unstable?

I understand that Li Xiang is a sword cultivator, and naturally can fight above her level. Not wanting to get involved in a protracted battle and risk wounding himself against a sword cultivator is one thing, especially with his beloved coming to town. However, he hasnt put this haughty persona of mine in his place, either. Even when I explicitly acted contrary and continued to call him Junior Brother, he didnt punish me, but instead chose to tolerate it. Neither does he seem a tolerant brat, so hes making an exception to tolerate me. That suggests theres something strange about his cultivation, at some level or another.

Hmm should I perhaps continue to be domineering? If hes truly weak, then I need to, or else show weakness myself!

Eyeing Hui up, Chen Xigui remained silent as well. I know nothing about this man. On one hand, Im confident in forcing him to take this job. Hes already come so far and even waited rather than leaving. If hes more powerful than me, hes at least also interested in killing the women. However, Im not confident in truly knowing his cultivation level. Acting so overbearing could indicate that hes hiding his true cultivation, and is instead a hidden expert at the sixth stage or higher with a penchant for killing jade beauties.

As City Lord, I must be mindful of my actions, for the sake of the city. Threats must be suppressed, but likewise, I should not provoke those I cannot afford to provoke. If hes truly a higher level than he appears, I should put him to good use in destroying my enemies, but shouldnt push too hard, lest I touch the reverse scale of a hidden dragon.

Chen Xigui cleared his throat at last. Tossing his hair, he looked down his nose at Hui. Is she to your tastes? There are more women deserving of execution, if not. However, that woman is the principal thorn in my side.

Hui froze. He blinked at Chen Xigui. To my tastes? Er, I feel like Junior Brother misunderstood something important

Ah well. Ill roll with it. Besides, Li Xiang is a beauty. Its not as if Im admitting anything bad to agree with him. Hui nodded. Indeed, she is very much to my tastes. Where can I find her?

Chen Xigui narrowed his eyes. Why do I feel as if that man just insulted me?

Wang Xiu hopped onto the window frame and nodded. Lets go, then.

Hui followed her, drawing Moonlight Cutter as she drew her blade. The two of them leaped atop their swords and flew off, zooming into the sky.

As they flew, Wang Xiu glanced over at Hui and shook her head. Something about that kid I just cant help but treat him like a brat every time. Even though hes a fifth-stage master whos stuck like that because of a qi deviation, its still

Ah, its a qi deviation? I thought he chose to look like that, Hui said, somehow relieved. Its a bit strange to choose to be twelve forever. At least pick fifteen or eighteen.

She nodded. His chosen appearance was that of a proper forty-something man with a beard before, but during a battle with a powerful female cultivator, he was backed into a corner and had to draw on his innate qi. Since almost no one uses their innate qi unless they have to, he had no idea that he had a unique innate qi that would age him in reverse when used. Hes been steadily getting younger in appearance each year since. He can no longer alter the age he appears as, nor stop himself from de-aging.

Then does he only have twelve years left to live? Hui queried. I remember a movie back in my world like that

Thats why hes so desperate about this beloved of his. Supposedly, shes some kind of pure invert qi user, or something I dont quite understand the mechanics behind it, but her techniques should allow him to end this deadly illness of his and return to his previous state, she explained.

Hui cringed. His beloved? He in that form?

Wang Xiu squinted at him. Her eyes widened, and she waved her hand. Ah no, no. She has a technique that should be able to balance both of their qi. Not dual-cultivation, no. Well what they do once he becomes old enough is no ones business, but I dont think shes no.

Then wait, if shes just going to heal him, why does he call her beloved? Does she know that he wants to marry her? Hui asked.

Wang Xiu laughed. She doesnt have many suitors. From what I understand, shes the one who asked for him to be her husband, after she saw the portrait of how he used to look. Ah she has her own situation, after all.

Eh? Hui asked. Wait, if she has an invert technique, and it perfectly matches Chen Xiguis current illness, then Does she look like an old granny?

Shhh, Wang Xiu said, smirking.

Huis eyes widened. In his head, he imagined the childlike Chen Xigui walking alongside Boss Xiaoran in red wedding robes, and he shuddered. Dear heavens. Thats a sight too spicy for the eyes.

In any case, hes added a caveat that they arent to be wed until and if she completely heals his illness, so it wont happen the way youre probably imagining, Wang Xiu followed up. Still, he calls her beloved and treats her with great respect in case she really can heal his wounds. Even if hes a brat, hes at least wise enough to be kind to his future benefactor.

At least theres that, Hui agreed.

Speaking of brats He glanced at Wang Xiu and gave a quick bow. Elder Sister, do you mind if I bring out my disciple?

Bring out? Wang Xiu asked.

Hui gestured, and Ying Lin appeared, a dumpling held between two chopsticks, her mouth open. She glanced around, then hurriedly chomped down the dumpling. Master! I was eating!

Eating? We dont need to eat, Hui frowned. What bad habits is Healer teaching her?

Ah theres this really nice spirit food restaurant here those are thousand-year-ginseng-and-seven-color-chard dumplings, you know? It's good for the body! Healer rebuffed him.

Are you spoiling our disciple? Hui asked, shaking his head.

Eh, Sectgoer, youre the one who bought her nice robes, and now youre accusing me of spoiling her?

Seeing the conversation going nowhere, Hui shook his head. He nodded behind Ying Lin. Disciple, this is our guide.

Ying Lin turned and bowed to Wang Xiu. Disciple greets elder.

Wang Xiu snorted. Another brat?

Ying Lins brows furrowed, but she said nothing.

Hui leaned in. Ah, dont take it personally. She works for a forty-year-old man who currently looks like a brat naturally, she has something of a bias against bryoung people.

Eh huh? A forty-year-old brat? Ying Lin asked, confused.

Wang Xiu laughed aloud. Ill use that one on him next time.