Chapter Ninety-One: Moonlit Conversation (Fourth Update Upon Release, Seeking First Subscriptions)

That night, Xiao Qingshan prepared his signature dish—vegetable noodles—for the guests, adding a few strips of meat at Lin Ze’s request. A group of Foundation Establishment elders, along with two Golden Core immortals, sat around slurping noodles from their bowls; the scene was almost too surreal to behold.

He Lin and the others exchanged glances, their respect for Elder Lin deepening. Even if one wanted to avoid extravagance, surely serving plain noodles to senior members of the inner sect was a bit much? Fortunately, Huang Long voiced no complaints. In fact, after finishing his meal, he went for a second helping, stroked his beard with satisfaction, and produced a jade token from his storage pouch.

“Like master, like disciple. I always knew you wouldn’t want to leave. Take this,” he said, partly to ease the awkwardness. No one was foolish enough to challenge the Golden Core immortal’s words.

Lin Ze accepted the jade token. “What is this?”

Huang Long glanced at him. “I have few disciples—just thirty or fifty. I’d like you to be a guest lecturer. Surely such a small favor isn’t too much to ask?”

To carry disciples from the early Qi Refining stage to Foundation Establishment in three months, Lin Ze was more than qualified to instruct most of them, though certainly not the inner sect disciples. Those were prodigies destined for the Golden Core, and such talents might not appear even once in ten years.

Lin Ze instinctively wanted to return the token, but seeing the old man’s expression darken, hinting at anger, he could only force a smile. “Then I’ll shamelessly accept it.”

“With this token, you may come and go freely in the inner sect,” Huang Long grunted.

He had no real intention of having Lin Ze teach his disciples—many of them were stronger than Lin Ze. The jade token was simply a gesture to forge a goodwill bond.

For Lin Ze, it was a lifeline. No matter what happened, he now had somewhere to turn.

Qin Hongxiu pursed her lips and set her bowl down. Her own disciple was hardly the business of this old man; was her Cold Iron Sword not sharp enough? She rummaged in her storage pouch but couldn’t find anything resembling a jade token. Suddenly, her expression brightened.

She pulled out a sword-shaped pendant and tossed it across the table. “Take it.”

Lin Ze caught it in bewilderment. Huang Long coughed beside him. “That’s the token of the North Hall elder. Whoever holds it has the right to deal with inner sect disciples first and report later. Think carefully before you accept.”

Lin Ze inhaled deeply and hastily threw the burning-hot item back. Where there is a South Hall, there must be a North Hall. The latter restrains the inner sect; for someone at Foundation Establishment like him to meddle with it would be courting disaster.

Seeing Lin Ze accept Huang Long’s token but refuse her own, Qin Hongxiu was visibly displeased, folding her arms in silence.

The three remained unaware of how much their actions had shocked those nearby. Even the shrewd He Lin’s hands trembled as he held his noodle bowl—the North Hall elder’s token might mean little to the other peaks, but to them it was as awe-inspiring as a mortal gazing at the emperor’s imperial seal. Yet here it was, tossed back and forth before their eyes. Fearing his heart couldn't take it, He Lin quickly rose. “I have urgent matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.”

With his lead, the other elders also rose and excused themselves.

“Great Sword Immortal Qin, I should be heading back as well. Care to travel together?” Huang Long stood slowly, weaving a finger sign. The spiritual energy around him gathered, forming a pale yellow cloud beneath his feet.

“Hurry up and go,” Qin Hongxiu waved impatiently.

Once Huang Long departed with a cheerful smile, Qin Hongxiu turned to the others.

Su Bailu patted her forehead. “I wonder if the new girl can stomach Qingshan’s cooking. I’d better go check.”

Wang Yao clutched his arm. “Master, I’m not feeling well. I’ll go rest.”

Xiao Bao blinked. “Master, I want to tell you a stor—” But before he could finish, Yang Mu grabbed his hand and dragged him off, leaving him bewildered.

Qin Hongxiu nodded in satisfaction, finally turning to Lin Ze and sizing him up. “I didn’t expect you to have such skill.”

Lin Ze cupped his hands. “You flatter me.”

He planned to slip away, wanting nothing more than to avoid entanglement with this eccentric little master. Foolishness can be contagious.

Qin Hongxiu’s expression darkened; she reached out and pulled him back.

Just as Lin Ze thought she was about to produce another treasure to intimidate him, a gentle voice reached his ears.

“Thank you.”

Indeed, when she quieted down, her fair and delicate face paired with that ethereal sword-immortal aura made it easy for anyone to feel a sense of reverence.

Only at moments like this did Lin Ze remember that she was a formidable Golden Core immortal.

He hesitated briefly, then turned to walk toward the cliff edge. “No need for thanks. I wasn’t helping you.”

Lin Ze was unwilling to be easily labeled as belonging to anyone—be it Qin Hongxiu or Huang Long. Enjoying the benefits of their status inevitably meant some people would see him as an enemy. Take this sword immortal, whose hands had claimed countless great demons; if he were seen as her follower, who knew how much trouble lay ahead.

Different levels of strength and status—one shouldn’t force their way into someone else’s circle, or risk paying a heavy price.

Qin Hongxiu shook her head. “Everyone’s got their own motives.”

She watched his thin silhouette at the edge of the cliff, curiosity flashing in her eyes. If not for Huang Long’s reminder, she wouldn’t have thought so much—at most, she’d marvel, then move on.

As for how a Qi Refining disciple managed to reach Foundation Establishment in three months... She had slain more Golden Cores than she could count; there was little time to concern herself with Foundation Establishment cultivators.

If she remembered correctly, Lin Ze had left the Eastern Yue Sect years ago, an ordinary outer disciple at the time, taken in by Zhang Dahai only because of his commendable character. What had he experienced outside these years to become such an oddity?

Not one for deep thought, she gave up after a while and simply shook her head, reminding him,

“Don’t waste time with that demon fox. Focus on what’s ahead.”

Lin Ze ignored the first part and looked back in confusion. “What else is ahead?”

Qin Hongxiu was even more surprised. “Did you really think the peaks’ ranking was decided just by the outer sect competition?”

Three months in the sect and he still hadn’t grasped even the basics; perhaps she should consider taking that demon fox away—such a troublemaker.

In truth, Lin Ze’s ignorance was understandable. His knowledge of the sect came entirely from the simulator, and all the character cards he’d collected were outer disciples, who never had access to the sect’s inner workings.

“Tell me about it.”