Chapter 175: Servant Lian’er
Lian’er poked and prodded Chen Yin’s arm and face, examining him closely.
“Hmm… you seem fine.”
She smiled brightly. “That’s great! I was worried! I wanted to ask you for more of that delicious thing you gave me.”
…So it didn’t matter whether he lived or died, as long as she got her bread. Chen Yin’s lips twitched.
“You want more bread?”
“It was so delicious,” Lian’er blinked her large, innocent eyes. “I’ve never tasted anything like it.”
Chen Yin reached for the System Shop, then paused and changed his mind.
“But… I’m running low on bread. If I give it to you, we won’t have any left.”
A flicker of disappointment crossed Lian’er’s eyes, then she brightened and asked, “Can I trade something for it?”
“What do you have to trade?”
“What do you want?”
Chen Yin thought for a moment. “I want you to be my guide and tell me about the Wu Xuan Cave.”
“That’s it?”
Lian’er looked at him suspiciously. Chen Yin pulled out a loaf of bread.
“If you agree, you can have as much as you want.”
Lian’er’s eyes lit up, and she snatched the bread eagerly. “Deal.”
“I’ll show you around.”
The Wu Xuan Cave was larger and more sparsely populated than they had imagined.
The village sprawled across several mountain peaks, but the houses were scattered, miles apart, hidden among the dense, humid jungle, the air thick with the unpleasant scent of miasma.
“We’ve lived in seclusion in the Ten Thousand Mountains for generations, rarely interacting with the outside world. It’s very difficult for outsiders to find us.”
Lian’er said, her cheeks bulging with bread, her voice slightly muffled, “There are countless poisonous insects and plants in these mountains. Some are so potent that even the strongest cultivators can’t withstand them. Every disciple of the Wu Xuan Cave is born with a high tolerance to toxins. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to cultivate our techniques.”
“Besides using poisons, we also cultivate Gu worms. The other sects are terrified of our Gu.”
Chen Yin looked around at the Wu Xuan Cave’s structures and asked, “What’s the hierarchy like in your sect?”
“It used to be ruled by the Council of Elders,” Lian’er pouted, “but after the Grand Witch appeared, the elders went into seclusion.”
“Now, everyone in the Wu Xuan Cave follows the Grand Witch’s orders.”
“Because she passed the Sacred Child trial?” Chen Yin asked.
Lian’er looked at him with surprise. “How did you know, Brother? The Grand Witch said it was a secret.”
…But you just confirmed it yourself.
Chen Yin was both amused and exasperated by this naive girl.
She was different from Luo Luo’s natural airheadedness. Lian’er’s innocence was like that of a child raised in the mountains, completely unaware of the complexities of social interactions.
Her pure and guileless nature made him feel guilty for trying to extract information from her.
“The Grand Witch is the only one who has passed the Sacred Child trial in centuries. According to the sect’s scriptures, she’s just one step away from completing the Sacred Child’s cultivation.”
Lian’er said, “But lately, she doesn’t seem interested in cultivating the Sacred Child physique anymore. I don’t know why.”
Chen Yin hesitated, then asked tentatively, “What’s the last step?”
Lian’er blinked her large, innocent eyes at him.
“Lian’er can’t tell you. The Grand Witch said she’ll spank me if I do.”
Chen Yin: “…”
Was this Grand Witch some kind of tyrant?
He was about to try and get some information about Nan Xiaoxiang from her when Lian’er suddenly said, “Look, that’s our main hall!”
Chen Yin looked up and saw a large wooden structure built on a cliff face, seemingly floating in the air.
It was decorated with intricate patterns, animal skins, and skulls.
“Our main hall is so grand!”
Lian’er said wistfully, “When I was little, many followers and disciples would come and kneel before the hall every morning.”
“But there are fewer and fewer people these days…” Her voice trailed off, a hint of sadness in her tone.
Chen Yin couldn’t help but ask, “Why?”
“Because the Grand Witch doesn’t like crowds.”
Lian’er whispered, “Don’t tell her I told you this, okay?”
“After she inherited the Wu Xuan Cave, she dismissed many disciples! Now, only a few loyal followers remain. And she raised the requirements for new disciples. Many children who were qualified before can no longer join the sect.”
“Over the years, the Wu Xuan Cave’s population has dwindled, and with the elders in seclusion, it’s just me and the Grand Witch now.”
“If it weren’t for me taking care of her, I think she would have abandoned me too.” Her voice was filled with a quiet resentment.
“…Why do you think she’s doing this?” Chen Yin asked, lost in thought.
“I think,”
Lian’er looked around conspiratorially, then leaned closer and whispered in his ear, “the Grand Witch wants to eat all the pork herself! If there are too many disciples, they’ll steal her food!”
Chen Yin looked at her, speechless.
…If that was the reason, then the Wu Xuan Cave might as well close its doors.
“By the way, is it against the rules to tell me all this?”
“Rules?” Lian’er tilted her head cutely. “The Grand Witch didn’t mention any rules when she chose me as her servant.”
This sect is really laid-back. Chen Yin chuckled inwardly.
As they chatted, Lian’er led him to the main hall.
“Here we are.”
She explained, “The Grand Witch lives behind the main hall. She also cultivates in the cave behind it.”
“Don’t disturb her while she’s in seclusion. She’s scary when she’s angry!” she said seriously.
Chen Yin nodded and began to stroll around the main hall.
…He wondered how long she would be in seclusion.
He still had some time before the three-month deadline. He could wait a few days.
As he walked, he noticed something from the corner of his eye.
A masked figure was standing on the other side of the hall, also looking up at the structure.
Chen Yin’s aura instantly turned cold.
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