33. The Bandit-Slaying Young Lady
“To rapidly improve and gain experience, to truly master your techniques, practical combat is essential.”
Daoist Nun Gong Yiling tapped on a non-existent blackboard, adjusted her non-existent glasses, and spoke seriously to the two girls sitting cross-legged before her. “Therefore, I only ask you to do one thing.”
“Punish evil and eliminate harm.”
Qiu Shui: “…?”
Chun Lian: “…?”
The two girls exchanged glances, confusion evident in their eyes.
They understood the principle, but why… was their Young Palace Master saying this?
“Master, aren’t we… members of the demonic sect?” Chun Lian asked hesitantly.
“Yes!”
“Then why should we… punish evil and eliminate harm?”
“Ahem.” Miss Gong cleared her throat. “Does being members of the demonic sect conflict with fighting bad guys?”
Chun Lian turned to Qiu Shui. “Does it?”
Qiu Shui shook her head with a wry smile. “Let’s hear what Master has to say.”
“Well, think of it this way,” Gong Yiling explained. “Members of the demonic sect are unrestrained and free-spirited, unbound by rules and worldly morality.”
“Since we’re unrestrained and free-spirited, wouldn’t punishing evil according to our own beliefs be in line with the demonic sect’s style?”
Surprisingly…
The two girls, inherently kind-hearted, nodded in understanding, though still somewhat confused.
“Moreover, the demonic sect has its own principles and guidelines. As outstanding new members of the demonic sect, we should naturally embrace the good and discard the bad.”
Should she end with a cliché leadership speech?
No, she’ll skip the formalities and go straight to the final line!
“Reviving the glory of the demonic sect is our duty!”
“Is that so?” Chun Lian turned to Qiu Shui again.
Qiu Shui: “…I guess so?”
“Hey, what do you mean ‘I guess so’?” Gong Yiling tapped both their heads with her sword sheath.
“Ow…”
“Ouch…”
Seeing her disciples’ cute reactions to the light knocks, Gong Yiling calmly took out a stack of bounty notices she had obtained, listing villains and their crimes.
“Choose your targets yourselves. Try to pick those below the Core Transformation stage, or we’ll be the ones in trouble.”
…
…
About ninety percent of the names on the list were demonic cultivators, the remaining ten percent rogue cultivators. No one from the Hundred Paths Mountain or the Four Kingdoms was listed.
This list was clearly biased.
But…
Gong Yiling didn’t care about its fairness. The people listed had undoubtedly committed crimes.
While the two girls were browsing the list, Gong Yiling casually glanced at the top few names, those she definitely couldn’t afford to provoke.
Then, she saw a familiar name.
“Name: Gong Muzhi
Gender: Female
Identity: Palace Master of the Pear Blossom Blood Orchid Palace
Cultivation: Immortal Mansion Realm
Villain Ranking: 2nd
Crimes: Leading the Blood Orchid Palace in countless atrocities, destroying at least ten sects of the Hundred Paths Mountain. Personally invaded the imperial palace of the Qiusu Kingdom of the Four Kingdoms, slaughtering over half the royal family.
Note: Sixteen years ago, the Hundred Paths Mountain plotted to ambush Gong Muzhi. Although the plan was foiled, it is suspected that her cultivation level dropped as a result.
Note 2: Has a daughter, Gong Yiling, father unknown. See the portrait on the back.”
On the back was a portrait.
A portrait of herself.
However, even the most skilled portrait artists could only achieve a seventy percent resemblance, let alone Qiu Shui back then.
Although there was a four or five-out-of-ten resemblance, the difference was still significant.
She glanced at Qiu Shui, the artist, and said with a mischievous smile, “Who drew such an ugly picture of this Palace Master?”
Qiu Shui flinched, almost poking Chun Lian’s face with her brush.
“Where’s Master’s portrait? Let me see!” Chun Lian, intrigued, leaned closer.
After observing it briefly, she shook her head vigorously. “It doesn’t look like you! Master is much more beautiful than the portrait!”
Qiu Shui: “…”
This was public execution.
Not satisfied with just looking herself, Chun Lian showed the portrait to Qiu Shui. “Look, Qiu Shui, doesn’t it look different?”
Yin Qiushui: “…”
What could she say?
She could only nod silently and say with mixed feelings, “Yes, it doesn’t look like her.”
Gong Yiling covered her face with her fan, chuckling mischievously.
She wondered when Qiu Shui would reveal her true identity as a spy, or if she needed to nudge her a bit.
“Notification: Yin Qiushui’s affection level towards the host has decreased by 5 points. Current affection level: -7.”
Hearing this, Gong Yiling’s smile froze.
What the—!?
What did she do to deserve a decrease in affection? Did this system have a vendetta against her, preventing her from getting rewards?
“Explain to me why the affection level dropped!”
“The affection system is not what the host thinks it is. Please understand the difference yourself.”
Not what she thought it was?
Gong Yiling frowned.
Was this gal game trying to be more complicated than it needed to be?
But now, she didn’t have the energy to deal with this affection system.
“Let’s not look at my portrait anymore,” she said, losing interest. “Have you two found your targets yet?”
Qiu Shui and Chun Lian nodded in unison and took out a bounty notice.
The villain: Yan Wuying.
Seeing this name, Gong Yiling couldn’t help but sigh.
Yan Wanqiu of the righteous Dongyang Sect had three sons: Yan Shuangying, Yan Danyang, and Yan Wuying.
Their nicknames were Two Eagles Yan, Little Eagle Yan, and… well…
The eldest, Yan Shuangying, was a peerless hero.
He could catch hidden weapons with his bare hands, faster than an arrow, and had a famous saying: “I bet you have no hidden weapons in your sleeve.”
The second son, Yan Danyang, was unremarkable, just an average guy.
As for the youngest, Yan Wuying, he used the Dongyang Sect’s name to commit all sorts of evil deeds, eventually being disowned by his father.
The reason Gong Yiling hesitated was that Yan Wuying was involved with a troublesome group.
According to the book’s timeline, he had recently stolen a treasured artifact from the Hehuan Sect, a demonic sect known for its depraved practices and arrogant behavior. In retaliation, they had massacred a branch of the Dongyang Sect.
But what did the actions of a disowned third son have to do with the Dongyang Sect?
This led to a dramatic situation.
The Hehuan Sect wanted to kill Yan Wuying and demanded the Dongyang Sect hand him over. Yan Wanqiu wanted to avenge his fallen disciples and find his wayward son.
And Yan Wuying—you can’t find me, you can’t find me, you can’t find me.
The entire region was in chaos!
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