Translator: AnubisTL
As night fell, Li Qing and Shen Ningbing, who had initially planned to slip away unnoticed, were forced to postpone their departure.
Their courtyard remained under relentless surveillance.
"Let's go," Li Qing said, his voice icy. "If Old Man Mo refuses to settle this peacefully, we'll have to teach him a lesson."
He left the choice entirely to Old Man Mo. If the old man insisted on escalating the conflict, Li Qing wouldn't hesitate to reveal his foundation establishment realm cultivation.
Shen Ningbing remained silent, but her equally frosty expression spoke volumes about her resolve.
It wasn't that they were unwilling to wait longer; they simply wanted to avoid further contact with the Ghost Sword Sect's elders, fearing complications.
Compared to that, Old Man Mo, a mere qi refining realm cultivator, seemed easily manageable.
With that, Li Qing pushed open the courtyard gate and strode out with an air of nonchalance.
Shen Ningbing followed closely, extending her divine sense to scan their surroundings.
As expected, one of the spies monitoring them immediately darted into the merchant guild upon seeing them emerge.
Ignoring the commotion, the pair continued walking side by side, heading toward the Water Moon Merchant Guild's territory.
Moments later, Old Man Mo arrived with a group of his trusted subordinates, his face as dark and stormy as a thundercloud.
Sensing the impending confrontation, Li Qing sighed inwardly.
Ah, so it's come to this.
"Fellow Daoists," Old Man Mo's voice boomed from around the corner, cutting through the night air. "Has the Water Moon Merchant Guild failed to provide adequate hospitality? Why are you leaving without a word?"
Li Qing forced a smile, his tone light. "We simply don't like staying in one place for too long. We were planning to leave Sunward City and travel to other regions."
Old Man Mo didn't believe a word of it. He had revealed his plans to deal with Pill Master Yan to them earlier that day, and now they were trying to leave? It was obvious they couldn't be trusted to keep secrets.
More importantly, if these two leaked his plans, his reputation would be irreparably damaged, even if he regained control of the Water Moon Merchant Guild.
For a merchant guild, reputation and credibility were paramount—the very foundation of its existence.
"Fellow Daoists, could you wait a few more days? Once I've settled my affairs here, I'll personally escort you out of Sunward City."
Old Man Mo's words clearly meant that after eliminating Pill Master Yan, he would send Li Qing and Shen Ningbing away.
Whether this meant sending them out of Sunward City or sending them to their deaths remained unsaid.
"Heh, I'm afraid we'll get caught in the crossfire when immortals start fighting," Li Qing said.
"Old Man Mo, why don't you just let us leave? I promise to keep your secret safe."
To be honest, for a foundation establishment realm cultivator to speak so politely was already showing considerable restraint.
If not for the Ghost Sword Sect elder backing him, Li Qing would have attacked immediately.
"You two, I've lived this long by never trusting anyone," Old Man Mo replied.
"And I've learned one thing: only the dead can keep secrets."
His voice suddenly turned murderous, the amiable demeanor vanishing completely.
With these words, any pretense of civility had been shattered, leaving no room for negotiation.
Li Qing sighed inwardly, his voice growing cold.
"Old Mo, are you really not going to let us pass?"
Old Man Mo remained silent, merely waving his hand.
Immediately, twenty or so people surrounded them, mostly qi refining realm cultivators, along with a few martial artists with impressive skills.
The meaning was now crystal clear.
Seeing this, Li Qing no longer concealed his status as a foundation establishment cultivator. He abruptly released the spiritual pressure he had been suppressing.
Beside him, Shen Ningbing unleashed her full spiritual aura without reservation.
Boom! Boom!
Two waves of overwhelming spiritual pressure swept outward. The dozen or so people who had surrounded them froze mid-motion, then collapsed to the ground like autumn leaves swept by a gale.
These were two genuine mid-foundation establishment stage cultivators!
Moreover, Li Qing and Shen Ningbing had experienced true grand-scale conflicts. Now, with their combined spiritual pressure and the inherent authority of their cultivation realms, how could these people possibly resist?
"Foundation... foundation establishment cultivators!"
"Ah, seniors, spare us! Two seniors, spare us! We were blind fools who failed to recognize True Lords! Have mercy!"
"..."
Amidst the chorus of pleas for mercy, Old Man Mo, who had been leaning against the courtyard wall, his expression instantly transformed.
From confident control just moments ago to utter panic and helplessness, the shift had occurred in less than a breath's time.
The two insects he had thought he could crush with a flick of his wrist had suddenly transformed into colossal dragons!
Old Man Mo's face turned ashen. He couldn't believe that the two people he had casually brought back from Giantwood Forest were both foundation establishment realm cultivators!
"Fellow Daoists, I was just joking with you earlier," Old Man Mo said, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace.
Seeing this expression, Li Qing couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle softly.
"Old Mo, Old Mo, what am I supposed to say to you? Well, considering you led us out of the Giantwood Forest, I'll let this slide. Just get lost and we won't lay a hand on you."
These words stunned Old Man Mo into disbelief. Even Shen Ningbing, standing beside him, showed a flicker of surprise, her eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment.
Why not eliminate the threat? Senior Brother Li doesn't usually show such leniency!
Yet, trusting Li Qing's judgment, Shen Ningbing remained silent, respecting his decision.
Old Man Mo was dumbfounded. He had braced himself for at least having his cultivation crippled, but instead, they were letting him go.
"Th-this is truly too kind of you! It was my own foolishness for not recognizing your true power. Your cultivation is far beyond my comprehension!"
Just as Old Man Mo was subconsciously assuming that Li Qing and Shen Ningbing were young cultivators who had emerged from years of secluded cultivation, a sudden idea struck him.
"With such formidable power, why don't you help me eliminate Pill Master Yan?"
"Afterward, I won't take a single coin from Pill Master Yan's wealth. Furthermore, I'll offer half of the Water Moon Merchant Guild's annual profits to honor you both."
"With your combined strength, you could eliminate Pill Master Yan without anyone knowing. He's currently drinking and carousing at the Drunken Flower Tower in the city. We can lie in wait here and quietly await his return!"
At this moment, even Li Qing had to admire Old Man Mo's audacity. His skin was truly thicker than the city walls.
One moment he was trying to kill them, and the next, after being spared, he immediately seized the opportunity to extend an olive branch, inviting Li Qing and Shen Ningbing to collaborate.
The speed at which he offered this alliance was astonishing—something most people could never achieve.
Of course, Li Qing had no interest in such schemes.
With someone like Old Man Mo, who knew when he might stab you in the back? It was best to keep as far away as possible.
"I have no interest in your merchant guild's petty affairs. Stop talking nonsense."
"Let's go, Junior Sister."
With his hands clasped behind his back, Li Qing strode through the crowd of people sprawled on the ground.
Under the awed gazes of the crowd, Li Qing and Shen Ningbing bathed in the moonlight as they left the Water Moon Merchant Guild's territory.
"Senior Brother Li, why didn't you strike?" Shen Ningbing finally voiced her lingering confusion once they were far away.
Li Qing chuckled softly. "If I killed Old Man Mo, what if the Ghost Sword Sect's elders held a grudge against us?"
"While the Ghost Sword Sect's elders might not resent us over a mere qi refining realm cultivator, there are always exceptions. For example, his adopted grandson is also a Ghost Sword Sect disciple. Who can guarantee he won't come seeking trouble later?"
Shen Ningbing frowned slightly. "Old Man Mo deserves to die. How can we let such an ungrateful wretch go unpunished?"
"He might even come after us later!"
Li Qing simply smiled calmly, his expression relaxed and carefree.
"Who said I was going to let him off? I only said I wouldn't kill him myself, not that I would spare him."
"Sometimes, you don't need to get your hands dirty. You need to learn how to use others as your blade."
Shen Ningbing froze, momentarily stunned by his words.
But Li Qing's next sentence made everything click into place.
"Go wait for me south of the city. I'm heading to Drunken Flower Tower. I used my divine sense to record everything Old Man Mo discussed with us today onto a jade slip."
"Now, I'm going to borrow a blade."
With that, Li Qing hurried toward Sunward City, leaving Shen Ningbing staring after him in a daze.
In that moment, she once again witnessed Li Qing's profound thoughtfulness.
If it had been her, she would have likely exploded on the spot, never considering such intricate details.
"Truly worthy of being senior brother Li."
Drunken Flower Tower was a renowned establishment in Sunward City, known for its beautiful female cultivators who practiced the art of seduction and were skilled at pleasing their patrons.
As long as one had enough spirit stones, even a mortal could enter and experience the services of the beautiful immortal maidens.
Of course, whether one truly enjoyed the services or fell under a hallucinatory spell remained a mystery.
This was why mortals rarely visited the Drunken Flower Tower. The patrons who frequented the establishment were almost exclusively cultivators with established cultivation bases.
"I've heard about these pleasure establishments for cultivators since my time at the Heavenly River Market," Li Qing chuckled, stepping confidently inside without the slightest hesitation. "I never thought I'd actually have the chance to visit one myself."
The moment his foot crossed the threshold, a fragrant breeze swept over him.
"Daoist friend," a female cultivator greeted him, her slender figure barely concealed beneath a thin black gauze robe. "The moonlit night is exceptionally beautiful tonight. Would you allow this humble one the honor of sharing its splendor with you?"
Though her cultivation level was modest, she was a master of seduction. Every word and gesture carried a subtle allure, perfectly complementing her graceful figure and creating an intoxicating atmosphere.
Unfortunately for her, Li Qing's formidable divine soul remained largely unaffected by her charms.
"I'd like to go upstairs for a couple of drinks," Li Qing said coldly. "As for any... romantic entanglements, I'll pass."
Realizing her seductive techniques had no effect on Li Qing, the female cultivator froze for a moment before tossing out a curt remark and stalking away with an icy expression.
"One for the second-floor drinking lounge."
So transactional?!
Even Li Qing was taken aback by the frigid service. Even if he wasn't planning to spend much, did he really deserve such cold treatment?
He quickly realized his mistake. He had been rushing here, subconsciously suppressing his aura and concealing his status as a foundation establishment cultivator.
With a mischievous thought, Li Qing slightly relaxed his suppression, letting the oppressive aura of a foundation establishment cultivator sweep outward.
The effect was immediate!
The veiled female cultivator, who hadn't gone far, froze in her tracks. She instantly switched to a pitifully charming expression and turned back, her transformation rivaling even Old Man Mo's!
The Great Wilderness Domain truly breeds exceptional talent!
Li Qing couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
(End of the Chapter)
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