Morning.
Lin Zhao returned from battling monsters outside and leaped over the moat. He patted the head of a bronze beast, as if greeting his own puppy, then entered the camp. He repaired his equipment and sold off the miscellaneous items he'd acquired to Old Fan, earning a considerable amount of gold. His heart was filled with joy.
Not far away, Xiang Ji stood on the city wall, practicing his punches diligently. He had been exceptionally diligent lately.
Just then, through the morning mist, a young man in a blue shirt, carrying a long sword on his back, approached the camp. He cupped his fists and smiled, "The weather is cold and the journey is far. The Mohist Xu Shuo wishes to enter the camp to warm his wine. I wonder if it would be convenient?"
Lin Zhao hurried to the gate. Seeing the young Mohist wanderer outside, he immediately felt that this person did not seem like a bad sort. His blue shirt and wanderer attire were somewhat similar to his third senior brother's. So, he smiled and said, "Please come in! Please come in!"
"Many thanks!"
Xu Shuo entered the camp and did not stand on ceremony. He took out his wine gourd and placed it by the campfire to warm. Meanwhile, Lin Zhao set up a pot over the fire and used his Ben Lei sword to carve off several thick pieces of horse leg meat, which he tossed into the pot to make soup. He then purchased some seasonings from Old Fan on the spot and added them to the pot. He then smiled, "Xu Shuo, wait here for a moment. I'll go pick some wild vegetables. Otherwise, just drinking horse meat soup might be a bit bland."
Xu Shuo smiled gently, "Young hero, please, be at ease!"
Lin Zhao mounted his horse and rode up the mountain. In a patch of woods where snow had not fallen, he picked some edible wild vegetables. With the memories of his past life as Lin Zhao, he was extremely familiar with this mountainside, knowing perfectly well what was edible and what was not. He washed the pile of vegetables in the Baiyu Stream. When he returned to the camp, the Mohist wanderer was still sitting upright. His wine was almost warm enough.
Lin Zhao threw the wild vegetables into the pot one by one. The "gurgling" sound filled the air, and the aroma of meat wafted out. Even Xiang Ji, who was practicing his punches on the city wall, sniffed the air and chuckled, "Today is different. We get to eat something hot."
"Naturally."
Lin Zhao smiled. Since this person was from the Mohist school, he should be treated well. After all, Mohist wanderers who dared to appear near Xueyu Tianchi in these times were truly rare.
He ladled a bowl of hot soup with meat and vegetables and handed it to Xu Shuo, smiling, "Enjoy your meal."
"Many thanks!"
Xu Shuo nodded repeatedly, took the bowl of soup, and took a sip. He praised it without end, "It tastes good... it tastes good!"
As he spoke, he ate pieces of horse meat and drank his wine with great relish.
Xiang Ji and Lin Zhao also had a bowl of meat soup each and ate a couple of grilled flatbreads. In the biting cold of Xueyu Tianchi, a bowl of hot soup made a world of difference. While drinking the soup, Lin Zhao glanced up at Xu Shuo. All of the latter's data was shown as "???", and his level and realm were completely hidden. He then looked at Xiang Ji.
Xiang Ji frowned, his gaze filled with confusion. As a martial artist of the ninth realm, he too could not see the realm of the Mohist wanderer before him. Either this person had no cultivation and was just an ordinary swordsman, or his cultivation was too high, at least starting from the eleventh realm. Even Xiang Ji, who was in the ninth realm, could not comprehend it, so it could only be this.
This person was likely a master.
"Xu Shuo, why are you here at Xueyu Tianchi?" Lin Zhao asked.
"A sect mission."
Xu Shuo grinned and said, "My master ordered me to descend the mountain for a while and explore Xueyu Tianchi. On one hand, I'm here to investigate the flow of heavenly fortune in this area. On the other hand, I'm here to see if the demon race has any further plans. Regardless, Xueyu Tianchi was once a sacred land of the human race, and we cannot simply hand it over to the demon race like this. Moreover, if there are humans who can establish themselves in Xueyu Tianchi, it would be equivalent to establishing an outpost for the human race. All of these are good things."
Lin Zhao frowned, "I myself am planning to establish a camp in Xueyu Tianchi, but my strength is too weak. The demons sent here are getting stronger each time. The next time, I might not be able to hold them off. If you are willing... you can stay and help us defend against the enemy. If we can't win, you can leave. We won't force you to fight to the death here."
Xu Shuo couldn't help but chuckle. This young man's words were indeed interesting. He smiled slightly and shook his head, "I apologize... Although I am a Mohist sword cultivator, however... before I came out this time, my master explicitly stated that my actions in Xueyu Tianchi are subject to certain restrictions. I can explore the terrain and set up mechanisms and formations in Xueyu Tianchi, but I am absolutely forbidden to draw my sword. If I draw my sword against the demon race, the karmic entanglement will be too great, and it might directly involve the Mohist ancestral home. Currently, our Mohist school does not intend to engage in direct war with the demon race."
"I understand."
Lin Zhao nodded, "I won't force you, but if you can help, please do. We are indeed in dire need of assistance here."
"Don't worry."
Xu Shuo smiled and said, "After eating your hospitality, how can I do nothing? I will definitely do something for Xueyu Tianchi. It will just take time to see results, so don't be anxious... I'll take my time."
"En!"
After they finished eating, Xu Shuo stood up shortly thereafter, brushed the snow off his clothes, cupped his fists to Lin Zhao and Xiang Ji, and left, heading directly south of the mountain.
"Could he be a freeloader, someone with no real skills?" Xiang Ji asked.
"Probably not."
Lin Zhao shook his head and smiled, "He looks like a very capable person."
Xiang Ji remained half-believing, half-doubting. After eating his fill, he continued practicing his punches. Da Feng Novel Network
...
The demon race, Ninth Army Tent.
In the command tent, only Bai Ye and Nian Kui were present. The others had already been dismissed.
"How was it?"
Bai Ye frowned and looked at the most capable general in the command tent.
Nian Kui said calmly, "I made a trip, and found nothing unusual. Lady Xu of Baiyu Stream, Lord Su Shan on the mountainside, and that Yun Shi Han Buyu, plus the ninth-realm martial artist Xiang Ji, and that swordsman in the lower five realms. The entire human foundation in Xueyu Tianchi is only this much. Next time I go, I will definitely finish off that kid."
"En."
Bai Ye nodded and said, "We must still be careful and cautious. Although that kid is only in the lower five realms, he has many clever tricks. Otherwise, we wouldn't have suffered so many losses at his hands. Remember, you don't need to make a grand display. Don't put on airs of a upper five-realm cultivator. Even if it's a sneak attack, as long as you can kill that kid and bring back his head and Xiang Ji's head, it will be a great achievement. Also, beware of that human refugee legion. Chu Yu is also a troublesome one. A tenth-realm Sea Crossing realm martial artist and a sixth-realm swordsman. A bit tricky."
"My lord, rest assured."
Nian Kui said in a deep voice, "Chu Yu just led her people to the Lingnan area for supplies. She won't be back for a while. I will act tonight and will certainly take advantage of the night to present the kid's head before your desk!"
"That's excellent. Go and prepare. Anything you need, you can draw from the command tent."
"Yes, thank you, my lord!"
...
Evening.
The setting sun reflected on the surface of Taihu Lake, creating a scene of golden, sparkling waves. Shen Xingchen wanted to go out for a walk. She really didn't want to be cooped up in the game and the villa every day. So, Lin Zhao and Chen Xue accompanied her, as Shen Xingchen's identity was too special – the sole legal heir of Xinghen Group. Too many eyes were watching her.
Lin Zhao and Chen Xue both had Xi He-class armor on their arms. This armor possessed combat posture sensing capabilities. This meant that even if they stood still, if a target was locked onto nearby, or if there was a missile or sniper, the Xi He-class armor could automatically form a small shield. Therefore, with Lin Zhao and Chen Xue accompanying her, Shen Xingchen would be safe.
However, Nangong Jilin still followed behind with five people, each equipped with an Yan Di-class armor system, just to be absolutely safe.
"Being in the game every day is quite tiring."
Shen Xingchen looked into the distance and said, "Although the game is fun, we also need to rest, right?"
"Right, right, right!"
Lin Zhao and Chen Xue smiled and nodded together.
Shen Xingchen chuckled helplessly, "How about... we organize a team-building activity for our Scarlet Moon Knights sometime? Like fishing by the lake or something?"
"We can do that."
Lin Zhao smiled, "That's an excellent suggestion. And we can add some extra meals or something."
"En."
Chen Xue smiled and nodded, "No problem. You guys decide the date. We can give everyone a day off or half a day off. A good rest. Anyway, our levels are all very high now, so taking a day off won't be an issue."
"Lin Zhao."
Shen Xingchen looked at him, "How are things going for you in Xueyu Tianchi? Is it peaceful?"
"Extremely peaceful."
Lin Zhao pondered for a moment and said, "With me guarding Xueyu Tianchi, the demons are no match for us. No matter how many come, they are all sacrifices, unless they are in the upper five realms. Anyone who comes is a gift."
Shen Xingchen and Chen Xue smiled lightly without speaking, thinking that this guy was bragging so much that he even believed himself.
After dinner.
Lin Zhao and Chen Xue once again practiced using the Xi He-class armor. Although Chen Xue didn't say anything, she was quite astonished. Lin Zhao's ability to learn was too strong. In just two hours of training, he achieved better results than many soldiers in the Bit team who had undergone ten hours of special training. Could it really be due to bloodline talent? Was Murong Feiyue's brother also this formidable?
After training, Lin Zhao took a shower and logged in, preparing to descend the mountain to kill demons.
At the same time.
"Rustle..."
On the northern mountain of Xueyu Tianchi, a gray and white figure appeared. On his back were three sections of a long spear. Nian Kui, a great demon of the eleventh realm, known as the Spear God of the Water. This time, he had come specifically for Lin Zhao and Xiang Ji.
...
To the south of Xueyu Tianchi, mountains stood tall.
A beam of sword light streaked across and landed on a mountain peak. A man in a blue shirt descended from the flying sword. It was the Mohist wanderer Xu Shuo. In front of him stood a beautiful woman with a long sword on her back. The woman was dressed in white and was one-armed; her right sleeve was empty. Her beautiful eyes looked north, and she said calmly, "Xu Shuo, what are you doing here again? I've already told you, I won't become your Dao companion, because... you are not my type."
"This time it's for something else."
Xu Shuo smiled and said, "Tonight, a great demon of the eleventh realm, Nian Kui, is going to the mountain to kill people. He's targeting Xiang Ji, and a young swordsman in the lower five realms. You should descend the mountain."
"Why must I go?"
The woman said indifferently, "For the past hundred years, countless human cultivators have gone to Xueyu Tianchi. Some truly went to kill demons, some went to exchange demon cores for money, and some went to gain fame for themselves. Must I save everyone? Wouldn't I be exhausted to death?"
"At least this time you must save them."
Xu Shuo said calmly, "Otherwise, what is the meaning of those ten demon soul swords, and you, the strongest eleventh-realm cultivator in the human world?"
The woman frowned, then took to the air.
Killing demons is true, saving people is incidental!