Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 541 - 541 540 Reunion with an Old Friend

541: Chapter 540: Reunion with an Old Friend 541: Chapter 540: Reunion with an Old Friend Back in Jin City, their yamen runner team had six people, plus Jiang Nanying, Yu Xinglie, and Ma Rujun.

But now, times have changed and the only ones who were still able to come together were the three of them.

Frankly speaking, that ratio was already quite high.

Placed in any small cultivation circle, there would not be such a high success rate.

For instance, from his old hometown group, no one else besides him could step out, which was the norm in the cultivation lifestyle.

Meeting in Yujing City was not surprising.

After decades had passed, it was inevitable that they would grow up and have this day.

They couldn’t avoid Yujing, the stronghold of the Shan Sect, any more than the mountain gate of the Chu Sect.

It was like home to the wanderers.

Zong Qian, still a God Sensing Realm investigator, was considered the lowest ranker in Sikong Mansion.

Hou Niao, on the other hand, had climbed up to the rank of Sword Master and was merely waiting for the seniority to somewhat protect his younger brothers from being bullied.

The mansion system for cultivators had this one advantage: no need to clock in for work.

Divine Sense provided convenience for communication within a certain range, allowing them to wander around freely during work hours.

The two of them strolled over to Situ Mansion.

In Yujing City, the positions of the three mansions formed an equilateral triangle, spread across different directions of the city—neither too close nor too distant from one another.

Sima Mansion criticized Situ Mansion for causing trouble.

Situ Mansion blamed Sikong Mansion for snitching, and Sikong Mansion bit back at Sima Mansion for colluding with outsiders…

Engaged in such mutual backbiting, the Quanzhen Sect had been propped up for over a thousand years, maintaining relative stability.

Coming to the northern Situ Mansion, they found the main gate wide open, without even a gatekeeper in sight.

Such bravado was typical of these ruffians’ style: “I leave the door open, do you dare to enter?”

Truth be told, Hou Niao had been in the sect for decades and, on reflection, realized he had never really set foot inside Situ Mansion.

Not just here, but he rarely even visited the central military mansion in the state county, so he truly knew nothing about this place.

However, with his brother visiting, he had to put on a show and couldn’t seem to be a coward in front of others, could he?

Zong Qian thought much more simply.

Since his senior brother was striding in confidently, he followed suit.

He believed that if trouble arose, his tall brother would cover for him—it was only natural.

If one were to discuss the amount of land among the Three Divisions, without a doubt, Situ Mansion occupied the largest area.

Not because of more buildings or personnel, but because they had more sword fighting arenas.

The largest number of buildings and people belonged to Sima Mansion, which was responsible for dispatching and overseeing personnel, resources, and teachings, etc., closely related to cultivation for the entire Shan Sect.

It was akin to a combination of the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Rites, supervisors, and libationers of the mortal world.

If Situ Mansion was the Ministry of War, then Sikong Mansion was the Ministry of Justice, possessing the least amount of house guards and buildings.

That was because the people from Sikong Mansion were mostly out on missions, and to outsiders, Sikong Mansion felt like Ghost Mansion—silent and eerie.

Having become accustomed to the silent and grim atmosphere of Sikong Mansion, Hou Niao found Situ Mansion’s spirited ambiance somewhat unnatural.

Of course, people from Situ Mansion wouldn’t agree.

They would simply think that everyone from Sikong Mansion lived like little men in the shadows…

Unfamiliar with the paths, the two of them walked and asked directions along the way, and eventually, they found themselves at the sword fighting arena.

Along the way, Zong Qian couldn’t help feeling indignant,

“That damn Wang Mian, just because he reached the Natural Realm before me, he acts so high and mighty.

In terms of external achievements, he is nowhere near me.

And yet, now he’s even made it to the position of Si Ge.

It’s like heaven is blind…”

In the three mansion system of the Shan Sect, the official titles had their specific standards, yet overall they were not as messy as those in the mortal world and were somewhat traceable.

Beneath the Master of Sikong Mansion, there were the Golden Core Realm Judges and Assistants; in the Tongtian Realm, there were companions and investigators.

Beneath the Master of Situ Mansion, there were the Golden Core Realm wardens and army custodians; in the Tongtian Realm, the Si Ge and guards.

Beneath the Master of Sima Mansion, Golden Core Realm officers included Junior Supervisors and Junior Directors; in the Tongtian Realm, there were Assistant Military and Chamberlains.

By these standards, Zong Qian’s position as an investigator in Sikong Mansion was officially below Wang Mian’s position as a Si Ge in Situ Mansion; however, in practice, no one could command the other.

The only competition was in mood.

Hou Niao, as a companion, was theoretically on equal footing with Wang Mian’s Si Ge position, but being a veteran Sword Master compared to Wang Mian’s rookie Si Ge, Hou Niao had some differences.

In the cultivation world, such positional differences were not very significant.

What mattered more was one’s Realm—it was the definitive indicator.

Take Luo Yewang, for example, who remained within the Sima system and had yet to even reach a Chamberlain’s rank, continuing to devote his youth amidst the big mountains of the Northern region—that was a completely different situation and not comparable.

Eventually, the two received accurate information, and they arrived at a vast sword fighting arena, instantly spotting Wang Mian being disciplined by his senior brothers at the center.

In Sima Mansion and Sikong Mansion, there wouldn’t be such a process.

Sima Mansion would engage in mind games, being honey-tongued but harboring swords in their bellies, adept at setting traps for others.

In Sikong Mansion, it was all about whatever one could achieve on their own outside.

If you returned alive, you were a boss; if you died out there, you could only blame your incompetence.

But in Situ Mansion, sword fighting was a daily occurrence, and it suited the sword cultivators’ temperament.

For newcomers, there would be a period where senior brothers toughened them up with the Execution Stick, until they were beaten into submission, familiarity, and shaped to be just like the other senior brothers.

Only then could they truly blend into the group.

Each had its traits, and Hou Niao was not fond of it because the sword fighting here was limited by too many restrictions.

He always thought that without life-and-death stakes, such sword fights could not truly reflect the strength of a sword cultivator.

He was better off, but if Fang Yazi were in such a situation, he would be terribly tormented.

However, in a real life-and-death fight outside, Hou Niao would bet on the proud young man.

Of course, he was no longer a youth.

From Hou Niao’s perspective, sword fights between sword cultivators usually involved placing an artifact between the two fighters.

Both sides would use their Flying Swords to vie for the target.

In this kind of duel, both cultivators were safe outside the reach of the swords.

But sword fighting in Situ Mansion took it a step further—they used Personal Puppets.

These puppets were like sticky plasters that always stayed within three feet of the sword cultivator, acting as a little sidekick.

The goal of the attacks was the opponent’s Personal Puppet, and what needed to be defended was one’s own Personal Puppet.

Since the Personal Puppet moved in sync with its master, it turned stationary sword fighting into dynamic combat.

This greatly enhanced both the reality and the fun of the fight.

Most people couldn’t afford these puppets.

Although Personal Puppets weren’t considered high-end, to keep up with the master’s Tunneling, they still required a delicate design, Spirit Stone propulsion, and substantial material cost.

Getting into a fight meant the destruction of at least one, possibly both puppets, which was not something the average person could afford.

Wang Mian was now standing in the middle of the sword fighting arena, surrounded by the remnants of a dozen Personal Puppets.

His face was clearly showing a mix of embarrassment and financial loss.