Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 687 - 687 686 Zhao's Orphan

687: Chapter 686: Zhao’s Orphan 687: Chapter 686: Zhao’s Orphan Six people traveling together always meant endless issues arose.

Hou Niao and Xiang Anshi wisely stayed aside, listening to the women’s quarrels, not daring to interrupt for fear of stoking the flames.

Even so, they frequently encountered all sorts of bizarre questions that left them both laughing and crying.

Bai Qingchu and Chen Zhaodi were somewhat better.

One was reserved, the other steady, a matter of personality.

Mainly, it was Xiangfei Bamboo and Nie Yingnan who perpetually had countless questions on Daoist teachings.

In Xiangfei Bamboo’s eyes, a crude Sword Cultivator like Brother Hou did not understand the Daoist Method.

The saying went, “An outsider monk can recite the scriptures,” and if one came from the Overseas Immortal Island, they were of course even more impressive, especially holding the status of a Constellation True Inheritor.

This gave her an outlet for the doubts that plagued her for decades.

“Brother Xiang, regarding the changes in the Great Dao, why does it always show a state of nature disappointing mankind?

It seems to pervade every stage of the cultivation path.

Whenever I want to do something, I find countless obstacles, with my desires not fitting the environment.

Does everyone experience this, or did I choose the wrong path?”

Xiang Anshi tried to explain as simply as he could, “I believe, everyone experiences this, not just cultivators but mortals too; because it’s human nature to be dissatisfied, always striving for things beyond themselves.

When I was a child, my aunt would always take me to the women’s baths on the island.

Whenever I went, I was reluctant and would ask the gatekeeper aunt when I could stop coming.

The aunt said meaningfully: When you want to come on your own, then you won’t have to come anymore.

You see, that is life.

Having your wishes fulfilled by heaven is but a fantasy.

It’s not that fate is cruel; it’s that humans are too greedy.”

Xiang Anshi was bombarded with questions, which he, even as a Constellation True Inheritor, could hardly withstand the relentless probing; the differences between the Overseas Daoist tradition and the mainstream on the Continent were significant.

On one hand, he had to rack his brains, and on the other, he had to maintain the airs of a Constellation True Inheritor, making the journey quite exhausting.

He finally understood one principle: not only should he not bring his junior sister, but he should not bring any woman at all.

He wanted Hou Niao to help him sort it out, but unfortunately, Hou Niao was preoccupied with his own problems.

Nie Yingnan kept pestering Hou Niao incessantly, not about Daoist Method, but about all sorts of peculiar questions, such as those concerning quarrels with his senior sister Chen Zhaodi.

“…Every time I argue with someone, I feel like I didn’t perform well.

Later at night, when I’m alone with my thoughts, I realize there were many sharp words I didn’t use.

How can I improve?”

Hou Niao, “…”

And even more directly, “Because we want to open the Yingtai Sea Road, we did a deep analysis of the Mirage merchant circles and discovered a very interesting situation.

According to our statistics, more than seventy percent of male cultivators desire to have mistresses…”

Hou Niao felt he could not remain silent, “Junior sister, don’t look at me.

I belong to the remaining thirty percent.”

Nie Yingnan performed well this time, “The remaining thirty percent are those who already have affairs…”

Hou Niao, “…”

Xiang Anshi subtly moved away, fearing involvement.

Although frustrated, such a journey seemed like a true journey, right?

Not just running from one mission to another or from one battlefield to another battlefield.

As Sword Cultivators say, even if one wanted to relive such troubles in the future, they might not be available.

Time changes everything, not only the heavens and the earth but also every person.

As people become stronger, more stable, more mature, they also become increasingly less interesting—mere templates of dullness.

Amongst the banter of the several, the land of Wei Country’s Taihao appeared beneath their feet.

………

Red Leaf City, another season of autumn appreciation.

Over the years, the Wei Sect’s Taihao had become increasingly prosperous.

It was uncertain whether it was due to confusion about the future or because every significant change involved secrecy, but in recent years, more and more cultivators had chosen to come to Taihao.

The number of students at Red Leaf Daoist College had surpassed ten thousand, gathering Seekers from the Three Mountains and Five Mountains, each striving for their own ideals and to stand out.

While the number of Daoist disciples had increased, the number of teachers had not; not every teacher was content with such a scholarly and educative cultivation path, many still yearned for something beyond the mundane.

But there were also cultivators who followed their own path, enjoying this plain life—like Daoist Xintong?

Although not from Wei Country, Daoist Xintong was a genuine product of Red Leaf Daoist College.

After achieving Daoist and leaving decades ago, he returned to Red Leaf over a dozen years ago at the invitation of the college and became a distinguished teacher, specializing in the teaching of mysterious divination and quickly becoming one of the most popular teachers at Red Leaf Daoist College.

Because of his uniqueness in the mystical aspects, solid foundational theories, approachable manner, less arrogance than other teachers, and an appearance like an Immortal in paintings, his popularity soared, earning the adoration of countless Daoist disciples.

Like tonight, under the high-suspended full moon and over the mountain spread with autumn leaves, at the grand autumn appreciation gathering attended by thousands, even amidst the witty exchange between hosts and guests and the Daoist woven like splendid brocade, more than half of the disciples’ eyes were fixed on the serene woman on the high platform, as if she was truly the only real presence at Red Leaf Daoist College.

In the midst of the worldly turmoil, my heart remains unchanged—that is the attitude of a Prophet.

Zhao Xintong could feel the worshipful gazes from the young people below, yet her heart was still as water.

She knew her position well and was aware of her capabilities.

Being esteemed so highly was not something she wished for; after all, in a place like Red Leaf Daoist College, despite its relative purity, the place was still fraught with intrigue and deception.

The Dean of Red Leaf Daoist College’s term was approaching its end.

At over two hundred years old in the Natural Realm, such longevity was no longer sufficient to manage the large Daoist college.

Thus, both the Taihao Sect and he personally intended to retire.

Therefore, the emergence of the next Dean was highly anticipated.

The upper echelons of Taihao intended to promote the Dean from among the cultivators of Red Leaf, firstly because they were more familiar with the situation and wouldn’t need to start from scratch, and secondly because other powerful cultivators from Taihao were not willing to come here and waste their time.

Thus, in recent times, the internal undercurrents within Red Leaf Daoist College had surged, factions struggled amongst each other, and various petty schemes were abundant.

Zhao Xintong certainly did not think she had such an opportunity, nor did she pursue it; though in the God Sensing Realm, her credentials still seemed somewhat light for the position of Dean, and moreover, she was not skilled in such managerial roles, which was not what a Prophet should do.

Her profession required her to cultivate her character and keep herself detached from worldly strife, for only then could she maintain a clear mind, unaffected by profit or bent by power.

But as they say, the trees may wish for calm, but the wind will not cease; she sought neither conflicts nor contention, yet there was a force pushing her…

She could not control it.