Chapter 61

Lin Du tentatively asked, “Before us, has anyone else been here?”

Clearly, the person on the ground couldn’t give her an answer. She heard footsteps crunching in the snow, and before she had time to turn around, a long-dormant consciousness suddenly surged in her mind.

Although the system usually remained silent when no mission characters appeared, she always felt that after Yan Ye had probed her divine sense, the system had hidden itself.

Yan Ye had said her soul was normal, and if he said so, it must be true. He was a cultivator at the Taiqing Realm of the Seventh Stage, not far from ascension. His understanding of the laws of heaven was deep, and he practiced the Way of Fate.

This system either had the ability to withdraw at any time or was so profound that it was at least on par with the Way of Heaven.

[Your mission target has been here and is now behind you.]

“Too many. Which one?”

[Shao Fei.]

The young man in a pale robe standing in front of the desolate wooden door paused slightly and tapped the cold folding fan in his palm with his index finger.

“Here we go again.”

Lin Du had not yet turned around, but she could already sense the sound getting closer.

The village chief had arrived as well, explaining the situation to Mo Lin.

“Just last night, a cow was killed, leaving nothing but bones. The footprints outside the cowshed were as big as a millstone… I said that thing wouldn’t be satisfied with just one cow, so I quickly asked the masters of the Supreme Sect for help. Who knew, before you all arrived, the monster came out in broad daylight to eat people.”

“Fortunately, a cultivator who was temporarily staying with us chased away the man-eating beast. Otherwise, the widow and her child wouldn’t have made it.”

Mo Lin looked at the female cultivator standing behind the village chief. She wore a pristine white robe, blending almost seamlessly with the snow.

He averted his gaze, his eyes hurting from the brightness of the snow.

“Fellow Taoist,” the female cultivator greeted openly with a bow, “we meet again.”

Lin Du suddenly felt a slight headache.

Mo Lin was taken aback, “We’ve met before?”

Shao Fei’s face froze for a moment, but she smiled gently, “Of course we have. We met in the forest outside Pudan City. At that time, you saved me and even inspired me.”

“You said, ‘The weak should not overestimate themselves and try to shield others.'”

“Look, I can cultivate now. Do you still think I’m weak?”

Her beautiful face stood out in the snowy landscape, like a pure and proud plum blossom thriving in the frost.

Mo Lin scratched his head, trying hard to recall. First, he remembered the title of the book his Junior Master had given him, and then he remembered her, “Oh, sorry, I didn’t recognize you with proper clothes on.”

Lin Du couldn’t hold back anymore, turning around in surprise, followed by Yan Qing and Xia Tianwu, all looking at their senior brother.

“What clothes?”

The woman couldn’t help but smile, “Yes, I’ll never be that disheveled again.”

Lin Du glanced deeply at the woman. She was indeed a completely different person from a few months ago.

The once pitiful white flower in the forest had now transformed into a strong and resilient cultivator, proud even in the face of hardship. If not for knowing her ulterior motives, every word she had spoken since her appearance would have left a favorable impression on others.

“I am Shao Fei, an outer disciple of the Feixing Sect. May I ask for your name, fellow Taoist?”

Lin Du suddenly spoke, “I am Lin Du of the Supreme Sect, here with my disciples to protect Hedìng Village. May I ask, fellow Taoist, what kind of demon beast did you chase away earlier? What was its level?”

Everyone’s attention shifted toward the doorway.

The young man in a pale robe stood before the humble brick house, his hair tied with a silver pin, wearing a veil over his face that covered half of it. His expression was tired, showing little emotion.

Though his refined appearance seemed out of place in such a rural setting, there was an air about him that allowed him to fit in anywhere, carefree and unbothered.

Only then did the village chief notice that there were four more people standing behind her in the courtyard. Two stood to one side, slightly uneven in height, all with veils covering their mouths and noses. Their gazes were cold, filled with contemplation and judgment.

The five of them gave off an icy, intimidating aura, more like a group of highway bandits than disciples of a grand sect.

The young man in the middle raised his hand and pulled down the gray veil, casually letting the layered fabric pile up around his neck.

As she moved, the other four also lowered their veils.

Mo Lin had split up from them; he went to find the village chief while the other four followed Lin Du. This now made him feel somewhat out of place.

The young man quietly regretted his decision. The spot beside his Junior Master clearly should have been his!

It was obvious that he standing there would look far more imposing. Even the stone lions at the gate know to choose two fierce ones, but now with one tall and one short, it just looked awkward!

The village chief whispered, “May I ask, Master Dao, are these people also disciples of the Supreme Sect?”

Mo Lin gave a brief nod, “Yes, the one who was asking the questions earlier is my Junior Master.”

Lin Du nodded slightly toward the village chief, then turned his head slightly to look at Shao Fei.

The other four also looked at Shao Fei in unison.

Facing the gazes of the five, Shao Fei had to admit that there was no one among the Supreme Sect disciples who wasn’t striking in appearance. Together, they exuded a sense of cold beauty, elegance, grace, and noble bearing. But despite this, she couldn’t shake the unnerving feeling she had.

These disciples of the Supreme Sect… why do they seem a bit off?

Even puppets under control wouldn’t be this synchronized.

Lin Du raised an eyebrow slightly and spoke in a calm voice, “Taoist Shao?”

Shao Fei snapped back to reality. “Forgive my ignorance. That thing fled in such a hurry that I didn’t get a clear look. All I saw was a massive black shadow.”

Lin Du narrowed his eyes, while Yan Qing stroked his chin, and Mo Lin tilted his head. The three of them began mentally searching through their knowledge for any descriptions that might fit.

Yuan Ye broke the silence. “Perhaps you should spend less time feeding pigs and more time reading.”

His tone was one of solemn advice, exactly like how their Junior Master used to urge him to read more.

The warm and resilient smile on Shao Fei’s face finally cracked: What?

Feeding pigs? What kind of good cultivator feeds pigs???

Forcing a smile, she said, “Thank you for the advice, fellow Taoist.”

Yuan Ye nodded approvingly, as if he’d successfully educated her, and then turned to look at his Junior Master. But by then, Lin Du had already turned away.

“Apologies, may I inspect the scene?” Lin Du lifted his foot, ready to step through the door, when a gentle female voice called out from behind.

“Freind Lin, that mother just lost her child and is likely heartbroken. Shouldn’t we give her some time to recover?”

Lin Du had been waiting for input from inside, but upon hearing this, he stepped right in.

People live by two words: defiance.

Investigating a scene must be done while it’s fresh.

Lin Du stopped those who wanted to follow him. “Don’t all come in just yet. Village chief, please make sure this mother is well taken care of. Tian Wu, prepare a calming and soothing herbal remedy for her. Jinxuan, ask her a few questions. Yan Qing, come with me inside. Yuan Ye and Mo Lin, check the cowshed.”

In one breath, Lin Du made all the arrangements, and the people who had just exuded a commanding presence immediately followed his orders.

The village chief watched the slender figure, unable to help but marvel. No wonder he’s a junior master of the Supreme Sect—so young and already carrying himself like an immortal.