Chapter 26: Wei Sheng Holding the Pillar (Part 2) And now, what is he using...
On the second day, the two of them set off as planned in the afternoon.
Considering that Chi Xingji had not yet fully recovered, the two of them did not arrive at Lin'an City, where the legend said a great monster lurked, until dusk.
Compared to the slightly more cautious atmosphere in the neighboring towns, Lin'an City was even more on high alert. Even though the two men did not look like bad guys, the city guards carefully questioned their identities many times before letting them go.
Just as they were about to enter, the man hesitated, then spoke as if he had made up his mind: "You... are monks, right?"
Lian Qiang, mindful of the surroundings, turned to look at him almost as soon as he opened his mouth. Without blushing or beating her heart, she said, "Yes."
She is not a cultivator, but Chi Xingji can be considered one, but she cannot be considered a liar.
"Don't you know... the rumors about this place? There are big monsters here. Even if you are a cultivator, if you don't have the ability to protect yourself, you'd better leave quickly!" This man looked to be in his early forties, a face that could be seen everywhere, and at this moment he showed a bit of impatience.
However, beneath this impatience, there is also kindness.
"Thank you for your advice, brother, but we came here precisely for this great demon." Chi Xingji nodded politely, "Since we're here, there's no reason to return home without giving it a try."
"You only have one life. If you fail, it will be your turn to go home!" Hearing what he said, the eldest brother couldn't help but get a little anxious.
Chi Xingji said calmly: "Nothing."
He meant that no one would die, but to his eldest brother it was interpreted as him being indifferent to life and death.
The two men remained motionless, and the eldest brother could only shake his head at their "recklessness" and said, "I've seen lone men trying to be heroes, and I've seen groups of people trying to build up their courage, but I've never seen anyone bringing their own Taoist companion to die..."
"You misunderstood." Lian Qiang suddenly interrupted in a cold voice. As soon as she said this, she realized how tough her attitude was. She quickly softened her tone and said, "...We are just companions, not Taoist partners."
She tried her best to ignore the expression on Chi Xingji's face beside her - she was really confused. Why did some people always regard them as a couple just because they were a man and a woman?
It is better to avoid such misunderstandings in the future.
The two men were determined to leave. The eldest brother was rebuked coldly again, so he said no more and let the two men go straight into the town.
Lian Qiang noticed that while they hadn't seen a single cultivator in the neighboring town, they had more or less encountered several people imbued with spiritual energy on the streets of Lin'an City, even the gatekeepers. However, their spiritual energy was so shallow that, with their cultivation level, they might not even be able to tell that Lian Qiang was a demonic cultivator.
"The two places are not far apart. If there are wandering cultivators here but not over there, it would be strange..." Lian Qiang pondered. "Could it be because Lin'an City is larger that cultivators from the surrounding areas gather here?"
"No," Chi Xingji's voice and Lian Qiang's inner thoughts overturned her assumptions, "Although the spiritual energy here is thicker than that of the neighboring town, the number of cultivators is not so different."
Indeed, the number of neighboring towns and Lin'an City has increased from nothing to a lot... Lian Qiang was sharp-eyed and caught a glimpse of the notice posted on the street. He took a few quick steps and tore it down.
"——It's a bounty." She took a quick look and showed it to Chi Xingji.
The reward was concise and to the point. It basically said that a big monster had appeared in the surrounding area and often appeared at night to catch people, all of whom were young women. So a notice was posted to recruit a group of monks to go and wipe out the monster. The reward was negotiable - the signature was from Lin'an Anjia.
Lian Qiang handed him the notice, and Chi Xingji took a few steps closer. Now, even if Lian Qiang wanted to avoid him, the boy's expression was clearly in her eyes.
I think his injury hasn't healed yet, he still looks a little sick, his expression is serious and not at all worried.
Lian Qiang secretly laughed at herself for being so self-indulgent and keeping a secret.
She pretended to be nonchalant and observed the previous marks on the wall. The notice in their hands was very new, and had been posted only a day or two ago. Below where it had been posted before, she could vaguely see several other notices with similar content, which had been worn and tattered by the wind and sun.
If anything has changed, it's probably the increasingly generous remuneration.
"The An family seems to be getting more and more anxious." Lian Qiang looked at the reward. It was not only gold and silver, but also a lot of treasures needed by cultivators. Could this An family be a family of immortal cultivators who have taken root here?
Chi Xingji understood what she meant: "It seems that the gathering of so many cultivators here is related to the reward offered by the An family."
It's just strange. If the An family is a family of immortal cultivators who were born and raised here, and they have the power to govern, they should also have the responsibility to protect. As soon as the big monster appeared, they should have sent people to investigate. Could it be that they returned empty-handed?
The appearance of this reward here not only attracted outsiders, but also indirectly reflected the incompetence of the An family.
"Let's go take a look at the An family first?" Lian Qiang suggested, and Chi Xingji had no need to deny it.
There was no need to ask passersby about the An family's location. After all, it was too conspicuous. At first glance, the building rising from the ground in the center of the city was incompatible with the surrounding houses. Most of the monks on the road were also heading in this direction.
When we arrived at the An family, it was already nightfall, but there was a long line of people outside the An family. Upon closer inspection, we saw that they were all male cultivators with varying levels of cultivation. Some were just getting started in the Qi training stage, while a few had just reached the Golden Core stage.
Not to mention Chi Xingji, Lian Qiang's cultivation is also outstanding among them, but they deliberately restrain themselves. Although they have extraordinary demeanor, few people can notice the two people at the end of the line.
People were invited in one by one. Many people went in, and many came out as well. Looking at their cultivation level, Lian Qiang knew why they were invited back.
Seeing that the number of people in front of him was decreasing, Chi Xingji suddenly whispered, "Give me your hand."
Lian Qiang didn't understand why, but she did as she was told. Chi Xingji's right hand rested lightly on her wrist - in an instant, a cold and familiar spiritual power flowed into Lian Qiang's body along the point where they touched.
"Is this... Tongbei's sword energy?" Lian Qiang took a breath of cold air. She had slept in the same bed with Chi Xingji for many years, so she naturally recognized the aura of his sword.
As soon as she said this, Chi Xingji looked at her, a look that seemed to be about something, but he quickly covered it up.
Lian Qiang touched her chest, and the sword energy merged into it and disappeared, as if it were nothing, but it actually built a solid barrier for her heart.
Had Chi Xingji once, on a quiet night, grasped her wrist like this and sealed that sword energy into her body? Did he ever imagine that one day, this sword energy would protect her from the attacks of his loved ones?
And now, what position does he have to... protect her?
"This sword energy can, firstly, protect yourself, and secondly, seal the evil energy that occasionally escapes from your body." Chi Xingji explained at the right time, and judging from his expression, he didn't seem to have any emotion in his expression.
Lian Qiang suddenly realized that it was to isolate her demonic energy... She rubbed her wrist and said softly, "Thank you."
After all, being among human cultivators is not like being among demon cultivators. If you are not careful, you will bring disaster upon yourself. It is difficult for Chi Xingji to drag her sick body, and I have to think more about her.
When it was their turn to go in, no one else was there. The housekeeper who led the way looked listless, perhaps exhausted from a long day's work.
Even so, he still forced himself to face the two of them, bowing and saying, "We are honored guests. I hope you will forgive me if I have not been able to entertain you well enough."
Lian Qiang and Chi Xingji bowed and nodded to show that they didn't mind.
It's strange to say, the An family's exterior is magnificent, but the interior is solemn in color and low-key in furnishings, which is extremely inconsistent with the wealth they had previously displayed.
After the incident between Shao Yu and Huai Xu, Lian Qiang paid even more attention to the surrounding details, fearing that there would be even the slightest omission. However, fearing that there might be ears on the other side of the wall, she calmly withdrew her gaze and waited for the opportunity to explain to Chi Xingji.
The sky was dotted with stars, and the An residence was brightly lit. Regardless of their level of cultivation, the servants who came and went had all reached the basics of Qi training. Each one wore a respectful expression, holding their breath and speaking silently, without a trace of laziness.
It seemed that the An family had a bit more of an aristocratic aura. Lian Qiang was just thinking about this when they arrived at the main hall for receiving guests.
Sitting in the main seat was a middle-aged couple. After entertaining guests for a whole day, they looked a little tired, but their backs were still trying to stay straight.
Seeing someone coming, the man stood up first to greet the guest, and the woman followed closely behind, politely saying, "My surname is An, and my given name is Chen. I am the Lord of Lin'an City. I am honored to have come from afar. May I know your names?"
"My surname is Chi, my given name is Xiao, and this is—"
Chi Xingji raised his hand to signal, and Lian Qiang followed up at the right moment: "Lin Qiang."
"Friend Chi, Friend Lin." Although he appeared older than the other two, An Chen was still unaware of their depth. He didn't dare to act like an elder, so he invited them to take a seat and ordered tea to be served before explaining his purpose: "I believe you two have come here because of the notice in the city."
"That's right," Chi Xingji nodded. "I dare not hide it from City Lord An. Lin Qiang encountered that big monster in the neighboring town yesterday. It is very likely the same one that City Lord An has put a bounty on."
An Chen's eyes brightened slightly when he heard this. "Oh? You encountered that big monster? What was the situation like?"
Lian Qiang recounted the entire situation, and An Chen listened, lost in thought. "He's gone somewhere else... It seems the situation is far more serious than we imagined..." the City Lord muttered solemnly.
Chi Xingji interrupted his trance and said, "I wonder if City Lord An knows anything else about this monster? That would help us understand his personality and capture him."
"Of course I have other understandings." An Chen sat up straight again. As soon as he finished speaking, a fierce murderous aura turned into substance and came towards the two of them!
It was so close! Lian Qiang stood up without thinking, stepped forward, and blocked Chi Xingji's body. He used 30% to 40% of his strength to block the attack!
The incident happened suddenly and the opponent did not use full strength. Even if the attack was resolved, Lian Qiang was forced to take a few steps back.
Chi Xingji also stood up, but after seeing her actions, the hand that was about to be raised fell to his side as if nothing had happened.
"What do you mean, City Lord An?" Lian Qiang shouted sternly, but Chi Xingji behind her patted her shoulder gently, trying to comfort her.
She turned her head and looked at him, then slowly relaxed and retreated behind Chi Xingji, but there was still a look of vigilance in her eyes.
Lian Qiang sighed imperceptibly. She didn't know why, but she instinctively stood in front of Chi Xingji without thinking. It seemed that she instinctively felt that Chi Xingji needed her protection. Only after she was done did she realize that her behavior was a little ridiculous.
No matter how much Chi Xingji's strength was damaged, he would not be hurt by this small move.
Unexpectedly, at this moment, An Chen clapped his hands and laughed.
-----------------------
The author has something to say: I still love you, I can't do anything about it
I'm convinced... This chapter was supposed to be posted yesterday... But I forgot to schedule it, so I'm posting it early... Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or provided me with nutrient solution between 2023-04-20 21:00:00 and 2023-04-22 09:00:00~
Thanks to the little angel who irrigated the nutrient solution: 1 bottle of Cai Gouzi's vegetables;
Thank you very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
