plumnovel Chapter 51 Using a borrowed knife to kill
Chapter 51 Using a borrowed knife to kill
[You've accepted the quest, and the reward is fifty contribution points. However, exchanging a Tier 1 spirit treasure requires a full thousand contribution points, making you realize that the road ahead is long and arduous.]
[You were perfectly aware of your puppet's movements, yet you still pretended to be full of enthusiasm as you went out to track it.]
[Over the past three days, the intelligence you provided has been both accurate and timely, and your actions have been flawless. This seasoned and composed demeanor has quickly attracted the organization's attention.]
The leader has exceptionally rewarded you with 100 contribution points, saying it's as encouragement.
This time, you didn't send Qingkui to Lingtai Mountain to participate in the Dao Sect Trial. Instead, you wanted to see how fate would unfold if you avoided this juncture.
Today, you found another task related to you in your task list:
Meet with your employer to discuss your details, including your cultivation level, age, name, and background. The reward is up to 200 contribution points.
You readily accepted the mission and headed to Luomei Residence in the east of the city as agreed.
You have thoroughly explored Xuan Ce City in the past few days and soon found your destination.
The private room arranged by the other party was named "Mingxiang," but when you asked the maid, she told you that Luomei Residence did not have such a room.
You keenly notice that the maid is lying, and even though her performance is flawless, it still cannot escape your eyes.
"You immediately revealed the aura of the first level of Qi Refining, and a knowing look flashed in the maid's eyes."
Guided by her, you pass through a hidden array and enter the inner courtyard. Inside, you find pavilions and towers, and all the people coming and going are cultivators.
[Then it dawned on you: So, if one isn't a cultivator, they don't even have the qualifications to enter the inner courtyard.]
Guided by a maid, you enter the elegant "Fragrance of Light" private room. The room is filled with the gentle fragrance of incense, and a stunningly beautiful young woman in a pink dress sits quietly within. She possesses an air of refined elegance, and her every gesture exudes nobility.
Upon your arrival, she gracefully invites you to sit down. After confirming that she is indeed your employer, you begin your report, your words a mix of truth and falsehood, embellishing key information.
After listening to your report, she took out two spirit stones and placed them on the table, then made an unexpected request: she hoped you could take her to see you in person.
So you decided...
First, agree and take her to see Qingkui.
2. Direct refusal.
"Could it be her?" Li Qingyi frowned slightly, then shook her head.
"No, judging from the details of her expression, she meant me no harm and already knew about me. But how did this woman know of my existence?"
Li Qingyi pondered for a moment, "We must find out the truth about this. I'll choose one."
You readily agreed, took her to the courtyard where you lived with Ling'er, and then left.
As she entered, you secretly manipulated the green puppets in the courtyard to greet her.
The visitor introduced herself as Yu Die. When Qing Kui inquired about her origins, Yu Die did not answer directly, but instead said meaningfully:
"Listening to the Rain Pavilion." With that, he drifted away.
You are deeply puzzled by this matter, but you sense that the girl is a friend, not an enemy. You feel like you're missing something, and then it suddenly occurs to you: perhaps the information an assassin can obtain is different from that of a mole?
Upon returning to the organization, you immediately informed the leader that you had reached the first level of Qi Refining and requested to be transferred to the assassin profession.
The leader didn't ask many questions, but simply gave you a mission: assassinate the owner of the blacksmith shop in the south of the city. His cultivation level is also at the first level of Qi Refining.
You accepted the mission without hesitation and completed the assassination in less than fifteen minutes.
[Upon returning to the organization, you successfully transitioned to an assassin. Just as you predicted, assassins do indeed have their own specific missions, and there's even an assassin ranking system.]
You searched the assassin-specific mission interface for a long time but found no missions related to you. You were somewhat confused, but when you opened the assassin leaderboard, you were shocked.
[Your portrait is prominently displayed on the assassin rankings, codenamed "Shadow." It's also specifically noted: "Personal disciple of the Listening Rain Pavilion Master." All other assassins only have codenames, not portraits.]
You were completely shocked, utterly bewildered as to when you acquired this identity.
Suddenly, you realize: the Dao Sect didn't kill you because they were wary of your identity and feared that it would attract the revenge of the Listening Rain Pavilion.
But they weren't willing to let you go so easily, so they released your information to the public, hoping to use you as a pawn. This resulted in the arrest of the Foundation Establishment cultivator whose entire clan had perished.
Although you still don't understand what this mysterious leader intends to do, you feel much more relaxed after figuring out where the enemy came from.
[You gather information within the city while completing your missions. Unlike the previous simulation, this time you didn't go to the Dao Sect, thus avoiding becoming a target.]
To uncover the truth behind this, you must desperately climb higher within the Listening Rain Pavilion.
After two weeks of intense competition, through various details, you keenly perceive that the organization operates on a meritocratic system—whoever is strongest becomes the leader. This information, however, has been concealed by the leader.
[You no longer concealed your cultivation level and directly challenged the current leader. After a fierce battle, you finally became the new leader of the Xuan Ce City branch.]
Today, Qingkui was wandering around the city when he passed by the Qiu residence and was invited to visit. In high spirits, you sent Qingkui to share in the joy.
[Once you enter, you'll learn that the Qiu family patriarch, in his forties, broke through to the Qi Refining stage and threw a grand banquet, announcing to the entire city that the Qiu family could also be considered a family of cultivators.]
You scoff at this.
After the banquet, you thought you could finally relax, but a few days later, things took an unexpected turn.
Although you avoided the Dao Sect's involvement, you still earned a bad reputation. Fortunately, now that you're a branch leader, you're much more indifferent to these criticisms.
You learned from rumors that many people in the organization are jealous of your status as the sect leader's disciple.
After obtaining your specific information, they spread rumors that you were an assassin from the Listening Rain Pavilion, but they didn't mention a word about your identity as a disciple of the Pavilion Master.
You immediately understood these people's sinister intentions: they wanted to use someone else to do your dirty work, to have an unsuspecting outsider eliminate you.
Fortunately, your true form wasn't exposed, but the Azure Puppet was targeted. Within half a day, the Foundation Establishment cultivator indeed found the Azure Puppet and crippled its cultivation.
[And so, Ling'er took care of Qingkui for over a month. During this time, she repeatedly tried to clear your name as a disciple of the Zhengyang Immortal Sect, but unfortunately, it had no effect.]
[Over the past month, through the perspective of the Azure Puppet, you keenly noticed Ling'er's unusual behavior. The worry on her face deepened, and not long after, just like in the last simulation, she quietly departed.]
So you decided...
1. Following Ling'er.
Second, secure your position as leader.
"They've even followed me... Couldn't you have used a different word? This makes me sound like a pervert..." Li Qingyi rubbed her temples helplessly.
"I choose one."
[Your cultivation has broken through to the fifth level of Qi Refining, and you've seen how good Ling'er is to you. To change Ling'er's fate, you secretly follow her.]
You followed Ling'er to the outskirts of the city, where you saw a magnificent carriage drawn by two spirit beasts. Just as you were about to approach, a guard spotted you—the guard was actually a Foundation Establishment expert.
[Under the pressure of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, you were forced to reveal yourself. In desperation, you unleashed the "Netherworld God-Slaying Talisman" without hesitation, instantly obliterating the Foundation Establishment expert.]
Such a commotion naturally alerted the people in the carriage. You rushed into the carriage and found a beautiful young woman sitting next to Ling'er.
[You knew Ling'er absolutely could not go back with her, so you grabbed Ling'er's hand and tried to pull her away. However, the next moment, a terrifying pressure from the Purple Mansion descended.]
The Purple Mansion True Person sneered at Ling'er, "A bastard is a bastard." He then gave you a cold glance; all your pretense was exposed before a Purple Mansion cultivator.
After seeing your true face, the other party mercilessly crushed you on the spot.
[You're dead. Rewards are being calculated...]