Chapter 18 The Scheming Disciple and the Charming Master 18

Chapter 18: The Scheming Disciple and the Alluring Master 18

"Fellow Daoist, since we're both cultivators of the same path, there's no need for you to put on that foolish righteous act. Let's just talk."

Lin Huaiqing raised an eyebrow. "What could we possibly have to talk about?"

"We're both here for our disciples. Who else could understand the heartache of being a master? How about we settle this with a fight—we'll split the loot we grabbed with you. From now on, we're done with each other. What do you say?"

The leading black-clad male cultivator's words portrayed himself as a devoted master.

But his actions were just too shameful. How could he ever sink to their level?

"You think I'm the same kind of person as you?" Lin Huaiqing gritted his teeth, wishing he could cut down this silver-tongued male cultivator with his sword.

But damn it all, the man didn't even catch the anger in his voice.

"Of course—didn't you come here for the secret treasure? Didn't you come to make sure your disciple leaves everyone else in the dust among the hundred immortal sects?"

Lin Huaiqing gave no answer.

Indeed, he had also bent the rules, but that Qingyu was undeniably Mu Yunting's life-bound spirit sword.

He was just helping the male lead get it early.

"I'll say it one more time—give their things back, or I won't go easy on you!"

"You're asking for trouble! Set up the formation!"

When words failed, two powerhouses at the Golden Core stage or above actually came to blows in the secret realm.

However, to avoid revealing their true identities, neither summoned their personal swords.

The cultivation world—it's as big as it is small. There were only so many big shots among the immortal sects.

What life-bound spirit artifact each person used was all on record. Whoever revealed their trump card first would surely have their identity exposed.

In an instant, the tiny clearing the size of a palm erupted with sand and stones flying, blotting out the sky, as sword energy slashed everywhere.

Two of the most ordinary cast-iron swords were used to unleash the power of top-grade spirit artifacts, reducing the surrounding plants and trees to ruin.

Qin Du and the other two were hiding at a distance from the clearing, so they hadn't been caught in the crossfire yet.

But they had heard every word loud and clear while hiding in the grass.

The leading black-clad male cultivator had said they were both there for their disciples—could the Brother Zhao they met actually be their master in disguise?

With that realization, the two of them basically knew the truth.

Especially Qin Du—the questions he had earlier had now come to light.

But with Yu'er there besides the two of them, they couldn't say it outright.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao is that strong?! He can even fight a Golden Core cultivator?" Yu'er marveled as she watched the two locked in a fierce battle.

Qin Du secretly breathed a sigh of relief. At least Yu'er wasn't clever enough to catch on to their master's identity.

Mu Yunting watched from the sidelines, itching to act. The black-clad male cultivator outside had brought four disciples with him.

Although his master had reached the Nascent Soul stage, possessing another person's body meant he could only exert half his full power.

"No! I have to go help him!"

Mu Yunting couldn't stand it anymore. He was about to rise when Qin Du yanked him back just in time.

"Stop! Do you want someone to recognize you and blow the master's cover?"

The two communicated through secret sound transmission technique, behind Yu'er's back.

"Then what do you suggest we do?!"

"I have an idea!"

A flash of inspiration struck Qin Du. He plucked a few leaves half a person's height, trimmed them to the size of a human face, and cut four holes in them.

Worn over the face, only the eyes, nose, and mouth would show—no one could recognize them.

"Wear it!"

Mu Yunting took it with a look of utter disgust, put it on, and rushed out alongside Qin Du.

As if they'd planned it in advance, they each engaged two of the black-clad male cultivator's disciples.

Without his disciples' formation support, the wicked cultivator gradually lost the upper hand.

In a moment of carelessness, Lin Huaiqing had already pierced a bloody hole through his shoulder.

Seeing the two sudden "leaf people," Lin Huaiqing nearly burst out laughing.

His two disciples were such clowns—to avoid exposing his identity, they had disguised themselves as leaf people to help him fight.

Caught off guard by the two unexpected leaf people, the black-clad male cultivator's disciples were overwhelmed, one after another being beaten to a pulp by Qin Du and Mu Yunting.

With defeat imminent, the black-clad male cultivator had no choice but to put distance between himself and Lin Huaiqing.

"Consider this my bad luck! Retreat!"

At the black-clad male cultivator's command, his disciples scrambled to their feet and followed their master in retreat.

"Stop! You haven't returned the things yet—where do you think you're running?"

Seeing this, Lin Huaiqing channeled spiritual power into his legs and appeared behind the black-clad male cultivator in an instant, grabbing hold of his collar.

The black-clad male cultivator reacted swiftly, pulling out a small iron ball—some kind of hidden weapon—from his robes and smashing it on the ground.

In an instant, an unknown smoke rapidly spread from within the ball, enveloping Lin Huaiqing.

Lin Huaiqing immediately covered his nose and mouth, but he still inhaled a little.

The moment he let go, the man had already disappeared into the jungle.

A lecherous male voice came from somewhere unknown: "Hehehehe! Enjoy yourself! I'm curious to see which of your disciples you'll ask to help you cure that poison!"

Lin Huaiqing's jade-like eyes were now misted over, his cheeks flushed white with a hint of red.

He had indeed inhaled the smoke, but just a tiny bit—surely it wouldn't be a problem, right?

Qin Du and Mu Yunting ran over together from behind. Mu Yunting whispered:

"Master, are you poisoned?!"

Lin Huaiqing merely frowned and said nothing, almost driving his two disciples to panic.

Qin Du was clearly more anxious than Mu Yunting, shaking Lin Huaiqing's arm nonstop.

"Master, say something! What did that guy in black mean when he said we should help you get rid of the poison? Where are you hurting? Just tell us!"

That remark got Lin Huaiqing thinking.

Right—what exactly did that cultivator in black mean by his last words?

What did he mean by saying one of his two disciples should help him detox?

Before he could even figure out what those words really meant, a wave of heat swept over Lin Huaiqing's whole body.

So hot! Why was he suddenly this hot?

"Master, you're sweating!" Qin Du said, reaching over to wipe Lin Huaiqing's forehead.

But Lin Huaiqing unexpectedly swatted his hand away.

"Don't touch me!"

Qin Du's touch just now made him shudder without meaning to. This weird, unsettling feeling scared the hell out of him.

What was going on with his body? Why was it so sensitive all of a sudden?

No! He couldn't stay here another second. He had to get back to Xuantian Sect and have his junior sister—a medical cultivator—help him detox.

"You two, listen up. Watch out for those guys, and don't start any fights. Your master is heading back first."

After saying his piece, Lin Huaiqing disappeared from their sight at top speed.

Once he finally reached the secret realm's exit, he pulled out of this body.

He absorbed the residual toxins within the body into his own spiritual consciousness, and incidentally bestowed a bit of fortune upon this disciple.

A Nascent Soul stage venerable's casually given fortune could benefit a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator for a lifetime.

It also served as compensation for renting this disciple's body.