Cultivation Begins with Daily Intelligence Reports

109: Great Spirit Pavilion coercesRoughly ten breaths passed, or perhaps half an hour.

Yun Momo’s rationality finally struggled free from the aftershocks of fright, receding like a tide.

She suddenly realized she was tightly embracing a strange man, and her cheeks instantly felt as if branded with a hot iron, a flush spreading all the way to her earlobes.

A wave of shame engulfed her, and she instinctively wanted to pull away from the awkward embrace.

But the firm arm around her waist remained motionless, like a gentle shackle, lightly holding her in place.

His warm breath brushed the top of her head, bringing a strange, heart-pounding tickle.

An indescribable, subtle emotion quietly sprouted in her heart.

”Let... let go of me...” Yun Momo’s voice was as faint as a mosquito’s hum, thick with a nasal tone and an unyielding shyness.

She kept her head bowed, wishing she could bury her face in her collar, not daring to look at Lin Jingyu’s expression at that moment, her heart pounding as if it would burst from her chest.

Especially thinking about how she had actively thrown herself into this man’s arms just now, she wished even more for a hole to crawl into.

”Oh, oh... ahem...” Lin Jingyu seemed to awaken with a start, feigning a ”just realized” look, slowly and somewhat reluctantly releasing his arm.

Tsk, that feeling... it was quite good, he secretly savored the soft touch.

If this girl hadn’t reacted, he wouldn’t have felt tired even if he held her for a whole day.

The atmosphere became a bit stiff.

He quickly cleared his throat, his face instantly shifting to one of righteous indignation, and his voice rose a few octaves:

”These scoundrel Bandit Cultivators! Daring to commit violence in broad daylight, utterly lawless! Fairy, are you unharmed?”

”I... I’m fine, thank you, Young Master, for saving my life!”

Yun Momo took a deep breath, trying hard to suppress the blush on her face and appear calm, then solemnly clasped her hands in a bow:

”This humble girl, Yun Momo, is an Alchemy apprentice of Miaoling Pavilion. Fellow Daoist’s great kindness, Momo will surely repay it handsomely in the future!”

Although she tried her best to maintain her composure, when she looked up and met Lin Jingyu’s clear and concerned gaze, the blush that had just receded a little surged back onto her face.

His features were distinct, and his eyes revealed an indescribable Spiritual Qi, somewhat resembling the legendary nonsensical comedy king, Zhou Shuaichi, from a certain planet.

My savior... and so handsome... ”Ah? An Alchemy apprentice of Miaoling Pavilion?” Lin Jingyu’s eyes widened abruptly, his face full of ”shock,” and his voice rose a notch. His exaggerated acting could almost win an award.

Yun Momo was taken aback by his overly dramatic reaction.

Miaoling Pavilion is famous, so it’s normal for him to know about it, but this reaction... isn’t it a bit too much? As if he’d heard some earth-shattering secret.

She couldn’t help but ask curiously, ”Young Master... do you know our Miaoling Pavilion?”

Could he be a Cultivator with ties to Miaoling Pavilion?

”More than just know it!”

Lin Jingyu slapped his thigh, his face practically overflowing with ”surprise,” and he blurted out: ”I’m an invited Alchemist of Miaoling Pavilion; I deliver Medicinal Pills every day!”

He shamelessly bestowed upon himself the grand title of ”Alchemist.”

Anyway, he had pretty much mastered the skills and knowledge of a Trainee Alchemist now.

Even if someone questioned him, he could answer fluently.

He could at least be considered half an Alchemist.

”You’re also an Alchemist?” Yun Momo was genuinely surprised this time, looking up sharply, her bright, almond-shaped eyes re-examining Lin Jingyu.

Such a young and handsome savior, and he’s also a colleague?

An indescribable sense of closeness arose spontaneously, and her heart beat a little faster again.

”This place is not suitable for staying long. It would be bad if there were more Bandit Cultivator accomplices.”

Lin Jingyu interrupted her thoughts at the right moment, looking up at the sky, ”Shall we return to the Market Town first?”

Yun Momo nodded quickly, the fear she had felt earlier resurfacing: ”Yes! I’ll listen to Fellow Daoist. Fortunately, Fellow Daoist helped, otherwise I...”

As she spoke, her body trembled uncontrollably, and tears gathered in the corners of her eyes.

Lin Jingyu was in a great mood. Having just made a windfall, he no longer felt bad about the Spirit Stones.

With a flip of his hand, the familiar flowing cloud kite appeared in his palm, growing larger with the wind.

He naturally extended his hand to Yun Momo: ”Fairy, good people are blessed by heaven. A few mere Bandit Cultivators cannot harm you at all.”

Sunlight fell on his face, his smile open and warm.

He felt a degree of admiration for Yun Momo.

To directly activate a talisman to commit suicide in a moment of despair, that kind of courage is not something everyone possesses.

Yun Momo looked at his well-defined hand, her cheeks slightly warm. After a brief hesitation, she gently placed her hand into his. His palm was dry and warm, with calluses.

The flowing cloud kite carried the two of them, transforming into a streak of light, and sped towards the Southeast Market Town.

Upon arriving at the Market Town entrance, Yun Momo took out a token and waved it, and the gate-keeping Cultivators immediately let them in.

Even the Formation detection and entrance fee were waived.

As they hurried to a secluded alley near Miaoling Pavilion, the clamor ahead made both Lin Jingyu and Yun Momo frown simultaneously.

They quickly walked out of the alley entrance and looked ahead—

In front of Miaoling Pavilion’s ancient and elegant main gate, the atmosphere was tense.

More than twenty fierce-looking Cultivators, arranged in a semicircle, all had unfriendly eyes, and their cultivation was at least Qi Refining Seventh Layer!

Invisible pressure, like a tangible substance, made the surrounding air thick.

The leader, dressed in a brocade robe with an exquisite gold-threaded Pill Furnace emblem embroidered on his chest, was none other than Daling Pavilion’s famous First Manager, Liu Tushan!

His Ninth Layer of Qi Refining Perfection Aura was unleashed without restraint, his face bearing a condescending arrogance and a disdainful confidence of victory.

It is said that this person had reached the limit of a First-Rank Alchemist, and if not for cultivation restrictions, he would definitely be able to enter the Second-Rank Alchemist Realm.

Opposite him was Miaoling Pavilion’s First Manager, Feng Xixi. This beautiful woman, known for her graceful demeanor and smooth methods, now had an unyielding chill on her well-preserved face, which resembled that of a young girl.

Behind her, a few scattered Cultivators from Miaoling Pavilion stood, completely suppressed in Aura, appearing isolated and helpless.

”Liu Tushan!”

The beautiful woman Feng Xixi’s voice was clear as ice beads falling on a jade plate, yet it contained an unsuppressible anger:

”Poaching my talent, cutting off my supply — those despicable tactics were bad enough! But today you dare to bring people to block my door and demand debt? Do you really think my Miaoling Pavilion is made of mud?”

”Heh.”

Liu Tushan scoffed disdainfully, stroking the carefully groomed goatee on his chin, and slowly said:

”Shopkeeper Feng, you are mistaken. As the saying goes, people strive for higher places, and water flows to lower grounds. Your Miaoling Pavilion is not doing well, so it’s the best choice for several enshrined Alchemists to leave.

Good birds choose their trees to nest in. My Daling Pavilion is the number one Pill Pavilion in the entire Southeast Market Town. Here, several Alchemists will achieve the best development.”

He pointed at a plump Cultivator beside him, dressed in silk and looking miserable as if he was about to cry, and his tone turned sinister, revealing his true intentions:

”This Fellow Daoist Hua Yun ordered twenty bottles of qi gathering pills from your esteemed pavilion a month ago! It’s a black-and-white contract, and now it’s two days overdue, not a single pill has been seen!

According to Market Town rules, if your esteemed pavilion cannot fulfill the contract, you should immediately take down your signboard and never again sell Medicinal Pills in the Southeast Market Town!”