Make the Immortal Sect Great Again

Inside the Xuanjia Camp.

Wang Ping sat cross-legged, circulating his qi and blood as he breathed evenly. With each breath, the muscles and bones in his face subtly shifted and realigned.

In the blink of an eye, he had a completely new face.

His youthful, handsome features transformed into a weather-beaten, middle-aged face, then morphed again into the wrinkled visage of an old man with one foot in the grave.

One Person, a Thousand Faces—he could change as he pleased.

It was not limited to his facial features. If he wished, he could even take the form of a woman; he even had a method to deal with his most telling physical traits.

”Retracting the manhood into the abdomen!”

Wang Ping felt his crotch. Once he confirmed the technique actually worked, he clicked his tongue in wonder. ”I never expected to find a disguise method so quickly.”

After verifying the disguise effects that came with the Thirteen Grand Protectors Hard Qigong, Wang Ping restored his original form. He then circulated his spiritual sense, scanning his surroundings. Compared to before he mastered Telepathic Spiritual Perception, his spiritual sense was dozens of times stronger. Every single detail within the Xuanjia Camp was laid bare to him.

’There are no blind spots this time.’Wang Ping pushed his spiritual sense to its absolute limit, quickly spotting Xugou and Shenhou just outside the Xuanjia Camp. This time, they couldn’t evade his perception.

”Hm?”

Just then, Wang Ping’s gaze flickered. He noticed Wu Xintai walking toward his tent with someone else following right behind him.

”...It’s her?” Wang Ping was stunned.

The woman was heavily wrapped and even wore a layer of inner armor. Her martial bearing was completely different from the frail image he held in his memory.

It was Madam Su.

’She practiced martial arts... wait, why is she still here? In the lifetime before last, I had everything arranged. She should be in the Capital by now.’

Wang Ping frowned slightly. A moment later, Wu Xintai lifted the tent flap and strode inside. ”Lord Wang, I’ve brought the unranked martial arts manuals you asked for.”

The commander set three secret manuals down in front of Wang Ping. A quick glance told Wang Ping they were mostly ordinary goods, far inferior to the Thirteen Grand Protectors Hard Qigong. Moreover, three manuals simply weren’t enough. Still, one could never have too many good things, so he accepted them all.

”Thank you for your trouble, General.”

”Not at all, not at all.” Wu Xintai waved his hand, not daring to claim credit. With his sharp intuition, how could he not see that Wang Ping was actually a little dissatisfied?

Sensing this, he hurriedly added, ”Actually, there are a few more unranked martial arts manuals available. They belong to a merchant family willing to offer them up, but the owner wishes to meet with Your Lordship in person...”

”Oh?”

Wang Ping lowered his eyes. He already understood Wu Xintai’s true intent, but finding it hard to refuse, he simply gave a slight nod. ”Invite the person outside to come in.”

Wu Xintai heaved a massive sigh of relief. He stepped aside and held the tent flap open. Madam Su strode inside with a resolute expression. Without wasting any breath, she pulled out a token engraved with her name and spoke in a deep, serious tone, ”Su Ya of the Capital Su Family greets Your Lordship—”

Her voice abruptly cut off.

Madam Su stood frozen in place, the token slipping unnoticed from her grasp. Her beautiful eyes were fixed entirely on Wang Ping.

She had come here intending to make one last, desperate attempt.

She had learned yesterday that a Gold-Bearing Brocade Guard had arrived to oversee the troops. Thus, she planned to use the handwritten order left behind by her good sister.

She wanted to see if she could convince this Gold-Bearing Brocade Guard. If the military overseer gave the word, she figured Wu Xintai might finally waver and deploy troops to help her rescue the person trapped in the county town.

She simply couldn’t think of any better alternative.

Yet in this moment, all her prior anxiety, hardship, and sorrow vanished into thin air, leaving her with nothing but incredulous bewilderment.

Seeing her reaction, Wang Ping felt rather helpless.

Meanwhile, Wu Xintai enthusiastically stepped forward to make introductions. ”Lord Wang, please allow me to introduce her. This lady is—”

”No need.”

Wang Ping waved his hand dismissively. ”You may leave.”

Wu Xintai blanked for a second before cautiously protesting, ”My Lord, although this lady holds no official post, her status is quite significant. Perhaps you should at least hear her—”

”I said, get out!” Wang Ping glared at him.

”Ah?”

Wu Xintai was genuinely stunned this time. He looked at Wang Ping, then glanced at Madam Su, whose eyes were already rimmed with red. After hesitating for a moment, he cupped his fists in a salute and left.

He thoughtfully pulled the tent flap shut behind him.

Once Wu Xintai was gone, Wang Ping turned to look at Madam Su, though he didn’t say a word. Madam Su, her lips pressed tightly together, similarly remained silent.

A heavy silence fell over the tent.

They maintained this near-standoff for a long while. In the end, Madam Su was the one whose composure finally cracked. With her eyes rimmed red and tears shimmering within them, her voice trembled as she asked, ”Why aren’t you speaking?”

Wang Ping shook his head. ”Madam, have you misunderstood something?”

Right up until this moment, he still held onto a tiny sliver of hope. After all, his physical rebirth had drastically altered both his temperament and appearance.

Could she really recognize him at a glance?

Furthermore, he was now a Gold-Bearing Brocade Guard, completely different from the young bailiff he had been back then. Anyone else would just assume it was a coincidence of two people looking alike...

”You’re saying I misunderstood!?”

Madam Su’s voice instantly shot up an octave. Her emotions were visibly spiraling out of control as two streams of clear tears slid down her cheeks.

Wang Ping instantly abandoned his wishful thinking.

”I was wrong,” he admitted, obediently lowering his head.

Madam Su trembled at his words, her teeth clenched tight. A moment later, she whispered, ”I thought you died.”

”And I thought you went to the Capital to enjoy a peaceful life,” Wang Ping replied.

”You died in that town, killed by that damn county magistrate.” Madam Su’s tone grew faint and sorrowful. ”If I didn’t avenge you, how could I just leave for the Capital?”

Wang Ping: ”...”

”Come here,” Madam Su said again.

Wang Ping carefully shuffled forward until he stood right in front of her. However, he kept his movements rigid and extremely proper, looking like the picture of perfect etiquette.

This only made Madam Su angrier.

Reuniting with someone she believed was dead had caused the emotions in her heart to overflow like her tears. She felt overwhelming joy, but simultaneously, intense anger.

Why hadn’t he told her he was alive?

Why had he deliberately pretended not to recognize her?

And why was he just standing there like a statue?

Seeing Wang Ping standing right beside her yet doing absolutely nothing, acting like a block of wood, Madam Su’s tears flowed harder, but her stubborn streak flared up as well.

”Are you trying to cut ties with me?”

”Absolutely not,” Wang Ping said, putting it another way. ”It’s just that my situation is very dangerous. You shouldn’t be implicated by me; you should have a life of your own.”

Madam Su took a deep breath. ”Do you still not understand?”

”Understand what?” Wang Ping was clueless.

The moment he asked that, a mix of shame and fury filled her heart, dyeing her face, her ears, and her fair neck completely crimson.

This damn bastard was actually pretending!

Was he trying to force her to say it first? Did he know he was in the wrong, and was therefore stringing her along so she would relent and stop holding him accountable for his mistakes?

”You brute...”

Drawn into Wang Ping’s emotional tug-of-war, the anger in Madam Su’s heart dissipated significantly. Joy gained the upper hand; she just wanted an outlet to vent it all.

Yet, seeing Wang Ping looking completely unmoved, she puffed out her cheeks. Her face flushed a deep, indignant red. She simply could not set her pride aside to yield first. Growing increasingly anxious and irritated by the second, she finally snapped out of spite, ”A Gold-Bearing Brocade Guard... You must have used some underhanded means to get that title. I’m going to the magistrate to report you!”

With that, she spun around and made for the tent exit.

It was only then that Wang Ping finally reached out. He grabbed Madam Su’s hand, and before he could even exert any force, she instantly melted into his embrace.

They stared at one another.

Madam Su had intended to say something else, but staring into that handsome face just inches away, her mind went completely blank. She shyly closed her eyes.

Seeing this, Wang Ping let out a helpless sigh. ”Madam, I actually have no interest in women...”

Madam Su’s eyes snapped open in fury.

The mood was set, the emotions had crested, the arrow was nocked on the bowstring—and he had the audacity to spit out a line like that. The string of reason inside her head instantly snapped.

”Take me!” Madam Su demanded, enunciating every word.

While sliding his hands inside her robes, Wang Ping put on a look of sheer reluctance. ”T-this doesn’t seem appropriate... I really have no interest in women.”

A likely story.

Madam Su actually laughed from the sheer absurdity of his words. Finally throwing her last shreds of modesty to the wind, she tilted her head back, threw her arms around Wang Ping’s neck, and bit down on his lips with her own.

Left with no other choice, Wang Ping helplessly yielded and returned her kiss.

............

Outside the tent, Wu Xintai was staring in absolute shock.

He never could have imagined that the moment he stepped foot out of the tent, quite a commotion would echo from within, intermixed with muffled voices.

In broad daylight, under the bright blue sky!

It was an absolute disgrace!

Simply a disgrace to all decency!

Gasp!

In this moment, not a single lecherous thought crossed Wu Xintai’s mind. There was only endless shock: ’Madam Su is already a noblewoman with profound backing, yet she’s rolling in the sheets with this Gold-Bearing Brocade Guard. They’re clearly old acquaintances... In that case, this Gold-Bearing Brocade Guard’s background must be utterly unfathomable as well!’

But if that was the case, why would he come to Longxing County?

If he was some noble scion from the Capital, why on earth would he run to this poverty-stricken backwater as a military overseer just for fun? Could it be... he was here on a secret mission?

The Gold-Bearing Brocade Guards were the Emperor’s personal retinue.

Good lord, was he carrying some secret imperial decree?

The more Wu Xintai thought about it, the more terrified he became. He didn’t dare listen to the noises coming from the tent any longer. Instead, he immediately summoned his men to clear out the surrounding area, lest anyone spoil His Lordship’s mood.

Time passed until the sun finally sank beneath the western hills.

Madam Su’s emotions finally settled. Greedy for his familiar warmth, she remained curled up in Wang Ping’s embrace, resting her head on his shoulder, completely unwilling to get up.

”Are you still going to report me?” Wang Ping sat up straight and challenged her.

”I won’t report you, I won’t.”

Madam Su’s body tensed, and she hurriedly begged for mercy. She truly couldn’t handle any more. She had no idea what martial arts this brute had been practicing, but his body felt as though it were forged from solid iron.

”R-right!”

Seeing that Wang Ping was preparing to move again, Madam Su frantically changed the subject. ”Your brother, Liu Ye, is in trouble. He’s locked up in the county prison...”

Wang Ping’s movements halted. ”Old Liu?”

”He refused to leave his homeland, so he ultimately went to Changle Commandery. But that dog official Xu Bingzheng has connections in the commandery office and schemed to have him arrested and brought back here.”

”As for my connections... an emergency came up, forcing them to leave. Since they aren’t locals of Changle Commandery either, we weren’t able to stop it in time.”

Seeing Wang Ping’s expression darken, Madam Su hurriedly added, ”D-don’t worry. The connection I hired was my cousin. She’s an extraordinary person, and she personally pulled some strings to arrange Liu Ye’s safety. No matter how bold that dog official is, he will only dare to torture Liu Ye at worst; he absolutely wouldn’t dare kill him...”

Wang Ping’s expression did not improve.

After all, killing someone only took a single slash—it was quick and clean. In this world, there were countless methods to make a person wish for death, trapping them in a hell worse than the grave.

At this thought, Wang Ping immediately spared Madam Su.

A short while later, the fully dressed couple walked out of the tent. Wu Xintai, who had been waiting for quite some time, scurried over and offered a respectful bow. ”This subordinate greets Your Lordship.”

Seeing Wu Xintai made Madam Su suddenly realize just how insane her recent actions had been. Her face immediately burned fiery red, overwhelmed by uncontrollable embarrassment.

Wang Ping, on the other hand, didn’t care in the slightest. He asked bluntly, ”General, do you know Liu Ye?”

The moment those words fell, Wu Xintai thought to himself, ’Just as I expected.’ He gave a cautious nod. ”I know of him. The man is currently in the county town...”

Wu Xintai’s tone was riddled with hesitation. Even though he firmly believed Wang Ping had a formidable background, he was still just a lowly commander. No matter what, he refused to get dragged into a power struggle between imperial heavyweights. Therefore, regardless of what happened, he would absolutely never mobilize his troops to force their way into the county town.

Keeping this in mind, he hastily whispered, ”My Lord, if you are old acquaintances with Liu Ye, why not write a letter to the town on his behalf? I can include a letter of my own, requesting the magistrate to release him.”

”I’m certain the magistrate will give Your Lordship face.”

He considered this to be the most optimal solution.

Ultimately, the imperial court valued harmony above all else. Struggling without severing ties completely was the golden rule of politics. If a conflict could be resolved through negotiation, then negotiation was best.

Why resort to blades and spears?

Of course, the most important part was that this method would save him a massive headache. After all, compared to marching an army into the town, writing a simple letter to the magistrate would never result in him being held accountable.

At the same time, Wu Xintai braced himself. If this military overseer rejected his proposal, insisted on having his way, or even ordered him to dispatch troops, he was already formulating the tone and excuses he would use to politely decline the order without tearing up their relationship entirely.

However, the very next second, he heard a completely unexpected reply:

”There’s no need for that trouble.”

Wang Ping’s expression was utterly calm as he gazed toward Longxing County in the distance. ”Only those who are begging need people to give them face. All I need is his location.”

As his voice faded, Wu Xintai opened his mouth to offer his polite refusal—only for a solid object to smack into his chest.

What was that?

Wu Xintai felt a surge of confusion. He looked down and saw a strange, heavy bronze object. It looked incomplete, like a fragment... Then his entire body gave a violent shudder.

Only then did Wu Xintai vaguely recall something. The expression on his face slowly froze. A terrifying guess surfaced in his mind, though his subconscious frantically tried to deny it.

’Could it be... no, that’s impossible!’

’This is a military camp of five hundred men. The commandery tally is kept in the Changle Commandery office year-round. How could anyone sneak it out? It has to be a fake meant to bluff me...’

Clinging to that thought, Wu Xintai reached into his robes with a trembling hand and produced a similar bronze object. He then gently pressed the two pieces together.

Clack.

A perfect, seamless fit.

In the very next second, the Xuanjia Camp’s commander dropped to one knee without a shred of hesitation. Though he spoke not a word, his stance made his loyalty blindingly clear.

”Relay my orders,”

Wang Ping withdrew the Military Tally and spoke in a cool, detached tone. ”Deploy the troops. We enter the town.”