Even hybrid monsters have their day

Chapter 166 Mission Background: The Mystery of One Word

The streets were deserted, and the distant sound of a watchman's drum, one long and two short, was especially clear in the quiet night and carried far.

In the courtyard, an old man sat on a stone bench, gazing at the moon and letting out a long sigh. On the stone table in front of him sat an exquisitely crafted wine pot, and beside it, a cup still held a small amount of wine; the transparent liquid, even in the darkness of the night, still shimmered with a faint silvery light.

Behind me, I heard light footsteps. They stopped at the edge of the courtyard and then turned around.

"Qianyang, why are you out wandering around so late instead of sleeping?" The old man's voice was as loud as a great bell, full of energy, showing no signs of aging.

The young man called Qianyang stopped, turned around, quickly walked to the old man, cupped his hands, and respectfully called out, "Master."

Sensing that the old man was still waiting for his answer, he cleared his throat and said, "I just couldn't sleep, so I came out for a walk. I didn't expect to disturb my master's peace and quiet."

The old man's name was Mo Xian, the head of the Mei Ling Sect. He had a total of 199 disciples, which made exactly 200 including Mo Xian himself. In the world of cultivation sects, this was only a medium-sized sect, and not even a very prestigious one. However, this sect was the culmination of Mo Xian's life's work.

He succeeded as the head of the Meiling Sect at the age of 25 and has remained so until now at the age of 88.

Mo Xian glanced at Lin Qianyang and pointed to the stone bench next to him, "Sit down."

After thanking him, Lin Qianyang sat down. He was fifteen years old this year, with excellent aptitude. When Mo Xian took him as a disciple, he was only twelve years old, and in just two years, he had already entered the Foundation Establishment stage. If properly nurtured, his future prospects would be limitless.

Neither of them spoke. It wasn't until Mo Xian grasped the wine glass again that Lin Qianyang spoke up, "Master, drinking too much wine is bad for your health. You should drink less."

His master was good in every way, except that he loved to drink too much.

Mo Xian glanced at the wine glass he had pressed down on, smiled faintly, and withdrew his hand. "You, though small in stature, are quite shrewd. You know you should keep an eye on your master now."

Lin Qianyang hurriedly said, "This disciple dares not disobey Master; this disciple is merely stating the truth."

Just then, something suddenly flew in from outside the courtyard and landed right next to Mo Xian's wine cup.

"Who?" Lin Qianyang immediately stood up and ran towards the direction the object had flown in, leaping lightly onto the wall. But the outside was empty; there was nothing there.

He was about to chase after them again when Mo Xian stopped him, "Qianyang, don't chase them."

"But……"

"Maybe someone just threw it away out of boredom," Mo Xian said casually.

Lin Qianyang glanced at the empty street again, his eyes filled with obvious suspicion. Who would be so bored as to stay up all night and throw things, and with such accuracy? Besides, the person who threw the thing hadn't sensed anyone outside at all.

Upon hearing Mo Xian's words, he turned back to Mo Xian's side and asked, "Master, are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Mo Xian had already stood up. He put his hands behind his back and said calmly, "Alright, I've had enough wine. Come walk with me for a bit."

"Yes." Lin Qianyang looked at the table. There was only a wine pot and wine cups on the table, nothing else. The things that had been thrown in earlier were gone.

He suppressed his doubts and followed Mo Xian silently into the backyard.

The backyard was where everyone rested, and it wasn't decorated much; there was only a simple rectangular corridor leading through it. Since everyone had already rested, it was unusually quiet compared to the hustle and bustle of the day.

"How long have you been my disciple?"

"Reporting to Master. It has been two years."

"It's been two years and three months," Mo Xian added in his mind. The two took a few more steps forward before he spoke again, "You are exceptionally intelligent and quick to understand. It would be a waste for you to be under my tutelage."

Upon hearing this, Lin Qianyang quickly took two steps forward and knelt down on the ground. "I am deeply grateful to Master for saving my life. If it weren't for you, I would have died two years ago. Master, are you saying this to expel me from the sect?"

Mo Xian smiled slightly, reached out and helped him up. His wrinkled face resembled a blooming chrysanthemum.

He was very old and had no children. Two years ago, he unintentionally saved Lin Qianyang. Lin Qianyang was a man of few words and had a straightforward temperament, which made him very compatible with him. He treated him like his own son.

But this child has a very good foundation; if he follows him, he'll hardly amount to anything in the future, and besides...

Thinking of this, he clenched the object in his hand and said as if he had made up his mind, "I have already thought about it. I have some connection with the sect leader of the Green Mountain Sect. I will write a letter and you can go and join the Green Mountain Sect soon."

"Master!" Lin Qianyang was greatly puzzled. He was doing just fine here, so why was he suddenly being told to go and join the Green Mountain Sect? "Did I do something wrong?"

Mo Xian patted his shoulder, his eyes full of affection, and said, "Silly child, as long as you are willing, I can still be your master. I sent you to the Green Mountain Sect just so that you would have a bright future."

Seeing that Mo Xian had made up his mind, Lin Qianyang had no choice but to bow and say, "Then I will follow Master's arrangements."

“Alright, I’ll write a letter when I get back. You can set off for the Green Mountain Sect first thing tomorrow morning.” Perhaps Lin Qianyang’s astonishment was too obvious, Mo Xian thought for a moment before adding, “The sooner you go, the sooner you can learn the skills.”

The next morning, Mo Xian indeed gave Lin Qianyang two letters, not one. He explained their purpose and then urged him to set off.

Lin Qianyang pleaded and begged from morning till afternoon, but finally couldn't take it anymore. He got up, bid farewell to Mo Xian, and headed towards the Green Mountain Sect.

It takes about two months to travel from here to Qingshan, located in Lurao. Lin Qianyang had no particular interest in going to the Qingshan Sect, so he wasn't in a hurry. He simply walked at a leisurely pace, pondering why Mo Xian had suddenly decided to send him to the Qingshan Sect, and in such a rush.

Although Mo Xian had mentioned it a few times before, suggesting he go to the Green Mountain Sect, he had refused and hadn't said anything. But this time, however, he was so determined to send him.

The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt, as if he had overlooked something.

Suddenly, he remembered the hand that Mo Xian had hurriedly put behind his back when he got up last night, and there seemed to be a little white mark on his fingers before.

What exactly did he hide in his hand?

Also, he clearly heard something fall on the table, but when he returned, he saw nothing. Could it be that what he hid was thrown in from outside the yard? What could it be?

Whatever it is, it must be related to his hasty departure.

Thinking of this, Lin Qianyang suddenly felt tense, a deep unease washing over him. Having already walked for two hours, he turned around and ran back the way he came without looking back.

When he rushed back to the Meiling Sect, it was already dark. The courtyard gate was not wide open as usual, and Lin Qianyang pushed open the slightly ajar door. He trembled, unsure whether it was from nervousness or from running non-stop for so long.

The courtyard, which should have been full of fellow disciples, was now deserted. The usual laughter and chatter had vanished, making him feel as if he'd entered the wrong place.

This situation intensified his unease, and he quickly strode inside.

"Master..."

"Master..."

However, the only response he received was the sound of the wind blowing through the treetops.

Lin Qianyang searched all the way to the backyard and finally found Mo Xian, who was covered in blood, in the ancestral hall of the Meiling Sect.

"Master!" he cried, rushing forward. Mo Xian was already dead. Beside him on the ground lay a large "Demon" written in blood. (To be continued.)