After Rebirth, the Love-Struck Cannon Fodder Woke Up - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Returning to the Sect

◎ Breaking Free, Returning to the Sect ◎

After the altar was revealed, Shen Anlan did not hesitate and struck with her sword again.

An incomparably fierce sword beam streaked across the sky, instantly burying itself in the cold, ominous altar.

In a short while, a clearly audible crack sound reached their ears.

Du Lianxin watched intently and saw dense, spiderweb-like fissures appearing around the altar, but it did not completely shatter.

Qingdai seized this opportunity and unleashed several streams of gray light with a wave of her sleeve.

A rumbling sound followed, lasting for a moment, and the three-zhang-high altar collapsed with a crash, sending fragments of stone scattering.

At the same moment, Du Lianxin felt a massive repulsive force coming from all directions. Her body involuntarily flew up, and a sudden wave of dizziness hit her sea of consciousness.

She subconsciously closed her eyes. In just a moment, the dizziness disappeared. Opening her eyes again, she found herself back in Donglin Town.

Senior Sister landed beside her, and the Ghost King Qingdai was not far away.

The instant the altar shattered, they all escaped the world inside the mirror.

Du Lianxin subconsciously looked up at the roof of the old house and found that the bronze mirror hanging high in the sky had vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed.

The mastermind’s whereabouts were completely unknown, clearly not intending to expose themselves to them.

Qingdai then offered a reminder: “The black-robed person who woke me up was over nine chi tall, which is uncommon among humans. Although I don’t know their identity, since they set up a series of traps to harm you two ladies, they must be someone with a past grudge against you. The two of you can pay a little attention to see if any of your acquaintances fit this height characteristic.”

Hearing this, Du Lianxin immediately thought of someone and replied solemnly: “Thank you, Senior, for informing us.”

Beside her, Shen Anlan spoke up appropriately: “I was originally ordered by the Sect Master to come here to resolve the matter of the malevolent ghost causing trouble. May I ask if this matter is truly related to Senior?”

Qingdai responded frankly: “It can be said to be related, but if we’re talking about the phrase ‘malevolent ghost causing trouble,’ it can also be said to be unrelated.”

Shen Anlan was puzzled: “What do you mean by that?”

Qingdai continued: “The only ghost in Donglin Town is me, and I did indeed kill someone, but there was a reason. If the two young ladies don’t mind me being long-winded, I can explain in detail.”

Shen Anlan said without hesitation: “We would like to hear the details.”

Du Lianxin followed with a nod, indicating no objection.

Seeing this, Qingdai continued her narrative.

“To the west of Donglin Town, there is a wealthy family named Hu. Just half a month ago, the Hu family head died of illness, leaving behind a pair of siblings. The older brother was uneducated and unskilled, but the younger sister was shrewd in business. Before the head’s death, he passed the position of family head to his daughter.

The older brother was resentful and wanted to take the majority of the family fortune for himself. When his sister disagreed, the brother, instigated by a group of dubious friends, conceived a murderous plan.

Just ten days ago, when the sister returned from a business trip and was near the town, she passed a lotus pond. Her brother, who was lurking in the shadows, sprinkled a handful of anesthetic on her. Caught off guard, she immediately fainted.

Her brother and a few of his friends came up with a vicious plot: they tied a large stone to her and sank her into the pond. To the public, they claimed that the sister had been killed by enemies during her business trip, and her body could not be found.

In this way, the family fortune naturally all fell into the hands of the older brother.”

Speaking of this, Qingdai paused slightly, a rare look of hatred appearing on her face.

“Young ladies, tell me, don’t those few scumbags deserve to die? I overheard their plot and rescued Miss Hu in advance. I then tied her brother and those several degenerates with huge stones, according to the murderous method they themselves had devised, and sank them into the pond!

They pleaded bitterly before they died. I directly used a spell to ruin their throats, turning them all into mutes!

Unfortunately, a townsperson happened to pass by and witnessed what I did, which led to the rumors of a malevolent ghost causing trouble.

The passerby was innocent, so I did not strike them, allowing the rumors to spread. In these days, more than one group of cultivators has actually come to the town, but their strength was far inferior to mine, and they were all scared away. I guess this is why the matter was eventually reported to the Clear River Sect.”

After this explanation, Shen Anlan cupped her hands towards Qingdai. “Thank you, Senior, for clarifying the matter. Regarding the full story, I will report it in detail to the Sect Master upon my return. Does Miss Hu know what Senior did?”

Qingdai nodded in response: “I didn’t hide it from her. After killing those scumbags, I used a spell to wake her up and told her the whole story. Therefore, Miss Hu is the only person in the entire Donglin Town who knows the truth behind the malevolent ghost rumors.”

At this point, she changed her tone, bringing up another matter.

“Miss Shen, previously in the world inside the mirror, you intended to fight me. Do you still harbor that intention now? If so, I happen to have time and can oblige.”

Shen Anlan cupped her hands in a respectful salute again. “Senior, please forgive me. I was foolish before. Junior Sister has already clearly explained the misunderstanding to me.”

Hearing this, Qingdai smiled, pursing her lips. “It seems my efforts were not in vain. Have the two of you confessed your feelings to each other?”

Upon hearing this, Du Lianxin immediately interjected: “No, Senior, you are mistaken. Senior Sister and I have no such intentions.”

Qingdai raised an eyebrow. “You two really are… well, let nature take its course. I hope when I see you two ladies again in the future, I will hear good news. I must take my leave now!”

After Qingdai left, Shen Anlan gazed at the girl beside her.

“Was what Junior Sister just said the truth in your heart?”

Du Lianxin suppressed her complex thoughts, a faint smile appearing on her face.

“Of course it was. Doesn’t Senior Sister think so too? Otherwise, why didn’t you refute it just now?”

Shen Anlan did not speak further, seemingly acquiescing to the statement.

However, she wondered if it was Du Lianxin’s imagination, but she felt the air around them seemed to have grown a bit colder?

As of now, the matter of the malevolent ghost causing trouble in Donglin Town was considered resolved. However, to be safe, the two still went to the Hu family together and sought confirmation from the current family head, Hu Ling’er.

Shen Anlan recorded the entire process with a recording stone as evidence to present to the Sect Master upon their return.

The facts were exactly as Qingdai had stated, without a single discrepancy.

After Hu Ling’er learned the truth, she returned to the ancestral hall and completely severed ties with her older brother. She allowed their bones to remain sunk in the pond and did not send anyone to collect them.

The servants in the manor knew some of the truth and did not think she was heartless, but rather felt it was deserved.

Before leaving, Shen Anlan and Du Lianxin sought Hu Ling’er’s permission to widely publicize the truth about the malevolent ghost incident to the townspeople.

Over the following days, the panic that had shrouded the town gradually dissipated.

The pond was filled with earth by the townspeople, and not a single grave was erected.

Among the deceased scumbags, some still had living relatives. Upon hearing the news, they immediately removed the names from their family genealogies and, bringing heavy gifts, went to the Hu family to apologize.

Public opinion was formidable. They could not afford to lose face. Without handling the matter, their entire family would not be able to hold their heads up in Donglin Town in the future.

With the matter concluded, Shen Anlan and Du Lianxin set off together to return to the Clear River Sect.

During the journey back, Shen Anlan asked about something.

“Previously, judging by Junior Sister’s reaction, you seemed to have a guess about the identity of that black-robed person?”

Du Lianxin hesitated for a moment, then nodded: “Based on Senior Qingdai’s description of the figure, I did think of someone who fits the requirements, but… that person’s strength is very weak, so I cannot be certain.”

Shen Anlan continued to ask: “Is the person Junior Sister is referring to a fellow sect member?”

Du Lianxin slowly nodded. “Indeed. On the day I completed the talismans creation assessment, that person was outside the hall, and their gaze toward me held a subtle hostility. However, this person only has a Cultivation Level 9 cultivation, so it’s unlikely…”

Shen Anlan voiced her own conjecture.

“Perhaps the other party is just a pawn. The black-robed person who woke Senior Qingdai up is not necessarily the master of the bronze mirror. A height over nine chi is too obvious a feature. With the mastermind’s strength, using an illusion to conceal their figure would not be difficult.”

Du Lianxin added: “Senior Qingdai also mentioned that the black-robed person’s voice seemed deliberately disguised. It seems redundant to disguise the voice when the figure is so obvious?”

Shen Anlan said directly: “Perhaps it was done intentionally to confuse our judgment. In any case, since Junior Sister believes that person is suspicious, you can try to verify it upon returning to the sect. If the conjecture is true, the trouble can be eliminated sooner. Could Junior Sister tell me the name of that fellow disciple?”

Du Lianxin concentrated, recalling the details. “That person is named Wang Qing. He is a disciple of Elder Mo Du, an Early Nascent Soul stage Elder on the Cloudless Peak, but he is not a core disciple, only a registered disciple.”

Shen Anlan secretly noted the name. “Upon returning to the sect, I will pay attention to this person. If there is any relevant information, I will inform Junior Sister immediately. Likewise, if Junior Sister has any news, you can also tell me. This will make it easier to find out the truth.”

Du Lianxin smiled, nodding in agreement.

The flying magical artifact was extremely fast. In less than half an incense stick’s time, they approached the sect’s base.

Du Lianxin spoke up in advance: “Senior Sister, please let me down outside the sect. I can walk the rest of the way myself.”

Shen Anlan frowned. “Why? Is returning with me so shameful?”

Due to the displeasure in her heart, her words were slightly sharp.

Du Lianxin quickly explained: “No, Senior Sister, you misunderstood. I didn’t mean that, it’s just…”

“Just what?”

“Senior Sister’s status is honored. I shouldn’t…”

Her sentence was interrupted halfway by Shen Anlan.

“I have never cared about the difference in status. Is Junior Sister perhaps too sensitive?”

Du Lianxin wanted to explain further, but Shen Anlan didn’t give her the chance and directly maneuvered the artifact to fly above Talisman Peak.

There were quite a few cultivators on the peak, and this action immediately drew attention from many.

Various discussions reached Du Lianxin’s ears.

“Senior Sister Shen is actually with Junior Sister Du?”

“I haven’t heard anything about this before. Junior Sister Du used to be an outer-sect cultivator and should have had no interaction with Senior Sister Shen.”

“Ah, I really envy Junior Sister Du. I have admired Senior Sister Shen for a long time and never had a chance to get close. I didn’t expect Junior Sister Du to be able to go on an outing with Senior Sister Shen right after becoming a core disciple of Talisman Peak.”

Listening to the chatter reaching her ears, Du Lianxin sighed inwardly. This was precisely why she didn’t want Senior Sister to take her to Talisman Peak.

This was simply too attention-grabbing. She was currently just a small Qi Condensation stage cultivator and absolutely did not want to become the focus of attention for her fellow disciples.

Shen Anlan, however, showed no reaction to this. Since joining the Clear River Sect, no matter where she went, she garnered attention from a crowd of fellow disciples. After a long time, she had grown accustomed to it.

Their thoughts were completely different at the moment. Du Lianxin had no intention of explaining to Senior Sister again. Enduring the varied gazes of her fellow disciples on the peak, she returned to her cave dwelling…