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墨書 Inktalez
The relationship between Kun Ru Tao and Sima Yan was evident to anyone who wasn't blind. Zuo Dao never expected that the seemingly loyal Kun Ru Tao could find a woman like Sima Yan, who was as gentle as water. In his words, it was like a beautiful flower being placed in an inappropriate spot.
Heart Hall left an impression on Zuo Dao because of the squad he had created—a pure female cultivator squad, which was quite rare even in Xuming Hall and Void Brightness. From this, Zuo Dao could see Sima Yan's strength. However, this strong Hall Master now leaned against Kun Ru Tao like a bird seeking comfort, her gentle eyes gazing at Zuo Dao made his heart flutter.
Sima Yan was unaware of Kun Ru Tao's intentions, and the message she received from above did not mention Zuo Dao. She thought Kun Ru Tao had come for some official business. But once she learned the true purpose of his visit, she refused to cooperate.
"Miao Cheng is currently unstable; many unfamiliar figures have entered, and it seems something has changed within Miao Cheng itself. In short, Miao Cheng is not a safe place right now." Looking at Kun Ru Tao, Sima Yan laid out everything she knew.
"Is it more chaotic than Void Bright?" Kun Ru Tao chuckled.
"Void Bright is chaotic, but it's only our Xuming Hall that is in disarray." Sima Yan shot him an exasperated look. "Do you think I became Hall Master for nothing?"
"Things have indeed been quite unsettled lately; it feels like a major upheaval is on the horizon." Kun Ru Tao sighed at the current situation.
As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere fell into silence. At that moment, a group of female cultivators flew in from afar.
"I knew it! The Hall Master must have brought her lover here."
"Wow, the guy next to the Hall Master is so handsome!"
"I declare first—he's mine!"
Before they even got close, their excited chatter surged like a tide. Young Master Zuo finally understood that with Sima Yan as the powerful Hall Master of Heart Hall, it was both a great misfortune and a great blessing for male cultivators.
"A bunch of crazy girls, what are you doing here?" Sima Yan felt a headache coming on upon seeing them.
"Only the Hall Master is allowed to have a lover; we can't find someone we like?" A striking female cultivator stepped forward, looking at Zuo Dao with interest.
"Kun Ru Tao, you've done something good this time; even E has started showing interest in men." Sima Yan laughed at the female cultivator's antics.
"Pfft! I'm only interested in men; it's just that I haven't found anyone appealing before." The female cultivator known as E replied boldly.
"My name is Miao'e, the Deputy Hall Master of Heart Hall." Miao'e tilted her chin at Zuo Dao. "How about teaming up with me?"
"Zuo Dao." Faced with such a fierce woman, Zuo Dao could only retreat. "Not interested for now."
"Wow, you’re quite something, aren’t you? You dare to disregard the face of Hall Master Miao." Before Miao'e could respond, a woman jumped out from behind her and started throwing punches at Zuo Dao.
"That's a fact." Zuo Dao shrugged, feeling as if he had punched air.
Zuo Dao could tell that this group of Female Cultivators came from good backgrounds and were proud, but they meant no harm. He was more than happy to engage in banter with them.
Sima Yan watched from the side and gently nudged Kun Ru Tao, silently asking about Zuo Dao's background. However, Kun Ru Tao wouldn’t reveal the truth to her, even though there was a secret between them. The cautious attitude of the Palace Master and the elders before leaving had made her aware of its significance.
Without getting a clear answer from Kun Ru Tao, Sima Yan couldn’t help but become curious about Zuo Dao.
"Hey sisters, just a heads up—this guy is quite clever!" Watching Zuo Dao spar verbally with the women, Sima Yan couldn’t help but make a joke.
"By the way, what are you all doing in Miao Cheng?" Sima Yan noticed that the group was ignoring her and busy chatting with Zuo Dao, so her thoughts shifted back to Kun Ru Tao.
"I'm accompanying him," Kun Ru Tao said, her gaze fixed on Zuo Dao.
"Do you really have to go?" Sima Yan looked at Kun Ru Tao.
Kun Ru Tao didn’t say anything; she simply nodded.
Sima Yan glanced at the man beside her and gently leaned closer.
"Then I’ll go too."
Her voice was soft yet filled with unwavering determination.
Kun Ru Tao embraced Sima Yan, gently patting her back.
"What should we do about Heart Hall?"
"They're here with us," Sima Yan said, tilting her beautiful face to look at Kun Ru Tao.
"Don't you two think about how others feel?"
At that moment, an unpleasant voice interrupted them. It turned out that the Ladies had not gained any advantage in front of Zuo Dao and were feeling quite frustrated. Spotting the two of them being affectionate, their ire quickly turned towards them.
"Go find someone else; it's not like there aren't any targets," Sima Yan retorted, refusing to leave Kun Ru Tao's embrace and even snuggling closer.
Everyone was speechless.
Seeing that the commotion had gone on long enough, Zuo Dao thought it was time to move on and signaled Kun Ru Tao with his eyes.
During this time, as long as the cultivators from Xuming Hall stayed within the hall, they generally wouldn't be attacked by their opponents. The atmosphere had become less tense than before.
The combat strength of Heart Hall was considered decent within Xuming Hall. Moreover, due to its proximity to the domain-level Teleportation Array, there was always a Dan Guard stationed there.
Sima Yan's thoughts were simple; she just wanted to stay with Kun Ru Tao. Although she was strong-willed, ever since she met Kun Ru Tao, this iron-blooded figure had begun to show signs of softening. Being able to hold the position of a hall master, especially in the inner hall, Sima Yan was not only powerful but also very astute.
The appearance of Kun Ru Tao and Zuo Dao raised her suspicions, and their subsequent conversation led her to new conjectures. The situation in Xuming Hall was neither good nor bad; most importantly, at this time, they still needed to go to Miao Cheng. Although Kun Ru Tao's words were vague, she could tell that this farewell might last for many years.
Their conversation did not hide from everyone else, and the most surprised was Zuo Dao. He had not expected the bond between these two to be so deep. Usually, Kun Ru Tao never mentioned anything about Sima Yan—not even her name. If it weren't for this trip to Heart Hall, he would still be unaware that Kun Ru Tao had someone special named Sima Yan.
"Old Kun, why don't you just not come with me? This way, I won't look like the bad guy," Zuo Dao said sincerely; he hadn't intended for Kun Ru Tao to accompany him at all.
Kun Ru Tao whispered something to Sima Yan. Although everyone present was no ordinary person, no one would eavesdrop in such a situation. All they saw was Sima Yan's face suddenly bloom like a flourishing peach blossom.
Seeing this, Zuo Dao couldn't help but secretly grumble; such a seemingly upright person had such skill in charming women.
Miao Cheng was a place that had to be visited, and the outcome depended on the number of people who went. Sima Yan was a woman who dared to love, hate, and act. After Kun Ru Tao's attempts at persuasion failed, she resolutely stepped down from her position as Hall Master and decided to follow Kun Ru Tao to the ends of the earth.
Although Miao'e also wanted to go along, a glare from Sima Yan made her lose all thoughts of it. Of course, with a woman like Kun Ru Tao being so supportive, Zuo Dao wouldn't be angry. Under Kun Ru Tao's "coercion and temptation," he even helped Heart Hall form three additional squads, making Heart Hall the strongest faction in Xuming Hall.
As the three set off, Zuo Dao couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. With the two walking behind him, he felt as if he were a radiant sun.
After experiencing weightlessness once more, Zuo Dao stepped into the second domain of his journey.
Void Bright was vastly different from Miao Cheng, primarily due to the constant aroma of herbs in the air.
The air in Miao Cheng was purer. As one of the top three domains in the Lower Domain, Miao Cheng had its own characteristics; there weren't many pedestrians on the streets, but public places like hotels and inns were bustling with people.
As Zuo Dao walked along, he heard numerous discussions about techniques. When cultivators in Miao Cheng engaged in heated debates about magic, arguments would often arise. If they reached a particularly insightful point, a large group would suddenly rush to the ubiquitous trial grounds to demonstrate their insights.
The power structure in Miao Cheng was quite simple; there were no sects or noble families—only Dojos existed. The most famous ones were Flowing Iron Dojo, Muda Hall, and River Dojo located in Miao City.
Although these three were the largest Dojos in Miao Cheng, there were still tens of thousands of other smaller Dojos.
Competition among Dojos was fierce, and recently things had become even more tumultuous. The emergence of mysterious forces provided these Dojos with quicker opportunities for advancement. This was also why Sima Yan believed that Miao Cheng was more chaotic than Void Bright.
To eliminate rivals, some individuals in Miao Cheng resorted to substitution tactics. The frequency of mysterious forces taking action in Miao Cheng was over ten times that of other domains.
This was all quite clear; however, no one or no Dojo in Miao Cheng stood up to speak out against it. Each Dojo was seizing this opportunity to strengthen itself.
"The most famous Dojo is just ahead," Sima Yan said as she took on the role of guide. She was much more familiar with Miao Cheng than Zuo Dao and Kun Ru Tao. After all, during her time as Hall Master, she often took opportunities to come here for fun.
"What characteristics do these Dojos have?" Zuo Dao observed the surrounding cultivators and noticed that while they could discuss theories well enough, they struggled when it came to practical applications.
"Characteristics?" Sima Yan paused for a moment before breaking into a playful laugh.
"That would be that they have no distinct characteristics; anyone can do it, but actually executing it is entirely different."
The three of them chatted as they arrived at the dojo named "Sole Ruler."
The dojo was quite impressive, with a grand entrance towering several meters high, adorned with two golden characters—"Sole Ruler." The calligraphy was skillfully done, exuding a sense of "Supreme Authority."
"Who wrote these characters?" Zuo Dao asked, noticing a few more words in the lower right corner of "Sole Ruler," which read "Luo Ao," presumably the name of the calligrapher.
"Every dojo's plaque must be inscribed by the Master themselves; this way, one can immediately gauge the dojo's caliber," Sima Yan explained.
"I see. It seems this Luo Ao has some talent," Zuo Dao remarked. He could sense from the strokes that this cultivator named Luo Ao must possess considerable skill; otherwise, it wouldn't evoke such feelings from just a few characters.
"I've heard of this Luo Ao as well; he's quite renowned in Miao Cheng," Sima Yan suddenly chuckled.
"But his fame is mostly due to his luck."
Zuo Dao inquired, "What do you mean by that?"
Sima Yan replied, "Master Luo Ao is indeed a notable figure in Miao Cheng. He had many opportunities to challenge the top three dojos in the region, but each time he failed due to various reasons. Otherwise, the top three dojos would have had to change their names."
Upon hearing this, Zuo Dao understood.
"It seems this Luo Ao has had his share of misfortune."
In truth, Zuo Dao didn't need to think too deeply about it; he knew there must be some underlying issues. No one could fail repeatedly without someone intervening.
"Hmph! Who do you think you are? How dare you speak about our Master like that?"
Just then, a voice interrupted their conversation. It belonged to a burly middle-aged cultivator with a fierce expression.
Zuo Dao and his companions glanced at him and noticed the "Sole Ruler" dojo emblem on his sleeve, realizing he was one of the dojo's members. Since they were in the wrong, they chose not to respond and prepared to leave.
At that moment, the cultivator was feeling frustrated after losing a soul battle earlier. His mood soured further upon hearing someone disparaging his Master right outside their door, prompting him to confront them.
"Without an answer, you can't leave." In a moment of agitation, Luo Ao rushed forward and threw a punch at Zuo Dao.
He had just heard Zuo Dao's master was in trouble, and all the resentment in his heart was directed at him.
However, as soon as he threw the punch, he regretted it; he had hit too hard.
"Dodge!" After realizing what he had done, he quickly shouted.
But instead, he stood there like a stunned chicken. Zuo Dao took the punch head-on and smiled at him as if nothing had happened.
"I apologize for my earlier words; please don't take offense." Sometimes Young Master Zuo could be quite reasonable.
Zuo Dao's attitude made Luo Ao's face flush with embarrassment.
Rubbing the back of his head sheepishly, he said, "I shouldn't have acted that way."
If Luo Ao hadn't warned him before throwing the punch, Zuo Dao wouldn't have minded teaching him a lesson. But since the other party spoke up, he decided to treat it as a misunderstanding.
Luo Ao was essentially an honest person; he had just been bullied recently and was feeling down. Coupled with the recent turmoil around them, he acted impulsively in his agitation.
"It's fine; let's just move on." Zuo Dao didn't expect the other party to be so accommodating. He had prepared himself for a fight, but things suddenly took a turn.
"Great! Brother, your temperament suits me well. Come on, let's find a place to drink; consider this my apology to you." Luo Ao was straightforward and found Zuo Dao likable. Without caring about how things were going, he made a decision for both of them.
"Well..." Zuo Dao hesitated; Luo Ao's approach was a bit too direct!
"This isn't like you!" Although Luo Ao was frank, he also had some cunning. How could Zuo Dao not realize that Bai Zi had been abrupt?
"I, Old Luo, am sincere about this; if you don't believe me, you can ask around."
"Young Master Zuo, I've heard of him too; he's a decent person who is quick to help others and has a good character," Sima Yan chimed in, knowing that Zuo Dao hadn't heard of Luo Ao before and decided to explain a bit through telepathy.
"Alright, I'll listen to you, big brother." Zuo Dao chuckled as he stepped forward and put his arm around Luo Ao's shoulder.
In that instant, as his hand landed, a cold glint flashed in Luo Ao's seemingly warm eyes, but it disappeared just as quickly. He didn't even flinch, allowing Zuo Dao to embrace him without resistance.
"Good, for calling you big brother, we won't stop until we're drunk."
Zuo Dao smiled lightly. That embrace was merely a test; if the other party had reacted too strongly or dodged, it would have indicated something suspicious.
However, when Zuo Dao wrapped his arm around him, he felt the muscles in Luo Ao's shoulder tense momentarily before relaxing.
This was perfectly normal. They were just acquaintances; it would be strange if the other didn't show some caution in response to such an action.
Kun Ru Tao and Yan watched this peculiar pair in silence for a long time. They seemed to have become familiar far too quickly!
Luo Ao had chosen a very quiet place; it was clear he frequented it often. As soon as they sat down, the drinks were served.
"Second Uncle, same as usual; I've brought guests today!" The speaker was the shopkeeper, who looked to be at least a few thousand years old and was starting to show signs of age. Although his strength wasn't high, he was well-versed in social matters. A few words from him lifted the atmosphere.
"Qian Lao, this is my brother. By the way, what’s your name?" At this moment, Luo Ao realized he didn't know the other's name.
Qian Lao stood by with a smile, as if he had grown accustomed to such situations.
"I'm Zuo Dao, from Unorthodox Path. You can call me Zuo or Zuo Dao." Zuo Dao raised his cup in greeting.
Just as Zuo Dao finished speaking, he noticed Qian Lao's hands tightening slightly within his sleeves. Although the other tried to conceal it well, Zuo Dao still caught the subtle change.
"I'm Zuo; you're not from around here, are you?" Luo Ao refilled drinks for the three of them again.
"I just came from Void Bright." Zuo Dao didn't hide it; cultivators from his domain were known, and there would be records left at the Teleportation Array whenever cultivators moved between domains. Anyone with intent could easily find out.
"That's why! How could I not know Old Lou?" Luo Ao boasted unabashedly. "I'm not bragging; if Miao Cheng doesn't know who Luo Ao is, then they really don't know anyone."
The four of them chatted and laughed, and after a brief greeting from the Shopkeeper Qian, he hurriedly retreated, leaving Luo Ao unable to help but glance back at him.
"What's up with Qian today?" he wondered, having never seen Qian like this before.
"Are you close with Qian?" Zuo Dao asked, looking in the direction where Qian had disappeared.
"I’ve had a few drinks of One Hundred Years with him," Luo Ao replied, seemingly recalling something as he downed his drink in one go.
"Is there something bothering you, Brother Luo? Is it okay to talk about it?" Zuo Dao shifted his gaze back, clearly noticing that Luo Ao was preoccupied.
"It's nothing, just getting used to it," Luo Ao said, finishing his drink again. "But enough about that; this wine is to make amends with my younger brother."
Zuo Dao replied, "You’re not treating me like a brother then. You call me brother, and I call you elder brother; why be so polite?"
"Hahaha." Upon hearing this, Luo Ao burst into laughter. "It seems I’ve been too formal; I’ll drink three more cups as punishment."
"I think you’re not really punishing yourself; you just want to drink," Sima Yan teased with a playful smile, prompting laughter all around.
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