After leaving the Half-Leisure Residence, Chu Xingchen first sent his disciples back to the Destiny Pavilion to pack their belongings. Under Li Yingling’s knowing gaze, he casually made an excuse to step out.
The mass grave.
Workers were busy repairing the surrounding area. Since no remains could be found, Zheng Xiaofeng decided to refurbish the entire site and eventually erect a large memorial stone.
This was at least a decent solution—after all, digging up every bone and corpse from the mass grave would have been far too gruesome.
It could be considered a good deed, in a way.
On the ridge where Li Yingling had once stayed, two figures stood silently.
Zheng Xiaofeng clasped his hands toward Chu Xingchen and reported,
"The investigation into the Li Marquis’ estate and Minister Wang’s household is complete. Anyone guilty of abusing power, harming lives, or oppressing others has been arrested and punished according to the laws of the Xuanwu Kingdom."
"Among them, Marquis Li has been sentenced to exile. The steward, who orchestrated most of the crimes, was executed immediately."
"As for the other offenders in the marquis’ estate and their respective sentences, they are all listed here. Senior, please review if there are any omissions or errors."
Chu Xingchen glanced sideways.
Zheng Xiaofeng presented a lengthy list—likely the result of a thorough investigation into the entire marquis’ estate.
Chu Xingchen glanced at it but did not take it.
"The law is the law. They simply acted with impunity because no one held them accountable before. Now that someone does, they must pay for their past deeds."
His tone turned serious as he added, "I only ask one thing—were there any wrongful convictions?"
Zheng Xiaofeng quickly replied, "None. Every case has solid evidence and witness testimonies."
After a pause, Zheng Xiaofeng hesitated before asking,
"Shouldn’t we inform your senior disciple about this?"
"What’s there to say? They broke the law and got caught. It’s not like I deliberately sought revenge—this is the iron fist of justice."
Chu Xingchen’s expression was calm, as if the matter had nothing to do with him.
Zheng Xiaofeng’s face filled with admiration, and he quickly praised,
"As expected of you, Senior. Such nobility! I still have much to learn from you."
"Thank you for handling this."
"No, I should be thanking you, Senior. It’s also thanks to your recommendation that I can join the Tianyan Sect."
Chu Xingchen patted Zheng Xiaofeng’s shoulder lightly before turning to leave.
Zheng Xiaofeng was being too sycophantic—no matter what was said, he’d respond with flattery.
There was no point in continuing the conversation.
Best to spare them both.
With this matter settled, it was time to return.
This trip to the capital had been pleasant—good food, entertaining performances.
But it lacked a certain human touch. Everything felt too calculated.
Chu Xingchen returned to the Destiny Pavilion and pushed open the door to find his rebellious senior disciple looking at him with confusion.
Her gaze drifted behind him as she asked, puzzled, "Master, you didn’t go after our junior brother?"
"Why would I?"
"Then why did you leave? I thought you couldn’t bear to part with him."
"Your master was naturally attending to important business. And why would I be reluctant?" Chu Xingchen crossed his arms and smiled at Li Yingling.
"If you ever want to leave in the future, I won’t stop you either."
Chen Baiqing, reading in a corner of the courtyard, turned around at her master’s words and said earnestly,
"Baiqing won’t leave. Baiqing will stay by Master’s side forever."
Chu Xingchen chuckled, teasing,
"Back in my hometown, the ones who say that are usually the first to run."
The joke took on a different meaning to Chen Baiqing. She hurriedly got up and ran to her master, clutching the hem of his robe.
Her large eyes gazed up at him, her voice soft and slightly nasal as she insisted,
"Baiqing isn’t lying to Master."
Chu Xingchen quickly reassured her, "Alright, I know. I was just teasing you."
"Really?"
"Really." He ruffled her hair gently before turning to Li Yingling. "How are the preparations? We’re heading back."
Li Yingling replied, "Already packed, Master. Let’s go."
Chu Xingchen nodded with a faint smile. "Let’s go."
Chen Baiqing suddenly remembered something and exclaimed, "Wait, Master! I need to get the candied fruits from my room!"
Li Yingling watched as Chen Baiqing hurried inside, then turned to her master and said softly,
"Master… thank you."
"Hm?" Chu Xingchen looked at her in confusion. "Why the sudden gratitude?"
"I went to the mass grave. I know you arranged that for me."
"Touched, aren’t you? Did your master’s move win your heart again?"
Li Yingling nodded, then grinned mischievously. "If you hadn’t said that, I would’ve been very moved."
"Damn it. Next time, I won’t say anything."
Li Yingling burst into laughter. But whether he said it or not, she was genuinely moved.
Wen Qing stood to the side, watching as the master and his two disciples chatted and laughed, boarding the spirit beast-drawn carriage once more. This time, Li Yingling took the reins—though her handling was visibly unsteady as the beast swayed left and right on its way out of the city.
Outside the capital.
Li Xingtian watched as his senior sister drove the carriage away with great inexperience.
He smiled and waved at the carriage once more.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, his master's hand reached out from the carriage window, waving back.
Li Xingtian's eyes widened in surprise…
Huh?
Then he saw his master shake the spatial ring in his hand, as if hinting at something.
Was this…? Had his master left something else for him inside the ring?
Li Xingtian probed the spatial ring with his divine sense, pushing aside the pile of spirit stones, and sure enough, he found something new.
A palm-sized gourd and a dark-red greatsword with a skull-like ornament at the hilt.
It looked… quite intimidating.
Li Xingtian first took out the small gourd.
A note was pasted on it.
【Blood-Restoring Gourd】
Perfect… just these four words carried his master’s signature style, and he instantly understood what was inside.
Li Xingtian gently shook the gourd, hearing the sloshing of liquid within. The sound alone made his heart sink.
Clutching at a last shred of hope, he twisted open the gourd’s stopper.
A faint sniff… and the familiar scent hit him.
His face twisted in discomfort for a long moment before he finally stuffed the gourd back into the spatial ring.
Was his master hinting that he should tread carefully? Otherwise, when pushed to the brink, he’d have to endure the torment of his master’s concoctions?
Hmm… indeed, he hadn’t even set foot on the Central Continent yet, but his courage had already wavered a little.
His master’s farewell was certainly… unique.
Next, Li Xingtian retrieved the dark-red greatsword from the ring.
The moment it touched his hand, an overwhelming surge of killing intent flooded his divine sense.
This was… a spirit treasure?!
Li Xingtian stared in astonishment in the direction his master had departed. Where had his perpetually broke master managed to scrounge up a spirit treasure for him?
He chuckled softly and sheathed the greatsword back into the spatial ring.
Now he truly believed his master’s claim—that they were the best of friends in this world.
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
close your eyes and open them again, only to find yourself transmigrated into the role of a villainous male supporting character. Readers familiar with urban wish-fulfillment novels know that it is only through the relentless antics of the villainous male supporting character that the plot between the male and female leads can progress. As the villainous male supporting character, Long Aotian not only has to bully the female lead, harass the second female lead, and flirt with the third female lead, but he also has to go all out to antagonize the male lead. In the end, when his body is discovered, he is still clutching half a moldy fried dough stick in his hand. Fully aware of the plot, Long Aotian is determined to change his fate, starting with the female lead! In the beginning, the female lead lacks confidence: "Big brother, I hope I didn't scare you?" In the middle, the female lead treads carefully: "Brother Long, please don't hit me, okay?" Later on, the female lead becomes coquettishly clingy: "Aotian, it's time to pay the 'public grain' tonight." Long Aotian's legs go weak, and he feels like crying: "I taught you to be thick-skinned, not shameless!"
Cheng's father told him he was getting remarried—to a wealthy woman. Cao Cheng realized his time had finally come: he was about to become a second-generation rich kid. Sure, it might be a watered-down version, but hey, at least he'd have status now, right? The wealthy woman also had four daughters!! Which meant, starting today, Cao Cheng gained four stunning older sisters?? But that wasn't even the whole story... "My name is Cao Cheng—'Cheng' as in 'honest, smooth-talking gentleman'!"
【Prologue: The Beginning of It All – Use holy water to heal the saintess tainted by demonic energy, then converse with her.】 Shen Nian stared at his older sister sipping yogurt, lost in thought. So you’re telling me my sister is the saintess, and yogurt is the holy water? 【Main Quest 1: Brave Youth, Become an Adventurer! Reward: Rookie Adventurer Title.】 【Side Quest 1: Find the Adorable Kitty! Reward: 1000 Gold Coins.】 Shen Nian: "Wait, I’m a high school senior here—did some guy who got isekai’d accidentally bind his system to me?" Hold on, completing quests gives gold rewards? Titles even boost stats? Is this for real? (A lighthearted, absurd campus comedy—not a revenge power fantasy.)
