Miss Chu is a Kind Person

"Immortal Master! It's an Immortal Master! Everyone, come quick! Zhao Gouzi has brought an Immortal Master back! We're saved!"

At the somewhat worn-out village entrance, a man who bore a resemblance to Zhao Gouzi—similarly dark-skinned and short in stature, though much older—threw down his hoe and sprinted joyfully toward the village, shouting as he ran.

Chen Baiqing silently retracted her half-extended hand.

The jubilant look in the middle-aged man's eyes told her exactly what he was about to say.

The specifics of the village's troubles were still unclear, and if possible, Chen Baiqing would have preferred to slip in quietly, perhaps uncovering some hidden schemes.

But… never mind.

Li Hu cautiously held the reins of his horse, his gaze shifting to Chen Baiqing as he asked in a hushed voice,

"Immortal Master… shall we enter the village first?"

Chen Baiqing gave a slight nod and guided her horse forward into the village.

However, upon entering, she didn’t encounter the grand welcoming scene she had imagined.

To say there was no welcome wouldn’t be entirely accurate—as the shouts spread, villagers gradually gathered, cheering and expressing their gratitude.

At first, Chen Baiqing responded with polite nods, but soon her attention was drawn to the most well-built house in the village.

Beneath its eaves stood a young man dressed in luxurious brocade robes adorned with intricate embroidery, a long sword hanging at his waist. His gaze rested leisurely on her, a greeting smile playing on his lips.

Beside him stood a young woman, similarly dressed in fine attire, with a slender sword at her waist—its scabbard alone suggesting elegance.

The girl’s eyes were fixed on Chen Baiqing, brimming with curiosity.

These two were undoubtedly cultivators.

The girl’s cultivation was not particularly high, likely only at the Foundation Establishment stage.

From what Chen Baiqing could sense, the young man was unmistakably at the Golden Core stage, though his aura was somewhat unstable—clearly a watered-down version of a true Golden Core cultivator.

During her travels, Chen Baiqing had encountered many such "watered-down" cultivators.

Still, a watered-down Golden Core was still a Golden Core.

For a small village like this to have the fortune of securing her—a genuine Golden Core cultivator—was nothing short of a miracle.

Ignoring the clamor around her, Chen Baiqing cupped her hands in greeting toward the two beneath the eaves.

"I am Chu Bai. And you two are…?"

"Hao Ming Sect, Li Qiyun," the young man replied, gesturing to the girl beside him. "This is my junior sister, Tang Wanjun."

Tang Wanjun responded with a shy nod.

Chen Baiqing inquired, "Have you two also come regarding the demonic disturbances in this village?"

Li Qiyun glanced at Tang Wanjun before answering with a light chuckle,

"Indeed. Originally, I was just taking my junior sister out to complete some sect missions and gain experience. On our way back, we happened upon villagers pleading for help. My junior sister couldn’t bear to ignore them, so we came to investigate."

"I arrived two days ago. The situation here is… rather peculiar."

Chen Baiqing’s gaze flickered to the young man still seated on the horse behind her—the one likely nicknamed Li Er'gou.

Li Er'gou’s dark face flushed slightly, giving him an almost reddish-black appearance. He explained in a quiet voice,

"Many from the village went out to seek help. The more people sent out, the higher the chance of finding a compassionate Immortal Master like yourself."

Chen Baiqing nodded slightly. That reasoning made sense.

She dismounted, offering polite acknowledgments to the surrounding villagers before striding toward the two beneath the eaves.

The villagers, under the village chief’s direction, gradually dispersed.

While some Immortal Masters might be kind enough to lend aid, few had the patience to entertain ordinary mortals for long.

Chen Baiqing stepped beneath the eaves. "What’s peculiar about it? Are the demons particularly troublesome?"

"Troublesome indeed," Li Qiyun replied, his expression turning serious. "Over the past three days, I’ve observed that these demons not only attack humans but also devour each other. It almost feels like… they’re being bred, as if in a battle of survival."

"I’ve never seen anything like it. The real danger isn’t the demons themselves—it’s the possibility of human manipulation behind it."

The village chief, a sturdy man not yet old, stood outside the eaves with Li Gouzi, waiting quietly as the three Immortal Masters discussed.

Chen Baiqing nodded. "It seems this matter is more complicated than expected. We’ll need to proceed with caution."

Li Qiyun studied Chen Baiqing’s illusionary guise—a plain-looking woman—and suddenly asked,

"Miss Chu, are you a rogue cultivator?"

Chen Baiqing didn’t answer directly. Instead, she retrieved the golden token issued to Golden Core cultivators by the Demon Hunters’ Guild.

Li Qiyun’s eyes flickered with understanding at the sight of the token. He gestured politely.

"In that case, Miss Chu, please come inside. I’ll explain the details to you."

Chen Baiqing didn’t decline. With a slight nod, she stepped into the house.

Tang Wanjun watched as Chen Baiqing entered without hesitation, then tilted her head slightly to glance at Li Qiyun, tugging lightly at his sleeve.

Li Qiyun paused before following, turning to his junior sister.

Tang Wanjun didn’t speak, only casting a wary look toward Chen Baiqing, who had already taken a seat inside.

Hadn’t their master warned them never to trust outsiders so easily?

Li Qiyun understood her concern, but instead of replying via voice transmission, he spoke aloud, his tone casual and unguarded.

"Miss Chu is a good person. There’s no need to worry."

With that, he strode into the house.

Tang Wanjun’s expression twisted slightly at his vague reassurance, but she followed, her steps hesitant.

Just as she entered, however, Li Qiyun’s voice reached her through a private transmission.

"From the moment we first saw her, Miss Chu was more wary of us than we were of her. That means she knows nothing about us—hardly the behavior of someone pulling strings behind the scenes."

"Only after hearing the villagers’ explanations did she lower her guard. And did you notice how she responded to every villager’s greeting, even while keeping an eye on us?"

"That was an almost instinctive reaction. This Miss Chu doesn’t look down on mortals."

"Besides, what could this village possibly offer a Golden Core Demon Hunter as payment? Steamed buns?"

"She likely came here expecting no reward at all. By any measure, that makes her a good person, doesn’t it?"

"Sometimes, the winds of the world naturally blow toward certain places."

"And the world should never lack such winds—just as you, little junior sister, couldn’t bear to abandon these villagers."

Tang Wanjun’s gaze snapped to Li Qiyun, only to see him glance back at her with a playful wink.

Ugh…

Her senior brother always knew just what to say to placate her.

Chen Baiqing glanced up briefly, observing their silent exchange with indifference.

Li Qiyun took a seat across from her and smiled apologetically.

"Miss Chu, forgive my junior sister. This is her first time outside the sect, so she’s a bit overly cautious."

"No harm done. Caution is wise."

"You’re a kind person, Miss Chu, to come here personally."

"I’m not kind," Chen Baiqing replied, her gaze drifting toward the doorway before she continued softly.

"That day, I hadn’t even glanced at Li Er'gou kneeling outside the city gates, begging other Demon Hunters for help… until he said—'Are the lives of us country folk truly worth less than spirit stones?'"

Li Qiyun and Tang Wanjun turned their gazes toward him in unison.

"Honestly, even after saying those words, I had no intention of intervening," Chen Baiqing withdrew his gaze, his tone calm. "But then I suddenly remembered my master's words—'A handful of spirit stones cannot buy a life.'"

"That’s why I came here. I’m no saint. I’m only doing this because I choose to."

Li Qiyun’s smile deepened.

"Act with kindness, and you are a good person. Miss Chu is a good person, and so was her master."