Isn't This More Interesting

Fresh rain fell upon the empty mountains, and a cold wind suddenly swept through.

In the newly built elegant bamboo pavilion, the rain pattered like ringing bells.

A woman in a sleek sapphire outfit, her delicate features refined, tilted her head slightly to watch the rain slide from one corner of the pavilion, forming a continuous line.

Zheng Zhaoling had never expected that Cui Hao’s casual remark of “no rush” would truly mean idling away five leisurely days in Cloud Marsh.

Over these five days, they had discussed no serious matters at all. Instead, they had spent their time feasting and drinking heartily with Yunze.

The only decent thing Cui Hao had done—if it could be called that—was stealing a moment amidst the five days to meet Yun Li, though it was merely a brief exchange before he left, urging Yun Li to focus on cultivation.

Whether it was because Chu Xingchen’s message had yet to arrive, or because Cui Hao had deliberately arranged it this way, Zheng Zhaoling couldn’t be sure.

The easygoing, unfazed demeanor Cui Hao showed her completely vanished in front of Yunze.

Before Yunze, Cui Hao always wore a calm yet confident expression, speaking in an deliberately profound manner—half-truths cloaked in mystery.

Yet Yunze, as it happened, fell for this act completely.

He would listen intently, nodding as if he had grasped some deep truth. After five days, Yunze’s expression had softened to one of serene warmth, as though he had truly encountered a wise elder.

If Cui Hao stayed for a few more months, it wouldn’t be impossible for Yunze to call him “Brother Cui Hao.”

Cui Hao had always known how to play the right role before the right person.

He acted with sincerity, leaving no trace of pretense.

Sometimes, Zheng Zhaoling wondered whether the Cui Hao she saw was his true self, or merely a persona crafted to win her favor.

But such thoughts always led nowhere.

And Zheng Zhaoling wasn’t going to waste her energy on them—she simply considered him a theatrical Daoist companion.

The Great Dao was vast and distant; few friends truly stayed till the end.

Zheng Zhaoling glanced sideways, noticing Cui Hao walking toward her along the covered corridor, a smile on his face. She asked in a calm tone,

“What brings you out for a stroll today? No wine with Yunze?”

Cui Hao walked up beside Zheng Zhaoling, followed her gaze, and watched the rain for a moment before speaking:

“There’s news at last. I need to discuss it with you, Daoist Zheng.”

Zheng Zhaoling nodded lightly and took a seat on the chair prepared in the bamboo pavilion.

“I thought you had forgotten about the real business.”

Cui Hao retrieved a jade token from his sleeve and handed it to her.

“Latest update. A big job.”

Zheng Zhaoling took the token and probed it with her spiritual sense. Her brow furrowed slightly as she fell into thought.

So, of course, it wasn’t easy—whatever had brought Cui Hao to Cloud Marsh.

The Evil Spirit Sect intended to slaughter and refine an entire nation’s worth of blood energy in Northern Jambudvipa. They planned to start by infiltrating the incense-and-deity temples of the divine path there, first seizing divine authority, then laying out their scheme.

A large number of high-ranking members of the sect had already entered the scene, including the infamous Black Crow Archbishop himself, a figure of great notoriety.

But what truly surprised Zheng Zhaoling was the jade token’s contents—it contained the complete layout and plan of the Evil Spirit Sect.

From the initial point of entry to subsequent long-term operations, and even backup plans for unexpected problems.

The methods were swift and ruthless; the design, interlocking. The style indeed bore the hallmarks of heretical cultivators.

“Such a detailed plan…” Zheng Zhaoling raised her gaze. “Do you have agents planted in the Evil Spirit Sect?”

Cui Hao shrugged, looking entirely open. “That’s beyond what I know. All I know right now is what you know.”

“Then what does your master intend? What does he want us to do?” Zheng Zhaoling pressed further.

Cui Hao let out a soft sigh. “The jade token gave no clear instruction, so my master probably means for me to handle it as I see fit.”

Zheng Zhaoling pondered for a moment before speaking again:

“With the great calamity looming, it’s only natural to purge a major sect like the Evil Spirit Sect.”

“If we don’t make an example of them, those heretical cultivators will only stir up more trouble. Since your master sent you to Yunmeng Marsh, it’s likely he wants you to cooperate with Yunmeng Pavilion in clearing out the Evil Spirit Sect.”

“But a matter this significant…”

Zheng Zhaoling paused, her gaze fixed on Cui Hao, her meaning clear—how could someone at the Nascent Soul stage like him be given free rein to decide such an important affair?

After all, the Evil Spirit Sect had rampaged for centuries without being completely eliminated; they naturally had their own methods.

Could it be that his master meant for him to handle it casually?

If that were the case, why send them to Yunmeng Marsh at all?

Cui Hao took a seat nearby, thought for a moment, and then spoke:

“My master sent us to Yunmeng Marsh because, according to intelligence, the Evil Spirit Sect plans to strike again through the path of incense and divine worship.”

“I don’t think my master truly expects me to eliminate the Evil Spirit Sect entirely. Rather, he wants me to seize opportunities to cause them trouble—perhaps by leveraging Yunmeng Marsh’s reputation in Beju Continent, for instance.”

Zheng Zhaoling sat up straight and replied matter-of-factly: “Guessing blindly is pointless. It’s better to directly write to your master and ask. For mobilizing Yunmeng Pavilion’s cultivators over something like this, at minimum your master’s authority is required; yours alone won’t suffice.”

Cui Hao’s expression faltered slightly. “My master is… somewhat different.”

“What do you mean?” Zheng Zhaoling looked puzzled.

“To be honest, this is actually a test my master set for me. He’s likely judging whether I, as his disciple, can truly stand on my own,” Cui Hao said, slumping unceremoniously onto the table before him. “There’s no one who’ll always be there to teach you how to proceed. As a disciple, I must learn to make my own judgments and decisions once I have the intelligence.”

“The intelligence on the Evil Spirit Sect is so absurdly precise that it’s practically rotten meat already in my master’s bowl.”

“I suspect my master wants to use this ‘rotten meat’ to test my skills.”

Zheng Zhaoling found this absurd. What kind of test was this? “Is this some sort of trial? A challenge? For something this big? Could you be overthinking it? You should ask your master.”

Cui Hao let out a wry laugh and replied, “What would you say if I told you that right now, my senior apprentice sister has completely broken away from our master’s lead, going on her own with several Tribulation Transcendence cultivators from the Tianyan Sect and the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect to investigate something she wants to pursue? Wouldn’t that sound even more ridiculous?”

Zheng Zhaoling was momentarily speechless. “It would…”

Even as a core disciple, she couldn’t just order Tribulation Transcendence cultivators from her sect around on a whim.

“But what I just said is fact. I know my master,” Cui Hao said, propping his cheek on his hand as he looked at Zheng Zhaoling. “Besides, I believe that with our intelligence and strength, and with this intelligence in hand, we can handle this well enough.”

“Sticking to the rules and asking for instructions won’t lead to mistakes. But wouldn’t it be far more rewarding to rely on our own abilities and means to get things done?”

“Daoist Zhaoling, how about this time we rely on our own capabilities to pull this off beautifully?”

“Just like the last time we worked together. Look at Yunmeng Marsh now—isn’t it exactly as we envisioned?”

Zheng Zhaoling instinctively turned her gaze to Cui Hao and saw the fervent determination in his eyes.

She had to admit, Cui Hao’s words were stirring something within her.

Those who consider themselves prodigies would never think they couldn't get things done.

Cui Hao saw the hesitation in Zheng Zhaoling's eyes, then raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"Anyway, if this plan falls through, just shift the blame onto me, and I'll shift it onto my master."

"We've got my master to take the fall for both of us."

Listening to the steady rain, Zheng Zhaoling came to a decision. Her tone grew especially resolute as she said:

"In that case, let's do it."