Chapter 15 : Escort Mission

Jian Zheng released his cultivation at the early seventh stage then quickly yet quietly struck his sword onto the wall causing the sword to tremble when it came in contact with the wall.

"I can't predict how much my power increased." Jian Zheng said as he sheath his sword. When he slashed his sword the power behind it was rather similar to when he was at the fifth stage which made it difficult for him to know how much his strength improved.

"Either ways, I should be strong enough for the mission now." Jian Zheng took up the key and unlocked the door. When he did, he saw that Gu Lingran was already outside waiting for him, "Big Sister....?" Seeing her waiting outside his cave he thought she had something important to say.

"Today will be your first mission." Gu Lingran only smiled when she saw Jian Zheng. She then patted his head which made Jian Zheng embarrassed while also making Scarlett eyes blaze with hate.

"As your Big Sister it would be bad if I didn't give you something while on this mission." Gu Lingran took out a purple pearl and gave it to Jian Zheng, "Take this, it should be able to help you when you are in danger." Gu Lingran said with a gentle smile.

"Big Sister you are always protecting me." Jian Zheng took the pearl and held it close. Ever since he was ten Gu Lingran has always been there to help him and keep him company when he's all alone.

Even when he had to do Lu Jiang work Gu Lingran was there to help him. Speaking of Lu Jiang, when he killed him he didn't feel any sort of pain or discomfort like what was said in a book he read three years ago.

Maybe it was because he was already influenced by Scarlett or it was because of those dreams he had constantly, he doesn't know.

"You should go, an elder is already waiting for you." When Jian Zheng took the pearl Gu Lingran turned and leave, "Is it just me or does Big Sister feel a little bit distant?" When Gu Lingran already went back into her cave Jian Zheng whispered to himself.

"Good! At least I don't have to see the evil smile again!" Scarlett folded her arms together then sneered, even now she still did not have an good opinion on Gu Lingran.

"What do you mean evil smile? My Big Sister has the most gentle smile in the entire Cloud Empire!" Jian Zheng scolded Scarlett, he couldn't understand why she would hate Gu Lingran.

"Jian Zheng you are so naive and innocent." Scarlett face palmed then shook her head, "I can feel some sort of hidden energy inside her. An energy that does not belong to this world and it seems like she can no longer suppress that energy." Scarlett said in Jian Zheng mind space which confused him.

"Scarlett I thought you were a lustful yet playful spirit, since when did you become so hot-tempered?" Jian Zheng would have believed anything Scarlett said since her entire being was filled with mystery to him, but when it came to Gu Lingran he immediately refuse to believe any of her claims.

"Me?! Hot Tempered....!" Scarlett was about to refute Jian Zheng but paused as she began to think of how she's been reacting ever since she met Gu Lingran.

"Maybe you're...right." In all her life she was known to be a Queen worshipped by many. Her emotions were known to be calm and indifferent and she never got angry even when one of her servants does something displeasing.

She would always put on a dazzling smile, even in the face of danger so why have she become so emotional?

"I- I'll be gone for a couple days." Scarlett cut off her connection with Jian Zheng, shocking him.

"Scarlett is acting really weird." Not bothering with Scarlett anymore, Jian Zheng went towards the location the elder should be waiting for him.

Walking around the outer court he saw many disciples doing their own business. Some were chatting, some were practicing their skills and some were simply mediating.

"I guess news about me have died down." Sighing inside Jian Zheng was a bit shocked that everyone have forgotten about him in two days.

He wasn't displeased about this though as he hates attention.

In an incense worth of time, he arrived at the Mission Hall. While getting there he heard news about one of the top 5 coming back to the sect and how Xie Huoji challenged this person but never managed to fight him.

Hearing this made him chuckle, "That guy is the definition of a Battle Maniac." He said with a bitter smile as he also heard that Xie Huoji also challenged him.

Going to the front of the Mission Hall he saw that there was no one other than an elder around it, "Elder Qin?" Jian Zheng exclaimed with a surprised face.

"So it was you who accepted the Golden Mission." Elder Qin nodded at Jian Zheng while raising his eyebrows, "I heard there was this new genius who defeated Qiang Shi." Elder Qin said as he walk up to Jian Zheng with a smile, "I should have known it would be you."

"To think Elder Qin still remember little me." Jian Zheng smiled respectfully back at the elder.

"Haha! Why would I forget a person I wish to take in as a disciple." Elder Qin bent his back and laughed at Jian Zheng comment, "Why don't you become my disciple? I can teach you many things such as alchemist-"

"Sorry, but I refuse." Jian Zheng cut off the elder before he finished talking. He doesn't wish to accept a master in a secular place like this, 'I just want to complete this mission and get my reward, then when I breakthrough to the next realm I will leave this place.'

"Young people these days really don't know what's best for them." Elder Qin sighed as he look at Jian Zheng as if he's a precious gem, "It doesn't matter. I still have plenty of opportunities to take you in as my disciple. After all, this won't be the last time we will meet." Elder Qin eyes flashed with a sort of mysterious light which made Jian Zheng slightly scared, it was as if he was looking into the eyes of a beast.

"Anyways, here is 30 gold and 10 silver. It should be enough for your travel to the capital." Elder Qin retracted his gaze and handed Jian Zheng coins for his needs in the capital.

"If you are unable to come back to the sect in 3 weeks then I recommend that you don't come back, the sect will be going through a transformation and you might not be able to leave if you were to come back." Elder Qin said his last words before leaving. Those words made Jian Zheng confused, "What kind of transformation?" He quickly asked Elder Qin before he went out of his sight.

But Elder Qin did not reply, only continuing on his way, "Elder Qin is a really mysterious elder." Shaking his head Jian Zheng quickly left the sect. Before leaving he had to show two guards stationed at the sect gates the golden mission so he could leave the sect.

When he left he began wondering how he was going to make it to the capital. He soon regretted his decision of not asking for a horse since it was the only way to travel in a place like this.

He waited on a path for 3 hours before a horse moving a cart came by. Going towards the horse he immediately told a man who doesn't seems to be a cultivator on the horse where he would like to go whilst taking out 3 pieces of gold. He didn't know how much it cost to board a horse to the capital, but from the shock he saw in the mans' eyes he could tell that he may have overpaid the him.

Nevertheless, after an entire 4 hours he arrived at the capital. That long journey made him so bored that he fell asleep while dreaming about being able to soar in the sky like the beings his Big Sister, Gu Lingran told him when he was 11.

"Thank you." He told his thanks to the man as he exit the cart, "Hehe, no problem! If you need someone to carry you anywhere around the Cloud Empire you can count on me." The man said with a large grin. It seems like the man was quite satisfied with the amount Jian Zheng gave him.

'That amount of gold could probably get him a lifetime of bread.' Jian Zheng said to himself then turned to carry on his way.

Looking at the capital he saw that it looked like a market place. The buildings were created from concrete and there were many stalls of people selling countless of things. There were food, weapons and many more stalls around the capital.

At the end of these stalls was a huge castle that stood tall and proud, "Is that where the crown prince lives? It looks really grand." Jian Zheng muttered then began walking towards the castle.

Before leaving Elder Qin told him that the meeting place will be at the castle.

As he walk towards the castle, there were many vendors calling out to him to buy their goods. They saw his robes and easily put the dots together. Knowing that anyone who comes from a sect should be very rich.

There were even females who rubbed their bodies on him, but he shook them off with a smile, "Sorry, but I may be too young to satisfy your wants." He said as he began walking faster.

But those females caught up with him quickly, "It doesn't matter." They said as they look at Jian Zheng with lust even letting his hand roam around their bodies.

"I'm underaged though." Jian Zheng quickly said back with a smile. If it wasn't for Scarlett approaches he doubt he would be able to handle these women today.

"We are fine with that too." He thought that if he were to tell them his age they would stop bothering him, but when he heard what they have to say next he was bewildered, 'What the hell is wrong with these people?!' Knowing he couldn't win against these women, he vanished. Making sure these women couldn't catch up with him.

Soon he arrived at the castle. Going to the castle he showed the guards his mission and they let him in while also telling him where he should go.

Inside the castle Jian Zheng was startled by its interior. Although it was also made from concrete, this sort of concrete seems to be a bit special. It was also extremely big inside the castle.

Not paying anymore attention to this he arrived at the location and saw four people sitting there. They each wore different robes as they look at Jian Zheng coldly while snoring.

As for the one who was sitting on a big chair, he wore all black and his gaze was friendly when he look at Jian Zheng.

Seeing that everyone attention was on him he realize that he might have come late, "Sorry if you were all waiting for me." He apologized as he took his seat.

"That's fine, we were not in a rush-" The one sitting on the big chair gave a reassuring smile. Which made him feel at ease.

"No this is not fine. We waited 2 hours for this brat to arrive, do you think we have nothing better to do? He's not even in the Huotian tenth stage. How will this weak looking brat help us on this mission?" One of the disciples who wore yellow robes was really upset, he thought it would be a strong figure coming. However, when he saw Jian Zheng and saw his weak cultivation his expectations dropped and turned into disdain.

"I agree with Ya Ba."

"I also agree with Brother Ya Ba."

"If that's how you all think, then I sincerely apologize for making you peerless geniuses wait for little me." Jian Zheng only put on an apologetic smile as he was indeed in the wrongs for making them wait. He would also be mad if he had to wait for a weak person to arrive so he could understand how they felt.

"Do you think an apology is enough?" Ya Ba sneered at Jian Zheng believing that he could play with him for a while, "Why don't you kneel and tell us how sorry you are?"

"Yeah, kneel!"

"Kneel brat!"

Jian Zheng thought that the situation was solved, but when he saw that Ya Ba was mocking him and had no plans of accepting his apology his gaze turned cold with killing intent leaking through his eyes, "My apology wasn't good enough for you guys? Alright you know what, you're right, I take back my sorry and raise it to a fuck off!"