Chapter 2 Could That Evil Cultivator Be Me?

The vast hall, a dead silence.

Our eyes met, and a sliver of a different color finally appeared in his pupils—if my dog eyes aren't blind, that is.

It was a faint trace of embarrassment and annoyance.

I shrank my neck. Although Liu Xianzi in front of me was born with a fair complexion and radiant teeth, when it comes to cultivation, everyone knows, who knows how many years the lady here has actually lived.

No wonder I was a bit reactive. After all, Mr. Jiang himself has an aversion to matchmaking. If you were dragged to matchmake over a dozen times, each time footing the bill and swallowing your anger, you probably would've reacted even more violently than him.

Each one more eccentric than the last, like "Would you be willing to add your name to the deed of the house for me? It's not that I'm greedy for your property; I just lack a sense of security."

Or "I'm preparing for a civil service exam; I enjoy traveling, working out, shopping. Love me, be willing to do things for me, have a good temper, can spoil me. I have a younger brother in junior high."

Even a lady approaching her forties—although older than him, she had ambition, exceptional work capabilities, and some minor assets, it's just...

"My demands aren't high, just an annual salary higher than mine, can't be marrying someone worse than myself, right? The education can't be worse than mine, and the age can't be too far apart. Average height, ordinary appearance, and a normal personality without domestic violence should be fine. Are these demands too high? If it was you, would you marry someone of what sort?"

"..."

Back then, Jiang Feng's expression was exactly like the one he was wearing now in front of Liu Tangxi.

"Aren't you afraid I'd be furious with shame and kill you?"

Successfully shattered the psychological defenses.

Nonchalant in expression, but this kid actually dared to insinuate I'm old,in a roundabout way. Well, he might actually serve as a good mouthpiece in the future. If those elders keep pressuring me to marry, I'll just send him over to bite them, and maybe he could infuriate those old fossils to death.

"Even if you kill me, I'd still marry an eighteen-year-old."

"..."

Similar.

Too similar.

The expression on Liu Tangxi's face at this moment closely resembled that of the sister from the eighties.

In an instant, the thought of destroying the corpse and erasing the traces crossed my mind, but I forcibly held back. Indiscriminately killing civilians would ultimately affect the sect's reputation. Even Jiang Feng shifted his body slightly backwards. If my memories from the previous life aren't skewed, this would be the moment to flip the table and slap someone.

It's just that I'm not sure I could withstand that slap.

The anger was fleeting; after all, as a cultivator, my state of mind is stable beyond ordinary people's imagination. I won't take it to heart; after all, he's just a teenager.

The little kid doesn't understand the good in a big sister.

"I won't argue with you. After I finish this pot of wine, I will leave Qingshui County."

As effortless as eating and drinking, I naturally picked up the wine pot without avoidance. Parting my lips, I touched the mouth of the pot, slightly tilted my beautiful neck like white jade, and drank the fine wine in one go.

This carefree act once again added a bit of heroic charm to this mysterious immortal, but Jiang Feng was obviously a bit anxious—this was an immortal who had come knocking at his door!

"Liu Xianzi, I..."

He immediately began to speak anxiously, as if the previous nervous and awkward atmosphere had never occurred.

Liu Tangxi just glanced at the boy. They hadn't spent much time together, but whenever she wanted to start a conversation about something, the boy always managed to keep up with her topics, offering unique insight no matter the subject.

Otherwise, I would have gone up and kicked him in the morning.

So, she cut straight to the point.

"Looking to cultivate?"

Fitting with Liu Tangxi's straightforward character.

"Yes."

An honest nod, eyes filled with anticipation. But Liu Xianzi knocked him back to reality with just one sentence.

"I plan to take an eighty-year-old as my disciple; a little kid isn't suitable."

"*#!"

Barely held back.

So the immortal bears grudges too.

Seeing Jiang Feng's expression, Liu Tangxi's heart felt somewhat more gratified.

That felt better.

But she had come down the mountain originally to take a disciple, so she went on emotionlessly, "If you want to become my disciple, you need a reason. Most people turn to the Immortal Sect because of dissatisfaction with life, wishing for a reversal of fate."

"You... don't seem to fit that category."

Our eyes met, but Liu Tangxi did not give Jiang Feng a chance to speak and continued on her own: "I know a thing or two about your situation in this county."

"Studying Confucian classics from age ten, topped the academy examination at fourteen, the County Magistrate himself speaks highly of you. The provincial examinations are coming soon, aren't they? You plan to take the exams, and given your talent, passing would be a sure thing."

"Your family has considerable wealth. Although your parents passed away, they arranged a good marriage for you beforehand."

"I have seen your little fiancée, and she's not bad-looking. I heard her character and morals are top-notch, and what's more, her grandfather was a cultivator, a descendant of an immortal. With their protection, you'd be more than comfortable right here in the county."

"So exactly which nerve of yours is wrong, insisting on me accepting you? You should know that the road of cultivation is not without cases of losing both family and fortune."

He never anticipated Liu Tangxi to understand him so thoroughly.

It looks like during these three months in Qingshui County, the immortal thoroughly investigated him.

"I am not one to eat soft rice (rely on a woman's wealth)!"

He stood tall and proud.

But the immortal simply propped her chin with one hand, continued to pour wine into her mouth, too lazy to even spare a glance at Jiang Feng—a kid full of lies.

He'd probably be nothing but a troublemaker if brought back to the sect.

With a casual gesture, the wine jar on the counter flew straight into her hand. It wasn't the awe-inspiring immortal technique that left Jiang Feng dumbfounded, but...

Wasn't it agreed that after drinking a pot, she would leave? What does this mean? You're nearly drinking up all the wine in my tavern!

"If you don't tell the truth, then I'm leaving."

"Wait! I'll tell!" Realizing he couldn't brush this off, he finally answered honestly: "It's like this. My fiancée has a good family background, which you've seen."

"So many people want to poach me, eyeing the Yan Family. Ever since the engagement was exposed three years ago, I've never had a moment of peace."

"Even going up the mountain to burn incense almost got me chopped up."

"As the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold, a man like me should eventually..." Jiang Feng, who was drinking, stopped and directly added, "be child's play."

"Yes, yes, you're right, I'm just too eager to improve!"

Citing Director Qi's classic saying. However, the Immortal in front of him has no intention to save face for anyone and comments, "Pitiful and boring self-esteem, are all you men like this?"

He noticed that ever since he blurted out that sentence about "wanting to marry someone eighteen years old", the Immortal's attacks had grown somewhat stronger.

Am I digging my own grave?

"Most probably… do have a bit of self-esteem, I guess."

He tilted his head.

It seems like this boy isn't lying, but this also explains why the male Cultivators he knew all had partners whose strength was inferior to theirs.

"I'm not against taking you up the mountain."

Right now, Liu Xianzi's cool voice sounded like heavenly music to Jiang Feng, who immediately sat up straight, afraid to miss a single word, knowing there might be a turning point.

The reason is simple: why would someone stay at his place for three months if he wasn't special?

"Let's start with you."

"Not bad talent, not top-notch, but pretty decent, taking you back... becoming an Inner Sect Disciple wouldn't be a problem."

His face lit up with excitement; he knew anyone who got delivered by a dump truck had some degree of dumb luck.

But the conversation didn't linger on this topic. Instead, she suddenly asked, "Do you know the purpose of my coming down the mountain?"

A clueless expression.

Not really expecting Jiang Feng to answer, Liu Xianzi just pointed at the desserts placed on a distant counter.

That person immediately scurried over to grab the sweets; they say women love sweet things, and it looks like they're right.

"There are two reasons why I came down from the mountain. First, to vanquish evil and purge malevolence."

"The sect has protected the East Continent through generations. Naturally, we have to resolve the common folk's troubles when encountering malevolent evil spirits, and among them are definitely some powerfully defiant traitors from the Immortal Sects."

"Usually referred to as Evil Cultivators."

"This time, the three years I spent coming down the mountain were indeed for the pursuit of one such individual. Regrettably, that Evil Cultivator excels at the art of escape, making it quite troublesome for even me."

Liu Tangxi spoke these words while casually popping a sweet into her mouth, as if she'd been eating all night long. Isn't it said that those in Cultivation can sustain themselves by fasting?

But this is the first time he's seen Liu Xianzi look so serious, which thoroughly piqued his interest. Just what kind of extremely wicked villain would take three years to catch?

"The second matter is to take on a disciple."

"Decades ago, the East Continent was in great turmoil. My sect suffered heavy casualties and was severely weakened, with Swordmaster Peak being the most affected."

"Usually, I'm out hunting Evil Cultivators year-round and hardly have time to return to the sect, which naturally makes it inconvenient to take on disciples. But if I don't pass down my abilities soon, Swordmaster Peak will have no successors should any mishap occur."

Suddenly realized, it's no wonder Liu Tangxi was mumbling irritably about being forced into marriage while drinking; but logically speaking, she shouldn't pass up on someone with quite decent potential like himself.

"You are at an excellent age to cultivate, not a moment to waste, so... do you know why I hesitated for three months and didn't choose to take you up the mountain?"

"Huh?"

Yes, why is that?

Thinking back to the two matters Liu Tangxi mentioned, it seems they both don't directly relate to her unwillingness to take on a disciple, especially the first matter.

Wait a second!

He suddenly realized something.

"That Evil Cultivator you mentioned, it's not me, is it?"

"Very clever."

"..."

Even though it's meant to be a compliment, to Jiang Feng, it sounds extremely harsh to the ears, leaving him momentarily unsure how to respond. He steps back, looking as if he's about to turn tail and run.

Seeing where this was going, as if catching his cowardly inclinations, Liu Xianzi calmly said, "After three years of investigation, I finally tracked down your family, and I knew just by seeing you that the Evil Cultivator had been dead for over a decade."

"When a person is dead, the debts are forgiven. His crimes naturally won't be blamed on you. That's a rule in the Cultivation World. By the same logic, even if you have a good talent, I wasn't very willing to take you up the mountain."

The young man awkwardly nods. He completely understands her concern about unwittingly teaching another Evil Cultivator, especially after she just mentioned that some Cultivators cause disasters because their hearts aren't in the right place.

But am I inadvertently taking the bullet?

Is there really a rule in this world that guilt by association applies three generations down? And it's even practiced in the Cultivation World?

Watching the young man's worried and pitiful look, Liu Xianzi gracefully wiped the corner of her mouth and then glanced at the counter.

Hmm, it took three months to eat up everything the little brat had in his house.

His cooking skills ain't bad; he could be her personal chef in the future.

"Though I won't be taking you up the mountain for now, after all, I did stay at your place for three months..." Watching Jiang Feng's deflated demeanor, she feels both annoyed and amused.

Before, this kid wasn't like this when he was begging her. Now that he knows it's hopeless, he's showing his true colors, huh?

So she comes at him, not very kindly.

"There's a set of swordsmanship, want to learn?"

"Learn!"

He wakes up from his nightmare with a start.

But just as he's looking up at Liu Xianzi with expectation, he feels a sharp pain in his chest.

He looks down.

It's Liu Xianzi's longsword, never absent from her waist, piercing straight through his heart…