CHAPTER 54: CHAPTER 54: HERO SAVES THE BEAUTY? (THREE UPDATES)

「Next day.」

Xu Nian led Junlin and his four companions away from the Profound Yellow Sect. The Sect had left subsequent matters in the hands of the players themselves. With the Blood Demoness overseeing things, Xu Nian felt quite reassured. Moreover, within the boundaries of Fengxiang Prefecture, no Sect dared to provoke the Profound Yellow Sect. The players only needed to complete their daily tasks.

The five of them headed straight for Fengxiang Prefecture City. The journey from the Profound Yellow Sect to Fengxiang Prefecture City would take three days. Previously, Zhou Yuntong, leveraging his Grandmaster power, had used his lightness skills to make the journey in just one day. For Xu Nian and his team, there was no need for haste. After all, the banquet at Jin Yutang was still five days away. In terms of time, it was entirely sufficient.

This was the first time Junlin and his team had followed Xu Nian out of the Profound Yellow Sect. It indeed felt somewhat special. Their own Sect Leader is actually willing to leave the Sect—this plot development is quite good. After all, for the players, the Sect Leader departing meant they could explore an expanded map later. Fengxiang Prefecture was just one of the many prefecture cities in the world, neither particularly impressive nor considerably poor.

"Up ahead is a river. Let’s rest a bit and let the horses drink some water before we continue," Xu Nian said, looking at the river before him and dismounting. Junlin and his team did the same.

"I always feel a bit pressured when I’m out with the Sect Leader alone, not sure why," one player muttered.

"I can understand your pressure, especially since the art team made our Sect Leader look so damn cool."

"Speaking of which, it pisses me off! Why can’t we play as female characters?"

"Let it go. Our current character appearances are already well-crafted."

"..."

Junlin and his four companions led their horses to the riverside, maintaining a somewhat strange distance from Xu Nian. Xu Nian naturally noticed this but didn’t say much. What was there to say? He was a Non-player Character, after all. What could he possibly have to say?

As they were resting, the sound of a fight, originating from the trees on the opposite riverbank, grew closer. The group looked up curiously. They saw a burly man, bearing no fewer than five wounds, protecting the girl in plain clothes as they fled towards them. Behind them, five or six individuals clad in black and red martial attire pursued them, wielding weapons.

At a glance, Xu Nian recognized the identity of those five pursuers. The Blood Demon Sect! Such attire was typical of disciples from the Blood Demon Sect. Protectors wore Black Robes. Elders wore Red Robes. As for their mysterious Sect Leader... Xu Nian wasn’t very certain, but the disciples of the Blood Demon Sect were primarily dressed in black and red garments.

The presence of Blood Demon Sect disciples within Fengxiang Prefecture is certainly significant news. If Zhou Yuntong, the Brocade Guard Thousand Households, were informed, wouldn’t he immediately bring his men to capture them? Having Blood Demon Sect members appear within his jurisdiction would mean dereliction of duty for him as a Brocade Guard. Once this was exposed during his duty review, no one could save him. The existence of the Blood Demon Sect is a thorn in the side of the Imperial Court. They would naturally not tolerate the Blood Demon Sect’s members acting lawlessly within their territory. Of course, the Blood Demoness might be an exception. After all, the Blood Demoness is now loyal to me. In other words, she’s one of our own, and a high-ranking member of the Blood Demon Sect at that! If utilized well, the Brocade Guard might be able to use her to locate many high-ranking members of the Blood Demon Sect.

[Side Quest: Hero Saves the Beauty.]

[Introduction: As you roam Jianghu, you’re bound to encounter legendary incidents, and Hero Saves the Beauty is one of them. Please rescue the distressed lady.]

[Reward: Contribution Points * 100.]

Junlin and his four teammates immediately received a task notification from the System. The five of them froze on the spot. We just left the Sect and already encountered a side quest? Is Abbess’s Talent mysteriously acting up and sending rewards our way?

"Side quest! We’ve got a side quest!"

"Done! Those five minions are mine. I want to buy some poison, so give me a chance."

"No, no, one for each of us! Poisonous Panda, you can’t hog them all."

"Damn it, Junlin, you bastard! Trying to steal a kill?"

"..."

While Abbess, Don’t Love Me and the others were squabbling over the minions, Junlin, leveraging his superior agility, leaped across the river first and charged towards the Blood Demon Sect disciples. The Black Dragon Dagger in his hand burst with a cold gleam.

SHINK!

SHINK!

SHINK!

With swift movements of his blade, lines of blood appeared on the necks of the Blood Demon Sect disciples. Five corpses fell to the ground.

When Abbess, Don’t Love Me and the other three arrived, they saw the five corpses on the ground and Junlin coolly sheathing his Dagger. Their anger was clearly visible.

"Damn it, you didn’t leave a single one?"

Under the Phoenix Tree, his face dark, cursed, "I can’t take it anymore! Let’s beat him up!"

Abbess, Don’t Love Me nodded repeatedly. Poisonous Panda and Evil Queen Morgana also agreed.

Immediately, the four of them pounced on Junlin, pinning him to the ground and pummelling him.

There were five minions, each worth two Contribution Points upon defeat. This round, Junlin had taken them all, freeloading ten Contribution Points. Even while getting beaten up, he was all smiles. Never mind being beaten once, even ten times would be fine!

"Damn it! The bastard is still smiling?"

"Does he disrespect our punches? Should we just send him to Reincarnation then!"

"Give me a chance! I’ve wanted to beat up this Rich Second Generation for a long time!"

"I admit, I have a grudge against the rich. Mind passing this opportunity to me?"

"..."

The five of them were soon a tangled mess of flailing limbs. The rescued robust man and the girl in plain clothes watched them with peculiar expressions.

Xu Nian stood on the opposite side of the river and didn’t cross. He just quietly watched this scene, completely indifferent to the "friendly" exchanges among the players.

The girl in plain clothes looked at the robust man, who subtly nodded. Then, the robust man, clutching his wounds and limping, approached Junlin and his team.

"I am Lu Dashan, a guard of the Zhao Family from Fengxiang Prefecture. Thank you, young heroes, for your assistance!" The robust man cupped his fists in gratitude.

Even as he spoke, he was still somewhat amazed at their capabilities. The opponents were disciples of the Blood Demon Sect, their strength at least at the level of Eighth-Grade Martial Artists. He himself was a Seventh-Grade Martial Artist, yet he had suffered their attack, sustained serious injuries, and the guards accompanying him had all tragically died. And what about that young man who had just acted? With just his Dagger, he’d effortlessly dispatched five Blood Demon Sect disciples. His strength must be at least at the Fifth-Grade Realm, right? Moreover, that young man’s movements were exceptionally agile, showing fluctuations of Internal Energy. He was clearly a disciple from a Major Sect.

The squabbling five also stopped.

Junlin quickly scrambled up, ignoring the dirt on his clothes, and cupped his fists with a grin. "It is our duty to draw our swords and help when we see injustice!"

Any of them could have handled this kind of plot progression. But since Junlin had saved them, it was only reasonable for him to take the lead in the storyline.

Lu Dashan cupped his fists again. "Young Hero, your benevolence is commendable. Thanks to your timely intervention, otherwise, my young lady would have suffered cruel humiliation from the Blood Demon Sect..."