46: Chapter 46 Lin Shuang!

On the third floor of Yuegui Pavilion, in Deep Cloud Abode.

Li Guidai was lying comfortably on a specially made rocking chair, swaying back and forth, while the small table beside him was piled high with crystal-clear spirit fruits.

Zhuge Yue sat to the side with an aloof temperament, carefully peeling a Spirit Mist Grape and bringing it to his lips.

Li Guidai opened his mouth to take it, chewing happily while vaguely directing Yang Qingqing, who was clattering away on an abacus:

"Qingqing, focus on taking inventory of those crafting materials and medicinal herb seeds. Spirit stones and such are secondary; we aren't lacking that stuff right now. The Meiliu Sect is a sect after all, they must have some real goods tucked away, right?"

Yang Qingqing didn't even look up, her fingers flying as she retorted:

"Brother, we are indeed the undisputed local tyrants of Ganlu Town now! But this Meiliu Sect's treasury is too pathetic. Aside from mountains of spirit stones, it's just common crafting materials and high-grade spiritual herbs. There isn't even a single Earth-grade magic treasure that can hold its own! It's such a waste of their reputation as a Golden Core sect!"

Zhuge Yue listened quietly, occasionally wiping the corner of Li Guidai's mouth, though her beautiful eyes would occasionally gaze into the void outside the window, flashing with a hint of confusion, as if she were struggling to sort through the fragmented memories that had abruptly appeared in her mind.

Li Guidai crossed his legs, triumphantly wiggling his toes:

"What do you know? Every little bit helps, even a mosquito's leg is meat! Besides, our Li Family has just started; we need to be low-key. Making a fortune in silence is the true way... Hm?!"

Before he could finish his sentence, his brow suddenly furrowed. An inexplicable sense of palpitations struck without warning, as if he had been targeted by something extremely dangerous and unclean, sending a chill down his back.

Almost simultaneously, a long-lost, love-hate notification sound rang out in his mind:

[Ding! Warning! Detected that the host has been targeted by "Son of Destiny · Ye Fan" using the special talent "Diverting Misfortune to Others," successfully shifting the target of hatred! Yaoguang Sacred Land has preliminarily determined that the host has a close relationship with Ye Fan!]

[Ding! Triggered emergency side quest — Successfully resolve the preliminary investigation by Yaoguang Sacred Land. Quest reward: Distributed based on the host's response evaluation. Failure penalty: High probability of being listed as an "Accomplice of Ye Fan" by Yaoguang Sacred Land, facing endless pursuit! Until death!]

The contentment on Li Guidai's face instantly froze, and he nearly choked on the grape in his mouth. He sprang up from the rocking chair and blurted out:

"Huh?! Ye Fan! F*** your uncle! You thousand-cut bastard! You got into trouble yourself, and you're dumping the blame on me?!"

His roar was still echoing in Deep Cloud Abode when, outside, several brilliant streams of light had already arrived above Ganlu Town. A peerless spiritual pressure, like a tangible mountain, descended without restraint, and the air in the entire town seemed to solidify!

Leading them was that cold-faced, icy-eyed female cultivator from Yaoguang Sacred Land — Emissary Lin Shuang.

Her group wore the uniform moon-white attire of the Sacred Land, their robes fluttering like celestial maidens from the nine heavens, but the chilling murderous aura terrified the townspeople and cultivators of various factions below, making their legs turn to jelly!

"Nascent... Nascent Soul late-stage! And they're from the Central Region Sacred Land!"

Someone's teeth chattered, their voice trembling. This might was far greater than that of the previous Meiliu Sect Master, Xu Mang!

Emissary Lin Shuang hovered in the air, her voice like ten-thousand-year-old ice, clearly spreading throughout the entire town:

"We are envoys from the Central Region Yaoguang Sacred Land! The master of this place, come out and speak!"

The doors of Yuegui Pavilion opened with a "creak."

Li Guidai held Zhuge Yue's hand, his face already wearing an impeccable, business-like smile that was seventy percent enthusiastic and thirty percent fearful, as he strolled out slowly.

In his heart, he had already affectionately greeted all eighteen generations of Ye Fan's ancestors.

"Oh my! So it is the esteemed fairies from the Central Region Yaoguang Sacred Land who have graced us with their presence! I failed to welcome you from afar; I am truly disrespectful, disrespectful!"

Li Guidai cupped his hands in a salute, his tone exaggerated, "I wonder what instruction brings you esteemed fairies to my backwater Ganlu Town? Anything you need from me, Li Guidai, just say the word!"

Emissary Lin Shuang's gaze was like cold lightning, instantly locking onto Li Guidai, then sweeping over Zhuge Yue, who stood beside him with an aloof and transcendent temperament. Especially upon sensing Zhuge Yue's unfathomable Golden Core cultivation and the faint aura of immortality she exuded, a flash of undisguised surprise crossed her eyes.

But this did not soften her attitude; instead, her tone became even colder:

"You are Li Guidai? The criminal Ye Fan, wanted by our Yaoguang Sacred Land, was last seen in a location that clearly points to your Ganlu Town! Speak! Where is Ye Fan hiding now? What exactly is your relationship with him?"

Li Guidai's face instantly filled with confusion and innocence, his acting skills worthy of an award-winning actor:

"Ye Fan? Who is Ye Fan? Fairy, I have a poor memory; I have absolutely no impression of the person you are talking about!"

As soon as he said this, Emissary Lin Shuang's eyes became sharp as knives, and the few Sacred Land disciples behind her all stepped forward in unison, their spiritual energy surging and magic artifacts humming, looking ready to attack at the slightest disagreement.

The atmosphere at the scene instantly became tense!

Li Guidai cursed in his heart, but on the surface, he quickly waved his hands:

"Wait! Fairies, hold your hands! What I mean is, I can't place the name just by hearing it! Fairy, could you please be kind and show me a portrait of that person called Ye Fan?"

"As long as I see his face, I, Li Guidai, swear to the heavens that I will absolutely go through fire and water for you, and even if I have to dig three feet into the ground, I will find this despicable villain!"

Emissary Lin Shuang snorted coldly, her eyes full of disbelief and contempt, but she still signaled to a disciple beside her.

That disciple immediately took out a scroll drawn with spiritual power and snapped it open!

On the scroll, the image of a young man with sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, a handsome face, and a somewhat uninhibited smile was vivid and lifelike. Who else could it be but Ye Fan?

As soon as Li Guidai saw the portrait, he slapped his thigh hard, making a crisp "pop" sound, and his face revealed an expression of extreme anger and sudden realization as he cursed, spittle flying:

"So it's him! It's this little b*stard!!!"

Emissary Lin Shuang was taken aback by his sudden vulgar language and intense reaction, frowning in discomfort, and said coldly:

"What? You do know him!"

Li Guidai immediately put on a look of heartbreak, beating his chest and stamping his feet, his inner actor taking over:

"Sigh! Fairy! Esteemed fairies! You have no idea! This kid in the picture is no good at all!"

"Just a few days ago, he ran to my Yuegui Pavilion, ordered a huge pile of spirit wine and delicacies, and then wiped his mouth and tried to skip out on the bill! Not only did he try to dine and dash, but when he got drunk, he even dared to harass my maid!"

"After my wife discovered him, she took a broom and beat him out! She beat him until he was scurrying away in a pathetic state! A scoundrel like this who doesn't pay his debts and has such low character—I, Li Guidai, am ashamed to be associated with him!"

"As for which direction he ran off to... it was too chaotic at the time, and I didn't see it clearly!"

As he spoke, he was frantically apologizing in his heart:

"Sorry, Brother Ye! Better the Daoist friend dies than me; you'll have to carry this black pot for me for now! Once I get through this tribulation, I will definitely burn you more spirit money later... Ah, pui, I mean I will definitely compensate you later!"

Seeing that Emissary Lin Shuang's gaze remained icy and she clearly didn't fully believe him, Li Guidai's eyes rolled, and a plan formed in his mind. He suddenly pulled out that Earth-grade low-rank magic treasure—the sky demon soundbox, cleared his throat, and said loudly to Emissary Lin Shuang and all the onlookers:

"To prove my innocence, Li Guidai, and to ensure you esteemed fairies haven't made this trip in vain, I, Li Guidai, hereby solemnly swear!"

He pressed the play button, and the sky demon soundbox immediately emitted a low, eerie hum, and then played an accompaniment he had recorded beforehand, adapted from a super catchy and brainwashing BGM called 《Groovin King》:

"Ye Fan! Pay back the money! Ye Fan! Pay back the money!"

"Ye Fan! Pay back the money! Ye Fan! Pay back the money!"