10: Chapter 10: Acting

Xiao Ran was stunned upon hearing this.

The Heifeng Mountains?

Such a coincidence?

"Changsheng, tell me in detail."

Xiao Ran instantly sat up straight.

"Just now, our Deacon Elder gave me a Jade Slip, saying that Loose Cultivators have been going missing in the Heifeng Mountains recently. He suspects it's the work of Demonic Cultivators and ordered me to lead a team to investigate and rescue any Loose Cultivators who might still be alive..."

Li Changsheng paused for a moment before continuing.

"The mission reward is the middle volume of the Mystic Grade Cultivation Technique 'Ice Heart Formula' and Sect Contribution Points. The System's mission reward for me is the Mystic Grade Martial Skill 'Sword Kinesis Technique' and 5,000 System Points. Xiao Ran, do you think I should go?"

Xiao Ran didn't speak.

He closed his eyes, his mind spinning rapidly.

Two missions, one from the Demon Sect and one from the Dao Palace.

The contents were highly similar: both involved the Heifeng Mountains and both were investigations into disappearances.

Except, the Demon Sect's version was a suspicion of Yao Beasts or hostile forces causing trouble.

The Dao Palace's version was that Demonic Cultivators were kidnapping people.

Interesting.

Very interesting indeed.

"Changsheng, take this mission."

Xiao Ran opened his eyes, his tone firm.

"Ah? But I'm only at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage..."

"Don't panic, I've received a mission too."

"My mission is to go to the Heifeng Mountains to investigate the disappearances in the mining area. Our paths... have overlapped."

Xiao Ran smiled. If the two of them hadn't been communicating via their Soul Link, he would have thought he was being set up.

There was three seconds of silence on the other end of the Soul Link.

Then Li Changsheng's voice suddenly rose: "Holy crap! Such a coincidence?!"

"It's not a coincidence." Xiao Ran shook his head.

"I suspect there's a problem here. That mineral vein in the Heifeng Mountains is jointly mined by our Eternal Night Demon Sect and the Blood Fiend Sect. The Blood Fiend Sect has been wanting to become independent recently and might be trying to cause trouble, while your Dao Palace... might want to take advantage of the chaos."

"Then what should we do?"

Li Changsheng asked.

"We'll beat them at their own game," Xiao Ran said with a grin.

"Aren't you going to rescue Loose Cultivators? And I'm going to investigate disappearances? It just so happens our missions don't conflict, and we can even 'clash' a bit."

"Clash?"

Li Changsheng was stunned for a moment: "You mean..."

"Acting!"

Xiao Ran's smile widened.

"You're a Dao Palace Saint, and I'm a Demon Sect Demon Son. If we cross paths in the Heifeng Mountains, would it make any sense if we didn't have a fight?"

"But I can't actually beat you in a real fight; you're one minor Realm higher than me."

"Of course it won't be a real fight."

Xiao Ran rolled his eyes, really wanting to ask Li Changsheng if he was stupid.

"We're acting! From now on, we need to portray a relationship as incompatible as fire and water. Over time, the entire Cultivation World will believe we are life-and-death enemies."

Xiao Ran was thinking long-term, already planning for the future.

"At that time, you'll pretend to be injured by me, and I'll pretend to be repelled by you. Then we'll each go about our business. On the surface, we'll be rivals, but in reality, we'll be covering for each other."

Li Changsheng thought about it and felt it made perfect sense!

If they became life-and-death enemies, wouldn't they be able to openly and legitimately challenge each other to duels? Wouldn't that give them more opportunities to meet?

"How should we cover for each other?"

Li Changsheng also grew interested and began asking for specific details.

"For example, if the Loose Cultivators you're saving are actually in the mining area, I can create an opportunity for you."

"As for the things I need to investigate, if you hear any rumors over at the Dao Palace, you can tell me. We'll share information and do the missions together."

"Getting double the rewards—isn't that a sweet deal?"

Xiao Ran laid out his entire plan.

"We still have System missions. Can we fool the System like this?"

Li Changsheng had a bit of doubt.

"Why not?"

"The mission only says to investigate the disappearances; it doesn't say we must find anything specific. We'll just go through the motions, do enough superficial work, and we'll both be able to report back."

"As for what happens in private... who's going to know we're brothers?"

Xiao Ran asked back.

Li Changsheng pondered for a while and felt it was feasible: "Then... shall we try it?"

"Let's try it," Xiao Ran decided immediately.

"What about the timing? When do you set off?"

"Three days from now. Our Dao Sect's location is a bit far from that place."

"I'm leaving in seven days."

Xiao Ran smiled. "Then I'll see you at the Heifeng Mountains. Remember, when we meet, we trash talk first, then start fighting. The livelier the fight, the better. Once we're done, contact me at the old place."

"The old place?"

"The Soul Link, you idiot."

"Oh, right..."

Disconnecting the link, Xiao Ran sat in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest.

The Heifeng Mountains...

It seemed these waters were even muddier than he had imagined.

But that was fine.

Muddy waters make for better fishing.

...

Seven days later, at the mountain gate of the Eternal Night Demon Sect.

Xiao Ran was dressed in a black robe, with his Demon Son token hanging from his waist and three people following behind him.

That's right, three people.

He had picked three Inner Sect Disciples who seemed relatively reliable.

There was a tall, thin man named Zhao Ying who was an expert at tracking, a strongman named Tieshan who could lift massive tripods, and a female Disciple named Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing who understood Formations.

Even so, it had taken him a long time to pick them out.

There was no other way; his Foundation within the Sect was too shallow, and no one was willing to go on a mission with him.

Who knew if this newly promoted Demon Son would even return alive?

"Junior Martial Uncle, everyone is here," Zhao Ying said with a bow.

Xiao Ran glanced at the three of them. "This mission might be dangerous, but the opportunities are equally great. If you do a good job, I won't mistreat you."

If you want a horse to run, you have to feed it first.

So, Xiao Ran generously distributed ten Medium Grade Demon Crystals to each of them.

This was already equivalent to a month's worth of cultivation resources they would normally receive from the Sect.

"We are willing to serve Junior Martial Uncle!"

Sure enough, the three of them spoke in unison after receiving the Demon Crystals.

Although Xiao Ran could see the apprehension in their eyes, it didn't matter.

He couldn't blame them.

A Junior Martial Uncle at the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage leading three Outer Sect Disciples at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage to investigate a disappearance case that might involve the Golden Core Stage or even the Nascent Soul Stage...

No matter how you looked at it, it seemed like a suicide mission.

"Let's go."

Xiao Ran didn't explain further and stepped onto a black Flying Boat.

This was a means of transportation allocated by the Sect to the Demon Son; it wasn't particularly fast, but it was steady.

The Flying Boat ascended and flew toward the Heifeng Mountains.

Just after the Flying Boat left, a black shadow appeared at the mountain gate without warning, stepping exactly where Xiao Ran had just been standing.

"The Ninth Demon Son..."

The shadow muttered softly before flying off in the direction of the Flying Boat.

He was the dao protector specifically assigned to Xiao Ran by Sect Master Li Jiuyou, though Xiao Ran was unaware of it.

After all, it wasn't easy for an Ancient Holy Body to emerge; he couldn't be allowed to die before he had a chance to grow.