23: Demon Extermination Mission

The other two men were also quite moved upon hearing this, and they nodded in agreement with Sun Yang's approach.

After Sun Yang whispered a few more words to them, he walked toward Junior Brother Hong and said with a smile, "Junior Brother Hong, I've already talked it over with them, and they're very happy to have you join us. What do you think?"

Mu Xue also chimed in, her voice soft and sweet, completely unlike her previous arrogance and bossiness. "Junior Brother, yesterday was my fault. I'm here to apologize to you."

Hong Yu's eyes narrowed slightly as he said tentatively, "I originally planned to accept the mission to investigate Qingqiu Mountain because I still have some mundane matters to attend to. I appreciate your kindness, Senior Brother, but I'm afraid I won't be able to travel with you this time."

Originally, Hong Yu wanted to take this opportunity to see if he could trick Mu Xue, but he realized that since Sun Yang could call out his name immediately, he must have investigated him. Perhaps the other party intended to reconcile for the sake of Pang Hu's Face. In that case, he might as well avoid trouble and leave the mansion as soon as possible.

But when Sun Yang heard this, his eyes lit up and he said, "Junior Brother Hong, it just so happens that the mission we've taken this time is to go to Wolong City to slay monsters. The mission isn't difficult, and the rewards are plentiful. You also know that we Cultivators value clarity of mind. Why don't you join us? Consider it a way for us to fulfill our intention of apologizing."

Mu Xue and the other two men also spoke up to persuade him. Even the girl at the front desk, Number Six, added a word: "I think you should just go with them. The mission for Qingqiu Mountain has been posted for over a month. Countless people have gone to investigate, but very few have returned with useful information. Not to mention the difficulty; even if it's easy, the journey back and forth is long. By the time you get there, the mission might have already been completed."

After hearing these words, Hong Yu pondered for a while and then nodded in agreement.

If he continued to refuse now, it would inevitably reveal some clues. It would be better to travel with Mu Xue and the others. Firstly, he could find an opportunity to properly "repay" Mu Xue for her previous verbal insults. Secondly, he could find a chance to escape. After all, except for Sun Yang, who was at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining, the others were only at the Fifth Level of Qi Refining. Their cultivation wasn't very high, and they wouldn't be able to stop him if he wanted to run.

Seeing Hong Yu agree, Sun Yang quickly submitted the mission. After some operations by Number Six, Sun Yang led the group quickly out of the Mission Hall.

Upon reaching an open area, Mu Xue took out the flying boat that had bumped into Hong Yu yesterday. The flying boat grew larger in the wind, and soon the group entered it as it slowly took off.

Sun Yang also quickly introduced the other two to Hong Yu: "This is Junior Brother Wu Tie, and the other is Junior Brother Zhao Yuntao."

Hong Yu nodded in greeting, and the two across from him also smiled and nodded, considering themselves introduced.

Next, Sun Yang introduced the mission to Hong Yu. "Junior Brother Hong, we've taken two missions this time. The first is to deliver a letter to Wolong City, and the other is to slay monsters outside Wolong City. Someone reported that a Seventh Level of Qi Refining Yao Beast has appeared outside Wolong City, killing countless people. Wolong City is under the protection of Xuan Yun Residence, so the Sect issued this mission for us to slay the demon and uphold justice for heaven."

"Wolong City is less than two thousand miles from our mansion. With the speed of Junior Sister Mu's flying boat, we should arrive in about a week. Once we kill that Seventh Level of Qi Refining Yao Beast, the mission will be complete."

Hearing this, Hong Yu nodded and asked casually, "As far as I know, there are many experts in the Outer Sect of Xuan Yun Residence. Why didn't they send them instead of making it an Inner Sect mission? Also, since Wolong City is under the protection of Xuan Yun Residence, the City Lord of Wolong City must also be from Xuan Yun Residence. Why wouldn't they find someone to get rid of a mere Yao Beast themselves? Isn't this making things more complicated?"

Sun Yang replied gently, "I'm not entirely sure either. I suppose it's for us ordinary Disciples to practice. After all, the path of cultivation is incredibly difficult, and bitter cultivation alone isn't the best choice. Practical experience is also very important, so the Mission Hall often has such combat missions."

"Oh, I see." Hong Yu nodded and then asked, "So how many Spirit Stones can we earn from this trip?"

At the mention of money, Mu Xue's eyes lit up. She chimed in, "The two missions together have a reward of two hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. If split equally among five people, each person gets forty."

Forty? All that time and effort for such a small reward?

Hong Yu grumbled to himself. Fortunately, he had chosen to skip out on his debts and run away. Otherwise, with so many Spirit Stones owed, he wouldn't be able to pay them back in a lifetime, let alone a month.

The flying boat wobbled and soon reached the edge of the Xifan Platform, then stopped. Amidst the swirling mist, two men suddenly appeared.

One of the men wore the Disciple robes of Xuan Yun Residence, his Aura solid. Hong Yu looked up and found that he couldn't see through this person's cultivation at all; his Aura was even stronger than Pang Hu's by thirty percent.

This person must be a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

While Hong Yu was secretly speculating, the man glanced casually at the flying boat, then reached out and said, "To leave the mansion, you must present your identity token and pay ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones per person."

Sun Yang and the others readily took out their Spirit Stones and handed them over along with their identity tokens.

Only Hong Yu looked uncomfortable. After taking out his identity token, he stood there in a daze, not knowing what to do.

"Is Junior Brother Hong short on funds?" Seeing this, Sun Yang took Hong Yu's identity token and said in a low voice, "It's fine, I'll pay for you first. It can be deducted from your mission reward later."

Hong Yu said gratefully, "Then thank you, Senior Brother Sun."

After the man collected the Spirit Stones, he inspected them, tossed the identity tokens back to the flying boat, and then vanished into the sea of clouds together with the other man.

The flying boat started up again, and Hong Yu asked curiously, "Who were those two just now?"

Sun Yang explained slowly, "Those are mountain-guarding disciples. Xuan Yun Residence has a mountain-protecting array. Only the Xifan Platform is left for Disciples to enter and exit. Therefore, the mansion has stationed mountain-guarding disciples here to verify the identities of those coming and going."

"The mansion is truly a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers; even the mountain-guarding disciples are Foundation Establishment Cultivators." Hong Yu praised casually and then asked, "So what happens if someone doesn't enter or exit through the Xifan Platform?"

"Death, of course. You don't even know that?" Mu Xue chimed in. "Otherwise, why would it be called a mountain-protecting array? Which family are you from? Didn't your elders tell you about this?"

"Mu Xue!" Sun Yang frowned and spoke in a slightly raised tone, then smiled at Hong Yu. "Please forgive her, Junior Brother. Junior Sister Mu is outspoken, but she means no harm. You haven't been in the mansion long. If there's anything you want to know, feel free to ask me. I will tell you everything I know."

These words greatly increased Hong Yu's favorable impression of him. Although Mu Xue wasn't great, Sun Yang seemed like a decent person.

So he said, "It's fine, Senior Brother Sun. Actually, I do have a question I'd like to ask."

"Please, go ahead."