C2 There Was Only One Answer

In the heart of Eventide, as dusk settled and the lanterns began to glow, the most bustling area came alive within the Misty Willow Quarter, specifically Auspicious Lane. The alleyway was awash with light, teeming with a lively crowd.

Children frolicked and chased one another, while bashful couples cooed over each other at the vendors' stalls. Energetic peddlers hawked their wares, servers beckoned to potential patrons, flamboyant courtesans fluttered their fans, and swordsmen with travel-worn packs strode through the throng.

In stark contrast to the vibrant chaos outside, the House of Golden Virtue was an oasis of calm, its seats all occupied yet enveloped in an unusual hush.

"Brother Li, have you heard? A major event has unfolded in Eventide today," whispered a finely dressed gentleman to a man in white, seated by the window in the grand hall of the House of Golden Virtue.

"Ah, Brother Chu, I've only just returned from Wild Sand City to collect some debts. I hadn't even stepped through my front door before you whisked me away. What's going on?" The man in white replied with a languid tone, glancing outside at the same bustling scene, seemingly untouched by any significant event.

Chu Jue, with the furtiveness of a thief, scanned their surroundings. Once assured of their privacy, he leaned in and murmured, "The Xiao Family... they're no more."

The man in white's eyes narrowed sharply at the news. He swiftly surveyed the room, and only when certain they were unnoticed did he allow himself a moment of relief.

"Run He, you must be jesting. The Xiao Family is a venerable clan, protected by an elder of the Primordial Cradle Realm. How could they simply vanish?" he protested.

In Eventide, the Xiao Family stood among the elite ranks of cultivator dynasties, boasting a multitude of formidable members. The current patriarch's wife held a particularly esteemed position as the third daughter of the Zhou Family from Tai Yin City.

While the Xiao Family's influence in the southern Qian Continent might be modest, their maternal Zhou Family had extended their business across half the Wilderness and even into the Hallowed Crown.

Moreover, the Zhou Family had dispatched no fewer than ten Primordial Cradle masters to their aid, commanding a respect from the City Lord's Mansion that bordered on trepidation. The idea of such a powerhouse being wiped out was something Li Shang could scarcely believe, even under threat of death.

"Brother Li, hear me out..." Chu Jue implored, sliding closer to Li Shang and lowering his voice to recount the morning's events.

Early this morning, at five o'clock, Chu Jue left his home to reconcile the accounts at his shop. As he passed by the Xiao residence, he noticed a crowd gathered at the entrance, gesturing and murmuring amongst themselves.

Chu Jue was well aware of the Xiao family's formidable reputation. Normally, one could hardly risk a second glance without inviting a beating from their surly servants, but today's scene was strikingly out of the ordinary.

Driven by curiosity, he approached the scene. Although the city guards prevented him from entering, the sight of bodies shrouded in white cloth strewn across the courtyard was a clear indication that a calamity had befallen the Xiao family.

The city guard, Liu Qianhu, reported that no one was spared—except for the chickens, ducks, and horses in the kitchen and stables. All the victims were found exactly as they had been in life, as though they had simply reached the end of their natural lifespan.

The memory of the eerie scene at the Xiao household sent shivers down Chu Jue's spine.

"Sigh... This..." Li Shang was so stunned by the news that he was at a loss for words. Primordial Cradle experts weren't like chickens to be slaughtered on a whim. And yet, the mighty Xiao family had been wiped out just like that.

After a sip of tea, he continued, "There's something even more horrific. Xiao Qing, that debauchee, was found with his body stripped down to the skeleton from the neck down. It's a gruesome sight, but it feels like divine justice."

Chu Jue couldn't help but chuckle at the end, for in Eventide, there was no love lost for Xiao Qing. He had long abused his power, taking advantage of the weak and abducting local women. There was no misdeed beyond his reach.

"Xiao Qing always relied on Xiao Zhen Shan's influence to commit his atrocities. Now, karma has caught up with him, and it's satisfying to see," they whispered to each other, sharing a knowing smile and a toast—a clear sign of their own past grievances with Xiao Qing.

"Just yesterday, that scoundrel had his eye on a woman selling ice. He brazenly abducted her in broad daylight, taking her to the Xiao estate. Sadly, no woman taken there ever emerged unscathed. Such a tragedy."

Chu Jue had encountered the ice-selling woman before; her name was Wan Ling, a kind-hearted soul who was always ready to lend a hand. Tragically, she too had met an untimely end.

"Absolutely, the Unmarked Common Graves to the west of the city are filled with bodies from the Xiao Family. It's a travesty." Li Sheng's voice still carried the residual power of a tiger, even in death. He lowered his tone mid-sentence, fearing that careless words could bring disaster.

Unexpectedly, they weren't alone in their conversation.

"The two of you are discussing the Xiao Family as well?" A voice chimed in just as they were whispering among themselves, startling both men.

Turning toward the source, they saw Xiaoming, a waiter of modest height wearing an apron, who had already set the table with a warm smile.

So absorbed were the shopkeepers in their discussion that they hadn't noticed Xiaoming standing there for quite some time.

Upon recognizing the newcomer, Chu Jue's expression eased from concern to relief. "Xiaoming, you nearly gave us a heart attack. Did you just mention the Xiao Family? Are you aware of their misfortune?"

Chu Jue then stood, gesturing to the chair beside him, inviting Xiaoming to sit and share what he knew.

Despite Xiaoming's humble appearance as a waiter, his other identity as a cultivator placed him in a higher social standing, especially to a prominent family like Chu Jue's.

Seated now, Xiaoming gestured to the surrounding patrons and sighed in resignation. "Chu, the Xiao Family's plight is the talk of the town here at the House of Golden Virtue. Eight out of ten tables are abuzz with it. It's hardly a secret anymore; the whole city must know by now."

The two men were taken aback as they surveyed the hall. Nearly everyone was engaged in hushed conversations, their secretive demeanor mirroring that of Chu Jue and his companion earlier.

Realizing that the secret he had so dearly paid for was common knowledge, Chu Jue couldn't hide his irritation. "Hey! Liu Qianhu promised he'd only share it with me, and I paid him eighty taels for that information."

Gossip is part of human nature, and Chu Jue was no exception. He had reluctantly parted with his savings, meant for fine wine, to secure this piece of news. Little did he know that Liu Qianhu, the notorious gossip, would spread it far and wide.

Chu Jue, having been swindled out of twenty taels, had no choice but to grin and bear it. Even if he could pick a bone with the city guards, Liu Qianhu's wife was the Second Lady of the He Family, a force far beyond his small cultivator family's means to contend with.

"Moreover, I'm familiar with the ice girl you mentioned. I inquired with Liu Qianhu, but there's been no sign of her at the Xiao Family's place."

"Xiaoming, why the sudden interest in a girl? Xiaonan is right there; aren't you worried she'll give you a piece of her mind?" Li Shuhang gestured towards the pink-clothed girl tidying up the table, his face alight with the anticipation of drama.

"What are you even talking about? That girl dined and dashed here the other day, complaining that the food was both bitter and salty. Manager Wang had no issues with it, and he personally prepared the dish."

Realizing he was veering off-topic, Xiaoming quickly steered the conversation back.

"Let's get back on track. Someone fed the Primordial Cradle of the Xiao Family's ancestor to a dog. It's common knowledge that anyone brazen enough to do this isn't a cultivator. So, they must be either a transmigrator or an evil cultivator."

"Transmigrators are the least of our worries. They despise cultivators and don't involve us mortals, but evil cultivators..."

Li Shuhang and Chu Jue's complexions grew ashen, the light-hearted atmosphere gone. They had thought it was merely a vendetta, but the presence of evil cultivators in the city was far from trivial.

Although Eventide was just a gate away from Dragonslayer Keep, there was no guarantee of survival until help arrived. One could wake up to find the city overrun by foul demonic beings.

The cultivators at the Keep were overwhelmed with their own crises, hardly sparing a thought for the common folk. The idea of relocating suddenly seemed very appealing to both men.

"Being a transmigrator might be better. At least they only have to deal with the misfortune of cultivators."

Li Shuhang, off to the side, downed a cup of wine. He figured that while transmigrators were constantly clashing with cultivators, there had been a semblance of peace in recent years. Still, there was no telling when they might get caught in the crossfire.

"Sigh~ Xiaoming, sometimes I really envy you monks," Chu Jue lamented, the bitterness and helplessness on his face giving way to a sigh. In this dog-eat-dog world, being weak was akin to a sin.

"Don't worry, shopkeepers. I don't believe this was the work of evil cultivators. Their energy is too distinct. If they made a move, even Dragonslayer Keep to the south would detect it. Only a transmigrator could pull this off without a trace."

Hearing Xiaoming's analysis, the shopkeepers' expressions softened somewhat, but they were acutely aware that without cultivation, they would always be like ants at the bottom of a valley, looking up at the immortals.

...

As time ticked by, Wu Ziming paced nervously around his room. He examined an antique vase, noting that the thick layer of dust likely meant it was worthless, then browsed through the books on the shelves, which were all indecipherable to him. Having transmigrated and been rescued, he was understandably disoriented and anxious in this unfamiliar world.

Stopping in front of the bronze mirror on the dressing table, he froze, then hurried closer, his hands exploring his cheeks in disbelief. The reflection showed that he had transformed into a fair and delicate young man. What on earth had happened? It was one thing to transmigrate, but why had he turned into a younger, more handsome version of himself?

No, this couldn't be right! Could it be a soul transmigration? But the clothes he wore were undeniably real. As he grappled with his confusion, an odd voice echoed in his mind.

"Ding, welcome to the Holy Spirit Inheritance System. The host is now bound. Initiating scan..."

A system? A system!

This unexpected voice sparked a glimmer of hope in Wu Ziming. Disregarding his confusion about his arrival, he perked up and scanned the room eagerly. It seemed that not everything in the novels was fiction after all.

Yet, despite his efforts, Wu Ziming could not locate the system's interface. Just as he began to doubt his own sanity, the system's prompt chimed in once more.

Mission: To the first person you encounter, proclaim: "Then... there can only be one answer, and that is to pledge my loyalty to you."

Speaking with such passion was truly remarkable.

Mission Reward: Immortal Emperor Level cultivation, plus one Chaos Pearl.

Upon hearing this, Wu Ziming was completely taken aback, barely able to believe his ears.

"Immortal Emperor Level cultivation! Can I really achieve that just by completing the mission? What kind of divine gambit is this? You wouldn't even find such a twist in novels. But wait, isn't the Immortal Emperor the lowest on the totem pole?"

"Huh? Hold on, why does that line seem so familiar? No matter, I need to practice it first."

Meanwhile, downstairs, Xiaoming was busy at work when he was approached by the girl in pink leaning against a wine jar. "Xiaoming, come here."

"Is he the transmigrator that Ding Fu detected?" The girl cocked her head toward the rooftop, referring to Wu Ziming, who had just been brought in.

"The truth is, the person Ding Fu wanted me to fetch was devoured by wolves. I just brought him in to fill the gap..."

"Looks like it's time for a little discipline, isn't it?"

The girl snapped her fingers with a crisp sound, prompting Xiaoming to instantly put on a pleading face.

"I'm not kidding around anymore. I witnessed him falling from a spatial rift myself. Oddly enough, he transformed from a teenager into a young man after landing. I've encountered many transmigrators, but this is the first time I've seen something like this."

Xiaoming stroked his chin thoughtfully as he spoke.

"What's on your mind?" The girl noticed his distraction and waved her hand in front of his face.

"Nothing, really. Let's get moving, back to work." With that, he playfully nudged the girl's back and they both headed into the kitchen.

Finally, after a long hour, the bustling noise downstairs subsided, and a clutter of footsteps approached the door. Wu Ziming braced himself, his gaze fixed on the entrance. Everything hinged on this moment.

Do or die!

Creak!

The old-fashioned carved wooden door swung open once more, and Xiaoming, smelling faintly of smoke, stepped into the room.

He took a deep breath.

"Hahaha, well then... there's only one conclusion – I must pledge my allegiance to you." Wu Ziming burst into laughter and snapped the feather duster he had found in the corner in two.

It was as if his voice echoed throughout the world.