Wei Chen smiled wryly, trying to think about the complications that would come after this. He didn't want to act like some so-called genius protagonist who could defeat opponents across realms. If they misunderstood him and decided to leave him alone, that would be the best outcome.
He wasn't here to show off his dominance, conquer the world, or prove anything out of some inferiority complex like those guys who got their engagements canceled and shouted, "Thirty years east something… Don't you dare bully me because I'm poor now!"
Honestly, if someone said that and people still let them live long enough to become powerful, those people would have to be idiots. If not for their thick plot armor that would bring a Tiger tank to shame, they'd have been dead already.
Wei Chen stopped his inner rant and sighed, looking at Mo Xingyao's smirk. He both loved and hated smart people like her. God damn it.
"Sigh~ fine… I'm at the half-step Core Formation stage," Wei Chen admitted.
Hearing this, Mo Xingyao was clearly surprised. She remembered watching the live broadcast where he bitch-slapped a Nascent Soul cultivator.
"Which means… you can crush someone two realms higher than you! Amazing! Your combat power is equal to someone in the Soul Transformation Realm! No wonder they misunderstood you… but that doesn't make sense…"
She leaned closer, her face now just inches away from his.
"You're clearly weaker than me, yet I still can't sense your cultivation. The only reason for that should be that you cultivate a method that conceals your presence that most assassins cultivate. But that kind of technique shouldn't allow you to fight opponents in higher realms."
Mo Xingyao's curiosity deepened as she studied Wei Chen, looking at him as if he were a mysterious artifact she wanted to examine.
It was strange. When she used her spiritual sense to probe him, there was no response at all. It was as if he were just an ordinary mortal, but that was impossible.
"What kind of cultivation method have you cultivated exactly?" she asked with a smile, inching closer.
Wei Chen moved his face back slightly, blushing a little. The girl was stunning, she could easily pass for a superstar back in his world.
"That's my secret, okay? Who would tell a stranger about their cultivation method?" Wei Chen retorted.
"A stranger? You think of me as a stranger? I never thought you'd say that!" Mo Xingyao pretended to be hurt.
"Stop with that BS. You're not my wife, so why would you want to know?" Wei Chen shot back.
"Hmph! Who would want to be your wife anyway? I was just curious. If you don't want to tell me, then so be it," Mo Xingyao said with a huff.
"Why are you talking as if I want you to be my wife?"
"Arghhh! Ow ow ow ow ow! Stop! That hurts!" Wei Chen cried out as his soft waist was twisted by Mo Xingyao's merciless hand.
After fooling around for a while, Wei Chen finally gave up. He rubbed his sore waist that still felt numb.
"By the way," Wei Chen began, still massaging his side. "Now that you know I'm only at the half-step Core Formation stage, do you still want me to be your temporary bodyguard?" he asked.
"Why not? Your combat power is equal to someone in the Soul Transformation Realm. I'd rather have a half-step Core Formation with Soul Transformation-level strength than a Soul Transformation who only fights like a Nascent Soul," Mo Xingyao replied with a smile.
"Besides," she continued, "I have an important matter that only you can help me with."
"Only me?" Wei Chen pointed at himself in disbelief.
"That's right, only you," Mo Xingyao said with a mysterious smile… but that very smile made Wei Chen feel extremely suspicious.
— Night - Sword Manor —
Deep into the night, at the newly built large production hall, the security was extremely tight. Without a core disciple leading the group, no one was allowed to enter.
At this time, a core disciple walked toward the hall, facing the disciples guarding the entrance.
"Senior Zhang, why are you here at this hour?" one of the guards asked.
"I'm here on behalf of Senior Brother Liu to check the formation array. Its speed dropped significantly during the day, and he doesn't want to waste time with a pointless inspection tomorrow," the man replied. His mouth revealed several missing teeth.
If Wei Chen were here, he would recognize this man as the same one who tried to cut his leg earlier.
The man was Zhang Ping, one of the core disciples who accompanied Liu Shanhong on the expedition.
"Then please go in, Senior Zhang," the guard said, stepping aside.
Zhang Ping nodded and walked into the hall. He passed by the large spiritual machinery known as the production line. This intricate assembly of artifacts was designed to produce a communication device called the U-Phone.
The U-Phone was far more advanced than a traditional jade slip, offering a wider range of functions and even allowing communication from within secret realms.
If released to the public, it would make ordinary communication jade slips completely obsolete.
Zhang Ping made his way to the office on the second floor. The hall was structured like a modern-day factory, with offices and important documents stored inside.
He approached the largest desk ,it was the sect leader's desk and he began searching through the shelves. After a moment, he found a jade slip and sent his spiritual sense into it to check its contents.
After confirming what he was looking for, Zhang Ping smiled.
He pocketed the jade slip and turned to leave, heading toward the warehouse where the U-Phones were stored.
However, instead of crates of U-Phones, he was met with the piercing gaze of his sect leader, Jian Ganglie.
"Sect leader!?" Zhang Ping froze in alarm and tried to flee, but a sharp pain suddenly shot through his legs.
"Arghhh!"
Two swords pierced through his thighs from behind, pinning him to the ground and forcing him to kneel. The pain was unbearable.
The one who pinned him down was the silent bodyguard who usually accompanied Mo Xingyao.
Jian Ganglie stepped forward slowly.
"I never thought the spy would turn out to be you, Zhang Ping," he said, his tone filled with disappointment as he drew his sword. "I don't recall ever doing anything to let you down. I even took you in from the streets."
"Sect leader! This is a misunderstanding! I…"
Before Zhang Ping could finish his sentence, Jian Ganglie swung his sword, slicing Zhang Ping's neck. He didn't sever it completely, this was his final mercy for his disciple, allowing him to die with his body intact.
After Zhang Ping stopped breathing, Yin Lan stepped forward and retrieved something from his corpse. It was a token and a special communication jade engraved with the words Azure Sky. She tossed both items to Jian Ganglie.
He examined them briefly before sighing. "We don't know how much the Azure Sky Conglomerate has learned about this. I only hope they don't know enough to see us as a threat," Jian Ganglie muttered.
At this time, a man in black clothing entered the warehouse. He wore a hood and a black half-mask that covered the lower part of his face. His arms appeared slightly longer than those of a normal person.
"Black Snake, you've arrived," Yin Lan greeted him.
"I've arrived. According to the young miss's orders, I'll be staying here to protect the Sword Manor until further notice," the man called Black Snake replied with a nod.
Yin Lan returned the nod to acknowledge his commitment, then turned to Jian Ganglie.
"Sect Leader Jian, I've already fulfilled my part. I must return to the young miss now. Excuse me." Yin Lan bowed slightly before vanishing, leaving Jian Ganglie alone with Black Snake.
"Mr. Black Snake, please follow me. I'll take you to your accommodations," Jian Ganglie said, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere.
Black Snake nodded. "I'll trouble Sect Leader Jian, then."
— Meanwhile - Thousand Treasure Pavilion —
Wei Chen looked at his reflection in the mirror before him. The clothes he wore were made of black silk woven from the Great Black Widow Spider's silk. This spirit beast was a powerful predator, and its silk was more valuable than any jewelry or gold, flexible, lightweight, yet stronger than steel.
A jade pendant engraved with the Thousand Treasure emblem hung from his neck.
From head to toe, every piece of his outfit, the clothes, accessories, and shoes, the entire set could be said to be worth more than an entire house.
Staring at his handsome reflection dressed in such luxury, all paid for by Mo Xingyao, Wei Chen couldn't help but feel a little bit complicated.
"Why do I feel like I'm a kept man and she's my sugar mommy?" he muttered to himself, his mouth twitching awkwardly.
At this time, Mo Xingyao entered the room, her eyes lighting up as she looked at Wei Chen with appreciation.
"Oh! You've finally changed. To be honest, you look really good in this outfit. If you help me today, I'll give you this set of clothes! What do you say?" Mo Xingyao asked with a wide smile.
"What do I say? I feel really, really complicated right now. I don't even know what to feel," Wei Chen replied, his mouth twitching.
"Huh? Why so?" Mo Xingyao asked, puzzled.
"You know what? Never mind," Wei Chen shrugged, then asked, "So, what do you want me to help you with?"
"Nothing much. I just want you to come with me, play along a little, and say yes when I tell you to." Mo Xingyao replied.
"Huh?"