Chapitre 11: End of the Mission
After listening to the middle-aged man recall his entire encounter with Wu Tianyi, Shi Jianqiao said, "You mentioned that he gave you some words to pass to me? Let me hear it."
"Uhh…" The middle-aged man immediately hesitated, as he wasn't sure that she'd want the others to hear Wu Tianyi's foul words that basically threatened her.
"What's the matter? Why are you hesitating?" Shi Jianqiao frowned.
The middle-aged man prepared himself inwardly before speaking, "He wanted to let Master know that he'll be visiting in the near future and that if you don't have the Soul Withering Wine ready by the time he arrives… he… he will… make you regret being born…"
"THE AUDACITY!"
A few of the Elders immediately stood up and roared with anger and killing intent in their eyes.
"SHUT UP!" Shi Jianqiao roared, causing the entire place to tremble.
"..."
The Elders immediately closed their mouths and returned to their seats like scared children.
Meanwhile, Shi Jianqiao pondered in silence.
[While this mysterious young man could've learned the information about our Wandering Shadows through one of us, it's not possible that he would have known about the Soul Withering Wine that I've just started to brew just last week!]
Shi Jianqiao has not mentioned the Soul Withering Wine even to the Elders, thus she was the only one in this entire place who knew about it. However, she obviously did not leak this information herself, so how did it enter the ears of a stranger?
Unless Wu Tianyi sneaked into her private living quarters and personally looked around, it was impossible that he would have known about the Soul Withering Wine.
"Interesting… this is really interesting…" Shi Jianqiao mumbled with a mysterious smile on her beautiful face.
"You also mentioned that he was wearing disciple robes from the Unwavering Sword Sect, correct?" she asked.
"Yes, Master. According to my knowledge, it belonged to the Junior Disciples of the Unwavering Sword Sect."
"It is very likely that he was in a disguise, Master." One of the Elders suggested.
Shi Jianqiao nodded and said, "Silver Shadow, I want you to draw an image of that young man for me."
"Yes, Master!" The middle-aged man bowed.
"Master, should we put a bounty on him and send the Elite Shadows to search for him?" Another Elder asked.
"No. You guys don't have to do anything. I will personally look into him," said Shi Jianqiao before leaving the place.
"The Master is actually moving personally… It's been three hundred years since she last left the Silent Valley…" The Elders watched her leave with shocked faces.
[A Junior Disciple of a Tier 9 Sect. A ninth level Qi Condensation Cultivator with the ability to fight a Cultivator at the fourth level Foundation Establishment. And not only does he seem to have extensive knowledge about our Wandering Shadows but he also knows about the Soul Withering Wine that only I should know about. Just who are you, little man?] Shi Jianqiao thought to herself before disappearing into the darkness.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Wu Tianyi and his group have just arrived at the borders of the Southern Region.
"I can't believe that we've actually managed to make it here alive after encountering the legendary Wandering Shadows…" Geng Lijuan sighed in relief after seeing the borders.
"Don't relax just yet, we are still a day away from Phoenix City, our final destination." Yan Jinxuan said to him as their group pulled up to the border gates.
There was a giant wall that separated every region on this Continent, and one must have either a valid identity or pay a large amount of money before they are allowed to cross regions.
"We can ignore the line and head straight to the gates." Yan Jinxun said, as there is a long queue before them that has over a thousand people waiting in line.
Geng Lijuan nodded and led the horses to the front of the gate.
"Halt!" A few guards strolling around the lines blocked their path before they could even reach the gates.
"The line is back there!" One of the guards pointed to the end of the line that was over a mile away.
"Show the guard my badge and the certification from the Heaven's Justice Sect." Yan Jinxuan handed a round badge and a piece of scroll to one of her guards.
"We are Elephant City's Yan Family! The Yan Family's young miss, Yan Jinxuan, is currently in the carriage, and we are passing the borders to deliver something to the Heaven's Justice Sect!" The bodyguard showed the other border guards the badge and the scroll.
"The Yan Family! The Heaven's Justice Sect!"
The guards showed a startled look after hearing their names and immediately made way for them.
"Excuse us."
The border guards no longer asked any questions and allowed their group to pass the gates without any hassle.
"As expected, the Yan Family's name holds some weight even in a foreign region." Geng Lijuan quietly praised them.
"After we pass the borders, we will head straight to Phoenix City." Yan Jinxuan said to them.
Many hours later, as the sky turned darker, Yan Jinxuan called for Wu Tianyi.
"Brother Tianyi, what do you plan on doing after this?"
"I will return to my own Sect once I am done over here," he lied with a straight face.
"Do you think you can spare a few extra days with me before I also have to return to my Sect? I only joined on this journey because my Sect happens to be near the Southern Region, and I want to learn more about you, Brother Tianyi."
"..."
Even a pigeon would be able to tell that Yan Jinxuan was courting Wu Tianyi at this moment, and Geng Lijuan and the guards nervously waited for his response.
However, Wu Tianyi shook his head and said, "Unfortunately, I have matters that cannot be delayed."
"Is that so…" Yan Jinxuan lowered her head in a dejected manner, clearly disheartened by his answer.
[Well, Brother Tianyi is a genius after all. It's only obvious that he has a lot of work to do.]
Yan Jinxuan cheered herself up and continued, "Although our time together was short, I have already recognized you to be a very close friend of mine. If you ever need anything in the future, just come find me at the Vermilion Academy or my father inside Elephant City and we'll be happy to help you."
"I will keep that in mind." Wu Tianyi nodded.
[What a waste…] Geng Lijuan sighed inwardly. However, he was somewhat delighted that Wu Tianyi had rejected her, since this meant that he still has a chance with her.
"Brother Wu, you can also come to me at the Lustrous Saber Academy whenever you want. Even if I am busy, I will make room for you without fail!"
A few more hours later, Wu Tianyi and his group finally arrived at Phoenix City.
"Here's your earnings for this mission." Yan Jinxuan handed Geng Lijuan and Wu Tianyi a small leather pouch.
"Fifteen low-quality spirit stones!" Geng Lijuan was dumbfounded by the amount she gave him. It was three times the original amount!
As for Wu Tianyi, there were actually 60 spirit stones inside the pouch, four times more than what Yan Jinxuan gave Geng Lijuan. They were essentially Wen Junjia and the others' share, but since they are not there, she gave them all to Wu Tianyi.
"There is also this…" Yan Jinxuan handed them another item.
"This medallion is proof that you have completed your mission. Show it to your Sect once you return to collect your credits."
"Thank you, Lady Yan!" Geng Lijuan showed his gratitude by bowing to her.
As for Wu Tianyi, he simply nodded his head with approval.
Before they went their separate ways, Yan Jinxuan said to Wu Tianyi, "Brother Tianyi, good luck in your cultivation. Knowing your peerless talents, I cannot wait to see what you will achieve in the future. I hope we'll meet again."
"If fate wills it, we will surely meet again." Wu Tianyi said to her before running back to the direction of the southern borders.
"Young miss, we should also leave. The Heaven's Justice Sect is waiting for us inside the city."
The guards said to her when she remained standing there even many moments after Wu Tianyi left.
"Okay. Let's go."
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS 
MyLittleBrother
MyLittleBrother don't forget to vote for more