Chapter 17: Nine Bows Stronghold

“If Your Excellency feels that I am not qualified, then I can go back and ask the stronghold master to come!”

Lin Jintian was intimidated by this inexplicable voice.

He was well aware that the enemy was in the dark while he was in the open. Such an unfavorable battle was not to his advantage.

Chen Anping squinted his eyes and opened Lin Jintian’s profile.

[Lin Jintian: Ninth level of the Origin Opening Realm, City Lord of Anjin City. Joined Nine Bows Stronghold only to accomplish a great task.]

Hmm?

Didn’t the previous script say he was already dead?

Puzzled, Chen Anping spoke again, “You are the City Lord of Anjin City, why are you hiding in Jumin Canyon?”

[You were originally the City Lord of Anjin City, why did you enter Nine Bows Stronghold?]

Lin Jintian fell silent for a moment, seemingly realizing that the newcomer was not so simple.

“Since Your Excellency knows my identity, why not show yourself? I will definitely treat you to good wine and meat!”

I’d like to…

Isn’t this just a game?

Designer, is there a problem with your script?

“Oh, I forgot Xu Lingqing is still there. I can just let her go in for me!”

[My successor, follow him into the stronghold!]

Lin Jintian’s gaze was like a torch, staring intently at where the voice had fallen. Sure enough, a woman was standing there.

“Is Your Excellency sure you want her to come in for you?”

Chen Anping, at this moment, also learned the game’s customer service’s usual trick and quietly watched what he wanted to do.

Lin Jintian waited for ten breaths but received no response.

He could only fly to Xu Lingqing’s side, cup his hands, and ask, “Miss, are you the one indicated?”

Xu Lingqing nodded. “I should be. I mean no harm.”

“That’s good. Then follow me!”

Lin Jintian threw a sword from his hand. Xu Lingqing’s body was pulled up by the hilt and flew straight into Nine Bows Stronghold.

Chen Anping stared at the screen without blinking. “Baby Lingqing, go in with peace of mind. If there’s any sudden danger, the Immortal Fire Spell will mercilessly rain down countless immortal flames to destroy them.”

As soon as Xu Lingqing entered Nine Bows Stronghold, a stern shout like muffled thunder came from the sky.

[If you harm a single hair on her head, I don’t mind destroying Nine Bows Stronghold!]

Arrogant! Extremely arrogant!

Hearing these words, everyone in Nine Bows Stronghold held their breath.

Even a Meridian Unblocking realm powerhouse wouldn’t dare to speak such arrogant words. Could he be a powerhouse beyond the Meridian Unblocking realm?

Chen Anping, however, had no idea that the system had slightly altered his words. He just placed his finger on the Immortal Fire Spell.

Lin Jintian’s face was ashen. From beginning to end, he had no idea where the enemy was, and now he didn’t dare to retort.

The construction of Nine Bows Stronghold was not overly magnificent. There were only a few houses built with bricks and tiles, as well as some equipment needed for martial arts practice, such as swords, sabers, arrays, and talismans.

Above the stronghold, a third-level formation provided protection, completely isolating it from the outside world.

Suddenly, from a secret room in Nine Bows Stronghold, walked out the person Xu Lingqing had dreamed of finding.

The old woman’s grandson.

Xu Lingqing looked at the child in astonishment and immediately protected him behind her. “Little one, don’t be afraid, big sister is here!”

“Big sister, don’t be afraid. They’re not bad people. They even gave me a chicken leg to eat!”

The child’s face was filled with an innocent smile, and he was still holding half an uneaten chicken leg in his hand.

Xu Lingqing was full of doubt, completely clueless, and had no idea what was happening here.

Suddenly, a figure that Xu Lingqing extremely disliked bounced out of the secret room. He circled her happily, making strange noises.

“Ah-woo… ah-woo…”

Xu Lingqing’s beautiful eyes narrowed, and the long sword in her hand couldn’t help but thrust towards him.

Swish…

The sword was fast, but the beastman had no intention of dodging.

“Do not harm my brother!”

Another person rushed out of the room, slapping Xu Lingqing’s sword hilt with the force of a thunderbolt, deflecting the blade.

“You…”

Xu Lingqing remembered his shadow. It was this person who had snatched the child from the old woman’s hands, and it was he who had caused her to suffer so much injustice.

The child cried out loudly, “Big brothers and sisters, can you please not fight!”

“Hmph, as long as you’re okay!”

Xu Lingqing withdrew her hateful gaze, looking as if she was determined to protect the child.

Chen Anping pouted and berated, “You dare to harm my baby Lingqing, just you try!”

Lin Jintian saw them and bowed respectfully. “Stronghold Master, Vice Stronghold Master!”

“City Lord Lin, who on earth is causing trouble outside Nine Bows Stronghold?”

Lin Jintian’s face was ashen, and he said, bewildered, “A powerhouse, a terrifyingly strong powerhouse!”

The next second, this person stepped on the air and ascended into the sky.

“Who on earth is Your Excellency? I am Gong Yue, the master of Nine Bows Stronghold. If I have offended you, I will personally apologize!”

Chen Anping couldn’t help but shake his head. Why were the side characters in this game so pretentious!

He opened Gong Yue’s profile.

[Gong Yue: First heaven of the Meridian Unblocking Realm, disciple of the Great Elder of Jialan Academy. Born from hatred, he rebelled against Jialan Academy and founded Nine Bows Stronghold.]

Impressive!

This is the first Meridian Unblocking realm expert I’ve seen in this game, and he’s only in his twenties.

Chen Anping looked closely. There was a pair of inconspicuous wings at his waist. If I could snatch this item and give it to my baby Lingqing, wouldn’t it be much more convenient?

[Top up ¥8888 to purchase a Xuan-grade flying tool?]

Get lost!

Chen Anping sullenly closed the top-up pop-up. He was saving the rest of his money to draw for the Empress Heart Sutra. Where would he have extra money to buy this?

“You have not offended us, but why did you abduct so many children? What is your intention?”

[You are not guilty, but snatching people’s children is wrong!]

Gong Yue’s brows furrowed sharply. The perception of a Meridian Unblocking realm powerhouse was far beyond what an Origin Opening realm cultivator could compare to.

The weakest Meridian Unblocking realm cultivator had a thousand specks of spiritual rhyme in their body and could sense any movement within a thousand-meter radius.

Despite this, he could only hear the voice but not know where it came from.

“Your Excellency’s lesson is right. I was indeed a bit unethical, but all of this was forced upon me…”

“Go explain it to my Lingqing!”

Fortunately, he didn’t sense any killing intent in the other party’s words. Gong Yue’s face was ashen as he flew back.

He came to Xu Lingqing’s side and asked in front of everyone, “What do you want to know? I can tell you everything, but please keep it a secret.”

“Why did you capture the children?”

Xu Lingqing shouted sternly, but Lin Jintian took a step forward.

“Miss Xu, I was the one who asked Stronghold Master Gong to do this!”

Xu Lingqing’s face was full of confusion. “You? They are your people. Why would you harm them?”

“Alas… it’s a long story. It’s all because of the evil deeds of that Jialan Academy. Every child who entered the academy has never returned…”

As he spoke, Lin Jintian’s tone became choked with sobs.

From his words, she learned that all the children in Anjin City took pride in being admitted to Jialan Academy and even made it their goal to strive for.

More and more talented children entered Jialan Academy, but few were able to return to Anjin City to visit.

In the early years, Lin Jintian didn’t think much of it. But dozens of years ago, after his son entered Jialan Academy, Lin Jintian could no longer contact him the following year.

In order not to offend Jialan Academy, he secretly went to the vicinity of Jialan Academy to inquire about some news. It turned out that his child had never entered Jialan Academy to study at all…

[End of Chapter]