Chapter 58: Sect Invitations, Fortunes and Misfortunes Unpredictable

Elder Murong's speed was astonishingly fast. I felt as though I were being swept up by a gale, the wind roaring loudly in my ears.

When we finally came to a halt, I leaned against a wall, panting heavily, feeling as though my lungs were about to burst.

He Yunsheng was in no better shape, his face completely drained of color.

Elder Murong, on the other hand, maintained an even and steady breath, as if the mad dash just moments ago had been nothing more than a leisurely stroll.

"Elder, what happened?" I caught my breath and hurriedly asked.

Elder Murong's expression turned grave. "That person just now was 'Ghost Shadow,' a notoriously infamous assassin in the pugilistic world, who sells his services exclusively for money."

Ghost Shadow?

Such a ridiculously edgy name?

I muttered inwardly, though outwardly I put on an expression of fear.

"Fortunately, I discovered him in time," Elder Murong stroked his beard. "Otherwise, you two would have been in grave danger." He paused, then continued, "For your own safety, why don't you come back to my sect first? Although our 'Carefree Sect' is not some grand and renowned orthodox faction, dealing with the likes of a mere Ghost Shadow is more than enough."

The Carefree Sect?

This name...

Why does it sound somewhat illegitimate?

I cast a stealthy glance at He Yunsheng and found that he looked just as bewildered.

To go, or not to go?

My mind began to weigh the pros and cons.

On one hand, we truly needed a powerful backing to deal with the dangers that could pop up at any unknown moment; on the other hand, I worried whether there might be something fishy about this Carefree Sect. What if it turned out to be a shady establishment?

Just as I was agonizing over the decision, He Yunsheng suddenly spoke up, "Sister, I will listen to you." He gently stroked my head, his tender gaze warming my heart.

No matter what decision I made, he would stay by my side. This feeling was truly wonderful.

I took a deep breath and was about to speak when I suddenly heard a breathless voice from behind: "Elder... wait for me!"

It was Scholar Li!

Why had he followed us too?

Looking at his completely out-of-breath appearance, a bad premonition suddenly arose in my heart...

He supported himself with his hands on his knees, unable to stand steady yet, and eagerly blurted out, "Miss Wan'er, this Carefree Sect..."

Scholar Li braced his hands on his knees and said breathlessly, "Miss Wan'er, this Carefree Sect..." He adjusted his breathing and continued, "Although its reputation is not widely known, it is indeed a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers lie. There are quite a few masters within the sect and abundant resources; we can use this to protect ourselves, but there is also the risk of being dragged into the internal conflicts of the martial arts world."

Seeing his earnest and serious expression, I could not help but frown.

Although Scholar Li was merely a scholar from a small town, his insight and analytical ability forced me to take him seriously.

I glanced sideways at He Yunsheng, who was gazing back at me, his eyes full of trust and steadfastness.

I took a deep breath, and the balance in my heart began to sway.

Elder Murong clearly saw our hesitation. He smiled and stroked his beard, "The Sect Leader wishes to see you. Perhaps he can give you a satisfactory reply."

These words seemed to add fuel to the fire of our decision.

The Sect Leader?

What kind of surprises would this mysterious figure bring us?

I looked at He Yunsheng, then at Scholar Li, and finally nodded. "Alright, let's go take a look. If anything feels amiss, we can make other plans."

Elder Murong nodded and smiled with satisfaction.

He turned around, led us through a winding path, and brought us before a grand gate hidden deep within the mountain forest.

Carved onto the gate were three bold characters: "Carefree Sect." From within came the faint, resonant sounds of bells and chimes, creating an atmosphere that felt both mysterious and solemn.

The Sect Leader came out personally to greet us. He was tall and slender, dressed in flowing white robes, possessing an ethereal aura that made him seem transcendent and otherworldly.

His eyes were deep, as though capable of piercing straight into the human heart.

With a slight smile, he said, "Welcome, three honored guests, to the Carefree Sect."

My heart tightened, and feigning composure, I returned the greeting, "Sect Leader, we apologize for the intrusion."

The Sect Leader raised a hand slightly, gesturing for us to follow him into the inner hall.

I exchanged a look with He Yunsheng and Scholar Li, a vague sense of unease stirring within my chest.

At that exact moment, the Sect Leader suddenly halted his steps, turned to look at us, a cunning smile flashing in his eyes: "The three of you, the Carefree Sect is willing to help you unconditionally, but before that, I hope you can do me a favor..."

A chill ran down my spine, leaving me clueless as to what tricks the Sect Leader was hiding up his sleeve.

His words came to an abrupt halt, leaving behind a suffocating silence.

The Sect Leader's mysterious demeanor made my heart flutter with anxiety.

With a light cough, he finally uttered the words he intended to say: "The Carefree Sect is willing to help you unconditionally, providing lodgings and resources for you to study profound martial arts manuals."

What?

!

Such a good deal?

I almost thought there was something wrong with my ears.

He Yunsheng also wore a look of astonishment, his eyes widened into perfect circles.

Scholar Li, however, remained quite calm, merely nodding slightly with a look that clearly said, "I knew it all along." How utterly punchable!

"Really?" I asked tentatively, terrified that this might be some kind of trap.

The Sect Leader smiled faintly and nodded affirmatively.

Goodness gracious, a pie actually fell from the sky and smashed right onto my head?

Inwardly, I rejoiced, but outwardly, I maintained an expressionless facade.

Elder Murong chimed in as well, "Miss Wan'er, our Sect Leader always keeps his word. You can rest assured."

Well then, since even the white-bearded old grandfather said so, it seemed this stroke of good fortune was undeniably real.

I stole a glance at He Yunsheng, who was looking at me with undisguised excitement, his eyes filled with bright anticipation for the future.

It seemed this young man had also been completely blinded by this sudden stroke of luck.

However, being naturally cautious and suspicious, I always felt things weren't quite that simple.

As the old saying goes: when abnormal things happen, there is bound to be a demon!

This Carefree Sect looked all celestial and ethereal, but who knew what shady business they might be hiding behind closed doors.

As I pondered this, I unobtrusively observed my surroundings.

The architectural style of the Carefree Sect was indeed unique—carved beams, painted pillars, and an antique charm—it just felt a little...

eerie?

I couldn't tell if it was just my imagination.

Seeing that none of us spoke, the Sect Leader added, "The three of you, the Carefree Sect has always remained aloof from worldly disputes, hoping only to cultivate in peace and bring blessings to the common people. Your arrival may inject new vitality into our sect."

The words sounded incredibly high-sounding and righteous, but no matter how I listened to them, something felt slightly off.

Cultivate in peace?

Bring blessings to the common people?

Heh, who knows if you're engaging in some unspeakable shady dealings behind our backs?

Just as I was turning this over in my mind, I suddenly heard He Yunsheng murmur in a low voice, "Sister, it's so quiet here..."

Quiet?

That made me realize it instantly. Aside from the few of us, there didn't seem to be a single other person in the entire Carefree Sect.

Not even a disciple sweeping the floors? This was far too strange!

Alarm bells rang wildly in my head, and just as I was searching for an excuse to slip away, I heard the Sect Leader say, "The three of you, please follow me. I will lead you to your quarters."

With that, he turned and strode toward the inner hall.

He Yunsheng, Scholar Li, and I exchanged glances, each of us reading unease in the other's eyes.

Yet, having already entered the tiger's den, leaving was no longer an option. We had no choice but to bite the bullet and follow along.

As we reached the entrance of the inner hall, the Sect Leader suddenly stopped, turned back to look at us, and said, "Oh right, there is one more matter..." He paused, a meaningful smile curling the corners of his lips, "I hope the three of you can keep our sect's secrets..."

Secrets? What secrets?

My heart tightened, and an ominous premonition welled up within me...

The Sect Leader pushed open the doors to the inner hall, and a wave of chilling air rushed forth to meet us...