"What do you mean?" Song Wanníng glared at Tian Li's eyes, unflinching. Besides herself, he was the first person to even bring up the invaders.
"I mean exactly what you think I mean." Tian Li still carried that air of indifference as he spoke softly, "All invaders deserve to die."
A cold light flickered in Song Wanníng's eyes, but she didn't relax her guard. This man appeared way too strangely. He seemed to know everything. And she knew nothing about him. That thought irritated Song Wanníng more than she could admit.
It seemed Tian Li saw right through her, letting out a light chuckle.
"No need to worry, I mean no harm to you. After all, our goals are the same."
A faint smile curved Tian Li's lips as he continued, "Let me introduce myself again. I come from another Great Thousand Realm. Being chosen by the Heavenly Dao isn't unique to you alone."
Song Wanníng's heart sank at his words, though she still kept her doubt intact. No matter how clearly he spoke, she wasn't going to trust him so easily.
"Still don't believe me?" Tian Li clicked his tongue, unimpressed by her skepticism. "From the moment I first saw you, I knew we were on the same path. That's why I boldly followed behind you until we could confirm each other's identities before approaching you."
A glimmer of light reflected in his eyes as he caught her suspicious gaze.
"It's fine if you don't believe me for now. One day, you will."
With that, Tian Li rose and walked away with leisurely steps.
Song Wanníng stayed seated, unmoving, watching him descend the building, then fade into the crowd until he disappeared entirely.
She stared after him, her mind spinning with thoughts.
"Big sister, do you think that monk was telling the truth?"
Xiao Jin sat on her shoulder, a little disgruntled. That arrogant monk had a pompous way of speaking, and he came off as downright creepy.
"I don't know," Song Wanníng sighed, equally puzzled.
"Logically, no one else should even know about this."
Even Mo Yang Xiānzūn and Dao Qing were informed only because she had told them.
This monk was definitely suspicious. Yet she couldn't just blindly trust Tian Li, so she decided to take things step by step.
Song Wanníng sent a spiritual message to Dao Qing to gather information on Tian Li, hoping it might help. But the trail of lives he carried… could he really be an invader?
She kept her doubts alive.
Over the next few days, Tian Li came to see Song Wanníng every day. He didn't bring up his invitation again, instead shamelessly eating and drinking as if he were old friends with her.
People around couldn't help but glance at him multiple times.
Song Wanníng also learned from Dao Qing that Tian Li had indeed ascended from another Great Thousand Realm decades ago. Though he hadn't pledged allegiance to any sect, he had made a name for himself in the Immortal Realm.
Because Buddhist cultivators cultivated merit, Tian Li's bloodlust and countless lives on his hands had earned him much criticism.
Dao Qing warned Song Wanníng to keep her distance and stay cautious.
She agreed, adding another layer to her vigilance, though she didn't rush to chase him away. Gradually, they grew familiar.
Their relationship was delicate but strangely harmonious, each aware of the other's intentions.
One day, Tian Li proposed again that Song Wanníng accompany him to a hidden area.
"Why do you want me to go?"
Song Wanníng lounged in her bamboo chair, casually asking.
He couldn't stay still for long.
"Ha, I won't hide it. That place requires immense merit, otherwise I wouldn't be so bold in following you this whole time."
Tian Li leaned in with a smile.
"Song Wanníng, there are clues about invaders there. Aren't you interested? Or are you afraid of me?"
He stared into her eyes, a flicker of obscurity and unreadable melancholy passing through his bright gaze.
Song Wanníng blinked and chuckled lightly, reaching out to grab Tian Li by the head.
"Well, if you put it that way, I guess I really do have to go."
She wanted to see what tricks he was hiding.
"Ha." Tian Li laughed, his aura rippling faintly. "Trust me, that place won't disappoint you."
He rose gracefully, collected his things, and led Song Wanníng out of the loft.
Though his movements seemed casual, Song Wanníng could sense his eagerness. She remained cautious, her killing intent flashing momentarily. If Tian Li dared double-cross her, she wouldn't let it slide. But… the invaders' secret had to be uncovered.
-
A few days later, Tian Li stopped with Song Wanníng outside a vast sea.
The waters stretched endlessly, merging with the blue sky on the horizon. Pale mist lent the sea an ethereal, Immortal Realm-like aura. Far ahead, a faint shadow of a mountain hinted at a small island.
That island was Tian Li's destination.
"See it? That's it!" He pointed at the island, a trace of killing intent glinting in his eyes. "The island is full of murderous energy. Only someone with great merit can safely go there."
He cast a subtle glance at Song Wanníng, clearly admiring her merit. If only all that merit were his…
Song Wanníng read his expression and asked bluntly, "If everyone's the same, what about your merit?"
Her words were probing, testing him.
Tian Li acted as if oblivious. "Killing a few invaders won't earn that much merit. Surely there must be another opportunity I don't know about."
With that, he produced an Immortal Boat and guided Song Wanníng aboard.
She didn't press further; he clearly knew more than he let on. Even if their goal was the same, it didn't mean they were on the same path. Her vigilance didn't lessen, only sharpened.
Soon, they flew toward the island, piercing layers of mist.
The closer they got, the more the island loomed, exuding a chilling aura. The salty smell of the sea mixed with an even stronger, sinister energy. At that moment, Song Wanníng's killing intent surged, her eyes flashing an eerie red.
Thankfully, her merit rippled, suppressing the murderous energy.
Song Wanníng tensed and glanced sideways.
A streak of blue light flickered across Tian Li.
===
If you like this novel, and I'm pretty sure you do since you literally read all the way to this chapter, I want to share the next project I picked up on AO3. It's a xianxia comedy called "When Everyone Cultivates, I Snatch Opportunities." The protagonist is, quite literally, a thief, and her stuff gets stolen as the background of the story. She also has multiple lives, always reincarnating with the same name because her fate and luck were stolen from her.
The funniest part is how her habits start rubbing off on her pet. They turn into a little troublemakers, it cracks me up every time.
I couldn't resist picking this project. I found the novel yesterday, and by this morning I realized I didn't enjoy reading it through machine translation anymore. I tried Edge first, then switched to Chrome, both on Android, but the reading felt off. It was a bit better on my laptop, I read it through ARC, but all three rely on Google Translate anyway. The novel is still ongoing and has around six hundred chapters if I remember correctly.
Here's the blurb. If it sounds like something you'll enjoy, feel free to check it out on my AO3, and don't forget to join my discord. The link is on my profile.
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Transmigrated? Check. Doomed to an early death? Check.
Feng Qinghe's response is to pull off the ultimate heist, emptying the protagonist's family vault before making her grand escape.
Suddenly, the cultivation world is in chaos. Destined encounters vanish and hard-won treasures disappear, all without a trace or a villain to blame.
When questioned, Feng Qinghe just shrugs. "It's a gift from the heavens~ You snooze, you lose."
Faced with an untraceable enemy, the entire cultivation community makes the only logical choice: if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. So they become a legion of opportunity-snatchers, too. The spiritual energy is pure, but the collective morals have hit rock bottom. After all, why fight destiny when you can just steal its lunch money?
The new rule of cultivation is simple: See it. Want it. Take it.