Dual Cultivation System: The Villainous Servant’s Rise

“It’s only natural for me to be concerned about Captain Zhuo since she has given This Senior much help,” Han Lie stated plainly.

“Alright, that’s fair enough,” Su Mei said, wrapping her arms around Han Lie’s neck and cooing, “Please care about me more in the future too! If she can help you, so can I!”

“Heh, then I’ll have to trouble Captain Su to look after me more from now on,” Han Lie replied with a faint, unreadable smile. “In exchange, you’ll have to satisfy me more in the future.”

“That’s simple enough. Whenever Captain Su has a need, This Senior is at your service.”

This was exactly what Han Lie wanted. However, once Ye Qingxuan returned, he would probably have to be more careful and try to mess around less with Zhuo Hongyi and Su Mei.

“Hehe, so good. Here’s a kiss as your reward.”

Just as they were passionately kissing, Su Mei’s delicate body suddenly trembled violently. Her eyes widened. “Wha… what are you doing? No, stop!”

Her protest was futile. The fire Su Mei had ignited herself, she had to extinguish herself.

Several hours later.

“Um… you should go back first. I need to cultivate for a while!” Han Lie’s ferocity had far exceeded Su Mei’s expectations. She was a little scared now. One more round and she feared she’d be completely spent.

“Haha, Captain Su, you rest well. This Senior will take his leave now.” Looking at Su Mei’s thoroughly ravaged expression, Han Lie finally let her go.

Little thing, did you think This Senior couldn’t conquer a mere fox-girl like you?

After parting ways with Su Mei, Han Lie went to the Vermilion Bird Squad office. Seeing that Zhuo Hongyi hadn’t returned yet, he had no choice but to return to the small wooden hut in the Violet Heaven Palace.

“Sigh, who knows when that female demon will be back.” For some reason, Han Lie was starting to miss Ye Qingxuan a little.

“Overthinking it now is useless. Better to seize the time to cultivate and improve my cultivation base.” Gathering his thoughts, Han Lie immediately sat down cross-legged and entered a cultivation state.

After the dual cultivation session with Su Mei, his cultivation had improved significantly once more. Combined with the effects of his Pure Yang Sacred Body and the Yin Yang Demonic Art, Han Lie felt that the late Foundation Establishment Stage wasn’t so distant anymore. Moreover, he now had a reserve of around nineteen thousand Spirit Stones. Attempting a breakthrough to late Foundation Establishment didn’t seem impossible.

As for Bai Ling’s side… After concluding that Bai Ling didn’t want to take action personally, Han Lie felt considerably less pressure. As long as he stayed in this small hut, it wouldn’t be easy for Bai Ling to use others against him. If she acted herself, then there would be a chance to catch her red-handed. Bai Ling was only at the Foundation Establishment Stage’s peak completion anyway; the current Han Lie still had some confidence. At the very least, he could ensure he wouldn’t be instantly killed by her in one move.

Unless… Bai Ling used others to assassinate him.

If the attacker was below the Golden Core Stage, even if it was an ambush or assassination attempt, Han Lie still had a chance to escape.

But if someone at or above the Golden Core Stage came… if they dared come, he dared die!

In summary, what difference did it make whether he guarded against it or not?

So rather than worrying so much, seizing time to improve his cultivation was the right path!

As long as he broke through to late Foundation Establishment, Han Lie was confident he could face Bai Ling head-on.

Seven days later.

White Tiger Squad office, reception room.

“Captain Su, you captured Han Lie but didn’t put him on trial?” Bai Ling asked with a slightly accusatory tone.

“Huh?” Su Mei deliberately put on a look of confusion and innocence. “Saintess, initially I said I’d capture him and hand him over to you for handling, but you said it wasn’t necessary.”

“So after I captured him, whether or not to put him on trial became my own choice.”

“Besides, there really isn’t enough evidence to prove that Junior Brother Zhu Fan of the Azure Dragon Squad was killed by him.”

Bai Ling was speechless.

For Servant Disciples, so-called evidence wasn’t important at all. The key point was that Su Mei no longer wanted to put Han Lie on trial.

Clearly at first, Su Mei had been adamant about capturing Han Lie and putting him on trial.

“Exactly which part went wrong?” Bai Ling was utterly perplexed.

A moment later, Bai Ling regained her composure.

A faint smile appeared on her face as she said, “I understand, Captain Su. Without evidence, it truly is difficult to hold a trial. I won’t disturb you any further then.”

“Saintess, let me see you out.”

“Thank you, but I can go myself. You attend to your duties.”

“Then please take care on your way out, Saintess.”

Watching Bai Ling leave, Su Mei sat back down again; a playful curve lifted the corner of her vermilion lips.

“If I’m not mistaken… it seems the Saintess really wants Han Lie dead.”

“Although I don’t know why… I have to help that old fellow.”

Elsewhere…

“Calculating the time… Zhuo Hongyi has been away for quite some time now; she should be returning to the sect soon.”

Returning to Violet Heaven Palace’s main hall, Bai Ling sat down with a headache.

After a long while…

Bai Ling raised her eyes again; within their clear-as-water brightness flashed a trace of killing intent.

“No! If my identity is exposed… death would be unavoidable!”

Bai Ling didn’t doubt for a second that given the Heavenly Void Sect’s methods… even if she was a peerless genius with near ninth-grade spiritual veins… what did it matter?

The mere identity of being an infiltrator would be enough for Ye Qingxuan to kill her a hundred times over!

And if she couldn’t obtain the Yin Yang Demonic Art… returning would also mean facing punishment…

“Wait!”

Suddenly… Bai Ling realized a very important problem.

“Is it possible… that I could actually turn that Old Man Han instead?”

Although she hadn’t been in the Heavenly Void Sect for many years herself… she understood what Han Lie had endured during his hundred years here because of his identity as a Servant Disciple.

It was no exaggeration to say that among the thousands of servants in the Heavenly Void Sect… apart from those few in management positions, the rest of the Servant Disciples lived without even the most basic human dignity. Many servants had even been oppressed into developing slave mentalities.

Han Lie’s situation might not have been that bad… but it wasn’t much better either.

Turning him… was indeed possible!

That night…

Han Lie was in the midst of cultivation when he suddenly sensed an imposing aura approaching his small hut.

“The Saintess?”

Han Lie exited his cultivation state; his eyes narrowed dangerously.

This aura indeed belonged to Saintess Bai Ling.

Knock knock knock~

The sound of knocking followed; the visitor was indeed Bai Ling.

However… what did she want by coming here openly like this? Han Lie couldn’t figure it out for the moment.

“So it’s a visit from the Saintess,” Han Lie said with a tactical smile as he inquired. “May I ask why the Saintess has come so late at night? Is there something you need from me?”

Bai Ling’s youthful and pretty face still wore her usual innocent and harmless smile as she said, “Nothing really~ Master isn’t here lately… and I’ve encountered some problems in my cultivation that I can’t figure out… so I’m just bored~”

“That’s why I came to see how your injuries from last time are recovering.”

Hearing this… Han Lie immediately clasped his hands together; tears of emotion welled up in his old eyes as he said, “They’ve fully recovered! Thank you for your concern!”

“This Senior has been in the Heavenly Void Sect for a hundred years now… but this is truly the first time someone has shown such concern for me.”

“Didn’t I say last time? I consider you my friend~ So you don’t need to be so polite~” Bai Ling said with a beaming smile. “Oh right~ Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

“Oh! Right, right, right! This Senior is getting old; my mind isn’t as sharp anymore! Please forgive me, Saintess! Please come in!”

Han Lie very considerately wiped clean a chair for Bai Ling and poured her a cup of hot tea.

Bai Ling didn’t drink Han Lie’s tea… She just spoke seemingly casually, “Old Man Han… you’ve been in Heavenly Void Sect for many years now, right?”

Han Lie revealed a bitter smile and nodded. “Heh… yes indeed… it feels like an eternity.”

“Mmm… I’ve been here for several years too~ But I’ve never really spoken my heart out with anyone before~ Don’t laugh at me when I say this, okay~”

“Heh… naturally not! Please speak freely, Saintess!”

“Well~ Although I am indeed Heavenly Void Sect’s Saintess… but I think all of you Servant Disciples are quite pitiful~ Clearly we’re all human beings~ Why do Servant Disciples have no human rights at all?”

Bai Ling frowned slightly, seeming genuinely indignant on behalf of Servant Disciples.

Han Lie shook his head with a bitter laugh. “Because that is simply the nature of the world itself~ Having served as a Servant Disciple within the Heavenly Void Sect for a hundred years now… This Senior deeply understands one truth:”

“Although we’re all human beings… Fate isn’t fair. The starting point for some people represents the finish line countless others could never reach even after exhausting entire lifetimes striving towards it!”

“Just like yourself, Saintess~ You were born with exceptionally outstanding cultivation aptitude~ That’s why despite your young age, you became Heavenly Void Sect’s Saintess!”

“How many female disciples within the sect wish they could become saintesses but lack qualifications?”

“So ultimately, blame lies only upon oneself having an unfortunate fate!”

Bai Ling nodded thoughtfully upon hearing these words… She agreed wholeheartedly with what Han Lie said… But today wasn’t the day to discuss life philosophies together…

Thus, instead, she continued saying, “Well then, Old Man Han… Haven’t you ever thought about escaping from this place? Clearly, it carries many unbearable memories within its walls…”

“For yourself, shouldn’t the Heavenly Void Sect represent hell itself?”

Upon hearing these words… Han Lie was immediately stunned speechless…

What exactly does Bai Ling want?! Trying to turn me?!

Back during his younger days, indeed he considered escaping the Heavenly Void Sect… But he knew it was an impossible task back then. Later, as he gradually grew older, he gave up the idea entirely.

Even if he truly managed to escape, where would he go? Leaving behind the Heavenly Void Sect for the vast world outside, yet nowhere left to call home anymore… Better to simply live out his remaining days peacefully within the sect until the end comes…

As of the present moment, however, he had completely abandoned such thoughts altogether.

The reason was simple enough: For his current self, the Heavenly Void Sect wasn’t hell but paradise instead!

These thoughts obviously wouldn’t be shared aloud with Bai Ling however…

“S-Saintess! Such words I dare not speak aloud!” Han Lie exclaimed, startled, rising to his feet and quickly adding fearfully, “You must know full well what fate awaits any Servant Disciple attempting to flee the Heavenly Void Sect?!”

Seeing how strongly he reacted caused a slight frown to appear upon her brow too…

She gently coaxed, saying, “Old Man Han… No need to fear so much~ Master isn’t around after all…”

“I only speak these words because I consider you a friend… seeing how pitiful you truly are…”

“If you desire to leave here, I can help you… guarantee nobody ever finds out about the deal?”