Dual Cultivation System: The Villainous Servant’s Rise

“It was a special case, Senior Sister Qin Lan. It’s hard to explain in just a few words,” Zhuo Hongyi said, dodging the specifics.

She then gave Han Lie a brief background on the woman before them. Qin Lan was the former captain of the Law Enforcement Hall’s Vermilion Bird Squad. When her cultivation reached the peak of the Golden Core Stage, she had attempted to break through to the Nascent Soul Stage but found herself unable to comprehend the final mysteries of that realm. After being stuck at the bottleneck for years, she had departed on a journey across the continent to seek enlightenment, only recently returning to the sect.

“Fate works in mysterious ways,” Qin Lan mused. “I originally intended to return directly to the sect to report to my master, but I sensed the ripples of battle out here and came to investigate.”

“We owe you our lives, Senior Sister Qin Lan,” Zhuo Hongyi said with a bright smile. “Otherwise, Han Lie and I likely wouldn’t have survived the night.”

Han Lie bowed slightly. “Indeed. Thank you for your timely assistance, Senior Qin Lan.”

“Oh? ‘Senior’?” Qin Lan let out a light, melodic laugh. “Given my age and cultivation, I suppose I certainly qualify. Calling me ‘Senior’ is perfectly fine.”

Han Lie offered a wry smile. He had felt that calling her “Senior Sister” alongside Zhuo Hongyi was a bit too familiar. After all, his master wasn’t Su Mei, the Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall. “Senior” felt like a safe, respectful middle ground.

“You two were on a sect mission, I assume? Is it finished?” Qin Lan asked.

“It should be considered a success,” Zhuo Hongyi said, glancing at Han Lie. “What do you think?”

“This Senior believes the task is complete,” Han Lie confirmed. “Our mission was to clear the hostiles at Mine No. 3. Since Cang Ying and the Yang brothers’ group have been neutralized, the threat is gone.”

With their goals aligned, Han Lie and Zhuo Hongyi followed the graceful wake of Qin Lan as they flew back to the Heavenly Void Sect.

Law Enforcement Peak

Upon arrival, Qin Lan headed off to report her return to Su Mei, while Han Lie and Zhuo Hongyi made their way to the Mission Hall to turn in their bounty.

When Liao Jin, the deacon responsible for settling rewards, saw the bloody collection of heads and the identity tokens of the Yang brothers, he nearly choked.

“Zhuo Hongyi… did the two of you actually kill all of these?” Liao Jin asked, his eyes darting between the trophies and the pair with blatant skepticism.

“Yes. Is there a problem, Senior Liao Jin?” Zhuo Hongyi asked.

“No problem, per se…” Liao Jin clicked his tongue. “It’s just that, given your cultivation levels, it’s incredible that you managed to wipe out two mid-stage Golden Core disciples and fifteen Foundation Establishment disciples from the Sun Moon Sect.”

It wasn’t just him; any rational cultivator would find it hard to swallow. Judging by his aura, Han Lie was still just a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Stage old man. Even if Zhuo Hongyi was a mid-stage Golden Core expert, facing two equals and a dozen subordinates at once should have been a suicide mission. For them to return unscathed was a miracle; for them to return with the heads of their enemies was impossible.

Zhuo Hongyi chuckled. “To be honest, Senior, even I find it a bit surreal. I handled the Foundation Establishment fodder myself. As for those two mid-stage Golden Core brothers… Han Lie killed them both.”

“?” A massive question mark practically manifested over Liao Jin’s head. “Zhuo Hongyi, don’t be ridiculous. Are you telling me this Foundation Establishment old man slaughtered two Golden Cores?”

He turned to Han Lie with a scoff. “Come on then, old Servant Disciple, tell me—how exactly did you kill two mid-stage Golden Core experts?”

“Ahem… pure luck,” Han Lie said, offering a tactical cough. “Senior Liao Jin, could we please settle the rewards? I have other matters to attend to.”

Han Lie knew that even if he revealed his true realm, the deacon would likely suspect he used a forbidden artifact or cheated. It was better to save his breath.

“Fine. According to the bounty: two Golden Core disciples and fifteen Foundation Establishment disciples… that totals seventy-five thousand Spirit Stones. Here.” If it weren’t for Zhuo Hongyi’s status, Liao Jin would have demanded a full demonstration of Han Lie’s power before parting with such a sum.

“Thank you, Senior.”

Once they left the hall, it was time for the distribution of the spoils.

Han Lie intended to split the seventy-five thousand equally, but Zhuo Hongyi shook her head.

“No need, little old man. Your contribution far outweighed mine. We’ll take the stones for our respective kills: fifteen thousand for me, sixty thousand for you.” She looked at him earnestly. “Besides, I have plenty of ways to get stones. You don’t want to be running sect missions every few days, do you? Use that time for seclusion.”

“Very well,” Han Lie replied, not one to argue over a windfall. “Thank you for your generosity, Captain Zhuo.”

He swept the sixty thousand stones into his storage ring.

“Are you in a hurry to get back to your hut?” she asked, her voice dropping into a sultry register.

“Not particularly,” Han Lie said. “Why?”

“How about coming over to my place?” Zhuo Hongyi gave him a flirtatious wink. “Those Sun Moon Sect pests ruined our fun in the grove last night. I doubt you got your fill… and I certainly didn’t.”

“Lead the way.”

Han Lie had planned to return to his cultivation, but he wasn’t about to waste the opportunity to utilize the “holy tools” of his Pure Yang Sacred Body and the Yin Yang Demonic Art with a willing partner. Besides, Ye Qingxuan knew he was away on a mission; returning a day or two late wouldn’t raise any eyebrows.

However, as the two walked toward Zhuo Hongyi’s residence, a pair of sharp eyes spotted them from a distance.

“The old man and Senior Sister Zhuo?” Su Mei’s eyes narrowed, a flash of jealousy flickering in her gaze. She knew the history between them, and seeing their direction, she knew exactly what was on the agenda.

“Hmph! Trying to hog the old man all to yourself? I won’t allow it!”

Su Mei blended into the shadows and began to follow them.

Inside Zhuo Hongyi’s residence, the heavy wooden gate was barely barred before she pounced on Han Lie. He laughed, returning her kiss with equal fervor as he carried her toward the tea table in the main hall.

The air grew heavy and hot as their movements became increasingly frantic. Just as Han Lie had pulled Zhuo Hongyi’s robe halfway off her shoulders—

Knock, knock, knock!

A sharp series of raps at the door shattered the moment. They both froze, expressions of sheer annoyance crossing their faces.

“Who is it?” Zhuo Hongyi snapped.

“It’s me, Senior Sister Zhuo! Su Mei!” Su Mei’s playful, slightly teasing voice drifted in from the street.

Zhuo Hongyi’s brow furrowed in irritation. “What is it, Junior Sister Su Mei?”