Chapter Five: You're Just a Total Sycophant!

“Brother Su, you truly are a great man.”

Su Yi was about to carefully examine the system tasks when a gentle voice beside him interrupted, forcing him to momentarily set aside his work and turn to Su Yunqiao.

Su Yunqiao looked at him with deep gratitude. With just a few movements, Su Yi had eliminated the group of bullies, avenging her and her brother.

How could she not be thankful? In her eyes, cultivators were lofty beings who would never look down on a mere mortal like her. Yet Su Yi, humbling himself, showed kindness and even avenged her grievances.

Moreover, that devastating strike he had just unleashed was terrifying. She understood that if he had used such power in town, innocent bystanders would have been harmed. So he lured those thugs here instead.

Such a deed could only come from a compassionate heart.

She hadn’t understood before, but after witnessing Su Yi’s actions, she finally did.

Su Yi was somewhat bewildered.

A great man? Me?

Of course, he had no idea what was running through Su Yunqiao’s mind. Being labeled a “good person” suddenly left him a bit confused.

But then it dawned on him—perhaps the young lady was simply grateful because he had saved her. After all, she had suffered so much, and he rescued her from peril. Calling him a good person wasn’t an exaggeration.

“It’s nothing, really. I just couldn’t stand those bullies and dealt with them on the way. No need to make a fuss about it.”

As he spoke, a faint ripple passed over his face, and in the next moment, his features returned to their original form.

To prevent any mishaps, he had disguised himself before coming to provoke them.

After all, he could afford to be shameless, but he had to maintain the dignity of his sect.

If it became known that the Sacred Son of the Holy Land had come to this remote corner to deal with some unknown thugs, the Tianyuan Holy Land would become a laughingstock. He certainly wouldn’t get a good reception back home.

Su Yunqiao gazed at Su Yi, her eyes shimmering with admiration.

It was no secret that cultivators could change their appearance; anyone with basic knowledge knew this. She wasn’t surprised, and since Su Yi’s original face was quite handsome, she glanced a few more times without arousing any suspicion.

After all, the female disciples of the Holy Land were far braver than she was.

At that moment, a rumbling sound came from the sky as a radiant flying vessel burst forth from the clouds.

Su Yi’s expression turned strange.

He had briefly glanced at the system tasks earlier and knew that Su Yunqiao possessed a hidden spiritual root, which the Yaochi Sacred Maiden would discover and then bring her back to the Holy Land for careful cultivation.

But the original owner had a low-quality spiritual root, so the Sacred Maiden had dismissed her, leaving her to fend for herself.

Her beloved younger sister was taken away, which enraged the original owner. She then began a thirty-year journey wandering across the four corners of the world, joining the Tianyuan Holy Land, and swearing to prove everyone wrong and eventually confront Yaochi...

Quite a cliché!

Even on Blue Star, where Su Yi came from, such a plot had been played out to death—one could write it in a coffin and bury it forever.

Yet this idiotic system insisted on following the same path.

Su Yi shook his head. Though he grumbled, he had now taken on this melodramatic storyline himself. No matter how absurd, he had to grit his teeth and see it through.

After all, being stuck in seclusion and constantly taking medicine was dull. Better to keep active—for himself at least, since the system rewards were substantial.

He comforted himself with this thought.

The flying vessel was extravagantly adorned. Its body was covered with gilded cloud patterns, and within these patterns glowed array formations that would shatter any weak cultivator who dared approach.

As Su Yi’s divine sense neared, he felt a strong resistance—clearly an array designed to block divine senses.

“Who goes there!”

A moment later, a sharp reprimand came from the vessel, and the doors opened as a group of people emerged onto the deck.

Most were young, beautiful women, each exuding an extraordinary aura.

Among them was a man.

He had a broad forehead and a square jaw, eyes filled with righteousness, thick eyebrows, and a straight waist. If you separated his features, each was remarkable, but combined, they were somewhat difficult to describe.

Before him stood a graceful woman.

Her hair was swept back by the breeze, her face exquisitely beautiful, like a celestial fairy descending to earth. She radiated an ethereal, refined, and elegant aura.

With her presence, the other women’s beauty seemed to pale, as if mere fallen leaves in comparison.

As the vessel descended, the group noticed Su Yi and his companion. The man’s brow furrowed in surprise and he couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Junior Brother? Why is it you?”

“Senior Brother?”

Su Yi was also surprised to see Wen Qingyun, his senior brother, on the deck.

Once everyone recognized Su Yi, their wariness immediately faded.

The fairy-like woman couldn’t help but speak.

“Son of Tianyuan, isn’t it rather rude to release your divine sense to probe my sect’s divine vessel?”

Seeing the displeasure on Yaochi Sacred Maiden Fang Xiyue’s face, Su Yi smiled and explained,

“Fairy Fang, please forgive me. I was practicing and feared an enemy attack. Not recognizing the Yaochi vessel, I acted out of caution. I hope you understand.”

Upon hearing this, their expressions softened.

After some conversation, Su Yi learned that Yaochi and her group were invited to attend a grand event and were passing through Tianyuan Holy Land. Wen Qingyun had met them along the way and had ‘escorted’ them to this point. Now, as they passed through Qingping Town, they encountered him.

Su Yi looked at Fang Xiyue among the crowd, along with the Nascent Soul female disciples beside her, and fell into deep thought.

Setting aside the fact that Fang Xiyue had reached the late Nascent Soul stage and carried the Holy Land’s legacy, even a Dividing Spirit cultivator would be powerless against her—let alone with the divine vessel and numerous bodyguards.

Even if twenty mid-Nascent Soul cultivators came, they wouldn’t be enough to pose a threat. So why the need for an escort?

Yet Wen Qingyun smiled brightly and turned to Fang Xiyue.

“Since my junior brother is here, there’s nothing more to say. Junior Brother, take care. Fairy Fang, let us depart. We must not delay our journey. I will escort you for a while longer.”

Su Yi’s mouth twitched.

Qingping Town was nearly a hundred thousand li from the Holy Land. If he remembered correctly, Wen Qingyun had been seen when he left, and he himself had been rushing to Qingping Town nonstop.

Though only a few days had passed, Su Yi knew this fellow well. If Wen Qingyun had no urgent matter, he rarely left the Holy Land, and even when he did, he might not go far.

So this guy must have boarded the vessel near the Holy Land and followed them all the way here.

And this place was almost a hundred thousand li from the Holy Land...

You’re already shamelessly escorting them ten thousand li, and now you want to escort even further!

A pure, unadulterated sycophant!

Why hadn’t he realized how much of a flatterer Wen Qingyun was before?

But Wen Qingyun’s next words shocked him even more.

“This journey is long, and recently demons have run rampant. The world is unstable. Since you women travel together, it may be inconvenient and you could draw unwanted attention. Let me accompany you to protect your safe return to the sect. That way, I can rest easy as well. Fairy Fang, what do you think?”

A chill ran down Su Yi’s spine—an intense, bitter chill!

Though he had already pegged Wen Qingyun as a sycophant, he hadn’t expected him to push it further in just a few minutes.

Brother, have some shame, won’t you?

He had heard before that Wen Qingyun admired Yaochi Sacred Maiden Fang Xiyue, but he never imagined his devotion could go this far.

No, this wasn’t devotion—it was pure, shameless flattery, completely losing face.

Moreover, the woman was far superior to him in cultivation. Why would she need his protection?

Besides, even if they were women, they were late Nascent Soul cultivators, revered goddesses of the Holy Land. They certainly had some self-awareness.

And starting off by calling them “a group of women”? Didn’t they have any pride? If they were in a bad mood, they might just punch him!

Su Yi couldn’t help but rub his forehead. He suddenly felt like the dignity of the Holy Land, which he had tried so carefully to maintain, was shattered into pieces.

Yet Wen Qingyun remained oblivious, his face serene and smiling brightly.

Fang Xiyue’s expression turned cold, and her tone was quite frosty.

“Our Yaochi is no empty name. If any scoundrels dared to target us, I would slay them myself. There’s no need to trouble Senior Brother Wen with escorting us.”

Wen Qingyun’s face instantly stiffened; he stood there, opening and closing his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something but unable to utter a word.

Fang Xiyue dismissed him and turned her gaze to Su Yi—more precisely, to Su Yunqiao standing behind him.

She looked at her deeply twice, then stepped forward without hesitation.

“To be frank, Sacred Son, the girl by your side is a rare hidden vein. Her spiritual root is special. Our Yaochi has a corresponding legacy. Would you entrust her to me? Once she joins Yaochi, I will nurture her carefully.”

“If the Sacred Son agrees, I, Xiyue, owe you a favor. Should you need anything in the future, just say the word.”

Hiss!

Wen Qingyun gasped in astonishment.

A favor from Fang Xiyue—what a precious treasure that was!

However, Su Yi hesitated, pondering for a long time without responding.

Sure enough, the system was right: she could detect the spiritual root and intended to take her away.

Everything matched except for the original owner’s information.

Should he hand her over or not?

Seeing Su Yi remain silent, Wen Qingyun’s eyes reddened.

This was a favor from Fang Xiyue! How dare he hesitate!

If the favor were his, he’d gladly accept even a minor concession.

“Answer quickly, damn it! What are you thinking?”

He looked at Su Yi with burning eyes, never having been so angry before—even when Su Yi had surpassed him to claim the Sacred Son title.

He desperately wanted Su Yi to refuse and thus offend Fang Xiyue, but at the same time feared that if Su Yi declined, he would have to face the Sacred Maiden’s disappointed expression...