Time Travel: I'm a Flower Thief

Xiao Lingyun, with a long sword at his waist and dressed in white, strode over.

He first bowed to Shen Beiluo, then turned to Xie Xiaoyi, cupped his hands, and smiled:

"You must be my brother, sir? My name is Xiao Lingyun. My master specifically instructed me to come and greet you."

Xiao Lingyun's appearance greatly excited Xie Xiaoyi.

Firstly, this person's sword aura had almost killed him, and secondly, he was afraid that his identity would be exposed.

So he was feeling uneasy, but he continued to pretend to be calm.

Xie Xiaoyi composed himself and clasped his hands in a salute:

"My name is Xie Mo, a disciple of the 'Double Peerless Physicians.' I've met Senior Brother Xiao here."

"Xie Mo..."

Xiao Lingyun rolled those two words on his tongue, and just as he was about to raise his hand to thank Xiao Yi, he suddenly stopped.

Is your surname Xie?

This surname struck him like a thunderbolt, unexpectedly shattering the memories he didn't want to recall.

That was Xie Xiaoyi, the notorious womanizer.

He would never forget that man; he had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a tall, upright figure, bearing a striking resemblance to Xie Mo in front of him.

A chill suddenly ran down Xiao Lingyun's spine, and his fingers unconsciously tightened around the sword at his waist.

The smile in his eyes faded slightly, and his gaze fell on Xie Xiaoyi, scrutinizing his figure inch by inch.

Is it just my imagination?

His figure was remarkably similar to that of the flower thief.

Shen Xinyu noticed Xiao Lingyun's unusual behavior, frowned, and tugged at his sleeve:

"Hey, Xiao Lingyun, what's wrong?"

Shen Beiluo glanced at Xiao Lingyun, already sensing the murderous aura emanating from his junior apprentice, and asked in a low voice:

"Lingyun, is something wrong?"

Xiao Lingyun snapped back to reality, and the grip on his sword slowly loosened.

wrong.

He shook his head inwardly.

The person in front of me is much more handsome than Xie Xiaoyi. He is also a disciple of Senior Hua Tianyi. Who is Senior Hua?

He was a renowned gentleman physician in the martial arts world, upright and honest throughout his life. How could his disciple be a womanizer?

It must be because my obsession runs too deep; hearing his surname Xie makes me unconsciously think of Xie Xiaoyi.

Ok.

I must have been overthinking it.

Xiao Lingyun suppressed his doubts and a gentle smile returned to his face:

"It's nothing, I was just a little lost in thought for a moment."

Xie Xiaoyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

You're daydreaming, my foot!

You must have thought that I was about the same size as the person who toyed with your junior sister, and that we both shared the same surname, Xie, which is why you were so eager to kill me just now.

cut.

Luckily, I always wear a human skin mask when I'm doing bad things, otherwise I'd be dead today.

Xiao Lingyun stepped aside to make way, gesturing for them to pass:

"Brother Xie, Uncle Shen, please! Master is already waiting in the inner hall, please follow me."

No sooner had these words been spoken than Shen Xinyu jumped out, her almond-shaped eyes widening, her tone full of defiance:

"Senior Brother Xiao! You invited them, but you've forgotten about me?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Lingyun shook his head helplessly, but a hint of amusement lingered in his eyes, his tone carrying a touch of mockery:

"you?

How dare you say that?

I sneaked down the mountain, and my uncle practically wore down the mountain gate, constantly talking about breaking his vow to go down the mountain to find you.

"And you, having a good time out there, now you come here to question me?"

Shen Xinyu's sore spot was hit, her pretty face flushed, and she retorted with a stiff neck:

"I was... I was going there to gain experience!"

Besides, if I hadn't secretly gone down the mountain, how would I have met Brother Xie, and how would I have escaped with my life?

"You escaped with your life?" Xiao Lingyun frowned, then asked, "What misfortune befell you?"

Xie Xiaoyi quickly tried to evade the question, saying, "Brother Xiao, you're joking. It's just a small matter."

Shen Xinyu realized she had misspoke, as this Brother Xie Mo had promised to keep her secret about being bullied at the black market.

Now that I've started the conversation, what if Xiao Lingyun presses me for details? Wouldn't I have to make up lies to cover it up?

She simply stopped talking.

Shen Beiluo knew that some things were better left unsaid, so he said:

"Xie Mo once saved Xin Yu on her journey through the martial world, so Xin Yu is very grateful to him."

Seeing that his martial uncle had spoken, Xiao Lingyun stopped asking questions and immediately led the way.

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the mountain path forks into two.

Shen Beiluo glanced at his daughter, who was still sulking beside him, and gave Xiao Lingyun the following instructions:

"Tell the sect leader, I'll take Xinyu back to Luoxia Peak first."

Luoxia Peak is the secluded place of Shenbei Luo. The peak is covered with red bamboo. Every evening, the sunset glow spreads over the mountaintop, dyeing the entire bamboo forest like flames and rosy clouds, hence the name.

Shen Xinyu was immediately unhappy when she heard that she had to return to Luoxia Peak:

"Father, I don't want to go back to that desolate place. I want to go with Senior Brother Xiao to see our Sect Leader!"

Shen Beiluo tapped her forehead helplessly:

"Nonsense!"

The sect leader and young friend Xie have important matters to discuss. Why are you getting involved?

When we get back, I'll have Ping'er make you your favorite honey-glazed lotus seed soup.

"Lotus... lotus seed soup?"

Shen Xinyu was tempted, so she turned around and beckoned to Xie Xiaoyi:

"Brother Xie, I miss my Aunt Ping'er. I'm heading back to Luoxia Peak now. You must come visit me after you've finished your business!"

Xie Xiaoyi smiled and said, "Definitely."

Watching the father and daughter disappear into the crimson bamboo shadows, Xiao Lingyun turned and gestured for Xie Xiaoyi to proceed.

"Brother Xie, please follow me to the Lan Yue Palace."

The winding mountain road, with its wispy clouds and mist, made the palaces of the Kunlun Heavenly Sword Sect appear even more ethereal and otherworldly.

The two walked through several corridors and finally stopped in front of a hall with a plaque that read "Hall of Embracing the Moon".

The palace doors were not closed, and a warm, gentle voice, like the clinking of jade stones, came from inside: "Ling Yun, please bring the guests in."

Xiao Lingyun bowed in agreement and stepped aside to let Xie Xiaoyi go first.

Xie Xiaoyi stepped inside and saw a man sitting on the main seat in the hall, who looked to be about fifty years old.

He was dressed in a long robe and had a handsome face; he was none other than Cui Juqing, the sect leader of the Kunlun Heavenly Sword Sect.

This man had a detached and indifferent air about him, and his sword intent was hidden but not revealed, yet he was not to be underestimated.

Cui Juqing looked up at Xie Xiaoyi, his gaze calm yet seemingly able to see through people's hearts:

"Brother Hua's disciple is indeed a distinguished figure. Please have a seat."

Xie Xiaoyi sat down to the side as instructed, bowed respectfully, and got straight to the point:

"Uncle Cui, I am Xie Mo. I have come here on the orders of my master, Hua Tianyi, to seek assistance in the matter of Qinghe Town."

Cui Juqing nodded, his expression unchanged:

"Qinghe Town?"

A dozen or so days ago, a disciple of my Sword Sect passed through that area and heard that a plague had broken out there. Could there be any follow-up?

Xie Xiaoyi thought to himself: You must have searched for that girl Shen Xinyu all the way to Qinghe Town, otherwise how could you have passed by there?

"It wasn't a natural disaster, but a man-made one," he said gravely.

"That plague was deliberately spread by a group of alchemists."

They coveted the innate spiritual energy of Qinghe Town and wanted to seize the place for themselves.

My master sensed something amiss and launched an in-depth investigation, only to be assassinated while trying to cure the people of the plague.

Cui Juqing frowned upon hearing this. "Continue!"

Xie Xiaoyi continued:

"Those alchemists are skilled in poisons. If they succeed, the people of Qinghe Town will likely not escape unscathed."

However, cultivators are not people like us ordinary martial arts practitioners can fight against.

My master said that he and the sect leader are close friends, which is why he ordered his junior to travel over mountains and rivers to come here.

We earnestly request the sect leader's assistance!