Chapter 828: Isn’t That More Interesting?

Chapter 828: Chapter 828: Isn’t That More Interesting?

A fresh rain over empty mountains. A sudden cold wind.

In a refined bamboo pavilion, the rain sounded like tinkling bells.

A woman in azure battle robes, her features delicate, tilted her chin slightly upward, watching rainwater slide from one corner of the pavilion and string together into a thin line.

Zheng Zhaoling truly hadn’t expected that when Cui Hao said "no rush," he meant it literally—five whole days lounging around Yunmeng Marsh.

Not a single serious matter had been discussed in those five days. Instead, he’d feasted and drunk to his heart’s content with Yunze.

The only vaguely reasonable thing he’d done was carve out time to meet Yun Li once during those five days. But even that was just a few brief exchanges before he left, telling Yun Li to focus on his cultivation.

Whether Chu Xingchen’s message simply hadn’t arrived, or whether Cui Hao was doing this deliberately, it was impossible to tell.

The Cui Hao who behaved with no pretense or airs in front of her was an entirely different person in front of Yunze.

Before Yunze, Cui Hao always wore an expression of serene confidence, every word deliberately cryptic and profound.

And Yunze ate it up completely.

Listening and listening, she’d look as though she’d achieved some great epiphany. After five days, her expression was as gentle as water, looking for all the world like she’d met a true kindred spirit.

If Cui Hao stayed a few months longer, getting Yunze to call him "Brother Cui Hao" wasn’t entirely out of the question.

Cui Hao had always known which role to play for which audience.

He performed convincingly, without a trace of artifice.

Zheng Zhaoling sometimes wondered whether the personality Cui Hao showed her was his true self, or just a performance tailored to win her over.

But dwelling on such things yielded no answers.

Zheng Zhaoling didn’t waste mental energy on it—she simply treated it as having befriended a fellow Daoist who liked to act.

The Great Dao was vast, and few friends could truly walk its path to the very end.

Zheng Zhaoling turned her head slightly, watching Cui Hao approach along the covered walkway, a smile on his face. She asked calmly:

"Why aren’t you drinking with Yunze today? What brings you out for a stroll?"

Cui Hao walked to her side, his gaze following hers as he studied the curtain of rain for a moment before speaking:

"News has arrived, naturally. I need to discuss it with Fellow Daoist Zheng."

Zheng Zhaoling nodded and sat down in the chair prepared inside the bamboo pavilion:

"I thought you’d forgotten about the actual business."

Cui Hao drew a jade token from his sleeve and extended it toward Zheng Zhaoling:

"Latest intelligence. A big one."

Zheng Zhaoling reached out to take it, her divine sense probing inside. Her brows furrowed slightly, and her expression grew contemplative.

So this was the kind of task that had sent Cui Hao to Yunmeng Marsh—not something trivial.

The Evil Spirit Sect planned to slaughter and refine an entire nation’s blood qi in Northern Julu Continent. Their approach was to start from the Incense Divine Path’s shrines—seize divine authority first, then make their arrangements.

A large contingent of Evil Spirit Sect high-ranking members had been deployed, including even the famous Black Crow Bishop himself, known for running at the first sign of trouble.

But what genuinely surprised Zheng Zhaoling was that the jade token contained the Evil Spirit Sect’s complete operational blueprint and plan.

From where to start, how to sustain development afterward, and contingency plans for every possible problem.

The methods were ruthless and efficient, the design was an interlocking chain, and the style was unmistakably that of evil cultivators.

"Such a detailed plan..." Zheng Zhaoling looked up. "You’ve placed people inside the Evil Spirit Sect?"

Cui Hao shrugged with an air of perfect candor: "That’s beyond what I’m allowed to know. Everything I know right now is everything you know."

"Then what does your master want? What are we supposed to do?" Zheng Zhaoling pressed.

Cui Hao sighed softly: "The jade token doesn’t say. Which means Master’s intention is probably for me to handle it as I see fit."

Zheng Zhaoling considered for a moment, then said:

"The Great Calamity is imminent. Purging a major organization like the Evil Spirit Sect is a given."

"If you don’t kill the chicken to scare the monkey, those evil cultivators will only grow bolder. Since your master sent you to Yunmeng Marsh, he probably wants you to coordinate with Yunmeng Pavilion to destroy the Evil Spirit Sect."

"But such a large-scale operation..."

Zheng Zhaoling paused, her meaning clear as she looked at Cui Hao: *How can a Nascent Soul cultivator like you be left to handle something of this magnitude however you want?*

The Evil Spirit Sect had operated unchecked for centuries without being fully eradicated. They clearly had their ways.

Could it be that they were just supposed to half-ass it?

If it was just a half-assed job, why bother sending them to Yunmeng Marsh at all?

Cui Hao also sat down and deliberated briefly before speaking:

"Master sent us to Yunmeng Marsh. And from the intelligence, the Evil Spirit Sect plans to start with the Incense Divine Path."

"I think Master doesn’t actually want me to destroy the Evil Spirit Sect. He wants me to find opportunities to cause them trouble—using Yunmeng Marsh’s reputation in Northern Julu Continent, for instance."

Zheng Zhaoling sat up straight and spoke frankly: "Wild guessing is pointless. Better to write directly and ask your master. Mobilizing Yunmeng Pavilion cultivators for this kind of operation requires at least your master’s authority. Yours alone won’t cut it."

Cui Hao’s expression fell slightly: "My master is a bit different."

"What do you mean?" Zheng Zhaoling looked puzzled.

"This is actually a kind of test from Master. I think he’s judging whether I can truly stand on my own." Cui Hao slumped onto the table in front of him without a shred of dignity.

"Not every task comes with instructions. As a disciple, you have to learn to make your own judgments and decisions once you have the intelligence."

"This Evil Spirit Sect intelligence is absurdly precise. It’s clearly already meat in Master’s bowl."

"Master probably wants to use this bowl of meat to test my level."

Zheng Zhaoling found this absurd. What kind of test was this?

"What is this? Training? For something this big? Are you overthinking it? Just ask your master."

Cui Hao laughed helplessly: "What if I told you that right now, my Eldest Senior Sister has completely broken away from Master’s command and is independently leading Tribulation Transcendence cultivators from Tianyan Sect and Xuanqing Heavenly Sect to investigate something she wants to know—would that sound even more ridiculous?"

Zheng Zhaoling was speechless: "It would..."

Even she, as a core disciple, couldn’t just summon Tribulation Transcendence cultivators from her own sect on a whim.

"But what I just said is also true. I know my master." Cui Hao propped his chin on one hand and looked at Zheng Zhaoling. "And besides, I believe that with our combined intellect and strength, and this intelligence, we can handle this well enough."

"Sticking to convention and asking for approval will naturally avoid mistakes. But isn’t it more fulfilling to accomplish the task on your own ability, by your own methods?"

"Fellow Daoist Zhaoling, this time, let’s handle this beautifully with our own capabilities."

"Just like last time we worked together—look at Yunmeng Marsh now. Isn’t it exactly as we envisioned?"

Zheng Zhaoling’s gaze instinctively met Cui Hao’s, and she saw only earnest heat in his eyes.

She had to admit, Cui Hao’s words were genuinely stirring.

Those who considered themselves prodigies never doubted they could get things done.

Cui Hao saw the wavering in Zheng Zhaoling’s eyes and raised his eyebrows with a grin:

"And anyway, if this really goes south, just blame it on me. I’ll blame it on Master."

"We’ve got Master to carry the can for both of us."

Zheng Zhaoling listened to the ceaseless rain and reached her decision. Her tone was resolute:

"Then let’s do it."