Chapter 171 - 108: Ling Ye: I Can Be Gentle Too...

Chapter 171: Chapter 108: Ling Ye: I Can Be Gentle Too...

Now, Wen He even had to wear a conical hat, keeping himself completely covered, whenever he left the city.

Jiang Mu was touched when he heard about this.

’It might not be a bad idea to have Ling Ye as my personal support from now on,’ he thought suddenly.

She’d stand up for him when it mattered most, providing a profound sense of security.

"Over in Yan City, even though the major rebellion has been quelled, the situation is still complex and perilous."

After traveling for some time, the group slowed to rest. Ling Ye rode her horse over to Jiang Mu’s side and began to meticulously instruct him.

"Just a few days ago, a newly appointed County Magistrate had his throat torn out in his own courtroom by a dog demon that had blended in with the crowd.

"When you get there, you must remember you can’t be as casual as you are here in Hu State. Your top priority in all matters is self-preservation. After all, that’s not our home turf..."

Ling Ye still wore her signature tight, black martial arts attire, which accentuated her valiant and heroic figure.

She sat atop a tall, magnificent steed.

As the horse trotted along, her bountiful chest bounced in rhythm.

Each bounce seemed to test the very limits of her clothing.

Jiang Mu nodded with a perfectly straight face. "Alright, Support... I mean, alright, Sister Ling. I’ll remember."

Ling Ye shot him a reproachful glare before continuing, "Besides being on guard against Demon Fiends, you also need to be careful of our own people."

"Don’t worry. That bastard Wen He acts like a mouse that’s seen a cat whenever he sees me now. He wouldn’t dare try anything, not even if he had ten times the nerve."

Jiang Mu was completely unfazed.

"I’m not talking about Wen He."

Ling Ye’s tone turned serious. "I’m talking about the Demon Slayer Envoys from other states. Slaying Demon Fiends is, in itself, a way to accumulate merits.

"It’s not uncommon for colleagues to come to blows, or even secretly sabotage one another, to fight over credit and resources.

"What’s more, some people have fought Demon Fiends for so long that they’ve become steeped in malevolent energy. Their personalities turn violent and extreme. If you run into someone like that, you should do your best to..." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

"Waste ’em!" Jiang Mu interjected.

"..."

Jiang Mu pursed his lips and added,

"Sorry, Sister Ling, but that’s just not how I operate. I don’t take kindly to being wronged. If someone pisses me off, I’ll make them even more pissed off. If they’re weaker than me, well, that’s just their bad luck.

"And if they’re stronger than me... Hmph. Then they’re even unluckier. Once they’re in my sights, I’ll find a chance to get back at them, sooner or later."

Ling Ye was speechless for a moment.

’Come to think of it,’ she mused, ’this guy might always have a gentle, polite smile on his face, but deep down, he’s crazier and more violent than anyone.’

’He even dared to openly confront his own Deputy Director in the middle of the street, to say nothing of others.’

"If you really do run into someone you can’t beat, just run. Don’t force a fight. Your life is what’s most important."

Ling Ye sighed helplessly, forced to take a different tack. "As long as the green hills remain, you’ll never lack for firewood. Once I’m done with my business and come back, I’ll teach them a lesson for you."

A warm feeling surged through Jiang Mu’s heart.

’See!’

’Now *that’s* the right way to provide a sense of security.’

’A true, top-tier support character.’

Jiang Mu suddenly recalled Ran Qingshan’s warning and couldn’t help but ask curiously, "By the way, Sister Ling, is that Director of Yunzhou City, Shui Miaozheng... really that charming?"

Ling Ye froze, turning to look at the man beside her with a strange expression.

Jiang Mu was exasperated.

’Why does everyone look at me like that?’

’Do I really look like some kind of homewrecking "ladies’ man"?’

"Why are you asking about her?"

Ling Ye’s fair hand, holding the reins, tightened slightly, her tone laced with a hint of caution.

Jiang Mu couldn’t very well admit his own Director had warned him off her like some kind of thief, so he said vaguely, "I just heard someone mention her and got a little curious. We’ll be working together, after all. No harm in learning a bit more."

"Her... She’s alright, I suppose."

Ling Ye’s tone was flat, betraying no emotion.

"She’s quite beautiful, and her figure isn’t bad either. Back then, she and I were both candidates to become the next Core Disciple of our Sect.

"But in the end, our master chose me.

"Honestly, I never really understood why Master didn’t pick her. So strange."

Jiang Mu nodded. "To have been a candidate alongside you means she must be formidable in her own right. What’s her Cultivation Level like now?"

Ling Ye thought for a moment before offering an objective assessment.

"Her current Cultivation Level should be about on par with Ran Qingshan’s, which means her talent is quite good.

"We sparred in private once back in the day. I won, though I did go a little easy on her. All in all, her strength is still pretty good."

Jiang Mu continued to press,

"I heard she had a lot of admirers back in the Capital City. Was she considered the most beautiful at the time?"

Ling Ye gave a slight nod. "She certainly had her share of admirers. As for being the most beautiful..."

She tilted her head, thought for a moment, and said,

"I’m not really sure about that. Anyway, some very bored people back then made a ’Fairy Ranking,’ and she was ranked second.

"Oh, right. I was ranked first.

"Honestly, I never understood why they put me in first place. So strange."

"..."

Jiang Mu scratched his head and tried a different angle.

"Director Ran said she has a very gentle personality. I imagine she’s very popular because of that, right?"

Ling Ye fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly.

"Well, she does have a nice personality. She speaks to everyone in a soft, quiet voice and seems very gentle.

"However... she also keeps everyone at a distance. There’s a kind of aloofness to her. You might find her gentle and approachable, but she could turn around and not even remember who you are.

"As for her popularity... I suppose so.

"I remember a few years ago, some other very bored person ran a ’Most Desired Female Confidante’ poll. She was ranked second, which shows she’s definitely quite popular.

"Although, I’ve never understood why I was ranked first. So strange."