Chapter 174: Are They Like-Minded Individuals?

Chapter 174: Are They Like-Minded Individuals?

From the current situation, Liu Shuqin had already speculated that Wu Ying Ge was Lin Nuo; it was just a matter of him responding.

However, it was unlikely that she would directly say something like, “You are actually my Junior Martial Brother Lin Nuo,” considering the other party was intentionally concealing his identity and wouldn’t admit it no matter what.

Moreover, since he chose to hide intentionally and appear under another identity, there must be a reason behind it. As his Senior Martial Sister, she should support him instead of deliberately exposing his identity to flaunt her intelligence.

She was well aware of one principle: don’t appear too clever in front of a strong man, or you will only annoy him.

Sometimes, a little confusion could lead to greater gains. Besides, it was possible Lin Nuo knew she had guessed his identity and was leaving room for maneuver. If she intentionally exposed him, not only would it yield no results, but it would also irritate him, leading to losses that far outweighed any benefits.

Silently supporting him was the most sensible decision. Based on his interests and style of handling matters, providing help and assisting him in covering his identity would suffice.

But now, there was a pressing question weighing heavily on her mind.

Who was Udon Noodles?

That girl, who claimed to be the disciple of her Junior Martial Brother, could naturally be accepted as his disciple given his abilities. However, there was a rule in Xuanyun Sect that forbade secretly recruiting disciples; any recruitment must be known by the elders of the sect. Establishing a new faction was even more problematic—it was a grave betrayal of the sect.

Given that her Junior Martial Brother had recently done a lot of good deeds, it was clear he wouldn’t engage in such treachery.

Besides, how could a sect have only two people? With her Junior Martial Brother’s strength, gathering disciples wouldn’t be a problem at all.

So there was only one plausible explanation.

Her Junior Martial Brother was deliberately using this rule, playing a dangerous game; the more he appeared to violate sect regulations, the harder it would be to expose him.

In reality, Udon Noodles was likely not his disciple at all but rather some fairy or a female cultivator from another sect who had some connection with him. They must currently be carrying out a special task together, necessitating the disguise of master and disciple, for fear of being targeted after completing their mission.

For example, eliminating the Poison Bee, after all, such assassins usually had large forces behind them. They likely feared attracting trouble, so they assumed false identities, and after their task was completed, they would return to normalcy, with all fame and glory becoming mere clouds.

While everyone else craved fame and accomplishments, they viewed such accolades as fleeting, hiding their identities to shoulder significant responsibilities. By comparison, she felt she fell short.

For this reason, she grew increasingly worried.

Because the two of them shared hidden identities while executing a task and had a common mindset valuing the renunciation of fame, they seemed more like kindred spirits.

If that were true, then…

The more Liu Shuqin thought about it, the more anxious she became. She was quite confident in her own mindset. She believed even if she had feelings for Lin Nuo, he would not reject her teaming up with other female cultivators or fairies on a mission.

But now, it was as if she were being petty—after all, they were merely executing a task together. Why was she getting more and more uncomfortable with them?

Liu Shuqin, what is wrong with you?

She felt increasingly confused, with a growing possessiveness that made her overthink every little thing.

She hadn’t been like this before.

Just the other time when they went on an expedition to Wutu City, during the rebellion, and later to Hu City, where they battled the alien army, Lin Nuo swept in like a whirlwind, saving her and guiding her out of a state of confusion. It was the first time she felt reliant on a man, other than her father.

Even though she was the true disciple of Han Fairy from Xuanyun Sect, always bearing responsibilities as a Senior Martial Sister, willing to shoulder any burdens, even the strongest and most stubborn people longed for someone to lean on.

Relying on her Junior Martial Brother was quite embarrassing, but she was willing to do so.

Because he was powerful and profound; it was no exaggeration to say she admired Lin Nuo more than the esteemed elders of Xuanyun Sect.

Moreover, being a girl, it was only natural to admire a strong man.

Unbeknownst to her, Lin Nuo had finished his meal. Liu Shuqin had arranged everything meticulously, placing a napkin on his plate to clean the grease from his mouth.

He enjoyed a full spread of hot soup and fruits, all dishes catered to his tastes, giving him the sensation of a lavish banquet.

*Phew~*

He exhaled a long sigh of satisfaction; this lovely garden, paired with an armchair, it felt great to lie back after a meal.

Having just finished eating and realizing Liu Shuqin wouldn’t be back for a while, he planned to take his plate to the kitchen himself to spare her the trouble of returning it.

But little did he know, Liu Shuqin timed her arrival perfectly, stepping lightly down the corridor just as he finished eating.

“Did you enjoy your meal, Young Master Wu?” Liu Shuqin smiled sweetly as she sat opposite him.

“It was excellent; Liu girl’s cooking is truly remarkable.”

Lin Nuo hurriedly wrapped his mouth with the napkin. He couldn’t let his guard down while indulging in food, revealing his features.

“You flatter me, Young Master Wu. It’s just a home-cooked meal; it’s my honor to please you. Is there something you need now? Can we chat for a little?”

“Not right now; I have something later, but we can chat a bit.”

Lin Nuo didn’t decline her request. It’s important to stay polite after eating someone’s food. If it were someone else, he might just leave, but this was his Senior Martial Sister. Leaving right after eating would hurt feelings and pride.

He knew Liu Shuqin had previously been insecure and lost, so he didn’t want to act like he looked down on her; he was afraid she might spiral into self-doubt.

After all, he preferred to face a confident Senior Martial Sister rather than one who constantly bemoaned her inadequacies. If he interacted with someone insecure frequently, it could rub off on him, leading to thoughts like, “Oh no, I can’t beat Su Kexin; I’m destined to be killed as the villain; I won’t survive until the end.”

On the contrary, being around confident individuals would inspire confidence in him, making it seem easy to flip his fate.

“Senior Martial Sister Liu Shuqin, you mustn’t falter.”

He was holding back now; since there was nothing pressing, if the situation wasn’t suitable, he would just slip away.

“May I ask, Young Master Wu, how long have you been establishing the Wu Yao Wang sect?”

“Not long; it’s been three months since.”

Lin Nuo reckoned his reincarnation date as the founding date of the sect. Saying too early wouldn’t do; if he said five years ago, no one would have heard of it—who would believe that?

Liu Shuqin listened and got a rough understanding.

He had probably been executing tasks as Wu Ying Ge for three months, and this false sect had likely existed for the same duration.

“Then, Young Master Wu, I presume you established the sect when you took Udon Noodle as your disciple?” Liu Shuqin continued to inquire.

“No, I took her as my disciple less than a month ago; before that, I was the only one in the sect.”

“Oh, I see.”

So this meant they had only been collaborating for less than a month. Prior to this, he had been handling tasks alone.

“Then, Young Master Wu, could you tell me why you took Udon Noodle as your disciple in the first place?”

“Why?”

Lin Nuo pondered briefly, then replied,

“Because she is somewhat similar to me and has great potential, so I took her as a disciple.”

“Similar?”

Were they truly both individuals who renounced fame and shared like-minded ideals?