Chapter 211: In the Future, Your Name Will Be Famous Across the Land

Chapter 211: In the Future, Your Name Will Be Famous Across the Land

Faced with a crowd of kneeling townsfolk, Lin Nuo felt a headache coming on.

He thought these townspeople were here to praise a hero, but he had only just wrecked their gambling den not long ago!

He was too slow to escape, and now he was being scolded and cursed out by a bunch of people who had decided to kneel down and berate him.

What now? Should he say, “All of you, stand up”?

Definitely not! For one, he hated the emperor, especially the empress. Besides, who were these townspeople to hold him in such regard?

Maybe they could just knock their heads against the ground for him, the kind that draws blood?

After all, gambling dens weren’t exactly admirable establishments; it was only natural for the people to be furious. Gambling dens lead young folks astray, and they are the very root of dark forces siphoning off the citizens’ wealth.

So, tearing down their gambling den was just a little good deed on his part, nothing major.

Just a small deed, whatever. Let it go, let it go.

Qin Shili spoke up:

“Please rise! We only did a small thing; it’s not worth mentioning.”

“No, no! You two did not just do a small thing! That gambling den is a hub for the funds of dark forces! It’s also where the current court’s corrupt officials wash their money. As a small official, I truly dare not provoke it! We’re genuinely grateful for your help today!”

A small official at the front was overflowing with gratitude, insisting that it was no minor matter.

“What? A place where corrupt officials wash their money?!”

Lin Nuo was shocked; he hadn’t known this!

All he knew was that the gambling den had some ties with the Dark Alliance. After all, in this day and age, any shady business had some connection to them.

The Dark Alliance, an organization that good folks loathed, could get tied up in anything because their reach was vast. A small gambling den probably wouldn’t become their major target. A lot of people were out to ruin their plans each year, and they couldn’t possibly focus on all of them.

But when it came to corrupt officials in the court, it was a whole different kettle of fish.

These corrupt officials held significant power; they could go back and forth between the righteous and the wicked, and no one dared provoke them. Even the current emperor had some degree of fear regarding these officials, as it all involved substantial interests.

Lin Nuo had no grievance against these corrupt officials and certainly wouldn’t be looking to deal with them.

“Which corrupt official are you talking about?” Lin Nuo asked.

“Ah… I can’t say outright, but rest assured the great hero knows. It’s not just me who knows; many common folks are aware, and it has been going on for over ten years.”

“Over ten years, huh…”

Lin Nuo’s head was spinning even more. Goodness! That gambling den had such a long history! It must have become a base for laundering money.

The court’s corrupt officials were making plenty of cash but needed a way to move it. So gambling dens like this served as a perfect cover to launder money. The townsfolk hated it but couldn’t fight back.

Even if there were those brave enough to tackle the issue, they’d end up facing the wrath of the corrupt officials’ power and would meet a grim fate.

And now, he had gone and wrecked their place.

This was just too reckless.

Lin Nuo wasn’t afraid of these corrupt officials’ power; it was just that he had no reason to be their enemy.

He was the villain! Shouldn’t the righteous path be the one to tackle these officials?

If he had realized that, he would have just taken out those two cheats and then run away. Why demolish their entire gambling den?

“We are disciples of the Xuanyun Sect; we adhere to the principle of serving the people, so this was merely a trifling matter,” Qin Shili said calmly, turning to look at Lin Nuo.

“I trust you think the same way,” she continued.

You think what you want! What does that have to do with me? Who’s out here looking to serve the public? I just wanted to take revenge on them! I’m not looking to deal with those corrupt officials involved in money laundering!

Lin Nuo was stressed out, worrying about what would happen next.

If the court decided to pursue him in any official capacity, that would be reasonable. After all, he was the big bad villain! But if corrupt officials came after him, he would have to fight back, and then he’d be standing on the moral high ground, gaining public support.

Here he was, a notorious villain standing on the side of righteousness—how different was that from being a good guy?

“Forget it, forget it.”

“Forget what?”

“I’m going back. This is too much trouble.”

Lin Nuo didn’t want to say anything more; he was fed up and just wanted to go home to Tianling Mountain and sulk.

“Alright, let’s go back.”

Qin Shili waved her hand slightly, and the Ice Blade soared to her side.

“Get on; let’s head back.”

Lin Nuo and Qin Shili mounted the Ice Blade, which began to ascend slowly.

Below, the townsfolk continued to kneel and shout:

“Thank you for your assistance, esteemed heroes! We are eternally grateful!”

Lin Nuo: “…”

Can you all just shut up for a second?

……

Tianling Mountain, Xuanyun Sect.

The Ice Blade landed on the edge of a cliff at Tianling Mountain, and Lin Nuo jumped off.

“Still, this place feels so comforting.”

Lin Nuo stepped on the grass of Tianling Mountain, missing it dearly after being away for so long. The outside world was too scary; there were critics everywhere.

“Do you need me to report your achievements to the Sect Master?”

“What achievements?” Lin Nuo feigned ignorance.

“Alright, fine. You can keep pretending. You’re nothing like the other cultivators; they all think about making achievements and gaining fame. You, however, are focused on staying low-key, yet you’ve done something remarkable, like leaving after hitting it big.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? You’re saying it’s me?”

“Regardless, I know how you handle things. Your brilliance can’t be hidden. Your achievements are circulating under alternate identities, and one day, all of these identities will unite—your name will be famous across the land.”

“If that day comes, I’d rather die.”

Famous across the land? Everyone looking down on me? How could I live?

Lin Nuo waved his hand:

“I’m going to sleep.”

“Are you not going to report to the Sect Master? You’ve been gone for too long.”

“I’ll sleep first and then talk.”

Lin Nuo had never cared about the rules of reporting upon return to the Xuanyun Sect. The Sect Master would come looking for him, and even then, he might not go. Sometimes, they even had to visit him instead.

Because his achievements were truly astounding, the Sect Master didn’t press him too much.

Having been away for so long, it felt a bit strange coming back. As he walked towards his residence, he ran into Ruo’er.

“Young Master, Young Master! You’re back~!”

Seeing Lin Nuo’s return, Ruo’er was extremely excited, bouncing around him, examining every part of him. After not seeing him for some time, she felt he had become even more handsome!

“Young Master, you must be so tired after being out~! I’ll prepare some soup and cook for you immediately! Plus, Ruo’er can give you a massage to help you relax~ Oh, Young Master, by the way, you came back just in time; two immortals from Tianling Mountain have been waiting for you for days to discuss something important~”

“They’re from Zigu Peak? A man and a woman?”

“Yes~ Young Master, you’ve heard about it~?”

“Mm, I heard.”

Lin Nuo nodded as he gradually walked toward his room.

“You go tell them to keep waiting; I’m going to sleep. I don’t want to see them.”