Chapter 70: Chapter 70 - The Child Intern and the Master’s Urgent Retreat

Before leaving the dilapidated village, Su Bai had held a brief meeting with the village chief. He issued strict operational guidelines: do not leave the village parameters, do not trust any traveling outsiders, and protect the remaining children at all costs.

As for Yan’er, Su Bai couldn’t leave her behind.

She possessed a Spirit Root. The Radiant Sky Sect would undoubtedly want to recruit her, and if another demonic faction stumbled upon her, a mortal child with spiritual talent would be subjected to a fate worse than death.

Su Bai remembered Ning Shuang’s tragic backstory as a brainwashed weapon. He absolutely refused to let this bright, considerate little girl be forcefully acquired by a hostile demonic enterprise.

And so, high above the clouds, a flying sword cut through the night sky.

Su Bai stood at the helm of the blade. He maintained a spherical barrier of Qi to shield Yan’er from the biting wind and altitude pressure. The six-year-old girl was currently fast asleep, safely tucked into his arms.

Looking down at her peaceful, sleeping face, Su Bai felt a strange warmth in his chest.

’Having a child... or at least a very obedient intern... might not be so bad after all.’

Their journey took a full day. The trip was significantly expedited by a mid-flight system reward.

Another Heavy Air Sludge.

When Yan’er finally woke up the next morning, she peered through the Qi barrier with wide, awestruck eyes. She marveled at the endless oceans of clouds and the tiny mountains below.

She bombarded Su Bai with endless questions about the sky, the birds, and cultivation. Su Bai patiently answered every single one. He gently taught her the basic concepts of the world she was about to enter.

As they neared the region surrounding Grand Radiance City, Su Bai’s demeanor shifted to full corporate security mode.

He pulled the scorched Moon-Shadow Cloak out of his inventory and draped it over his shoulders. Grand Radiance City still had an espionage problem, and Su Bai didn’t know if the spies lingering in the mortal city were affiliated with the demonic collaborators he had just uncovered.

While flying, his analytical mind began to categorize the intel he had gathered.

’The demonic cultivators operating in the mortal kingdom seems different from Ning Shuang’s Abyssal Lotus Sect,’ Su Bai deduced.

According to Ning Shuang, the Abyssal Lotus Sect operated like an elite institution. They kidnapped children with Spirit Roots and subjected them to brutal training.

However, the Gaunt Demon and his trafficking ring didn’t care about talent. They harvested massive quantities of standard mortals, butchering them to extract raw blood and souls.

’Different factions. Different business models,’ Su Bai realized. ’But both are equally ruthless monopolies that need to be dismantled.’

Su Bai landed in a secluded forest a mile outside Grand Radiance City. He stored his sword, pulled his scorched hood low, and took Yan’er by the hand.

Walking side-by-side, they looked like a tragic pair of beggar siblings wandering the roads. Yan’er gripped his hand tightly, then looked around the massive, bustling mortal city with absolute wonder.

As they navigated the crowded streets toward the Sect gates, Su Bai discreetly pulsed his Spiritual Sense.

He immediately noticed the spies. There were fewer of them than before his mission it seems, but they still lingered in the teahouses and alleys.

However, when the spies glanced at the ragged man and the dirty little girl, they quickly averted their gaze. They completely dismissed them as worthless mortals.

Su Bai breathed a quiet sigh of relief. ’They aren’t on high alert. It seems they are just standard market researchers keeping tabs on the Sect’s general movements, not a coordinated strike team preparing for a siege.’

Bypassing the main gates using a secure route, Su Bai covertly entered the Radiant Sky Sect.

His first stop was the Outer Sect Pavilion.

He intended to make Yan’er a formal disciple, but his corporate ethics presented a strict boundary. He despised nepotism. He couldn’t just bypass the system and drop a six-year-old directly into the Inner Sect. The rules of the sect states that everyone had to start from the bottom and go through proper onboarding.

However, he was willing to bend his principles slightly to ensure she had the absolute best working environment.

Walking into the Pavilion, he was quickly recognized by a group of Outer Sect disciples. Seeing the rising star of Clear Cloud Peak, they immediately rushed over to greet him.

"Senior Brother Su! You have returned!"

Su Bai nodded politely and gestured to the girl hiding behind his leg. "This is Yan’er. I found her in the northern region. She possesses a Spirit Root. I need you to process her intake into the Outer Sect."

"Of course, Senior Brother!" an older female disciple beamed, immediately crouching down to offer Yan’er a sweet.

"She must learn the rules and attend the briefings like everyone else. However... she is under my personal protection. See to it that she is kept entirely safe, well-fed, and comfortable. Once her orientation is complete, bring her up to Clear Cloud Peak."

The Outer Sect disciples nodded vigorously. The translation was loud and clear: If a single hair on her head is harmed, Clear Cloud Peak will rain hellfire upon us.

Within seconds, the female disciples were doting on Yan’er. They were completely overwhelmed by her adorable, polite demeanor. She was instantly unofficially crowned as the favored little sister of the Outer Sect.

Seeing that she was safe and surrounded by eager caretakers, Su Bai smiled warmly.

"Be good, Yan’er," Su Bai patted her head. "I will come see you very soon."

"I will, Big Brother!" she chirped bravely. She waved as the disciples led her toward the hall.

Having safely deposited his new intern, Su Bai didn’t waste another second. He immediately ascended the steep steps to Clear Cloud Peak.

At the summit, Lu Canghai was sitting beneath the tree, leisurely sipping a cup of hot tea. The moment Su Bai stepped onto the plateau, Lu Canghai’s sharp senses locked onto him. The old master turned. A warm smile broke across his weathered face.

But the moment Lu Canghai saw the scorched state of the Moon-Shadow Cloak and the dead-serious, completely unsmiling expression on his disciple’s face, the tea cup paused halfway to his lips.

Su Bai stepped forward and offered a deep, formal bow.

"Welcome back," Lu Canghai said. His voice was heavy with sudden gravity. "How did your first mission go?"

"Master," Su Bai began. "The situation is infinitely worse than a simple plague."

Without wasting a single breath, Su Bai delivered a flawless summary of the past few days. He detailed the plague being used as a smokescreen, the demonic trafficking ring harvesting mortal blood, and Inspector Zhao’s active collusion in covering up the supply lines. He explained how he had liquidated the operation and subsequently been hunted by the Righteous Bureau.

He deliberately omitted any mention of Ning Shuang. He kept the focus strictly on the structural corruption of the region.

Lu Canghai sat in absolute silence, listening to every word. With every sentence Su Bai spoke, the temperature on Clear Cloud Peak seemed to drop a few degrees.

First, a terrifying, protective fury flared in his eyes. "A Golden Core elder of the Righteous Bureau dared to use Dan Fire on my disciple?!"

Second, a deep, simmering anger toward the enemy. "The Demonic Sects have grown so brazen that they are slaughtering entire cities to farm blood pills under our very noses."

Third, a profound disgust at the hypocrisy of his peers. "And our own Righteous inspectors are balancing the ledgers for them..."

Lu Canghai let out a long, heavy sigh. He looked older, burdened by the realization that without the truly strong enforcing the rules, the world was rapidly slipping into a chaotic, corrupt mess.

"You have done incredibly well, my disciple," Lu Canghai praised sincerely. He was deeply surprised and immensely proud of his disciple’s terrifying intelligence-gathering capabilities.

In just a few days, Su Bai had unearthed more actionable data than their entire espionage division had found in a year.

"There is one final thing, Master," Su Bai added casually. He decided to drop the bomb. "While settling the aftermath, I crossed paths with a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Ancient Tang Clan. A woman named Tang Yuyan."

Lu Canghai suddenly choked on his own saliva. He coughed violently. His furious aura instantly shattered into pieces.

"She, ah..." Su Bai continued smoothly. "She specifically asked me if you were on your deathbed yet."

A deep, violent flush of red exploded across Lu Canghai’s weathered face. He aggressively cleared his throat, suddenly looking everywhere except at his disciple.

"Ahem! The... the Sect Master!" Lu Canghai declared loudly. He abruptly stood up and smoothed his robes with frantic, chaotic energy. "The Sect Master must hear of this demonic collusion immediately! The corruption of the Righteous Bureau is a matter of absolute, paramount urgency!"

"And Senior Tang?" Su Bai asked innocently.

"That is a matter for another fiscal quarter!" Lu Canghai barked. He summoned his flying sword in a blur of motion. "I am going to the Grand Hall! Rest your meridians, disciple!"

With a loud whoosh, the esteemed, terrifying master of Clear Cloud Peak practically fled into the sky. He left Su Bai standing alone in the courtyard, shaking his head with a highly amused smirk.