Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 274: Chapter 158: Holy Pill Sect

Lin Qing had managed the courier station for years and was no stranger to significant events, so naturally, Lin Miaomiao’s few words wouldn’t frighten her.

Covering her mouth with a smile, Lin Qing said, ”What are you talking about, sister? As the saying goes, if you’ve done nothing wrong, you won’t fear ghosts knocking at your door. I’ve always conducted myself properly, upright and honest—why would I slip up? But just because you showed concern for me, how about I host a feast for all our senior brothers and sisters today?”

Lin Miaomiao let out a cold snort and ignored Lin Qing.

”Let’s go!”

The Holy Pill Sect disciples followed Lin Miaomiao, leaving the station, with Gu Sheng among their ranks.

This time, they didn’t take Liu Erhu along.

On the road, Lin Miaomiao sidled up to Gu Sheng and asked, ”Brother Gu, do you really not know whom you’re working for?”

The Mu Clan Commerce Association wasn’t weak, and since Gu Sheng was appearing this time in his true identity, he shook his head helplessly and replied, ”No idea. This is my first time leaving Canghe County. I originally thought I’d join in for fun, see the world, and earn some extra money along the way. Who would’ve thought I’d get involved in something like this?”

Seeing that she couldn’t get anything out of him, Lin Miaomiao could only return to the front of the group, sighing deeply.

Lin Miaomiao and the others had their own riding mounts, a type of short-legged horse with pale yellow fur.

These mounts, aside from having horse-like heads, resembled leopards more in their bodies, even down to their fur and patterns, which bore about seventy percent similarity to a leopard’s. Gu Sheng could also sense a faint demonic aura from them, clearly marking them as beasts of demonic lineage.

Each disciple of the Holy Pill Sect had one such mount. At first, Gu Sheng had assumed Lin Miaomiao and her group were traveling on foot and hadn’t led his own horse from the station’s stable. Now, seeing everyone with a steed, he felt awkward.

”Uh, I’ve got a horse too, but it’s still in the station’s stable. Could you all wait a moment for me to go fetch it?”

Lin Miaomiao shook her head with a smile. ”Forget it! Your ordinary horse wouldn’t keep up with the leopards anyway. Since we’re in a hurry to return to the sect, you can ride with me.”

Saying so, Lin Miaomiao shifted backward on her mount, making space in front.

Looking at the space Lin Miaomiao had made, a memory from Gu Sheng’s previous life arose—that of riding a motorcycle as a kid, sitting on the tank in front while holding onto his dad. He hesitated awkwardly. ”Senior Sister, I’d be fine riding with someone else too.” As he said this, Gu Sheng specifically pointed to Mo Buwen.

Seeing Gu Sheng point to him, Mo Buwen’s expression grew strained.

”Brother Gu Sheng, it’s not that we don’t want to give you a ride. These leopards are temperamental, and if someone unfamiliar tries to ride them, they act out. With our level of skill, it’s tough to control them. Among all of us, only Senior Sister Lin can suppress them with sheer martial force. You’d better stick with her.”

Lin Miaomiao raised an eyebrow and joked with a smile, ”What’s the matter? It’s not like I’m a tiger; am I going to eat you or something?”

Gu Sheng approached Lin Miaomiao and pointed to the empty spot in front of the leopard. ”Then could Senior Sister move forward a bit? I’ll sit behind you instead.”

Lin Miaomiao was briefly stunned but quickly scooted forward, leaving room for Gu Sheng.

The leopard’s body was not long, and squeezing two people onto its back left them practically pressed against each other. Sitting behind Lin Miaomiao, Gu Sheng could even clearly smell the faint fragrance emanating from her.

Thankfully, Gu Sheng’s soul wasn’t that of a seventeen-year-old youth; otherwise, he might’ve made a fool of himself.

”We’re ready to depart. Hold onto me, or you might fall off later.”

”Huh? No need, I can stay steady!”

Lin Miaomiao didn’t insist, lightly pressing her legs against the leopard’s sides. The leopard bolted forward like an arrow leaving the bowstring at a speed that caught Gu Sheng off guard. Under the incredible momentum, he nearly got flung off. Luckily, he reacted quickly, instinctively clutching Lin Miaomiao’s waist tightly, preventing himself from being thrown off.

Lin Miaomiao, still a young maiden herself, had never been held by a man before. When she looked down at Gu Sheng’s firm grip, a blush crept across her delicate face.

”Brother Gu, loosen up a bit; I can barely breathe!”

Hearing her words, Gu Sheng realized he’d been gripping too firmly. Embarrassed, his face turned beet red as he quickly relaxed his hold, leaving his hands lightly around her waist just enough to avoid falling off.

The leopards truly lived up to their reputation as demonic beasts, traveling at more than three times the speed of ordinary horses. What would normally take two days was covered in just four or five hours.

”Here we are—this is the Holy Pill Sect!”

Lin Miaomiao dismounted from the leopard and pointed ahead to three towering spiritual peaks that stretched high into the clouds.

In front of Gu Sheng lay a wide path paved with green stone, flanked by a massive boulder over ten meters tall and about two meters wide.

Carved upon the boulder were the three characters for ”Holy Pill Sect,” written in a grand style. The brushstrokes exuded strength and vitality, clearly the work of a master. Upon closer inspection, faint chanting sounds could be heard as if some mysterious Daoist essence was infused within. The characters were filled with golden paint, shining brilliantly under the sunlight and radiating a sacred aura.

Past the boulder, the green stone path meandered onward, bordered by towering ancient trees whose lush foliage formed dense greenery. After walking roughly four to five hundred meters, the path split into three forks, each leading to a different peak.

Looking up at the three spiritual peaks, Gu Sheng couldn’t help but ask, ”Senior Sister, is the Holy Pill Sect located on these mountains?”

He had originally assumed sects were similar to clans, nestled within cities. But now, it appeared things were far from what he’d imagined.