We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real?

Chapter 532: He Seems Never to Have Thought of Going Back Alive (2 in 1)

Before he knew it, Xiao Mo had already been in Flowing Sand City for nearly half a month.

During these days, aside from quietly cultivating in the courtyard each day, Xiao Mo spent the rest of his time learning about every kind of situation around Flowing Sand City.

When he learned that the former front-line commander had actually been the ruler of the Heavenly Demon Kingdom, he already had a faint premonition that his days on the front line from here on out would likely not be easy.

However, he did not pay it too much mind.

As for Xiangniang in the courtyard, she remained just as she had been before, twisting her waist in front of him every day and coming over to tease him now and then.

But Xiao Mo also remained as he had been before, keeping exactly the right distance from her.

By comparison, the woman named Xin Xiao’er gave off an impression as cold as ice.

Every day, she came and went alone. She never greeted anyone, nor had she ever taken the initiative to say a single word.

Xiao Mo felt that everyone had their own temperament, so he did not disturb her either.

Xiangniang, on the other hand, always muttered under her breath whenever she saw it, “What is she pretending for?” Her expression was full of disdain.

Fifteen days later, Xiao Mo received his first mission after arriving in Flowing Sand City—the Myriad Demon Alliance ordered him to serve as a scout and investigate the Heavenly Demon Alliance’s military situation.

When that administrative officer handed the mission to Xiao Mo, Xiangniang immediately frowned. With one hand on her hip and the other pointing straight at the administrative officer’s nose, she began cursing.

“Are you people bullying him too much? My man has only been in Flowing Sand City for half a month. He hasn’t even learned the place properly, and you’re making him serve as a scout? Isn’t that the same as sending him to his death?”

“This is an order from above. It has nothing to do with us.”

Expressionless, the administrative officer handed the mission jade token that symbolized the identity of a scout into Xiao Mo’s hand, then turned and left.

“Tomorrow at dawn. Remember to come to the city gate.”

“Hey! Stop right there! Are your ears deaf? Hey!”

Shrewish and furious, Xiangniang chased after them, dead set on making them give her an explanation.

But Xiao Mo caught her arm.

“Xiangniang, leave it.”

Xiao Mo shook his head.

“How can I leave it?”

Xiangniang was so angry her whole body trembled, and her voice rose by eight degrees.

“Of the cultivators sent on scout missions, not even one in ten comes back alive. Since when do they send cultivators who just arrived in Flowing Sand City out for that? Isn’t this obviously bullying him? I bet their mothers got itchy and went rutting with some dog demon to give birth to beasts like them!”

“But Xiangniang, what use is there in going to argue with them? It would only waste your effort.”

Xiao Mo gave a faint smile, turned, and walked back into the courtyard. His expression showed no concern at all for his own safety.

“Enough. It is already noon. Come in and eat first.”

“Young Master... Xiao Mo... you... you’ll die...”

Xiangniang was so anxious she stamped her feet, lifted her skirt, and ran angrily into the courtyard.

Inside the courtyard, Xiangniang continued earnestly advising Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo listened to all of it seriously, but Xiangniang kept feeling that it simply went in one ear and out the other, as if he did not care about his own safety at all.

After lunch, Xiangniang told Xiao Mo she had something to do and went out.

By the time she returned in the afternoon, there was already another jade token at her waist, carved with the two words “Scout.”

“Xiangniang, this was not necessary.”

There was a trace of helplessness in Xiao Mo’s tone.

He understood in his heart that Xiangniang had volunteered to join tomorrow’s scout team, and in all likelihood, it was because of him.

“That is my business, not yours.”

Xiangniang gave a snort, turned, and walked into her room.

Xiao Mo looked at her tightly shut door, sighed softly, and shook his head.

The next day, before dawn, while the night had yet to fade completely, Xiao Mo and Xiangniang arrived beneath Flowing Sand City.

At this time, eight other cultivators were already waiting there.

Among these eight people, six were human and two were demons.

Moreover, today’s scouting mission did not involve only the ten of them.

They were merely one squad among many.

Some squads even had nine humans and only one demon.

From this, it was clear that in the eyes of the Myriad Demon Alliance, the status of humans was only slightly better than cannon fodder.

It was only because the chaotic age had arrived and the Demon Alliance had gradually realized that human cultivators had some value worth winning over that it had improved the treatment of human cultivators.

But deep in the hearts of those demons, they still looked down on human cultivators.

“I will lead the team this time.”

The demon cultivator named Zhou Huayu spoke to the group, his tone steady and cold.

“Today’s mission is mainly to determine the Heavenly Demon Alliance’s troop formation. This trip is extremely dangerous. Everyone must prioritize preserving your own life.”

Xiao Mo and the others nodded, then set off together.

The morning wind was cool. Only a thin line of pale dawn had just appeared at the edge of the sky when ten figures quietly vanished into the dimness outside Flowing Sand City.

Along the way, the cultivators in the same team cast glances at Xiangniang from time to time, most of them eager to come over and strike up a conversation with her.

With effortless ease, Xiangniang managed to draw out their personalities and rough backgrounds from every word they said.

Most of them had participated in scout missions several times before. Only Xiao Mo and she were newcomers.

About two hours later, Xiao Mo and the others quietly arrived at the location they were to investigate.

Everyone hid their auras separately, gazing from afar at the Heavenly Demon Alliance’s military camp. Without pause, they recorded and sketched the camp’s layout, estimated the number of cultivators, and surveyed the terrain and roads around the camp.

Just as Xiao Mo thought everything was going relatively smoothly, one of the cultivators in their team carelessly exposed his tracks.

And according to past experience, once one person was exposed, it would not take long before the others were quickly dragged out as well.

“Go!”

Through a jade talisman, Zhou Huayu urgently shouted to Xiao Mo and the others.

Afterward, Zhou Huayu did not hesitate in the slightest and shot off alone in one direction.

Almost at the same moment, the other cultivators also scattered in different directions and fled.

“Damn it, they’re running just like that?”

Xiangniang cursed. She had not even had time to react.

“We go too!”

Xiao Mo gave a low shout to Xiangniang beside him and immediately activated his spell art, flying rapidly into the distance.

However, even though Xiao Mo was already fleeing extremely fast, the Heavenly Demon Alliance’s cultivators still swiftly surrounded them.

“Well now. I didn’t expect to run into such a pretty fox today.”

The leading Heavenly Demon Alliance cultivator licked his lips, his eyes filled with greed.

“Kill the man. As for this vixen, we brothers can all have some fun together!”

“Big Brother, I think this man is rather handsome too. How about... you let me have a taste of him?”

A snake demon twisted forward, flicking its scarlet tongue.

“Bah!”

Xiangniang spat hard and burst into curses.

“Why don’t you piss and look at your own damned faces first? You want to touch me? Are you worthy? Ugly bastards. I bet the thing between your legs is as disgusting as an earthworm!”

“Whether it’s an earthworm or not, you’ll get a proper taste of it in a moment!”

The leading cultivator gave a cold laugh and suddenly swept his hand down.

“Take them!”

“Young Master, I’ll hold them off. Hurry and run!”

Xiangniang lowered her voice and spoke urgently to Xiao Mo beside her.

“I should not need you to cover me yet.”

Xiao Mo lifted his hand, and a fresh breeze suddenly swept past.

In the next instant, Xiangniang looked on in shock as the cultivators closing in on them all came to a stop at once.

They seemed to have seen something utterly terrifying. Their eyes were filled with endless fear, and every face turned ashen.

“No! Don’t kill me! Don’t!”

For no clear reason, the Heavenly Demon Alliance cultivators began fleeing in every direction.

But before they could fly even half a li away, their souls were extinguished one after another. Only empty husks remained, completely without life.

Xiangniang turned her head and saw that Xiao Mo was still standing where he had been, yet strange ripples of spiritual power spread from around him, wave after wave.

Xiangniang could not help recalling the day she had drugged Xiao Mo, thinking she had finally succeeded.

In the end, she had merely fallen into his illusion art.

And now, she had truly witnessed just how frightening Xiao Mo’s illusion art actually was.

“While we can, let’s leave quickly.”

Xiao Mo spoke to Xiangniang, his tone calm and composed.

“Y-yes...”

Xiangniang hurriedly came back to herself, swiftly took out the demon cores from those Heavenly Demon Alliance cultivators one by one, then flew away from the dangerous area together with Xiao Mo.

After returning to Flowing Sand City, Xiao Mo and Xiangniang waited for a full four hours, but the cultivators who had gone with them still did not return.

They understood in their hearts that those people had most likely met with disaster.

According to the rules, if someone failed to return for four hours past the deadline, Xiao Mo and Xiangniang could treat them as dead and proceed to the City Lord’s Residence’s Affairs Hall to report the completion of the mission.

The Myriad Demon Alliance had nine Affairs Halls in total.

And the Affairs Hall Xiao Mo went to was overseen by a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator from the Mountains-and-Rivers Sect.

“Xiao Mo, it has been a long time.”

Inside the Affairs Hall, when Chen Jue, who was seated beside the elder, saw Xiao Mo, the corner of his mouth curved slightly, his smile carrying a meaning that could not quite be described.

It seemed Chen Jue had been waiting here for Xiao Mo for some time.

Of course, what he wanted even more was to wait for news of Xiao Mo’s death, not for the man himself.

“It has indeed been a long time.”

Xiao Mo looked at Chen Jue, not surprised in his heart.

“I did not expect that the dignified attendant of Tushan’s holy daughter would also come to the front line to die.”

Chen Jue’s tone carried unconcealed mockery.

“In this chaotic age, who can truly remain untouched?”

Xiao Mo had no wish to waste words with him. He simply took out the completed military camp deployment map and the surrounding terrain map, presented them together with the ten demon cores, then bowed to the elder seated in the main position.

“This scouting mission has been fully recorded on the maps. In addition, we killed ten demon cultivators of the Heavenly Demon Alliance. I ask Senior to examine them.”

“Mm.”

Elder Jin of the Affairs Hall nodded slightly. With a light hook of his finger, the terrain map and ten demon cores landed steadily in his palm.

“Two demon cores from Golden Core Realm cultivators, three from the Dragon Gate Realm, and five from the Cave Dwelling Realm. This terrain map is indeed drawn quite well.”

Elder Jin nodded in approval. Then, with a sweep of his hand, two hundred points of military merit appeared on each of the jade tokens at Xiao Mo’s and Xiangniang’s waists.

“You completed this mission very well. You may withdraw.”

Elder Jin waved his hand, his tone flat. He did not ask why only the two of them had returned alive.

It was as if, in the eyes of the Myriad Demon Alliance, as long as the mission could be completed, it did not matter even if only one person returned.

“Yes, Elder.”

Xiao Mo and Xiangniang bowed, then withdrew.

Chen Jue watched Xiao Mo’s departing back. His expression gradually darkened, and a trace of unwilling killing intent flashed through his eyes.

“Enough, enough. Put away that look in your eyes.”

Elder Jin’s tone was unhurried.

“This Xiao Mo is indeed not simple. He was discovered, yet still managed to kill ten demon cultivators and break out. That proves he is no ordinary person.”

“Hmph! Perhaps he was merely lucky!”

Chen Jue sneered, his eyes filled with disdain.

“I’d like to see whether he can have such good luck next time!”

“Heh heh heh... Whether it was luck or not, since that one wants him dead, this uncle of yours will naturally help you.”

Elder Jin lifted his teacup and took a calm sip, his expression composed.

“Your father has already told me everything. The one from Tushan values you highly. If you can kill Xiao Mo, she will arrange the marriage between you and Tushan Jingci.”

“For you, this is not merely an opportunity. For the Heavenly Demon Kingdom, it is an opportunity that comes once in a thousand years.”

“But before that, you must keep your composure. Do you understand?”

Chen Jue stepped down from his seat and gave Elder Jin a deep bow, his tone solemn and firm.

“Yes! Uncle Jin, your nephew understands!”

......

“Young Master, does that First Prince of the Heavenly Demon Kingdom, Chen Jue, have some grudge with you?”

After leaving the Affairs Hall, Xiangniang tilted her head and asked Xiao Mo curiously.

“If we’re talking about it, it was something from back at Cold Mountain Academy.”

Xiao Mo spoke briefly.

“At the time, I beat up his book boy. As for Chen Jue, in order to leave a good impression in front of Jingci, he took the initiative to apologize to Jingci. In the end, Jingci instead made him come apologize to me.”

Thinking back on those memories from his youth, a faint smile rose at the corner of Xiao Mo’s mouth.

Xiangniang was slightly stunned as she listened. Her eyes blinked softly, and she asked with some surprise, “Then... did Chen Jue apologize to you in the end, Young Master?”

“He did.”

Xiao Mo nodded, his tone calm.

“......”

Xiangniang could not help lowering her head. Her brows furrowed slightly, as if she were thinking over something.

In her view, if Chen Jue had refused to apologize back then, she could feel somewhat more at ease now.

But the other party was a prince of the Heavenly Demon Kingdom. Back then, he had been young and hot-blooded, at the age when one was least willing to admit defeat, yet he had truly lowered his head and apologized to a human.

Even if it had been because of Young Lady Jingci.

That capacity to endure humiliation was enough to make one vigilant.

“There is no need to think too much. We only need to do our own part.”

Xiao Mo knew what she was thinking and spoke calmly.

As he spoke, he transferred all the military merit accumulated on the jade pendant at his waist to Xiangniang.

“On this battlefield, if you want even the most basic ability to protect yourself, you need to step into the Golden Core Realm at the very least. Take this military merit for now. Once you have saved enough, exchange it for some rare cultivation treasures and try to break through. Otherwise, next time, you may not even know how you died.”

Xiangniang stared blankly at Xiao Mo, almost thinking she had heard wrong. Only after a moment did she come back to herself.

“Xiao Mo... you... don’t tell me you’ve fallen for me?”

Xiao Mo calmly shook his head, his tone frank.

“I am not giving you this military merit without conditions.”

“Conditions?”

Xiangniang immediately became interested. She leaned a little closer, her eyes rippling with playful charm.

“What conditions? Could it be you want this humble woman to give herself to you? That is not entirely impossible, you know.”

“There is no need for you to give yourself to me.”

Xiao Mo looked straight at Xiangniang.

“I only may need you to help me do one thing.”

“What thing?”

Xiangniang asked in confusion.

“It is hard to say right now, but when the time comes, Xiangniang, you will naturally know.”

Xiao Mo said no more and stepped forward.

Xiangniang looked at Xiao Mo’s back, her expression somewhat dazed.

For some reason, Xiangniang had a feeling—

It was as if... this trip to the front line...

He had never thought of returning alive...