NOVEL WEB chapter 172
172. Entering the City Lord’s Mansion as Heroes
What Linuo didn’t expect was that Liu Shuqin and Su Kexin had been waiting at this registration point for most of the day, showing their respect for talent.
However, in Linuo’s view, if these two could afford to wait for them, it meant that the sanctuary was still safe, and the various beasts had not yet launched a large-scale invasion.
If it were a national disaster, hardly anyone would stay here waiting for them; every Tom, Dick, and Harry would have been drafted to the battlefield.
Linuo and Lingmeng received the palm-sized, glittering Five-Star Group badges. Recalling those three smaller one-star badges that couldn’t even fill the palm, they seemed utterly weak in comparison.
They smoothly became members of the Five-Star Group. Ironically, the villainous master and disciple were now in cahoots with a group of righteous individuals.
If it weren’t for following her master’s orders, Lingmeng would never have acted as their partner, let alone harbor justice and defend the land and sanctuary against the fierce beasts.
After a set of procedures, they became members of the Zhengdao Group’s Five-Star Group, a part of the light of righteousness.
Linuo was still grateful that there was no real-name verification here; he and Lingmeng used pseudonyms, and they were none the wiser.
“Congratulations to both of you for becoming part of our Zhengdao Group’s Five-Star Team. Now, please follow us to the City Lord’s Mansion to meet the City Lord.”
Liu Shuqin continued to maintain her sweet smile, which would definitely be considered the epitome of a modern, sweet etiquette lady.
The Five-Star Team had few members, making it difficult to convene. As outsiders who had eliminated the “Poison Bee” assassin, their merit was high, and naturally, they would be summoned by the City Lord for thanks.
Lingmeng tugged at Linuo’s sleeve, and Linuo nodded at her, signaling that they could go.
“Alright.”
Linuo, with Lingmeng in tow, followed Liu Shuqin’s pace to the City Lord’s Mansion. He was bold enough to bring Lingmeng, a demoness of the magic path, to the City Lord’s Mansion, and they might even face various masters of the Five-Star Team.
However, Lingmeng was not particularly powerful at the moment, nor was she a particularly notorious demoness in the world. Plus, Linuo had taught her how to conceal her demonic aura and disguise herself. Currently, if Lingmeng did not actively use her demonic techniques, they would not be recognized.
They had killed the “Poison Bee,” and although it was by accident, the fact remained that they were heroes who vanquished evil. According to the principle of first impressions, they hadn’t done anything villainous, so no one would specifically suspect them of being major villains.
As an excellent villain, one could freely move within the righteous groups, hidden among them, ready to erupt in silence, destroying heaven and earth.
This was also a good opportunity to train Lingmeng. In the past, she was too arrogant and ostentatious, as if she was afraid others wouldn’t know she practiced demon magic. Now, it was perfect; becoming an excellent villain meant striking when necessary, where both martial power and strategy were essential.
The City Lord’s Mansion was grand and luxurious. Upon entering, they were greeted by rows of soldiers standing in formation to welcome them.
Faced with such a display, Lingmeng felt uneasy, sensing danger all around her, as if everyone, except Linuo, wanted to kill her.
Linuo patted Lingmeng’s shoulder and said with a light laugh, “Take it slow, don’t be nervous, you’ll get used to it. You are the future’s chosen one; such a small occasion is nothing for you.”
Encouraged by Linuo’s expectant gaze, Lingmeng felt a surge of motivation.
Indeed, if her master could walk through such environments with ease and without panic, she couldn’t allow herself to fall too far behind.
Linuo and Lingmeng, both cloaked in light grey, walked together like two wizards who had mastered arcane arts, only missing a magical staff in hand.
The City Lord was a man in his forties, dressed in bright clothes, friendly and approachable. Seeing Liu Shuqin bringing people over, he personally went to greet them.
“Li has long admired the great names of you two. Seeing you today is indeed extraordinary. Thank you both for ridding the people of evil…”
Linuo listened to the City Lord’s plethora of polite words with an indifferent face, in one ear and out the other. After all, he was from the prestigious Lin family and had heard plenty of such official platitudes.
What he cared about now was when they would go to the Holy Altar. Joining the Five-Star Team was for the sake of going to the Holy Altar, not to live off the salary and idle away his time.
“Please wait here in the mansion for a while. Once the other members of the Five-Star Team arrive, we have important matters to discuss.”
“Alright.”
Linuo agreed to stay temporarily in the City Lord’s Mansion, also taking the opportunity to see what he could freeload.
…
In the back garden of the City Lord’s Mansion, Linuo and Lingmeng sat in the pavilion.
“Master, I really don’t want to stay here anymore. I don’t like the people here.”
“Stay calm, this is part of your cultivation. If you can get along with these people, it means you have grown. Remember, understanding your opponent is also one of the important means to defeat them.”
“But, I feel so uncomfortable here. Those people keep talking about righteousness and virtue, and it annoys me. I don’t want to deal with them. Hmm… suddenly I feel so sleepy…”
Lingmeng yawned, perhaps because she had eaten too much at noon and then talked with Linuo for a long time, feeling a bit drowsy.
“They have prepared a guest room for us; you can go rest for a while,” Lin Nuo pointed to the guest rooms ahead.
“Then let’s rest together, a bed squeezed together is still enough for two,” Ling Meng giggled.
“I’ll stay here, just in case something big happens and I need to know right away.”
Lin Nuo said calmly, “Go ahead, it’s right in front, I’m watching. If something big happens, I’ll wake you up.”
“Alright then.”
Ling Meng stretched lazily and rubbed her eyes as she walked towards the guest room. In the past, she wouldn’t have been so careless as to nap in a place like the lord’s mansion, but with her own master Lin Nuo there, she felt at ease.
After all, with her master to bear the brunt, she felt there was no problem resting in the guest room as he suggested.
Before closing the door, Ling Meng didn’t forget to throw a coquettish glance at Lin Nuo, but he didn’t pay her any mind, instead taking out a pork floss bun from his pocket and starting to nibble on it.
The lord’s mansion was vast, with several back gardens, and the one where Lin Nuo was had few passersby, which suited him just fine. Otherwise, every passerby would greet him with a curse from Zaun, which was unbearable.
It was uncomfortable to have his mouth and nose wrapped in a cloth all day; he had to pull it down to eat something.
Just after finishing one pork floss bun and getting ready to start on the second, he saw a dignified and elegant young girl approaching with a tray in her hands.
It was the eldest senior sister, Liu Shuqin, walking towards him with a smile on her face.
Lin Nuo quickly stuffed the other pork floss bun back into his clothing and wrapped his mouth and nose with the cloth again, lest Liu Shuqin see him.
Lin Nuo casually watched the water splashes in the river, and only when Liu Shuqin’s footsteps drew near did he pretend to turn his gaze towards her subconsciously.
Her tray held various pastries, hot dishes, and soups, with steam rising from the hot food and soup.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Wu, I’ve made some vegetable soup and pastries, especially for you to try. Please don’t disdain them,” Liu Shuqin said as she brought the dishes before Lin Nuo, who lit up at the sight.
Weren’t these all his favorite soups?