Chapter 59: Calling Someone ‘Senior Brother’ Isn’t the Same as Calling Them ‘Husband’

The immortal carriage, sponsored by Shen Liwan, wasn’t as luxurious and grand as Fang Wuyu’s immortal boat. However, it was purple and white throughout, able to traverse mountains as if they were flat ground, and engraved with the signature celestial crane emblem of the Supreme Clarity Sect.

As it moved, a gentle breeze caressed their faces and mist-like immortal clouds swirled around them.

Anyone who saw it on the road would immediately recognize that the immortal carriage was no ordinary object. It had to belong to an immortal.

Ye Province was not a big place. As a remote city-state in the mortal realm, it had barely seen a few immortals in the past hundred years.

That was exactly why the residents’ reaction was so strange.

Using his spiritual sense, Ning Mingmei saw that the people on the road were merely dragging themselves home listlessly. Some seemed exhausted, others lost in thought. The few who glanced at the Supreme Clarity Sect’s carriage quickly lowered their heads and returned to their own business, looking just as lifeless as before.

It was as if they were entirely absorbed in their own worlds.

For mortals who revered the path of immortality, such behavior was extremely odd.

Ning Mingmei mused, [Well, maybe it’s not that strange. Maybe the entire city is just socially anxious.]

Like they had entered a low-desire society ahead of their time.

For all he knew, behind closed doors, those residents might have hundreds of manga piled up, dozens of bottles of carbonated drinks, and more AI virtual idols in their phones than they had time to chat with.

However, atop a distant tower, someone was running toward the city, heading west, likely to report their arrival. So Ning Mingmei told the disciples, “Slow the carriage. Don’t enter the city before they personally come to receive us.”

The fifteenth disciple, who was driving, was confused. “Master, what’s the logic behind this?”

Ning Mingmei replied, “It’s like the positioning of two cups during a toast. The order in which things happen determines whether the project will succeed.”

He didn’t explain further, leaving the fifteenth disciple utterly baffled. Only the system sensed a certain wickedness in his words.

What should have been a five-minute journey was dragged into a crawl by the Supreme Clarity Sect group.

The other disciples, still unaccustomed to Ning Mingmei’s shameless ways, were sweating in embarrassment. Only Ning Mingmei remained perfectly composed, as if only everyone around him was suffering social embarrassment together, he himself was immune.

Even the famously sharp-tongued beauty Gui Ruoxue was visibly uncomfortable, his brows tightly knitted. “Can’t you just hurry up?”

Ning Mingmei replied, “Why are you so anxious? The people of Ye Province aren’t even looking at you. Doesn’t this unusual local culture give you a sense of belonging instead?”

Guo Ruoxue: …

Many times, he felt that Ning Mingmei’s mind had some issues.

He snorted coldly, “What exactly do you want to do?”

Ning Mingmei said to the system, [Guo Ruoxue is, after all, just a technical talent, lacking social experience. But I don’t plan to tell him the true meaning of my actions. After all, a postdoc is not a disciple, just someone working for me.]

If he couldn’t secure a teaching position, working for free for a few more decades wouldn’t be too bad.

The system: [On your first day in Ye Province, the entire city saw you as mentally unstable. That doesn’t seem like a sign of strong social skills either… Why are you moving so slowly?]

Ning Mingmei: [Because cherry blossoms fall at a speed of five micrometers per second.]

?

The system only later understood Ning Mingmei’s logic. Whenever he was too lazy to explain, he would throw out a cryptic saying. That way, the person asking the question would be so confused they’d fall into deep thought and stop bothering him.

Moving slowly, Ning Mingmei continued scanning the pedestrians around him.

This time, he saw it clearly.

The motion of rubbing joints.

Almost every passerby on the street had, at some point, rubbed their joints.

As they crawled along at a snail’s pace, the people who had come to greet them finally appeared.

“We sincerely apologize, sincerely apologize! We did not know an esteemed immortal from the Supreme Clarity Sect would be visiting and we have failed to welcome you properly!

“A few days ago, we received a letter from your sect, stating that the immortal had agreed to visit Ye Province and was already on the way, but we couldn’t be certain of the exact arrival date. Not being able to wait at the city gates to welcome you is truly our oversight!”

Ye Province gave the Supreme Clarity Sect a proper reception. The middle-aged man at the forefront was dressed modestly yet elegantly, clearly an influential figure in the city. Not to mention the other officials and wealthy figures standing on both sides.

But Ning Mingmei immediately noticed, “You’re not the City Lord.”

The middle-aged man showed an apologetic expression. “The Royal General has been suffering from a chronic illness in recent years. Now that it’s spring again, his condition has worsened. He is truly unable to leave the city to greet you. Nowadays, when the lord is unable to handle affairs, the three of us assist in governance.”

He was referring to the three people standing at the very front.

The first was himself, the Deputy City Lord, a descendant of the general’s lieutenant, responsible for administrative affairs.

The second was an elderly man in a green robe, an advisor.

The third was a minor official sent by the mortal realm’s imperial court who had an unfortunate appearance. Mentioning him was merely a courtesy to the imperial court. He probably had no real power and was just passing his days idly.

Ning Mingmei nodded but did not get out of the carriage. The mortals didn’t dare to mind and had to plead repeatedly before they finally managed to invite him into the city.

Along the way, the Deputy City Lord walked beside the carriage, speaking non-stop, as if afraid Ning Mingmei would bear a grudge and think they were deliberately slighting him.

Ning Mingmei said to the system, [Just as I said, by making them personally escort me into the city, I have asserted my dominance in Ye Province.]

The system: [Are you sure it’s not because they suspect you have some kind of mental disorder and are treating you with ‘respect’ out of fear?]

More like the fear that you might suddenly go mad and start killing people.

The system suddenly felt that Ning Mingmei was in an unusually good mood. Normally, Ning Mingmei wouldn’t bother chatting with it about such trivial matters.

When did his mood improve…?

It seemed to have happened right after Lian Chengyue got so angry he started barking like a dog?

The system glanced suspiciously at Lian Chengyue, who was lying in the back. The little troublemaker had fainted again after being force-fed medicine.

…

Was he taking advantage of the opportunity to bully him while he still could?

Outside the carriage, the Deputy City Lord continued to display his enthusiasm, chattering on.

Ning Mingmei casually asked, “Who sent you the letter?”

It was probably Shen Liwan.

After all, Shen Liwan was the administrative elder in charge of this area. This kind of matter would be within his purview.

But the Deputy City Lord unexpectedly named someone else. “Sect Master Qi of the Supreme Clarity Sect.

“Sect Master Qi specifically instructed us, saying that you are his junior martial brother. The fact that you were willing to personally descend the mountain is a great honor for Ye Province and we must treat you well. Even though immortals are not interested in mundane affairs, we absolutely must not neglect you. So, even though we didn’t know you were arriving today, we have already prepared everything according to your preferences.”

Ning Mingmei was a little surprised. “Oh?”

So that meant all expenses for the trip would be covered by the locals?

“Sect Master Qi also said that although you are simple-minded, your abilities are extraordinary and that you will surely help us solve our problems.”

That letter had actually come from Sect Master Qi? That was quite unexpected.

A vision of Sect Master Qi’s graceful demeanor and a warm smile flashed through Ning Mingmei’s mind, but his expression remained unchanged as he said, “Senior Brother is truly considerate.”

Hearing that the two martial brothers were indeed close, the Deputy City Lord beamed with joy.

Only the system questioned Ning Mingmei. [Don’t you hate Sect Master Qi?]

Ning Mingmei adjusted his glasses. [When did I ever say I hated my senior brother? This is another chance to showcase my background. I can’t afford to miss it.]

With one sentence from Senior Brother Qi, the budget report had turned into a fake expense report and the two million from Senior Brother Yin could now be pocketed entirely. One senior brother had money and another had power. With the authority behind Senior Brother Qi’s words, he was certainly worth a proper ‘Senior Brother’ title.

The system: …

Too shameless, so shameless that Ning Mingmei deserved to be electrocuted until he meowed.

The group continued eastward.

Ning Mingmei asked, “Am I not staying at the Royal General’s mansion?”

The Deputy City Lord replied, “The Royal General’s mansion is in this direction…”

As he spoke, he seemed to realize something and his tone suddenly became subtle. “Did someone say something to you, Immortal Master Ning…?”

Realizing he had misspoken, he immediately lowered his voice.

How strange.

From the tower, people saw Ning Mingmei and his group arriving, but they clearly ran toward the western side of the city.

An immortal had come to Ye Province to subdue demons and evil spirits, yet instead of reporting to their master in the east, they ran west. Who were they reporting to?

The Royal General’s mansion was indeed grand, worthy of a residence personally ordered to be built by the Emperor. A plaque inscribed with ‘Loyal and Righteous’ in the handwriting of the late emperor hung above the entrance. The people of Ye Province lined up in neat rows, respectfully waiting for the immortals to step out of their carriages.

The Deputy City Lord and others had only heard the immortal’s voice along the way but had yet to see him.

But his disciples, elegant and graceful like jade trees, must mean the immortal himself was even more…

Huh?

Huh? Huh huh?

Ning Mingmei was used to the shock his appearance caused. He merely glanced at the crowd and said, “Since that’s the case, please show us your…”

A maid came forward and whispered a few words to the Deputy City Lord. He nodded and was just about to say that His Lordship was receiving treatment.

But Ning Mingmei’s next word was, “Sincerity.”

Then he turned and instructed Guo Ruoxue, “Carry him.”

The ‘him,’ of course, referred to Lian Chengyue, who was still unconscious after enduring bitter medicine.

The shocked Deputy City Lord: …

Calling him simple-minded, well, the sword immortal really was simple-minded!

The other disciples: …

Master, isn’t it improper to enslave an unfamiliar female doctor to carry a child?

Guo Ruoxue swallowed his frustration and carried the child.

Ning Mingmei, having once again bullied the so-called vicious beauty, paid him no attention.

Instead, he noticed one thing among the people welcoming them at the mansion.

The Royal General who had lived for over four hundred years had no descendants.

***

Sect Master Qi’s instructions had certainly been effective. The residence arranged for them in the mansion was meticulously decorated, even more refined than the one in Yaochuan City that cost ten thousand a night. Most of the antiques inside were imperial gifts, proving that the Royal General’s mansion had indeed been prosperous for centuries; perhaps for far too long.

But from the flowers and plants outside to the furnishings inside, Ning Mingmei could tell that the wealth hadn’t been properly maintained for a long time.

Just like its owner who no longer cared about such things.

Ning Mingmei remarked, [A once-glorious legacy has already decayed, leaving behind only the last embers flickering in the wind.]

The system, unexpectedly moved, said, [I didn’t expect you to have such a poetic side.]

Ning Mingmei: [Since that’s the case, any idle funds might as well go to me. Looks like I can squeeze out more than just six million from here. My lab could really use a lakeside pavilion. I might as well build a Celestial Mountain Hot Spring Resort on Misty Peak…]

The system: …

Its electrodes itched again.

Ning Mingmei: [Fang Wuyu spends money to get things done, while Sect Master Qi gets things done with just a few words. Now that I think about it, Sect Master Qi is the real winner. Power is different indeed. A single sentence can move mountains and he still gets to act like a righteous, uncorrupt man. Unlike the wealthy, who always get called vulgar and money-grubbing. Truly, what a good senior brother he is!]

The system: [There it is again, the good senior brother. So, in the end, they are all your senior brothers, huh?”

Ning Mingmei adjusted his glasses. [Of course. Calling someone ‘senior brother’ isn’t like calling someone ‘husband.’ You can call as many as you like.]

…If there weren’t disciples outside, the system would have really wanted to electrocute him. The system asked, [Ning Mingmei, why do I feel like you have a bias against Sect Master Qi?]

Ning Mingmei sat on the bed, furiously writing and drawing on calculation paper. [Do I?]

The system: [You do. Very much so. Come to think of it, has Sect Master Qi ever done anything to wrong you? He helped you, gave you swords, cared for you, treated your injuries, sent you furniture, provided budget funds, and even entrusted others to take care of you… Why do you dislike him so much?]

Ning Mingmei: [Do I?]

The system: [When it comes to giving money, I feel like you’re much more favorable toward Fang Wuyu.]

Ning Mingmei: [They’re all my senior brothers. When have I ever played favorites?]

…Ning Mingmei’s shamelessness was truly speechless-inducing. The system paused for a moment before saying, [But Sect Master Qi really is a good person. In the original story, aside from being weak and a bit too trusting… he always sincerely cared about the sect. Even though he ultimately dragged down the original Ning Mingmei, he was still a genuinely good person.]

The system meant it sincerely.

In the original story, Sect Master Qi, out of pure-hearted devotion, self-destructed to save the sect. His fate was rather tragic.

The system added, [Besides, he’s going to die in ten years anyway. You don’t need to waste too much time on him.]

Ning Mingmei: [Oh? So you provide end-of-life care for other NPCs too? I thought you only wanted to play mother to Lian Chengyue.]

The system: [Well, changing Lian Chengyue’s fate line lets me extract the most energy from this world. As for what happens afterward, he…]

Silence.

Like a hidden beast beneath its ‘exaggerated care’ suddenly revealing a sliver of its fangs.

The system suddenly stopped talking, and then quickly changed the subject. [I’m just trying to help you, so you don’t waste effort on meaningless things and focus on what actually benefits you.]

Tsk.

Qi Miancheng.

Once everything was settled, Ning Mingmei finally led his disciples outside to join the Deputy City Lord and head toward the City Lord’s mansion.

The City Lord’s chamber was even dimmer than the rest of the mansion. Thin curtains hung everywhere, making it poorly ventilated. A scent of medicinal herbs lingered in the air; sweet yet metallic, intoxicating yet nauseating.

Someone went ahead to report their arrival and in the meantime, Ning Mingmei used his spiritual sense to scan the room.

There were no ghosts inside, but there was someone else.

Someone… with an unusual soul.