NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 5: The Patron
Snow began to fall on Bixue Peak.
The mist swirled around the mountain ridges, and the white snow set against the layers of clouds beneath created a breathtaking scene.
The world was vast and boundless, and a lone figure in white stood atop the summit of Feilai Peak, gazing down at the sea of clouds below.
The figure was none other than Ji Rong.
She still wasn't accustomed to the unpredictable weather of the cultivation world. Clad in light silk garments, she found it too cold, so she draped a crane cloak over herself and quietly admired the scenery.
Life in the cultivation world was serene, seemingly far removed from the clamor of the mundane world.
Of course, it was only seemingly.
At this moment, Ji Rong stood at the mountaintop, her eyes taking in the beauty of the snow-covered landscape, but the electronic voice in her mind was nothing short of annoying.
"Good morning, dear player~! A new quest, 'Treasure Hunt at the Market,' has been released. Please complete it before the public trial begins."
"By the way, congratulations! Due to your outstanding performance in yesterday's special storyline, the system has unlocked the 'expression' feature for you. You now have the freedom to express emotions!"
And just like that, her perfect morning was shattered.
Ji Rong sighed as she looked at the snowy view and spoke to the system, "I have a significant question."
"If you have questions, dear player, feel free to ask! Your assistant is here to help!"
"My question is… what kind of firewall can completely isolate a Trojan horse like you?"
"Dear player, we advise you to abandon such thoughts. After all, I am the firewall and cannot be deleted under normal circumstances."
"And under abnormal circumstances?"
"Well, under abnormal circumstances, if you're gone, I'm gone too."
Ji Rong offered her best wishes, "Then I sincerely hope you live a long and prosperous life."
"Senior Sister… what are you talking about?"
Behind Ji Rong, Liu Ningxue had been watching her for a while.
Her senior sister's silhouette was ethereal in the mist, and the words she uttered were as elusive as a flower in the mirror or the moon's reflection in the water.
Ji Rong turned around, her expression serious as she spouted nonsense to Liu Ningxue. "It's nothing. I simply dreamed of an enlightened master last night and had an epiphany. I was just reviewing it."
Liu Ningxue smiled. "I see."
Then she turned to the man beside her and said, "Senior Brother Wei, this is Senior Sister Ji."
Only then did Ji Rong notice the man standing next to Liu Ningxue.
He wore a green robe overlaid with a white cloak and held a jade-bone folding fan in his hand. He looked at her with a polite smile.
He cupped his hands in greeting and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Wei Zongqiu."
Ji Rong returned the gesture. "A pleasure."
The system, surprisingly, did not interrupt with an intrusive introduction this time. After all, Wei Zongqiu was too well-known in the game.
First, because of his extraordinary background and reputation for wealth.
Second, because he was infamous in the Wan Jian Sect for his sharp tongue, to the extent that even the gentle and kind Elder Mei He had been provoked to anger by him.
When tasked with overseeing the outer sect examinations, no one dared cheat under his watch.
Getting caught cheating was a minor issue. The real problem was Wei Zongqiu's scathing remarks, which could demoralize anyone. He would sigh in anguish and say, "This exam is so simple that even a chicken pecking at random grains could score an A. To think our sect has reached a day where humans are inferior to chickens—what a tragedy!"
Despite his sharp tongue, the protagonist later befriended Wei Zongqiu in the game and gained access to a generous supply of free talismans.
High-grade talismans worth 300 jade spirits, all free—what a steal.
As Ji Rong looked at Wei Zongqiu, she couldn't help but feel that he radiated a golden glow, much like a walking money printer.
And who would say no to money? This golden opportunity was one she couldn't miss.
At that moment, the money printer waved his fan and said with a smile, "I heard an amusing story from Junior Sister Liu yesterday. Senior Sister Ji, you've apparently unlocked the innate talent of facial expressions. Though I lost a thousand jade spirits because of it, congratulations are in order."
Ji Rong had no idea what Wei Zongqiu was talking about, but with her patron standing right in front of her, she decided to experiment with her newly unlocked "expression freedom."
She gave a faint smile and said, "Senior Brother Wei, you flatter me."
The original Ji Rong had entered the sect at the same time as Wei Zongqiu, so it wasn't inappropriate for them to address each other as senior brother and sister. However…
[Ding! Wei Zongqiu's favorability -5.]
Ji Rong: "…"
Even smiling at her patron reduced his favorability. What kind of world was this?
Wei Zongqiu's expression shifted slightly when he saw Ji Rong's smile.
Then he gave a bitter laugh and said, "Senior Sister Ji, with that smile of yours, I've just lost another two thousand jade spirits."
Ji Rong was baffled.
Liu Ningxue, however, chuckled and explained, "Senior Sister Ji, you might not know, but yesterday, Senior Brother Wei was adamant that you would never smile.
"When I told him you had smiled, he reluctantly admitted defeat but insisted on betting another two thousand jade spirits to see it with his own eyes. And now, he's lost again."
[Ding! Liu Ningxue's favorability +5.]
Ji Rong: "…"
Thank you so much.
"Never mind. Money is just like the passing clouds."
Wei Zongqiu shook his fan and said, "Junior Sister Liu and I are heading to the sect's treasure market. Would you like to join us, Senior Sister Ji?"
Liu Ningxue added, "Yes, Senior Sister, today is the Wan Jian Sect's open market day. There are many rare items and opportunities to meet fellow disciples."
Liu Ningxue meant to echo Wei Zongqiu's suggestion, but as she spoke, her voice grew quieter, realizing her mistake.
Senior Sister Ji had always disliked socializing. Surely she wouldn't want to go now.
Unexpectedly, Ji Rong had a quest to complete, and having someone lead the way was a perfect opportunity.
After a brief pause, she feigned indifference and said, "Very well. I'll trouble Senior Brother Wei to lead the way."
[Ding! Liu Ningxue and Wei Zongqiu's favorability +10.]
Wei Zongqiu, thinking Ji Rong had truly changed, smiled and said, "Then let's head to the teleportation array in the Bamboo Grove."
Teleportation array?
Ji Rong frowned slightly.
She knew the game had teleportation arrays, but she had always used auto-pathfinding to return to the city and had no idea where the arrays were located.
Wait a minute—why hadn't the system mentioned this before, making her endure the hardship of flying with her sword?
["Dear player~ It wasn't that I didn't tell you; it was to help you unlock the flying skill!"]
As Ji Rong walked with a blank expression, she pondered the possibility of deleting the system.
The three of them passed through the Bamboo Grove and entered the snowy terrain.
In the vast expanse of snow stood a Daoist priest, tall and imposing, holding a horsetail whisk. His face was obscured by the mist.
Beside him were seven formation flags, their nodes emitting a faint starlight.
A glowing text box appeared:
[Seven-Star Teleportation Array: Composed of Tian Shu, Tian Xuan, Tian Ji, Tian Quan, Yu Heng, Kai Yang, and Yao Guang. Arranged by Elder Gong Yu. The array is guarded by a keeper, rotated every three days.]
After reading the introduction, Ji Rong followed the others into the array.
Wei Zongqiu addressed the priest, "Please transport us to the treasure market."
The priest, exuding an air of immortality, waved his whisk. "Forty-five jade spirits for three people."
Wei Zongqiu confidently pulled out a token and swiped it across the glowing pearl at the array's edge. The token, engraved with his name, lit up brightly.
In the next moment, forty-five jade spirits were gone.
The priest smiled and said, "Safe travels, you three."
The array's starlight shimmered like liquid gold.
Ji Rong instinctively closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she was already at the market.
She thought to herself, It's good to follow a wealthy patron—saves on travel expenses.
...
The treasure market was bustling, lively as a grand night bazaar. It offered everything from food to antique stalls.
The three of them moved eastward with the crowd, finding the experience quite enjoyable.
Wei Zongqiu, guessing Ji Rong wasn't often out and about, enthusiastically introduced the various items. "These candied fruits and icy sweet dumplings—would you like to try them? They're said to melt in your mouth and leave a lingering fragrance."
Little did he know that Ji Rong, having played the game, was already familiar with the names of these items, though she had never tasted them.
But eating cold dumplings in winter? That was just absurd.
Ji Rong shook her head. "Thank you, but I don't often eat sweets."
Liu Ningxue glanced at the frosty dumplings and echoed, "Neither do I."
In the end, Wei Zongqiu, feeling slightly dejected, bought a bowl of cold dumplings for himself and ate them with great relish.
True to his foodie nature and a belief in sharing good food, Wei Zongqiu would enthusiastically introduce every stall they passed, then ask if either of them wanted to try anything.
This repeated over and over, and Ji Rong felt her chances of completing the task dwindling further with each passing moment.
Liu Ningxue, noticing Wei Zongqiu's obsession with food stalls and Ji Rong's clear lack of interest, finally spoke up. "Senior Brother, if you want something, just buy it for yourself. There's no need to keep asking Senior Sister Ji and me."
"Alright, after this stall, we'll head to the western market," Wei Zongqiu replied.
Wei Zongqiu wasn't oblivious to others' expressions. Popping a preserved plum into his mouth, he was ready to move on to another section of the market.
But as he turned, he noticed Ji Rong still standing in place. Confused, he asked, "Senior Sister Ji, is something wrong?"
Ji Rong's expression was unusually grave.
She was staring ahead at a person dressed in black robes, savoring a bowl of osmanthus dumplings with evident satisfaction.
In a low voice, Ji Rong said to Wei Zongqiu and Liu Ningxue, "There's a demonic cultivator."