MTLNOVEL Chapter 28: Lothgar
Pay Ling didn't hesitate much before agreeing. Just yesterday, he'd taken down Lee Sagwon's trio—including a fifth-layer Qi Refinement cultivator—so he wasn't too intimidated by Cheung Joer'tin. This spar was a perfect chance to gauge this team's strength.
The others stepped back, creating a makeshift arena. Zhang Zhongqin cracked his neck and stretched his arms. His demeanor was relaxed, almost dismissive, as if he were indulging a child. "Come at me, Junior Brother," he said, his voice dripping with casual arrogance. "Don't hold back."
"Senior Brother Cheung, here I come!" Pay Ling clasped his fists in salute, then sank his shoulders, squared his stance, and threw a punch.
Zhang Zhongqin smirked at the straightforward strike—purely a test of strength, no art or technique. He didn't dodge or block, instead, he stood his ground, allowing the punch to land squarely on his chest.
Bang!
The impact echoed with a dull thud, and for a brief moment, Cheung's expression faltered. His face paled, then flushed red as the force of the blow rippled through him. In a flash, he snapped a kick at Pay Ling's knee.
Pay Ling's instincts screamed at him to evade. He sidestepped, but Cheung's movement were unpredictable. The kick shifted mid-air, as if anticipating Pay Ling's dodge. Caught off guard, Pay Ling raised his right forearm to block!
Thud!
A surge of force rocked Pay Ling's arm, shoving him back three steps.
Cheung Joer'tin didn't let up. He closed the distance in an instant, his palm slicing through the air toward Pay Ling's chest. Pay Ling, still off-balance, crossed his arms in a desperate attempt to guard his vitals. But Cheung's strike was a feint—a mere tap that carried no real force. Before Pay Ling could react, Cheung slipped across his side with the speed of a darting fish, his movements almost too fast to follow.
Pay Ling's gut screamed danger. He twisted around, but too late—Cheung's fist slammed into his back! His organs jolted, chest tightening, nearly forcing blood out of his throat.
Yet, despite the shock, Pay Ling refused to retreat. Gritting his teeth, he threw a swing back fist, aiming at Zhang's shoulder.
The exchange continued. Neither went all out, a flurry of strikes and counters that echoed through the cramped space. Pay Ling's inexperience in real combat began to show, his movements slightly slower, his reactions a fraction delayed. Eating three or four solid hits before Cheung abruptly stepped back, his face turning away as if bored.
Chen Huan's voice cut through the situation. "That's enough."
Pay Ling bowed respectful. "Thank you, Senior Brother Cheung, for the lesson!"
His heart clenched ever so slightly. Even with both of them holding back, this brief crash had revealed a stark truth: Cheung Joer'tin, though at the same fifth-layer as Miu Toanh, was undeniably stronger. If Cheung had been among the trio that confronted him yesterday, Pay Ling wouldn't be standing here now.
Cheung Joer'tin waved him off with a dismissive gesture, his face unreadable. Chen Haunt, ever perceptive, caught the subtle tension and signaled Chen Mave with a flick of his eyes. She stepped forward gracefully, her smile warm and inviting. "Junior Brother Pay, you've been carrying a blade on your back this whole time—why didn't you use it?"
Pay Ling shook his head, his tone humble. "It was just a spar. Senior Brother Cheung didn't use any weapons, so I couldn't either." Internally, he replayed the fight in his mind, dissecting every move. His raw strength might have matched Cheung's, but his technique was a mess—sloppy, full of holes. Even with his blade, he doubted he could have won. The gap in combat experience was glaring.
Chen Mave giggled softly, her voice like the tinkling of wind chimes. "Senior Brother Cheung's cultivation outranks yours, so he didn't need a weapon. My brother Haunt is skilled with blades too—perhaps he can give you some pointers later."
As they chatted, Chen Haunt quietly stepped over to Cheung Joer'tin, his voice low. "What is it?"
Cheung hesitated, his eyes darting to ensure Pay Ling was out of earshot. He wiped a faint trace of blood from his lip, his voice barely above a whisper. "That kid's body is… strange. Tougher than any fourth-layer I've ever faced. Caught me off guard—almost embarrassed myself."
Chen Haunt's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly masked it. Hwong Hyun cut in with a grin. "Congrats, Senior Brother Chen!"
"We share the same joy," Chen Haunt replied, his voice tinged with restrained excitement. "If the Soul Summoning Banner is forged, we can take on higher-paying tasks." His eyes gleamed with ambition as he whispered promises. "Perhaps I could even secure a chance to elevate to the inner sect. Deshah, I'll need you to handle this personally later."
Sil Deshah's gaze softened as she looked at him. "Anything for you, Senior Brother Chen. I'll give it my all."
With their plans set, Chen Haunt turned his attention back to Pay Ling, his demeanor even warmer than before. He fussed over the younger man, his concern genuine but calculated. "Are you hurt, Junior Brother Pay? Here, take this Blood-Qi Pill for recovery." He handed over the pill with a warm smile.
Pay Ling accepted it with profuse thanks, but instead of consuming it, he carefully tucked it into his pouch.
Cheung Joer'tin's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of suspicion crossing his face. This kid's on guard, he thought.
"Let him be," Sil Deshah murmured, her voice cold and dismissive. "He's here now. Do you really think he can slip our grasp?"
Chen Haunt said nothing, but his eyes lingered on Pay Ling for a moment longer before he turned to Chen Mave. "Stick close to him from now on. You're both at the fourth layer, and you'll be working on tasks together. Bonding is only natural."
From that day forward, Chen Mave became a constant presence at Pay Ling's side. She was chatty and open, regaling him with sect anecdotes and sharing tips on task management. Her grace and charm were undeniable, her laughter like a melody that could disarm even the most guarded heart. But Pay Ling, though outwardly grateful, showed no romantic interest in mind. His mind was elsewhere, consumed by the mountain of spirit stone debt crushing him. Where could he possibly find room for exchanging fond glances and favors with Chen Mave?
Besides, compared to Fairy Lith's ethereal allure, Chen Mave didn't even register.
Once Pay Ling confirmed that Chen Mave's squad couldn't offer a solution to his fine within three months, his focus shifted entirely to survival. He was too busy racking his brain for solutions to entertain her flirtations.
Her constant hovering was starting to interfere with his plans, and it grated on his nerves.
Pay Ling endured days of her presence, his patience wearing thin. Finally, the Corpse Cloud began its descent, breaking through the thick layer of clouds. Moments later, through the thinning mist, a city nestled among mid-mountain peaks came into view.
"That's Lothgar City," Chen Mei said, her voice soft and melodic as she leaned in closer, her presence as constant as ever. "The city jarl is a graduated disciple of Holy Sect who's been stationed here for the past twenty years. All three of our tasks are tied to him in some way…"
Pay Ling studied the sprawling city below. "Senior Sister Chen," he interrupted, his tone measured but curious, "what's the cultivation level of the flower demon beasts outside Lothgar?" He already suspected the answer—Chen Haunt had chosen this task to train Chen Mei, after all—but he wanted to be certain. There was no room for surprises.
Chen Mei's smile was warm, almost reassuring. "Don't worry, Junior Brother Pay. They're at the fourth-layer Enlightenment stage, which matches our Qi Refinement fourth-layer. True, demon beasts tend to outmatch cultivators at the same level, but together, we'll handle them just fine."
She paused, her tone softening further as if to soothe his concerns. "My brother brought us out here for experience, not to throw us into anything too dangerous. You can relax."
Pay Ling nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Thank you, Senior Sister Chen. When we face that flower demon, I'll rely on you to watch my back."
Chen Mei's smile widened, her eyes sparkling with a mix of confidence and camaraderie. "Junior Brother Pay, you're too polite. Together, we've got nothing to fear!"
As the Corpse Cloud descended, Chen Mei continued to share tidbits about Lothgar, her voice carrying a practiced ease that suggested she'd done her homework before the trip. "The city's known for its ancient spirit wells," she said, her tone almost conversational. "They say the water there can enhance cultivation if consumed during a full moon. Of course, the jarl controls access to them, so it's not something we can just stroll in and try."
Pay Ling listened, his gaze fixed on the city as it grew larger beneath them. The Corpse Cloud touched down gracefully on a towering platform in the heart of Lothgar, the misty tendrils of the cloud dissolving into the air as they disembarked.