Chapter 148 - 147: For the Sake of These "Disciples and Grand-disciples", I, the Old Ancestor, Will Reluctantly Act

"You want to see Teacher now?"

Hearing this, Qin Yang felt a strange, almost absurd feeling. He asked Li Zixuan in a low voice, "Why?"

"Um..."

Li Zixuan hesitated, her expression uncertain. "Senior Brother, do you know about the Beast Tide?"

"I’ve heard a little about it."

Qin Yang nodded. "The Star Pets have been restless these past few days, and there have been a lot of rumors and speculation online. But I don’t know much, I’ve only seen some news reports."

Information changes quickly online. A long-term disaster like the Beast Tide is soon buried by other rumors. In this age of information overload, there’s just too much news to keep up with.

"That’s understandable."

Li Zixuan nodded, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear. "Actually, I was just like you before, Senior Brother," she said slowly. "What I knew was about the same as what you know—just information from the internet."

As she spoke, she picked up a book from the table to gesture with, her gaze flickering. "But just yesterday, Elder Li spoke with me... We talked about some things regarding the Beast Tide..."

"Hm?"

Qin Yang was taken aback. "Elder Li actually spoke with you?"

"Yes, Senior Brother. This Beast Tide isn’t as simple as we ordinary people think."

Li Zixuan said softly, "Yesterday, Elder Li told me a lot. The Beast Tide is divided into three levels, and the gap between each level is huge. According to observations, this coming Beast Tide is very likely... to be at the Difficult Level!"

"Difficult Level?"

Hearing this, Qin Yang frowned slightly.

He remembered that kid Xia He mentioning something about this before, but he’d only touched on it briefly and hadn’t said much.

"Senior Brother, you might not understand.

The Beast Tide in Jianghai twenty years ago was merely at the Ordinary Level, yet it required Innate Experts to suppress it, and it still caused a lot of trouble for the city’s residents."

Li Zixuan continued to explain, "But this time, I heard Elder Li say that the impending Beast Tide is on a massive scale. When it arrives, even a Grandmaster Realm expert would have a hard time dealing with it."

She sighed. "If the Beast Tide breaks through the city’s defenses, all of Jianghai will be plunged into a brutal slaughter, becoming food for those Star Beasts..."

As her voice trailed off.

"So, is that why you’re looking for Master?"

Qin Yang narrowed his eyes, mulling over her words. "You want to ask him to come out of seclusion?" he said slowly.

"That’s right, Senior Brother! For the sake of the hundreds of thousands of lives in Jianghai City, I must trouble you to contact Teacher and inform him of the Beast Tide situation." Li Zixuan pleaded earnestly, "This crisis is enormous. The lives of the entire city’s residents are in imminent danger, and everything now rests in Teacher’s hands. They hope to beseech Senior Sword God to take action..."

"This..."

Hearing this, Qin Yang fell silent for a moment. "Let me think about it."

’It’s not that I don’t want to help.’

’It’s just, the way she’s putting it...’

’Feels a bit like a guilt trip, doesn’t it?’

’Damn.’

’So they’re putting pressure on me, the "teacher," now, are they?’

’I’m just a regular guy trying to slack off, okay?’

As if sensing his silence, Li Zixuan spoke again. "Senior Brother, don’t worry. Elder Li told me yesterday. If Senior Sword God is willing to come out of seclusion, he absolutely won’t be asked to do it for free. The Jianghai City Government has already promised all sorts of rewards—official positions, luxury mansions, Elixir Pills..."

"As long as he comes, he can choose any reward he wants."

"Tsk, rewards..."

Hearing this, Qin Yang sighed.

’A luxury mansion...’

’I’m not lacking one of those.’

’My Fuhai Villa is already the best in the entire city. Even on a national level, very few could compare.’

’As for an official position?’

’That would be way too much trouble. All that politicking and complicated nonsense!’

’Compared to all that, I’d much rather just walk down the street every day, buy some snacks, and enjoy slacking off at work.’

’But...’

’If the Beast Tide breaks into the city, I’m afraid all the citizens will be affected.’

’All these good things would disappear then.’

’And over the past year, I’ve gotten to know a lot of people: the old lady at the bun shop, the sanitation workers, the people at the library... not to mention my three thousand "disciples and grand-disciples" in the city who believe in me.’

’Life is already hard enough for adults. Add a natural disaster on top of that... Who knows how many heartbreaking separations and shattered families there will be?’

’Fine, since your ancestor is the one asking, I guess I’ll lend a small hand.’

A flicker of compassion stirred in Qin Yang’s heart.

’Worst case, I’ll see how things go and act within my limits. I’ll just contribute to Jianghai’s Star Beast defense plan where I can.’

’After all...’

’If Jianghai is gone, where else can I go to be lazy?’

’I can’t just run off to the Da Li Mountain Range and sleep on the ground with the Star Beasts, can I?’

With that thought, Qin Yang glanced at the worried Li Zixuan and nodded gently.

"Alright, Senior Brother promises. I’ll do my best to find a way to contact Master for you."

"Really?"

The moment he finished speaking, the light returned to Li Zixuan’s dim eyes. Overjoyed, she trotted forward and hugged Qin Yang, enveloping him in a fragrant breeze.

"Thank you, Senior Brother! I knew you were the best to me!"

"Yip!"

Xiaobai, squeezed between them, kicked its legs frantically, pushing against Li Zixuan’s slender waist and trying to shove her away from Qin Yang. "You’re a bad woman too!"

Feeling the frantic squirming against her stomach, Li Zixuan finally realized her loss of composure. She quickly took a step back, her face blushing scarlet. As she tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear, the tips of her ears turned red as well.

"I’m sorry, Senior Brother, I got a little too excited..."

"Ahem, it’s alright."

Qin Yang coughed lightly into his fist. "But I have to make one thing clear to you. I can try to find Master... but the final choice is his alone."

"Mhm, I understand!"

Li Zixuan nodded, overjoyed. "The rest is all up to Master. Elder Li said that we would absolutely not let Master act for nothing. No matter the outcome, we in Jianghai City will respect his wishes!"

Hearing this, Qin Yang nodded.

’That’s not bad.’

’Phrased like that, it sounds much better.’

"Then I won’t disturb you any longer."

Li Zixuan nodded. Remembering the hug just now, she lowered her head, her ears bright red, and shyly left the library.

Qin Yang remained seated on the bench, continuing to ponder their conversation.

Just as Li Zixuan left, Li Qinghe emerged from behind a bookshelf.

She had been squatting in a corner and eavesdropping since their conversation began, so she had a rough idea of what was going on.

"Master?"

Li Qinghe came up behind Qin Yang and started kneading his shoulders. "Grand-master," she asked curiously, "is his esteemed self really coming to Jianghai?"

’If the Sword God really returns to Jianghai, wouldn’t that give me a chance to become his disciple!?’

’Hmph!’

’Whoever wants this spot as a mere disciple can have it!’

’I’m going to raise my seniority in the sect!’

"Tsk, not necessarily!"

Qin Yang glanced at Li Qinghe’s expression, saw through her little scheme, and immediately threw cold water on her hopes. "Teacher isn’t necessarily in Jianghai. I have to see how things go, too."

"Oh..."

At that, Li Qinghe instantly deflated, and the pressure of her shoulder massage slackened.

"Well, Master, if you do contact Grand-master, you have to tell me..."