Duan Zhengchun transmigrates to Yin Zhiping

Outside the Tomb of the Living Dead.

Duan Zhengchun and Xiaolongnu stood facing each other, their eyes meeting.

"I already told you that day, you're not welcome here, so don't come back..."

"I'm leaving."

Before Xiaolongnu could finish speaking, Duan Zhengchun interrupted her.

Upon hearing that Duan Zhengchun was leaving, Xiaolongnu suddenly froze, a complex expression flashing between her brows, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

"I have come today specifically to bid farewell to you, young lady."

Duan Zhengchun gazed at Xiaolongnu intently, then added with a smile, his words filled with reluctance.

"Where are you going?"

Little Dragon Girl hesitated for a moment, but finally couldn't help but speak up.

"I have a thorny matter to deal with on my way to the Western Regions, and it may take a long time."

Duan Zhengchun spoke slowly.

"How long are you going?"

Little Dragon Girl continued to press for answers.

"If all goes well, it will take at most two months; if not, we don't know."

Duan Zhengchun gave a wry smile, because he didn't know when he would be able to return.

"dangerous?"

Little Dragon Girl frowned.

Duan Zhengchun shook his head and said, "Where in the martial world is there no danger? But don't worry, the one who can hurt me hasn't been born yet."

"Would you... like to come with me?"

He couldn't help but say what was on his mind.

Little Dragon Girl paused for a moment, then immediately shook her head and said, "My master set a rule that disciples of the Ancient Tomb Sect must never leave Zhongnan Mountain in their lifetime."

"Besides, you and I are two completely unrelated people, so why should I go with you?"

Duan Zhengchun frowned, not understanding what kind of ridiculous rule the Ancient Tomb Sect had. He could only smile helplessly and say softly, "It's alright. Since it's a rule of the sect, we won't force you to do it."

"wait me back!"

After saying this, he looked at Xiaolongnu with deep affection one last time, then turned and left reluctantly.

Watching Duan Zhengchun's departing figure, Xiaolongnü's expression turned serious. She moved her lips, but ultimately said nothing.

She had so much to say, but when the words came to her lips, she didn't know how to begin.

"be careful."

Only after Duan Zhengchun's figure gradually disappeared into the night did she finally utter four words, but her voice was so low that only she could hear them.

...

The next morning.

Outside Chongyang Palace, the westward journey team was ready. In order to complete the mission smoothly, Qiu Chuji arranged for Duan Zhengchun to be accompanied by fifty disciples and three carriages.

Besides Lin Zhiyuan, the people accompanying him included Zhao Zhijing and Cui Zhifang, another disciple of Wang Chuyi.

Duan Zhengchun knew perfectly well that Zhao Zhijing must have been specially arranged by Wang Chuyi to accompany them. Welcoming back Liu Chuxuan and Sun Bu'er would be a great achievement, and Wang Chuyi would never want Duan Zhengchun to claim all the credit.

It was ostensibly for support, but in reality, it was a preemptive attack.

"Zhiping, the journey to the Western Regions is long and arduous. Be careful in everything you do. Whether your master and uncle are alive or dead, you must find them and bring them back."

Qiu Chuji slowly approached Duan Zhengchun and earnestly gave him his advice.

"Don't worry, Master, I will certainly live up to your mission."

Duan Zhengchun clasped his hands in a salute, his expression resolute.

"Let's go."

Qiu Chuji forced a smile, glanced at Duan Zhengchun with concern, and waved his hand in acknowledgment.

"set off!"

Duan Zhengchun nodded and got into the first carriage. Immediately afterwards, Lin Zhiyuan shouted and jumped into the carriage that Duan Zhengchun was riding in. He flicked the reins and the carriage set off.

Zhao Zhijing also bid farewell to his master and the sect leader, and boarded the second carriage.

Cui Zhifang, however, did not receive such good treatment, as the third carriage was filled with luggage and food, and was not prepared for him.

He could only mount a horse and follow at the back of the group. His task was to escort the supplies and await Duan Zhengchun's orders.

Although Zhao Zhijing is the senior disciple in the sect according to seniority, and all the accompanying personnel should respect him, Duan Zhengchun was personally appointed by the sect leader to go to the Western Regions to welcome back Liu Chuxuan and Sun Bu'er, so Duan Zhengchun was the one who gave the orders.

As the westward-bound group departed, Wang Chuyi and Hao Datong both wore solemn expressions. After the fierce battle outside the main hall yesterday, they already understood that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Duan Zhengchun would undoubtedly become the future sect leader.

But Wang Chuyi did not give up and placed his last hope on this mission to the west.

After pausing for a moment, Wang Chuyi was the first to turn around and leave.

Qiu Chuji glanced at it out of the corner of his eye, narrowed his eyes slightly, and revealed a meaningful expression on his face.

He had promised his beloved disciple that after he returned from the Western Regions, no one in the sect would openly target him again!

...

A small town at the foot of the mountain.

When dozens of Quanzhen Sect disciples appeared in the town, they immediately attracted a lot of onlookers. People were curious whether something big had happened to the Quanzhen Sect, and why so many Taoists had suddenly appeared in the town.

Not long after, the procession suddenly stopped because Duan Zhengchun had disappeared.

"What happened?! He was in the same carriage as you, how come you don't even know where he went or when he disappeared?!"

Zhao Zhijing looked at Lin Zhiyuan with displeasure and questioned him sharply.

"I don't know what happened. There were a lot of people on the street, and I was just a little careless when Senior Brother Yin disappeared."

Lin Zhiyuan had a bitter face, his brows furrowed with self-reproach.

This was the first time he had come down the mountain in all these years, so he was a little curious. By the time he came to his senses, Duan Zhengchun was no longer in the carriage.

"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and go find him! If you delay, I'll settle the score with him!"

Zhao Zhijing, with a stern face, turned his head to look around and loudly issued the order.

The disciples agreed and immediately left in batches to search for Duan Zhengchun's whereabouts.

Just then, a bloated middle-aged man slowly walked up, first clasped his hands in a fist salute, and then said with a fawning smile, "May I ask if you are a disciple of the Quanzhen Sect?"

Zhao Zhijing turned around impatiently, glanced at him, nodded, and said, "What do you want?!"

The middle-aged man asked, "Then may I ask, does your sect have a disciple named Zhao Zhijing?"

Zhao Zhijing paused, frowned, and looked the unfamiliar middle-aged man over again. He said in a deep voice, "Why are you asking so many questions? What do you want?"

The middle-aged man asked, "Has he already been expelled from the sect?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than the middle-aged man received a slap across the face.

"Why are you hitting people?! What have I done to offend you, Your Excellency?!"

The middle-aged man covered his face in grievance, unable to express his bitterness.

"You scoundrel! Who gave you the right to spout such nonsense?! How dare you slander my Quanzhen Sect disciples!"

Zhao Zhijing's face was grim, filled with anger.

"Since he hasn't been expelled from the sect, then please hand him over, or at least pay the money for him!"

The middle-aged man said with a bitter face and aggrieved expression.

"What money?!"

Zhao Zhijing was even more confused, having no idea when he had started owing money.

Little did he know that his name was already widely known throughout the town.

The group stopped at the entrance of the restaurant where Duan Zhengchun had failed to pay for his meal on credit when he went down the mountain to steal wine that day. The middle-aged man was the restaurant's manager.

The middle-aged man explained, “A few days ago, a disciple of the Quanzhen Sect who called himself Zhao Zhijing came to my shop and ordered a large table of fine wine and delicacies. After he finished eating, he ran away without paying. I run a small business. You can’t just take advantage of your Quanzhen Sect status to eat for free, can you?”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhijing became even more enraged and slapped the middle-aged man across the face again, shouting, "You bastard! I am Zhao Zhijing! When have I ever dined at your shop?! Don't you dare ruin my reputation!"

"Hmm? Your name is Zhao Zhijing?! But that person from that day..."

"Ouch! The Quanzhen Sect disciples are hitting people! The Quanzhen Sect doesn't pay for their meals!"

The middle-aged man, who had been slapped twice in a row, was stunned for a moment when he heard Zhao Zhijing's words. Then he sat down on the ground and started crying and shouting, which quickly attracted more onlookers.

Now that he had confirmed that the other party was a disciple of the Quanzhen Sect and knew that the person in front of him was named Zhao Zhijing, he didn't care about anything else. Anyway, asking a disciple of the Quanzhen Sect for money was definitely the right thing to do.

Seeing this, Zhao Zhijing was at a loss for what to do. He tried to help the middle-aged man up, but the man refused to let it go.

At this time, the other disciples also rushed back one after another. Not only did they not find Duan Zhengchun, but they also saw Zhao Zhijing beating someone in the street. For a moment, they were all at a loss.

At a street corner not far away, Duan Zhengchun was peering into the direction of the procession, unable to suppress his laughter.

He never expected that after so much time, the shop owner would still remember this debt.

"Senior Brother Yin, what exactly is going on?"

Lin Zhiyuan stood to the side, peering curiously at Zhao Zhijing, who was surrounded by the people, his face full of confusion.

Hearing Lin Zhiyuan's question, Yin Zhiping couldn't help but laugh again, recalling what had happened after his last visit to the town...