Chapter 413: Escorting Merchants Translator: KurazyTolanzuraytor Editor: Jay Duan Ling Tian nodded. He knew that Feng Ping asked him to stay in this small courtyard as Feng Ping surely had the intention of watching him. After all, his identity hadn’t been confirmed yet. "Right." Suddenly, as if he’d thought of something, Feng Ping looked at Duan Ling Tian and asked curiously. "What conflict exactly is there between you and Zhao Lei?" Feng Ping’s words caused Duan Ling Tian to be unable to refrain from recalling the scene of Zhao Lei entering the city in his birthday suit, and the corners of his mouth curled into a smile. Subsequently, he slowly narrated the sequence of events of the matter. "Zhao Lei has gone too far!" Feng Ping frowned then sighed. "Duan Ling Tian, you slightly overdid it... Although based on Zhao Lei’s actions, it wouldn’t be going too far even if you punished him like this. He’s still the only son of Elder Zhao Yu and your actions have undoubtedly caused Elder Zhao Yu to lose face as well." "No wonder I felt Elder Zhao Yu was slightly off earlier... Looks like he already knows about this matter." As he finished speaking, Feng Ping shook his head. Duan Ling Tian shrugged with an indifferent expressions. "I won’t do anything to another without reason nor rhyme... But if someone were to try and bully me, then I’m not a ‘ripe persimmon’ that he can squeeze at will!" As he finished speaking, a strand of cold light that was icy cold and bone piercing flashed within Duan Ling Tian’s eyes. Feng Ping sighed. He wasn’t surprised that Duan Ling Tian made such a stand. If Duan Ling Tian was servile, then he would perhaps think that Duan Ling Tian was unworthy of his monstrous natural talent in the Martial Dao... A martial artist, especially a martial artist with monstrous natural talent like Duan Ling Tian, ought to have a proud and lofty nature! "Why did the Sect Leader send you to the Ancient City of Everlast?" Feng Ping asked. Duan Ling Tian lightly smiled and said, "The Sect Leader asked me to come gain some experience and tempering." Feng Ping nodded. "Since it’s like this, then you stay here first and I’ll send someone to head to the Seven Star Sword Sect to confirm your identity... Going back and forth would require almost two months of time. You can follow by my side to gain experience and tempering during these two months of time. So long as it’s something you can solve, then I will absolutely not lend a hand." Duan Ling Tian nodded. Before long, Feng Ping bid his farewell and directly left, only leaving Duan Ling Tian behind. He returned to his room. Duan Ling Tian had only just closed the room door when his sleeve went light and a golden flowing light flashed out. It was precisely the little gold mouse. "Squeak squeak~" The little gold mouse looked at Duan Ling Tian and cried out. At the same time, the little gold mouse’s voice transmission with her immature and young voice entered into Duan Ling Tian’s ears. "Big Brother Ling Tian, that Zhao Lei is truly hateful... Also that Zhao Yu, I can discern he isn’t a good person with a single glance. I’ll go kill him for you, Okay?" As the little gold mouse spoke, her jade eyes staring at Duan Ling Tian. The corners of Duan Ling Tian’s mouth twitched. Thus it could be seen from this that the ‘education’ he’d given the little gold mouse earlier had completely ended in failure. "Little Gold, Zhao Yu isn’t simple, he’s a third level Void Prying Stage martial artist... You aren’t a match for him right now." Duan Ling Tian said with a serious expression. Relying on the Half-step Advanced Lightning Force, the little gold mouse had a strength that was sufficient to kill demon beasts and martial artists at the second level of the Void Prying Stage that hadn’t comprehended force... Even if an existence at the third level of the Void Prying Stage hadn’t comprehended Force, it still wasn’t someone the little gold mouse was able to kill. Moreover, Zhao Yu was an elder of the Seven Star Sword Sect, so it was impossible that he hadn’t comprehended Force at a cultivation of the third level of the Void Prying Stage. "Third level Void Prying Stage?" The little gold mouse felt a slight sense of loss, then sat her butt down on the bed and drooped her little head. "Alright, if you want to kill him, you’ll be able to sooner or later... It’s been at most seven years since you were born. Whereas Zhao Yu has cultivated for tens of years and to possess that cultivation." Duan Ling Tian noticed the little gold mouse’s dispirited appearance and couldn’t help but feel amused, so he consoled her. "You possess the bloodline of the Jade-eyed Heavenly Mouse, so surpassing him is only a matter of time." The little gold mouse nodded when she heard Duan Ling Tian’s encouragement and her jade eyes were in high spirits. Just like this, Duan Ling Tian temporarily stayed within the large courtyard of the Ancient River Trading Company’s branch. Whereas outside the Ancient City of Everlast, two black figures flashed out into the sky one after another in a short intervals between them, it was precisely two Nascent Soul Stage flying beasts... The direction they were headed was the location of the Seven Star Sword Sect. A person sat on each of these flying beasts, the clothes of these two people had the symbol of the Ancient River Trading Company, and they were obviously members of the Ancient River Trading Company. In the subsequent days, Duan Ling Tian obtained a certain level of understanding towards the Ancient River Trading Company and its branch in the Ancient City of Everlast. The resources and reserves of the Ancient River Trading Company could only be ranked in the mid-range amongst the various trading companies in the Azure Forest Imperial Kingdom. To a certain extent, the Ancient River Trading Company was attached to the Seven Star Sword Sect and would hand over a great amount of wealth to the Seven Star Sword Sect every year, whereas the Seven Star Sword Sect would instead provide the necessary protection for the Ancient River Trading Company. The Seven Star Sword Sect members led by Feng Ping and Zhao Yu were the ones in charge of guarding the Ancient River Trading Company’s branch in the Ancient City of Everlast... Of course, besides guarding the branch, they would occasionally participate in escorting the merchant groups of the Ancient River Trading Company. A merchant group couldn’t avoid encountering the attacks of bandits while travelling outside, and possessing the escort of the Seven Star Sword Sect elders and disciples was undoubtedly an extra safeguard. At dawn, the first ray of sunlight enveloped the land and the myriad of beings in the world awoke from their slumber. Duan Ling Tian, who sat cross-legged atop his bed, opened his eyes and a bright light flashed within. "I’m still a distance away from the fifth level of the Nascent Soul Stage." Duan Ling Tian let out a breath of air and walked out of the room, then he stretched his body in the courtyard. "Duan Ling Tian!" Suddenly, a voice sounded out from outside the courtyard. "Elder Feng Ping." Duan Ling Tian was slightly surprised when he saw Feng Ping who entered the courtyard. "Is there something you need?" After all, it had already been seven or eight days since he’d arrived at the Ancient River Trading Company’s branch that day... Today was still the first time that Elder Feng Ping had come look for him. Duan Ling Tian’s first thoughts was. "Could it be that we’re going to escort a merchant group?" The facts proved that his guess was accurate. "Duan Ling Tian, the Ancient River Trading Company has a batch of goods that need to be sent out. I will bring along the other three Seven Star Sword Sect disciples to escort the merchant group three days from now... At that time, you’ll come as well." Feng Ping went straight to the point. "Alright." Duan Ling Tian agreed, as he’d finally obtained the opportunity to get some fresh air. He knew that before his identity as a Seven Star Sword Sect inner court disciple was confirmed, Feng Ping wouldn’t let him vanish from his sight. He was indifferent to this, as he was an inner court disciple of the Seven Star Sword Sect after all, and he had absolutely no reason to be afraid. Duan Ling Tian didn’t continue cultivating after Feng Ping left. He lay down on the clean lawn in the small courtyard, then crossed one leg over the other as he looked up at the white clouds and blue sky and cozily bathed in the sun. Gentle sunshine showered down, causing Duan Ling Tian’s body to feel warm. "Squeak squeak~" Meanwhile, the little gold mouse that was hidden beneath Duan Ling Tian’s sleeve crawled out as well, and she lay by Duan Ling Tian’s side and learnt to cross one leg over the other like Duan Ling Tian. Her pair of jade green eyes revolved with intelligence and cunning. "Big Brother Duan Ling Tian, I miss Big Sister Ke Er." The little gold mouse’s voice transmission entered into Duan Ling Tian’s ears. "Ke Er didn’t dote on you for nothing..." Duan Ling Tian held the little gold mouse in his hand, then lightly combed her fur. "But, since we’ve come here, then we have to stay outside for some time. I’ll take you around the surroundings once they’ve confirmed my identity." "Okay, okay!" The little gold mouse jumped for joy when she heard Duan Ling Tian and she was extremely excited. Flowing lights revolved within her jade green eyes, and they were like two beautiful gems that were flickering... At this moment, she’d completely tossed Ke Er to the back of her head. "The precondition is you have to listen to me... If there’s an outsider present, then you absolutely must not appear unless I allow you, understand?" Duan Ling Tian changed the topic and started talking conditions with the little gold mouse. The little gold mouse was right at the height of her joy, so she naturally agreed to all of Duan Ling Tian’s requests. Three days later. Duan Ling Tian rode a tall horse as he followed by Elder Feng Ping’s side. They followed the merchant group of the Ancient River Trading Company to leave the Ancient City of Everlast. Besides him and Feng Ping, the members of the Seven Star Sword Sect that came along included Zhao Lei and the other two Seven Star Sword Sect inner court disciples. These two inner court disciples had similar ages to Zhao Lei, and they were now riding their horses with Zhao Lei. At this moment, they looked at Duan Ling Tian with gazes that contained slight suspicion mixed within. "Zhao Lei, this is the inner court disciple that came from the sect?" One of the inner court disciples asked Zhao Lei in a light voice. "Hmph!" Zhao Lei glanced at Duan Ling Tian with a cold and indifferent gaze, then he said indifferently. "He isn’t a member of our Seven Star Sword Sect, we still can’t confirm it now... Everything can only be known after we get back from this trip." "Zhao Lei, you took off your clothes and entered the city in your birthday suit under the threats of this little youth?" The other inner court disciple looked at Zhao Lei and a spurious smile hung on his face. This caused Zhao Lei to get angry from embarrassment. The incident from that day once now known by all and it seemed to have become a stain in his life. Zhao Lei’s face sank when he thought of this, and his icy cold and ruthless gaze descended onto Duan Ling Tian... As far as he was concerned, all of this was because of Duan Ling Tian. "Duan Ling Tian, I, Zhao Lei, will destroy you or die trying!" Zhao Lei hated Duan Ling Tian to the limit in his heart. Duan Ling Tian naturally noticed Zhao Lei’s gaze, but he didn’t care in the slightest and completely disregarded it as he talk with Feng Ping. "Elder Feng Ping, where’s Elder Zhao Yu?" "Elder Zhao Yu is in charge of guarding the Ancient River Trading Company branch... The five of us are in charge of escorting the merchant group this time," Feng Ping said to Duan Ling Tian. Duan Ling Tian nodded, then asked. "Elder Feng Ping, how long will it take to escort this merchant group to and fro?" Feng Ping thought for a moment then slowly said, "Around two months." Subsequently, as if he’d recalled something, Feng Ping continued to add. "The people Elder Zhao Yu and I sent to the Seven Star Sword Sect ought to be back in two months... At that time, we’ll find out the outcome of whether you’re a Seven Star Sword Sect inner court disciple or not." Duan Ling Tian nodded and didn’t mind at all. As far as he was concerned, it was an obvious fact that he was an inner court disciple of the Seven Star Sword Sect, and no one could change it.