137 – recruiting Li Luoqiu

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ON JULY 12, 2022 BY MOONCHILDKHZ

“Sword cultivator, Zhou Hong.”

The voice of the boy sounded a little hoarse. 

Jun Changxiao raised his head.

It was a boy with upwards slanting eyebrows and sharp eyes, seeming about 13 or 14 in age.
However, his face gave off a sense of vicissitude, which was obviously incompatible with his true age. 

He donned a black robe, stained with soil. 

He seemed a little like a wandering prodigy, a hint of expertise. 

Ma Yongning also had such traces left by time. 

A sabre user, a swordsman. 

They both had this standard appearance. 

Because they had been time-tested in Jianghu, they had developed a personality of ‘I wield my blade and laugh at the Heavens’, a heroic spirit as great as two Kunlun Mountains. 

Just imagine it. 

A bright moon hung in the air, on the roof of the Ironbone Sect’s main hall. 

On the left stood the recovered sabre user Ma Yongning, on the right stood Zhou Hong, holding the sword.

Perhaps the two would have the following conversation:

“You are here.”

“Yes, I am here.”

“You should not have come here.”

“But, I have already come here.”

“Why did you come here?”

“I also do not know why, but I still came here.”

“Take out your sword.”

“Take out your sabre.”

“Rock-paper-sword-sabre!” [1]

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This type of philosophical and impassive dialogue could only be displayed between two genuine cultivators of the blade.  

Zhou Hong’s eyes twinkled like sharp rays of a sword, making Jun Changxiao seem to hear the boy say ‘I am here once more’.

Since you are here, I shall receive you! Jun Changxiao filled out the name on the form, then stamped the seal. 

Quick and simple, no wasted ink or time. 

This was the greatest respect for a swordsman!

Rumble (gu-long)!

Zhou Hong’s stomach rumbled and he collapsed onto the table, weakly admitting, “Hungry…”

How the fuck is this guy an expert? Jun Changxiao face-palmed, dumbfounded.
“Qingyang, carry him to the dining hall.”

“Yes.”

Li Qingyang walked over and picked Zhou Hong up with one arm, using the other to take his sword. 

But just as he touched the sword, Zhou Hong suddenly burst out with strength, grasping the sword first.
He solemnly stated, “A sword cultivator’s blade never leaves his body.”

Li Qingyang shook his head, dragging the boy into the sect. 

Registration continued. 

The fifth entrant was 17, looked average, and seemed to have no special skills.
However, his name was striking, as he was called Sima Zhongda. 

Jun Changxiao joked, “You certainly have a rival named Zhuge Kongming.” [2]

Zhuge Kongming? Sima Zhongda was bewildered. 

“Accepted.”

After Jun Changxiao asked a few questions, he stamped the seal. 

In his opinion, those with compound surnames like Ouyang, Murong, Dongfang, Lanxiang were all from great and respected families. 

What was the standard Jun Changxiao used to accept disciples?

Spirit root and cultivation were not very important, as he only looked at the registrant’s gaze — if he found the gaze to be acceptable, then he would accept the disciple into the sect wholeheartedly. 

The system mocked, [Isn’t it just because not enough people register, so the host cannot be picky?]

Jun Changxiao was disinclined to respond, saying, “Next.”

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There was no sound. 

Looking up, he discovered there was no one there — only a total of five people had registered.

Hu-hu!

A cool breeze blew past, flooding the entrance with a bleak aura. 

“Hah…” 

Jun Changxiao sighed to himself, picked up his chair and walked into the sect.
His back seemed a little lonely, like he was an old person late in life. 

…

After the new disciples joined, the number of disciples increased from 148 to 153 and he obtained 5 contribution points. 

Li Qingyang led them to pick up the sect uniforms, handed them the sect handbook, and so on. 

Jun Changxiao cultivated in the training room for two hours, then arrived at the cell where the Drizzle Pavilion Master had been detained, unlocking the chains with a ‘ka ka ka’.

“Has your stay been satisfying?” 

After walking in, he smiled like a gentleman. 

The pavilion master said, “Sect Head Jun, we reached an agreement about chatting, detaining me seems a bit improper.”

Jun Changxiao leaned against the door, clasping his hands.
“If you comply with something this lord wants, the Ironbone Sect will immediately honor you as a guest.”

The pavilion master twirled her hair, smiling, “It’s definitely nothing good.”

This woman seemed barely over twenty, still looking beautiful.
Her physique was also pretty good; even her nonchalant movements were filled with seductiveness.

My senior disciple, if she was like her…. 

Jun Changxiao immediately stopped that train of thought. That would be too scary!

Jun Changxiao said, “What is the lady’s fine name?”

“Li Luoqiu,” the pavilion master answered. 

Jun Changxiao said, “Good name.”

Li Luoqiu smiled as she asked, “Sect Head Jun, that wouldn’t be the matter you wanted to discuss?”

“Of course not,” Jun Changxiao said.
“Pavilion Master Li, are you interested in becoming my subordinate and joining my Ironbone Sect?”

“Kekeke,” Li Luoqiu covered her mouth as she chuckled, smiling beautiful enough for flowers to blossom. 

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Jun Changxiao said, “Is it funny?”

Li Luoqiu stopped laughing and said, “Sect Head Jun, I, Li Luoqiu, am an assassin and will not join your so-called sect.”

“Why?” Jun Changxiao asked. 

Li Luoqiu answered, “Would a bird used to freedom enjoy being caged?”

Jun Changxiao shook his head.
“An assassin’s only partner is the darkness and does not dare appear in the open.
Is that freedom?”

Li Luoqiu lightly said, “If you wish to recruit me, you should not waste your words.”

Jun Changxiao naturally did not give up.
He said, “Miss Li, this lord can exterminate the Spirit Spring Sect, does not fear the Holy Spring Sect, and has also welcomed all those of your honorable sect here.
Shouldn’t our strength be clear?”

Silent for a moment, Li Luoqiu eventually responded, “Sect Head Jun is not simple.”

Last night she had wondered how such an obscure sect to Jianghu had suddenly become so domineering.

And this guy. 

During the Hundred Sect Recruitment, he had been Meridian Opening stage five or six. 

After several months, he entered the high levels of Martial Apprentice.
He’d even defeated herself, which was inconceivable. 

Jun Changxiao said, “My Ironbone Sect has only just started and lacks virtuous and capable people.
If Miss Li brings her subordinates to join, she will someday become a founding elder of the major sect that dominates the continent!”

Li Luoqiu’s apricot eyes were wide. 

If he had said something brave like ‘dominates Qingyang Commandery’, perhaps she would have believed him. 

Dominate the continent? The best major sect? Saying something like that could only mean two things: (1) he was joking or (2) he was insane. 

Jun Changxiao was not joking and his brain was very normal. 

He sincerely said, “Miss Li, if you are willing to assist this lord, you will become Drizzle Hall’s hall master.”

Li Luoqiu teased, “The Ironbone Sect even has hall masters?”

“Not before, but we do now.” Jun Changxiao continued, “Miss Li, if you join, you will be my Ironbone Sect’s first hall master.
This will certainly go down in the annals of history, forever revered by the world!”

Li Luoqiu: “……”

Shua!

Jun Changxiao pulled out the Desert Eagle, spinning it around his finger.
He turned the gun’s handle towards her, adding, “If you become my Ironbone Sect’s hall master, this Invincible Might Cannon, Miss Li can casually use.”

“Of course,” he added.
“Not only can Miss Li use the various martial way resources, her subordinates will also have access.”

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“Are you done?” Li Luoqiu asked. 

Jun Changxiao seriously concluded, “Miss Li, this lord has invited you for the first time today, but it is also the last time.
Please seriously consider, because opportunities not taken disappear forever.”

“Hehe,” Li Luoqiu covered her mouth as she tittered.
“You say it like if I do not agree, I will regret it for a lifetime.”

Jun Changxiao said, “I will give you three days to consider.”

Saying this, he turned around to leave. 

Li Luoqiu called out, “Halt.”

Jun Changxiao stopped, asking, “Did Miss Li carefully consider?”

Li Luoqiu folded her hands together, curious.
“If I become your Ironbone Sect’s hall master, what privileges will I have?”

Jun Changxiao answered, “You and your subordinates will not have limits on your freedom; you can come and go freely.”

Mhm, an intelligence agent definitely had to leave the sect.
If they stayed in the sect drinking tea and reading newspapers like old men, what use would they have?

Li Luoqiu smiled.
“Sect Head Jun invites me with such sincerity, is it just because the sect lacks a hall master?”

“Of course not.”

Jun Changxiao said, “This lord will provide all martial way resources for Miss Li, you just have to maintain the corresponding value.”

“Help you kill people?” Li Luoqiu suggested. 

Jun Changxiao responded, “Such a tiring and dirty job like killing people can be done by the male disciples.
Miss Li’s only responsibility is helping this lord collect information.”

“It is but information collection? So simple?” Li Luoqiu was surprised. 

Jun Changxiao asked, “Do you want to also do other things?”

Li Luoqiu tapped her chin.
“Give me some time to consider.”

“Three days later, this lord will come to visit again.
I hope that Miss Li—”

His words hadn’t even been finished when he was interrupted by her.

“I have considered it.
I am willing to accept your offer, becoming the Ironbone Sect’s hall master.”

Jun Changxiao felt his lips twitch.

The speed of this woman’s ‘careful consideration’ was really fast!