NOVEL NEXT Chapter 323: Your Request, I Refuse
Yun Ran drew her Peach Wood Sword; with the blessing of the ancestral Sword Intent, its imposing aura became even more formidable.
Who would have thought that this oddly shaped Peach Wood Sword was actually an inherited treasure of the Qingfeng Temple.
Not every sword can withstand the ancestral Sword Intent, and this Peach Wood Sword happens to be one of them that can.
Mo Zhi, who had been sleeping soundly, suddenly felt a shiver run through her body, her entire being prickling with uneasy sensation, immediately after Yun Ran drew her Peach Wood Sword.
She hurriedly opened her eyes and couldn't help but murmur in her heart: Could it be that some formidable opponent is seeking out the master?
She then poked her head out of the Jade Token, but saw nothing unusual—everyone around her was the same as before and familiar to her.
Immediately, Mo Zhi turned her attention to the direction that had given her a sense of unease.
Then, her eyes locked onto the Peach Wood Sword in Yun Ran's hand.
If she remembered correctly, she had seen this Peach Wood Sword many times before, but in the past, it had felt to her as merely a very powerful Magic Artifact.
To think that today's intimidation was actually emanating from this Peach Wood Sword, it left Mo Zhi somewhat dazed.
Master Ming had not even executed any sword moves or released Sword Qi; just taking it out was enough—how could the Peach Wood Sword possess such strong aura?
Mo Zhi really wanted to ask what was going on, but having been around Yun Ran for a while, she was well aware of her character.
If it was something she could be told about, the Master would have certainly mentioned it; otherwise, it was best not to ask any questions.
Mo Zhi immediately retracted her head back into the Jade Token, perhaps comforted by the psychological suggestion that the Peach Wood Sword posed no threat to her.
The sensation that had made her so uncomfortable before seemed to have diminished significantly.
The unsuspecting people around her saw Yun Ran merely wandering seemingly without purpose, but in reality, Yun Ran was following an array described in an ancient text left by the Qingfeng Temple.
Whenever she reached a key point, she would swing her Peach Wood Sword to release Sword Qi.
In the eyes of the onlookers, Yun Ran was just a young girl swinging an unsightly 'stick' at random, just like the village children.
"Didn't the people from the Special Administration Bureau say not to wander around carelessly?"
"Haven't you noticed that no one over there seems to care? Seems like she might be a little disciple brought by the Special Administration Bureau—don't meddle!"
...
If Wan Ji were here and heard the speculations of his comrades, he would certainly roll his eyes to the heavens.
It wasn't until Yun Ran had stepped on all forty-nine key points that an Array, invisible to the naked eye, was formed.
Were it only for the previous Sword Qi, Yun Ran might have been worried about the stability of the Sword Qi Array.
But now, with the addition of the ancestral Sword Intent, this place could not even be split open by Heavenly Thunder.
The very moment the Sword Qi Array was established, Xuan Chu felt the Prohibition from the Heavenly Dao tremble on his body.
This indicated that something the Heavenly Dao disliked yet had to tacitly acknowledge had appeared.
His gaze immediately turned toward Yun Ran's location in the camp.
His previous perception was correct; the calamitous power within Yun Ran had strengthened.
And the Wuzi Changli, who was trapped underground, looked up.
Although he was surrounded by pitch-black darkness, he somehow 'saw' through the layers of stone to the situation above.
Others may not see the Array formed by the Sword Qi, but he could.
He scoffed coldly, his tone containing disdain, yet also seemed to convey faint satisfaction.
[This little girl, cunning yet ruthless with her actions, is clean and decisive. She does have some of the Witch Clan's spirit!]
He was trapped by his own will, but he would not waste words telling these people that he neither wanted nor intended to leave.
In this world, there has never been a shortage of people who judge others by their own low standards, and those who do not believe will not be convinced by whatever he says.
Having this Sword Array is good as well—it'll reduce the number of people bothering him in the future!
By his side, the chattering of the Tomb Guardian Beasts was once again audible, but Wuzi Changli did not find it annoying in the least.
After all, were they not created to relieve his boredom? He had an unending lifespan, and these Tomb Guardian Beasts were likewise, much easier to deal with than humans.
When Yun Ran finished setting up the Sword Array and went back, she saw Xie Xuzhi and Xuan Chu standing together talking.
Yun Ran's curiosity wasn't always so strong.
She immediately turned and took another path back, avoiding them.
Thus, she missed what Xuan Chu was saying at that moment: "Director Xie, I hope you can let me accompany Yun Ran on her future missions."
Xie Xuzhi's eyebrows were tightly furrowed, his face showed heavy fatigue, and there were faint red blood vessels in his eyes.
He seemed somewhat irritable, and the poise characteristic of a noble family's descendants was noticeably lessened.
"Normally, the Special Administration Bureau should cooperate unconditionally with the people of Heavenly Dao Village, but do you know what kind of missions Yun Ran undertakes?
In your eyes, Yun Ran is dangerous, someone you guard against. If it were not for certain agreements, you would likely want to detain her immediately.
But to me, Yun Ran is an exceptionally outstanding special agent. She has completed every mission with flying colors, saving countless lives.
I can't possibly break her wings now just because of your suspicions and the possibility that she might do something bad for unknown reasons; that wouldn't be fair.
I can't guarantee that your presence won't interfere with her judgment or even obstruct her missions when she's on duty.
Behind every mission of the Special Administration Bureau lie countless lives; if any discord arises between her judgment and yours, no one can bear the consequences.
My responsibility and position are to protect the legitimate rights and interests of my subordinates and the safety of more innocent lives.
Therefore, I refuse your request."
Xie Xuzhi was not a leader who only spoke on paper; he clearly understood that there is no absolutely correct choice in missions, only the most suitable one.
Especially in life-saving situations, sometimes extreme measures may be taken, or even choices that go against human nature may be made.
But that doesn't mean such choices are wrong.
Xuan Chu didn't expect to be refused by Xie Xuzhi, but his words held some truth, leaving Xuan Chu unable to rebut.
He knew well that if Yun Ran used the calamitous power during a mission—
Even if it were to save more people, he would still intervene and stop her, unable to care for the lives of others.