Chapter 20: Zhuge Yue

As he spoke those last words Feng Zhiming was satisfied and sent a mental transmission to Anissa telling her to kill him secretly.

Anissa concentrated her divine sense and used it to disperse the man's consciousness, effectively killing the man.

"It seems he had too many internal injuries." Feng Zhiming lamented in front of the old man and little girl.

"I wonder who this Dao Lord Fury is and why he's so concerned with an old man and this little girl." he added.

"Indeed, I guess we'll never know." Anissa decided to play along and joined the act.

The old man and little girl looked at each other before the little girl decided to speak.

"My name is Zhuge Yue and I am the sixth child of the Zhuge Clan."

Feng Zhiming and Anissa put up the most surprised face they could muster although Anissa's acting skills were subpar to say the least, Feng Zhiming was surprised she hadn't been seen through.

"Tonight you should pray for better acting ability from the Forgotten God." he sent a mental transmission to her.

Anissa gripped her sword a little more tightly than usual when sheathing it while taking a deep breath in and out.

"They actually dared to attack the Zhuge Clan, this Dao Lord Fury must be courting de-"

The old man suddenly interrupted Feng Zhiming.

"Please, sir cultivator, let's not discuss these matters in public."

At the end of the alley, a crowd had started to gather to view the scene.

"Well said, please lead the way, follow quietly my disciple." Anissa answered.

Actually, Feng Zhiming had sent a mental transmission to tell her to reply like that, it would help showcase her authority as his master feeding into the act, however the last part was purely from her.

Feng Zhiming cupped his hand and bowed to her.

"As you order, master."

Anissa helped heal the old man's wounds, healing flesh wounds was as easy as breathing for someone in her realm. Zhuge Yue was still surprised at the speeds at which the wounds mended, her mental image of Anissa was becoming greater and greater.

As the four began to walk towards the Zhuge Clan estate Feng Zhiming tried to work his magic.

"So, what was a little girl like you doing all the way out here."

Zhuge Yue looked at him for a moment and looked away without answering.

Feng Zhiming put his hands behind his back and held his wrist tightly while trying to maintain an amicable expression, Anissa smiled ever so slightly.

"Children don't take kindly to strange men asking them questions." She sent over a mental transmission to Feng Zhiming.

Feng Zhiming was happy that Anissa was starting to be more open with him and not just a statue that would reply when spoken to, he didn't need loyalty of gratitude, he needed loyalty of trust.

He wasn't one to give up in one try but as he was about to try again Zhuge Yue left his side and went to stand beside Anissa.

"Great cultivator, you are so powerful I couldn't even see you attack those men, it was amazing." she looked up at her with admiration.

Anissa looked down at her, black hair in twin tails and a loose cloak to cover her up, she looked exceptionally adorable, adorable just like. An image of her own younger sister started to overlap with Zhuge Yue, she hesitated just for a second before replying.

"It is not that I'm powerful, those men were just weak."

After that Zhuge Yue was even more infatuated with her.

"This big sister is so wise, I've never seen a female master as powerful as you. Of course there's the matriarch of the Heavenly Divine Demon Sect. I've met once or twice, but I've never seen her fight before."

Within the Zhuge Clan, she had been the only girl out of her six siblings, so her older brothers often kept her away from things like swords. She had always heard that women should only do womanly things, but today she had seen a true female master in action. If she had a big sister she would want her to be like this great master.

"Can I see your sword please, big sister please." she looked up with wide eyes.

Anissa was conflicted, normally she would never unsheathe her sword outside of combat, but today looking at the face of this little girl, she was reminded of someone she loved dearly and she couldn't help but give in.

As Zhuge Yue inspected the sword she was ecstatic, carefully checking the grip, the sharpness and even swinging it around.

The old man walking ahead of them with Feng Zhiming could only hold his tongue, he was under strict orders from the clan head to keep the young miss away from sharp objects but how could he speak now that the great cultivator had willingly given her own sword.

"So, old timer, mind telling me what a child of the Zhuge clan was doing all the way out here."

Feng Zhiming asked, he had already known the answer, but it was good to make natural conversation to establish trust.

"Actually, it's a little embarrassing, the young miss often likes to sneak out and come here to enjoy some cake from this restaurant and since this old bag of bones is merely a servant she forces me to come along."

Feng Zhiming nodded and continued walking, it was not his original plan to rope in the Zhuge Clan, but it was quite the boon he gained from the mere dysfunction of a teleportation array.

He chuckled, all it had taken was a casual conversation with the candy apple seller, and now they were entering the Zhuge clan as a couple of heroes.

"Don't cut yourself." Anissa said with a hint of worry in her voice, she watched Zhuge Yue swing the sword that was obviously too big for her around easily.

"My siblings always told me if I swing the sword I would become big and ugly but big sister is so pretty they must have been lying, I'm going to complain to father."

Her eyes lit up.

"Big sister, if you need anything tell me and I'll make sure my father makes it happen or my name isn't Zhuge Yue." she swung the sword over her shoulder as if she had been the one to slay those men earlier.

"Isn't this a little too easy?" Feng Zhiming thought to himself as he smirked.