Famous Designer, Lou Yuan?

"Have you finally realised who you are speaking to?" Lou Yuan puffed up his chest in confidence. "Since that is the case, hurry up and get rid of those bandits. I will reward you accordingly once that is done!"

"Young Sir..." Jin Kequn muttered hesitantly.

He had always thought that the young man they captured was somewhat of a weirdo, but it would appear that he was actually someone rather influential?

If this young man truly managed to convince Zhao Yunxiao, then that would be the end of them!

"Don't worry. I have already made my decision, so I naturally won't go back on my word because of something like this," Zhao Yunxiao assured.

"What do you mean something like this?" Lou Yuan protested. "Even if you don't appreciate rewards, are you saying that you intend to let these bandits go? I might be lucky enough to survive because of my wits, but who knows how many lives they have taken in the past?"

"Wits?" Zhao Yunxiao shook his head in disbelief. "If not for their mercy, would you be able to survive until now? Didn't you see just how easily they opened your door? The bandits could have killed you anytime they wanted."

"But Young Sir, we are no longer bandits. We are champions of the moonlight..." Jin Kequn corrected.

"Yes, yes, champions of the moonlight," Zhao Yunxiao nodded patronisingly.

"So, are you saying that you will be letting them go? Even after all that they have done in the past?" Lou Yuan narrowed his eyes.

"Which cultivator does not have blood on their hands?" Zhao Yunxiao asked in return. "As long as they are willing to change for the better, that is good enough of a reason to forgive them. Come to think of it, you sure have gotten vocal all of a sudden. Is it because you think I won't do anything to you?"

"...Aren't you a disciple of the orthodox Black Tortoise Sect? I'm sure you don't intend to harm me... do you?" Lou Yuan suddenly turned pale once more. "I-I am the disciple of Wushuang!"

He had indeed felt much more confident upon realising that Zhao Yunxiao was from the Black Tortoise Sect, thinking that help had finally arrived for him. However, Zhao Yunxiao's stern reminder caused him to mellow down instantly.

"Honestly, I still have my doubts about your identity as the disciple of Wushuang," Zhao Yunxiao said frankly. "But don't worry, I won't harm you, and neither will they. You may leave now. The bandits won't make things difficult for you."

"But Young Sir, we are champions of the moonlight..." Jin Kequn muttered.

"Yes, yes, that's what I meant."

"Leave...?" Lou Yuan hesitated. "How can I just leave?"

"What do you mean?" Zhao Yunxiao frowned. "Didn't you advise me to leave while I can, saying that the bandits are out to harm me? Why are you not heeding your own advice?"

"But Young Sir, we are no longer ba-"

"Yes, yes, champions of the moonlight. I get it already."

"I-I naturally have my own reasons for staying! Do you think I came to this desolate area just to play around?" Lou Yuan retorted. "After spending all this time here, my master will mock me if I just go home empty handed!"

"And what could the famous designer, Lou Yuan, possibly wish to achieve in this desolate area?" Zhao Yunxiao asked.

"As a famous designer, I naturally have big things to do here! Since you are so desperate to know, I shall make an exception and let you in on this," Lou Yuan puffed up his chest in pride, completely missing the sarcasm in Zhao Yunxiao's tone. "I have heard whispers that a celestial meteorite landed around these parts, resulting in a direct change in the local weather over the past year. Being the most innovative designer ever, I have decided to come investigate this celestial meteorite and see if there is anything that can be used as material for my future designs!"

Zhao Yunxiao and Nie Hanchang exchanged glances immediately.

A celestial meteorite that resulted in a direct change in the local weather?

They recalled that the villagers of Kindness Village had mentioned seeing a bright shooting star on the night of the strange merchant's visit.

Could that be the celestial meteorite?

In that case, was that the true cause of this sudden drought?

"Where did you hear of this?" Zhao Yunxiao asked solemnly.

"I naturally have my own sources of information," Lou Yuan narrowed his eyes at Zhao Yunxiao. "What? Are you intending to vie with me for the materials?"

"I am not interested in your materials, but I am investigating the cause of the change in weather in this region," Zhao Yunxiao said. "If it is due to the celestial meteorite, then it is in my interest to remove it as well."

"You are?" Lou Yuan revealed a look of surprise. "In that case, do you want to help- I mean, I can consider bringing you along on my search for the celestial meteorite if you really want to tag along!"

"Do you have a rough idea of the location?" Zhao Yunxiao asked.

"I have already investigated most of the possible locations," Lou Yuan explained. "If we eliminate this Stoneyard Hill, there is only one possible option left. I am certain that it has to be there!"

"How far is it?" Zhao Yunxiao probed further.

"It's not far away, only half a day's journey on foot!" Lou Yuan answered excitedly. His passion for this matter was clear for all to see.

"Mm," Zhao Yunxiao nodded. "In that case, let's leave tomorrow morning."

"You are leaving?" Jin Kequn was startled to hear that. "But Young Sir, didn't you say...?"

"Don't worry, I will be back after I am done with my matter," Zhao Yunxiao assured. "In any case, it should take at least a few days to analyse the fundamentals of the Moonlight Sutra. I will not be able to share anything concrete tomorrow."

"This... okay, then. I will trust your words," Jin Kequn nodded reluctantly.

"Wait, you will be coming back here?" Lou Yuan asked in disbelief.

"I am not asking you to return with me," Zhao Yunxiao said. "You are free to go after we are done with your matter."

"O-Of course! No one can stop me from going wherever I want!" Lou Yuan said.

"Yes, famous designer," Zhao Yunxiao shrugged.

"You don't seem to believe me," Lou Yuan felt the corner of his lips twitch.

"You are right. I don't," Zhao Yunxiao answered frankly.

Lou Yuan: "..."

"In any case, that's settled. I still need to look through the manual, so I will be turning in for now," Zhao Yunxiao turned to leave. "We will be leaving early tomorrow morning, so have a good rest yourself."

"W-Wait!" Lou Yuan called out in alarm. "Are you just going to leave me here? Alone?"

"What's wrong? Haven't you already been here for a while?" Zhao Yunxiao raised an eyebrow. "Why the sudden concern?"

"But that's before I know the bandits can just break down the door!" Lou Yuan protested. "Let me bunk in with you tonight!"

"Dream on," Zhao Yunxiao shut him down immediately. "It is a place for two, not three."

"Please! Otherwise, you won't find me alive tomorrow morning! The bandits are going to kill me in my sleep!" Lou Yuan pleaded. "And I've seen the condition of that guy's hut. It's definitely big enough for three!"

Jin Kequn: "..."

"Stop imagining things. The bandits won't do anything to you," Zhao Yunxiao heartlessly stepped out of the hut. "Let's go."

"But Young Sir, we are... nevermind," Jin Kequn sighed. "Let me show you to your place."

Ignoring the loud protests coming from Lou Yuan, the duo followed Jin Kequn to the hut that would be their resting place for the night.

Surprisingly, Lou Yuan did not chase after them, perhaps afraid of stepping out of the hut even though the door had already been proven ineffective as a secure guardrail.

"I hope you don't mind the humble condition of the hut," Jin Kequn said in embarrassment as he opened the door to the hut. "We cleaned it up a little, but it is probably still undeserving of the two young sirs."

"Enough buttering up," Zhao Yunxiao said. "We will let you know if we need anything. But without our instruction, do not disturb us. And needless to say, don't touch the young man from earlier as well."

"Of course, Young Sir," Jin Kequn nodded. "If there is nothing else, I will leave you to rest for the night."

"Mm," Zhao Yunxiao nodded, and Jin Kequn promptly left.

"So? Are you really intending to teach these bandits, turning them into actual champions of the moonlight?" Nie Hanchang finally asked now that they were alone.

"Well, I can't possibly just leave them to die," Zhao Yunxiao sighed. "But I will need your help in order to do this, Senior Martial Brother Nie. My talent is shallow, so I am afraid that I might get some things wrong. Is it possible to go through the manual together, so that we can bounce ideas off of each other?"

"That I can do," Nie Hanchang agreed without hesitation.

In fact, he was rather curious about this Moonlight Sutra and what it could do as well.

Without saying another word, Zhao Yunxiao retrieved the manual, and the two of them started reading it in earnest.

Each cultivation technique had its own unique traits that differed from others.

Since both Zhao Yunxiao and Nie Hanchang were already practising their respective cultivation techniques from the Black Tortoise Sect, it was not a simple matter to just switch over and practise the Moonlight Sutra.

To do so would require reconciling the differences between the two cultivation techniques – often a long and tedious task, even in cases where the two cultivation techniques were similar in nature.

However, not being able to practise it did not mean that they could not understand it.

That said, the Moonlight Sutra was an ancient cultivation technique that allowed its practitioners to reach heights far beyond their current level.

Because of that, the bulk of the sutra was above the Essence Gathering realm, making the content extremely difficult to understand even for them.

Thankfully, that was not what they had to worry about right now.

After all, the bandits should have only barely taken their first steps into the Foundation Building realm, and the content up to this level was still relatively manageable for the duo.

It did not take long for them to finish reading the content.

Next came the process of comprehending each individual bit, then piecing everything together to comprehend the technique in its totality.

And that was where the difficulty lay.

Zhao Yunxiao and Nie Hanchang spent the night discussing the approach towards cultivating the Moonlight Sutra, and how it could be simplified for the bandits who did not have any background, whatsoever.

It was a busy night for the two.

Without realising it, the first rays of the sun had fallen upon Stoneyard Hill, marking the arrival of the next morning.