The Programmer Cultivator-Chapter 53 - 51: Mission

"Uh, you’re going to carry him back?" Feng Mingyou asked.

A seed appeared on Zhang Deming’s fingertip. A vine shot out, instantly wrapping around Zong En’s waist. Only then did Zhang Deming say, "Well, something like that."

After he spoke, the vine bound the two of them together. The Light Wings on Zhang Deming’s heels vibrated. He glanced back at the stunned and uncomfortable Zong En and said, "Hold on."

"Uh... huh?" Zong En was completely bewildered, just as Zhang Deming had been at first.

"I said, hold on," Zhang Deming repeated.

Zong En said awkwardly, "Um, Brother Ming, this isn’t a good idea, is it? We’re already pretty close like this. If we start hugging, it’ll look really bad if someone sees us.

It’s no big deal for you, but I still have to live here!"

Zhang Deming rolled his eyes at Zong En, not bothering to argue. He turned to Steward Feng and said, "Goodbye. I’ll leave the rest to you, Steward."

Feng Mingyou nodded. "Don’t worry. There won’t be any problems on my end."

Hearing this, Zhang Deming pushed off with his legs and shot forward.

"Ah... Holy shit, my back!"

With the sudden acceleration, Zong En, who was bound by the vine, let out a pained scream. His entire body, except for his constricted waist, was flung backward.

"Shut up! Don’t let anyone hear you," Zhang Deming said, his face dark, as he ran at full speed.

Only then did Zong En obediently reach out and wrap his arms tightly around Zhang Deming.

After a moment, once he had adjusted, Zong En looked at the passing scenery with wonder and couldn’t help but say, "Brother Ming, what kind of Technique is this? It’s so cool!"

Veins throbbed on Zhang Deming’s forehead. ’Is this guy treating me like a mount?’

’Still... I need to ask him for a favor. I’ll endure it!’

"Brother Ming, look! Is that the Sect’s Main Peak? This is the first time I’ve seen it this close."

Zhang Deming couldn’t take it anymore. He turned and roared, "Shut the hell up! If you keep squirming, I’m throwing you off."

"Oh!" Zong En immediately quieted down.

...

After a long while, the two arrived at Little Hui Peak. Zhang Deming put Zong En down and began to give him some instructions.

After some time, Zhang Deming instructed, "Remember, I probably won’t be gone for too long.

If anyone brings food during this time, just tell them to leave it outside. You can go get it after they’re gone.

Try your best not to be seen."

Zong En was staring at the Qingyou Jade Pavilion, still in a daze. Zhang Deming asked, "Did you get all that?"

Zong En snapped back to his senses. "I got it, Brother Ming. Um... can I ask a question?"

Zhang Deming said, "Go ahead."

"Do all the senior brothers in the Outer Sect get treated this well?" Zong En asked.

Zhang Deming looked at the guy; he was a spitting image of how Zhang Deming himself had acted when he first arrived at Qingyou Pool. "No," he replied, "this place is an exception."

"Phew, that’s a relief. Otherwise, I was afraid I’d be bursting with jealousy when I get back," Zong En said.

’A relief?’

’Shouldn’t that make you even more jealous?’

’What kind of logic is that?’

’How on earth did he find any balance in that?’

After giving his instructions, Zhang Deming didn’t delay any further and left immediately.

When he arrived at Little Hui Peak Plaza, Xue Su was already waiting for him, having received Zhang Deming’s message earlier that morning.

"Do you have the things I asked for?" Zhang Deming asked as he walked up.

Xue Su nodded. "Don’t worry, Junior Brother Zhang. A Hidden Spirit Card Array isn’t a particularly difficult Array Card to make.

Here, take a look."

Xue Su took out a few cards and handed them to Zhang Deming.

After Zhang Deming took the cards, Xue Su reminded him, "But, Junior Brother Zhang, this thing can only fool regular people.

A cultivator only needs to channel some Spiritual Qi to their eyes, and they’ll see right through it.

If you want a Card Array that can fool someone at the Apprentice Level, I can’t make that yet. You’d have to go buy one."

Zhang Deming smiled. "This will be enough. Not everyone I meet is going to assume I’m hiding something with an Array.

And not everyone has a habit of using a Fake Spiritual Eye on people the moment they meet."

"Alright, suit yourself," Xue Su said.

What Zhang Deming didn’t say was that his main goal was to avoid leaving any traces.

"How much?" Zhang Deming asked.

"Uh, Junior Brother Zhang, don’t worry about it. These were just for practice, and I don’t really need Silver Coins anymore.

You’re not going to give me a Spirit Stone, are you? If you’re that loaded, I wouldn’t mind ’robbing the rich to help the poor’," Xue Su replied with a laugh.

Zhang Deming paused for a moment. "Thanks, then. I’ve got something to do today and I’m in a hurry. See you around."

Xue Su nodded. "See you around."

After they parted ways, Xue Su returned to his courtyard. He stood there thinking for a long time before finally hesitating for a moment and going inside.

He carefully checked his surroundings for a moment. After closing the door and all the windows, he went to his bedroom and opened a hidden compartment.

From the hidden compartment, he took out a very futuristic-looking laptop.

That’s right, a laptop. It was definitely not some computer-like Artifact or Magical Artifact related to Arrays.

It was a real, honest-to-goodness laptop computer!

He opened the laptop and his hands flew across the keyboard.

As he worked, he remained vigilant, listening for any sound from outside.

After working for a long time, he finished what he had to do.

He paused, then created a simple file on Zhang Deming. At the end, he added a special note: "Fellow? TBD!"

After a long moment, once he had finished his work, he let out a long sigh of relief.

He carefully put the laptop away again and reopened the door. Everything that had seemed so out of place before now felt like an illusion.

...

After parting ways with Xue Su, Zhang Deming headed straight for the Task Department at the Outer Sect Headquarters.

The Task Department was the place that most reminded Zhang Deming of his previous life.

It was a massive hall, with various Array Light Screens on all sides displaying different information, giving it the feel of a stock exchange trading floor.

All around were reception counters, where senior brothers and sisters worked tirelessly, processing all kinds of information.

"Junior Brother, what kind of task are you looking to accept?"

Zhang Deming walked over to a corner of the hall. Due to its location, this counter was rather quiet. A senior sister behind the counter greeted him.

Adopting a cool and aloof persona, Zhang Deming said flatly, "Number 12406, the Demon Beast Rampage task. Please pull up the task information for me."

"Of course."

As she spoke, the senior sister quickly pulled up a virtual Light Screen and began to explain the task.

"Task 12406 is a distress call from a remote region. Requirement: at least an Intermediate Apprentice. Recommended for Advanced Apprentices.

Due to the remote location, the reward is three Contribution Points, plus an additional one-point bonus, for a total of four Contribution Points.

Uh... wait, that’s not right. Junior Brother, you might not have noticed when you checked before, but this task was already accepted this morning.

For this type of remote-area task, we don’t recommend that multiple people accept it at the same time. You should probably pick a different one, Junior Brother."