Xu Ping’an calmed himself, took a small square box from his sleeve, and pulled out a small ball hanging by a chain, which he then tied to Pei Qingxuan’s wrist.
“Husband, what’s this?”
“It’s a protective charm. Remember to keep it with you from now on.”
He then took out a folding fan and walked out.
What’s meant to be will be.
If they were truly after Pei Qingxuan, all he could do was try his best to conceal her.
Even if she were to leave, it would have to be after her injuries were healed.
Giving up halfway was not in his nature.
Pei Qingxuan looked at the silver chain on her wrist with confusion.
A small silver ball hung from it.
The ball seemed hollow, containing something wrapped in brocade, round and indistinct, yet it emitted a very pleasant, delicate fragrance.
Suddenly, a hand pressed against her philtrum.
“Husband, what are you doing?”
“Just in case.”
Seeing that Pei Qingxuan had inhaled the medicinal powder, Xu Ping’an nodded.
Then, holding the fan in one hand and the young woman’s hand in the other, he led her to the courtyard gate.
“Distinguished guests, from where do you come, and what brings you to my humble abode?”
As he spoke, the two people standing at the courtyard gate seemed to suddenly notice Xu Ping’an and Pei Qingxuan, appearing quite surprised.
“Husband, they seemed unable to see us just now, didn’t they?”
“Yes, it’s fine, it’s normal.”
Xu Ping’an smiled and patted Pei Qingxuan’s head, then turned to face the two outside the courtyard.
Zhang Qian also looked up at the two young people in the courtyard.
He was somewhat disbelieving, as in the entire Great Qi, those capable of using formations were exceedingly rare.
Which master of formations wasn’t an old monster or a hidden treasure from a major sect? He had originally thought that this place must belong to some old reclusive master who had already given up hope of ascension.
But to his surprise, a young man and woman appeared before him.
Zhang Qian immediately reacted.
“Sir, I am a disciple of the Yifeng Sect. I have come to inquire about something from an elder.”
“It’s just my wife and I here; there are no other outsiders. What would you like to inquire about, esteemed guest?”
Zhang Qian dared not be disrespectful.
Someone who could set up a formation in such a small courtyard was definitely not simple.
He was merely a Golden Core stage cultivator, and if he offended the other party, he might die without even knowing how.
“Elder, it’s like this: a disciple from my sect went missing a few days ago, and the entire sect is anxious about it. My presence here is merely coincidental, and I’d like to ask if you have seen a beautiful woman recently.”
“Oh? What does she look like?”
Zhang Qian quickly took a portrait from his sleeve, unfolded it, and held it in his hand.
“It’s this woman.”
Upon seeing the woman in the portrait, Xu Ping’an understood. “Husband, this portrait…”
Pei Qingxuan’s clear, moist eyes were full of questions, as she couldn’t understand why an outsider would have a portrait of her.
Before she could finish, her husband’s folding fan blocked her view.
“Yes, she’s indeed very beautiful, but I haven’t seen her. What’s her name? That way, if I do encounter her, I’ll remember.”
Xu Ping’an pretended to carefully examine the portrait, while the two outside the courtyard dared not enter.
This small courtyard had a formation, and any cultivator knew that once you stepped into someone else’s formation, unless your cultivation was several times higher than theirs, your life or death would be in their hands.
All three looked at the painting, but the most surprised was not them, but the young woman standing beside Xu Ping’an.
This was clearly her own portrait, yet she stood right in front of these two people, and they seemed not to see her.
She thought about the small pendant her husband had given her earlier and looked down at it, but couldn’t make any sense of it.
Although she didn’t know why her husband didn’t want her to say it was her portrait, since it was what he wanted, she certainly wouldn’t object.
“This woman’s name is Pei Qingxuan. She is… she is an inner disciple of my sect.”
“Oh… alright, I understand. If I encounter her, I will certainly notify your Yifeng Sect.”
Xu Ping’an nodded gravely.
“Gentlemen, since you’ve come to my humble courtyard, it must be fate. Why not come in for a cup of tea?”
“There’s no need for that. We still have other places to investigate. Elder, farewell.”
“In that case, I won’t see you out. Please take care.”
Zhang Qian said no more, only looking at Xu Ping’an and the young woman beside him.
The woman’s face seemed somewhat familiar; he guessed it might be because she resembled someone he knew.
Zhang Qian clasped his hands in greeting, standing on his flying sword.
His junior brother shook his head with a slight regret, also bowed to Xu Ping’an, and then jumped onto his own flying sword.
Watching the two depart, Xu Ping’an snapped his folding fan shut, his expression unchanged, but his mind already racing.
First, these two people were lying.
Pei Qingxuan was absolutely not their junior or senior sister.
Because just now, when the name ‘Pei Qingxuan’ was mentioned, Xu Ping’an could feel that both the leader and the follower subconsciously showed hostility.
It was an instinctive reaction.
As a physician, these instinctive bodily reactions were part of his knowledge.
It was almost impossible for someone to lie in front of him.
Putting everything else aside, just the human aura could clearly reveal a person’s emotions.
When the two lied just now, their aura clearly showed an abnormal yellow, which was enough to prove that both of them were lying, and the yellow contained a hint of red, indicating either hostility or resentment.
In short, it was certain that these two were not Pei Qingxuan’s companions, but her enemies.
The reason he invited them into the house earlier was to trick them inside, and then figure out what to do.
However, it was clear that they didn’t fall for it.
Just as Xu Ping’an was deep in thought, the young woman suddenly tugged on his arm.
“Husband, those two people are so strange! Why do they have my portrait? And they know my name? Also, why couldn’t they recognize me even though they saw me?”