Zhang Qian, his face beaming with joy, knelt before Chai Ruo Cheng and reached out with both hands to receive the longsword.
The moment he held it, Zhang Qian knew this sword was countless times better than the one he currently used.
“Mm, you’re a sensible one.”
Seeing Zhang Qian’s devout expression, Chai Ruo Cheng nodded in satisfaction, then turned to look at Wan Shanxin.
“How have you been lately? How is your cultivation? Any progress?”
“Master, your disciple has been training diligently, not daring to slack off. But today, I am not here for cultivation matters. I have something else to report to you.”
“What is it? Stand up and speak.” “Yes, Master.”
Only then did Wan Shanxin dare to rise.
He stepped forward and recounted in detail all that had occurred before.
At first, Chai Ruo Cheng listened calmly, but by the end, when Wan Shanxin mentioned feeling the oppressive might of a Refining Spirit, Returning to Void-level expert, Chai Ruo Cheng’s previously unconcerned expression changed—his brow arched in surprise.
“Are you certain? That was the aura of a Refining Spirit, Returning to Void-level expert?”
“Master, your disciple is absolutely certain. I have traveled for many years, and only from you and a few other senior elders have I ever felt such overwhelming pressure. This person must be a Refining Spirit, Returning to Void-level expert!”
“Beneath the wild mountains of the Myriad Demon Mountains? The hedgerow Small Courtyard?”
Chai Ruo Cheng still found it hard to believe and pressed further.
Seeing Wan Shanxin nod with a grave face, he finally stroked his chin and revealed an intrigued smile.
“Interesting, truly interesting. Who would have thought that outside the Myriad Demon Mountains, a Refining Spirit, Returning to Void-level expert would be living in seclusion? As the Valley Master of Burning Wheel Valley, I naturally cannot ignore such a neighbor.”
From that hedgerow Small Courtyard to Burning Wheel Valley, traveling by Flying Sword took just over half an hour.
Compared to the vastness of Great Qi, they could truly be called neighbors.
And as neighbors, of course one must pay a visit.
Less than half an hour’s journey from Burning Wheel Valley, there is a Refining Spirit, Returning to Void-stage expert living in seclusion.
This must be investigated thoroughly. If the other party is truly just living in seclusion, that’s fine.
But if they harbor ulterior motives, then Burning Wheel Valley could face serious trouble.
“Shanxin, lead the way. I’ll go meet this fellow cultivator myself.”
Wan Shanxin seemed to have expected his master would visit in person and was already prepared.
As soon as Chai Ruo Cheng spoke, he immediately agreed.
“Yes, Master, please follow your disciple.”
With that, Wan Shanxin turned and walked out the main gate, tossing out a palm-sized little sword.
The blade expanded in the wind, and in the blink of an eye, it became a three-meter-long broadsword.
He leaped up, landing atop the Flying Sword, formed a hand seal with one hand, and remotely controlled the Flying Sword, heading straight southeast.
Chai Ruo Cheng followed, his body floating up gracefully—not riding on a Flying Sword.
Cloud Steps formed beneath his feet, his figure drifting lightly, treading the sky as if he were a true immortal.
Wan Shanxin urged his longsword to its limit, flying at one hundred and eighty miles per hour, feeling utterly carefree.
But Chai Ruo Cheng, following close behind, remained calm and at ease, exuding an air of leisure.
As for Zhang Qian, who finally managed to catch up—there was nothing more to say.
No matter how fast he pushed his Flying Sword, he could only reach about a hundred kilometers per hour.
No matter how hard he tried, he could only watch as the others’ figures gradually disappeared from his sight.
At this moment, completely unaware that “distinguished guests” were about to arrive, Xu Ping’an was still intently watching the Xuan Zhen Snow Lotus in the Herb Garden that was about to bloom.
But beside her, her ears were filled with endless chattering, as if a hundred birds were chirping together.
“Mister, Mister, how did you do it?” “Yeah, Ping’an, tell us, how did you make those two unable to see us?”
“Mister’s methods are truly divine. I don’t know Zhang Qian, but Wan Shanxin is the Right Hall Elder of Burning Wheel Valley, already at the Nascent Soul stage, yet Mister had him dancing in the palm of his hand. Today, Yu’er has come to know Mister anew.”
“Master is truly extraordinary.”
“Husband!”
Xu Ping’an stared at the Herb Garden and let out a long sigh.
“I say, you all… It’s raining, can you stop running around in those floaty clothes? You’re getting all muddy, not to mention trampling my herbs.”
Ever since those two left, the five girls immediately surrounded him—some asking questions, some full of admiration, all of them chattering non-stop.
It was as if the one who had just shown off wasn’t Xu Ping’an, but these girls.
They were so proud of themselves.
“Mister, are you really not going to tell us?”
Li Yuer’s willow brows arched like a crescent moon, her peach blossom eyes glistening. The way she looked at Xu Ping’an was so focused and deep, anyone who met her gaze would feel their heart stir.
“Tell you what? They’re just blind, that’s all. Didn’t see me.”
Xu Ping’an rolled his eyes speechlessly.
He never wanted to get too entangled with Li Yuer, but now, after those two came by, she had seen through some of his methods.
Now that she’d gotten a taste of his abilities, she immediately became more enthusiastic.
You little minx, don’t think this Physician Sage doesn’t know what you’re after.
You’re just greedy for his body, you shameless thing!
“Mister, are you really going to brush me off with an excuse even a child wouldn’t believe?”
“They’re just blind. Why are you asking so much?”
He was already targeted by this girl, and now that he’d shown a bit of skill, she was even more glued to him.
“So that’s how it is. Mister’s methods are truly mysterious—just a slight display, and even a Nascent Soul-stage expert is blinded. Mister truly is no ordinary man.”
“Enough, enough, stop flattering me, it’s useless~”
Xu Ping’an turned his head away from Li Yuer.
Seeing this, Li Yuer could only cover her mouth and smile, but her gaze toward Xu Ping’an remained as gentle and bright as jade.
Liu Yingying nimbly stepped over the ridges in the Herb Garden, came to Xu Ping’an’s side, and immediately wrapped her arms around his.
“Ping’an, Ping’an, just tell me—how did you do it? It’s too amazing! Those two were standing right in front of you and couldn’t see you at all~”
“I say, Boss Liu, men and women shouldn’t be so close. It’s broad daylight—can’t you be a little more reserved?”
Xu Ping’an replied irritably, but Liu Yingying just lifted her swan-like neck and pretended to look around.
“Where? Where’s the broad daylight? Isn’t it all dark clouds and drizzle?”
Good grief, now she was arguing semantics with him?
“Come on, tell me~”
Liu Yingying’s voice was already sweet, but when she acted spoiled, it made people feel weak all over, their limbs trembling.
“Boss Liu, didn’t I already say? They’re just blind! They just couldn’t see!”
There was no way Xu Ping’an would admit anything.
Even if there was evidence right in front of him, he would never admit it.
What a joke.
If he admitted it, wouldn’t that bring endless trouble later on?
He knew nothing, absolutely nothing.
He didn’t know anything. The other party was just blind!
Even if the Heavenly King himself came, it was still because they were blind!
It was definitely not because Xu Ping’an used any special methods or activated any formation to hide himself, absolutely not!
“Hmph~ If you won’t say, then don’t. What’s the big deal? Anyway, as long as we live in this Small Courtyard, I’ll find out sooner or later!”