A little brother’s obsession with his sister saying, “My sister misses you very much,” basically means: If you dare come near my sister again, you’re dead meat.
“Lately, I’ve been a bit busy, hope you understand.”
Saying that, Dongfang Xiaotian walked over to Chun’er and helped her up from the ground.
Chun’er saw that Dongfang Xiaotian was so tactful and pouted, “I guess you still have some conscience.”
However, Dongfang Xiaotian suddenly grabbed her shoulder and shielded her behind himself. “Xiao Da-ge, here are a thousand spirit stones for you. Everyone’s busy, each with their own matters.”
At this moment, Dongfang Xiaotian no longer had the confident composure he showed earlier when dealing with the evil cultivators.
Just kidding—those evil cultivators were confident because Dongfang Xiaotian knew that even if he couldn’t win, he could always run away, but the evil cultivators absolutely wouldn’t chase him for eight blocks!
But Xiao Yuanqing, the ultimate sister-obsessed big brother? He would!
“Our friendship means money isn’t necessary.”
Xiao Yuanqing indeed shook his head, his smile still warm and comforting, as if he had nothing to do with the dismembered evil cultivators on the ground or their zombified leader.
“If you truly want to thank me, just come to Xiao Sect and have a cup of tea.”
Xiao Yuanqing took two steps forward, ignoring Chun’er’s grip on Dongfang Xiaotian’s wrist.
“I also want to report to Xiao Sect what I found after soul-searching just now, so that the sect can enter the ruins and clear out these evil god cult’s evil cultivators.”
Does he want to take me to Xiao Sect just to kill me? What the hell! Who in their right mind would go to the enemy’s lair!?
“Uh, I still have business, so I won’t disturb you further.”
Dongfang Xiaotian’s hairs instantly stood on end.
Breaking free from Xiao Yuanqing’s hand, he immediately abandoned Chun’er, this useless human shield, and retreated behind Beichen Yue.
At the same time, Dongfang Xiaotian kept signaling Beichen Yue with his eyes.
The abandoned Chun’er fell to the ground again, about to curse, but then saw Dongfang Xiaotian hiding behind his lady like a pitiful little dog who had found their master.
That was supposed to be her position!
No, she hadn’t even climbed to that position yet!
Chun’er was so furious that her blood surged with jealousy and rage; she immediately started cultivating on the spot to heal her wounds.
Beichen Yue looked at Dongfang Xiaotian’s timid demeanor and found it somewhat amusing but did not refuse his silent plea.
She said, “I am Beichen Yue, personally taught disciple of the Ice Ling Immortal Palace. Such talent at a young age. May I ask how you address yourself, young sir?”
At the same time, Beichen Yue curiously sized up Xiao Yuanqing.
Being around twenty years old with cultivation at half-step Golden Core was extremely rare even in the Ice Ling Immortal Palace.
Not only that, the swift sword technique he had just displayed was extraordinary.
Even within the Ice Ling Immortal Palace, Beichen Yue found it difficult to find a genius with similar swordsmanship at the same level.
Layer three.
As for cultivation speed, as long as she broke through, Beichen Yue believed few could surpass her.
Regarding swordsmanship, even with her realm restricted, she could suppress Foundation Establishment cultivators a full realm above her by relying on her sword path alone.
If she could break through Foundation Establishment this trip south, even with Xiao Yuanqing’s progress, she could easily catch up with him within three years—despite being behind by three years already.
“I am Xiao Yuanqing, greetings, Miss Beichen.”
Xiao Yuanqing bowed slightly with a respectful manner, showing none of the arrogance typical of high cultivators from Eden.
“You are the number one genius of Lingtian City, Xiao Yuanqing?”
Beichen Yue looked at the young man with mild surprise. Of course, she had done some research before coming south—not only aware of the recent unrest in the ruins but also of Xiao Yuanqing himself.
At the age of twenty, having reached half-step Golden Core without a doubt placed him in the top-tier genius bracket of Lingtian City since its establishment.
“I am but a mere mortal compared to you, Miss Beichen.”
Xiao Yuanqing maintained a calm expression and looked at Dongfang Xiaotian with a congratulatory smile.
“I did not expect you, Miss Beichen, to appear here. Could it be that you came to marry my brother Dongfang? If so, I must have a cup of wedding wine.”
“The wedding date has not yet arrived; I’m here to escort Young Master Dongfang.”
Beichen Yue chose a response that best preserved Dongfang Xiaotian’s face. She also hadn’t lied—the wedding date hadn’t been set yet, since they were only engaged, not yet formally married.
As for getting the marriage certificate in the future, that was a matter for another time.
“Oh, she’s here to break off the engagement, already sent plenty of apology gifts.”
However, the face Beichen Yue had just helped Dongfang Xiaotian save was easily thrown away by him.
Of course, this kind of thing had to be explained clearly.
Even cultivators of the Forgetting Emotion Path didn’t mean they couldn’t marry or form Dao partners.
Buddhism even had joyous meditation, and someone as outstanding as Beichen Yue certainly had many suitors.
Not to mention the various chaotic ones, even inner disciples like the senior brothers of Ice Ling Immortal Palace could come to cause trouble.
Ice Ling Immortal Palace mainly cultivated the Forgetting Emotion Path, but so what? Even top universities deny graduation due to insufficient credits—everyone has some underachievers.
The Forgetting Emotion Path requires forgetting emotions to focus entirely.
Who knows how miserable it would be to be chased by a focused cultivator of the Forgetting Emotion Path?
So this matter had to be clarified—the engagement must be broken off!
“Breaking off the engagement?”
Xiao Yuanqing looked at Dongfang Xiaotian hiding behind Beichen Yue, the two of them seemingly without any conflict, and nodded, “I see. Such a pity to lose this marriage bond.”
“Enough about that.”
Xiao Yuanqing saw the topic wasn’t good and switched back to what he was saying earlier. “Brother Dongfang, please come with me to Xiao Sect, we…”
You haven’t given up on killing me yet!?
Dongfang Xiaotian was already hiding behind Beichen Yue, thinking he had backup, yet Xiao Yuanqing still came!
Wait, damn it, could it be that because I said I broke off the engagement, he thinks Beichen Yue won’t protect me!?
Dongfang Xiaotian swallowed hard, pushed Chun’er aside, and continued, “There’s no need! I have to go rescue my junior disciple; lives are at stake. If I can’t find them, I wouldn’t even feel at ease having tea… She’s here to help!”
Beichen Yue sighed a little in her heart, feeling somewhat awkward.
Dongfang Xiaotian was completely indifferent to her coming to break the engagement, even casually saying it out loud.
In fact, she somewhat approved of Chun’er’s previous attitude toward Dongfang Xiaotian. After all, since she came to break off the engagement, she had heard many similar stories.
But those endings rarely turned out well. She even thought Dongfang Xiaotian was being stubborn coming to the ruins and had prepared for a long-term fight.
As long as Dongfang Xiaotian didn’t make excessive demands, there was no problem agreeing to his requests.
After all, it was a fact that Dongfang Xiaotian saved the Beichen family.
Repaying within reasonable bounds was only fair, and that was part of why Beichen Yue specifically arranged for Dongfang Xiaotian to enter the Ice Ling Immortal Palace as an inner disciple.
But it seemed that wasn’t the case. Now it looked like he truly didn’t care.
If it was a good thing, why did she feel a little uneasy inside?
While puzzled about her feelings, Beichen Yue nodded slightly, agreeing with Dongfang Xiaotian.
“Alright then, Brother Dongfang, your character still commands my respect.”
Xiao Yuanqing seemed to give up and said, “I will also mobilize Xiao Sect disciples to help search.”
After clearing her somewhat chaotic mood, Beichen Yue curiously asked, “Young Master Xiao, did your soul-search reveal any useful information?”
“Hmm, the Shen Dai Ruins had treasures appear today, and the evil cultivators just came to stir up trouble, nothing serious.”
Xiao Yuanqing waved his hand, not taking it too seriously. He looked at Dongfang Xiaotian.
“Do you know the names of the junior sister and junior brother you saved? Do you have their portraits? I can help search for them.”
“Well…”
Without hesitation, Dongfang Xiaotian took out a portrait of his junior disciple, which Xiao Yuanqing immediately took.
“Alright, I will do my best to find them. Just hope Brother Dongfang won’t keep shirking after finding them.”
After finishing, Xiao Yuanqing turned to Beichen Yue, his gaze growing more serious.
“Also, Miss Beichen, Brother Dongfang has lost his cultivation… You just saw the dangers here. I only ask you to look after him a bit. I, Xiao, will be deeply grateful.”
Having said this, Xiao Yuanqing cupped his fist and gave a deep bow to Beichen Yue.
This shocked Beichen Yue enough to widen her pupils slightly. She could tell that Dongfang Xiaotian and Xiao Yuanqing had a good relationship, but she hadn’t expected it to be this close.
And not only was Beichen Yue shocked—Dongfang Xiaotian himself was taken aback.
Having lived in this world for so long, he deeply understood how concrete and ingrained the concept of “survival of the fittest” was.
For example, that Elder Three of Xiao Sect who Dongfang Xiaotian had humiliated outside the gate; even though he had the strong backing of being an inner disciple of Ice Ling Immortal Palace, he never lowered his head once.
Another example: Beichen Yue’s family refusing to accept Dongfang Xiaotian, a waste, as a marriage match was ultimately the arrogance of high-level cultivators.
Because for them, a high-level cultivator bowing to a low-level one was a shame, unless their backing stood beside them; otherwise, no one would easily do it.
Yet Xiao Yuanqing could lower himself without hesitation for Dongfang Xiaotian at this moment, something Beichen Yue never imagined. It showed how sincere his request was.
Beichen Yue couldn’t help but glance at Dongfang Xiaotian twice. She never expected the number one genius of Lingtian City to be willing to accept such treatment for this man!
After speaking, Xiao Yuanqing smiled at Dongfang Xiaotian as if nothing unusual had just happened.
“Brother Dongfang, once everything is settled, please do come to Xiao Sect for a gathering. I will prepare the finest tea.”
With that, he vanished in a wisp of blue smoke right before them, presumably to report his findings to Xiao Sect’s camp.
Dongfang Xiaotian exhaled heavily, finally relieved that he was gone.
Beichen Yue curiously watched Dongfang Xiaotian, like a little curious baby, nowhere near the cold and emotionless image of a cultivator of the Forgetting Emotion Path.
However, her mouth was busy meditating and healing, so she couldn’t ask.
“What should we do now?” Beichen Yue finally asked, unwilling to shatter the aloof image she wanted to maintain.
“What else can we do?”
Dongfang Xiaotian glanced at the unconscious female disciple of the Four Saints Academy, then at Chun’er who was meditating to recover.
“Wait for your maid to heal a bit first. The distance to the Four Saints Academy camp is not short.”
Although they had info on the junior brother and second junior sister, the evil cultivator only confirmed that they were still alive—nothing else.
Looking for the protagonist was such a random thing. Dongfang Xiaotian thought he might as well casually wander around.
Some side characters in novels search from the southernmost point to the northernmost and still can’t find the protagonist.
Some authors are ruthless—sometimes the protagonist’s mother is still riding on horseback chasing the missing protagonist at the story’s end.
So without accurate info, it’s better to take it easy. They should go to the Four Saints Academy camp and ask around. Maybe some NPC they mess with there could have important clues.
Besides, there were two barely alive injured people here. It wouldn’t do to let them follow any longer; better to send them back to the spring water first.
For now, it was best to wait for Chun’er to get herself sorted out, and also for the junior sister nearby who was clinging to life, barely sustained by a few pills.
Dongfang Xiaotian worried she might be jolted to death on the road.
Though an NPC triggering the plot, she was still a life.
But Dongfang Xiaotian wouldn’t just wait idly. He drew his long sword to stab the zombified evil cultivator to death, then set a fire before taking out a shovel.
Beichen Yue, watching his actions, curiously asked, “Young Master, are you going to bury these evil cultivators?”
“They deserve no grave.”
Dongfang Xiaotian chuckled lightly and began digging. “These evil cultivators are only fit to nourish the earth as spirit beast droppings. Just throw them away.”
Dongfang Xiaotian wasn’t naive enough to waste time with such things.
With each shovel he dug, he soon hit a hard object just as he had expected. Reaching down, Dongfang Xiaotian pulled out a small red flag.
“This is… an Array Flag?”
“Yeah.”
Dongfang Xiaotian nodded and continued digging. “More specifically, this is an Array Flag from the Blood Refining Array…”
Do unto others as you would not have them do unto you.
An array like the Blood Refining Array that turns people alive into blood pills was definitely not something Dongfang Xiaotian would use himself, but as the saying goes, things you don’t want to use shouldn’t be left for others!
Besides, this was from the Divine Era. Selling it would fetch at least dozens or hundreds of spirit stones.
A third-tier magic array with dozens of array eyes could be worth hundreds or thousands of spirit stones in one strike!
Wealth like this doesn’t come easily!
The more Dongfang Xiaotian dug, the faster his motivation grew.
“Do unto others as you would not have them do unto you, do unto others as you would not…”
Beichen Yue repeated the phrase quietly. She suddenly somewhat understood why Xiao Yuanqing protected Dongfang Xiaotian so much.
But seeing Dongfang Xiaotian’s expression, avoiding Xiao Yuanqing like the plague, didn’t look like he had done anything good.
So Beichen Yue asked out of curiosity, “Young Master Dongfang, why do you avoid Young Master Xiao’s care so much?”
Dongfang Xiaotian paused his shovel. Of course, he knew how friendly Xiao Yuanqing had been just now.
But when a big brother who once chased you for two blocks to kill you is so kind and invites you to visit his home, only two possibilities exist.
Either he plans to lure you back home and kill you.
Or, he’s more interested in Dongfang Xiaotian himself than in his sister…
Thinking of this possibility, Dongfang Xiaotian couldn’t help but tense up.