"Captain, if we find Chu Xing interacting with people from the Seven Great Sects, should we silence them?" the shadow guard asked. The shadow guards of the City Lord's Mansion were the City Lord's sharpest swords, specifically tasked with handling matters the City Lord's Mansion could not openly deal with.
Fan Ting was in a dilemma. Killing them might anger Xiao Man. Not killing them meant this person dared to betray Xiao Man, so he would also dare to betray the City Lord's Mansion. Moreover, he showed loyalty to his former master right in front of them, showing no regard for his current master. If he were to expel him, he feared he might leak some secrets he shouldn't. Otherwise, he truly wished to just drive the man away.
"Let me seek instructions first." Fan Ting turned and walked back into the courtyard. Xiao Man was playing with Ze Fang, building houses with stones. Seeing Fan Ting return, she showed a puzzled expression.
"Does Captain Fan have something else?"
Fan Ting bowed, "There is a matter that requires your instructions."
"Captain Fan, please speak."
"Whose person is Chu Xing considered to be?"
"Naturally, he is a person of the City Lord's Mansion." Xiao Man said without hesitation, "From the moment he joined the City Lord's Mansion guard, he has been a person of the City Lord's Mansion."
"Then, is his life and death decided by the City Lord's Mansion?" Fan Ting asked Xiao Man seriously. If Xiao Man had shown even the slightest hesitation, he would have decided to let him go.
"As it should be." Xiao Man stated decisively, "Since he is a person of the City Lord's Mansion, how he is dealt with is up to the City Lord's Mansion. It has nothing to do with me or Xiang Jian. No matter what mistake he has made, Captain Fan, please handle it according to the rules. You do not need to worry about us."
"Thank you, Young Master Xiao." Fan Ting breathed a sigh of relief upon receiving the clear answer. Xiao Man was indeed protective, but also truly ruthless. For those she approved of, she protected them wholeheartedly. For those she did not care about, their life or death had nothing to do with her!
The wound on Ze Fang's arm had not been healing well, and Ze Fang's mental state was also rather poor. After playing with Xiao Man for a while, he became drowsy and fell asleep in Xiao Man's arms.
Xiao Man gently patted his back, a hint of confusion in her eyes. She did not know how to save Ze Fang, but she was also unwilling to give up on him. If this continued, Ze Fang might die from being unable to withstand the aftermath of the heavenly tribulation.
In the room, Xiang Jian's screams gradually subsided. Xiao Man understood that the metamorphosis was complete. As for what Xiang Jian had become, she did not know.
Xiao Man carefully held Ze Fang in her arms and pushed open the door. She saw Xiang Jian looking in the mirror. The person standing before her now was a complete stranger, with no trace of his former self. Even Xiang Jian's aura had changed. Forget his enemies, even his own mother would not recognize him.
Xiang Jian looked at the unfamiliar face in the bronze mirror and instinctively reached out to touch it. It was too miraculous. He had initially thought it would only change his appearance, but he had not expected it to change his aura as well. Now, he had completely become another person. To be precise, he had been reborn!
"Boss, is this really me?"
"Yes, from today onwards, your name is Rebirth." Xiao Man said slowly, "This is your appearance after rebirth. Besides me, no one else will know your true identity."
Gratitude filled Xiang Jian's eyes, "Boss, thank you. I am truly fortunate to have met you."
Xiao Man drew Ze Fang closer in her arms to prevent him from slipping, "You didn't meet me; you came to me yourself."
Xiang Jian immediately smiled, "Right, I have great discerning eyes. I took a liking to you at first sight!"
"Put on your clothes. Next, you need to do something." Xiao Man placed Ze Fang on the bed, covered him with the quilt, and discussed the next steps in a low voice with Xiang Jian, or rather, Rebirth.
Soon, Rebirth quietly left the City Lord's Mansion and disappeared. Xiao Man, carrying Ze Fang, returned to her room and encountered Elder Xia on the way.
"Elder Xia."
Elder Xia glanced at Ze Fang in Xiao Man's arms, a hint of suspicion in his heart. The Sect Master should have received the message by now. Why hadn't he come to take Ze Fang back?
"Has this child's family not come to find him yet?"
"I am his family." Xiao Man said with a smile.
Elder Xia was stunned. If he hadn't known that the child in Xiao Man's arms was Ze Fang, he would have almost believed her words. "Are you planning to keep this child with you forever?"
"He is my son, so of course, I will keep him with me."
Elder Xia's mouth twitched. This child is your son? Do you know how old this child is? He could be your grandfather and still have plenty of years left, and you're calling him your son!
However, considering Ze Fang's current appearance, he did resemble Xiao Man's son!
"Who is this child's mother?"
"Naturally, she is my wife." Xiao Man's answer was impeccable.
"Then where is your wife?"
"She..." Xiao Man's expression flickered with a moment of sadness. Elder Xia keenly noticed it. Could it be that this boy's wife had already passed away?
"Elder Xia, being injured by the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, is there truly no other way to treat it?" Xiao Man asked in surprise.
Elder Xia remained silent. It wasn't that there were no other ways to treat it, but rather that he simply did not know of any other treatment methods.
Elder Xia's attitude made Xiao Man understand that Elder Xia only knew of this method of treatment. To find other methods, she would likely have to go to the Land of No Return and ask Yu Ju, who was suppressed there. However, Elder Qin was also right; if she disturbed the formations in the Land of No Return, the issue would not be about one or two people dying.
Xiao Man silently left with Ze Fang in her arms. Elder Xia watched her straight back and sighed silently. He had wanted to tell Xiao Man not to worry too much. Ordinary people who endured the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder would surely have no chance of survival, but Ze Fang was different. He was once a cultivator of the Nascent Soul stage and had endured the baptism of heavenly lightning. Even though his cultivation had regressed, he was still beyond ordinary people.
Enduring one strike of the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, although it had stripped him of his cultivation and prevented his wounds from healing, would not take his life. It would only cause him some pain. However, in his heart, he did not want to tell Xiao Man. He wanted to see how far Xiao Man would go for Ze Fang!
If she were willing to disregard everything for Ze Fang, then he would be willing to step forward as a guarantor for her when Ze Fang wanted to keep her by his side in the future. But if she chose to abandon Ze Fang, then no matter how much Ze Fang thought highly of her, he would never allow her to stay by Ze Fang's side.
"Elder Xia."
"Old City Lord." Elder Xia slowly turned around and bowed.
The Old City Lord quickly gave him a supporting hand, "Elder Xia, has Wuji City been peaceful for a long time?"
"Yes, Wuji City has been peaceful for a long time. The last great disaster was thirty years ago, during the beast tide. Wuji City was almost reduced to ruins by the magical beasts from the Roland Mountain Range," Elder Xia said slowly. Thirty years ago, coincidentally, many things happened thirty years ago. What exactly happened thirty years ago?