"Li Kun, is she Xiao Qin?" Tian Fang was very familiar with Xiao Qin's name. After all, the City Lord's mansion had issued a bounty for Xiao Qin's whereabouts. They had thought this Xiao Qin had offended the City Lord, but to their surprise, the bounty was withdrawn a few days later. He had always been curious about this person, but due to various coincidences, he had always missed the chance to meet her, so he didn't recognize her.
"Captain, she is Xiao Qin," Li Kun replied. "Sect... Xiao Qin, would you like to join our team?"
Xiao Man shook her head and walked past everyone, intending to leave. One of the men, displeased, blocked her path: "Kid, don't be ungrateful..."
"Silence!" Tian Fang berated his subordinate and cupped his fists. "If fellow immortal friend has nowhere to go, you are most welcome to join us. The recruitment for the Seven Great Sects is imminent, and traveling in a team is safer. Of course, with your cultivation, I imagine you don't need to worry about recruitment."
"Thank you, but I prefer to be alone," Xiao Man replied, walking away without looking back.
The subordinate was displeased with Xiao Man's attitude. "Captain, why didn't you let me teach this brat a lesson? He's so arrogant."
"Teach her a lesson?" Tian Fang sneered. "You? Are you worthy?"
"Captain, what do you mean?"
"She's a cultivator at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. You want to teach her a lesson? Even I would steer clear if I met her. You still want to teach her? I think you're living on borrowed time! I've always told you to be cautious and not to provoke people whose cultivation you can't discern. If you can't see through someone's cultivation, it means either their cultivation is higher than yours, or they possess an artifact that conceals their cultivation. In either case, they are not to be trifled with. Do you think Xiao Qin can act so brazenly in Wuji City just because of the City Lord's mansion?"
"Is that not the case?" Su Dan Novel Network
"Think with your brain. How many cultivators are at the Foundation Establishment stage in this city? And think about how long she's been in Wuji City and has already reached Foundation Establishment. Such talent and ability are not something ordinary people can compare to. Even the City Lord's mansion has to treat her with respect."
"Captain, is Xiao Qin really at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment?" Li Kun asked with some surprise. He was currently at the fifth stage of Qi Refining and thought he was already quite outstanding, otherwise Tian Fang wouldn't have taken an interest in him. He never expected Xiao Qin to already be at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. He used to call her Sect Master, and now he would have to call her Immortal Master.
"Not just her. It is said that those who entered Wuji City with you and stayed by Xiao Qin's side are all at least at the seventh stage of Qi Refining," Tian Fang said, his mood quite complex. At the time, he had tried to recruit Li Kun and Zhou Yan into their team. Zhou Yan had refused without hesitation, and he had thought Zhou Yan was truly ungrateful. Now, it seemed that was not the case.
Li Kun lowered his gaze, unable to articulate his feelings. At that time, Xiao Qin had only taken Xiang Jian and left. He thought Xiao Qin had abandoned them, which was why he had readily accepted Tian Fang's olive branch. Now, it seemed he had misunderstood.
"What, regret it?"
"I do not regret it," Li Kun said, raising his head. His eyes were devoid of any emotion. "Everyone walks their own path. My path is to follow the captain."
"You rascal!" Tian Fang was very satisfied with Li Kun's answer. If Li Kun were to switch allegiance to Xiao Qin just because her companions were doing well, then no one would want him. Xiao Qin tolerated no nonsense, and neither did he.
After walking a considerable distance, Xiao Man looked back in the direction of Tian Fang's group. Xi Wen and Qi Hong were still missing, and she didn't know how they were. She had to find them as soon as possible. The longer it took, the more dangerous they would be.
In the Zhang family, Zhang Sheng sat in silence in the courtyard, staring at the moon in the night sky, lost in thought. He had failed to establish his foundation again. Even with the help of the Foundation Establishment Pill, he had still failed. His talent was not good, so he usually worked harder than others. He thought hard work could compensate for his lack of talent, but reality had once again proven him wrong.
"It's okay, I'm still young, and I have plenty of time. I don't believe I can't establish my foundation. In the future, I will not only establish my foundation, but I will also condense a core, cultivate a Nascent Soul, and become a true powerhouse!"
"Young master."
"What is it?"
"Elder Liu of the Five Poisons Sect has captured a young woman."
Zhang Sheng frowned slightly. The elders of the Five Poisons Sect were all lecherous bastards who couldn't stand to see a pretty girl and would try to seize her if they saw one. With his early Foundation Establishment cultivation, the reason he could act so brazenly in Wuji City was only because he relied on the backing of the Five Poisons Sect.
"Do you know whose daughter she is?"
"She should be someone of Xiao Qin."
Zhang Sheng's brows furrowed even tighter. Someone by Xiao Qin's side? Was there a woman by Xiao Qin's side?
"What is her relationship with Xiao Qin?"
"This subordinate does not know, but she came in from the Land of No Return with Xiao Qin. Elder Liu is out on business, and this young woman is currently locked in his room. Young master, should we intervene?"
Zhang Sheng remained silent for a moment, then waved his hand, signaling the servant to leave. As long as it was related to Xiao Qin, he didn't want to get involved. He hadn't forgotten who had ruined his engagement, causing his father to scold him, and that brat had even insulted him in public. It was time to teach her a lesson.
Zhang Sheng had not intended to get involved in this matter, but unexpectedly, the Poison Woman managed to break free from the poison Elder Liu had administered and secretly slipped out of the room, stumbling directly into Zhang Sheng's courtyard.
Zhang Sheng looked at the disheveled and wary woman before him and sighed. "The gate is that way. Go straight to the end, turn left, and you'll be out. You need to be fast, or you won't be able to escape when that old pervert returns."
The Poison Woman glanced at Zhang Sheng, gritted her teeth, and headed in the direction Zhang Sheng indicated. Regardless of whether his intentions were sincere or not, she had no choice. In terms of using poison, she was no match for that old pervert, and her current cultivation was only at the eighth stage of Qi Refining, no match for the old pervert. All she could do was escape as quickly as possible.
The Poison Woman didn't stop, her mind focused on only one thought: escape. It was just that she was severely injured and poisoned. The fact that she could recover and move so quickly was thanks to the special training and special food that Xiao Man had prepared for them. Otherwise, she would have likely lost her life by now.
Xiao Man didn't know what she was thinking. She walked aimlessly and ended up near the Zhang family's residence. Looking at the words "Zhang Family" written in bold calligraphy on the vermilion-painted gate, she thought she was going mad and turned to walk in another direction. After a few steps, she turned back. The Zhang family had always wanted to replace the City Lord's mansion, and perhaps she could find some information from them.
Xiao Man found a secluded spot and was about to climb over the wall when she saw someone tumble over the wall from inside and roll unceremoniously to her feet. The person was scantily clad, with disheveled hair. Xiao Man didn't recognize her at first glance.
Not until the young woman grabbed her foot and begged for help: "Save me..."
"Shi Lan!"