"Boss, are you okay? Say something."
"If Zefang doesn't object, I don't mind you looking after him," Xiao Man teased. "But you're not allowed to bully him."
"Don't worry, Boss, I won't bully him." Xiang Jian felt bitter. He wished he could bully Zefang, but he'd need the ability to do so first!
"I trust you. You always keep your word." Xiao Man turned to walk back. The moment she turned, the smile vanished from her face. Xiang Jian was not a indecisive person, but when facing Zefang, he appeared exceptionally uneasy, with even a hint of deep apprehension in his eyes.
Although she didn't know what entanglement existed between them, she didn't want any conflict between them. Zefang's background was not simple, she understood that, but that didn't stop her from being friends with him!
Zefang squatted at the cave entrance, gazing outside with longing.
Zhou Yan couldn't help but chuckle, "Zefang, don't worry. Boss will be back soon."
Zefang nodded absentmindedly, his gaze not retracting. Coupled with his youthful face, he looked like a pathetic puppy abandoned by its owner.
Qi Hong nudged Xi Wen with his elbow, "Don't you think he's very similar to Boss's spirit beast?"
Xi Wen stared at Zefang for a long time. He couldn't see how Zefang resembled Xiao Man's spirit beast and shook his head, "How is that possible?"
"Look, when Boss's spirit beast makes a mistake, doesn't it always look at Boss with innocent and pitiful eyes, making Boss reluctant to punish it?"
Xi Wen nodded thoughtfully. Humans grow wise with age, and snakes are no different. Xiao Man's spirit beast was a Bamboo Jointed Snake King, extremely intelligent. Looking at Zefang now, this child seemed a bit less intelligent.
"Not alike."
Qi Hong disagreed. The more he looked, the more Zefang resembled Xiao Man's spirit beast. Moreover, their Boss was someone who wouldn't do anything without a purpose. How could she casually pick someone up?
When Xiao Man appeared in Zefang's sight, a smile immediately bloomed on his face. He quickly ran to meet her, "Xiao Qin, you're back."
Xiao Man looked at Zefang's eager expression and found it amusing. "I'm not gone forever. Look at how worried you are. I won't get lost."
Zefang scratched his head awkwardly and glanced at Xiang Jian, who was following behind. He walked alongside Xiao Man, "Does he dislike me?"
"Even money isn't universally liked, let alone a person," Xiao Man told Zefang not to mind. "There are plenty of people in this world who dislike me."
"But your companions all seem to like you."
"At the very beginning, none of them liked me," Xiao Man comforted him. "They are all genuine people. Once you get to know them, you'll understand. You're not familiar with them yet. When they get to know you, they'll naturally like you too."
"Then what if I'm not someone they like?"
"Does it matter? At least I like you."
Zefang's face felt a little hot. In his life, this was the first time someone had expressed liking him without ulterior motives. In the past, people liked him for his family background, his status. Even his parents had never truly liked him, considering him a freak.
"Xiao Qin, if one day you think I'm a freak, will you still like me?"
"I'm also a freak, so for me, freaks are normal people," Xiao Man quipped. "So, you don't need to worry."
Zefang genuinely smiled and followed behind Xiao Man into the cave.
"Poison Demon Spiders, can you handle them?"
"Boss, we've tried to deal with the Poison Demon Spiders several times. They are very cunning and extremely fast. We couldn't even capture them, and we almost became their meals." - Sudan Novel Network
"It's a bit difficult to ask you to deal with the Poison Demon Spiders at this time," Xiao Man pondered, rubbing her chin. "Except for Shi Lan and Xi Wen, everyone else hasn't reached the seventh level of Qi Condensation yet. How about this, first raise your cultivation to the seventh level of Qi Condensation, and then go hunt the Poison Demon Spiders."
"Boss, it's difficult for them to reach the fifth level of Qi Condensation in a short period, and their foundation is not yet stable. We might need to wait a bit longer," Xiang Jian said disapprovingly. Although they hunted demonic beasts every day under Xiao Man's orders and gained considerable combat experience, cultivation required a steady and solid approach, not haste.
Xiao Man smiled, "So, this is where the three of you come in."
Xiang Jian was puzzled, "What do the three of us need to do?"
"The three of you, who have already reached the seventh level of Qi Condensation, will be sparring partners for the others," Xiao Man looked at the others. "Strive to reach the seventh level of Qi Condensation within two months. Remember, the minimum requirement for entering the Seven Great Sects is the seventh level of Qi Condensation. And the Seven Great Sects have limited enrollment slots. Even at the seventh level, we need to be among the top performers."
"Yes, Boss."
"We'll train them, but what about you?" Xiang Jian asked, confused. In his opinion, it would be faster if Xiao Man personally tutored them.
"As for me, of course, I have other things to do," Xiao Man said mysteriously. "I'll leave them in your care."
"Zefang, are you taking him with you?"
"Zefang..."
"I'll follow Xiao Qin," Zefang interrupted Xiao Man before she could finish, stating with absolute certainty, "I'll only follow Xiao Qin."
Xiang Jian frowned. He suspected Zefang had ill intentions but couldn't find a suitable excuse to keep Zefang behind. His gaze shifted to Xiao Man, who had agreed to let him look after Zefang.
"Alright, you'll come with me then."
"Boss!"
"Okay, it's decided. I hope that by the time I return, all of you will have reached the seventh level of Qi Condensation," Xiao Man looked at everyone. "Do you have confidence?"
"Yes!"
"Very good. I've set up a formation around here to deter any prying eyes. During this period, you will train in this area. If anyone intrudes, remember, your first priority is to preserve your own lives."
"Yes."
"Let's go, Zefang." Xiao Man called Zefang to follow, and the two quickly disappeared from everyone's sight.
Seeing Xiang Jian constantly staring in the direction they left, Xi Wen walked up to him, "Don't worry, Boss is always smart. She'll be fine."
Xiang Jian lowered his gaze. This matter wasn't something that could be solved by intelligence alone. In his opinion, Xiao Man taking Zefang with her was like carrying a time bomb, a very unstable one that could explode at any moment!
"Are you worried that Zefang might harm Boss?"
Xi Wen understood Xiang Jian's thoughts. Ever since Zefang appeared, Xiang Jian had been extremely uneasy, constantly looking at Zefang with a guarded gaze. This was something he had never seen before. Even when he was training in Yangming Valley, facing poisonous creatures everywhere, he had never felt uneasy for a moment. But now, he appeared very anxious.