"Sect Master, Deputy Sect Master!" Xi Wen's eyes welled up with tears of joy upon seeing them. "Where did you go? We searched the entire Wuji City and couldn't find you."
"To the Roland Mountains."
Xi Wen gasped, then recalled that if Xiao Man could move through places like Yangming Valley as if no one was there, the Roland Mountains were likely not terrifying for her. However, the Roland Mountains were different from Yangming Valley. Yangming Valley was full of poisonous creatures, but the Roland Mountains were infested with magical beasts. Magical beasts cared not if she was a bane of poison; in their eyes, there were only edible and inedible things.
"Sect Master, Wuji City has many rules, but also many loopholes. Furthermore, I've already familiarized myself with Wuji City's terrain. This is a map. In Wuji City, the most direct way to earn contribution points is to exchange items for them," Xi Wen informed Xiao Man of what he had learned these past few days.
Xiao Man looked at Xi Wen with admiration. Xi Wen was meticulous and understood the importance of planning before acting. Thus, despite being pursued often, both he and Yu Da had accumulated a decent amount of contribution points, seventy-two for Xi Wen and sixty for Yu Da, all earned through their own efforts.
"You two are very good."
"Thank you for your praise, Sect Master."
"Do you know Zhou Yan's whereabouts?"
"Zhou Yan, I don't know. However, Poisoness and Shan Yun are staying at the mercenary inn in the North District. Many people want to recruit them into their teams. Apothecaries are highly sought after here, although the good apothecaries have all been poached by the Seven Great Sects. Still, simply being knowledgeable about herbs is enough to earn respect from others."
Xiao Man glanced at Xi Wen coolly. "I recall teaching you both how to identify herbs, didn't I?" Su Dan Novel Network.
Xi Wen nodded. "You did teach us many ways to identify herbs. It's just a pity we weren't born as beautiful as Poisoness. People want to recruit Poisoness upon seeing her, but they want to bully us. Even though we know herbs, we don't get the chance to speak."
Xiao Man couldn't help but laugh. "So, are you blaming your mother for not giving birth to you as a daughter?"
"That's not the case," Xi Wen said with a smile. "Daughters have their advantages, and sons have theirs. It's just that here, the benefits of being beautiful are particularly evident."
"You two go to the mercenary inn to find Poisoness and wait for me at the entrance of the Roland Mountains with them. I will go look for Zhou Yan."
Xi Wen's eyes lit up. "Sect Master, are you planning to take us to the Roland Mountains for training?"
"Since I brought you out of the Land of No Return, I certainly won't let you perish here," Xiao Man smiled. "I'm still waiting for you to become experts and serve me."
"Your subordinates will not disappoint you."
"Alright, Xiang Jian, you go with them. Take Poisoness and Shan Yun. Don't alert anyone else. Once I find Zhou Yan and the others, I will meet up with you."
"Understood."
Xiang Jian led Xi Wen and the others to find Poisoness, while Xiao Man followed the markings to look for Zhou Yan. However, when she stood at the entrance of the City Lord's mansion, her expression became rather peculiar. Why was Zhou Yan inside the City Lord's mansion?
Inside the City Lord's mansion, Zhou Yan warily stared at Fan Ting. Even he couldn't understand why Fan Ting would suddenly bring people to arrest them.
"Captain Fan, have we committed any offense?"
"No, it's just that our City Lord wishes to invite you to the mansion as guests," Fan Ting said amiably, trying his best to appear gentle and friendly, unaware that his demeanor only made Zhou Yan more wary.
"I am quite aware of my own capabilities. I am hardly qualified to be a guest at the City Lord's mansion. Captain Fan, please be direct."
Fan Ting pondered for a moment, then stopped beating around the bush. "The Dragon Spirit Bamboo was retrieved by Xiao Qin, wasn't it?"
Zhou Yan remained silent, staring at his toes and feigning ignorance.
Fan Ting looked at another person. "Do you wish to join the City Lord's Guard?"
"Yes!"
"Chu Xing!" Zhou Yan immediately reprimanded him.
Chu Xing lowered his gaze. The Sect Master had abandoned them. In Wuji City, the only way to survive was to establish a connection with the City Lord's mansion. If he could join the City Lord's Guard, he wouldn't have to worry about survival, and outsiders wouldn't dare to bully them anymore.
"Captain Fan, if I tell you what you want to know, will you allow me to join the City Lord's Guard?"
Fan Ting slowly nodded. "Of course."
"Zhou Yan, don't forget, who brought you out of the Land of No Return!"
"Zhou Yan, I know the Sect Master brought us here, but the Sect Master also said that after entering Wuji City, we have to rely on our own abilities. If we join the City Lord's Guard, we will never have to worry about being bullied again," Chu Xing said excitedly. "Think carefully, since entering Wuji City, how many ruffians have we encountered who wanted to step all over us? Do you want to live like this for the rest of your life?"
Zhou Yan looked deeply at Chu Xing, then closed his eyes. He would never betray the Sect Master. Fortunately, this boy hadn't followed them into Yangming Valley, otherwise, the Sect Master would be in danger!
Seeing that Zhou Yan was unmoved, Chu Xing stepped forward. "Captain Fan, the only one who could have retrieved the Dragon Spirit Bamboo is Xiao Qin. Before Xiao Qin arrived, no one could enter Yangming Valley to retrieve the Dragon Spirit Bamboo. Furthermore, she is skilled in poison and proficient in medicine. She is an apothecary."
Great joy surged within Fan Ting. Indeed, this Xiao Qin was not simple; she was an apothecary! However, the apothecaries of Baiyao Hall were helpless. Xiao Qin might not have a solution, but it was at least a path. Perhaps... perhaps Xiao Qin could cure it?
Zhou Yan observed Fan Ting's reaction and a hint of doubt arose in his mind. Could it be as the Sect Master had said, that someone in the City Lord's mansion was gravely ill and needed the Dragon Spirit Bamboo for a cure? They wanted to find the Sect Master to treat the illness?
"You claim Xiao Qin's medical skills are superb. From where did you learn this?"
"Our Deputy Sect Master's wrist tendons were once severed, and he had internal injuries that caused his cultivation to stagnate and his swordsmanship to decline. Yet, the Sect Master cured him."
"Anything else?"
"Poisoness is skilled in poison and is feared by all in the Land of No Return, yet she was subdued by our Sect Master at first sight. Our Sect Master also taught the sect's disciples to identify herbs, how to treat wounds, how to find useful medicinal materials, and she also concocts pills. Zhou Yan should have pills given to him by the Sect Master."
Fan Ting's gaze was fierce, like a wolf's, directed at Zhou Yan. Concocting pills? Could this Xiao Qin be an alchemist? Such a rare species as an alchemist, how could they appear in the Land of No Return? Impossible, absolutely impossible. An alchemist, no matter how great their mistake, would not be exiled to the Land of No Return; they would be confined until death!