Yue Xia moved into the Hundred Herbs Hall, expecting to wait a long time for Xiao Man. However, that very night, someone sneaked into his room!
A cold dagger pressed against his throat startled him awake.
"To think there are still fat sheep who deliver themselves to our doorstep. Perfect, I'll slaughter you and avenge my junior sister."
"My daoist friend, show mercy! I'm with your junior sister!"
"You're with my junior sister?" the person in the darkness sounded disbelieving, "What proof do you have?"
"Proof? Isn't my staying at the Hundred Herbs Hall proof enough?"
"You treacherous spy! You clearly intended to infiltrate and discover my junior sister's whereabouts!"
"I came to find her, but not to harm her. I was entrusted by her younger brother, Yue Ran, to seek her out for his salvation."
"She can barely save herself, how can she save Yue Ran's life?"
Yue Xia felt the dagger press tighter against his skin and couldn't help but shiver, "He has a task for Miss Xiao, asking her to stay far away from the Heavenly Sword Sect and not to seek him there."
"Did he truly say that?"
"Indeed."
The room was lit, and Yue Xia, by candlelight, finally saw the person holding him hostage. "You... you... you're back!"
Xiao Man placed the dagger on the table. "Is Yue Tian Xia about to emerge from seclusion?"
"Yes, he is."
"How is A'Ran's cultivation?"
"Early Nascent Soul."
Xiao Man frowned slightly. Ten years had passed, why was he still at the Early Nascent Soul stage? With his talent and bloodline, he should have reached the Soul Transformation stage. Why was he still stuck here?
"Did A'Ran send you just to deliver a message?"
"And one more thing. He asked me to give this to you." Yue Xia produced a box. "Take this and go as far away as you can."
Xiao Man took it. The box was sealed, which struck her as peculiar. "What is it?"
"I don't know. He just told me to give this to you and to stay away from the Heavenly Sword Sect, to absolutely not seek him there." Yue Xia's gaze fell on the box in Xiao Man's hand. "Aren't you going to see what's inside?"
"There's no need. Because no matter what it is, I won't listen to him and live as a coward forever." Xiao Man put the box down and asked Yue Xia, "What are your plans now?"
"To return to the Heavenly Sword Sect." Yue Xia sighed. "Currently, my seventh brother is isolated and without help in the Heavenly Sword Sect. I must return to assist him. With me by his side, he might have an easier time."
"Returning to the Heavenly Sword Sect will also put you in danger. After all, no one knows who Yue Tian Xia will possess, do they?" Xiao Man said indifferently. "You finally managed to escape, only to run back? Isn't that walking into a trap?"
"I'm just someone living day to day. In the sect, I'm called 'young master' on the surface, but everyone looks down on me behind my back because my mother had a low status. If I can take his place, it would be a good deed." Yue Xia stood up. "The item has been delivered. I should be going."
"Even if you must leave, wait until dawn." Xiao Man stood up. "Tomorrow, I'll have my senior brother escort you out."
"Miss Xiao." Yue Xia called out, stopping her. "I know you genuinely care for my seventh brother, and he truly cares for you. Please, Miss Xiao, consider his feelings for you."
Xiao Man smiled. "I understand. However, Third Young Master, if I were you, I wouldn't return to the Heavenly Sword Sect."
"How could I bear to leave my seventh brother alone..."
"With his cultivation, escaping danger wouldn't be a problem. But if he had to bring you along, he wouldn't be able to escape." Xiao Man said slowly. "Do you understand what I mean?"
"The Heavenly Sword Sect's influence is everywhere. Even if I wanted to escape, where could I go?" Yue Xia smiled bitterly. He didn't have Xiao Man's abilities to remain so hidden that no one could find her for ten years.
"I have a good place. Do you want to go?" Xiao Man asked softly. "Of course, once you go there, you'll have to say goodbye to your pampered life as a young master. Can you endure such hardship?"
"Stop teasing me. You know what kind of life I live in the Heavenly Sword Sect." Yue Xia said with some helplessness. "On the surface, I'm a young master, but in reality, I'm not even as good as a bodyguard."
"It doesn't matter what others think of you, as long as you respect yourself." Xiao Man tossed Yue Xia a token. "Take this token and go to Wuji City."
"Wuji City?"
"Yes, Wuji City." Xiao Man nodded. "The four great sects look down on places like Wuji City, considering it inferior. But Wuji City is a good place. You'll understand when you get there."
"If I go, will my seventh brother truly be alright?"
"He will be alright!" Xiao Man replied with certainty. "He's my brother, after all. How could I let anything happen to him?"
"In that case, I entrust my seventh brother to you." After much deliberation, Yue Xia decided to go to Wuji City. Whatever awaited him there was better than returning to the scheming Heavenly Sword Sect.
He disliked being in the Heavenly Sword Sect, yet he was unwilling to give up the benefits that came with the identity of a young master. The status of the third young master was both an honor and a shackle for him. Now, he had finally come to a realization, intending to abandon this identity and forge his own path through his own abilities!
"Xiao Man." Yue Xia called out as Xiao Man was about to leave the room.
"Is there something else?"
"I envy my seventh brother." Yue Xia said softly. "He didn't have many friends growing up, but he had you who genuinely cared for him. Even after the battle ten years ago, when you left him with nothing... no, not nothing. He still had you."
"There's no need to envy him." Xiao Man stopped. "I am his sister, but I am also your friend."
While Yue Xia was stunned, Xiao Man had already disappeared. A moment later, Yue Xia scratched his head. "A friend? So, I have a friend."
"Is it settled?" Nan Gongyu asked, seeing Xiao Man emerge, his gaze falling on the box in her hand. "What is it?"
"If I'm not mistaken, it's likely A'Ran's Nascent Soul." Xiao Man sighed. "He probably guessed that Yue Tian Xia's target was him, so he extracted his own Nascent Soul and had Yue Xia bring it to me. As long as the Nascent Soul remains intact, he will be safe."
"To extract one's Nascent Soul while alive, that kind of pain is unbearable for ordinary people." A hint of admiration flashed in Nan Gongyu's eyes. "He's truly ruthless towards himself."
"The pain of extracting one's Nascent Soul while alive is immense, but being possessed would be worse than death. Furthermore, Yue Tian Xia is cunning and experienced, capable of any trick. It's better to be prepared." Xiao Man said slowly. "However, I need to speed things up."
"Where are we going next?"
"Tian Xuan Sect." Xiao Man looked north. "Only the last of the Three Souls remains."