Chapter 91 Following
Inside the inn, as the Zhao family cultivators departed, the atmosphere gradually eased.
Chen Chang'an sat back at the table, watching the black-clad woman before him with interest—Xiao Ling'er.
Perhaps because they were both women, or perhaps because of the inexplicable sense of security Chen Chang'an gave off, Xiao Ling'er soon lowered her guard and even sat down across from her.
"Your name is Lin Wan?" Xiao Ling'er tried to recall if there was a Lin clan in the surrounding regions.
Chen Chang'an smiled lightly. "Yes, is there a problem?"
It was his mother's name from his past life. Too lazy to think of another, he simply borrowed it.
"Oh, nothing. Sister Lin, you're not from Youzhou either, are you?"
"Either?" Chen Chang'an paused, then asked with interest, "So you're not from here as well? Why did you come to a place like Youzhou?"
At these words, Xiao Ling'er's eyes dimmed.
She lowered her head, fingers gently tracing the rim of her teacup, and after a moment of silence, said softly, "I came to find someone."
"Oh?" Chen Chang'an raised an eyebrow. "What kind of person is worth coming to this forsaken place for?"
Xiao Ling'er sighed. "A… very important person."
Her voice was quiet, yet filled with an indescribable persistence.
"I heard he went east to find a master. I followed the road east, asked at every sect and town, but never found a trace of him." Xiao Ling'er gave a bitter smile. "In the end, I had no choice but to ask for a divination at the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion."
Chen Chang'an's eyes flickered. "Heavenly Secrets Pavilion?"
"Yes." Xiao Ling'er nodded. "But strangely, their hexagram was blocked. They could only deduce that the one I seek is within a forbidden land."
She lifted her head, eyes filled with worry. "The forbidden land closest to Qingzhou is Youzhou's Ten Thousand Ghost Cavern."
Chen Chang'an thought deeply. "So you came to Youzhou?"
"I fear he was tricked into the Ten Thousand Ghost Cavern…" Xiao Ling'er's voice trembled slightly. "That fool is always too quick to trust others."
Watching her tightly clenched fists, Chen Chang'an suddenly asked, "What is he to you?"
Xiao Ling'er froze, the tips of her ears flushing red. "…A friend."
Chen Chang'an gave a meaningful "oh" but did not expose her true feelings.
"The Ten Thousand Ghost Cavern is not a good place," she said slowly. "It is said the yin energy there is overwhelming, extremely dangerous. Ordinary cultivators who enter might not even leave their bones behind."
Xiao Ling'er bit her lip. "I know, but I must go."
Her gaze was firm to the point of stubbornness, stirring Chen Chang'an's heart.
Could it be…
[Xiao Ling'er]
Cultivation: Late Profound Connection Realm
Potential: 79 (Heavenly Talent)
Fate: 59 (A pity)
Loyalty: 10 (A stranger with slight goodwill)
Disposition: Cheerful, chivalrous
"What a pity…" Chen Chang'an sighed inwardly.
Her innate talent and temperament were excellent, her fortune deep enough, but the most critical Fate value was short by 1 point.
That seemingly tiny gap was in truth like a chasm—60 points of Fate was the system's minimum requirement to be recognized as a Child of Fate.
However…
Chen Chang'an's eyes flickered faintly.
The person Xiao Ling'er sought might very well be that Child of Fate.
"Miss Xiao," Chen Chang'an suddenly said, "I also plan to go to the Ten Thousand Ghost Cavern. Why don't we go together?"
"Eh!? Sister Lin is going too?"
Xiao Ling'er was stunned. Hadn't this elder sister just been saying how dangerous that place was? Why was she suddenly…?
She could not help but secretly study Chen Chang'an across the table.
——This elder sister was truly too beautiful.
Her profile was soft and refined, her long lashes like butterfly wings casting faint shadows beneath her eyes.
As she spoke, she lowered her head, peeling a peanut. Her fingers were fair as jade, her movements so graceful it seemed almost unreal.
Xiao Ling'er suddenly felt somewhat inferior, subconsciously touching her own face, worn from days of travel.
Such a beautiful person also going to the Ten Thousand Ghost Cavern…
She muttered inwardly. Could it be…
A sudden thought flashed—could she also be looking for someone? And that someone was…
A trace of resentment welled in her heart. Just which scoundrel had made even a fairy-like sister risk her life for him, without cherishing it properly?
And besides… this dangerous, terrifying forbidden land, yet from this sister's mouth it sounded like a simple outing. Was this ignorance breeding fearlessness?
Thinking so, she furrowed her brows. "Sister Lin, the Ten Thousand Ghost Cavern is extremely perilous, you…"
She trailed off, her gaze sweeping over Chen Chang'an's body that seemed to show no sign of cultivation.
Chen Chang'an smiled faintly, picked up a bamboo chopstick from the table, and flicked it lightly—
"Whoosh!"
The chopstick shot out like an arrow, directly piercing a wooden pillar several zhang away, sinking more than halfway in, the end still quivering faintly.
Xiao Ling'er's eyes widened, her lips parted. "This…"
"Don't worry!" Chen Chang'an blinked. "I can still protect myself."
Xiao Ling'er exchanged a glance with the gray-robed elder, both seeing the same astonishment in each other's eyes.
Such a move looked simple, yet to unleash such power from a mundane object was far beyond the reach of an ordinary martial artist.
She could not help but transmit a thought in her heart. "Elder Mo, does this sister truly have no cultivation?"
"Yes, her aura is indeed no different from a mortal's. She certainly has not stepped into the path of cultivation. However, I've heard some mortal martial artists practice body refinement techniques. Cultivated to the extreme, their strength can rival ordinary cultivators of the Object Manipulation Realm… Perhaps this young lady is such a peak martial artist?"
"Object Manipulation Realm cultivator…" Xiao Ling'er finally nodded, then drew in a deep breath and quietly transmitted to Elder Mo, "Elder Mo, I must trouble you to look after this sister along the way."
The gray-robed elder hesitated, then gave the slightest of nods.
Chen Chang'an's lips curved—at her level, such a transmission was as clear to his ears as if spoken aloud.
This foolish girl. Knowing full well the peril of the place they were going, she still thought of protecting others…
This disposition… it was somewhat similar to that brat Xiao Chen. If the two were to meet, they might unexpectedly get along well.
Unfortunately…
Seeing her so hopelessly devoted…
It seemed that foolish boy did not have the fortune.
Thinking this, Chen Chang'an found his favor toward Xiao Ling'er deepening.
"Then shall we set out tomorrow morning?" Chen Chang'an suggested.
"Yes!" Xiao Ling'er nodded firmly, a hint of anticipation in her eyes. "I only hope we can find him soon…"
Watching the girl's hopeful gaze, Chen Chang'an suddenly felt that even if they failed to find the Child of Fate, this journey to the Ten Thousand Ghost Cavern might prove far more interesting than expected.
…