Outside Jiaxiang Town.
Li Xingtian's figure sped toward the agreed-upon meeting point. Less than half a day had passed since he'd sent his message.
Though Wan Hua Ridge was also in the Central Plains, it was a considerable distance from Jiaxiang Town.
Only his master, traveling at full speed without regard for cost, could possibly arrive within half a day.
His master was always like this. Whenever a disciple needed him, he'd drop everything and come rushing over without hesitation, leading from the front.
A warmth that Li Xingtian couldn't quite put into words filled his chest.
Help that asked for nothing in return — given purely out of care — was the kind that warmed a person most deeply.
Li Xingtian crested a hillside, his eyes shining with anticipation as he looked toward the meeting spot.
But with a single glance, every trace of excitement vanished from his eyes.
A crowd stood in orderly formation before him. His master stood at the front, conferring with Yu Yang Daozi about something.
His eldest senior sister had spotted him and was waving.
His third junior sister wore her usual elegant smile, giving him a gentle nod.
The warmth in Li Xingtian's chest evaporated, replaced by an indescribable sense of shame.
If the rumor that he was an idiot who couldn't even use a talisman correctly wasn't bad enough, he was about to earn a second nickname — "Second Senior Brother the Pure Lech."
The first one he could honestly deny, so it didn't really bother him. But being branded a lech — that was something Li Xingtian would find utterly impossible to refute.
His reputation in this life was thoroughly ruined.
This incident would likely earn him his eldest senior sister's mockery for the rest of his days.
He couldn't claim to have made many mistakes in his life. But this one alone was enough to destroy his name completely.
Master! She's just one demoness! Did you really need to bring this much firepower?
Bringing Xiao Baiqing was one thing — but why did you have to bring Eldest Senior Sister too? How am I supposed to show my face in the sect after this?
Li Xingtian felt an overwhelming urge to turn and run. But the desire for revenge overpowered the shame.
He descended slowly, took a deep breath, and walked up to his master.
"Master..."
Chu Xingchen gave a slight nod and pressed the issue.
"I took a bit long because I went to gather reinforcements. More people means she'll have a harder time escaping. That demoness hasn't run off yet, has she?"
"She shouldn't have. But how did you get here so fast?"
"There's a Haotian Sect branch nearby. I used the Tianyan Sect's teleportation array to reach Haotian Sect directly, then came here from there. Yu Yang Daozi vouched for us and let us bring along some of Tianyan Sect's capable fighters."
Li Xingtian drew a sharp breath. Burning favors like that just to make this trip — he'd probably be unwelcome in the Central Plains after this.
Chu Xingchen could read Li Xingtian's expression well enough to guess what was on his mind. He quickly sent a voice transmission.
"Relax. I told them I'm here to capture a demon, not to help you settle a personal grudge. Look tough — don't walk around like the sky is falling."
Li Xingtian recovered his composure at those words and gave his master a grateful nod. He continued.
"I've arranged to explore the secret realm with the demoness the day after tomorrow."
Chu Xingchen nodded in understanding.
He was well aware of this beloved disciple's penchant for raiding tombs. The reunion did have a certain romantic quality to it.
"The first time I saw you, I knew we would never cross paths again — and that I would be the one to send you on your way."
Chu Xingchen gazed at Li Xingtian, who was usually so composed but now seemed slightly flustered. A mischievous impulse seized him, and he sent another voice transmission.
"By the way — how do you plan to deal with this demoness? Want to at least hold her hand first?"
Li Xingtian's face burned hot. He called out in a heavy voice.
"Master!"
Chu Xingchen's face was wreathed in smiles. He reached out and patted Li Xingtian lightly on the shoulder.
"Your master is here."
"Please... just stop talking."
Li Yingling, who had been listening to the two of them speak in riddles this whole time, finally couldn't hold back any longer.
"What do you mean, 'stop talking'? Why is your face a little red, Second Junior Brother?"
"Your junior brother is just moved." Chu Xingchen was practically beaming. "Right, Xingtian?"
Li Xingtian gave a heavy, resigned nod.
In the woods outside Jiaxiang Town.
Xu Linglong hummed a little tune, leaning against a large tree.
The soil at her feet churned, and soon, a head made of mud rose from the ground.
"Did it go smoothly?" the mud head asked.
"He's no fool, but it shouldn't be a problem." Xu Linglong planted her foot on the mud head.
"The aura of fortune around him is nothing ordinary, and that blood energy of his is even more remarkable... Which means his master, Chu Xingchen, is likely our actual target."
"Heaven truly is working against us."
As soon as those words left her mouth, the mud head beneath her foot crumbled apart.
The branches and leaves overhead rapidly grew and twisted, reforming into a humanoid head that hung before her.
The leaf-constructed head spoke in a cold tone.
"I should remind you — Li Xingtian is not to be eaten just yet. Our target is Chu Xingchen, and the information he carries."
Xu Linglong gave a dismissive scoff.
"Oh? Since when do you get to give me orders?"
"The Eight Heavenly Demons — some hiding, some lying low. One became a monk in the Buddhist Sect, and word is he made himself thoroughly pathetic, only daring to scheme from the shadows."
"Now that the Eastern Victorious Divine Continent has been completely cleaned out, you come crawling to me to put out the fires — and you still have the nerve to speak so arrogantly?"
The head fell silent for a moment before speaking again.
"This fire will eventually reach you too. Great events are imminent. The situation is already critical — we can't afford any more complications."
Xu Linglong's voice dripped with contempt.
"I've walked this realm for how many years? How much fortune have I absorbed and sent back? You take all that fortune and still manage to bungle things completely."
"You don't say a word about your own incompetence, but you keep telling me how critical the situation is?"
"Once you're done barking, get lost. Don't ruin my good mood. I know exactly how to handle things."
The leaf-constructed head went silent. Then it dissolved into dead leaves that fluttered to the ground.
Xu Linglong gave a cold snort and turned her gaze lazily toward Jiaxiang Town in the distance.
But the next moment, another clump of earth stirred further away — as though something still hadn't been said.
Xu Linglong didn't even turn her head. She simply snapped her fingers.
The spot where the earth had been churning exploded into a massive crater. Soil flew in every direction.
Two days later, early morning.
Li Xingtian stood waiting at the entrance of the wine shop.
Xu Linglong kept her aura and form concealed, watching him from a distance. Her eyes narrowed slightly.
She hadn't been idle over the past two days either. She'd planted several small items around Jiaxiang Town to monitor whether Li Xingtian was up to anything suspicious.
The result: the kid was genuinely honest. At the very least, no one else had come to Jiaxiang Town to meet him.
Composing herself, Xu Linglong removed her veil-hat. A bright, dashing smile appeared on her exquisite face as she revealed herself and walked toward Li Xingtian.
"Li Daoyou, you're here early! Have you been waiting long?"
Li Xingtian's gaze followed her. A smile — somewhat fierce-looking but genuine — appeared on his face.
"Indeed. I've been waiting for quite a while."
Xu Linglong looked at his somewhat menacing smile. Her own smile didn't waver as she added a playful lilt to her voice.
"Good things are worth the wait. Hopefully, we'll make a fortune today."
Li Xingtian nodded in agreement.
"Good things are indeed worth the wait."