In the middle of the river, water steamed and vapors rolled, forming a white mist.
Lightning flashed along the surface of the river but dissipated after a while, along with the dark clouds in the sky.
The wind gradually subsided as the waves quieted down too, and then the river fish poked out their white bellies from the water, facing the twilight sky.
Lei Wanjun glanced at the Water Dragon jumping out of the water and waved his sleeve. "Go back to your nest!"
The Water Dragon's originally ferocious eyes suddenly revealed the obedient look of a virtuous wife. It nodded slightly, then plunged into the river, swinging its tail upstream along the river.Elder Cao of the ***Bright Star*** Sect, who stood suspended in mid-air by her control technique, slowly landed on her flying sword. She looked up at Lei Wanjun, who had suddenly arrived. After examining his clothes, she understood his identity.
But at the same time, a question arose:
---Why did the Great Elder of the ***Black Star*** Sect appear here?
Although this was the place where the ***Black Star*** Sect raised the Water Dragons, there was no need for a *Deification*-stage Grand Elder to guard this place, right? This was overkill.
Anyway, it was a blessing from heaven that a cultivator of the *Deification* stage came to help.
Elder Cao looked around and saw that Zu Lingzhi was standing on the flying sword and wasn't injured. She flew closer, put the horsetail whisk back on the crook of her left arm, and copper her hands, bowing. "Thank you, Senior Lei, for your help."
"Hmph..."Lei Wanjun snorted like an ox, looking at Cao Yan'er in front of him. Although his face was unperturbed, he complained on the inside:
---*Why is it an Elder of the ***Bright Star*** Sect here? If she knew that I was breeding Water Dragons here, wouldn't that be very embarrassing?*
---*Also, how come another demonic cultivator crossed the border and entered the **Western Region**? She looked like an Elder of the demonic sects. What if the Matriarch finds out about this...*
Lei Wanjun had mixed feelings, but he maintained the dignity of a *Deification*-stage cultivator on his face. He deliberately emphasized, "I was ordered by Immortal Matriarch to patrol the border of the **Western Region** to prevent the infiltration of demonic cultivators. I just happened to pass by here."
*Aren't you too eager to explain? Then, it seems that he was not ordered to patrol*... Elder Cao nodded silently. "I see."
"What's the deal with that *Nascent Soul* demonic cultivator just now?"
*Aren't you in charge of the border of the **Western Region**? Why are you asking me?*... Elder Cao bowed respectfully. "That demonic cultivator should have heard about the ***Hundred Lotus*** Sect's Young Master. It seems that news about the *Spring Phase* has reached the **Eastern Region**."
?
Lei Wanjun was confused when he heard this.
Previously, in the Eastern Wall incident, the Matriarch ordered him to bring Ye Anping and Xiao Yunluo back safely, but when he entered the **Central Region**, he was stopped by the ***Demon Clan***.
By the time he found a way to bypass the ***Demon Clan***'s territory and reach **Brilliance City**, the city had already fallen into the hands of the ***Ghost Spirit*** Sect. He later found out that Ye Anping and the others had already gone back to the **Western Region** through the **Sword Gate Pass** and the **Southern Region**.
Since he hadn't done what Si Xuanji asked him to do, he thought the chances were high that he would be kicked out when he returned to the ***Black Star*** Sect.
At the same time, it happened to be spring, the breeding season of the Water Dragons, so he didn't go back directly. Instead, he came here and continued to take care of the dragons. He planned to wait for Si Xuanji's anger to subside a little before returning, which was also a way to apologize.
But what happened here...
Lei Wanjun's bewildered gaze fell on the boat below. He saw Ye Anping holding a pot of fish soup and Pei Lianxue standing together and looking at him. He took a deep breath and immediately floated down.
"Why are you two here? Are you fishing here?! Don't you know what this place is?"
Ye Anping handed the fish soup to his sister and cupped his hands. "Greetings, Elder Lei. I am traveling with my sister. I heard from Young Miss Xiao that you are here..."
"Ahem!!"
*Boom---*
Thunder roared far and wide, echoing through the sky.
Lei Wanjun coughed to interrupt, fearing that Ye Anping would tell what he was doing here. After all, family scandals should not be exposed. He signaled Ye Anping with his eyes to pay attention to the presence of outsiders.
Ye Anping nodded to express his understanding and continued.
"I have a message from Miss Xiao..."
"Miss Xiao? What message?"
Ye Anping glanced at Cao Yan'er, beckoned Lei Wanjun to come closer, and whispered, "She said that if you don't return to the sect soon, the Matriarch will come personally..."
Lei Wanjun's face turned pale.
*Rumble--!*
A thunderbolt flashed across the clear sky, illuminating the surface of the river.
Ye Anping took out the jade pendant Si Xuanji had given him and showed it to him. He cupped his hands, adding, "Don't worry about me. I'll handle my own affairs."
Looking at the jade pendant in Ye Anping's hand and listening to his words, Lei Wanjun wanted to ask about the demonic cultivator and the fishing for dragons, but he didn't care anymore.
"I understand. While you two are traveling, remember to keep your eyes and ears open."
Lei Wanjun nodded, maintaining his dignity as a *Deification* cultivator. Then, he turned into a white light and rushed toward the west, causing the clothes of the people present to flutter slightly.
Ye Anping maintained his smile and waved his hand as Lei Wanjun disappeared into the horizon. He then turned to Cao Yan'er and cupped his hands again. "Elder of the ***Bright Star*** Sect, greetings. I am Ye Anping, and this is my sister and cultivation partner, Pei Lianxue."
Cao Yan'er looked at Ye Anping's smiling face and felt something was out of sorts. Thinking about it now, this matter was too strange.
The *Nascent Soul* Elder of the ***Hedonistic*** Sect had brought seven *Core Formation*-stage demonic cultivators here, and she and Zu Lingzhi happened to run into them. During the stalemate, the Water Dragon which usually swam in the deep river happened to jump out of the water. After that, the Grand Elder of the ***Black Star*** Sect happened to pass by...
She was already mentally prepared to fight that *Nascent Soul* demonic cultivator for two to three days, but then...
"Young Master Ye, you're too polite. I'm also an Elder of the Immortal Family. How can I sit idly by when the Immortal Family members are surrounded by demonic cultivators?"
"Senior, I sincerely admire your loyalty."
While the two of them exchanged polite greetings, Zu Lingzhi came on her flying sword and landed directly on the deck, causing the boat to tilt slightly.
She put her sword back into the scabbard and threw it back into her storage bag. Then, she crossed her arms, looking up at Ye Anping and Pei Lianxue. "I told you to leave, why haven't you guys moved at all? Is it possible that you were scared silly? You almost made me be swallowed by that Water Dragon, humph~"
Smiling, Ye Anping narrowed his eyes and calmly replied, "Yes, we were scared silly."
This ended the topic. Zu Lingzhi looked at Ye Anping's smiling face and suddenly felt a wave of anger in her heart. She wanted to curse but didn't know why.
"If I hadn't come, you two would have died in the hands of those evil cultivators."
"Yes, you are right, Big Sister Cultivator."
"Big Sis... What are you saying?!" Zu Lingzhi's blood pressure soared, and she was so angry that the double-ringed hair on the back of her head bristled and became two rabbit ears. "You are so ignorant. Do you know who I am? How dare you talk to me like this?!"
Still smiling, Ye Anping looked back at Elder Cao and asked, "Hmm... Senior, this Big Sister Cultivator is..."
"The main disciple of the ***Bright Star*** Sect, Miss Zu Lingzhi."
"Oh~ Greetings, Big Sister Zu."
"..."
Zu Lingzhi frowned, simmering with anger. She brought out the sword again, raised it, and flashed toward Ye Anping, ready to show her power.
*Swish---*
A silver light flashed.
Elder Cao saw that Zu Lingzhi was not serious, so she made no move. She thought of using this opportunity provided by Zu Lingzhi to test the strength of this ***Hundred Lotus*** Sect Young Master.
However, it was not the ***Hundred Lotus*** Sect's Young Master that showed his strength, but the silent girl beside him...
*Ding---*
Sparks erupted in front of Ye Anping's neck as the expressionless Pei Lianxue firmly blocked the tip of Zu Lingzhi's sword with her sword hilt held backward.
In the next moment, Zu Lingzhi's pupils shrank. Although Pei Lianxue did not move at all, she hurriedly distanced herself and covered her neck with her left hand.
The amplitude of her movements was so great that it seemed as if she was struggling to stop the bleeding.
Even though Elder Cao only saw that girl blocking Zu Lingzhi's sword, she could imagine that in Zu Lingzhi's eyes, her neck had already been cut open by the girl.
No matter what, Zu Lingzhi was still the main disciple of the ***Bright Star*** Sect. To have the ability to make her hallucinate to such an extent, this girl's sword technique was definitely extraordinary.
Ye Anping looked at Zu Lingzhi, whose face was red from holding her breath, and had to remind her not to stop breathing. "Hey? Big Sis Zu, what are you doing..."
"Ah..."
Zu Lingzhi was dazed as if she was coming from far away. She slowly raised her head and looked at the harmless amber-eyed girl. She gulped and said, "Aren't you ashamed to hide behind a girl?"
Sharp-mouthed and arrogant...
He didn't know how the Feng Yu Die in the game put up with her...
Ye Anping was about to ignore her, but Pei Lianxue for some reason couldn't help but retort. "It's okay for my brother to hide behind me..."
"?"
Zu Lingzhi was completely speechless.
Ye Anping looked at his sister, tapped her forehead, and smiled. "Big Sis Zu, my little sister is straightforward, please don't argue with her."
"..."
Elder Cao saw Zu Lingzhi being stifled, and she felt like laughing for some reason, but thinking of her position, she still interrupted. "Alright, Lingzhi. You and Young Master Ye are on the same side. It is rude to draw your sword rashly."
"Hey? Elder Cao, why are you taking his side? Even though Great Grandpa asked us to invite him back to ***Bright Star*** Sect as a guest, there's no need to be submissive to him, right? Why are you lecturing me?"
Ye Anping sighed. "You don't have many friends, do you, Big Sis Zu?"
"? You!!"
Elder Cao ignored her and smiled. "But just as Lingzhi said, I do want to invite you to the ***Bright Star*** Sect for a while. I wonder if you are willing, Young Master Ye?"
"Of course. Traveling with my sister, I was wondering about where to go next. Since we met, it could be considered an opportunity. I happened to make a pot of fish soup. Senior, would you like to taste it?"
"Since Master Ye has invited me, I won't refuse."
"Senior, please~"
Ye Anping gestured, inviting Elder Cao toward the canopy of the boat, then sat down cross-legged. He placed the fish soup on the small table in the middle and took out a wine pot and wine cup from his storage bag. Finally, he placed Gu Mingxin's severed hand on the corner of the table and gently stroked it. "Be good."
Elder Cao looked at that hand, and her expression froze for a moment. However, she did not ask about it. She only felt that this kid was probably more interesting than she thought. She smiled and called out to Zu Lingzhi, who was standing foolishly outside the canopy. "Lingzhi, come over, don't waste Young Master Ye's generosity."
"I see. This is how you show your power."
"Hehe... I'm not trying to show off my power. You're worrying too much. Come, try this fish soup. I just caught it this afternoon. It's very fresh."
Ye Anping lifted the lid of the pot, and the fresh fragrance immediately spread. Pei Lianxue quickly took out her chopsticks and stabbed them into the belly of the fish with anticipation.
The wind was calm, and the small boat slowly drifted along the river, toward the waning moon that had just appeared on the horizon...
...
The waning moon rose in the east.
Located in the west of the **Southern Region**, there was an immortal city called **City of Dreams**, whose streets were brightly lit and crowded with pedestrians.
Feng Yu Die, wearing a white silk dress, and Xiao Yunluo, with her hair wrapped like a hornet's nest, walked slowly on the street while listening and looking in all directions. "It seems that some demonic cultivators have infiltrated the **Southern Region** recently. Previously, some cultivators found traces of toxic parasites in the *Jade Forest*."
"**Brilliance City** has been conquered, and the demonic cultivators are probably ready to reach **Sword Gate Pass**. So, what does the city guard say about this?"
"The City Lord has already started investigating, but there seems to be no progress..."
"The **Southern Region** has the ***Bright Star*** Sect and the ***Awareness*** Sect, what's there to be afraid of? Demonic cultivators even dare to enter the **Southern Region**?"
...
Listening to the chatter of pedestrians on the roadside, Feng Yu Die pursed her lips slightly and muttered. "I haven't heard any news about Young Master Ye and Sister Pei."
Then, she turned to Xiao Yunluo and asked, "Sister Xiao, do you have any connections? Where can we find information?"
Xiao Yunluo looked around as she adjusted her veil. "This is the **Southern Region**! How would I know... I think we should have listened to Anping and stayed in the ***Black Star*** Sect to cultivate properly. He didn't ask us to come over either. We don't even know which way they took..."
"But I'm worried..."
"Anping is always careful. He probably wouldn't reveal his whereabouts on the road unless he did it on purpose. We're only a thousand miles away from the ***Bright Star*** Sect, and we haven't reached there yet. Either they've already arrived at the ***Bright Star*** Sect or they're behind us."
Blinking, Feng Yu Die replied weakly, "Sister Xiao, isn't that the same as saying nothing?"
"..."
"Sister Xiao, is there any more roasted chicken?"
"No more! All the food Anping prepared for you went into your stomach on the way."
"Oh..."
Xiao Yunluo glanced at Feng Yu Die, and seeing that there was a restaurant not far ahead, she pointed there. "We'll rest in this city tonight. You can ask the restaurant manager later. And if it doesn't work out, we'll go to the ***Bright Star*** Sect and wait for them there."
"Well... Okay."
