Chapter 280

In a secluded room, the doors and windows were tightly shut, and the fire was burning brightly.

These past four years, I have constantly worried about the young master; even in my dreams I search for him, but my master issued a death order forbidding me to leave the mountain.

Su Wan'er pushed aside her snow-white arms and back, revealing the wound, and faced the fire, muttering to herself.

Heng Xian had already removed his mask, and was using a simple cotton swab dipped in blade-wound medicine to apply it to her externally, saying, 'Senior Sister Qingzhu did that exactly right!'

Su Wan'er let out a breath and whispered, 'But... without the young master, I feel life has no meaning; the young master is my only family and reliance in this world.'

'I, the young master, am touched, but following me is useless—you're just a burden!' Heng Xian laughed.

Su Wan'er felt disheartened: 'I have trained very hard; my master threw me into various big and small secret realms to endure bitter training, and I am now a first-level Qi Hai Realm cultivator. Even if I return to Donglan City, I can protect the Heng family.'

Heng Xian couldn't help but zone out; the Qi Hai Realm was extremely rare in Donglan City back then—just one person could bring their family far above others—and now even a lowly personal maid like myself has reached the Qi Hai Realm.

Is it that I changed her, or is her fate simply like this?

One must know that the death rate among sect cultivators is extremely high; over five thousand people in the capital of Sang Guo were instantly killed by Heizei—who dares say there aren't astonishingly talented individuals among them?

Even in this training, the number of people he knows who have died along the way already approaches a thousand!

It may sound like just a dull number, but each person harbors the dream of attaining the Dao and longevity, and each risks their life for it.

So, for an ordinary person to achieve cultivation, it is absolutely not easy!

"Mm." At that moment, Su Wan'er winced in pain and let out a soft groan.

Heng Xian glanced at her; four years have passed, and this maiden has blossomed into striking beauty—her features are lovely, her demeanor quite unique, she looks less like a servant and more like a young lady from a prominent family.

Especially her profile now carries an indescribable charm.

Noticing Heng Xian's gaze, Su Wan'er looked up, their eyes met, and her face flushed red; she lowered her head and whispered, 'Have I gone astray these past few years?'

"So-so." Heng Xian put away the simple cotton swab, helped her pull up her clothes, and said, 'For a woman, what matters most is her inner self and spirit; a cleaner body is just better.'

Servant, servant, it's not as despicable as the Long-surnamed person just said; we came here following Lady Ji Yaoyue, Shen Kai, Si Tu Nan Fei, Zhou Zhan Yi and the others.

Along the road, only Shen Kai and Princess Ji Yaoyue would truly protect us; I, the servant, wish to stay alive and gain an opportunity, then after my cultivation improves I will look for the young master, so I got close to them.

That Shen Kai, my uncle-master, treats me a bit differently, but I've never allowed him to touch me even once!

Su Wan'er's eyes were red as she struggled to prove her innocence, even pulling up her sleeve to reveal the intact Turtle Shell Sand.

Heng Xian blinked, then chuckled and said, 'Why are you so worked up? I'm not that stiff; if you find someone who truly cares for you and can protect your life in danger, what's the harm in losing your virtue?'

Su Wan'er's face flushed with anger as she said, 'Young master, you shouldn't say that about me; I know right from wrong, I've always kept myself pure, and in my heart you surpass all men in the world—I can swear a Dao Heart Oath.'

'That's too much!' Heng Xian patted her head, sat cross-legged beside the torch, and shifted the topic: 'Princess Ji Yaoyue, are you also with you guys?'

Su Wan'er nodded and said, 'Princess Ji Yaoyue's cultivation is extremely high, and she is also very clever; she solved many of the trials along the way, and we all admire her.'

She knew about my relationship with Cousin Miss Xie Lingyu and you, so she protected us everywhere and often talked with us about you.

Heng Xian rubbed his nose, an image of Ji Yaoyue flashed in his mind, he smiled and asked, 'Is Xie Lingyu also there?'

Su Wan'er, hugging her knees, said, 'Yes! Cousin Miss is at the Lotus Flower Pool, where she also received a great opportunity; the Lotus King's soul cleansed her talent, turning her dual spirit roots into a single ice spirit root, which made many people envious; when they arrived here three days ago, she had already reached the fifth layer of the Qi Sea Realm.'

Heng Xian nodded, 'Lotus Flower Pool?' It seems their group's experiences differ from mine; Xie Lingyu also got a great opportunity, not bad. After thinking, he asked again, 'Did you come together with White Lotus Flower and Jiang Wuya?'

Su Wan'er shook her head: 'No, we arrived a day later than them.'

Heng Xian calculated: Jiang Wuya's group were the first to arrive here, Ji Yaoyue's group the second, and he and Lin Shuyu's group should be the third; judging by the numbers, the disciples from the major sects undergoing training should have all gathered.

It seems I must act carefully from now on, lest I be surrounded and beaten.

Su Wan'er leaned closer to him and asked, 'Young master, where have you been these four years? My master comforted me, saying you went to other realms.'

Heng Xian poked the fire to make it burn brighter and said, 'To put it simply, I once worked as an escort, visited a utopia, then ran into a chaotic place and led a band of bandits to conquer the world!'

Su Wan'er's eyes sparkled: 'That sounds interesting, young master; after we leave the ruins, I won't go back—I'll go wherever you go, serve you tea, pour water, fold your blankets, and oh, play the flute for you; I haven't played the flute for you in a long time.'

Heng Xian sighed: 'Forget about the flute; another day, when I'm in a good mood, I'll teach you personally.'

'Why not now?' Su Wan'er chuckled, 'In the midst of busyness stealing leisure, I can't wait any longer—I don't know what's so different about your flute.'

Heng Xian inexplicably felt moved, then suddenly disappeared, laughing and scolding: 'Nonsense, I'm about to form my false elixir soon—don't disturb my Dao heart!'

Speaking, he took out the storage bag of the red-robed youth.

After the red-robed youth died, the restrictions on his storage bag dissipated on their own, making it easy to open.

Inside were only some medium-grade spirit stones, some average-level cultivation manuals and clothes, and a cabbage-sized spiritual mushroom lay in the corner, glowing with iridescent light.

Heng Xian took out the mushroom and casually handed it to Su Wan'er, saying, 'Absorbed!'

Su Wan'er stared for a moment, then quickly shook her head and said, 'No, young master, this is a good thing—it not only provides a large amount of pure spiritual energy, but also allows one to comprehend a certain ancient legendary cultivation technique; we dozens of people exerted our utmost effort to obtain it, don't waste it on me.'

Heng Xian no longer had time to absorb a second mushroom, and said, 'Take it, this is your opportunity; your cultivation is too weak, following me you can only be a burden.'

Su Wan'er's expression changed, she stopped refusing, and with both hands received it, saying, 'Alright, I'll listen to the young master.'

Heng Xian, according to his own experience absorbing the mushroom, taught her how to use it and the precautions.

Su Wan'er learned thoroughly, quickly absorbed the entire mushroom, sat cross-legged to one side, and entered a state of selflessness.

Heng Xian was curious what cultivation technique she had seen in her mind, wanted to wait for her to wake up, but the timing was uncertain, so he went to the window to look outside.

The sky remained overcast, and faint howls of humanoid monsters could be heard in the distance.

After thinking, he locked the room's doors and windows, lit two incense sticks he had taken from the hut, and placed them before Su Wan'er; this can ward off humanoid monsters.

He then flashed out of the room.

Outside, several figures in gray clothing immediately rushed to attack.

Heng Xian wielded the gray-iron sword, easily slew them, then leapt and ran toward the distance.

In this Bitter City, there are only two more days to stay; neither the mushroom nor the giant flower can attract him anymore—he urgently wants to obtain more 'tokens,' even to kill those in silver clothing.

The tokens on these humanoid monsters' bodies, as shown by the divination, are of great help in obtaining the final opportunity!

At this point they reached a broad street ahead, where there were many in gray and blue clothing, and even a person in white.

Heng Xian hid in a pawnshop at the corner, observed for a moment, and upon seeing the white-clad person clearly, he was startled.

(End of chapter)