Chapter 479: Xia Xiyu (3/5, Autumn Subscription)

Fang Yue was stunned—he had never heard You Sisi or the others mention that Ning Laotou was the head of the Ningguang Sect.

Looking at the somewhat desolate Ningguang Mountain, Fang Yue guessed this was just a tiny sect Ning Laotou had cobbled together on his own.

After thinking for a moment, Fang Yue asked: "How many people are in your Ningguang Sect?"

"Three! Just me, my senior sister, and my father, the sect leader… Look, the one sword-dancing up ahead is my senior sister, Xia Xiyu."

Fang Yue followed Ning Wudian's pointing finger and indeed saw a girl with a fairy-like aura sword-dancing on a large platform halfway up the mountain.

Because they were far away, Fang Yue couldn't make out her exact features, but she was surely good-looking.

Around the girl, a few people stood scattered, keeping watch outward.

Fang Yue froze for a moment.

"Didn't you say your Ningguang Sect only has three people?"

"Huh? Oh, you mean those guys next to Xia Xiyu? They're servants of the Ning Family—not disciples." Ning Wudian said casually.

Fang Yue finally understood—it was just a rich family playing house with a sect.

Yet those Ning Family servants all wore uniform gray clothes, and even while on guard, they were utterly focused, exuding an air of professionalism and strength.

"Come on, come on, Ye Baiyi, let's hurry—don't let Xia Xiyu spot us, or she'll go tattle to my father about me slacking off in training…"

Ning Wudian had barely finished speaking when his gaze met Xia Xiyu, who had just sheathed her sword—he instantly stiffened.

"Oh no…"

Sure enough, after a brief pause, Xia Xiyu's expression showed surprise and shock.

She took a silk towel from a servant, wiped her sweat, and hurried over toward them.

"This… this is the White Robe Green Guard of Qingsi County?"

Fang Yue noticed that as Xia Xiyu studied him, her expression seemed unusually excited.

Realizing she had overstepped, she blushed slightly.

"I—I've rarely seen a Green Guard as handsome as you… I've been impolite. Please forgive me."

Fang Yue frowned—this wasn't simple.

Was she… complimenting me on my looks?

"Love-struck!"

Ning Wudian spat dismissively—Xia Xiyu immediately sidestepped without expression, then swung her hand back and slapped him on the head—*pop! *

Ignoring Ning Wudian, who crouched on the ground clutching his head in pain, Xia Xiyu switched expressions like a mask, sweetly asking Fang Yue: "My younger brother doesn't know how to speak—how should I address you, White Robe Elder Brother?"

Fang Yue thought: This girl's clearly drawn to my looks.

Though he remembered his own face was rather ordinary.

But that didn't stop others from seeing him as Xi Shi.

He put on a slight air of dignity and said: "Call me Ye Baiyi."

"Then I'll call you Ye Elder Brother," Xia Xiyu said, instantly familiar, blinking and walking beside Fang Yue.

"Ye Elder Brother, Ye Elder Brother, why are you here at our Ningguang Sect? How many days will you stay? Want me to show you around?"

"I'm here to ask Ning Laotou a few questions. Afterward, I must return to Qingsi County to report. Next time… next time I'll come as a guest," Fang Yue pushed away Xia Xiyu's hand, which had been tugging at his clothes.

"Oh…" Xia Xiyu looked slightly disappointed: "Then… then… are you traveling on this horse? This is the legendary Qingsi Horse, right? So green!"

Fang Yue: …

If possible, next time don't bring this horse out in public…

"Can I touch it? Can I touch it?"

Like Ning Wudian, Xia Xiyu wanted to play with the Qingsi Horse the moment she saw it.

And before Fang Yue could answer, she reached out and touched it herself.

The Qingsi Horse, known for its temper, kicked out the moment touched—but Xia Xiyu easily dodged it.

"Hehe! Still got a temper!"

After being teased twice, the Qingsi Horse calmed down—this stupid horse only acted up around strangers; once someone showed they could handle it, it instantly became docile.

As they talked, they reached the mountain summit.

At the summit stood a large mansion, nestled at the end of the mountain path.

"That's our Ning Family residence—also the main gate of the Ningguang Sect!"

Ning Wudian skipped ahead excitedly.

Fang Yue walked behind, asking curiously: "You live up here all the time? Aren't you afraid of anomalies? Where do you get food? How do you handle daily needs for so many people?"

Xia Xiyu, who had taken the Qingsi Horse's reins and walked beside Fang Yue, replied:

"Unless necessary, we rarely leave. Our master's craftsmanship covers our daily expenses."

Once or twice a month, we go to nearby villages to buy supplies.

But those small villages often suffer anomaly attacks, and sometimes they refuse to sell us anything.

Then we have to travel farther for supplies—danger increases greatly.

As for anomalies… we have three chief stewards and these servants to protect us—there's no real danger.

Staying on the summit, we rarely encounter powerful anomalies.

Even ordinary anomalies can be handled by Xia Xiyu and Ning Wudian."

Fang Yue recalled Xia Xiyu's crisp sword movements.

Ning Wudian was likely a Third-rate Realm cultivator; as senior sister, Xia Xiyu should be slightly stronger.

But from Fang Yue's simple impression, Xia Xiyu was still far from Second-rate Realm—probably also Third-rate Realm, just with deeper cultivation than Ning Wudian.

The silent Ning Family servants, however, looked quite formidable—some might even surpass Xia Xiyu in cultivation.

So the Ningguang Sect relies on these hired servants for security.

So many Martial Dao cultivators working as servants — the Ning Guang Sect is way too rich...

No! More accurately, Ning Laotou is way too rich.

So this is the Weird Object Forger profession? Darn it, why does my heart feel tempted...

If Fang Yue hadn't already cultivated the Blazing Fire Heart Method, he'd almost be tempted to switch to a Weird Object Forger's Heart Method.

But it was just a passing thought — anything that would lower his own strength, Fang Yue wouldn't really do.

He could, however, consider letting Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu, or Jing Yan, learn a hand at this kind of Heart Method, so that later they could become great Weird Object Forgers and provide him help.

Of course, it still depends on the individual's willingness. Wu Wu has already been learning a Heart Method from Lin Ling — though she hasn't mastered it yet — but asking her to scrap her progress and start cultivating another Heart Method would be a bit too much.

"I'll stable the Qingsi Horse for you."

Xia Xiyu led Fang Yue into the Ning Family, then turned and led the Qingsi Horse off in another direction.

Truly a wealthy household — they even built their houses on the mountaintop, and specially built a stable.

Just think about their outings: first they have to lead the horses down that steep mountain path, and only then can they ride to the nearby village. No matter how you look at it, it's very inconvenient.

But without a horse, it would be even more inconvenient.

(End of chapter)