After hearing Chu Xinghui’s words, Xie Liufeng thought for a while.

Although this trip was definitely not safe, it was also a good opportunity for experience.

He still had confidence in his strength, he wasn’t someone who couldn’t even protect a disciple.

What’s more… he wasn’t completely at ease leaving Chu Xinghui here alone.

Chu Xinghui continued to look at him, waiting for his answer.

Xie Liufeng had already made up his mind. He reached out and poked his head: “Why are you still dawdling? Go pack your things. The place we are going is a bit far, so bring everything you need. If you forget something, I won’t buy it for you on the way.”

Chu Xinghui’s eyes lit up.

*

Three days later, the two formally set off.

After leaving the boundaries of Wanling Valley, Chu Xinghui asked Xie Liufeng: “Where are we going?”

Xie Liufeng was quite surprised: “You dare to follow me without knowing where I’m going? Aren’t you afraid I’ll kidnap you and sell you?”

Chu Xinghui looked at him: “Would you sell me?”

Xie Liufeng shook his head, rubbed his head, and smiled: “I wouldn’t be willing to.”

Chu Xinghui then looked away, forcibly bringing the topic back: “…So, where exactly are we going?”

Xie Liufeng thought for a moment and answered honestly: “I don’t know.”

Chu Xinghui: “…”

Xie Liufeng rubbed his head again and explained: “The things I need to collect are sealed, but the seal wasn’t placed by me. The person who sealed it has already passed away, and now no one knows the exact location of the seals.”

He was about to say something else when his gaze suddenly moved slightly.

“Wait, it seems we’ll need to put the real discussion on hold for a while.” He looked in a certain direction and raised the corner of his mouth: “It looks like some new friends have come to send us off.”

Chu Xinghui also noticed and didn’t hesitate to send out a spiritual attack toward their hiding place.

The people hiding in the shadows came out.

The newcomers were still dressed in black clothes and black scarves, looking like the same group that had tried to kill him last time.

It seemed that the man who had reached the peak of Foundation Establishment and failed in his mission last time had sent someone stronger this time, as the new arrivals were all in the Golden Core realm.

Xie Liufeng showed no signs of spiritual energy fluctuations, so the newcomers instinctively ignored him and focused directly on Chu Xinghui.

The difference in spiritual energy between the Golden Core and Foundation Establishment was huge, it was practically an overwhelming situation.

The opponents were determined to take his life.

Chu Xinghui drew his spiritual sword and tilted his head to ask Xie Liufeng: “Are you still a powerless ordinary person today?”

Xie Liufeng calculated for a moment, felt that Chu Xinghui could try fighting, and then smiled: “Well, that depends on whether you can protect me.”

Chu Xinghui: “…”

He walked up to Xie Liufeng, coldly looked at the enemy in front of him, and drew his spiritual sword.

The enemy, seeing a Foundation Establishment ant daring to draw a sword, snorted disdainfully and attacked Chu Xinghui with his sword.

Chu Xinghui met the attack fearlessly and quickly exchanged a few moves with him.

But the difference in spiritual power between Foundation Establishment and Golden Core was still too great.

Chu Xinghui made a mistake in one move and was knocked to the ground.

He gritted his teeth, stood up, and forced himself to block the incoming attack. Suddenly, he heard a lazy, gentle voice in his ear: “Use the third move, the flaw in his technique is on the left rib.”

Xie Liufeng was transmitting sound to him.

Chu Xinghui inexplicably felt his ears heat up, but he followed Xie Liufeng’s instructions and quickly changed his stance.

Xie Liufeng continued: “Good, now, counter.”

…

Under Xie Liufeng’s guidance, Chu Xinghui gradually gained the upper hand.

He subconsciously wanted to look in Xie Liufeng’s direction.

Xie Liufeng seemed to have predicted his actions and spoke with a hint of amusement: “Focus on the fight, don’t sneak peeks at some unknown kind-hearted person.”

Chu Xinghui: “…”

He really didn’t want to look at him, so he continued to seriously focus on the opponent in front of him.

The two fought for an hour, and Chu Xinghui finally seized the opportunity, swiftly cutting the opponent’s throat with his sword.

His spiritual power had already been depleted, and he couldn’t stop himself from collapsing to the ground.

Xie Liufeng quickly reached out and caught him, smiling as he praised: “Wow, impressive. You were able to fight above your level.”

Chu Xinghui: “…”

He leaned in Xie Liufeng’s arms for a while, then stood up again to check the body.

As expected, the body still had no identifying marks.

Chu Xinghui was about to dispose of the corpse when Xie Liufeng, who had been observing nearby, suddenly narrowed his eyes.

He reached out to stop Chu Xinghui: “Wait a moment.”

Xie Liufeng took out a jade box and retrieved two small insects that looked like bees.

The insects circled the body for a while, and after a moment, a few silver light dots appeared on the sleeves of the corpse.

Xie Liufeng put the insects back into the jade box and named the silver dots: “Silver Moon Lotus Powder.”

The Silver Moon Lotus was a specialty of Shuixun CIty. The powder made from its petals, when worn, had a faint effect of resisting illusions. However, it could only be made within half an hour after the petals were plucked, and its effectiveness was not particularly strong. It was mostly sold only locally.

This person didn’t use this kind of incense powder, but had a few silver dots on his sleeve, suggesting he had come into contact with someone from Shuixun City.

Xie Liufeng burned a talisman to incinerate the corpse: “It seems your guess was right. It’s probably someone from Lingxiang Sect.”

*

Meanwhile, Shang Ling was receiving two high-ranking figures from Lingxiang Sect.

Perhaps because both their biological child and disciple had been detained, this time, the Sect Leader and his wife had come together.

The two sides discussed the matter of the Lingxiang Sect members being detained. Shang Ling played dumb, pretending not to understand their request to release them, insisting that he would patiently wait for the investigation results from Lingxiang Sect.

After back-and-forth negotiations, no consensus was reached, and a temporary truce was called.

Shang Ling politely sent them off, and warmly offered them accommodations.

Before they left, Sect Leader Mu Chengjin suddenly spoke up: “Resolving this matter will still take time. My wife and I came here for another reason.”

Shang Ling, already exhausted from the negotiations, responded politely: “Sect Leader Mu, feel free to speak your mind.”

“A few days ago, Yuwen sent me a letter saying he had found a young man here who somewhat resembled Zeqing and Lingxuan. He was about the same age as our eldest son,” Mu Chengjin said, a touch of sorrow on his face as he sighed: “Cultivator Shang must know, that child was lost shortly after birth. My wife and I have been troubled by this for many years. Upon hearing this news, my wife and I came immediately, regardless of whether the news is true or not… at the very least, we should meet this child.”

Qin Xueyi stood next to Mu Chengjin, looking dazed. She only came back to her senses when her partner spoke of her. With tear-filled eyes, she concealed a fleeting awkward expression and spoke in a sorrowful tone: “These years, I’ve often dreamed of that child, worried that he might be bullied in the world, and feared that he…” She paused for a moment, her voice softening: “Now that we have news, we should at least meet him.”

Shang Ling observed the two of them, feeling vaguely that their attitude seemed strange. However, out of humanitarian concern, he nodded and comforted them: “I understand the pain you two, as parents, must feel. May I ask if the young man you mentioned has any specific features?”

Mu Chengjin took out a recording stone, inputting spiritual power into it: “Yuwen didn’t know his name, only that his surname is Xie and he’s a wandering cultivator. Could I trouble you, Cultivator Shang , to help search for him?”

Shang Ling raised his eyes and saw Chu Xinghui in the recording stone.

His pupils constricted slightly as he connected the recent events.

Though he didn’t know much about Chu Xinghui’s background, he remembered Xie Liufeng asking him to investigate Qin Yuwen recently.

If Qin Yuwen had something to do with this, he might need to be cautious about these two people who were specially invited by him.

His thoughts turned a few times, and his face showed an impeccable expression of difficulty: “Most of the people remaining here are from sects. If it’s a wandering cultivator… they should have left after the secret realm ended. Moreover, with just a surname, it’s even harder to find. The Wanbao Trading Company will try its best to help, but we can’t guarantee the result.”

Mu Chengjin and Qin Xueyi exchanged glances, both showing genuine disappointment. Mu Chengjin sighed and courteously cupped his hands toward Shang Ling: “We’d be deeply grateful if you’re willing to help, Cultivator Shang. Regardless of the result, we won’t harbor any complaints.”

Shang Ling comforted the couple a few more times before politely seeing them off.

As soon as they left, he immediately went to the back room, found a secluded spot, and quickly burned a message talisman to Xie Liufeng.

*

When Shang Ling’s message reached him, Xie Liufeng and Chu Xinghui had just finished dealing with the corpse.

After hearing Shang Ling’s words, Xie Liufeng looked at Chu Xinghui and asked for his opinion: “What do you think?”

Although he didn’t agree with Chu Xinghui getting involved with these two people, especially now that they had discovered that someone from Lingxiang Sect might be hunting him… if Chu Xinghui still had some lingering feelings for his birth parents, he would use a gentler approach to protect him.

Chu Xinghui remained silent for a long time.

He found it hard to understand this situation.

This couple gave him life, then discarded him as a vessel to transfer the poison. As far as he was concerned, they owed him nothing, and they should never interfere with each other’s lives again.

But now, they were making such a big deal about wanting to bring him back, as if they had a deep bond between father, mother, and son, as if they had truly suffered the pain of losing their child.

Honestly, he didn’t feel sad about it, and he couldn’t say there was any love or hate. He just felt detached, as though this was someone else’s story.

He always thought that emotions should be built on a shared foundation, and these suddenly appearing deep feelings seemed like a trap.

So, Chu Xinghui shook his head: “No need. Just tell Senior Shang that I haven’t been found.”

Rather than spend time meeting these people, he thought it was more important to continue his cultivation journey with Xie Liufeng.

 

 

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