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墨書 Inktalez
Veiled in Clouds and Mist, Layered Peaks and Mountains. The Spirit Sword Destiny descended from the clouds and flew into a hidden cave halfway up the mountain.
Inside the cave, there was straw spread out, quite dry and clean, clearly indicating that it had an owner—who was currently lying on the grass in a lazy manner. Upon seeing Spirit Sword Destiny enter, it merely lifted its eyelids slightly, and the light in its emerald eyes flickered and vanished.
It was a gigantic white tiger, taller than a person even when lying down, with snow-white fur adorned with brown stripes.
Spirit Sword Destiny nodded at it and found a clear spot to sit down.
Deeper within the cave, there was another entrance from which faint fluctuations of spiritual energy from a formation could be sensed.
Spirit Sword Destiny knew that the Master was in seclusion inside.
This time it was just a temporary retreat; it wouldn't take long before the Master would emerge. The Branch was not pure enough, so they sought out this place, which the Master seemed quite pleased to visit.
Because this was where they had once hidden during their misfortunes when being pursued by the Upright Path.
As Spirit Sword Destiny entered, many memories surged back.
He took out a Bronze Square Cauldron from his Storage Bag and placed it in front of him. With a thought, a stream of water separated from the Stream flowing outside the cave and poured into the cauldron. Spirit Sword Destiny then lit a fire beneath the cauldron and added fresh Venison and beef, along with Bay Leaf, Cinnamon, and other spices.
He sat in front of the cauldron, tending to the pot of meat soup.
Delicate smoke gradually rose from within the cauldron.
Years ago, during their escape, they only ate cold food and did not dare to go through the trouble of cooking. Now, there was nothing to hold back.
The lazy White Tiger caught the increasingly rich aroma and lifted its head, staring at the contents of the pot with its lantern-like eyes. It patiently waited, not rushing to eat.
More than forty years ago, it had made its home in this cave. When Spirit Sword Destiny and Shen Jinglan found this cave, they were in urgent need of a hidden place to rest and heal. The White Tiger seemed less than welcoming to these uninvited guests, blocking the entrance, arching its back, and glaring at them warily.
The leader bribed it with a Meat Spirit Mushroom.
Spirit Sword Destiny felt that since the leader had encountered great changes, falling from being a highly regarded figure to a despised villain, he treated beasts and monsters much more gently than he did humans. His trust in beasts and monsters was even greater than that in humans. Perhaps he was the only exception.
The White Tiger seemed to sense his goodwill, nodded slightly, accepted the Meat Spirit Mushroom, and allowed them into the cave.
Thus, the three of them—two people and one tiger—coexisted peacefully together.
Returning after many years, it seemed that the White Tiger still remembered them.
Spirit Sword Destiny silently added some firewood to the stove.
The cave was dimly lit; the flickering firelight reflected on his face and cast shifting shadows on the cave walls.
He could hear the slow and long breaths of the White Tiger behind him.
The life of a beast is always much longer and more resilient than that of a human.
Even these cultivators, who wielded powers far greater than those of ordinary people, remained just as fragile.
Before Spirit Sword Destiny, the figure of Yin Yunshen suddenly appeared.
He let out a soft sigh in his heart.
As long as there are millions of people in the world who harbor love and hatred, the flow of blood and tears will never cease, and someone is destined to make a sacrifice for it.
If he had agreed to take revenge back then, perhaps he would not have died. But at that time, the affairs of the sect were busy, and he truly could not spare the effort. Resolving one's own grievances is also a principle that the Evil Sect has always upheld.
One can only blame fate for being capricious.
The broth had simmered long enough.
Spirit Sword Destiny took out a bowl and a large copper basin from the Storage Bag.
With a casual gesture, rich meat juice mixed with large chunks of meat filled the copper basin, which Spirit Sword Destiny placed in front of the White Tiger.
The White Tiger unceremoniously buried its head into it, and soon the sound of slurping could be heard.
Spirit Sword Destiny also served himself a bowl.
The man and the tiger each enjoyed their meal.
Suddenly, a figure appeared and sat down beside him.
"Get me one too," Shen Jinglan said, his voice laced with amusement.
"Is the Sect Master coming out now?" Spirit Sword Destiny asked, while filling a bowl and handing it to him.
"Yes, I just finished my meditation and smelled the fragrance," Shen Jinglan replied. "Fortunately, I came out in time; otherwise, there wouldn't be any for me."
Although Spirit Sword Destiny couldn't eat much of the soup, the White Tiger beside them could consume as much as it wanted.
"Has the matter with Yin been resolved?" he asked again.
"Yes," Spirit Sword Destiny replied.
Shen Jinglan fell silent for a moment, stirring his bowl with chopsticks and letting out a light sigh.
He didn't say anything more about Yin Yunshen, and Spirit Sword Destiny didn't bring it up again either.
Shen Jinglan began to eat. Suddenly, he leaned over and sniffed Spirit Sword Destiny's hair. "You should take a shower; you still smell like an aphrodisiac."
"And what's wrong with that?" Spirit Sword Destiny retorted.
"Let me keep smelling it; I won't be able to sleep soundly at night."
"Why?"
Shen Jinglan replied calmly with a smile, "After all, I am still a man."
His smile was very charming, and Spirit Sword Destiny had always known that.
At that moment, his smile still stirred something in Spirit Sword Destiny's heart.
"Is that so?" Spirit Sword Destiny glanced away, not daring to look again, and stubbornly said, "I don't seem to have noticed."
Shen Jinglan shook his head, patted the white tiger behind him, and sighed with a smile, "Old buddy, look, doesn't the bigger the inkstone get, the less obedient it becomes?"
The white tiger let out a low growl, seemingly in agreement.
As night gradually fell, the darkness deepened.
The two were already preparing to rest.
At that moment, the white tiger lying quietly behind them suddenly began to roar uneasily, its claws scratching the ground and making a piercing sound.
The roar seemed to carry immense pain.
They turned back to look.
The White Tiger had stood up, growing a pair of wings on its back. With a flap of its wings, it transformed into a streak of white light and vanished into the vast night sky.
Shen Jinglan said, "I can sense it during my meditation; it does this every night, which is somewhat unusual."
"Does the leader want to go take a look?" Spirit Sword Destiny understood and felt a surge of curiosity.
Shen Jinglan nodded.
The two of them flew out together, closely following the White Tiger, which had not yet flown too far.
As the White Tiger exited the cave, it seemed to be somewhat frenzied.
Yet it still remembered a destination and flew straight in that direction.
Before long, they entered a valley in the mountains, where houses were neatly arranged below, and fields stretched out—this was a village.
The village was surrounded by large rocks forming a wall, and in front of the Stockade Gate was a peculiar Stone Pillar Forest.
It seemed to be on high alert; as soon as the White Tiger appeared from mid-air, hundreds of arrows shot out from the Stone Pillar Forest, dense as rain. In an instant, several arrows pierced through its fur. The tips of these arrows glimmered with blue light, as if poisoned.
The archers were all hiding behind the stone pillars.
The White Tiger roared, and a hurricane erupted from its gaping maw, splitting into three streams that swept into the Stone Pillar Forest. It shook its body violently, shaking off the arrows and charging forward.
After a volley of poison arrows was fired, the archers discarded their bows and drew the long knives at their waists.
The terrain of the Stone Pillar Forest was complex, with many places to hide. The White Tiger could not easily attack them from the air; once it flew in, it would immediately be caught in close-quarters combat.
Spirit Sword Destiny and Shen Jinglan hovered in the sky, silently observing below.
Uncertain of the situation, they had no intention of intervening on either side.
"Roar—" The White Tiger suddenly let out a pained roar.
A figure appeared on a stone pillar behind it, plunging a long knife into its lower back. This was someone who had concealed their presence using petrification techniques, remaining motionless until this moment to launch a surprise attack.
Unfortunately, the beast's muscles and bones were too tough; the knife only penetrated a few inches before getting stuck, unable to go any further.
The tiger's tail swept across, sending the attacker flying. Just as that person was about to crash heavily into a stone pillar, their skull likely shattering, another figure rushed in from the side, moving like lightning to intercept them.
After saving the person, he drew his sword.
The sword light was like a silken thread, like a white rainbow, like stars falling from the sky, attacking the White Tiger.
Spirit Sword Destiny and Shen Jinglan both clearly saw his face.
"That Xu Shaoxia has also arrived," Shen Jinglan said, "Time is short, and he has made some progress."
Spirit Sword Destiny responded.
Seeing Xu Xiaofei here did not surprise him at all.
It would be surprising if there was a plot-triggering event without Xu Xiaofei.
"The Sect Leader seems to pay quite a bit of attention to him," Spirit Sword Destiny remarked.
"Yes, he reminds me a bit of myself. Looking at him makes me think of my past self," Shen Jinglan said candidly. "I checked his information earlier; he is a disciple of Ye Zhiqiu, the leader of the Xiaoyao Sect. However, before he joined the sect, his background was quite unclear."
Spirit Sword Destiny replied, "Yes, that's also what I found in his records. I couldn't uncover anything. His origins are either quite ordinary or very mysterious. I investigated, and even he seems to have forgotten something significant that caused him to lose all memories of the past."
As Spirit Sword Destiny spoke, he couldn't help but recall what Xu Xiaofei had said to him.
"This time, even if it costs me my life, I will never let you die again..."
He had always thought that Xu Xiaofei had mistaken him for an old friend with whom he had shared life and death.
He still thought so now.
His memory had never been wrong; he certainly had never "died" and had not seen Xu Xiaofei many years ago.
Shen Jinglan smiled and said, "Regardless of his background, he will be our future formidable enemy. I believe that to some extent. Observing his swordsmanship, I can see traces of several schools; he can counter without mixing styles, integrating them seamlessly..."
His words were quite complimentary.
He did not show any killing intent towards Xu Xiaofei.
Spirit Sword Destiny understood that the reason he did not kill Xu Xiaofei was because he knew he couldn't do it yet; while the leader chose not to kill simply because he didn't want to.
Even knowing this person would be a great enemy in the future, the leader still had the composure to wait for his opponent to grow stronger.
Xu Xiaofei, who was caught in a bitter battle, naturally did not realize that two people were discussing him.
These two individuals were deeply connected to him.
Hovering high in the sky, Spirit Sword Destiny and Shen Jinglan concealed their forms and presence, which Xu Xiaofei, with his cultivation level, could not sense.
Xu Xiaofei only felt a dull pain in his chest, and his spiritual energy was quite sluggish.
His injuries had not yet healed, and now he faced this battle. But when he drew his sword, he never considered these things.
The roar of blades clashing and the spreading scent of blood seemed to silence even the roosters in the village from crowing loudly.
Even without the crowing of roosters, dawn still arrived as usual.
Dawn Light rose from the horizon.
The pale blue color hinted at some sorrow, but it was bright nonetheless.
The White Tiger seemed unable to bear the sunlight, suddenly roaring, sprouting wings, and swiftly breaking free from the encirclement, soaring into the sky.
In the blink of an eye, it fled without looking back.
"Clang!"
The warriors who had been gripping their long swords tightly, their eyes bloodshot from fighting, all dropped their weapons and collapsed to the ground. Those with severe injuries began to groan, while those with lighter wounds started tending to the more seriously injured.
The night had finally passed.
"Xu Xiong, your wound has reopened again." Xu Xiaofei also wanted to sit down and rest when Rong Han walked over, glanced at him, and said, "Hurry, reapply the medicine. I shouldn't have let you come along."
"Right," Wei Xuanfeng chimed in as he approached, "You should have been left with Xiaoyao Sect to recover properly."
Xu Xiaofei looked down and saw that fresh crimson had indeed seeped through his shirt front.
It was a sword wound, the most serious one he had sustained in the Underground Lair.
He had already applied medicine and bandaged it with clean cloth strips. If he had used Elder Yang's medicine, it wouldn't have opened up so easily.
Xu Xiaofei really did not have the guts to use Elder Yang's medicine in front of his two friends. If something went wrong, he truly did not know how much joy he would bring them.
"I'm fine, just need to apply some medicine again," Xu Xiaofei said. "Since we're here, do you think I can just hide in the house and rest easy while you all are fighting?"
"I'll help you apply the medicine," Rong Han said.
He helped Xu Xiaofei take off his outer robe, gently unwrapped the bandage around the injured area, and then applied a green ointment.
The gate of the Village was wide open.
Some warriors supported each other, while others were being carried in. They surged through the entrance.
During the battle, the Stockade Gate had been tightly closed, and a strict Defensive Barrier had been set up. No one could retreat a single step if they felt fear.
At this moment, a temporary ceasefire was called, and a group of Villagers came forward to welcome them.
The three good friends also walked inside.
The warriors they fought alongside were native Villagers who seemed to have practiced a kind of ancestral sword technique. This technique was somewhat mystical and could be considered a rudimentary skill that involved using the sword as a path, so everyone had some level of cultivation. Of course, the vast majority of their cultivation levels were still not on par with the three of them, as they practiced orthodox Taoist methods. However, at this moment, all three were either injured or exhausted from spiritual energy in the Underground Lair and had not fully recovered yet.
Someone blocked their path.
A young man with bronze skin and a handsome face stood before them, wearing a fox tail made of thick fur at his waist. The fur was brownish-yellow with a hint of white at the tip, coming from a Three-Eyed Fox. This fox was known for its cunning and incredible speed. To wear a string of Three-Eyed Fox tails as an accessory indicated that his skills and hunting techniques were quite remarkable.
He clasped his hands and said, "Thank you all for your assistance. I, Lu, truly appreciate your kindness. I have made arrangements; you can rest in Village until the afternoon, and then I will send you on your way. I see that you all have old injuries, so it would be best for you to recuperate."
"Brother Lu!" Rong Han said, "Given our friendship, do you think I can just leave at this moment? I have inquired, and the White Tiger will still come tonight; of course, we must stay."
The one called Brother Lu, Lu Zhi Feng, shook his head and replied stiffly, "Brother Rong, it was my mistake for not stopping you earlier. This matter should not involve you. Our ancestors have taught us that the invasion of the White Tiger is a test for our warriors; we cannot rely on outsiders for help. No need to say more; I will come to see you off later."
As the two spoke, Wei Xuanfeng's expression gradually darkened.
"Hmph," he suddenly snorted coldly and said, "You say we shouldn't interfere? Many people are injured today; if it weren't for the three of us helping out, it would likely be much worse than just injuries!"
His tone was unfriendly, but Lu Zhi Feng responded without much courtesy.
"Your good intentions are certainly noted," he said. "However, the people of White Tiger Stronghold have always regarded dying in battle as an honor, especially in this fight against the White Tiger! If one were to die in battle, they could be received by the Ancestor and ascend to godhood; that would be a great fortune. Moreover," he glanced at Wei Xuanfeng, "the people of my village are skilled in Petrification Technique; when seriously injured, they can enter a state of hibernation to prolong their lives and recover slowly. The absence of the three of you does not necessarily mean there will be casualties."
He said something to a young man beside him before turning and leaving in haste.
The young man then said, "Dear guests, please come to my home to rest; Brother Feng has entrusted you to me." He smiled and added, "The pastries my Grandma makes are delicious; you should all try some!"
He led the way ahead.
Wei Xuanfeng stood still and angrily said, "This Lu fellow really doesn't know what's good for him! We offered our help out of goodwill, yet he acts as if he despises us and wants to drive us away. Rong, why should we endure this? Let's leave now!"
Rong Han remained silent for a moment before shaking his head again.
Xu Xiaofei glanced to the left and then to the right, observing the expressions of the two, as if he had sensed something.
He raised his hand to cover the area on his chest where he had just applied medicine and said, "Oh, it hurts... I think I should follow this brother to rest for a while."
As soon as he mentioned the pain, Wei Xuanfeng immediately said, "Forget it, Brother Xu is not feeling well, so let's stay a bit longer."
They followed the young boy through the village, and before long, a Bamboo House appeared in front of them.
The guiding boy raised his voice and called out into the Bamboo House. His Grandma hurried out to greet him, tightly embracing her son. Her face showed joy mixed with lingering worry.
There were dark circles under her eyes, indicating that she had been worried about her son going into battle all night and hadn't slept well.
"Who are these three esteemed guests?"
Once her excitement at seeing her son safe subsided, she shyly inquired about the young boy's companions.
"They are Brother Feng's guests. They helped quite a bit during the battle with that white tiger last night."
Upon hearing this, the woman immediately welcomed them warmly.
Faced with this kind-hearted old lady, even Wei Xuanfeng, who was full of anger, had nothing to say.
It seemed that the male head of the household was not present, and the three of them tacitly refrained from speaking further.
They sat around a slightly cramped wooden table. The woman brought hot tea, fried dough cakes, and boiled eggs.
Xu Xiaofei took a cake. The golden fried dough was crispy in his mouth, and the fragrant onion flavor surged onto his tongue. He was not a picky eater, so he was quite satisfied with the fried dough.
He took a few bites of the cake and sipped some tea. The tea was light and refreshing.
Xu Xiaofei was enjoying his meal.
He glanced at Rong Han, who was also eating but seemed to be savoring it without much enthusiasm.
Then he looked at Wei Xuanfeng, who was biting into the fried dough with great vigor, as if he were tearing into the flesh of an enemy.
Xu Xiaofei secretly sighed in his heart.
Although he had little experience in the martial world, he was not lacking in the ability to read people's expressions, and he understood the current situation quite well.
However, it seemed there was not much he could do.
They had coincidentally arrived at this deep mountain White Tiger Stronghold.
The Underground Lair had imprisoned many people, all of whom they had rescued. Among them was one person whose outer garment bore a Tiger Head Emblem, which caught Rong Han's attention, prompting him to ask a few questions.
It turned out that Rong Han's long-lost friend Lu Zhi Feng came from the same place as that person, and this tiger head was their clan emblem.
When escaping from the Underground Lair, Xu Xiaofei encountered his senior brother Han Yue and senior sister Qi Yan, who were leading a team to search for him.
Han Yue was busy preparing for the Swordsmanship Conference and was so occupied with practicing swordplay that he didn't even have time to eat or rest. Seeing that Xu Xiaofei had gone missing, he abandoned his training to come look for him, which deeply moved Xu Xiaofei.
Feeling grateful, he thanked his junior brothers and sisters, assured them of his safety, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then followed Rong Han to find Lu Zhi Feng.
On the very first night after arriving, they faced a fierce battle against a white tiger demon beast.
Xu Xiaofei pondered quietly. Although this white tiger they encountered was not as powerful as the ancient divine beasts described in legends, the white tiger clan was known for their understanding of human nature and generally had a friendly relationship with humans.
Why then did this white tiger choose to invade this Village?
Was it for the purpose of eating humans? That didn’t seem likely.
Could it be that there was something in this Village that it desired, or someone it felt compelled to take revenge on?
With this thought in mind, he asked the boy, "Why did that white tiger attack you?"
The Villager Boy replied, "There is a legend about this."
Among the three, Xu Xiaofei enjoyed eating the most. He wasn't someone without feelings or worries; he simply chose to set aside his troubles while eating.
The boy naturally noticed how much Xu Xiaofei relished his food.
Seeing that the guests enjoyed the food served, the host naturally felt very pleased, and he had a special fondness for such guests. So the young man readily answered his questions and recounted the story.
He said, "According to records from several hundred years ago, our White Tiger Stronghold's Ancestor led our people from our submerged homeland, seeking a piece of land to settle down and build a new home. After much wandering, we finally found this place and settled here. In the beginning, we were constantly disturbed by beasts, which caused many losses among our people. Later, the Ancestor befriended a white tiger, the king of all beasts in the mountains. With its presence, gradually no beasts dared to invade us."
This story seemed to be something he had heard since childhood; without much thought, he continued smoothly: "The village was bustling with construction, and it looked like everyone was about to live in peace and prosperity when that white tiger suddenly betrayed the Ancestor for some unknown reason and attempted a sneak attack. Naturally, this beast was slain by the Ancestor! However, the white tiger is immortal; since then, every forty to fifty years, it reappears to take revenge on this village. The Ancestor established a rule that has been passed down to this day: whoever contributes the most in slaying the white tiger each time becomes our tribe's 'First Warrior.' To be honest with you all, everyone believes that this time's 'First Warrior' will undoubtedly be Brother Feng!"
The youth's eyes also showed admiration: "Brother Feng's older brother Luzhi Tuan was the last 'First Warrior.' At that time, Brother Feng was still young! So Brother Feng has always admired his elder brother just as I admire Brother Feng. To catch up with his brother and become 'First Warrior,' Brother Feng has been diligently practicing his swordsmanship for many years; no one can compare to his dedication. He often travels outside to seek challenges; every time he returns, he has improved significantly." He glanced at Wei Xuanfeng, who looked unwell, and quickly added, "Earlier you seemed to have a bit of… um… don’t blame Brother Feng; he speaks plainly and means well. Our village usually welcomes esteemed guests, but during these days of the white tiger's attacks, we generally close our gates and do not entertain visitors. Did Uncle Jian tell you how you came here? Uncle Jian has been away for a long time; he probably doesn’t know that the white tiger has returned! However, since you are here and are Uncle Jian’s saviors who helped us last night, I must treat you well. Here, have some more."
He actively handed Xu Xiaofei a piece of fried cake.
"The white tiger appears every forty to fifty years… if that's the case, then Lu Zhi Feng must be…" Xu Xiaofei took it and thought for a moment before saying, "at least fifty years old? I can't see it at all."
Cultivators naturally appear younger, but Lu Zhi Feng did not practice orthodox techniques; all his power was in his swordsmanship, and his internal strength was not particularly strong.
The young man smiled proudly: "The Ancestor chose this place because it is a treasure land with abundant Thousand Leaf Grass. Our people use it to brew tea that prolongs life compared to outsiders; we age slower and are not inferior to your cultivators. Brother Feng just instructed me to gather some Thousand Leaf Grass later to send back with you."
The words they spoke were overheard by Spirit Sword Destiny and Shen Jinglan sitting on a floating cloud high in the sky.
Shen Jinglan said, "It seems this child is concealing something while recounting the tale."
Spirit Sword Destiny replied, "Is that so?"
The leader sometimes appeared indifferent but was actually quite observant.
Regarding the events of this matter, those familiar with the plot of Spirit Sword Destiny certainly know best, but it seems he is not ready to come forward yet.
"Well, I still haven't figured out the key to this. I've heard some news about the White Tiger Stronghold, but unfortunately, I still know very little," Shen Jinglan shook his head and said, "Let's go; it seems we can't hear anything more."
The floating clouds beneath them silently flew back.
...
After breakfast, the young man led the three of them to a room upstairs, allowing them to rest well.
Rong Han found a chair to sit down. After sitting for a while in silence, he suddenly stood up and said, "I'm going out for a bit."
Wei Xuanfeng had been watching him closely and quickly said, "I'll go with you."
He turned back to look at Xu Xiaofei and said, "Brother Xu, your injuries are the most severe; we won't disturb you. You should get some good rest here."
Xu Xiaofei watched them leave.
Now he was the only one left.
He took off his outer robe, removed his shoes and socks, covered himself with a thin blanket, and lay down on the bamboo couch.
Not long after closing his eyes, the face of Yin Yunshen suddenly appeared before him again.
A delicate, pale face, with tears glistening in the eyes, yet a smile on the lips.
"Thank you for speaking up for me, but... I suddenly feel like dying again."
"If I had met you earlier, would things have turned out differently?"
Sigh... Living is so difficult; why is dying so easy?
Why can’t he hold onto the life he wants to save?
Xu Xiaofei's mind was in turmoil.
He turned over and reached for the pendant on his chest.
Ink...
His hand slowly tightened. The cool jade pressed against his palm, as if he were holding the hand of someone he cherished deeply.
The corners of Xu Xiaofei's mouth gradually turned down, as if he were about to cry. In the end, he did not weep; it transformed into a trace of determination in his expression.
Even if it means using Dark Arts, it doesn't matter.
He must bring Ink back to life.
He lay still for a while, as if he had fallen asleep.
Suddenly, he sat up abruptly.
His mind was in turmoil, and his wound throbbed; how could he possibly sleep?
Xu Xiaofei decided to put on his clothes and stepped out of the house. The Bamboo House was somewhat old, and the floor creaked underfoot.
The young man was no longer at home; a woman busy cleaning greeted him kindly.
"Are you awake? Don't you want to sleep a little longer?"
"No, Aunt, I'm going for a walk," Xu Xiaofei replied.
He wandered through the unfamiliar Village.
Rong Han and Wei Xuanfeng probably hadn't gone too far, but he had no intention of looking for them. The matters concerning those two, or perhaps three, were complicated enough; it was best not to get involved further.
Buildings made of bamboo were scattered throughout the Village. Many of them had a lean, long hunting dog in front, which looked more like a wolf than a dog.
In the fields, some kind of medicinal herb was being cultivated. Purple Flowers bloomed in large clusters, creating a beautiful sea of blossoms. Xu Xiaofei did not recognize what kind of herb it was.
Before long, he reached the exit of the Village.
The White Tiger only appears at midnight, and it does not show its face, so the Stockade Gate remains open.
Xu Xiaofei stepped outside and summoned a Flying Sword.
He didn't really have anywhere specific to go; he just wanted to take a casual stroll to clear his mind. In a daze, he found himself flying far away on his sword through the misty mountains.
Oh, what is that...
When he came to his senses, he had landed by the stream.
A White Tiger, much larger than him, was lowering its head to bite down on an inconspicuous herb growing by the water's edge. After chewing it up, it spat it onto its paw and smeared it on its wounds.
This herb seemed quite effective; most of the scars on its massive body had faded, looking less gruesome than before.
However, Xu Xiaofei could sense that compared to last night, it had weakened significantly.
Although the White Tiger's recovery ability was strong, healing its injuries required a substantial amount of its life force.
With a thought, Xu Xiaofei made the Flying Sword instantly conceal itself and hover beside him.
He wasn't confident in a one-on-one confrontation; if things went south, he could just run away.
Sensing his movement, the White Tiger lifted its head and glanced at him.
The beast had no expression, but Xu Xiaofei saw coldness and indifference in its deep emerald tiger eyes.
The white tiger glanced at him and then continued to tend to its wounds.
Once its injuries were healed, the white tiger flapped its wings and flew away, not even sparing him another glance.
"…"
Xu Xiaofei put away the Flying Sword, thought for a moment, and then took out an item from the Storage Bag.
It was a tower that could fit in the palm of his hand. The Eight Treasure Glazed Tile, with flying eaves and angled corners.
He silently recited an Incantation, shrank his form, and flew into the tower, which then took off.
He followed the white tiger.
This Concealment Tower could isolate one's aura, making it undetectable whether used for tracking or escaping. Xu Xiaofei was indeed curious about where the white tiger would land.
After flying for a while, the white tiger dove into a cave ahead.
Xu Xiaofei hesitated for a moment but did not follow. Instead, he urged the tower he was in to quietly fly down towards the Stream below.
He seemed to faintly glimpse a figure…
Someone was indeed bathing in the water.
He had never heard of any hot springs nearby, but the stream was still emitting thick white steam.
He could see a person with long black hair spread out in the water, the stream reaching up to their collarbone.
Xu Xiaofei's heart skipped a beat.
He did not recognize this face, although it strangely resembled his own... except that the expression was more serene and the complexion was paler, as if suffering from a serious illness. The steam made their face flush slightly.
For some reason, just one glance seemed to allow Xu Xiaofei to feel the flesh pain that this person endured every moment.
It felt as if the pain were his own.
This strangely familiar person was soaking in the water, speaking to another individual.
What made Xu Xiaofei's heart race was this second person.
They had their back turned to him, draped in an outer robe, sitting by the shore.
From the back view, it looked like... someone from the Evil Sect?
Xu Xiaofei still wanted to see their true face. Perhaps now was a good opportunity; that person might not be aware of anyone else being present and surely wouldn’t be hiding their appearance.
But Xu Xiaofei did not dare to fly too close. He already knew how strong this person he had dealt with a few times truly was, and the one soaking in the Stream, although weak and sickly, exuded an aura that far surpassed his own.
—That must also be someone from the Demon Sect!
Perhaps, their status within the Demon Sect was quite high.
Xu Xiaofei quietly released his Divine Consciousness. Sometimes he was cautious, but more often than not, he was incredibly bold.
However, almost in an instant.
The person submerged in the water suddenly raised their head and glanced in his direction.
The originally weary eyes became sharp as a blade!
Xu Xiaofei was taken aback, his heart racing wildly.
Even if he wanted to risk everything to "look" one more time, he could see nothing. A thick White Mist instantly engulfed his Divine Consciousness vision; clearly, it was that mysterious person with a Sickly Appearance who had cut off his Divine Consciousness.
It seemed that they did not harbor strong killing intent towards Xu Xiaofei.
Otherwise, if this method of blocking Divine Consciousness had been used elsewhere, Xu Xiaofei would have died ten times over by now.
Perceiving Xu Xiaofei fleeing in embarrassment, Shen Jinglan chuckled softly.
"The young and inexperienced are not afraid of tigers; he certainly has some courage."
"Did that Xu Shaoxia just come by?" Spirit Sword Destiny asked.
He knew that Xu Xiaofei possessed a treasure that concealed his presence, but if he hadn't known in advance and intentionally investigated, he wouldn't have sensed it.
"Yes," Shen Jinglan replied. "He seems to want to see your face; he appears quite interested in you."
He also seemed to take a keen interest.
"The leader is smiling," Spirit Sword Destiny said. "He thinks I am just an old friend of his."
Shen Jinglan's gaze flickered, and he smiled slightly before saying, "Are you really not coming down to soak a bit? If you heat up the entire Stream, I at least need to exert some effort."
Spirit Sword Destiny replied, "…I've already washed. The leader should soak a little longer."
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