“This kid! Doesn’t he know someone wants to kill them? And he dares to go out at a time like this!”
After reading the letter, Yan Dangmo immediately panicked, his eyes bulging.
Xuan Ji rolled his eyes at Yan Dangmo, shook his head, and said seriously, “No, I think he’s very aware of that.”
“Aware? Aware and he still dares to do this?”
Yan Dangmo was exasperated.
“What gives him the right? Just because they’re both at the Golden Core stage? Going out like this, who can protect him? What trump card does he have?”
Xuan Ji couldn’t help rolling his eyes again and slowly responded, “Have you forgotten that now he also has a Mahayana Realm backer?”
Yan Dangmo was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized, caught off guard.
“Right! How did I forget that?”
As he thought about it, the anxiety on Yan Dangmo’s face vanished, replaced by understanding.
“Then it’s fine. He must have his master’s communication jade token on him. At the critical moment, he can call his master to fight.”
Xuan Ji nodded, then continued analyzing thoughtfully, “Given how clever this kid is, there’s no way he didn’t think about someone trying to silence him. Leaving Heng City now is most likely to lure the snake out of its hole… Moreover, I think he’s doing it precisely when even we aren’t ready to protect him, and when the one who wants to kill him thinks the same way—giving them a chance, a chance to kill him.”
“Quite the guts…” Yan Dangmo stroked his chin and slowly nodded in approval.
“Young and bold like this. He’s indeed the kid I’ve taken a liking to.”
“Wait! He’s gone—what about Luobo?”
Just as he was praising, Yan Dangmo suddenly remembered something.
His expression changed drastically as he slapped his thigh.
He had promised his granddaughter that he would find an opportunity to ask Yuyang if he was willing to take her along on his training journey.
And now this kid ran off without even saying goodbye, just leaving a letter.
If Luobo finds out, she’s bound to blame him.
“No! I can’t let him leave just like that!”
With that thought, Yan Dangmo couldn’t sit still any longer.
He rushed out of the room and hurried toward Yan Luo’s courtyard.
“Yan Luo! Yan Luo!”
Yan Luo was practicing her Fire Control Technique in the courtyard.
Hearing her grandfather’s call, she quickly sheathed her sword, puzzled, and extinguished the flames.
Frowning, she asked, “Grandfather, what’s wrong? Why are you in such a hurry? Has something big happened?”
“Yuyang is leaving! He might have already left Heng City! Hurry and catch up!” Yan Dangmo said urgently.
Yan Luo’s pretty face instantly turned pale.
“How could he leave? Grandfather, didn’t you say…”
“Ah, forget it! That kid moves too fast! Less talk, more chase! Go now, toward the east of the city—you might still have a chance!” Yan Dangmo urged.
Yan Luo snapped back to reality.
Gritting her teeth hard, she didn’t bother asking anything else for the sake of her lifelong future.
She immediately flew into the air and rushed east.
Xuan Ji followed at this time.
Seeing Yan Luo abandon everything to chase after Chen Yuyang, a complicated expression appeared on his face.
He also wanted to let his granddaughter Xuan Ke go after him… but Xuan Ke and Chen Yuyang weren’t as familiar with each other as Yan Luo was.
‘Tsk… what a pity.’
With that thought, Xuan Ji sighed inwardly, a trace of regret in his eyes.
Why hadn’t he discovered Chen Yuyang’s raw jade first?
If he had, he would be urging Xuan Ke to chase after him now.
But as things stood, he could only watch Yan Dangmo’s granddaughter take the lead.
On the other side, after Chen Yuyang handed the letter to a Xuan Clan disciple, he took Cloud Lian with him and didn’t bother hiding his whereabouts.
He blatantly headed east.
Before leaving, Chen Yuyang specifically instructed Cloud Lian to maintain a dejected and disappointed demeanor.
Cloud Lian understood that this was to better bait the enemy.
She obediently nodded and walked beside the young man with a troubled expression.
“Is there anything special we need to do now?”
After leaving Heng City and putting some distance behind them, Cloud Lian lowered her voice and asked softly.
“No need. Let’s just continue our training,” Chen Yuyang replied calmly.
“Just follow our original direction. Sooner or later, he’ll show himself.”
He paused for a moment, then added, “During this time, act close to me. Treat me like your dao companion. That way, if we’re inseparable, it won’t be easy for him to get suspicious.”
“Oh…” Cloud Lian drew out the word.
Suddenly she looked up, blinked her eyes, and a hint of slyness curled at the corner of her mouth.
“Shixiong, you’re not trying to take advantage of me, are you?”
Chen Yuyang gave her a slight side-eye.
‘This girl really has no clue.’ Take advantage?
Did he need to stoop to such a low move?
Even without the act they were putting on now, if he had any intention, after a year or so back at the Hehuan Sect, there might even be three of them.
Seeing the young man roll his eyes and stay silent, Cloud Lian wasn’t upset.
Instead, she giggled, affectionately grabbed his arm, leaned against him, and rubbed his shoulder with a smile.
“Oh, I was just joking~ If Shixiong really wanted to, how could I refuse~”
Chen Yuyang didn’t bother responding to this loaded remark and kept moving forward.
Cloud Lian thought to herself, ‘He’s such a blockhead.’ and stopped joking.
After leaving the city and flying for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Chen Yuyang suddenly stopped.
He sensed a presence.
A presence he had been waiting for.
“Now that we’re here, won’t you show yourself?”
Chen Yuyang slowly turned around.
Under Cloud Lian’s bewildered gaze, his eyes sharp as he looked behind them and said loudly.
“Show myself? What show yourself?”
Cloud Lian tensed up, instinctively gripping Chen Yuyang’s arm harder, and nervously peered ahead.
“Could it be… the enemy already? That was fast!”
Seeing this, Chen Yuyang shook his head and whispered a reminder, “Not yet. Not this quickly. Don’t panic.”
“Since you’ve noticed me, I won’t hide any longer.”
A somewhat cheerful female voice rang out, and a figure appeared in the air about two hundred zhang behind them.
The woman looked extremely ordinary—plain features, unremarkable figure, a typical forgettable face, the kind you’d immediately forget after seeing once.
Her aura was extremely restrained; without careful sensing, you could hardly detect her presence.
As for her cultivation level, Chen Yuyang estimated it to be about Nascent Soul fifth level.
“You’ve been following us all along. What business do you have?”
Chen Yuyang put on a vigilant expression and asked.
“Don’t worry, Fellow Daoist Chen. I mean no harm. I’m merely curious,” the woman said, quickly cupping her hands in greeting.
Then she asked directly, “Fellow Daoist Chen, have you heard of the Hidden Sect?”
Chen Yuyang laughed inwardly.
‘Just as I expected. The Hidden Sect has taken notice of me.’
But on the surface, the young man revealed a hint of confusion and caution.
“Hidden Sect? Never heard of it. But I have reason to suspect you were sent by my enemy to spy on me!”
The woman was caught between laughter and tears.
She took a half-step back and waved her hands.
“Fellow Daoist Chen, you misunderstand! I swear by the Heavenly Dao that I have no ill intent toward either of you!”
Chen Yuyang narrowed his eyes, staring at her sharply without speaking.
Seeing him unresponsive, the woman hesitated for a moment, then probed, “Do you believe me now?”
“You haven’t sworn yet—definitely a trap!”
Chen Yuyang snorted coldly, his spiritual power surging.
The woman felt like she almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.
‘This kid doesn’t play by the rules!’
“I swear! I swear!”
Without further delay, the woman raised two fingers and solemnly swore by the Heavenly Dao: “I, Qing He, hereby swear by the Heavenly Dao that if I bear any malicious intent toward Chen Yuyang or his junior sister, may I suffer the backlash of the Heavenly Dao, have my soul scattered, and be eternally obliterated!”
Hearing this, Chen Yuyang finally revealed a smile and then said as if suddenly realizing, “Misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. So you’re a fellow Daoist from the Hidden Sect. Ah, I didn’t recall earlier, but now I remember—my master once mentioned your sect.”
Qing He suppressed the urge to vomit blood and cursed inwardly.
But after a moment, she calmed down, though her gaze at Chen Yuyang grew more complicated.
“Fellow Daoist Chen, you’re quite cautious.”
“One can never be too careful,” Chen Yuyang said with a faint smile.
“Since you know about the Hidden Sect, you must know why I’m here, right?” Qing He asked directly.
Chen Yuyang nodded slightly, looking calmly at Qing He.
“You’re interested in me and my junior sister.”
Qing He honestly nodded, her eyes fixed on the young man without evasion.
“But mainly interested in you, Fellow Daoist Chen.”
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Chen Yuyang’s mouth.
“Saying it outright like that—aren’t you afraid I’ll get angry?”
“If you were truly angry, you wouldn’t have tested me like that earlier,” Qing He said with certainty.
Chen Yuyang gave a noncommittal nod and replied seriously, “Even though I don’t mind your snooping, if you cross the line and touch on secrets that shouldn’t be touched, don’t blame me for turning hostile.”
Qing He immediately answered solemnly, “Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Chen. The Hidden Sect has principles.”
“Unless there’s spirit stones to be made,” Chen Yuyang cut in, a playful smile on his lips.
Qing He’s face flushed with embarrassment.
She gave an awkward laugh but didn’t deny it.
After all, the Hidden Sect lived off that.
“Speaking of which, I have a big deal here. Are you interested, Fellow Daoist Qing He?” Chen Yuyang changed the subject.
Qing He was momentarily stunned, then a spark of interest lit up her eyes.
She leaned forward slightly and pressed, “How big?”
A hint of an inscrutable smile crossed Chen Yuyang’s face, but his gaze was sharper than before.
“No upper limit.”