“So those people just now…were actually so wicked?”
After listening to the girl’s explanation, Chi Ming sat in the grass pile hugging her knees, looking at the various passersby before her, and sighed.
“I thought they were kind-hearted good people. I can’t believe I trusted them so easily. I really was too naïve…”
“There are many good people in this world, but not a few bad ones, either. You’ve just entered the Jianghu, so it’s normal to lack experience and not be able to distinguish good from evil. Just accumulate more experience over time, and you’ll be fine.”
The girl sat beside Chi Ming, patted her shoulder, and comforted her.
“By the way, my name is Fang Xiaoyu. What’s your name?”
“Chi Ming.”
“Chi Ming? That’s such a beautiful name. I like making friends with people who have good names.”
Fang Xiaoyu laughed cheerfully, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.
Chi Ming felt a strange sensation in her heart at those words.
She lowered her voice and added, “It’s a name that…my Master gave me.”
“Oh? Your Master gave you such a name? It must carry some kind of hope or meaning, right?”
Fang Xiaoyu rested her chin on her hands.
“That’s nice. Unlike me, my name is so ordinary.”
Chi Ming fell silent.
If she had the chance, she would actually wish for a normal name.
“You must have a good relationship with your Master, right?”
Fang Xiaoyu suddenly asked.
“Eh?”
Chi Ming was stunned for a moment, then asked in return, “Why do you think so?”
“The knife you lost earlier…it must have been given to you by your Master, right?”
Fang Xiaoyu said.
“I heard that when Disciples prepare to descend the mountain for training, the Master always prepares a weapon for them with great care. And you seemed to care a lot about that knife just now…”
As Fang Xiaoyu spoke, her tone became a little apologetic.
“Sorry, I should have helped you get your knife back earlier.”
“It’s fine.”
Chi Ming shook her head.
“That knife…was just comfortable to use. It’s not that important.”
That long blade was indeed a weapon crafted by Yu Yi Jue specifically for Chi Ming.
Although it wasn’t of a high grade—only Earth level—it had accompanied Chi Ming for many years.
It was a weapon personally forged by the Demoness, and also a companion of Chi Ming for years.
It had helped Chi Ming slay many evil men, and also, by her hand, mistakenly killed righteous people.
Keeping it by her side was both a warning and a shackle.
To Chi Ming, the existence of this blade was extraordinary and full of contradictions.
Now that she had lost it, she wasn’t sure whether it was a good or bad thing.
“You want to go to Yunzhou?”
Fang Xiaoyu asked at this moment.
Chi Ming nodded.
“I was already on the road at this time, actually,”
Fang Xiaoyu put her hands behind her head.
“But then I ran into an uncle, snot and tears all over, begging for a ride. He said he had already participated in the Recruitment Assembly three times and had never been able to join any Sect. This year was his last chance, and he couldn’t miss it.”
“So you gave your spot to him?”
Chi Ming asked.
“Yeah, I gave it to him.”
Fang Xiaoyu smiled.
“I was only going to join the fun anyway, so it doesn’t really matter if I make it to the Recruitment Assembly or not.”
“You’re not planning to join any factions?”
Chi Ming was a little puzzled.
“Sigh, don’t even mention it. I’ve been struggling in the Jianghu for years, and my cultivation is still only at the lowest Warrior level.”
“The Sects in Yunzhou require at least Martial Master cultivation even for miscellaneous roles. How could they possibly want me?”
Fang Xiaoyu shrugged.
“If it weren’t for the circumstances, I’d just go home and farm.”
“Circumstances?”
“Yeah.”
Fang Xiaoyu’s cheerful smile suddenly faded.
“My father and mother died at the hands of Demonic Cultivators, and after that, the landlord took our land. So I have no home and can only wander the world.”
Dun dun dong!
Chi Ming almost felt her heart stop.
Demonic Cultivators killed Fang Xiaoyu’s family.
Yet she, a “Disciple of the Demoness,” had just become friends with Fang Xiaoyu?
How ironic…
“No…I’m no longer the Demoness’s Disciple. I don’t need to be like this…”
Chi Ming told herself in her heart.
But her violently pounding heart refused to calm down.
“Chi Ming? Are you alright? Why are you sweating so much?”
Fang Xiaoyu’s voice pulled Chi Ming back from her distant thoughts.
She looked at Chi Ming worriedly and scratched her head with a smile.
“Sorry, I said some depressing things. It’s not your fault; I’m the one who brought it up. Besides, you’re not a Demonic Cultivator or anything, so don’t blame yourself.”
Chi Ming’s delicate body trembled, and the sweat on her forehead increased.
“Here, wipe your sweat.”
Fang Xiaoyu took out a handkerchief and handed it to Chi Ming.
“Th-thank you…”
Chi Ming reached out with a trembling hand and took the handkerchief.
But just as she was about to wipe her sweat, Fang Xiaoyu suddenly asked in a ghostly tone.
“Chi Ming, you couldn’t really be a Demonic Cultivator, could you?”
Chi Ming’s movements froze instantly.
The air fell silent for a moment.
“Hahaha! Stop it, Chi Ming, don’t act so tense! You’re making me nervous too!”
Fang Xiaoyu laughed and patted Chi Ming’s shoulder.
“I’m just joking! How could you possibly be a Demonic Cultivator? Everyone knows that anyone who dares to go to Yunzhou as a Demonic Cultivator is a fool. Because what awaits them is certain death! Alright, it’s getting late. Let’s get ready to set off!”
***
At the same time, Among the Colorful Clouds in Yizhou.
“Achoo!”
Yu Yi, who had just made the decision to head to Yunzhou, suddenly sneezed and frowned.
Who’s cursing me behind my back?
Blue Ling’er, half-kneeling before Yu Yi, wore a lovestruck smile.
“Master’s sneezing is…too cute, isn’t it?”
Blue Ling’er silently thought.
What luck did she have today to witness such a rare scene?
Seeing Blue Ling’er staring at her without blinking, Yu Yi’s face reddened a bit.
She coughed twice as a warning.
“Ahem, ahem.”
Only then did Blue Ling’er restrain herself a little.
“In short, you will accompany me to Yunzhou this time.”
Yu Yi said to Blue Ling’er.
“Any questions?”
“Disciple will follow Master’s orders and will not disappoint Master’s expectations.”
Blue Ling’er replied respectfully.
The reason Yu Yi chose Blue Ling’er as her companion was actually to have Huang Doudou stay behind to look after Su Cheng.
The Yan Emperor coveted Su Cheng, and Yu Yi couldn’t let her guard down.
If Jiang Hanshan sent people to Among the Colorful Clouds to snatch Su Cheng while Yu Yi was away, Huang Doudou could escape with Su Cheng.
After all, back when the Demoness was wounded, it was Huang Doudou who took her and hid everywhere. Her stealth skills were indeed remarkable.
If Blue Ling’er were left behind, her personality would probably lead her to fight with Jiang Hanshan.
If she won, fine; but if she lost, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Yu Yi didn’t want to take that risk, so the best way was to leave Huang Doudou and Su Cheng in Among the Colorful Clouds.
Actually, she could have just stayed herself and sent Blue Ling’er and Huang Doudou to Yunzhou to meet Fang Xiaoyu.
However, Yu Yi finally decided to lower herself and make a trip to Yunzhou.
This was because she felt that for all the scattered cultivators who were lost and couldn’t see their future, the Recruitment Assembly was like a lighthouse, pointing the way and guiding them forward.
Most scattered cultivators would try their luck at the Recruitment Assembly.
What if Chi Ming was among them?
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