Running Away

“Sigh, forget it. Let's not mention this for now. I have other matters to inform you of.”

The more Xiao Hongye thought about it, the more her head ached, so she simply stopped thinking about it.

It was originally an insignificant matter. She had only wanted to take a look because it involved Wen Sining, hoping to find out who had saved her disciple so she could thank them in person.

Since the other party was unwilling to show themselves, then so be it.

“Master, is there something going on?” Leng Ning'an inquired.

“The Little Purple Realm is about to open,” Xiao Hongye said.

“That Little Purple Realm which is filled with heavenly materials and earthly treasures?” Huo Huang was somewhat excited.

The Heavenly Martial Immortal Sect controlled countless realms, among which one was the most special—the Little Purple Realm, known as the “Herb Garden.”

With low danger, abundant resources, and a ban on disciples above the Golden Core Realm from entering, it could be called a welfare realm for cultivators at or below the Violet Palace Realm.

This was also why many disciples chose the Heavenly Martial Immortal Sect.

“Yes, there are about half a month left. Prepare yourselves in advance,” Xiao Hongye said. Every time the Little Purple Realm opened, some exceptionally talented disciples would break through. She also hoped her own disciples could do her proud.

Leng Ning'an and the others were itching to get started, waiting for the realm to open. Only Wen Sining remained silent, seemingly deep in thought.

Meanwhile, on Tianzhu Peak.

“I'm not going!”

A startled cry echoed across the entire mountain peak. Wang Xuanyi was hiding under his blanket, sobbing uncontrollably. His running nose was even more dramatic than his tears, sniffling and blowing like a wronged young wife squatting at the corner of a brick bed.

“Senior Brother, I've commissioned some outer sect disciples to purchase a batch of alcohol. It will arrive in two days. How about we use that to make up for the wine Master stole and drank?”

Outside the door, Zhu Huai's calm voice reached Wang Xuanyi's ears. Her intention was to comfort him, but she didn't expect Wang Xuanyi to feel even more aggrieved.

“Waaah!!!”

“Zhu Huai, you don't understand! That batch of wine was a fine vintage I sealed away for five years! I hid it for five whole years, and I didn't get to drink a single drop! It was all ruined by that old geezer!”

Wang Xuanyi's heart-wrenching wails echoed from inside the bamboo house.

For some reason, Zhu Huai felt that her crying Senior Brother... was actually more interesting.

“Hmph~”

The corner of Zhu Huai's mouth twitched up, revealing a sly smile. She then calmly pushed open the door, saw her senior brother curled up under the blanket, and walked to the bedside, saying, “Senior Brother, it's me, Zhu Huai. Let's not throw a tantrum anymore, okay?”

Covered in tears and snot, Wang Xuanyi rolled over and poked his head out, looking at Zhu Huai with watery eyes, looking as aggrieved as could be. He said, “Junior Brother, Master not only beat me up but also drank my wine. Am I not even allowed to throw a little tantrum?”

“Ah, so cute! ❥(＞ω＜✿ฺ) I want to bully Senior Brother even more.” Zhu Huai's inner romantic feelings surged wildly, wishing she could pinch her senior brother's cheeks right this instant.

However, she couldn't show it.

“Cough, cough...” Zhu Huai feigned a sigh and said, “Senior Brother, Master only made a mistake for a moment. As his disciples, we should naturally show filial piety to our master.”

“Waaah T﹏T, Zhu Huai, you're bullying me too!”

Wang Xuanyi began to cry again.

The more he cried, the more excited Zhu Huai became, and the faster her heart beat.

“Alright, alright, alright. Then we won't go to the Little Purple Realm. I'll explain the reason to Master later, and then I'll give you a gift, Senior Brother. How about that?”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Okay, deal.”

Wang Xuanyi instantly dried his tears. It was just a cellar of wine; he still had plenty. He only did this so Zhu Huai would cover for him.

The Little Purple Realm?

No way in hell he was going. That place banned cultivators above the Golden Core Realm from entering. If he really went, he would be completely finished.

Seeing that her senior brother had stopped crying and throwing a tantrum, Zhu Huai finally left. She then quickly crawled into her own bed to squeal in excitement; one more second and she would have exposed herself.

“Ah, Senior Brother is so cute! I really want to bully him more!” Zhu Huai's two fair legs kicked frantically on the bed, her bashful expression no longer concealable.

...

Time flew by.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

The Heavenly Martial Immortal Sect had become much quieter. Most of the disciples had gone to the Little Purple Realm to compete for heavenly materials and earthly treasures, leaving only a group of old fogeys guarding the sect.

Old fogeys?

No, there was also a youngster who had already fled.

Two days before the Little Purple Realm opened, Wang Xuanyi had accepted a half-month-long travel mission and stealthily ran away.

“My future is up to me~”

Wang Xuanyi lay on the back of the ox, humming a popular song from his past life. His hands hung down naturally, one of them holding a gourd of ice-cold Green Bamboo Wine.

When he got tired of singing or felt hot, he would take a sip.

It relieved his boredom, dispelled his fatigue, and cooled him down.

He was extremely leisurely.

Compared to participating in the Little Purple Realm, fighting back and forth inside to compete for treasures, traveling around in carefree bliss was far more comfortable.

“Old geezer, you wanted me to go and play with those toxic, venomous women from Tianyun Peak? I only have one life, I can't afford to mess with them.”

Wang Xuanyi complained about the old geezer, but in reality, he knew very well why his master wanted him to keep in touch with Tianyun Peak.

Xiao Hongye was very powerful, arguably one of the strongest in the Nine Provinces. She had also saved his life when he was a child, so his relationship with her was naturally much better than that of ordinary disciples.

With her as his backing, he could avoid a lot of trouble.

Secondly, the old geezer truly regarded him as a grandson and wanted to see Wang Xuanyi get married, have a child, and raise a baby.

After all, the quality of the disciples at Tianyun Peak was plain to see.

“Tsk, why worry so much? Finding a Dao companion isn't urgent. Three-legged toads are hard to find, but two-legged women are everywhere.”

While complaining, he arrived at his destination this time, the Black Cloud Border.

This mission was also very simple. A sudden beast tide had erupted at the dynasty's border. The Great Xia Dynasty had limited military strength and could not provide comprehensive protection, so they requested help from various forces to resist the beast tide.

Originally, this mission was supposed to be carried out by elders at or above the Golden Core Realm, but hadn't it been intercepted by Wang Xuanyi? No one else knew about this yet.

“Ah, fighting minor monsters, drinking some wine, and having some skewers—life is sweet and there's something to look forward to.”

With that said, Wang Xuanyi directed the green ox to enter the city.

Spacious streets, desolate shops, and sparse residents.

After two sudden beast tide attacks, which resulted in countless casualties, Black Cloud Border City had lost all hope for survival. Furthermore, eight city lords had already died in battle.

A somber atmosphere permeated the entire city, lingering in everyone's hearts.

“Old uncle, excuse me, how do we get to the City Lord's Manor?”

At this moment, the conversation of several people caught Wang Xuanyi's attention. People dressed in white robes and dresses, with badges symbolizing the Yuhui Immortal Sect hanging on their chests, had also arrived.

There were about a dozen people, led by a Golden Core Realm elder. The highest cultivation among the disciples was only the early stage of the Violet Palace Realm, while the rest were entirely in the Foundation Establishment Realm.

The one asking for directions was a female disciple in the Foundation Establishment Realm. She had a handsome face, pitch-black hair like ink, and a tall figure, carrying a transcendent aura like a fairy who had mistakenly wandered into the mortal world.

After a brief conversation, the dozen or so Yuhui Immortal Sect disciples headed in the direction of the City Lord's Manor.