As for Fang Xuan, he was still standing at the entrance of the courtyard, staring blankly at the spot where the hand had vanished.
Why did she seem a bit petulant and aggrieved?
Fang Xuan could almost imagine how Senior Sister looked right now.
Hiding in some spatial fold, pursing her lips with red-rimmed eyes, angry that he "didn't want her" while unable to resist sneaking peeks at him.
And in the end, stubbornly showing only a hand to signal her anger.
To think she dared to hide from him; once caught, she must be punished severely... until she was completely dazed.
But how to catch her?
Senior Sister was far more skilled at playing with the laws of space than he was.
Right now, even forcing open a stable channel was a struggle for him, let alone precisely locating a Senior Sister who was intentionally hiding.
Brute force probably wouldn't work.
It seemed... he could only use his wits.
Seducing Senior Sister... cough, this was actually his first time trying to lure Senior Sister.
If he took the field, that silly Senior Sister was guaranteed to bite the hook and then be fished right back home.
Plan successful.
...
He no longer hesitated, turning back to the quiet room to pack simply.
Actually, there wasn't much to pack; the most important bait was himself...
Pushing open the door, he ignored the Fifth Elder, who was watching eagerly from a distance, seemingly wanting to come over and offer a few more words of advice.
With a flash of his body, Fang Xuan transformed into a streak of light, racing toward the direction of the Northern Plains.
...
Several days later, at the border of the Northern Plains.
The restaurant was bustling with people from all walks of life.
Fang Xuan sat in a corner by the window, a jar of the locally famous Shaodaozi placed before him; he frowned after taking just one sip.
Spicy and bland, with a pitifully thin amount of spiritual energy, it was far inferior to the fruit wines brewed by Senior Sister.
He set down the wine cup, his gaze sweeping over the noisy crowd as his divine sense expanded to capture the discussions from all directions.
Most were worthless boasting or trivialities, until several fragments of conversation drifted into his ears:
"That Snow Wolf Dynasty near the ice fields suddenly collapsed a while ago! Even the Martial Alliance's leader was nearly beaten to death."
"Who has such ability? Isn't the leader of the Martial Alliance beyond the Transformation Realm?"
"Don't know... I heard it was done by a sword cultivator."
"A sword cultivator? There aren't many sword experts in the Northern Plains... could it be someone from the outside?"
Fang Xuan's ears pricked up.
Martial Alliance? Sword cultivator?
But the two men discussing it clinked their cups at the crucial point, gulping down wine and speaking no further.
Fang Xuan: "......"
"I don't even dare to leave people hanging on a cliffhanger, yet you do?"
He lowered the hand supporting his chin.
Then, in a corner where no one was watching, his figure shimmered slightly like a ripple on water.
In the next instant, he had vanished from the spot.
...
In the alley behind the restaurant, a huge bump grew on each of the two disciples' heads from just now.
They were then grabbed by the legs and dragged, thrown together.
When they looked up again.
They saw a handsome youth dressed in black martial attire, cradling a black sword, looking down at them from a height.
His face was expressionless, but his eyes were somewhat cold.
"Brother! We were wrong, we'll never talk nonsense again! Wahhh..."
Fang Xuan ignored him, his gaze falling on the other disciple.
He tried to pull the corners of his mouth, wanting to show a kind smile: "Say what you were just talking about one more time."
But in the eyes of the two little cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage, this smile was even more terrifying than a blizzard in the Northern Plains.
It was clearly the expression of a predator eyeing its prey, measuring where to take the first bite!
"Father! Grandfather! We really don't dare to speak anymore, we'll give you everything! The storage pouches are yours!"
The two were scared out of their wits, tremblingly untying the storage pouches from their waists and offering them with both hands, not daring to even glance at Fang Xuan.
Fang Xuan: "......."
Was he really that scary?
He helplessly rubbed the space between his brows and released a sliver of spiritual pressure.
The two instantly turned ashen, their bones going soft, unable even to utter words for mercy.
"I told you to speak." Fang Xuan tried to keep his tone calm. "Detail everything you didn't finish in the restaurant concerning the Martial Alliance, the Northern Plains kingdoms, and that sword cultivator. Speak clearly."
Just then—
"Which fellow Daoist is this? Could it be that my two worthless disciples were lacking in manners and offended you?"
An aged voice drifted over, accompanied by the pressure of the Nascent Soul Realm.
An old man dressed in a grey Daoist robe with white hair and beard rushed over.
"Hahaha, I have been lax in my discipline and offer my apologies here."
Seeing that Fang Xuan was young yet possessed an aura even he couldn't see through.
He was no minor cultivator, but a Nascent Soul expert from a major sect.
Moreover, seeing that Fang Xuan hadn't actually struck them down, he guessed he might be a righteous disciple from some peerless sect out for experience, so he should... be easy to talk to, right?
"May I ask which sect fellow Daoist hails from? If they have offended you in any way, I will certainly punish them severely."
"A rogue cultivator, nameless," Fang Xuan said indifferently.
He held his sword, the plain white cloth wrapped around his right hand fluttering gently in the cold wind; he did indeed look like a rogue cultivator wandering the world.
Upon hearing "rogue cultivator," the old man felt slightly relieved; as long as it wasn't one of those major sects with strict rules, it would be easy to handle.
He was, after all, a Nascent Soul expert.
He glared fiercely at his two disciples slumped on the ground: "It must be these two worthless things who spoke out of turn! I guarantee they won't say another word from now on!"
Fang Xuan frowned slightly.
And then...
He was tied together with his two disciples by a rope of spiritual energy, sitting in the snow.
A huge bump had similarly grown on his head.
After the "rogue cultivator" youth finished asking about the situation, he leisurely took the storage pouches from the two disciples, then walked up to the old man and held out his hand.
The old man: "......."
He sullenly untied his own storage pouch and handed it over.
His heart was filled with regret; if he had known this rogue cultivator was so ferocious, he wouldn't have come out to act like a big shot!
Fang Xuan took the three storage pouches; he now had a general understanding of the situation.
As for taking the storage pouches—if he could rob them, why wouldn't he? Otherwise, wouldn't his cultivation to the Transformation Realm be in vain?
Senior Sister likes spirit stones, it'll be good to give them to her...
...
After Fang Xuan left.
The old man turned to look at his two disciples, his anger flaring: "Rebellious disciples! Why didn't you speak just now?!"
A disciple cried out in grievance: "Master... didn't you just say that you guaranteed we wouldn't say another word..."
Rate on N.U.
