Fang Xuan's mind was a mess; he couldn't quite fall asleep.
He tried counting sheep.
He finally fell into a deep sleep by the third sheep he counted...
.......
The next morning.
Fang Xuan woke up just as dawn was breaking.
He opened his eyes to meet a pair of eyes incredibly close to his, clear and cold, with the hazy moisture of just waking up.
Ning Xian had also woken up at some point; she was lying on her side, silently watching him.
Their gazes met, a silent staring contest.
Immediately, Ning Xian's ear tips quickly flushed crimson again, and she turned away...
"Good morning, Senior Sister," Fang Xuan coughed, greeting her with feigned nonchalance.
"Mm," Ning Xian replied softly, her head bowed.
She quickly got out of bed.
They each washed up and straightened their clothes.
Heading downstairs, they saw Shen Qingqing having breakfast in the main hall.
"Senior Sister Ning, Junior Brother Fang, good morning!" Shen Qingqing smiled sweetly, as if nothing had happened last night.
"I've already inquired at the town guard office. Those demonic cultivators have recently been active in the Black Wind Gully area west of town, often slaughtering passing caravans and lone cultivators. How about we go investigate there today?"
She acted proactive and sensible, appearing fully committed to the mission.
However, neither of them paid her any mind; it was as if she were talking to thin air.
.......
Next, Ning Xian took him to begin their performative investigation; they both knew it was just a formality.
His and Ning Xian's goal was how to deal with Shen Qingqing, while she alone kept foolishly smiling.
First, they went to the town guard office, checked several case files, and then interviewed a few victims who had been plundered.
The information they gathered was largely the same.
This group of demonic cultivators had suddenly appeared in the last half-month; their numbers were unknown, but their actions were ruthless.
Their cultivation levels ranged mostly from middle-stage Qi Refining to early-stage Foundation Establishment, and the leader was suspected to have late-stage Foundation Establishment strength.
They came and went like the wind, specifically targeting weakly defended or isolated individuals, then vanishing into the towering mountains to the west after succeeding, making them difficult to track.
An old man pulled at Fang Xuan's sleeve, sighing:
"Immortal masters, you absolutely must do justice for us! This Southern Wilderness is remote. While there have been some demonic beasts and mountain bandits in the past, where have such organized cultivator bandits ever come from?"
"We don't know where they came from, for such a great menace to suddenly appear..."
As Fang Xuan comforted the old man, a few suspicions already formed in his mind.
The Southern Wilderness is remote, yet a group of organized, relatively strong demonic cultivators suddenly appeared, and conveniently, right at the foot of Qingyun Sect.
He glanced at Ning Xian beside him.
She was quietly listening to another victim's statement, her cool profile revealing no emotion.
But Fang Xuan felt that she couldn't possibly have missed the strangeness of the situation.
In the original novel, the background of these demonic cultivators was vaguely described, serving only as a plot device to facilitate Ning Xian's framing.
But now, it seemed the origin of these demonic cultivators was probably not that simple.
The trick of a thief crying 'stop thief' was hardly new in the cultivation world.
.......
After visiting several victims, it was almost noon.
Ning Xian directly pulled him towards Fuchun Restaurant.
Fang Xuan thought, 'Senior Sister must be preparing to verify something.'
Second-floor private room.
It was still the same dignified woman as before. After ordering, Ning Xian brought up the matter of the demonic cultivators.
The proprietress waved her perfumed handkerchief, speaking softly:
"It seems they have some background, Miss Ning. You think, maybe they came down from the mountain...?"
This statement was almost a direct accusation that someone within Qingyun Sect was harboring or colluding with these "demonic cultivators."
Ning Xian raised her teacup and continued to ask, "Do you have any intelligence?"
"Where's the money~" The proprietress also sat down.
"No money," Ning Xian declared, completely unapologetic.
Hearing this, Fang Xuan quickly began to devour his meal frantically—it was meat, not buns.
'If he saw another bun now, he'd truly want to throw up.'
The proprietress paused, then tentatively said, "Then, the bill for this table."
"No money," Ning Xian repeated, her face betraying no emotion.
"The young man has gotten even handsomer," the proprietress said, gritting her teeth and deciding to switch targets.
"Last time I saw him, he was still a bit green, but now, by Miss Ning's side, his bearing is completely different..."
"Withdraw your gaze," Ning Xian's cool voice interjected.
She didn't look at the proprietress again, simply reaching out and pulling Fang Xuan closer to her side.
The proprietress froze, then burst into a 'pfft' of laughter, covering her mouth with her perfumed handkerchief:
"Oh dear, can't even look at him? Miss Ning, is your little dao companion so precious?"
Ning Xian didn't respond further, placed a few spirit stones on the table, and taking Fang Xuan's wrist, stood up and left.
'To contact the Central Plains, she could only rely on this place; otherwise, she wouldn't bother with these people...'
.......
Outside the restaurant.
The two walked leisurely along the bustling street, one in front of the other.
As they passed an old man's stall selling candied hawthorns, Ning Xian's steps suddenly slowed.
She stared at the candied hawthorns for a few seconds, then walked over and bought two skewers.
Turning back, she offered one of the skewers to Fang Xuan.
'?' Fang Xuan looked at the candied hawthorn suddenly appearing before him, then at Ning Xian's expressionless face.
"For you," she said, then looked away.
Watching him eat quickly, she then glanced at the untouched skewer in her own hand, hesitated, and offered it over too: "...Too sweet, you eat it."
Fang Xuan: "...Okay."
'Uh... why does Senior Sister have such a deep obsession with feeding him candied hawthorns?'
They walked a little further, passing a stall selling small trinkets, and Ning Xian stopped again.
Her gaze fell upon a dark green hair-binding ribbon, adorned with a small, smooth white jade bead at its end.
"This one," she pointed, "how much is it?"
The stall owner, also a cultivator, quickly smiled and said, "You have good taste, young lady. This ribbon's material is excellent, and the white jade is also fine jade. Three spirit stones."
Ning Xian paid, picked up the ribbon, and turned to Fang Xuan.
Fang Xuan was still eating the candied hawthorn skewer, and seeing this, blinked: "Senior Sister?"
Ning Xian walked up to him, raised her hand, and untied the somewhat loose, ordinary cloth ribbon from his head.
Then, with slightly unpracticed movements, she used the newly purchased dark green silk ribbon to re-tie his hair.
Fang Xuan just thought, '...Hmm, is Senior Sister raising a child?'
Ning Xian tied his hair, stepped back, and looked him over. She seemed quite satisfied, a soft expression gracing her cool face.
She looked at Fang Xuan's handsome face, still retaining a youthful innocence, and suddenly whispered, "Junior Brother, you're still young. You're still three years shy of coming of age."
It was as if she were explaining something, and at the same time, reminding herself.
Fang Xuan: "..."
He seemed to understand, yet also felt more confused.
.......
The two continued walking.
As they passed a bun shop steaming with hot buns, Ning Xian's steps halted for the third time.
The shop apprentice enthusiastically called out, "Freshly steamed white buns! Fragrant and soft! Immortal masters, how many?"
Ning Xian looked at the steaming buns, her eyes flickering.
'She remembered Junior Brother really liked eating buns.'
Fang Xuan's inner thoughts: 'I don't! I didn't! Hurry up, Senior Sister!'
"I'll take twenty," she said.
The apprentice nimbly packed the buns and handed them over.
Fang Xuan looked at the familiar food, his mouth twitching.
'The taste memory... was attacking his brain again.'
But he could only brace himself, take the oil-paper package, pull out a bun in front of Ning Xian, and take a bite.
'Mm, it was just the taste of an ordinary bun.'
Ning Xian watched him eat, and her cool lips seemed to curl slightly, a very subtle yet genuine curve.
She softly said, "If it's not enough... buy more."
Fang Xuan: "..."
.......
The market was bustling, people coming and going...
The two walked side-by-side, slowly heading back towards the inn.
Fang Xuan carried the stack of buns in the paper bag, stiffening his neck and forcing himself to eat...
'Alright...'
'At least, Senior Sister bought them for him.'
【Detected host's perverse habit of still liking, and even fully consuming, an item after being forcibly fed by the master and feeling physical disgust towards it.】
【Behavior Judgment: Slave's deep obedience to master's feeding behavior. Training value +0.2】
【Note: Buns are good things. Host, please confront your inner desire for buns!】
Fang Xuan: "..." 'System, shut up.'
'Uh... physical disgust...?'
'Anyone who didn't know would think he was eating... some... strange thing...'
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