Immediately afterward, a group of people filed out in succession.
Leading them was Lu Mingxuan, whom he had met briefly at the entrance of the secret realm.
He still wore that gentle, jade-like expression with a smile on his face.
Behind him were seven or eight disciples, both male and female, all possessing strong auras—at least late-stage Foundation Establishment, with two having reached the Half-Step Void Core.
"Junior Brother Fang, we meet again." Lu Mingxuan smiled and cupped his hands, his gaze quickly scanning over Fang Xuan and Ning Xian, lingering slightly longer on Ning Xian.
He remembered this woman—was she not the Ning Xian from Sword Peak who was rumored to have been crippled? Why was she with Fang Xuan, and they seemed... to have an unusual relationship?
"Mhm." Fang Xuan responded indifferently, not saying much.
Ning Xian stood beside Fang Xuan, her cold eyes sweeping over the group opposite them, casting a questioning look at Fang Xuan.
She did not know that Fang Xuan had briefly encountered Lu Mingxuan at the entrance earlier.
A youth beside Lu Mingxuan, who appeared somewhat arrogant, likely couldn't help but speak up in a low voice after seeing Fang Xuan and Ning Xian's indifferent attitudes.
"Senior Brother Lu kindly saved you; do you not even have a word of thanks?"
But before he could finish, he was stopped by a stern look from Lu Mingxuan.
"Do not be rude."
Lu Mingxuan scolded in a low voice before turning back to Fang Xuan, his smile unchanged and filled with apology.
"My junior brother is immature and speaks without thinking. Please do not take offense, Junior Brother Fang."
"We were passing by and noticed a chaotic demonic aura in this area, suggesting something was amiss, so we stepped in to clear it out. I didn't expect to run into Junior Brother Fang and... this Junior Sister Ning."
His words placed him in a very humble position.
Listening to them play their roles, Fang Xuan felt they were putting on quite a convincing performance.
However, it was highly likely that these demon beasts had been planted there in advance.
He didn't let it show on his face, simply responding with his usual calmness, "I see. Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother Lu."
His tone was polite but distant.
Lu Mingxuan did not seem to mind Fang Xuan's coldness; instead, he stepped forward a couple of paces, his attitude becoming even more enthusiastic.
"Junior Brother Fang, Junior Sister Ning, this secret realm is full of hidden dangers. Acting alone ultimately means you are short-handed. It seems the two of you have just arrived here as well; why don't we travel together? We can look out for one another."
He spoke with sincerity, his gaze primarily fixed on Fang Xuan, who was clearly the target he wished to befriend.
As for Ning Xian, in his eyes, she was likely just an appendage following Fang Xuan.
Without waiting for Fang Xuan to answer, Lu Mingxuan added as if in passing, "To be honest with you, Junior Brother Fang, I have a map fragment of the secret realm given to me by my father. It marks several locations where high-grade spiritual items might exist—even earth-grade, or perhaps even rumored heaven-grade treasures."
"If Junior Brother Fang is interested, why don't we head there together to explore? The items obtained will, of course, be distributed according to each person's contribution. I certainly won't let you lose out."
Fang Xuan's heart stirred slightly.
Lu Qingsong was a Transformation Realm expert and the sect leader of the Qingyun Sect. It was perfectly normal for him to leak some information to his talented son to find opportunities.
This map fragment was most likely real, and the marked locations likely did contain treasures.
More importantly, if handled correctly, this might be a good opportunity to backstab Lu Qingsong.
Of course, there were risks.
Lu Mingxuan's active invitation was almost certainly malicious; he likely wanted to use Fang Xuan as a pathfinder or had other schemes.
But Fang Xuan had confidence in his own strength.
"Senior Brother Lu has invited us so warmly. In that case, we shall travel together."
Seeing him agree so readily, a flash of joy crossed Lu Mingxuan's eyes, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "Haha, good! Junior Brother Fang is indeed a straightforward man. Let's set out then!"
His followers showed various expressions upon seeing Fang Xuan agree, but none said anything further.
But what Fang Xuan failed to notice was that at the moment he agreed to Lu Mingxuan...
Ning Xian, standing beside him, had clenched the hand hanging by her side very tightly of her own accord.
Looking at Fang Xuan's seemingly defenseless acceptance, a strange emotion suddenly surged within her.
She... did not want others to get close to Fang Xuan, and even less did she want Fang Xuan to get close to others.
So, while Fang Xuan was talking to Lu Mingxuan and everyone's attention was on them, she quietly reached out and grasped the hand Fang Xuan had hanging at his side.
Fang Xuan was busy dealing with Lu Mingxuan when his hand was suddenly taken by Ning Xian.
She then gave it a gentle tug, as if trying to pull him away.
He turned his head to look at her.
However, Ning Xian had already looked away, presenting only her profile to him.
She maintained her usual cold, expressionless look, though the tips of her ears seemed to have flushed a faint red again.
Fang Xuan smiled inwardly, thinking this might be a good way to farm training value.
Being disobedient, chatting and laughing with others, and neglecting his Senior Sister—that was exactly why one needed to be trained severely, right?
.......
The group began to move deeper into the wetlands, toward the direction marked on the map fragment Lu Mingxuan mentioned.
Fang Xuan carried his black sword, following unhurriedly at the back of the group.
Ning Xian naturally walked beside him.
After walking for a while, Ning Xian suddenly spoke in a soft voice, her tone sounding very natural, as if they were discussing the weather.
"The sword... let me hold it for a while."
"Hmm?" Fang Xuan looked at her sideways, somewhat confused.
The sword wasn't heavy; it was fine for him to carry it himself.
"Holding it... gets in the way," Ning Xian added casually, her voice remaining calm.
Fang Xuan thought she felt that carrying the sword while walking through the wetlands was inconvenient. Although he didn't think much of it, he nodded. "Alright."
With a thought, the black sword in his hand vanished, stored into his storage ring.
The very next second after he put away the sword, a slightly cool and soft hand quietly slid into his palm, gently taking hold.
Ning Xian's hand was a size smaller than his, with slender, pale fingers.
He turned his head slightly to look at Ning Xian.
She just stared straight ahead as if nothing had happened, simply walking together while naturally holding hands.
However, the crimson flush that had spread all the way to her small earlobes betrayed the fact that her heart was far from calm.
Fang Xuan also quietly curled his fingers, gently wrapping them around that cool softness.
......
For the remainder of the journey, they trekked through the shallow marshes.
Occasionally, fierce wetland demonic beasts would leap out from the muddy water or the reed beds.
Most were in the Foundation Establishment Realm, with the occasional early-stage Void Core beast that didn't know its place.
However, there was no need for Fang Xuan or Ning Xian to act against these nuisances.
Lu Mingxuan and the two Half-Step Void Core junior brothers beside him would often strike the moment a demonic beast showed its head.
With sword qi crisscrossing, those beasts were usually slain or driven away before they could even get close.
Lu Mingxuan was clearly intentional about showing off his strength and sincerity in front of Fang Xuan, his every move clean and decisive, his posture composed.
Fang Xuan simply nodded as he listened, occasionally offering a word of agreement, while his mind was on other things.
Having his hand held tightly by Ning Xian made him a little distracted.
Because he suddenly felt that legs were no longer as appealing; he wanted to experience what her hand was like... no... cough, cough...
Ning Xian, meanwhile, remained very quiet, simply holding Fang Xuan's hand as her vigilant gaze scanned their surroundings.
She didn't even bother to lift her eyes for Lu Mingxuan's performances and explanations, acting as if they didn't exist.
The team continued to move deeper into the wetlands in an atmosphere of slightly eerie harmony.
The surrounding mist seemed to gradually thicken, visibility began to drop, and the ground beneath their feet became increasingly muddy and slippery.
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