Setting Off

The conversation with Li Qingshan had ended on a sour note. Xu Xian’s attempt to collect his wages was unsuccessful; instead of getting paid, he was scolded.

He thought to himself.

This was likely what people meant by 'maliciously demanding pay.'

However.

The one who had stormed off in a rage was Li Qingshan, so in Xu Xian's mind, he had won again.

Winning was very important.

As for the merit points, if they weren't given, then so be it. The current Xu Xian wasn't lacking those hundred thousand or so points.

Li Qingshan was a Peak Master and an eighth stage great ascension expert.

Below the stage of tribulation transcendence.

He was the number one figure in the sword dao.

Naturally, he didn't lack those mere hundred thousand points either.

But he simply couldn't swallow his pride. If he gave in, his face would be gone.

Face was very important.

The next day.

Just as the spirit birds in the mountains began to chirp, Xu Xian and Yao Xiaoxiao had already packed their belongings and left Zuiwan Residence. The forging table and alchemy furnace were also dismantled and packed away.

Xu Xian had already coordinated with the Merchant Hall.

Elder Qian had opened a back door for him, specially arranging a merchant ship heading to Demon-Slaying City.

Its primary purpose was to transport Xu Xian.

Doing a bit of business in Demon-Slaying City along the way was just a secondary objective.

Wen Qingxue was already waiting at the head of Longevity Bridge early in the morning.

The girl was dressed in robes as white as snow, her demeanor cold as frost. She held a long sword in her arms, her eyes closed in meditation.

Standing beside her was a young man.

White clothes.

White hair.

He stood tall and straight.

He was handsome and elegant.

His sword-like eyebrows were sharp as blades.

A sword hung at his waist, and he leaned casually against the bridge railing, a stalk of foxtail grass dangling from his mouth.

From a distance, the man and woman looked like a talented pair of immortals. They seemed quite well-matched.

Xu Xian and Yao Xiaoxiao descended from the air. The two people on the bridge looked up.

Yao Xiaoxiao jogged forward, stopped in front of the white-haired youth, and tilted her head. "Little Uncle, why are you here?"

The white-haired youth leaned down slightly. His hand, which was even more slender than a girl's, gently ruffled Yao Xiaoxiao’s head. With curved eyes and a slight smirk, he said dotingly:

"Your Little Uncle is here to watch over you, lest my little Xiaoxiao gets lured away by some shady character."

Xu Xian lowered his brows. He thought to himself that this 'shady character' surely wasn't referring to him.

Yao Xiaoxiao pulled her head back and complained, "Aya, don't mess with my head, you're ruining my hair! Little Uncle, don't talk nonsense. I'm not stupid; who could possibly trick me?"

The white-haired youth narrowed his eyes and turned his gaze toward Xu Xian, slightly cupping his hands.

"Greetings, Little Grand-Uncle!"

Xu Xian nodded in response and asked, "And this is?"

Yao Xiaoxiao proactively answered, enthusiastically introducing him: "Yao Zhijian, a third-generation disciple of the Elixir Hall. He’s also my uncle—my real uncle!"

Xu Xian pursed his lips. "I can tell."

White hair.

It was the signature hair color of the Yao family. The entire Yao lineage belonged to the Elixir Hall, and regardless of age, they all had a uniform head of white hair.

Yao Zhijian smiled. "According to Elder Yao’s wishes, I will be responsible for the safety of the Little Grand-Uncle and Xiaoxiao on this trip to Demon-Slaying City."

Xu Xian politely replied, "Thank you for your trouble!"

"You are too kind, Little Grand-Uncle."

As the two exchanged pleasantries, Wen Qingxue said somewhat impatiently, "Are you two done talking? Can we go now?"

Clearly.

Wen Qingxue was a bit unhappy. It wasn't that she didn't want to accompany Xu Xian on a long journey, but she felt that adding Yao Zhijian was superfluous.

She alone was enough.

Xu Xian ended the conversation and said, "Alright, let's head out."

The four of them traveled together, flying their swords through One Sword Gorge and heading straight for the Merchant Hall pier outside the sect.

On the way.

Yao Xiaoxiao and Yao Zhijian were chatting and laughing. Seeing that Wen Qingxue didn't seem very happy, Xu Xian proactively approached her to inquire.

"Little Wen."

"Hmm?"

"You seem unhappy?"

"I am."

"Why?"

Wen Qingxue wrinkled her nose and said frankly, "Originally, I only had to protect you and Xiaoxiao. Now there's another person, and I'm not familiar with him. So, I can't be happy."

Xu Xian: "..."

Yao Zhijian naturally overheard this. His mouth twitched as he defended himself, "Junior Sister Wen, I am also at the seventh stage of cultivation."

Wen Qingxue responded calmly, "You are at the seventh stage, but your strength is mediocre."

Yao Zhijian: "..."

Yao Xiaoxiao quickly stepped in to change the subject and smooth things over.

"Alright, alright, we're not going there to fight. We're going to do business. Harmony brings wealth..."

Xu Xian looked at Wen Qingxue and then at Yao Zhijian. Since they were both in the seventh stage, Wen Qingxue shouldn't be like this by normal logic.

He thought there must be an untold story between the two of them...

He couldn't help but let his imagination run wild.

They arrived at the port.

The Merchant Hall ship captain in charge of this trip saw them from afar and hurried over. He bowed deeply in mid-air and said respectfully:

"Merchant Hall disciple Liu Geng pays his respects to the Little Grand-Uncle!"

"No need for such formality."

"Little Grand-Uncle, please follow me onto the ship."

"Lead the way!"

They boarded a Cloud Boat. With Xu Xian's permission, the sails were raised, and they set off toward the horizon. The crew members were full of energy and exceptionally excited.

At his side, Liu Geng remained inseparable, his words never-ending as he poured out a constant stream of praise.

"Little Grand-Uncle, you have no idea. When the brothers heard that my ship was chosen to take you to Demon-Slaying City, they were so excited they didn't sleep all night..."

Xu Xian gave a sheepish smile. "It's not that big of a deal."

"It is, it absolutely is! Little Grand-Uncle, we are all your followers. You are too incredible. Reaching the fifth stage in two years, forging immortal gold in one year... at such a young age, you are not only a nascent soul expert whose lamp is honored in the Immortal Pavilion, but also a third-rank spirit forge master. You are truly a role model for us all..."

Xu Xian coughed lightly. Looking humble but actually feeling quite proud, he said, "Actually, just last month, I passed the certification for a sixth-rank spirit forger."

"Ah! Really?"

Xu Xian revealed the sixth-rank spirit forger medallion at his waist. It was a gesture that spoke louder than a thousand words.

Liu Geng swallowed hard, his eyes filled with shock.

"Too powerful!"

Xu Xian sighed, saying with a look of melancholy, "Sigh... it's not worth mentioning. I've been so busy forging swords these years that my cultivation has been neglected. I'm still only in the nascent soul stage. A person's energy is limited, after all; it's impossible to achieve perfection in everything."

"Little Grand-Uncle, you are just too hard on yourself. You are already outstanding."

"It can't be helped. As the Little Grand-Uncle, the burden on my shoulders is heavy."

"Little Grand-Uncle, you've worked hard..."

"It is all for the sake of the sect..."

Xu Xian put on an act, and Liu Geng lavished him with praise. Xu Xian played the part of the tireless, selfless leader, while Liu Geng’s eyes were full of unceasing admiration.

Xu Xian spoke.

The others listened.

As the Cloud Boat sailed, the busy Merchant Hall disciples all gathered around, surrounding Xu Xian so tightly that not even water could leak through.

As more people joined in the praise, the flattery became even more intense, and Xu Xian was forced to dial up his performance.

Wen Qingxue was fine with it. She had known Xu Xian for a long time and naturally understood her Little Grand-Uncle better than others, so she was used to it.

She sat on the deck, her long sword across her knees, her eyes closed as she nurtured her spirit.

Yao Xiaoxiao’s admiration for Xu Xian was blind. One of her favorite things was listening to her Little Grand-Uncle brag; she never grew tired of it.

At this moment, she sat outside the crowd, her face resting in her hands, her smile more radiant than the spring mountain flowers.

In contrast, Yao Zhijian grew more confused the more he listened. He gently nudged his niece and whispered:

"Xiaoxiao."

"What is it?"

"Is the Little Grand-Uncle always like this?"

"Like what?"

"So... ostentatious!!"

Yao Xiaoxiao narrowed her eyes and denied it. "How is he ostentatious? Everything the Little Grand-Uncle says is the truth. He works so hard. For the sake of the sect, he isn't afraid of hardship or exhaustion..."

Yao Zhijian's eyes flickered, half-doubting. "Is that so?"

Yao Xiaoxiao's eyes were full of starlight as she said with certainty, "Of course. The Little Grand-Uncle is the most honest person I've ever met. He is worthy of trust."

Yao Zhijian: "..." He suddenly felt that his niece had become even sillier than before.