Chapter 63: Traveling Down the Mountain, Encountering Li Lifang?

Seeing Su Miaoqing’s reluctance, a surge of reckless courage welled up in Xiao Yifeng’s heart. He took a deep breath to steady his nerves, stepped forward, and bowed deeply with cupped fists.

“Master’s Wife,” he began, his voice steady. “This disciple is untalented, but I earnestly beg you to allow Senior Sister to travel the world with me.”

He raised his head, meeting Lin Ziyun’s gaze without flinching. “My cultivation may be lowly, but I am willing to stake my life as a guarantee. As long as I draw breath, I will not let Senior Sister suffer any harm. If anyone wishes to hurt her, they must first step over my cold corpse. Please, Master’s Wife… grant us this fulfillment.”

Su Miaoqing stood frozen, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at him. She hadn’t expected him to go this far.

Lin Ziyun turned to look at the young disciple she had practically raised. The boy who was usually reserved now wore an expression of solemnity she had never seen before. It gave him an indescribable aura—a gravitas beyond his years.

However, Lin Ziyun did not soften immediately. Her expression remained cool. “You say you will keep Qing’er safe. What guarantee do you have? Words are cheap.”

Xiao Yifeng knew his current strength was insufficient to back up such a bold claim, yet he did not retreat. He gritted his teeth and lowered his voice, “This disciple possesses little skill, but I have a life to give. I will disregard life and death to protect her.”

Seeing the unshakeable resolve in his eyes, Lin Ziyun finally let her guard down. A faint smile touched her lips. She turned her head, her gaze softening as she looked at her dumbfounded daughter.

“Xiao Feng is willing to go this far. Qing’er, what do you say?”

Su Miaoqing hesitated, her face flushing. “Mother, I…”

No one knows a daughter like her mother. Seeing her struggle, Lin Ziyun sighed softly. She reached out and took Su Miaoqing’s small hand.

“I know,” Lin Ziyun said gently. “I know your heart yearns for the world outside. Mother won’t stop you.”

She reached into her robes and began pulling out items, stuffing them into Su Miaoqing’s hands one after another. “Your father can be stubborn, but I will handle him. I came prepared.”

A stack of high-grade Talismans. A bottle of rare medicinal Pills. Several defensive Magical Artifacts. A thick stack of silver banknotes.

“If I couldn’t bring you back, I intended to give you the means to protect yourself,” Lin Ziyun whispered, smoothing Su Miaoqing’s hair. “When you are out there with Xiao Feng, be vigilant. Safety comes first. And listen to Xiao Feng—he is more cautious than you.”

Su Miaoqing could no longer hold it back. She threw herself into Lin Ziyun’s arms and wept. “Mother…”

Lin Ziyun held her daughter, rocking her gently until the tears subsided. She then looked over Su Miaoqing’s shoulder at Xiao Yifeng.

“Xiao Feng, I know you possess an inner wisdom. On this journey, you must take good care of Qing’er. She has a mischievous temperament and has been spoiled by us. Please, be patient with her.”

“I will, Master’s Wife. With my life,” Xiao Yifeng promised.

Lin Ziyun released Su Miaoqing, wiping a tear from the girl’s cheek. “Look at you, such a big girl, still crying like a child. Alright, Mother has to go back now. If I stay any longer, your father might come looking personally.”

The three walked out to the courtyard. Su Miaoqing handed her identity token back to her mother.

“Go back inside. Be careful on the road,” Lin Ziyun said, her figure beginning to glow with spiritual light. “Qing’er, Mother is leaving.”

With a graceful leap, she ascended into the night sky. Like the legendary Goddess of the Ninth Heaven, she rode the evening breeze, stepping on the moonlight as she vanished into the distance.

The two stood in the courtyard, watching her fade away.

Xiao Yifeng turned, wanting to say something to comfort Su Miaoqing, but she didn’t give him the chance. Without a word or a backward glance, she turned and sprinted back to her room, slamming the door shut.

Xiao Yifeng stood there, scratching his head, completely baffled. Women truly are unfathomable.

With nothing else to do, he returned to his own room to rest.

High above in the night sky, Lin Ziyun flew with a heart full of swirling thoughts.

In truth, she had arrived in Wangtian City much earlier. After leaving the Wentian Sect, she had tracked her daughter’s location using a secret technique linked to the identity jade token.

She had found them in the bustling market hours ago.

She had watched from the shadows as Su Miaoqing’s face lit up with pure joy. She saw them board the small boat, and she had hired her own vessel to drift silently behind them.

She saw the boy and the girl mesmerized by the fireworks. She saw the brilliant smile on her daughter’s face, and the look in the boy’s eyes—a gaze filled with doting affection and a subtle heartache.

She watched them devoutly release the river lanterns, their shoulders brushing. She watched them laughing on the street, ignorant that they had become a beautiful scene in someone else’s eyes.

Seeing her daughter so lively, so free… Lin Ziyun couldn’t bear to interrupt. She had followed them silently all the way back to the inn, only revealing herself at the very end.

Flying through the clouds, Lin Ziyun sighed. It was a sigh mixed with relief, worry, and a touch of nostalgia.

Early the next morning.

Xiao Yifeng rose with the sun. After washing up and organizing his belongings, he called the waiter. He handed over his bundle of old, worn-out clothes and some loose silver.

“Take these,” he instructed. “Distribute the clothes to the poor families in the city.”

After settling his affairs, he went to Su Miaoqing’s door and knocked. “Senior Sister Qing’er, are you awake?”

“Wait a moment!” Su Miaoqing’s voice came from inside, bright and clear.

A few minutes later, the door opened.

Xiao Yifeng blinked. Su Miaoqing had changed into a pristine white dress that seemed to glow in the morning light. More noticeably, she had applied a touch of light makeup—a rarity for her. It was the finishing touch on a masterpiece, adding three points of allure to her already stunning features.

“Senior Sister,” Xiao Yifeng smiled, “you look beautiful. Let’s grab some breakfast and set off.”

“Alright. I’ll listen to you,” Su Miaoqing nodded, her smile radiant.

After a quick breakfast in the front hall, they checked out of Wangtian Tower.

“Xiao Feng, where are we going?” Su Miaoqing asked as they stepped onto the street.

“Haha, I haven’t decided yet. Let’s just wander for now,” Xiao Yifeng laughed. ” However… yesterday, the waiter mentioned that evil spirits have been haunting the villages to the southwest. As disciples of the Righteous Path, it is our duty to slay demons and eliminate monsters.”

“Exactly!” Su Miaoqing’s eyes lit up instantly. She nodded vigorously, eager for adventure.

Xiao Yifeng knew her desire to ‘slay demons’ was mostly a momentary whim born of curiosity, but it was a good enough direction as any.

They left the city gates, found a secluded spot, and took to the skies.

However, they didn’t get far.

Just as they flew over a small, desolate hill southwest of Wangtian City, the trap sprung.

Zoom! Zoom! Zoom!

Three pillars of golden light erupted from the ground below. The beams shot upward, converging instantly to form a triangular barrier that encased them.

A Formation trap.

The barrier cut off their connection to the outside world, and dense fog began to fill the interior, obscuring their vision.

Xiao Yifeng was surprised but not panicked. He grabbed Su Miaoqing’s wrist and dove toward the ground. “Down!”

They landed on the hilltop. Xiao Yifeng immediately drew his Falling Rainbow sword, his senses expanding to scan the fog.

“Who is it?” he shouted, shielding Su Miaoqing behind him.

Three figures emerged from the mist, standing opposite them.

Xiao Yifeng’s eyes narrowed. All three were at the early Foundation Establishment stage. Two were cloaked in black robes, their faces hidden deep within hoods.

The third, however, was unmasked.

He had a pointed mouth, monkey-like cheeks, and protruding buck teeth that gave him a distinctly rodent-like appearance.

It was a face Xiao Yifeng knew all too well. Li Lifang.

“I was wondering who it was,” Xiao Yifeng said, his voice dripping with calm sarcasm. “If it isn’t Senior Brother Li. Stopping us here in the middle of nowhere… what is the meaning of this?”

“Kid, you still have the nerve to smile?” Li Lifang sneered, his face twisting into a hideous grimace. “Today is your death day.”

“Oh?” Xiao Yifeng raised an eyebrow. “I have no past grievances with you, Senior Brother Li, nor any recent enmity. I truly wonder why you keep targeting me. I trust it isn’t just because of Junior Sister Ling?”

He tilted his head, feigning genuine curiosity. “Could Senior Brother let me die an understanding ghost? Why the obsession?”

“Hmph. Since you insist on knowing, I’ll tell you,” Li Lifang spat coldly. “Do you remember Li Linzong from your Wuya Hall?”

Xiao Yifeng paused, searching his memory.

“Who the hell is Li Linzong?” Xiao Yifeng asked, genuinely astonished. “I’ve never heard of him. Are you sure you don’t have the wrong person?”