This hidden place might co in handy soday.
But Ling Huxiang shook her head.
"The chance of using this cave again is very low; it might have been occupied by other demons at any ti."
Demons are the ones who live in the wild for a long ti; humans just pass by while on their journey. It's obvious whose territory the cave most likely belongs to.
The team set out and quickly vanished into the mountains and fields.
...
"..."
Zuo Lv silently looked at Hei Ao, a hint of reproach in her expression.
But Hei Ao glared back, scanning the few people beside Zuo Lv, as if saying, 'Do you have the right to criticize ?'
"Miss, stop flirting with him. You secretly went out this ti; how could you possibly hide from the master's insight?"
Zuo Yun whispered.
But the voice was not too loud nor too soft, loud enough for Hei Ao to hear.
Before Hei Ao could respond, Hei Family Elder [Hei Yuxin], leading the way on a big black horse, spoke lightly.
"Tis have changed; even young masters and misses have their actions judged by little maids. Don't you agree, Zuo Caicai?"
Clearly, it was the maid who spoke first, but the Hei Family Elder did not hold the maid accountable; instead, he looked over at Zuo Caicai.
Zuo Caicai:...
Zuo Caicai, dressed flamboyantly in colorful attire, remained silent for a mont, then turned to look at Zuo Yun and spoke coldly.
"Slap yourself."
"La-Lady Cai! I..."
Smack!
Zuo Yun hadn't finished speaking yet, but was suddenly slapped, even though she was far from Lady Cai. It was unclear how she got hit.
The imnse force even turned her head to one side, causing blood to spill from the corner of her mouth.
The searing pain made Zuo Yun realize her fear, and she hurriedly knelt and kowtowed.
"Lady Cai, spare ! Lady Cai..."
"Noisy!"
To Zuo Yun's surprise, the one suddenly choking her neck was none other than Miss Zuo Lv beside her!
She was Zuo Lv's close maid, like sisters normally; she never expected Zuo Lv to strike suddenly, indifferent as a stranger.
Her neck was gripped tightly, unable to utter a sound; her flushed face was as ugly as liver color.
The force was so strong that Zuo Yun felt herself close to death.
But the other team mbers passed by her indifferently, as if they hadn't seen it.
Even the other close maid serving Miss Zuo Lv, Zuo Yin, didn't spare a glance, treating Zuo Yun as if she was already dead.
In the team, only Hei Ao and Zuo Lv, gripping her throat, remained stationary while others slowly walked past them.
Zuo Lv's gaze was calm, as if she truly intended to kill, but her attention slowly shifted from Zuo Yun to Hei Ao beside her.
To outsiders, it might appear inscrutable.
The indifferent expression revealed no hint of aning.
Yet Hei Ao, having been acquainted for so ti, could discern a subtle difference in Zuo Lv's eyes.
With a sigh, Hei Ao suddenly bowed respectfully and spoke.
"Third Uncle, the living are more useful than the dead."
The team continued without stopping, even the hoofbeats of the Hei Family Elder's horse at the front did not cease, until the three stationary were nearly left behind; then the Hei Family Elder's voice slowly ca.
"Looks like Ao Er is truly moved."
With just that sentence, Hei Ao's tense expression relaxed.
Noting Hei Ao's reaction, Zuo Lv imdiately released her hold and respectfully bowed forward.
"Thank you, Elder Hei, for your rcy!"
Zuo Yun, escaping danger, coughed loudly upon hitting the ground, quickly kowtowing forward until her forehead bled, and only then was grabbed by Zuo Lv on the arm.
"Keep up."
Zuo Lv said no more, offered no explanation, silently returning to the team.
Zuo Yun trembled and hurriedly followed, even though she staggered with each step, not daring to leave Zuo Lv's side even a bit.
Hei Ao had already returned to the team before the two.
The structure of this team is quite strange.
There are proficient mbers from the Hei Family, Hei Family Elders, as well as proficient mbers from the Zuo Family and Madam Zuo.
Two factions from the Five Great Families have ford a team, coexisting peacefully for outdoor activities.
If you look closely, you'll notice that the ones truly in control are from the Hei Family.
In the dangerous outdoors, the strong are respected; this is the basic survival rule. Even Zuo Caicai, who is favored in the Zuo Family, must acknowledge this truth.
"Lord Yuxin, had I known you were accompanying Hei Ao, there would've been no need for our Zuo Family to send anyone along." Zuo Caicai said lightly, as if small talking.
"If you hadn't co along, then who knows how long your little girl would have stayed at our Black Residence."
Hei Yuxin chewed on sothing, seemingly beef slices, responding nonchalantly while lazily scanning the front.
Appearing relaxed, in reality, he didn't miss a single corner, always alert for potential demon appearances.
Hei Yuxin spoke candidly, his words leaving others unsure how to respond, leading Zuo Caicai to lower her head in silence once more.
Suddenly recalling sothing, she glanced back at Zuo Lv, her gaze carrying a hint of reproach.
This left Zuo Lv feeling quite frustrated, just as she managed to lift her house arrest when this situation arose. Fearing that she might not be able to go out for years upon return...
"It seems you aren't faring well at ho."
Beside her, Hei Ao barely moved his lips, speaking softly.
Zuo Lv pursed her lips.
You are the noble third young master of the Hei Family; how could I compare to you?
Her rank in the Zuo Family isn't high, and she falls far behind her elder sisters in priority.
She only inherited the Zuo Dao Skill and showed so potential, leading to gradual emphasis on her training these past few years.
Zuo Lv glanced at the powerful mbers around her from both families and sighed.
They initially thought they would form a powerful alliance for a grand endeavor, seeking to seize the artifact.
Unexpectedly, both she and Hei Ao have their respective family experts tagging along.
What outdoor adventure, it feels more like outdoor play!
The first night went uneventfully, but by the second day, when they got lost and hid in a cave, encountering a Great Demon, the family experts erged completely.
Instantly, they took over command.
At that mont, a word from Elder Hei almost broke Zuo Lv's composure.
'Your adventure is over. Ao Er, how do you feel?'
Their perilous adventure turned out to be re playing house under family protection. Perhaps the demons they encountered were intentionally released by the family experts.
As for getting lost, it gets even more absurd — the inexperienced duo hardly wasted most of their ti going in circles.
One could say, their outdoor expedition actions this ti were quite the failure.
Thus, now being escorted by family mbers, they had no argunts.
The only thing puzzling Zuo Lv was that the team didn't return directly to Tianyuan Town. Instead, they forged ahead to an unknown destination.
The two accompanying maids, terrified by the earlier incident, remained silent, obediently acting as tools, doing only what maids should without uttering a word, not even breathing heavily.
Along the way, the team naturally encountered demons.
But with such a formidable team, it was a trivial matter, easily settled in monts.
The central figures, Hei Ao and Zuo Lv An Yi, seed out on a leisure tour, rely widening their eyes occasionally without the chance to act.
Their role comparable to that of the personal maids, dealing with mundane tasks as crucial duties were out of reach.
Just when Zuo Lv thought they'd continue smoothly along this journey, Elder Hei suddenly shouted ahead.
"Everyone stop!"
This was the first ti Zuo Lv heard that Elder Hei speak in such a tone.
Could it be they've encountered a Great Demon?
Zuo Lv felt her nerves tighten, yet amidst the tension, there lingered an inexplicable thrill.
"Where? What kind of demon?" Zuo Caicai asked anxiously.
For even she hadn't noticed anything unusual.
It seed only the most powerful presence among them, Elder Hei, had sensed sothing.
But in the next second, Elder Hei's words made Zuo Caicai's eyes widen, her breath paused.
For with a grave expression, Elder Hei uttered...
"...not a demon, but a [Spirit]."
...
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