"The Array is broken. We can leave now." Song Changsheng couldn’t help but put a hand to his forehead. ’Did they really not hear the huge commotion from the Array being broken?’
"Oh... is that right? Then let’s get ready to head back." Xu Yunhe was mortified. He had no idea what had possessed him to do sothing like that.
He shot a guilty glance at Song Changsheng, thinking, ’Brother Song probably didn’t see that, right?’
His expression was so obvious that Song Changsheng knew exactly what he was thinking without having to guess. He didn’t call him out on it, smiling instead. "If Fellow Daoist Xia’s injuries have improved, we can prepare to return to Luoxia City."
Xia Wanyun nodded slightly, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz. "I’m much better now. It won’t be a problem."
Seeing her act this way, Song Changsheng was rather surprised. ’Is she... shy?’
Before, her clothes, her bearing, and even the way she spoke had all been incredibly bold. When had he ever seen her adopt such a demure, girlish attitude? It was like she was a completely different person.
’Good grief, what in the world happened between those two?’ Song Changsheng was imnsely curious.
Unfortunately, neither Xu Yunhe nor Xia Wanyun could have answered his questions, because even they—the ones involved—didn’t know exactly what had happened.
Xu Yunhe only rembered that in the instant their gazes t, ti itself seed to stand still. He saw many things in her eyes that he had never noticed before.
It was much the sa for Xia Wanyun.
But if asked what it was they had seen, neither of them could say. It all felt like a trick of the mind.
"I’ll take the lead. You look after Fellow Daoist Xia." Though he wasn’t convinced Xu Yunhe had made a good choice, Song Changsheng still tried to give the pair a chance to spend ti together. It was up to them to make the most of it.
Xia Wanyun had been unconscious for about a day. Three days had now passed since the incident at the auction house.
The Demon Beasts in the Hundred Thousand Mountains had been driven into a frenzy. Under the command of the Great Demons, they were attacking any Human Race Cultivators who entered, forcing many to retreat under the pressure.
As a result, Song Changsheng’s group didn’t encounter a single other Human Race Cultivator on their journey out. They did, however, run into two waves of Demon Beasts, which Song Changsheng dispatched with ease.
The journey out was tense but they faced no true danger. After leaving the Hundred Thousand Mountains, the majestic Luoxia City soon appeared before them. To prevent the Lieyang Sect from lying in wait for them, they made a special detour and entered the city from a different direction.
It was clear that in the aftermath of the recent chaos, Luoxia City had grown much quieter. Many had chosen to leave, while even more opted to stay shuttered in their hos.
’I wonder if Dongtian Xie and the Blood Demon have been brought to justice yet.’
They had been trapped for so ti and were out of touch with the latest news. Song Changsheng stopped a tall Cultivator and asked amicably, "Fellow Daoist, do you know if any of the three bounties from the City Lord’s Mansion have been completed?"
The tall Cultivator was annoyed at being suddenly grabbed, but his expression changed completely when he saw Song Changsheng was a Foundation Establishnt Cultivator. He replied respectfully, "To answer you, Senior, the Evil Cultivator was cornered and pursued, but he still managed to escape into the depths of the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
"As for the Living Puppet, there’s been no news. So speculate it was killed by Demon Beasts, while others think it fled deeper into the mountains.
"The Blood Demon, on the other hand, was slain yesterday by a strange Purple Mansion Cultivator."
Song Changsheng, who had been disappointed to hear of Dongtian Xie’s escape, was suddenly intrigued. "Strange how?" he pressed.
"According to the Cultivators who were there yesterday, the senior’s na is Soulless. He’s incredibly powerful and killed the Blood Demon in just a few exchanges.
"But for so reason, the senior never returned to Luoxia City to claim the reward, so the bounty is still outstanding."
Killing the target but not claiming the reward was strange indeed. Moreover, it was a na no one had ever heard before.
In the entire Daqi Cultivation World, the number of Purple Mansion Cultivators was small, and every single one of them was a renowned figure. But this person seed to have appeared out of thin air, with no reputation to speak of.
’What a strange person. Could he be a Cultivator from sowhere else?’
"This junior wouldn’t know about that," the tall Cultivator said with an apologetic smile.
Song Changsheng knew he wouldn’t get any more information from soone like him, so he gave him ten Spirit Stones and sent him on his way.
The group didn’t dwell on the news. Song Changsheng looked at Xu Yunhe and said, "Let’s take Fellow Daoist Xia back to the Luoxia Auction House first."
Xu Yunhe froze for a mont before nodding silently, saying nothing.
Xia Wanyun was silent as well.
This puzzled Song Changsheng. On the entire journey back, Xu Yunhe had been supporting Xia Wanyun, bringing them much closer physically than before. Yet, the atmosphere between them was strange; they had been silent the whole ti.
He really couldn’t figure them out. ’What is going on with these two?’
After a mont’s thought, he sent a ntal ssage to Xu Yunhe. "Brother Yunhe, we’re about to part ways. Are you going to tell Fellow Daoist Xia your real na?"
After a mont of silence, Xu Yunhe replied, "That’s not part of our plan."
"You’d better be sure. Once we get to the Luoxia Auction House, you won’t have another chance."
"Brother Song, you don’t need to say any more. Let’s just stick to the plan."
Song Changsheng gave him a long, hard look, but said nothing more. The group walked toward the auction house in silence.
Although he knew Xia Wanyun likely held an unusual position within the Luoxia Auction House, Song Changsheng had clearly still underestimated her importance. They had just arrived outside when a kind-faced, middle-aged Cultivator ca out to welco them.
Song Changsheng had never seen this man before, but he could sense the devastating power he contained. This was a mighty Purple Mansion Cultivator, no less powerful than Dongtian Xie.
This wasn’t the sa expert who had pursued Dongtian Xie, which gave Song Changsheng an even clearer picture of the forces backing the Luoxia Auction House.
He and Xu Yunhe were about to offer their formal greetings when the Purple Mansion Cultivator waved his hand with a smile. "I am Yi Wenqing," he said kindly. "You two Fellow Daoists have been through a lot. Please, co inside and talk."
Being addressed as "Fellow Daoist" by a Purple Mansion Cultivator was an honor neither of them had ever experienced. They were a bit overwheld, repeatedly insisting they were unworthy of such a title.
Yi Wenqing led the two into the main hall and showed them to their seats. By now, Xia Wanyun had been whisked away by a group of maids who had surrounded her. While they appeared concerned for her injuries, Song Changsheng couldn’t shake the feeling that sothing was off.
This feeling intensified when he saw Xia Wanyun’s expression. She didn’t seem happy to be back at the auction house; on the contrary, she seed sowhat cold. Moreover, Yi Wenqing hadn’t exchanged a single word with her from start to finish.
Full of suspicion, the two took their seats as guests. Yi Wenqing was extrely warm and friendly, not showing the slightest disdain for them despite their status as re Foundation Establishnt Cultivators.
"If I may ask, which clan do you two Fellow Daoists hail from? You are truly young and promising." Yi Wenqing had soone pour them tea, his tone as warm as a spring breeze.
Xu Yunhe had seed distracted and out of sorts ever since they entered the building, and now he acted as if he hadn’t heard the question at all—an extrely rude gesture. Song Changsheng quickly answered for them, "This junior is Song Qingxing, and this is Zhu Yiqun. We don’t belong to any clan or sect; we’re both Loose Cultivators."
A flicker of surprise crossed Yi Wenqing’s eyes. "A Fellow Daoist with the surna Song, and ’Qing’ in your na, yet you’re not from the Song Clan of Ling Province?"
Now it was Song Changsheng’s turn to be surprised. While the Song Clan had so renown in the area, they were a clan in decline and shouldn’t even be on the radar of a major power like this. Yet this man not only knew of them, but seed to be quite familiar.
He quickly replied with humility, "I co from a background of Loose Cultivators. My ancestors were supposedly connected to that Song Clan, but whether it’s true or not, I can’t say for sure."
"I see."
Yi Wenqing didn’t press the issue, continuing to chat warmly with the two of them. However, he made no ntion of any reward.
Just as Song Changsheng was beginning to think the man might go back on his word, a sharp-featured woman ca to his side and whispered a few words in his ear.
Although Song Changsheng couldn’t hear what she said, he could clearly feel Yi Wenqing’s gaze on them beco several degrees warr.
After waving the woman away, Yi Wenqing said with a hint of apology, "Look at . An old man like talks too much and gets forgetful. You two Fellow Daoists have done our auction house a great service. We should, of course, show our appreciation.
"We just don’t know what you might desire. Please, speak freely. Our auction house will do its utmost to satisfy you both."
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