If Helian Zhu was considered a talented genius with outstanding aptitude among the young generation, then Xiao Xun was a monstrous genius among the geniuses.

According to the rumors, when he was born, there were extraordinary signs in the sky. Twelve astonishing feathered birds flapped their wings and flew twelve rounds around the immortal mountain where the Xiao family resided.

The wings of these astonishing birds dragged the flowing fire-colored light stream, illuminating the night sky for thousands of miles as if it were daytime. When Xiao Xun opened his eyes, the astonishing birds cried out like ancient, resonant bronze bells, leaving a profound and shocking scene.

People believed that the cultivation world had welcomed a figure who could lead all the sects. However, this child had a naturally vile character. At the tender age of nine, he comprehended the path of slaughter, deviating from the right path and becoming a notorious killing deity that struck fear into the hearts of all cultivators!

As the disciple finished speaking, the faces of all the cultivators present turned ashen.

“Is the killer actually him…”

“A few days ago, didn’t the Xiaoyao Sect claim that Xiao Xun was dead and withdrew the pursuit order?”

“Xiao Xun is cunning and deceitful. Perhaps he used some means to deceive the Xiaoyao Sect.”

As the discussions continued, the man in the wheelchair in front of Xie Shuci spoke up, “The Xiaoyao Sect deliberately concealed Xiao Xun’s whereabouts and didn’t provide any proof of his death. Verbal claims are not enough to be trusted.”

This statement caused an uproar.

“The Xiaoyao is lying?”

“Why?”

Although the man was disabled, his temperament was quite extraordinary. A serene smile hung on his face as he calmly said, “Perhaps there might be something in Xiao Xun’s hand, that they don’t want others to seize, so they adopted this approach.”

“That makes sense!”

“So you’re saying… Xiao Xun is here in Luofang City?”

Xie Shuci shivered. Sure enough, he couldn’t escape the plot’s arrangement. No matter what, he was destined to encounter Xiao Xun, wasn’t he?

Just then, Helian Zhu jumped down from the stage. He changed his arrogant and overbearing attitude from earlier, and his expression became serious. Holding his sword, he addressed everyone, “Xiao Xun is here, and he’s likely here for the secret realm. He just killed twelve Hehuan Sect disciples, and there’s no guarantee he won’t target disciples from other sects. I request everyone’s help to support the Helian family and ensure that he meets his end in Luofang City!”

“Yes, that’s right!”

Hearing this, Xie Shuci forgot about his grievances and echoed, “We have so many formidable cultivators here. Are we afraid of a mere Xiao Xun? With all of your assistance, even the Great King of Heaven could be defeated!”

Encouraged by Xie Shuci’s words, the crowd’s blood started boiling,

“The young master speaks the truth.”

“We have the numbers and strength. Besides, the Helian family is right here in the city. Are we still afraid of Xiao Xun?”

“That’s right, don’t forget, we also have an alchemist here. As long as he’s with us, Xiao Xun won’t be able to harm a single hair on our heads!”

Xie Shuci, “?”

I’m not—I won’t—you’re making things up!

Helian Zhu glanced at Xie Shuci, clearly not forgetting the earlier humiliation he suffered from him. He coldly snorted and didn’t say anything more.

After Helian Zhu and several other moderately skilled cultivators went to see the female disciples’ corpses, the other junior cultivators couldn’t help but feel uneasy at the thought of a killing deity wandering in the city. They paired up and returned to their lodgings.

Xie Shuci put the bronze cauldron back into his pouch and also decided to return to the inn. He was genuinely worried that, as per the plot’s arrangement, Xiao Xun would jump out and chop him up in the next moment.

Perhaps he should discuss this with Little Blind? Maybe they should give up on the treasures in this secret realm and leave instead?

Little Blind…

Thinking of Little Blind, Xie Shuci suddenly felt that something was amiss. Before he could think deeply about it, two figures appeared in front of him.

“Senior brother, is he really an alchemist? Why do I feel like he’s silly and clueless?” 

Xie Shuci looked up and found that it was the man who helped him out. The man was sitting in a wheelchair, and beside him was a 14-year-old-looking boy.

When Xie Shuci looked over, the young man was looking up and down at Xie Shuci with suspicious eyes.

“What’s it to you?” Xie Shuci rolled his eyes.

Then, he performed a somewhat awkward cupped-fist salute to the man in the wheelchair, “Thank you for helping me earlier, friend.”

The man smiled gently, his light-colored eyes resembling lustrous gems, containing a trace of amusement. Being stared at by him felt quite pleasant.

“No need to thank me,” the man replied, offering a reminder, “Young Master, in the future, please don’t carelessly promise others to refine pills for them and keep the bronze cauldron hidden when outside. Among alchemists, appearances can be deceiving, and there is much scheming.”

The man spoke in a refined manner, exuding a jade-like warmth that made his words more intriguing.

In the past, Xie Shuci disliked verbose and pedantic intellectuals, but when this “flaw” was displayed by this man, he didn’t find it annoying at all. Instead, he found it added a unique charm.

Xie Shuci nodded, “Thanks for the advice, friend.”

The boy next to the man rolled his eyes, “Who said you, a person with an unknown background, is our friend?”

“Wenfeng, watch your mouth.” The man furrowed his brows slightly and reprimanded in a soft voice. Then he turned to Xie Shuci, “I apologize, Wenfeng’s mind is not yet mature.”

Xie Shuci was initially a little angry, but after hearing the man’s explanation, he smiled faintly, “It’s fine, I understand. Young kids, I don’t bother to argue with them.”

Wenfeng widened his eyes, “You…”

“Wenfeng!” The man’s tone grew serious, and Wenfeng immediately shut up, sneaking a glare at Xie Shuci when the man wasn’t looking.

The man continued, “Young master, I’m afraid that Luofang City won’t be peaceful in the coming days. You and your companions should be more careful.”

“…” Xie Shuci’s face froze.

He realized what was wrong.

The man noticed his dazed expression and called out softly, “Young master?”

Xie Shuci opened his mouth but couldn’t utter a word.

“Is there something troubling you, young master?”

Little Blind…

How could he forget about Little Blind…

Such a big Little Blind…

Xie Shuci regretfully slapped his head. He didn’t have time to explain to the two men and lifted his chin, scanning the crowd, “I’ll go first!”

There’re so many people, where’s Xie An?

“Xie An!”

Xie Shuci shuttled through the crowd, but he didn’t find any trace of Xie An’s figure. Xie Shuci berated himself mentally for getting so engrossed in the excitement that he lost Xie An!

Xie Shuci was worried about the fact that Xie An couldn’t see or speak, and if encountered some bad guys, what would he do? Moreover, Xiao Xun was in the city, and if he was in a bad mood, what if he killed Xie An?

“Xie An, where are you? Xie An!”

You idiot, Xie Shuci! How could you leave Little Blind behind? What if something goes wrong? What if something bad happens to him? What if he encounters enemies?

The worry of not finding Xie An completely overshadowed his fear of Xiao Xun. Xie Shuci seemed to forget that when it came to self-preservation, Little Blind was far superior to him.

“Excuse me, have you seen a young man, taller than me, dressed in white? He’s good-looking, but his eyes can’t see, and he can’t speak…”

“No, haven’t seen him.”

“Have you seen…”

“No, haven’t.”

Xie Shuci asked dozens of passersby, but no one had seen Xie An. Overwhelming anxiety overcame him. He looked at the market full of people in a daze, and his eyes gradually became sour.

What to do?

He lost Little Blind…

“Young master, has something happened?” Wenfeng pushed the man, walking up to Xie Shuci.

With tearful eyes, Xie Shuci lowered his head, his voice hoarse, “I’ve lost my friend. He can’t see, and he doesn’t have any money on him, and I…”

The man looked up and glanced behind Xie Shuci, then asked softly, “Is he the one behind you?”

“Huh?” Xie Shuci raised his head in surprise, and the man pointed behind him.

Xie Shuci turned around and saw Xie An standing not far away, with a grim expression, leaning against a stone wall by the roadside.

Overjoyed, Xie Shuci didn’t have time to thank the man, he rushed over, “Xie An!”

Xie An seemed to hear the call and looked in Xie Shuci’s direction.

Overwhelmed with joy, Xie Shuci pounced on him without hesitation. “Where did you go? Didn’t I tell you to follow me? I turned around, and you disappeared, you scared me to death, do you know that?”

Xie An was caught off guard by Xie Shuci’s hug and his back hit the stone wall behind.

Xie An’s slender fingers held Xie Shuci’s chin, lifting his tear-streaked face. Perhaps understanding the meaning behind the tears, Xie An’s gloomy expression softened.

“Follow you?” Xie Shuci noticed the sarcasm in Xie An’s words.

Indeed, Xie Shuci jumped here and there like a rabbit, not to mention a blind boy, even if it was someone else following him, they might not be able to catch up.

Xie Shuci’s ability to turn the tables and boast was as impressive as ever. Tearfully, he nodded, “Yes! I just went a little ahead, and you disappeared! I was so worried. What if something happened?”

Apparently, Xie Shuci’s words pleased Xie An. He smirked and wiped away Xie Shuci’s tears with his finger, gently patting his back, and silently reassuring him, “I’m fine.”

Having calmed down, Xie Shuci supported Xie An’s shoulder and took a step back, trying to salvage his pride, “Oh, it’s just that I ran too fast before, and the wind stung my eyes. Don’t misunderstand, I haven’t cried since I was seven years old.”

Xie An, “…”

“Tsk tsk.”

Xie Shuci hadn’t wiped away his tears yet when he heard an annoying voice nearby.

“Can you wipe away your tears before bragging? Look at you, so embarrassing,” Wenfeng sneered.

As soon as he finished speaking, he received three dagger-like glares… oh, no, it was two, because one of them was blind and probably couldn’t see him.

The man gave him a sideways glance, then apologetically said to Xie Shuci, “Please forgive him. He’s young and sometimes speaks without thinking.”

Xie Shuci, “…”

Wenfeng, “…”

“Senior Brother!” Wenfeng protested in annoyance.

Xie Shuci retorted, “He speaks without thinking? I’d say it’s more like talking nonsense. I already said the wind stung my eyes when I ran too fast, you little deaf boy!”

Hearing the bickering between the two, the man shook his head helplessly. At this moment, his gaze shifted to the young man by the wall.

The youth had an extraordinary appearance, like a painting coming to life, even when standing still.

The man couldn’t help but admire him, but remembering the manners learned since childhood, he quickly withdrew his gaze, showing respect.

Suddenly, the man seemed to sense something and his expression changed, “Hehuan’s incense.”

The argument between the two stopped upon hearing his words.

Xie Shuci was particularly sensitive to the words “Hehuan” because he had just learned that all twelve female disciples of the Hehuan Sect were killed by Xiao Xun.

Wenfeng raised an eyebrow and said, “Didn’t all the disciples of the Hehuan Sect die?”

Xie Shuci sniffed like a puppy, detecting a faint fragrance in the air. He followed the scent to its source and finally stopped in front of Xie An.

The three of them focused their gaze on Xie An. Xie An leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, looking indifferent.