Leaving

"Just call me Xiao Se. That damn Pu was a name I borrowed from a fat old man." Xiao Se picked up the fragrant tea on the table and drained it in one gulp.

"Pfft." Ya Fei's pretty face, which had still been somewhat tense, suddenly broke into laughter at his mention of a fat old man. "Little brother Xiao Se, you really know how to surprise people. That said, you weren't the one who refined this Nurturing Spirit Liquid, were you?"

"You guess." Xiao Se blinked his clear eyes and once again gave an ambiguous answer.

Ya Fei rolled her eyes at him and tactfully changed the subject. "You bought so many supplies for the wild this time. Are you planning to leave?"

"Mm." Xiao Se nodded slightly and said calmly, "I'm planning to leave Wutan City and gain experience elsewhere."

"Going out to gain experience at such a young age... Isn't that too dangerous?" Ya Fei exclaimed.

"Things depend on people. Besides, I'm not unprepared." Xiao Se gently stroked the Demon Sword Tattoo on his right hand.

"I really don't understand you. Wouldn't it be better to stay in the Xiao Clan and cultivate properly? With your talent for alchemy, the Xiao Clan should be willing to nurture you greatly." There was a trace of bitterness in Ya Fei's heart.

It was precisely because she had no talent for cultivation that she had no choice but to come to this small city to gain experience.

A hint of mockery curled across Xiao Se's lips as he sneered, "Nurture me greatly? If you took the time to ask around about my background, you wouldn't think so. Besides, do you really think blindly revealing your talent is such a good thing? The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be destroyed by the wind. Isn't Xiao Yan, that 'greatest genius the Xiao Clan has seen in a century,' a perfect example?"

Seeing the mocking curve on Xiao Se's delicate face, Ya Fei fell silent. Though she had been born into a great family, because she possessed a naturally seductive body and had no talent for cultivation, she could face the fate of a political marriage at any time.

Perhaps because she felt a sense of resonance, Ya Fei spoke words entirely unlike her usual self after a moment. "Maybe you're right. Still, I really envy you for being able to control your own fate."

"Actually, you can too." To Ya Fei's surprise, Xiao Se gave an unexpected answer.

"What do you mean?" Ya Fei asked in astonishment.

"If you don't want to be controlled by your family, there are actually two paths you can take. I chose the shortcut, which is to abandon the so-called family. And you happen to be suited for the second path." Xiao Se poured himself a cup of fragrant tea, took a shallow sip, and said.

Ya Fei's eyes lit up. "What path?"

Xiao Se said seriously, "If you don't want to be controlled by your family, then control the family. The Mittel Family you belong to is a business family, and you have a talent for business. You can start from that angle."

"If you don't want to be controlled by your family, then control the family." Hearing this, Ya Fei seemed to have discovered a new continent. She pursed her red lips, her little mouth repeatedly murmuring Xiao Se's words.

After pondering for a moment, Ya Fei smiled helplessly. Looking at Xiao Se, she said with a wry smile, "I really don't know where someone so young learned such ideas!"

"Self-taught, self-taught." Xiao Se's lips twitched slightly as he answered somewhat guiltily.

I definitely won't tell her this is her future inner monologue!

"When do you plan to leave?" Ya Fei asked hesitantly.

"In three days," Xiao Se replied.

"So soon? Then when do you plan to return?" Ya Fei continued.

"Maybe one year, maybe two, maybe three." Xiao Se gave an answer that even he himself was uncertain of.

"Then this sister will look forward to seeing how much you've grown when you return next time." Ya Fei gracefully extended her jade-like hand and smiled sweetly.

Xiao Se slowly nodded and shook her delicate hand. To Ya Fei's surprise, he let go the instant he touched it.

"You too."

Looking at the unusually mature Xiao Se before her, Ya Fei could not help sighing. "Are you really only twelve or thirteen? Why do I feel like a child in front of you, as though you can see right through me?"

Skipping over this boring topic, Xiao Se put his hood back on, waved his hand, and rose to walk out of the reception room. His voice returned to its earlier hoarseness. "Then, if fate permits, we'll meet again..."

"If fate permits, we'll meet again." Staring blankly at Xiao Se's departing figure, Ya Fei revealed a rare, knowing smile.

Three days later...

Early in the morning, Xiao Se checked all his supplies. Then, after leaving a letter in his long-unoccupied room at the Xiao Clan, he departed Wutan City and embarked on his journey to grow stronger.

In the pitch-black woods, moonlight poured down, covering all things like a light veil. Through the gaps in the leaves, specks of silver light on the ground formed beautiful patterns.

Dressed in a black robe made of Black Silkworm silk, wearing the Half-face Mask he had bought at Wutan City's Imitation Market, and carrying the Demon Sword on his back, Xiao Se trudged through the dark woods.

Including today, Xiao Se had already been away from Wutan City for three days. Accustomed to being alone, he did not feel the slightest bit lonely.

Whether in his previous life or this one, Xiao Se had long grown used to loneliness and learned to enjoy it. Besides, Long Kui was accompanying him this time.

The Demon Sword on Xiao Se's back was also part of his training. After deliberately severing his connection with it, the sword weighed over a hundred jin and suppressed most of the Dou Qi within his body, making every step difficult.

What should have been a two-day journey had taken him three full days.

"Brother, it's completely dark now. Why don't we rest here for the night?" Long Kui's clear, ethereal voice suddenly came from the Demon Sword.

"Mm." Xiao Se nodded slightly, drew the Demon Sword from his back, felled a tree, and set up a campfire.

Within the dark woods, the campfire flickered lightly.

Beside the fire, Xiao Se leaned against a tree trunk, chewing hard dry rations as he enjoyed a brief moment of peace.

"Brother, where are we going?" Long Kui's ethereal voice rang out from the Demon Sword again.

"The Demon Beast Mountain Range." Xiao Se swallowed the food in his mouth and smiled.

"The Demon Beast Mountain Range? Isn't the Xiao Family Back Mountain part of the Demon Beast Mountain Range? Why are we going so far?" Long Kui asked in confusion.

Xiao Se explained with a smile, "Hehe, we're currently in the eastern part of the Demon Beast Mountain Range. If we cross through it from here, we'll reach our ultimate destination, the Tagor Desert. Besides, there may be unexpected opportunities in the Demon Beast Mountain Range!" As a transmigrator, he would not let go of that cave containing the Purification Lotus Demon Fire Remnant Map and Flying Dou Skills.

Moreover, Xiao followed the same principle as a certain someone from the clan: take the protagonist's path and leave the protagonist with nowhere to go.

There were still five years until the Medusa Queen took the Azure Lotus Core Flame. As long as he could find the Azure Lotus Core Flame ahead of time within those five years and gather the three materials needed to devour a Heavenly Flame, then with Long Kui's help, he would have a strong chance of obtaining the Azure Lotus Core Flame.

"Then be careful, Brother. If you encounter danger, I can possess you, or let Xiao Hong come out to help you. She's very powerful." Long Kui said with a smile.

Xiao Se shook his head. "Quite the opposite. I can't readily accept your help. Without bloodshed and cruelty, I won't be able to grow. From now on, unless I find myself in a situation where death is certain, neither of you is to come out and help me."