Wan City Li Clan

The setting sun slanted westward. In the afterglow, a man and a woman rode slowly along the official road on Crimson Fire Steeds.

"Little Xin'er! What are you thinking about?"

Gu Sheng carefully reined in his somewhat hot-tempered Crimson Fire Steed. Seeing that Chu Xin looked strange, he asked with a smile.

Chu Xin looked up at that, forcing a faint smile. "Gu Sheng, tell me—after we leave, what will happen to this world's Teng Qinghu and Li Qingyu? What about their families? My father! And your mother!"

Gu Sheng fell silent as well. During the days he had spent with Tigress, he had truly felt that woman's selfless love for Teng Qinghu. Yet because of that, he had kept trying not to interact with her. After all, to some extent, Teng Qinghu had already been "killed" by him.

"So you don't know either!"

Chu Xin lowered her head, her mind still echoing with the scene of her reluctant farewell to Lord Li. That man had let Chu Xin feel something she had always yearned for in her former world but could never obtain—fatherly love.

When Chu Xin (Li Qingyu) saw Lord Li again, she had almost been afraid to acknowledge him. The man who had always been mature and steady in Li Qingyu's memories had become utterly haggard in just ten days.

His fair chin was covered in stubble, and his eyes were bloodshot. It was easy to imagine what he had been through these days.

When he heard that Chu Xin planned to travel far away with Gu Sheng, Lord Li had nearly collapsed. He had frantically demanded that Gu Sheng explain why he had broken his promise and why he had forced himself on Li Qingyu. Well, Lord Li had indeed misunderstood the situation, thinking that Gu Sheng had used some method to make Li Qingyu submit to him.

If Chu Xin had not promptly rolled up her sleeve and revealed that her vermilion birthmark was still bright red, calming Lord Li's fury, Gu Sheng had no doubt that he would have been hacked to pieces by the furious guards of Li Manor.

"Little Xin'er, why are you thinking about all that now?"

Gu Sheng suddenly leaned toward Chu Xin and said with a grin, "People have to look ahead. The most important thing for us now is to increase our strength and survive in this damned Lord God Space.

Only if the two of us survive can we—or rather, can we have the right to—consider those things.

The Lord God Space is incredibly mysterious, but it's also the best place to increase our strength. As long as we keep growing stronger, perhaps one day we can become legendary immortal gods capable of summoning wind and rain.

When that time comes, perhaps all of this will resolve itself!"

"Immortal gods? Is that possible?"

Chu Xin wasn't sure she could accomplish that. She turned to Gu Sheng, hoping for his encouragement.

"Of course it is. Doesn't this world already have supreme experts capable of splitting mountains and diverting rivers? What difference is there between figures like Emperor Yu and Emperor Qin and immortal gods?"

Gu Sheng gave Chu Xin a brilliant smile. As he encouraged her, he was also setting a goal for himself. "So work hard, young lady!"

"Immortal gods! Emperor Yu! Qinling Heavenly Emperor! Supreme experts!"

Chu Xin's eyes lit up, and she now had a goal in her heart.

"But..."

Gu Sheng once again revealed the detestable smile that always made Chu Xin grit her teeth. "The biggest problem right now is that, because of a certain slow little pig, our travel speed is far slower than expected!

At this rate, we might not reach the inn we planned to stay at tonight. Then we'll have to sleep outdoors. I don't mind, but will a certain delicate beauty be so frightened that she'll ask someone to hold her?

Heh heh! Little Xin'er, I won't mind if you crawl into my bedroll!"

"Drop dead, lecherous tiger! You're hopeless. Your mind is full of..."

As she spoke, Chu Xin's face reddened as well. It seemed she really had slowed them down. "Why are you still talking? Hurry up! We have to reach the inn before sunset today."

Wan City was one of the major cities in Wu'an County, Yangzhou. The Wan City Li Clan was one of the wealthy families in the city. Its patriarch, Li Yuan, was renowned far and wide for his generosity and kindness, making the Li Clan one of the few benevolent households in Wan City.

In a small courtyard of Li Manor in Wan City, Gu Sheng sat before a stone table with a map spread open, carefully planning their upcoming journey into the wilderness. The booklet at the edge of the table was densely covered in writing.

These were all the plans he had made for venturing deep into the wilderness. He and Li Qingyu (Chu Xin) were too weak. Without thorough preparations, they might become food for venomous insects and vicious beasts the moment they entered the wilderness.

"Eeya~"

The courtyard door was pushed open, and Chu Xin stormed in. "Gu Sheng, haven't you finished your plan yet?"

Chu Xin sat down beside Gu Sheng without the slightest trace of a young girl's reserve. She squeezed closer to him to look at the plan booklet.

Gu Sheng glanced at her, handed over his booklet, and rubbed his sore eyes. "The plan is more or less done. It's just that your ability to carry it out..."

After spending so much time together, Gu Sheng had discovered that this seemingly quiet young woman was not only a half-hearted student but also an impulsive, reckless girl.

"What happened to my ability!"

Chu Xin's delicate face flushed. She muttered indignantly, "I'm very capable too, you know."

The dynamic between her and Gu Sheng was quite bizarre. Gu Sheng looked like a simple, rough, honest brute, but he was actually full of schemes and relied on his brains.

Li Qingyu, meanwhile, was a quiet young woman. Aside from her ability to sense good and evil, which was genuinely useful, she still had much to learn—such as curbing her impulsive temper.

Still, she did have her strong points. At the very least, she had managed to outwit Gu Sheng and had nearly succeeded in saving herself. This proved that she wasn't unintelligent; she simply couldn't be bothered to use her brain much of the time. That, in turn, was what made Gu Sheng feel she was even more troublesome.

"How is your side quest involving Li Jun coming along?"

Gu Sheng suddenly spoke. The reason he intended to remain in Wu'an County for several days was not only to move closer to the wilderness, gather first-hand intelligence, and formulate a complete plan.

It was also for a potentially important side quest—the side quest concerning Li Jun, the female protagonist of The Nine Cauldrons.

Li Jun was the only daughter of the Wan City Li Clan. Her meridians were naturally blocked, making it difficult for her to cultivate Inner Force techniques, yet she possessed a rare talent for beast speech. After the Wan City Li Clan was destroyed, Li Jun's entire family was killed. Fortunately, she encountered Teng Qingshan, who was heading into the wilderness. The two struck up an unusual spark, leading to the romance they would share later.

"My task is more or less complete. But you, lecherous tiger—are you really not considering taking Little Jun for yourself? That's a full five percent of personal Conquest Progress!"

Chu Xin wore a mischievous smile as she narrowed her eyes at Gu Sheng.

Side Quest—Li Jun

Side Quest One: Kill Li Jun. Personal Conquest Progress increases by 2.5%. Conquer Li Jun. Personal Conquest Progress increases by 5%. Obtain top-tier beast-speech talent...