The two had originally thought that Lord Li was a middle-aged martial artist who diligently cultivated.
After all, that was the most intuitive guess, and the one that best matched the objective conditions.
Yet they had never expected the famed Lord Li to be such a young youth!
He looked to be no more than eighteen at most?
To reach the middle-to-late stages of the Extreme Realm at such a young age in a place so barren of resources.
What kind of talent was that!
Si Miaoyin clicked her tongue inwardly.
She had been born into a martial arts family in the royal capital. Since childhood, she had never lacked heavenly treasures or cultivation resources, and she had all manner of famous teachers guiding her.
Yet after seventeen years of such accumulation, she had only barely entered the Profound Realm.
This brat was simply a freak!
The two were people who had seen the world. Though they were greatly shocked, they quickly composed themselves.
Ling Yan coughed twice. "Li Xuanxiao, although you were forced into this and your actions are understandable."
"The fact that you killed the Magistrate remains."
"We will take you to the Pei Province Demon Slayer Division to stand trial."
"Do you have any objections?"
Li Xuanxiao's eyes lit up. There was such a good thing?
He had already been planning to leave this place, and now he could even catch a ride.
He immediately agreed. "I will follow your orders in all things, my lords."
"Very good! Since you have no objections, we will return to Pei Province today."
"You may go make your preparations. Remember, do not leave the bounds of Ning'an City."
"Otherwise, you will be regarded as a fugitive, and I will personally apprehend you!"
Li Xuanxiao nodded.
Si Miaoyin leaned close to his ear. "Don't worry. Once we return to Pei Province, I'll plead for leniency on your behalf!"
Li Xuanxiao looked at her in surprise.
Si Miaoyin gave him a playful blink!
This girl was rather interesting!
Li Xuanxiao nodded. "Then many thanks... uh..."
Si Miaoyin covered her mouth and laughed. "My name is Si Miaoyin, and he is Ling Yan."
Li Xuanxiao immediately changed his words. "Then many thanks, Lady Miaoyin and Lord Ling Yan!"
After offering his thanks, Li Xuanxiao gave Wang Debiao a meaningful look.
Wang Debiao did not understand why, but he still followed Li Xuanxiao out.
When they reached a side hall of the yamen, Li Xuanxiao took out a booklet and handed it to Wang Debiao.
"What is this?"
Wang Debiao accepted it in confusion.
"These are the insights I summarized while studying those martial arts techniques."
"Head Wang, take a look. They might be of some help to you."
Wang Debiao's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly opened it.
"Soaring Hawk Nine Steps"
"Myriad Manifestations Violet Zenith Art"
"Thousand Peaks Ruin Blade"
"Silent Heart Sutra"
They were precisely the manuals he had shown Li Xuanxiao before.
The kid had only looked at them for a short while, yet he had truly learned them all!
Terrifying!
Insights gained from cultivating techniques and martial arts were extremely rare teaching materials.
This was not the royal capital, where numerous famous teachers and powerful experts compiled their experiences into books.
In Ning'an City, something like this was simply priceless!
It could help beginners avoid countless pitfalls and save enormous amounts of time!
Who would have thought that what he had given back then would now bring him such a generous reward!
Li Xuanxiao smiled and took out another booklet.
"Head Wang, this booklet records cultivation insights for the Evergreen Art and Focused Spirit Slash. You can share them with any martial artists who need them!"
Wang Debiao accepted it again and nodded heavily.
He had not expected the kid to still think of Ning'an City's future before leaving.
With this booklet, the lower-ranking martial artists of Ning'an City would be able to cultivate these two techniques much more quickly.
It would greatly increase the pace of advancement for low-level martial artists!
They were all grand gifts!
Wang Debiao carefully put away the two booklets, then rose and respectfully bowed to Li Xuanxiao.
But Li Xuanxiao immediately stopped him. "Head Wang, don't do this. You know I can't stand this sort of thing."
Wang Debiao smiled, recalling Li Xuanxiao's embarrassed appearance at the tavern earlier.
"Fine, then we'll dispense with the formalities. But I still have to say my thanks!"
"On behalf of the people and martial artists of Ning'an City, I solemnly thank you."
"Thank you!"
Li Xuanxiao rubbed his nose. "I'm leaving Ning'an City today, so I'll have to trouble you all with what comes next."
"It is our duty. Why call it trouble!"
"As for you, once you go to a bigger place, be careful in all that you do. Do not provoke people you should not provoke!"
Li Xuanxiao nodded. "I understand, Head Wang."
After chatting for a while, Li Xuanxiao headed straight out and came before Si Miaoyin and Ling Yan.
"It's settled. When do we leave?"
Si Miaoyin looked at the sky. "Time waits for no one. We must report the matter of Ning'an City having no magistrate to our superiors as soon as possible."
"Let's set off and return now!"
Ling Yan nodded, agreeing with Si Miaoyin's suggestion.
He circulated his True Qi and controlled his sword, rising into the sky first as he set off ahead of them.
Si Miaoyin summoned her white fox mount once more.
Li Xuanxiao stood where he was, scratching his head awkwardly. "Uh... I can't fly."
Si Miaoyin was slightly surprised, but she quickly understood.
After all, this was a barren borderland. There were not even Profound Realm martial artists here, so how could there be flight techniques?
What were they supposed to do now?
They had never considered that they would be taking someone back with them.
Ling Yan's sword flight could only carry himself.
And as for her...
She looked at the white fox. It could certainly carry two people, but would that not be rather improper...
If the two of them rode together, physical contact would be unavoidable.
At that thought, Si Miaoyin hesitated slightly. But she was, after all, an experienced inspector, and she still possessed decisiveness.
She took the lead and sat atop the white fox first.
Then she turned and gave Li Xuanxiao a look.
Li Xuanxiao had nothing to fuss over. He was merely catching a ride!
Who told him he could not fly?
Without further hesitation, he climbed straight onto the white fox and sat behind Si Miaoyin.
The faint warmth at his back caused the tips of Si Miaoyin's ears to flush crimson.
She had never been so close to a man before.
"Sit tight. We're taking off!"
Li Xuanxiao nodded and looked around, but there was not even something like a safety belt.
How unsafe!
Si Miaoyin said no more. At her command, the white fox leaped forward!
As it suddenly soared into the air, Li Xuanxiao cried, "Holy shit!"
By reflex, he grabbed for something to brace himself.
"Ah—"
Si Miaoyin let out a soft cry, a bewitching blush flooding her entire face.
"Uh..."
Only after the initial moment of taking off had passed did Li Xuanxiao realize belatedly.
He seemed to have grabbed something rather incredible just now.
It was quite soft. It should have been her waist...
Not only that, his entire body was pressed tightly against Si Miaoyin's from nervousness.
His hands were wrapped firmly around her, while a faint and elegant fragrance continuously filled his nose, leaving him dazed.
"Y-you still won't let go!"
Si Miaoyin scolded him softly, her voice carrying reproach and anger.
Under any other circumstances, she would have already chopped off those pig trotters!
But considering that this truly was Li Xuanxiao's first time in the sky, and that she herself was accustomed to flying alone and had not anticipated such an intense reaction from him.
The fault was hers, so it was not easy for her to say much more.
Li Xuanxiao immediately released her and leaned back slightly. "Sorry, it's my first time in the sky. I'm not quite used to it!"
"It won't happen next time."
"You still want there to be a next time?"
"Uh, I mean that once I have more experience in the future, I won't lose my composure like this."
Si Miaoyin did not respond again and merely sat there in silence.
Li Xuanxiao looked at the scenery retreating endlessly below, anticipation on his face.
Once he learned the relevant martial arts techniques in the future, he too would be able to do this!
To soar freely through the heavens.
That was way too cool!
He could not help but sigh, "The feeling of taking to the skies is really not bad~"
For some reason, Si Miaoyin, who sat in front of him, felt the roots of her ears redden once again.
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