Each Harboring Their Own Thoughts

"Whoosh, whoosh-whoosh..."

Not long after the carriage departed, several figures in white sword robes came sweeping over.

A man with swordlike brows and bright, starry eyes looked at the bloodstains remaining on the ground. His brows suddenly furrowed as he said, "What a dense stench of blood."

The clothes he wore differed somewhat from those of the other Flowing Cloud Sword Sect disciples. Auspicious-cloud patterns were embroidered around the collar and cuffs, giving him a distinctly noble air.

As he surveyed the surroundings, his expression suddenly changed. A flying sword shot from its sheath and slashed toward the flat ground some distance away.

Bang!

Sand and stones flew as the sword revealed a several-meter-wide pit, exposing several corpses packed with mud and sand.

"It's Junior Brother Yan and the others!"

Someone cried out and hurried forward to examine them.

"They were all killed with a single strike. Judging from the temperature of the corpses, they should have died half an hour ago. The wounds are even and smooth. They should be... sword wounds."

"And they're sword wounds unique to the Sword Control Technique!"

A Flowing Cloud Sword Sect disciple with an exceptionally sharp eye spoke in a deep voice.

"How strange."

The white-robed man with cloud patterns was filled with doubt.

If Junior Brother Yan and the others had encountered those Blood Demon Sect bastards, shouldn't they have died beneath the cruel methods of demonic cultivators? Why had they been killed by the Sword Control Technique instead?

Could they have encountered a Blood Demon Sect spy hidden within the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect?

"Senior Brother, there are carriage tracks here."

At that moment, another disciple reminded him. Beneath his feet was a conspicuous wheel rut that extended along the road and vanished at the horizon.

"Pursue them..."

The white-robed man with cloud patterns spoke coldly.

"Brother Lin, why aren't we continuing in the carriage?"

In the woods, Zhou Wanqing asked in confusion.

Just moments ago, Lin Fan had suggested that they get down and walk. The three had already traveled some distance.

"It isn't safe."

Lin Fan answered.

"Oh."

Zhou Wanqing nodded slightly. Although she did not understand why, she trusted Lin Fan's words deeply.

Unlike Wang Yuyao, when she had been a servant in the Hidden Scripture Pavilion, she had chosen Lin Fan as her Dual Cultivation partner of her own accord.

Even without the influence of the Infatuation Pill, she still depended on and trusted Lin Fan to some degree.

Zhou Wanqing did not harbor much hatred toward Lin Fan.

At that moment, Wang Yuyao suddenly looked at Lin Fan, her expression complicated. Her lips moved as though she wanted to say something.

"We'll talk later."

Lin Fan glanced at her and spoke.

Wang Yuyao promptly closed her mouth and followed silently behind the two.

Lin Fan was a cultivator with a sturdy body. Even while walking through the thorn-filled forest, he moved as lightly as a swallow.

The two women, however, were both ordinary people with delicate bodies, so they could not advance very quickly.

Only several hours later did the three of them emerge from the forest and reach another road.

When they passed a village, Lin Fan took out some silver and exchanged it for a crude carriage at a small shop. He then took the two women along the official road.

By the time the sky gradually darkened, the three had ridden the carriage completely out of the Blood Demon Sect's territory.

The already-thin spiritual energy grew fainter and fainter as the carriage traveled farther away, until it vanished entirely.

The blessed lands where spiritual energy gathered had all been occupied by righteous and demonic cultivation sects. The Blood Demon Sect had been established atop a spiritual vein.

Now that they had completely left the Blood Demon Sect's sphere of influence, it was naturally difficult to sense the existence of spiritual energy.

Lin Fan had long since prepared himself for this situation.

The mortal kingdoms were, in truth, deserts for cultivators.

However, he had three Spirit Jades given to him by Master Ruan, so he did not need to worry about lacking spiritual energy in the short term.

As night fell, Lin Fan gestured for Zhou Wanqing to search the surrounding area for firewood.

The nights were bitterly cold. Without a bonfire to keep them warm, it would be difficult for the two women's bodies to endure.

"Don't go too far."

Lin Fan cautioned her.

"Yes."

Zhou Wanqing nodded. She glanced at Wang Yuyao, who stood motionless, then immediately hurried away.

Though she was young, she was far from foolish. She could tell that Lin Fan had deliberately sent her away.

Along the way, she had also noticed that the relationship between Lin Fan and Wang Yuyao had become somewhat delicate.

Once Zhou Wanqing's figure had disappeared into the distance, Lin Fan casually conjured a small flame.

He glanced at the troubled Wang Yuyao and said, "Don't you have something to explain?"

Wang Yuyao's delicate body trembled. She asked in panic, "Lin Lang, I don't know what you mean."

"The ashes scattered behind the carriage were your doing, weren't they?"

Before Wang Yuyao could explain, Lin Fan sighed softly and said, "You were too impatient."

Wang Yuyao's pretty face paled. Pressing her lips together, she said, "I only wanted to return sooner. I had no intention of harming you."

Lin Fan suddenly gave a cold laugh. "Do you think the people from your Flowing Cloud Sword Sect can help you return to King of Linzi's City sooner?"

"Their greatest goal is to hunt down Blood Demon Sect disciples and earn merit, not to look after a Feudal Prince's family member who was captured by the demonic sect."

Wang Yuyao's pretty face grew even more unsightly, because what Lin Fan said was the truth.

"Kill me."

Wang Yuyao raised her fair jade-like neck and closed her eyes in despair.

She knew that she had committed an unforgivable mistake. Lin Fan was a cruel Blood Demon Sect disciple and could never possibly forgive her.

Looking at her despairing, helpless appearance, Lin Fan shook his head instead and said, "If I wanted to kill you, why would I have waited until now?"

Wang Yuyao froze, then abruptly opened her eyes and stared at Lin Fan in disbelief.

"I'll send the two of you back to King of Linzi's City as soon as possible."

"But you must promise me one thing. Once you reach King of Linzi's City, take good care of Wanqing for me."

Lin Fan spoke slowly.

He very much wanted to kill Wang Yuyao, but reason stopped him.

Wang Yuyao was King of Linzi's younger sister and a true Princess Anyang.

Once she returned to King of Linzi's City, she would become a noble member of the Feudal Prince's Household once more.

Lin Fan did not need Wang Yuyao's care, but Zhou Wanqing did.

Back then, in the Hidden Scripture Pavilion, Zhou Wanqing had firmly chosen him and given him her first time.

Zhou Wanqing's greatest wish was to leave the demonic sect and return to an ordinary life.

There was certainly an element of exploitation in their relationship, but after spending so long together, he and Zhou Wanqing had also developed feelings for each other.

If you start something, see it through; if you send a monk off, send him all the way to the western heavens.

For Zhou Wanqing's sake, Lin Fan chose to forgive Wang Yuyao this once.

"You're really good to her..."

Wang Yuyao's expression was complicated as she spoke softly. "I agree."

"Death may be avoided, but punishment in life is unavoidable."

Lin Fan suddenly smiled. Before Wang Yuyao could react, he tore her gauze skirt apart.

"Lin Lang, I'm willing to atone with my body."

Wang Yuyao not only did not refuse, but thrust her body forward and took the initiative to meet Lin Fan.

Her hair flew wildly, her skin was fair and delicate, and her slender, straight legs hooked directly around Lin Fan's thigh.

As if punishing her, Lin Fan was exceptionally rough, repeatedly thrusting into her soft, warm body.

"Faster, faster..."

"I want more, I want more..."

Wang Yuyao's pretty face was flushed. Her insatiable appearance was even more exaggerated than when she had taken the Infatuation Pill.

During those days in the cave abode, her body had long since been thoroughly conquered by Lin Fan.

"Brother Lin, you two..."

Not long afterward, Zhou Wanqing returned with firewood and wore a look of astonishment.

There was no cover around them at all, yet Lin Fan and Wang Yuyao had begun Dual Cultivation without the slightest restraint?

Her pretty face burned, and she was at a loss for what to do.

Yet Zhou Wanqing's long legs, as though infected by what she saw, began to twist involuntarily.

An emptiness that yearned to be filled instantly swept through her entire body.

"Come here."

Lin Fan's eyes lit up, and he pulled Zhou Wanqing into his arms.

Wang Yuyao's body was hotter and more mature, but Zhou Wanqing possessed a unique, youthful freshness that was equally unforgettable.

Lin Fan drew yin essence from both women while wantonly venting the pressure within him.

He continued tormenting them until midnight before finally letting the exhausted women go.

"Brother Lin, after you send us to King of Linzi's City, what do you plan to do?"

Zhou Wanqing was drenched in fragrant sweat when she suddenly asked.

Wang Yuyao also looked toward Lin Fan. Her lips fluttered, and she wanted very much to say, "Lin Lang, why don't you stay with us in King of Linzi's City?"

She felt deeply conflicted toward Lin Fan. She hated that he treated her as a furnace cauldron, yet she also enjoyed the indescribably wonderful feeling of Dual Cultivation with him.

Lin Fan failed to notice Wang Yuyao's small movements and instead replied, "I have my own plans."

"King of Linzi's City isn't suitable for me."

He added another sentence.

"Brother Lin, I don't want to be separated from you."

Zhou Wanqing clutched Lin Fan's arm and spoke reluctantly.

"Once we reach King of Linzi's City, Princess Anyang will take care of you."

Lin Fan patted her, signaling for her to relax.

Zhou Wanqing still wanted to say something, but when she saw Lin Fan's calm expression, she ultimately held her tongue.

Tears slid from the corners of her eyes. They held both the joy of surviving the calamity after leaving the demonic sect and the reluctance of soon parting from Lin Fan.

Beside them, Wang Yuyao pressed her lips together in silence. Lin Fan's address of her as "Princess Anyang" had begun drawing a boundary between the two of them.

The night deepened. Each of the three harbored their own thoughts as they slowly fell asleep.

Lin Fan leaned against the carriage compartment. Even after entering dreamland, he was now at the Fourth Grade of the Meridian Condensing Realm, and his five senses had grown sharper. The moment anyone approached, he could react in time even while sleeping.