Facing Reality

Gu Xun Er brushed back her hair and lowered her hand.

Xuan Jin did not immediately withdraw the unformed spatial rift. He merely left it hanging in midair as the violet-gold glow around its edges gradually faded.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." Gu Xun Er nodded.

She looked down at her shoes, which were stained with dust from the prison city. The dust was dry and would not brush off.

"I've been to thirty-seven places these past few months." She spoke slowly. "At the first dozen or so, I kept thinking that maybe the next place would have him. By the time I reached the twenties, I stopped thinking about it. I just kept walking. And now..."

Gu Xun Er paused.

"Now I understand. I wasn't looking for someone. I was looking for a reason not to stop."

Wind swept in from the other side of the wilderness. In the distance, the branches of several dead trees were bent crookedly to one side.

Xuan Jin said nothing.

He had long since calculated it.

Soul Hall had captured Xiao Yan for his battle aura origin and soul. They would not keep something like that alive to nurture it.

After glancing at Gu Xun Er, Xuan Jin tore through space and left.

After Xuan Jin left, Gu Xun Er looked once toward the Northwest Continent before tearing through space and departing as well.

By the time he returned to the Saint Pill City residence, night had fully fallen.

The courtyard lamps were lit.

Cao Ying sat on the stone steps beneath the corridor, a pill formula scroll resting on her knees, though her eyes were fixed on the courtyard gate. When she saw him, she closed the scroll.

"You're back."

"I'm back."

"What about Xun Er?"

"She left." Xuan Jin removed his