Peering Eyes

Deep in the forest, several figures flickered into view, revealing a group of graceful silhouettes.

At the front was none other than Xiao Qing, whose every last secret Fang Yuan had exposed. This time, however, she wore a lake-green silk dress, a sword hanging at her waist. She looked even lovelier than she had that day, but her shrill voice ruined the effect completely.

Several young men and women stood around her. Among them was a woman in a pale-yellow palace dress, someone Fang Yuan knew very well.

Not just well—she had practically been his childhood sweetheart, and they had even been engaged!

"Senior Sister Lin!"

Young Lady Qing tugged at Lin Leyue's sleeve and stamped her foot. "It was him... He's the big villain who robbed me! You have to avenge me!"

"How dare you rob our Junior Sister Qing!"

Lin Leyue stared at Fang Yuan, stunned. The other nearby martial artists, however, couldn't hold back. They drew their blades and rushed forward, surrounding Fang Yuan with eyes blazing.

Naturally, they were furious because Young Lady Qing had come to them earlier. They had searched every corner of Qinghe Commandery City and Tianya Hai Ge, but couldn't find any sign of that Little Martial God, Wu Ming. Their frustration had been building ever since.

"Wait!"

Just then, Lin Leyue raised a hand to stop them and took a few steps forward, her expression uncertain. "You're... Brother Fang?"

"Heh..."

Fang Yuan rubbed his nose. "I'm surprised you still remember me!"

He, too, could hardly believe it. The little blond girl he remembered had undergone a complete transformation and now carried herself like a senior sister of the sect.

"Hold on!"

Xiao Qing looked from Lin Leyue to Fang Yuan, utterly confused. "Isn't his surname Wu? How did it become Fang?"

"Xiao Qing!"

Lin Leyue pressed a hand to her forehead, then asked somewhat awkwardly, "Are you sure you've got the right person?"

"Of course! I'd recognize him even if he turned to ash! Huh? Could it be that you and Senior Sister know each other?"

Xiao Qing's confidence began to waver.

After all, she had started following Fang Yuan in the first place in a way that violated the rules of the martial world—a serious taboo.

"Fang Yuan? Fang Yuan! I remember now. Isn't he the man Junior Sister Lin was engaged to?"

A young male disciple beside them—probably one of the many who secretly admired Lin Leyue—shuddered and looked at Fang Yuan as if he were a knife.

"So it's him!"

In an instant, Fang Yuan felt the hostility of every male around him rise severalfold. Their eyes burned so fiercely they could almost set him alight.

Damn, was this some blood feud or the grudge of a stolen wife? Was it really necessary?

He was utterly speechless.

In truth, Lin Leyue was one of Gui Ling Sect's most beautiful disciples. She was gifted, gentle, and highly esteemed—adored by everyone. Now that the man who had once been engaged to her had appeared, it was only natural they all looked at him as an enemy.

If word got out, the sect's male disciples would come swarming in until they could practically fill an entire company!

"Ahaha!"

Fang Yuan felt awkward when he saw Xiao Qing, but not so much with Lin Leyue.

After all, he had watched the little blond girl grow up. Besides, when it came down to it, he had done nothing to wrong her, so he felt no shame at all. "So it's you, little Lei Yue. It looks like you've been doing well at Gui Ling Sect. That's truly something to celebrate!"

"I'm truly sorry for what happened before!"

Lin Leyue blushed and gave him a formal curtsy.

Seeing the man she had been engaged to again, she wasn't sure what she felt.

But after this trip, she had come to understand one thing: the world was vast, and she didn't want to bind herself to one place.

"Little Sister Qing, Brother Fang is a friend of mine. What happened before was just a misunderstanding. How about we both let it go and stop holding it against each other?"

Lin Leyue took Xiao Qing's hand as she spoke.

After all, the Sihai Pavilion treating a guest that way would be a great scandal. If word got out, it would damage their reputation. What's more, their connection to Gui Ling Sect couldn't be brought into the open. Even though practically the whole city knew that Sihai Pavilion was one of the sect's Peripheral Forces, having Gui Ling Sect's martial artists openly tail someone was still unacceptable.

"Fine!"

Xiao Qing felt tears welling up. All her pocket money had gone down the drain. Her heart ached as she said, "But that... that hairpin has to be returned! It... it was a birthday gift from my father!"

In truth, she had made that up. It was simply the most expensive piece of jewelry she owned.

"Oh, sorry, sorry!"

Fang Yuan gave an awkward laugh and immediately took out the hairpin. "I was in the wrong before. Please don't hold it against me, Miss Qing."

"That's more like it!"

Xiao Qing's eyes lit up. She snatched back the hairpin like a miser, then regretted it a little. If I'd known this young man was so easy to deal with, why didn't I ask for the pair of jade bracelets too... Boohoo...

The thought made her heart bleed all over again.

"All right, all right!"

Lin Leyue couldn't help laughing and whispered a few words into Xiao Qing's ear.

"Really?!"

Xiao Qing bounced three feet into the air and nodded like a pecking chick. "Good, good!"

She turned to Fang Yuan. "This time, I'll let you off for all the misunderstandings between us. Brother Fang, you can come rob me a few more times in the future. Someone's going to pay double anyway... Mm!"

Realizing she'd let something slip, Xiao Qing hurriedly covered her mouth.

Who would've thought this girl was such a miser and a skinflint...

Everyone immediately understood and looked at Xiao Qing, speechless.

"Brother Fang, did you come here because of Song Zhong? I remember you didn't know any martial arts..."

Lin Leyue smiled softly, smoothly changing the subject.

"Oh, I've recently picked up a little martial arts. I came to the city to have a look around," Fang Yuan replied casually.

"Song Zhong is vicious, and his martial arts are formidable. Even wounded, he's still a fearsome opponent. Please be careful!"

Lin Leyue didn't know how strong Fang Yuan was, so she earnestly warned him again.

"Oh!"

Fang Yuan nodded and turned to leave.

"Wait!"

Just then, a young martial artist beside them couldn't take it anymore. He blocked Fang Yuan's path. "Didn't you hear what Junior Sister Lin said? You don't belong here. Don't think you can swagger around just because you've learned a few crude tricks. You'd better leave at once!"

Though the young disciples had no hope of winning Lin Leyue's affections, they feared that after seeing each other today, the two might grow close again. They were of one mind: they had to drive Fang Yuan, their greatest rival, out of the picture first.

"Ah, Senior Brother Zhao, you're mistaken!"

A freckled disciple stepped forward with a cold laugh. "Since Young Master Fang was able to bully our Junior Sister Qing, he must have some impressive skills. I'm no great talent, but I'd like to challenge him. Please go easy on me, Young Master Fang!"

"Wait! You can't leave me out!"

"Me! Let me do it!"

His words set off a commotion. Several male disciples' eyes lit up.

This was the perfect chance to prove themselves!

"Xiao Qing... tell me honestly. What level have you reached in the Qing Luo Gong our master taught you?"

Seeing this, Lin Leyue drew Xiao Qing close and whispered in her ear.

"The fifth level!"

Xiao Qing stuck out her tongue.

"Hiss..."

Lin Leyue sucked in a breath. It wasn't for Xiao Qing's sake, but Fang Yuan's.

Xiao Qing was flighty, and as a woman with powerful backing, she was someone none of the sect's male disciples dared to fight seriously. As a result, they had no real idea how far her martial arts had advanced.

But Fang Yuan—how long had he been practicing? He had actually beaten a master who had passed five gates?

Lin Leyue watched Fang Yuan. For the first time, she found this Brother Fang from Hidden Valley somewhat mysterious. She couldn't bring herself to step forward and stop the others.

"Well..."

Fang Yuan glanced around. Most of them had passed four or five gates, but their foundations and physiques were nowhere near his, after all the Spiritual Objects he had consumed.

So this is the effect of Divine Essence?

He suddenly understood: Divine Essence was spiritual will! If it surpassed that of ordinary people, one could discern an opponent's level of skill through careful observation and even conceal one's own strength—provided the gap wasn't too great.

Just like now. After deliberately adjusting his aura, not one of these sect martial artists had noticed that he had passed five gates. Instead, they had revealed every detail of their own abilities to him.

But Lin Leyue is hard to read. There's an aura of clear radiance within her, and it's no ordinary thing!

He remained secretly on guard, but put on a troubled expression. "Well... this doesn't seem right. I'm a country bumpkin, and I don't know how to hold back. What if I hurt you?"

"What?"

The disciples all erupted in anger. The freckled young man shouted even louder. "If you beat me to death, that's my own bad luck. No one will come after you. Everyone here will bear witness!"

"Come on!"

With Lin Leyue and several junior sisters watching, he was so eager that he feared someone might take his place. He jumped into the open space. "I am Sun Tieshu, and I've come to seek your instruction!"

Idiot!

Fang Yuan rolled his eyes inwardly.

If they all attacked at once, even he couldn't fight off so many opponents.

But these young masters wanted to come at him one by one. Were they asking to get beaten?

It was just what he needed. His Eagle Claw Iron Cloth Shirt proficiency had been increasing too slowly; he needed real combat experience.

But just as Fang Yuan was preparing to step forward, every hair on his body suddenly stood on end!

The sensation was just like when he'd been four or five years old, walking alone through the forest, and a gray wolf had fixed its eyes on him!

Could someone be lying in ambush?

He casually stepped back several paces and looked at Lin Leyue. In an instant, it was as if lightning had struck through him.

"It's Song Zhong!"

"I can't believe he's so brazen. Even while surrounded and hunted, he's launching a counterattack!"

"Lin Leyue is the Sect Leader's personal disciple and a Sect Master's disciple. Her status is extremely important—she'd make an excellent shield!"

"But weren't there rumors that he was gravely wounded? Could they have been wrong?"

As thoughts raced through his mind, Fang Yuan moved farther away from Lin Leyue.

This was the heart of the trouble. The farther he stayed from it, the better.

"Are you trying to run, boy?"

Sun Tieshu saw Fang Yuan trying to leave and immediately protested. "You were putting on such a show just now. Are you going to act like a coward now?"

"Ah... I'm weak enough that I can't even lift a chicken. How could I possibly be a match for any of you? I'd only make a fool of myself. I'll be going, I'll be going!"

Fang Yuan kept spouting meaningless words as he backed toward the edge.

Just then, a sudden change erupted in the open space!