Liu Family Mansion.
Upon learning that Qin Yuan was willing to join the Liu Family, Liu Hong was quite pleased. "He's a clever young man who knows which way the wind blows. Have him come by in a couple of days. I'll meet him myself."
Before the elders could carry out his instructions, a commotion sounded outside the door.
"Old Man of the Yao Family, you're poaching talent from my academy. Did you even ask what I thought?"
Liu Hong's expression darkened. He knew the owner of that voice all too well.
"The Old Man of the Yao Family is here!"
Meanwhile, in Qin Yuan's office.
Yao Zi came to see him, excitement all over her face. "Hehe, Teacher Qin, you'll soon be my guide."
Qin Yuan raised an eyebrow, guessing what was going on.
His expression remained unchanged as he gently tapped the desk. "Yao Zi, class is over for now. Your teacher needs to rest and has work to do, too. If it's nothing important, don't disturb me while I prepare my lessons."
Yao Zi giggled and left the office without lingering, skipping away.
The night before, she had told her father about it, and he had indeed begun considering how to bring Qin Yuan into the Yao Family.
Naturally, Yao Zi was delighted to receive his confirmation.
But she was only twelve. How could she keep her feelings to herself? She couldn't help rushing over to gloat to Qin Yuan.
Qin Yuan had no choice but to take advantage of the inexperienced Yao Zi.
He left a copy of his Cultivation Notes on his desk, writing "Gift for Yao Zi" on the title page as compensation.
Then he stood and headed for the door.
Teacher Zhang, ever considerate, couldn't help reminding him, "Teacher Qin, it's getting cold. Aren't you going to wear a coat?"
Qin Yuan smiled as he explained, "I'm not going far. I'll be back soon."
After leaving the office, he hung the agreed-upon signal for Ye Lingling on a tree on campus.
Ye Lingling, who was in class, noticed the signal. Claiming she felt unwell, she left the classroom, then strolled out of the academy with a leave request written by Qin Yuan.
Qin Yuan had arranged everything in advance.
Ye Lingling entered a shop in the city, where the stand-in Qin Yuan had arranged was already waiting. She quickly changed clothes, then left through the back door with Qin Yuan. They made it out of the city in no time.
Since communications technology was not widespread and Qin Yuan wasn't a wanted criminal, the Liu Family's informants watching the city gates had never seen his portrait. Naturally, they paid no attention when he left.
The informants knew Ye Lingling, of course. But the ones assigned to watch her hadn't reported anything, so the others had no reason to pay special attention to the women passing by.
At that moment, the informants following Ye Lingling's stand-in were thoroughly puzzled by "Ye Lingling's" behavior.
Qin Yuan had found the stand-in at the last minute and hadn't had time to train her. To avoid exposing himself, he certainly couldn't have chosen an ordinary person.
The stand-in stopped at every snack stall in the city and spent money without the slightest restraint.
One of the informants couldn't help cursing. "Is this woman starving to death or something? How can she eat so much?"
Another warned him, "Don't let your guard down. And don't let her out of our sight."
It wasn't until dusk that the two informants realized Ye Lingling had "disappeared."
The stand-in's behavior had been too bizarre. She hadn't returned to the academy; instead, she'd gone to the slums.
At last, one of the informants couldn't take it anymore. He went up and lifted her veil, only to discover she wasn't Ye Lingling, but a madwoman who lived in the slums.
More than half a day had passed since Ye Lingling disappeared.
Even though the Liu Family wanted to search for her, they had no idea where she'd gone.
Meanwhile, the Yao Family also learned that Qin Yuan had disappeared.
After seeing the Cultivation Manual he'd left for Yao Zi on the desk, the head of the Yao Family guessed what had happened.
The Yao Family wasn't among the forces trying to win Ye Lingling over, so its head could assess the situation from an outsider's perspective.
It wasn't that the Yao Family lacked the ability to win Ye Lingling over. Rather, its ties to Spirit Hall were close, and it knew there were many suspicious points surrounding Ye Tianxin's disappearance.
Ye Tianxin was most likely still alive. Anyone who moved against Ye Lingling would surely face his revenge someday.
Qin Yuan's appearance might well have been arranged by Ye Tianxin—or perhaps Qin Yuan had another extraordinary force backing him.
Qin Yuan and Ye Lingling raced onward, leaving the Silves Kingdom under cover of night.
Seeing no pursuers behind them, the two made camp where they were and rested for a while.
Ye Lingling's Soul Power Level had reached twenty. Taking advantage of the break, she asked, "I'd like to commission you to help me hunt for a spirit ring. How many Gold Soul Coins would I need to pay?"
[One-Star Mission detected: Help Ye Lingling obtain her Second Spirit Ring. Mission reward: Ten Thousand Gold Soul Coins.]
Since it was a One-Star Mission, spirit hunting should be completely safe.
After thinking it over, Qin Yuan waved a hand. "We can't stop now. We need to reach Heaven Dou City within five days. After that, I'll take you to hunt for your second spirit ring. As for the payment, give whatever you think is fair."
Ye Lingling got along well with Dugu Yan. If he made a good impression, she might put in a good word for him later, making it easier for him to get in touch with Dugu Bo.
Ye Lingling nodded and said nothing more.
A Three Star Commission Mission was bound to be anything but peaceful.
Around midnight, a powerful Soul Power aura rapidly approached their camp.
Qin Yuan let out a quiet sigh, and his Battle Saber Martial Soul appeared in his hand.
What was coming couldn't be avoided. Even if they fled now, they couldn't escape a Spirit Emperor's pursuit.
The newcomer was none other than Liu Chen, an elder of the Liu Family.
Liu Chen had been pursuing someone else, but he had happened upon the two of them.
"Well, well. So you two were in cahoots all along. You dared to make fools of the Liu Family!" Liu Chen's face stiffened.
A traitor had already emerged from his branch of the family, which was trouble enough. He hadn't expected to run into the missing Ye Lingling and Qin Yuan as well.
When Qin Yuan first appeared, the Liu Family had found it suspicious. But their informants at the academy hadn't seen him have any contact with Ye Lingling.
Later, the Liu Family stopped paying attention to him and had even begun considering bringing him into the family. Qin Yuan had pulled off the trick of hiding in plain sight.
"Are you with Spirit Hall or some other force?" Liu Chen was furious, but until he understood what was going on, he didn't dare act rashly.
"So what if I'm with Spirit Hall? What if I'm with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?" Qin Yuan's expression was as calm as still water, without a trace of fear. "I suggest the Liu Family learn its place. There are some things you have no business getting involved in!"
Liu Chen's face twisted with rage. "So you're with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Heh. Silvis City isn't the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's territory. Hand over Ye Lingling and the Method of Absorbing Spirit Rings Beyond One's Level, and I'll let you live."
Woken by Liu Chen's voice, Ye Lingling rushed out of the camp, her eyes full of disgust.
Without drawing attention to himself, Qin Yuan beckoned to her, signaling her not to go far.
They were in the middle of nowhere, and Ye Lingling was a Support System Soul Master. If danger struck and no one protected her, she wouldn't survive.
The situation was clear: either Qin Yuan killed Liu Chen and the two of them left together, or they were both taken back to the Liu Family.
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