Meeting Ruolin on the Road, Arriving at Wutan City.

The autumn wind blew desolately, like a pair of giant hands gently brushing across the forest. Countless leaves fell in a rustling cascade, covering the official road in withered yellow. Several carriages bearing the emblem of Jianan Academy traveled along the path, their wheels crushing the leaves with a crisp, rhythmic crunch that was quite soothing to the ear.

"Teacher Ruolin, how much longer until we reach Wutan City?"

Inside the first carriage, a petite girl with a fiery figure and a full chest hugged a mature beauty dressed in green. She asked in a bored tone, glancing out the window from time to time, hoping to catch a glimpse of Wutan City.

The mature beauty was gentle and beautiful, significantly older than the girl. Her body was curvaceous and exquisite, exuding a mature charm polished by the passage of time. As her beautiful eyes shifted, they constantly revealed a tenderness like clear water, perfectly embodying the compliment that women are like water.

Ruolin looked at Xueni with doting eyes, raised her jade-like hand to tap the girl's forehead, and teased, "You little girl, you've asked four or five times already on this journey. Are you really that impatient to see that girl Yu'er?"

Caught in her thoughts, Xueni stuck out her tongue adorably, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Suddenly, the carriage wheels stopped, which left Ruolin feeling puzzled, and the voice of the student driving the carriage followed shortly after.

"Teacher Ruolin, there are two people blocking the road ahead. I'll get off and urge them to hurry up."

Hearing that someone was blocking the path, Ruolin lifted the carriage curtain and saw two figures—one in gold and one in emerald green—walking in the middle of the road about ten meters ahead, effectively obstructing the carriage procession.

The student driving the carriage had just jumped down when Ruolin called out to stop her. Seeing that the golden-clad figure was dressed in an extraordinary, refined manner, unlike an ordinary person, she feared her student might offend them and decided to go and persuade them herself.

Ruolin stepped out of the carriage, her long, beautiful legs moving as she quickly caught up to the two people walking slowly ahead, calling out to stop them.

"Could the two of you please wait a moment?"

Hearing the call from behind, Gu Shenge and Qing Lin stopped. Gu Shenge turned his head to see a gentle beauty with a mature charm walking toward him. He looked at her with faint confusion, his gaze landing on the "Jianan Academy" emblem on her left chest, and he immediately understood her identity.

Judging by her age, she must be an instructor from Jianan Academy.

Gu Shenge withdrew his gaze and asked Ruolin, "What is it?"

When Ruolin saw Gu Shenge's true face, she was stunned. There was actually such a handsome man in this world! Especially the extraordinary, masculine aura he radiated, reminiscent of the rising sun, which made Ruolin's pretty face flush red.

But she quickly regained her composure, secretly scolding herself for acting like those young girls; she was clearly past that age.

"Apologies for the intrusion, young master. It's just that..."

Ruolin explained that Gu Shenge was walking in the middle of the road, blocking her recruitment convoy, and hoped he would move to the side to let her carriages pass.

Gu Shenge glanced at the stopped convoy nearby. Realizing he had occupied the center of the road, he showed an apologetic expression. Without further ado, he took Qing Lin's hand and walked to the side of the road.

However, seeing that they were also traveling along this road—and that the only city at the end of this path was Wutan City—Ruolin was overcome by curiosity and asked where they were headed.

"I wonder where you are traveling to, young master? Perhaps we are going the same way."

But as soon as the words left her mouth, Ruolin felt she had been too forward. Why did she suddenly ask that? What did it matter to her where others were going?

Hearing this, Gu Shenge did not hide it and said calmly, "Wutan City."

"Wutan City? It's still about twenty or thirty kilometers away. My students and I are heading there as well. If you don't mind, why not join us in our carriages?"

What are you saying, Ruolin!

However, the moment the invitation left her lips, a trace of regret welled up inside her. What was she saying? Inviting two strangers to ride in their carriages!

Had she really been bewitched by his handsome face, becoming just as infatuated as those young girls?

No, she had to stay calm; she was an instructor at Jianan Academy!

Ruolin kept slapping her own cheeks in her mind, telling herself to stay calm and absolutely not be swayed by good looks!

Facing Ruolin's sudden invitation, Gu Shenge was also taken aback. However, seeing that she was a teacher from Jianan Academy and their destination was Wutan City, he had a few guesses about her identity.

She was likely the Teacher Ruolin who had granted Xiao Yan two years of leave.

"Thank you for the kind offer, but there is no need."

Gu Shenge shook his head in refusal and, holding Qing Lin's hand, continued walking along the road toward Wutan City.

Seeing this, Ruolin found it inappropriate to press further, though she felt a bit of regret at not getting to know him. She returned to the carriage.

The wheels began to roll again, and the line of carriages traveled along the road, kicking up fallen leaves and gradually disappearing from Gu Shenge's sight.

"Young master, are you tired? Should I let Xiao Hong out so it can carry us to Wutan City?"

Seeing the carriages move away, Qing Lin asked softly if Gu Shenge was tired from walking. Gu Shenge looked down at Qing Lin. This distance was nothing to a seven-star Dou Huang like him, so how could he be tired?

However, seeing the faint beads of sweat on Qing Lin's snow-white forehead, he knew she was a bit tired. He smiled warmly and said, "I am indeed a little tired, but there is no need to let Xiao Hong out. I have a faster way to reach Wutan City."

With that, Gu Shenge formed a sword gesture with his fingers. A golden light of dawn suddenly appeared, and a Rising Sun Sword Qi several meters long and two meters wide shot from his fingertips. Gu Shenge stepped onto the sword energy, had the little beauty snake stand on it as well, and with a flick of his finger, he soared into the sky, riding the sword against the autumn wind straight toward Wutan City.

As for why they didn't ride the Black Prison Soul-Devouring Python, it was because the python had consumed the soul of a Tier 5 Magic Beast on the road and its cultivation had advanced again; it was currently in a state of breakthrough within the Serenitea Pot.

Above Wutan City, a golden light streaked across the sky before landing in a wide, open area, drawing the attention of passersby. They looked at Gu Shenge and Qing Lin descending from the sky, all wearing expressions of astonishment.

"Qing Lin, we have arrived."

Gu Shenge said softly to Qing Lin. Qing Lin looked at the city environment, which was different from the desert city, and revealed a look of curiosity. Was this Wutan City?

Holding the little beauty snake's hand, Gu Shenge stopped a passerby and asked for directions to the Xiao family.

Before coming to Wutan City, he had taken Qing Lin to the Mo Tie Mercenary Group. When Xiao Ding learned he was going to Wutan City, he specifically wrote a family letter, hoping Gu Shenge would deliver it, and mentioned that if Gu Shenge didn't mind, he could stay at the Xiao family residence upon arrival.

When the passerby heard they were going to the Xiao family, he quickly pointed the way. One had to know that the Xiao family was currently the most prominent force in Wutan City, suppressing the other two major families, which was truly enviable.

Gu Shenge also asked about Xiao Yan. When he learned that the marriage annulment had happened a year and a half ago, and combined with the fact that Jianan Academy had come to Wutan City for recruitment, he roughly figured out the timeline.

If things followed the original story, once Jianan Academy finished their recruitment, Xiao Yan would leave Wutan City for the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

What a coincidence.

~

PS: Regarding the protagonist's disguises, he will change into various personas later on to be safe and avoid any "kitchen knife" shura fields.