The Cave

At that moment, Xiao Yi Xian and the others also saw Xiao Ling walking toward them. Everyone except Xiao Yi Xian hurriedly bowed in greeting.

"Greetings, Young Master Ling..."

"Mm."

Xiao Ling merely nodded blandly at their greetings, then looked toward the pure and alluring girl hurrying after him.

"Since everyone's here, let's set off."

Though he phrased it as a question, there was an undeniable air of authority in his words.

Yao Wan'er rolled her eyes at him, then turned to the group and said softly, "I'll have to trouble you all this time. Young Master Ling will decide where we gather herbs... Let's head into the mountains now."

After the pleasantries, more than a dozen mercenaries surrounded Xiao Ling and the others and led them toward the Magic Beast Mountain Range.

The group kept changing routes along the way, eventually taking one that had grown hazy in Xiao Ling's memory. His eyes lit up.

He glanced unobtrusively at the two women beside him. Xiao Yi Xian was chatting with Xiao Zi, who was holding Xiao Ba. Now and then, a glimmer of excitement appeared in her gentle, watery eyes.

Yao Wan'er, on the other hand, wasn't nearly so relaxed. Even with Xiao Ling there, she remained fully alert, not daring to let her guard down. When she noticed him looking, she smiled faintly at him, then turned her gaze elsewhere.

Perhaps thanks to Xiao Zi, the group encountered few attacks from magical beasts along the way. Only a handful of foolish first-tier beasts came at them, and they were easily dealt with. No one was injured, except for one unlucky fellow who sprained an ankle.

Xiao Ling spent the entire journey appearing to wander aimlessly. Every so often, he had the group stop while he looked around on his own, pretending to examine some herbs he considered worthless.

In truth, he was using his soul power to search the area for caves like the one he remembered. Yao Wan'er didn't suspect a thing; she simply had the people from Wanyao Pavilion gather herbs.

After all, this was a fine opportunity for her Wanyao Pavilion to get herbs for free. How could someone as shrewd as her let it pass?

Though a certain someone had taken a few liberties with her, it was no big deal. He hadn't made another move... and even if he had, she might not have refused?

At the thought, Yao Wan'er's pure and alluring face flushed scarlet. She managed to hide it well, though, and no one else noticed.

But Xiao Ling, scanning the surrounding terrain with his soul power not far away, happened to spot her reaction. Having no idea what had gotten into her, he paid it no mind. A glint flickered in his eyes.

He had already swept the entire area with his soul power. Although he hadn't found the cave, he had a feeling he was close to his destination.

Before long, as the group continued onward, the sun began to set. Everyone grew increasingly tense. Night in the Magic Beast Mountain Range was extremely dangerous, and they couldn't afford to let their guard down.

Even Young Master Ling might not be able to protect them all.

Xiao Ling had no idea what the others were thinking. He was simply gazing at the basin before him, a glint in his eyes.

If he remembered correctly, there was a cliff somewhere around here. That meant this was the final herb-gathering site—and his target had to be nearby.

Sure enough, he was right. A clear voice came from behind him.

"Young Master, I've arranged for people to set up camp. This is Wanyao Pavilion's last herb-gathering site. After you've looked around tomorrow, we'll head back."

Yao Wan'er spoke softly as she watched the white-robed youth standing in the sunset.

At her words, Xiao Ling turned to look at the pure and alluring girl gazing warmly at him. He found it a little hard to handle and could only nod calmly.

"All right, I understand. Go take care of your own things."

"Of course. I'll be going over there now, then. Call me anytime if you need anything, Young Master..."

Yao Wan'er gave him a reproachful look before turning and walking toward the camp.

Watching her slender figure disappear into the distance, Xiao Ling shook his head helplessly. He understood what she was after, but he wasn't some womanizer out of a novel from his previous life. He liked beautiful women, but only as objects of admiration—he had no ulterior motives.

Besides, her intentions weren't entirely pure. She was too calculating, and he had always kept his distance from people like that.

Shaking his head, Xiao Ling walked toward the camp. On the way, he spotted Xiao Zi following beside Xiao Yi Xian. The moment the little creature saw him looking, she dashed over and clutched his robe, hurrying to prove her loyalty.

Xiao Ling looked at Xiao Yi Xian in surprise. His estimation of the gentle, white-clad angel rose another notch.

When she saw him looking, Xiao Yi Xian gave him a gentle smile.

"Brother Ling Xiao, it looks like little animals really like you. Xiao Zi is definitely going to be spoiled with you!"

Xiao Ling blushed, but after thinking it over, he realized he hadn't mistreated her. So he accepted his Xian'er's praise with a clear conscience...

"Chirp, chirp..."

Xiao Zi hurriedly chirped in agreement, declaring that she was very well-behaved. She swore she hadn't given in just for the Earth Core Life Pulse Marrow. Definitely not...

Xiao Yi Xian said gently, "By the way, Brother Ling Xiao, you haven't eaten yet, have you? How about joining Xian'er for a bite?"

"Then I'll gladly accept," Xiao Ling said with a smile.

He didn't turn down Xiao Yi Xian's invitation.

Of course, it was also possible that he had other thoughts about the white-clad angel before him.

The two of them enjoyed a relaxed dinner. Afterward, Xiao Ling took his leave and returned to his tent to wait for the right moment.

Night soon fell. Apart from the two mercenaries on watch, the camp was quiet. Only the roars of magical beasts hunting in the dead of night drifted over from far away.

A white shadow flashed out of a tent and vanished into the darkness without attracting anyone's attention.

After a few quick leaps, Xiao Ling appeared beside a cliff. Xiao Zi wasn't with him; to keep anyone from noticing his absence, he had left her at camp.

He gazed at the cliff, but even in the moonlight, he couldn't see any sign of a cave. He had no choice but to sweep the area with his soul power, frowning slightly.

"Nothing?"

"Did I get the location wrong?"

Muttering to himself, Xiao Ling vanished and began searching the surroundings... Before long, he had been at it for an hour, and dawn was nearly upon him.

Thinking he could always come back tomorrow if he had to, he reached the last cliff. In the hazy moonlight, he spotted a plant rooted in a crack in the stone. A red fruit hung from its pale branches.

"Great!"

Overjoyed, Xiao Ling reached out and plucked the red fruit, then stored it in a wooden box.

Only then did he look down the cliff. A curtain of vines covered the rock face some ten meters below. On closer inspection, he could make out a cave behind them.

Seeing this, Xiao Ling let out another sigh of relief. Judging by the surroundings, no one had found the cave before him—which meant Xiao Yi Xian hadn't discovered it yet.