Traveling Together

Leaving the ruins of Fenlai City, Lin Qin and Aileen headed south, moving in the direction of the Yulan Empire. Lin Qin did not choose to fly, opting instead to walk alongside Aileen; their pace was leisurely, more like a casual stroll.

Aileen had composed herself, and a smile had returned to her face. She had changed into a set of blue travel clothes designed for mobility, tying her long hair back in a simple, neat style. She followed by Lin Qin's side with a light, brisk step.

"Where are we going now?" Aileen asked, her tone filled with anticipation for their new journey.

"First, we'll take a look at the edge of the Chaos Territory," Lin Qin said. "The factions there are mixed and the intelligence network is vast; perhaps we can learn more about the situation on the continent or news regarding the Dark Church." He paused, looking at Aileen. "Besides, the environment there is complex, which is suitable for your training to stabilize your level seven realm and push toward level eight."

Aileen nodded vigorously. "Mm! I will work hard!" She knew there was a massive gap between her strength and Lin Qin's, but she did not want to be a burden. Throughout this journey, she had been seizing every moment to meditate, sensing the water elements that had become much denser in the air.

"Your spiritual energy is growing quickly, and your affinity for water elements is also very high," Lin Qin observed, giving an objective assessment. "The key to breaking through to level eight lies in your understanding of the essence of magic and the further refinement of your spiritual energy. Do not just pursue the accumulation of magic power."

"I understand." Aileen noted it down earnestly. "The instructors at the Magic Guild said something similar. They said I need to put more effort into 'control' and 'change'."

As they traveled, the two exchanged insights on cultivation. Although Lin Qin primarily practiced the earth element, his realm was profound, and his understanding of the essence of power far exceeded that of ordinary people. He could often pinpoint the subtle flaws in Aileen's magic control with a single word, providing her with immense benefits. Conversely, Aileen's unique insights and precise control over water-style magic occasionally brought Lin Qin new perspectives on the application of power.

Several days later, they entered a vast hilly region. This was already a buffer zone bordering the Former Holy Alliance and the Yulan Empire. It was sparsely populated, and one could occasionally see abandoned villages and guard posts, indicating that this area had not been peaceful in the past either.

That evening, they prepared to camp under the lee of a hillside. Lin Qin cleared a patch of ground, while Aileen skillfully lit a campfire and took dry rations and fresh water from her spatial ring to prepare dinner.

"According to the map, if we continue for two more days, we will enter the territory of the Yulan Empire." Aileen spread out the map, looking at it by the firelight.

Lin Qin nodded, but his gaze drifted toward the dark contours of the hills in the distance. His spiritual perception detected faint energy fluctuations and... the scent of blood.

"There is a situation over there," Lin Qin said.

Aileen immediately became alert and put away the map. "Should we go take a look?"

"Yes. You stay here and set up a defensive barrier." Lin Qin stood up. "I'll be back shortly."

"Be careful." Aileen did not insist on following; she knew that in such an unknown situation, her strength might end up being a hindrance. She immediately began to chant in a low voice, setting up a pale blue water-style defensive barrier around the campsite.

Lin Qin moved, blending into the night like a shadow, and silently crept toward the direction of the energy fluctuations.

After crossing two hills, the scene before him made his eyes turn cold. In a small valley below, a massacre was taking place. A group of bandits wearing mismatched leather armor and wearing ferocious expressions were besieging a small caravan. Most of the caravan's guards were already dead or wounded, with only a few left fighting desperately to protect the carriages loaded with goods in the center. Many corpses lay on the ground, and blood had stained the earth red.

The leader of the bandits was a burly man with a scar on his face, wielding a blood-stained machete; his strength was roughly that of a level seven warrior. He was grinning hideously as he commanded his men to attack: "Kill! Leave no one alive! The goods and the women are all ours!"

Within the caravan, an elderly man who appeared to be the manager shouted in despair: "We are from the Violet Merchant Guild of the Yulan Empire! If you dare to touch us, the guild will never let you off!"

"The Violet Merchant Guild? Hahaha! In these desolate mountains, who would know if we killed you?" The scarred man laughed wildly and hacked down a guard who had rushed forward.

Lin Qin did not strike immediately. He noticed that at the back of the caravan, the curtain of a carriage had been slightly lifted, revealing a pair of terrified eyes—it was a little girl who looked to be only about ten years old.

Just as the scarred man raised his machete to finish off the last guard, Lin Qin moved. He did not reveal himself; he simply flicked his finger toward the scarred man from a distance.

A condensed, earth-yellow finger-wind traveled a hundred meters in an instant, as if teleporting, and struck the wrist of the scarred man holding the blade with pinpoint accuracy!

"Crack!" A crisp sound of bone fracturing rang out.

"Ah!" The scarred man let out a shrill scream as the machete flew from his hand. He clutched his unnaturally bent wrist and looked around in terror. "Who?! Who is attacking?!"

The other bandits were also startled, stopping their attacks to look around vigilantly.

"Scram."

A calm voice, yet one carrying unquestionable majesty, resonated as if it were right in everyone's ears. The voice contained a trace of Saint Realm spiritual pressure, causing the bandits' faces to turn deathly pale instantly. They felt as if a giant boulder were pressing down on their chests, making it difficult even to breathe.

The scarred man bore the brunt of it, feeling his soul tremble! He realized instantly that he had encountered a powerhouse he could not possibly contend with!

"Retreat! Retreat quickly!" He shouted hoarsely, suppressing his fear and intense pain, and took the lead in scrambling away toward the outside of the valley. The other bandits, as if jolted awake, dropped their weapons and fled in a disheveled panic, wishing they had grown extra legs to run faster.

In the blink of an eye, the bandits who had been so fierce just moments ago had vanished completely, leaving behind only a scene of chaos and a caravan group still in shock.

The caravan manager and the two surviving guards looked at each other, unable to believe what had happened. They bowed toward the dark hills in the distance. "Many thanks to the master for saving our lives!"

Lin Qin did not appear, instead transmitting his voice: "Clean up and leave here as soon as possible."

"Yes! Yes! Thank you, master!" The manager hurriedly agreed, directing the survivors to quickly dress their wounds and collect the bodies of their companions, preparing to travel through the night.

Watching them busy themselves, Lin Qin quietly returned to the campsite.

Seeing him return, Aileen let out a sigh of relief. "Is everything alright?"

"Just a group of bandits; I took care of it," Lin Qin said simply.

Aileen looked at his calm face, knowing that for him, this was merely a trivial task. She said softly, "The world is becoming less and less peaceful."

Lin Qin nodded. With the Chaos Territory nearby, such scenes of the strong preying on the weak would only become more frequent. He glanced at Aileen, who was working hard to maintain the defensive barrier, and said, "Get some rest. We have to travel again tomorrow."

"Mm." Aileen lowered the barrier and sat by the campfire, continuing her meditation. She knew that only by becoming stronger could she truly stand by Lin Qin's side in the storms to come, rather than simply being protected by him.

The night deepened, and the hills returned to silence. There was only the occasional crackle of the campfire and the steady, rhythmic breathing of the girl.