Green Mountain Town

Xiao Wujiu had thought that giving Ya Fei enough resources and the means to grow stronger would be enough.

But when he saw those eyes, his heart felt as though it had been fiercely clenched.

Those love-filled eyes stirred endless tenderness within him, and he realized that he had been too one-sided in his thinking.

At this moment, he also had someone who cared only for him, "Xiao Wujiu," as a person.

He slowly drew Ya Fei into his arms, burying his face in her hair as he softly comforted her.

"I'm sorry, Sister Ya Fei. I didn't think things through. I promise I'll come to the Imperial Capital often to see you."

"Xiao Wujiu..." Ya Fei's slightly nasal voice rang out. He looked at her in confusion, waiting for her to continue. "Even if you have other women in the future, will you still love me?"

Ya Fei's voice was filled with unease and anxiety. What happened today had made her realize that even if her talent had improved, she still could not keep up with Xiao Wujiu's pace, no matter how hard she tried.

So she was afraid. She worried that, with Xiao Wujiu's talent, he would surely win the favor of many women in the future.

And then, would she truly still be qualified to stand by his side? This question had been buried in her heart, and especially after hearing Xiao Wujiu's arrangements, her heart felt even emptier, as though she had lost something.

Hearing this, Xiao Wujiu understood what she was worried about. His heart ached even more for the beauty in his arms, and he answered her question seriously, his words firm and filled with love.

"No matter what happens in the future, I, Xiao Wujiu, will always love you. Eternal and unchanging. If I ever betray my heart, may I die a miserable death!"

"Fine," Ya Fei said, raising her head and looking at Xiao Wujiu with reddened eyes. "If you ever stop loving me, then you're dead! But I'll go with you too..."

Her voice was resolute, and the determination within it was utterly unshakable.

She did not stop Xiao Wujiu from making his oath. Instead, she said that if he broke it and died, she would follow him. It was a kind of love that said: even if you no longer love me, I will still love you!

"Wait, what are you doing? We only just rested for a while!"

"Sister Ya Fei, I love you..."

"Mmm... Me too..."

The next day.

After seeing Ya Fei onto the carriage bound for the Imperial Capital, Xiao Wujiu went to bid Xiao Yan farewell as well. He also told him that he would return in half a year to enroll at Jia Nan Academy.

Although there would later be the alchemy turmoil in Wutan City and the series of events brought about by Liu Xi's arrival, he no longer planned to remain here.

First, he did not think those events could fill the energy needed for his next transmigration. Second, he needed to retrieve the fragmentary map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame as soon as possible. The reason was simple: he did not like owing anyone.

Besides, who said it was not part of the plot just because Xiao Yan was absent?

After packing his luggage, he turned and left Wutan City, where he had lived for sixteen years, without hesitation. His steps were firm as he departed.

His next stop: Green Mountain Town!

Xiao Wujiu walked calmly along the road to Green Mountain Town. According to the original novel, Xiao Yan's destination had been the Tagor Great Desert.

The journey to Green Mountain Town would take roughly seven days on foot.

"But at my speed, I can get there in two days at most."

He glanced at the map in his hand, which recorded the route from Wutan City to Green Mountain Town.

Activating Light Swallow, he hurried toward Green Mountain Town. Although this Battle Skill was not of a high grade, it consumed little energy. Once mastered, it was sufficient for everyday travel.

The blazing sun scorched the earth until it cracked. The moment one stepped on the ground, waves of heat seemed to surge up from beneath one's feet.

The passersby, drenched in sweat, could not help cursing this damned weather.

Yet when Xiao Wujiu set foot on this land, he felt no discomfort at all. Instead, he felt as though he were a fish in water.

Such an environment made the fire-attributed Battle Qi within him even more active.

At this time, he arrived at Green Mountain Town. Because it stood close to the Magical Beast Mountain Range, it was also known as Magical Beast Town.

He walked along streets paved with bluestone, passing all kinds of buildings. He also saw the Myriad Herb Pavilion from the original novel, but he did not think he would happen across any Blood Lotus Essence, and in any case, that thing was no longer particularly valuable to him.

So he left directly and went looking for a shop that sold maps of the area around Green Mountain Town. After all, the cave in the original novel was located atop sheer cliffs. With his strength, he only needed to search step by step, and he would eventually find it.

Just as he was making inquiries, his remarkable bearing and his questions about map sellers caught the attention of some watchful people.

In a corner.

Two mercenaries wearing clothes adorned with Wolf Head insignias whispered to each other, and the direction they were looking in was precisely where Xiao Wujiu stood!

"Heh, an outsider has come. From the looks of him, isn't he planning to enter the Magical Beast Mountain Range?"

"Isn't that right? He looks so young. He's probably some young master from a wealthy family out training."

"Huh? You're right. Look at his clothes, and he's even wearing a Storage Ring. Should we..."

"Are you crazy? Do you know his strength? Do you know what faction he belongs to? One mistake, and we'll lose our lives!"

"That's why I say you're stupid. We can tell the captain. How strong can a young brat be? If we take him down, will our rewards be any less?"

Listening to their discussion, which sounded as though it were happening right beside his ears, Xiao Wujiu curled his lips into a smile.

How had he forgotten? The local snake here would definitely have detailed maps. Perhaps they even knew the Myriad Herb Pavilion's herb-gathering routes.

If he followed those routes and used the terrain to eliminate locations one by one, would he not find the cave from the original novel?

No sooner thought than done. He turned around and strode toward the two men.

"Brother, why do I feel like that kid is walking this way?"

The mercenary keeping watch patted the scar-faced mercenary beside him, who was imagining the rewards they would receive.

"What are you making a fuss about now? Isn't he just coming over? What could..."

Before the scar-faced mercenary could finish, he realized something was wrong. Slowly raising his head, he saw a smiling face.

That seemingly gentle smile, which concealed a sharp edge, made him feel uneasy.

But when he saw the badge on his chest, he puffed out his chest again. "What do you think you're doing, you..."

Bang!

Before the scar-faced mercenary could finish speaking, he was slapped to the ground, then kicked into an alley. Xiao Wujiu immediately grabbed the mercenary beside him, who was trying to run, seized him by the neck, and dragged him into the deep alley.

When he emerged again, he looked as though nothing had happened. After dusting off his clothes, he left the place.

The alley behind him returned to deathly silence. He had successfully obtained the location of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's headquarters.