Finding Incense Slave was not because she happened to be nearby and convenient to approach, but the result of Yu Ci's careful consideration.
None of those who could enter the source of the Boundary River were easy to deal with. Though each possessed formidable strength, Yu Ci did not believe he could make them follow his script, nor could they offer him much assistance. Under such circumstances, the most important thing was to ride the current of events.
He sought Incense Slave because, first, the two had some basis for cooperation from before. Listening to her words and watching her actions, he found them acceptable enough. Second, their friendship went no deeper than that; they could gather and part freely, without the psychological burden of using or being used by one another, which suited his requirements for a temporary partnership. Third—and most importantly—Yu Ci believed that within Sword Garden, apart from the one behind him and the leader of the Heavy Artifact Sect, Incense Slave was the only one capable of threatening the master of the Sunken Sword Cave!
Their gazes met across the distance. Before they could exchange another word, someone beside them said in surprise, "This... is Yu Ci, isn't it?"
Yu Ci turned toward the voice. Seeing the man, he smiled and greeted him, "Brother Xia."
Xia Boyang's attitude was indifferent, far from friendly.
He had escaped early on using the Disaster-Replacing Sorcery Doll, and they had not crossed paths again afterward. He had never seen Yu Ci's later performance; even if he had, as a late-stage Core Restoration cultivator, the young master of the Thousand Peaks Sect, and the nephew of Flying Soul City's lord's wife, he was one of the Xiyu Alliance's most outstanding rising talents. Naturally, he looked down on someone like Yu Ci,