Stealing Chickens and Sneaking Like a Dog

Fighting was out of the question, but Qin Ziyan was deeply puzzled. What had Ye Wan come to see her for? She thought about it—she and Ye Wan had never had much to do with each other. But she quickly recalled that there did seem to be some connection between them. Could it be because of...?

At that thought, Qin Ziyan's face instantly blossomed into a smile. "Senior Sister Ye, is there something you wish to tell Ziyan?"

Ye Wan froze for a moment. This girl was quite clever. It seemed she would have to be more guarded around her in the future. Without wasting words, she said, "Tomorrow night, at the third watch, five li outside the mountain gate. The agreed journey. If you miss the time, don't expect anyone to wait." With that, Ye Wan drifted away.

The surrounding disciples had not even reacted yet. They had been expecting a grand show, so why had it ended just like that? As for what Ye Wan had said, many had not heard it clearly. Even those who had heard did not understand it, and no one paid it much mind. This was a matter between the little demoness and Fairy Ye. Who would dare meddle recklessly?

Yet Qin Ziyan immediately understood the meaning behind those words, and excitement surged within her. Haha, she could finally go out and relax! But first, she had to figure out a way to sneak out tomorrow. As for whether Grandpa and the others would punish her when she returned? What a joke. She had never considered such a thing.

Five li below Swordcry Mountain, this was a necessary passage along the proper route down the mountain. Chen Fan stood amid the trees beside the mountain path. He had come down early and waited here for quite some time, after all, the sect had a curfew. Looking up at the sky, he reckoned it was nearly the third watch. Yesterday, Ye Wan had hurriedly come to find him again, told him the time and place, then hurried away once more. Chen Fan felt rather helpless. It seemed Wan'er was angry, but there was no helping it—he had to make this trip. He could only talk things over after he returned.

After making a few preparations, he set out. He was traveling light this time, bringing none of his valuable things for fear they might be confiscated. He had not even brought his sword, since it was too conspicuous and liable to invite trouble. If a fight broke out, he could just let Qin Ziyan handle it. Chen Fan had also brought the two snakes. Little East was carried on his back, while Little West was hidden in his sleeve. Their cultivation was no longer weak, and at a crucial moment, they could achieve an unexpected effect. Even if they were discovered by a high-level cultivator, they probably would not attract much attention. Though the two snakes' mutated divine abilities were unusual, they were still merely two low-level demon beasts.

The appointed hour was already at hand, yet no one had appeared. Chen Fan began to grow anxious. Could that girl have been locked up and unable to get out?

Just then, a rustling sound came from the nearby woods. Chen Fan sensed something approaching him. At last, the shrubbery before him parted, and a head poked out. A large piece of black cloth covered its head, with only three holes cut around the mouth and nose. Good heavens, what was that thing? Chen Fan jumped in fright. Then the entire body beneath that head emerged from the bushes, also dressed all in black. He had no idea what kind of outfit it was supposed to be.

Chen Fan was dumbfounded, the corner of his mouth twitching. There was actually such an operation?

"Good heavens, I was suffocating to death." The figure yanked off the black cloth over her head, then shook herself wildly, sending the things covering her clothes flying off. Only then did Chen Fan see her face. If it was not Qin Ziyan, who else could it be?

Chen Fan was still dazed and did not know what to say. Qin Ziyan, however, strode right up to him, her face full of excitement. "Those old geezers were watching me far too closely. I finally found a chance to sneak out. Luckily, I made it in time."

"Mm, mm... g-good..." Chen Fan had yet to recover from that sight.

"Let's go. What are we waiting for? What if those old geezers chase after us?" As Qin Ziyan spoke, she grabbed Chen Fan's hand and pulled him along.

They had not gone far when waves of air-tearing sounds came from behind them, drawing closer from the distance. It sounded as though someone was traveling through the forest as well.

"Oh no, someone's chasing us!" Qin Ziyan was alarmed, but she did not try to run harder. She simply turned around and looked toward the approaching person. If those old geezers had come after her, then no matter how fast she ran, it would be useless. She might as well act cute; that would work better.

Chen Fan could only wait at the side with her. He was not too afraid, though. At worst, Qin Ziyan would be taken back. He was going out on Liu Wushuang's orders. Who could do anything to him?

A moment later, a figure leaped out of the woods and landed before them. Once they saw who it was, both their expressions became extraordinarily colorful. Qin Ziyan stared in astonishment. "Senior Sister Ye? Why are you?"

Chen Fan immediately felt as though he had been caught red-handed doing something. Though he did not seem to have done anything, right? And Ye Wan already knew about this, did she not? What had she come here for?

Ye Wan looked coldly at the two of them, then suddenly said, "Your hands! Why haven't you let go yet?"

The two froze, only then realizing that Qin Ziyan was still holding Chen Fan's hand. They immediately separated. Qin Ziyan's face flushed crimson, while Chen Fan raised his head to look at the sky. Damn it! It's over. Now I really can't clear myself even with a hundred mouths. I knew nothing good would come of going out with this little demoness.

"Hmph. Stealing chickens and sneaking like a dog." Ye Wan snorted. "Why aren't you leaving already? Who are you still waiting for?!" As she said this, she looked straight at Chen Fan.

Chen Fan no longer looked at the sky. "It truly troubles Fairy Ye to come see us off!" He thought that Ye Wan had not seemed the slightest bit reluctant about his long journey before, and he had felt rather disappointed. He had not expected her to come all this way just to see him off, and warmth rose in his heart. Yet when he remembered that thing with Qin Ziyan just now, he feared Ye Wan would misunderstand. But this was neither the time nor place to explain, and Chen Fan's head began to ache.

"Hmph! Seeing you off? Dream on! So you can fly together and roost together now, is that it?" Ye Wan's tone was full of contempt, and to Chen Fan's ears, it was bone-chilling. Qin Ziyan, standing beside him, was overcome with embarrassment.

Chen Fan was about to say something when Ye Wan turned and headed down the mountain again, leaving behind only one sentence. "If you two aren't leaving, I'm leaving first!"

Huh? What was going on? Chen Fan froze, then seemed to suddenly understand something. He hurried after her, and Qin Ziyan quickly followed as well.

Ye Wan headed northeast the entire way, without any intention of stopping. Chen Fan could only continuously use the Soaring Art to barely keep up behind her, while Qin Ziyan had to exert herself to the utmost just to avoid being left behind. Thus, the three formed a constant pursuit, one ahead, one in the middle, and one behind. Gradually, Chen Fan understood. This seemed to be the direction of Black Dragon Pool.

The three traveled without pause until dawn, finally leaving the Swordcry Mountains behind. They crossed a mountain peak, passed through a dense forest, and found a stream ahead. Ye Wan lightly stepped on the water several times and leaped across. Chen Fan gritted his teeth and jumped as well, wildly kicking across the surface of the water for several steps and nearly falling in. This journey had consumed no small amount of Internal Qi. Wan'er, your cultivation is high. Couldn't you spare a thought for us? Chen Fan thought. But if Ye Wan did not stop, he could only keep chasing until he was exhausted.

Just after the two had crossed the stream, Qin Ziyan suddenly called out, "Hey, you two, can't we rest for a while? I really can't go on." It truly had not been easy for her. As a Sword-Imperial Pavilion disciple, she normally spent most of her time comprehending External Force and had little understanding of Soaring. She was already considered an exceptionally versatile genius and cultivated the high-level technique known as the Starforce Formula. Though her Soaring Art was only at the second realm, under the Starforce Formula's enhancement at night, she could barely keep up.

What shocked her, however, was that she could not even catch Chen Fan. Even with all her strength, she could only stop him from widening the distance. This was far too unbelievable. How exactly did this fellow do it? At this moment, she even suspected that Chen Fan was a high-level cultivator hiding his true strength. It had to be said that Qin Ziyan had perhaps been confined for too long and had become addled from being locked up, to possess such an imagination.

As dawn brightened, the Starforce Formula's power diminished sharply. How could Qin Ziyan continue chasing? She plopped down on the ground and began meditating to cultivate, her face still puffed up in anger.

Upon hearing her, Ye Wan finally stopped and turned to look behind her. Only then did she realize that, provoked by the two of them, she had set out for Black Dragon Pool in a fit of anger without considering those behind her at all. Yet when she discovered Chen Fan right behind her, she was filled with disbelief. She had not used her full speed, but after such a long time, they had actually kept up the whole way. Qin Ziyan was understandable—Ye Wan knew the Starforce Formula had helped her, and now that dawn had come, she appeared unable to continue. But what was going on with Chen Fan!? Ye Wan refused to believe this was some potential awakened by chasing his wife a thousand li for love.

Moreover, Ye Wan could sense that Chen Fan's Soaring Art did not seem to have consumed much Internal Qi. It neither consumed much Internal Qi nor produced ordinary results. Clearly, this Soaring technique had an extraordinary origin. Had this fellow encountered another fortuitous opportunity before this?

Seeing Ye Wan look at him in confusion, Chen Fan knew what she was thinking and gave her a mysterious smile. Sure enough, Ye Wan seemed susceptible to this. Whenever Chen Fan put on the air of an expert, Ye Wan would remember how he had bled himself to save someone back then. Gratitude welled up in her heart, along with a trace of fascination for Chen Fan. With that, she did not feel quite so angry anymore. After all, her man was simply too outstanding. It was inevitable that he would attract bees and butterflies; she could only blame herself for having such good taste.

Indeed, given Ye Wan's strength and age, she felt absolutely nothing toward ordinary men. Yet she placed such importance on Chen Fan for a reason. Qin Ziyan, meanwhile, was merely an innocent young maiden who had never experienced the world. It was perfectly normal for her to be bewitched by Chen Fan.

Seeing that Ye Wan no longer seemed so angry, Chen Fan finally dared to speak. "Fairy Ye, are you also heading to Black Dragon Pool?"

Tch, asking when he already knew. Ye Wan gave Chen Fan another one of her signature eye rolls, then said, "All right. Let's rest first before continuing."

Thus, the three each sat down to meditate and recover. Half a day later, they set out again, but their pace was clearly much slower now, as though they were sightseeing through mountains and rivers. Chen Fan and Ye Wan seemed to have returned to that scene beneath the mountain, walking hand in hand under the setting sun. Qin Ziyan was also overjoyed. She had finally escaped the old geezers' control, and most of the Internal Qi she had consumed had recovered. Her mind became lively again as she looked here and there, just like a child who had never seen the world.

After leaving the Swordcry Mountains, the scenery gradually began to change. The terrain grew lower and lower, while the mountains slowly vanished, replaced by endless forests. The three walked through them as though they had entered a green ocean. The deeper they went, the more they could feel the secluded stillness cut off from the outside world. The moist air carried a faint sweetness, while the luxuriant branches and leaves overhead blotted out the sky and sun. It was simply a fairyland on earth.

"From here onward, this is Black Dragon Pool's territory," Ye Wan introduced. Clearly, this was not her first time here.

Chen Fan and Qin Ziyan were both amazed. The environment here seemed completely at odds with the name Black Dragon Pool.