Lu Qingchen, Can You Actually Handle It?

Every mountain blazed red, every layer of forest steeped in color. The crimson leaves covering the slopes burned like leaping flames, yet however fiercely the maple leaves glowed, they could not steal even a fraction of the scarlet-clad girl's splendor.

Ning Xiang walked along the winding maple forest path. Tall and long-legged though Lu Qingchen was, he slowed his steps to wait for her.

Why does this feel like Master and I are a little couple taking a walk hand in hand?

The moment that thought surfaced, Ning Xiang firmly shook her head.

Lu Qingchen suddenly stopped and turned to look at her, thinking that if Ning Xiang asked to hold his hand, he would reluctantly oblige.

Ning Xiang glanced at Lu Qingchen, suspicion stirring in her heart.

Master, can you actually handle it? We've barely walked anywhere, and you can't go on? Master, you're frail!

Lu Qingchen's temples began to throb.

Ning Xiang felt that, as his disciple, she ought to show some concern for her master's lifelong happiness, so she asked solicitously, "Master, Junior Sister Zhou of the Luo River Sect is skilled in medi-"

"Silence." Lu Qingchen decided he could not let Ning Xiang finish that sentence. He cut her off decisively, then turned and continued up the mountain.

Ning Xiang sighed regretfully.

Master's lashing out from embarrassment, isn't he? Oh well, I'd better spare his pride.

Lu Qingchen had just breathed a sigh of relief when he heard-

Still, I could sound Junior Sister Zhou out indirectly and ask her for a few prescriptions. I really am the Profound Heaven Sect's best disciple!

Lu Qingchen thought, Your master certainly thanks you!

The sunset's lingering glow painted the maple forest an even more vivid red. Layer upon layer of crimson flowed across the mountains, and thick fallen leaves lay beneath their feet. Heaven and earth seemed to merge into one unbroken expanse.

The two of them walked as though through a painted scroll.

Ning Xiang raised her hand, and a beautifully shaped red leaf spun down into her palm. She held it up against the setting sun.

The leaf concealed half her face, lending her a childlike air.

Lu Qingchen remembered what she had looked like when she first arrived at Solitary Light Peak.

She had been a tiny little thing, still full of childish innocence, with a plump little face that made one want to reach out and pinch it.

The little girl had been as delicately fashioned as powdered jade, like a little snowball, but her eyes were clear and bright. Her hair was tied into two little buns with two madder-red satin ribbons, and she wore a dress of the same color.

When she smiled, the mountains shone and the rivers grew lovely; even the ice and snow on Solitary Light Peak seemed ready to melt for her.

Little Ning Xiang had taken a liking to him the first time she saw him. Back then, Lu Qingchen had probably felt a measure of fondness for her too-naturally, not the kind between a man and a woman.

She had been far too young, and Lu Qingchen had never cared for a child before. At a complete loss, he had handed her over to Su Lang.

Su Lang was a good senior brother and had indeed taken excellent care of her.

Thinking back on those bygone days filled Lu Qingchen with emotion.

Ning Xiang had liked him since childhood, and her wholehearted affection for him had never changed.

For instance, when she learned embroidery at thirteen, she had given the first garment she embroidered to him, her master.

Ning Xiang gently pinched the red leaf in two, its juices staining her fingernails a faint red.

Quiet surroundings always made it easy to remember the past, and Ning Xiang was no exception.

She recalled all the little moments since she had met Lu Qingchen.

Iceberg Lu must think I made that garment for him, right? Hahaha, I originally meant to make a cushion for Laifu's bed, but Laifu turned his nose up at it, so I had to give it to Iceberg Lu.

Laifu was Ning Xiang's spirit pet, a beautiful, spirited jade-eyed fire hou beast.

Lu Qingchen: "..."

When Ning Xiang was fifteen, she had told him that girls in the Mortal World underwent their hairpin ceremony at fifteen and could be betrothed afterward. She had given him a White Jade Hairpin and said she had an identical one.

Ning Xiang thought, That hairpin belonged to my dad. I accidentally broke it, so I gave it to Iceberg Lu. It's not like he would ever wear it anyway.

Lu Qingchen clenched his fists. He refused to believe it. Surely they still had some beautiful memories together!

Ten years ago, he had been gravely injured while slaying the Great Demon Hundred-Eyed Demon Xi. Ning Xiang had cared for him for days on end without sleeping or resting, and after he recovered, she had lost a great deal of weight instead.

Ning Xiang picked another maple leaf to torment.

How could I possibly have gone days without resting? Eldest Senior Brother was the one who stayed by his bedside and looked after him for days. I was only responsible for checking in whenever he woke up. Eldest Senior Brother really is loyal-he never sold me out. As for why I lost weight? Hahaha, obviously because summer was coming, and I was dieting so I could wear pretty little dresses!

Huh, something was wrong. Why did Ning Xiang feel as though the temperature had plummeted?

Lu Qingchen's icy gaze fell on Ning Xiang, leaving her feeling rather strange.

What's gotten into Iceberg Lu now? Just a moment ago, he was all tenderness, and now he's so cold again. A man's heart really is a needle at the bottom of the sea. Rotten scumbag!

So Ning Xiang thought.

Suddenly, she sensed something wrong with the presence in the forest.

Lu Qingchen had clearly noticed it too.

She exchanged a glance with Lu Qingchen.

He pulled her behind him, summoned the Canglang Sword, and poured spiritual power into it. A rippling, watery shield brimming with spiritual energy formed around them.

Almost simultaneously, several fierce surges of killing intent closed in from every direction, only to be repelled by the shield.

Those masses of foul, vicious energy landed on the ground and transformed into more than a dozen small, scrawny Demon Beasts.

Each had scarlet eyes, four pointed ears, and long, dark-red whiskers around its face. Dark-red fur covered their bodies, and their long tails ended in charred-black tips. Their bodies resembled macaques, but their faces looked more like lions. Every one of them had a cultivation level of at least the late Core Formation Realm, and two had even reached the Nascent Soul Realm.

The dozen-odd Demon Beasts straightened up, eyeing the pair like tigers watching their prey.

Ning Xiang summoned the Shattered Moon Whip and stood back-to-back with Lu Qingchen. "Master, what are these creatures?"

"Four-Eared Demon Tamarisk Monkeys."

"I've read about them in the Ten Thousand Demons Illustrated Compendium, but don't they live in the Purple Tenuity Domain? Why would they appear here?"

Lu Qingchen's gaze turned cold. "There's more to it. They've clearly been tamed by cultivators, and their minds are being controlled."

"The Beast Taming Sect?" Ning Xiang asked without thinking.

The Profound Heaven Sect and the Beast Taming Sect had once incurred a grudge, but the original novel had never mentioned what exactly had caused it. Everyone in the Profound Heaven Sect had always kept their lips sealed on the matter, so Ning Xiang had never asked.

If this was merely the two great sects locking horns, it would not be a serious concern. But if Demon Beasts had been sent to infiltrate the Profound Heaven Sect, they had no choice but to question the Beast Taming Sect's intentions.

Especially given what they were seeing now-could the Beast Taming Sect be secretly consorting with the Demon Domain?

There was no time to consider anything more. As Lu Qingchen sent a message to the sect, he told Ning Xiang, "Crush an Earth-Digging Talisman and leave this place first."

Lu Qingchen knew that Ning Xiang was proficient in the art of talismans.

"I'll help you first. If we can't beat them, it won't be too late to run."

Before Ning Xiang had finished speaking, the Four-Eared Demon Tamarisk Monkeys let out a cacophony of shrill cries and lunged at the two of them-