Like him, this grandfather and granddaughter were strangers in an unfamiliar place. Having encountered someone as ill-intentioned as Jia Zhengjing, if they stayed here, they would likely end up as lambs in a tiger's jaws.
He pondered for a long while, then raised his head and said, "Old sir, I'm about to head to Zhonglü City. Juxian Academy is located there, so there shouldn't be such vile people around. If you're willing, how about I take you and your granddaughter to Zhonglü City?"
The old man gave it little thought before cupping his hands in salute. "Thank you, young hero! The two of us would be willing to follow you to Zhonglü City!"
"In that case, come with me, old sir!" Xu Qingtong said.
With that, he led the old man and the little girl named Duoduo toward the city gate.
Once outside the gate, Xu Qingtong summoned the Ink Cloud Shuttle and cast a mudra. The Ink Cloud Shuttle transformed into a flying boat and stopped before Duoduo.
"Old sir, Duoduo, come aboard. I'll take you to Zhonglü City!"
"Hold it! You humiliated a member of the Jia Household and think you can just leave?" A voice suddenly rang out from behind.
Xu Qingtong turned to look and saw Jia Zhengjing, who had just left, hurrying toward him with two middle-aged men.
"You two, get aboard. Leave this to me!" Seeing that both middle-aged men had foundation establishment middle stage cultivation, Xu Qingtong spoke unconcernedly.
Once Duoduo and her grandfather had boarded the Ink Cloud Shuttle, Xu Qingtong turned around and stared expressionlessly at the approaching trio.
The three stopped before Xu Qingtong. The slightly older man in the lead said, "Just who might you be, meddling in the Jia Household's affairs and daring to humiliate my third brother?"