The night grew ever deeper.
Outside the great hall, darkness stretched everywhere, with strange sounds rising now and then.
They sounded like the eerie cries of some peculiar creatures.
Inside the great hall, the fire shone brightly, and the bonfire crackled.
After learning that Xiao Chen had sent the little golden snake to help search for Purple Dragon Profound Grass, Duan Chenfei, Gong Feng, and the others all looked grateful.
Senior Xiao Chen could not bear to let them put themselves in danger!
For a moment, bitterness welled up in Duan Chenfei's heart again.
She had truly had eyes yet failed to recognize Mount Tai. She had been a complete fool!
She suddenly rose, crossed her hands in front of her, and bowed her head. "Senior, I-I offended you earlier. I-I sincerely apologize to you again. I'm sorry. Whatever compensation you ask for, I'll do my best to provide it. I only hope-hope you can forgive me."
Her tone was sincere, with a trace of apprehension.
Gong Feng and the others looked momentarily stunned.
Was this really their young lady?
She was practically a different person from her former self!
Noticing their surprise, Duan Chenfei's cheeks reddened.
Was I really so willful before?
Xiao Chen looked up at Duan Chenfei and said, "You once said you wanted to wipe out the Ghost-Faced Insects completely and rid the people of that scourge. I thought you weren't beyond saving, and that has indeed proved true."
Duan Chenfei froze for a moment, and admiration rose spontaneously in her heart.
Perhaps this was the breadth of spirit of a true master?
Gong Feng looked gratified.
No amount of talking about the truths of the world would help.
Only through personal experience could a person truly change.
Just then, a streak of golden light darted through the entrance and landed on Xiao Chen's shoulder.
Little Gold had returned.
"Did you find it?" Xiao Chen asked.
"Of course!"
With a light flick of Little Gold's tail, a peculiar purple herb floated in the air.
Excitement immediately appeared on Duan Chenfei's face. Then she said cautiously, "Senior, although I don't have many treasures on me, I-I'm willing to give you everything in my Storage Ring to thank you. Please accept it."
Gong Feng and the others also spoke up, removing their own Storage Rings.
Looking at them, Xiao Chen suddenly found them rather endearing.
So he smiled and said, "There's no hurry to thank me. I'll be paying Duan Ruifeng a visit after a while. You can thank me then."
Duan Chenfei immediately looked delighted. "You're coming to see Father?"
Gong Feng sighed inwardly. Of course, the possessions they had on hand would naturally be beneath Senior Xiao Chen's notice.
Xiao Chen waved a hand. "Head down the mountain after dawn. We'll meet again if fate allows."
Duan Chenfei immediately said gratefully, "Thank you, Senior!"
Xiao Chen nodded and stood straight up.
"Senior, are you...?"
"I'm leaving now."
Gong Feng and the others were startled.
"Senior, that won't do. Poison Cloud Mountain is extremely dangerous at night. You-"
Before Gong Feng could finish, Xiao Chen smiled. "They're the ones who should be afraid."
As he spoke, he had already taken Xiao Yi Xian's delicate hand and walked out of the great hall.
Their figures soon vanished into the night.
Duan Chenfei, Cheng Wuyong, and the others exchanged glances, but they were not worried about Xiao Chen's safety.
And the main reason Xiao Chen had chosen to leave immediately was-
Yin Yuandong had disappeared!
The night was dark as ink, and mist wreathed the mountain wilderness.
Somewhere on Poison Cloud Mountain.
Yin Yuandong slammed his palm into the ground.
The earth immediately caved in, and faint, blood-red light seeped from the cracks.
Without the slightest hesitation, Yin Yuandong struck down with his palm again. The blood-red light instantly flared, and a blood-colored jade pendant shot out from underground, seemingly trying to escape.
Yin Yuandong snorted coldly and thrust his palm out from a distance. With a bang, the blood-red light surrounding the jade pendant burst apart, and a petite figure was knocked out of it and fell to the ground.
It was actually a female ghost!
She wore blood-red robes, with the face of a young girl and skin as white and translucent as snow.
She curled up on the ground, her petite body trembling violently.
"My lord, spare my life! I've never taken anyone's life!"
The red-robed ghost pleaded in agony, lying on the ground and panting rapidly.
An eerie smile on his face, Yin Yuandong looked down at her and chuckled. "I don't care whether you've harmed anyone. I came here to take you back."
The red-robed ghost's delicate, pale face was filled with terror as she curled up on the ground, shivering.
"Hm? Is this-a ghost?"
Just as Yin Yuandong was about to seize her, a soft exclamation suddenly sounded nearby.
Yin Yuandong's body abruptly stiffened.
It was him!
The newcomers were naturally Xiao Chen and Xiao Yi Xian.
Looking at the red-robed girl, Xiao Chen raised his brows slightly.
Was this what Yin Yuandong had come to the Dou Qi Continent for?
She just looked like an ordinary soul.
Seeing more people appear, the red-robed ghost's delicate, pale face grew even more frightened, making her look pitiful and helpless.
"Old Yin, what are you doing?" Xiao Chen asked with a smile.
"Xiao Chen, why are you here?" Yin Yuandong's expression was rather unpleasant.
"You suddenly vanished right under my nose. Of course I came looking for you," Xiao Chen said with a faint smile.
"Hehe, I see. I simply sensed this little girl's presence all of a sudden and came to have a look."
"Oh?" Xiao Chen raised a brow. "Why didn't I sense her?"
Yin Yuandong frowned.
He knew this brat's temperament well enough. Now that he had been discovered, taking this girl away would not be so easy.
Before he could speak, Xiao Chen said without any courtesy, "Old Yin, you've traveled countless miles to reach the Dou Qi Continent. Thank you for your trouble. But this ghost-"
"I feel she and I are bound by fate."
Xiao Chen was not talking nonsense. He truly felt that this female ghost seemed somewhat familiar.
Yin Yuandong's expression darkened. "Xiao Chen! I found her first!"
Xiao Chen remained calm. "I know."
Seeing this, Yin Yuandong took a deep breath, a vicious look appearing on his face. An utterly terrifying aura awakened within him and bore down on Xiao Chen.
Just then, a cold snort rang out beside Yin Yuandong's ear. His vision suddenly lit up, and he actually saw an enormous golden dragon staring coldly at him with indifferent eyes.
In an instant, cold sweat poured from Yin Yuandong.
The terrifying aura within him instantly vanished, and he returned to looking so frail that a gust of wind might topple him.
Xiao Chen smiled faintly. "It's time for you to leave, Old Yin."
Yin Yuandong glanced at the little golden snake on Xiao Chen's shoulder, apprehension appearing on his face.
"Xiao Chen, you win this one!"
"You can have this ghost!"
With that, Yin Yuandong shot Xiao Chen a vicious look. The instant he turned around, his figure vanished.
At the sight, Xiao Yi Xian's beautiful eyes widened.
At first, she had thought he was merely an ordinary old man.
Later, she had thought he might be a powerful expert.
But now that Yin Yuandong had vanished into thin air, she fully realized that this old man possessed utterly terrifying strength!
Xiao Chen paid no attention to where Yin Yuandong had gone. He looked at the red-robed girl curled up on the ground and said, "I'll give you a chance. Tell me where you came from and everything you know. If I'm satisfied, I'll show you a way to survive."
His words were casual, yet they sent a shudder through the red-robed girl.
In her eyes, Xiao Chen, who could force that vicious old man to retreat, was undoubtedly even more terrifying!
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