A Wisp of Vitality

At this moment, the man was darting around from tree to tree, stopping every now and then to look around, as if searching for something in the forest.

This person has no cultivation level whatsoever, so he is definitely not the cripple who injured Tuantuan.

Are they looking for their child?

Lin Xiao thought for a moment, then stopped paying attention and began searching for clues in the forest.

The forest was vast, Lin Xiao spent some time searching it thoroughly, but he didn't find any clues.

Instead, they discovered some constables searching around as well, and a monk surveying the area with a compass.

The cultivator's cultivation level appeared to be higher than his.

These people seem to be looking for their lost children as well.

Unexpectedly, the government was able to get Foundation Establishment cultivators to help.

Passing by these people, Lin Xiao continued his search.

After hearing what Tuantuan said before, he thought it would be easy to find out once he arrived, but it turned out that was not the case at all.

As dusk approached, Lin Xiao guessed that Yigao should have already come out of the examination hall, but he still hadn't found anything.

But he did not return; he planned to remain in the woods overnight.

We might make some discoveries tonight.

Night falls.

As night fell, the light in the dense forest quickly dimmed, and the lush canopy completely blocked out the bright moonlight, soon making it so dark that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

Of course, this wasn't a big problem for Lin Xiao.

However, for ordinary people, this pitch-black environment was very unfriendly, so torches were gradually lit in the forest.

Standing on a branch of Dashu tree, Lin Xiao watched as the government officials passed by for the third time, still without finding anything.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator at the front, holding the compass, looked like he was on the verge of collapse.

The prefect, dressed in his official robes, stood by, pleading with him in a kind and gentle manner, as if afraid he might quit.

Not long after they left, Lin Xiao saw the ordinary-looking man in tight-fitting clothes he had met in the forest before.

He was covered in sweat, his lips were chapped, and large white patches of sweat had formed on his dark shirt.

Yet he continued his tireless search for something, again and again.

Lin Xiao thought for a moment, then jumped down from the tree.

The anxious Guard Mo was startled by the sudden appearance of the dark figure in front of him. Fortunately, he had excellent eyesight and, upon closer inspection, realized that it was a boy of about twelve or thirteen years old.

The sudden appearance of this young child in the dark forest was completely unexpected by him, a man who had practiced martial arts for many years. He felt something was amiss.

But as a guard, he possessed excellent mental fortitude; despite being somewhat terrified inside, he remained remarkably calm.

"Who goes there!"

Lin Xiao only replied:

Is the person you're looking for a kid about my age?

Guard Mo was somewhat surprised and suspicious:

Why are you asking this?

Lin Xiao greatly admired this person's caution, but at this moment, such caution was anything but friendly to him. He didn't answer, but instead asked:

"If you know roughly where your child disappeared, take me there. Maybe I can save your child."

Upon hearing this, Guard Mo, who was initially annoyed that the young man was not answering his question, paused.

Earlier, the government officials seemed to be searching for something in the woods. He followed them around from a distance, but seeing that they hadn't found anything, he gave up on asking for help.

Having served as a bodyguard for many years, Guard Mo held the government's capabilities in utter contempt.

Moreover, he worried that if he reported it to the authorities, the government would definitely require him to show various identification documents and register some kind of thing, which would cause a lot of trouble and delay the search for the young master.

Clearly, Guard Mo was unaware that these government officials were searching for a group of lost children.

It must be said that Guard Mo was quite lucky. He kept a considerable distance when he followed the government officials, and Jin Nanhuan was in a very agitated state at the time, so he didn't notice Guard Mo's little tail dangling far away.

The thought of this young man suddenly appearing in the dense forest late at night, and being able to remain completely undetected when he got close, made Guard Mo hesitate for a moment.

Because he had been searching for it for so long.

If something were to happen to the young master, he would be held responsible even if he were to die a thousand deaths!

After a moment's hesitation, he asked:

Why should I believe you?

Sensing his momentary hesitation and hearing his words, Lin Xiao suddenly had the answers to all his previous questions.

"Not for any reason, I'm just here to find my child, and besides..."

Without further ado, Lin Xiao cast a Body Immobilization Technique on him to immobilize him, saying:

"I am a monk."

Having practiced martial arts for many years, Guard Mo suddenly found himself completely unable to move! After the initial shock, a glimmer of hope appeared in his heart.

As soon as Lin Xiao released the Body Immobilization Technique, he decisively turned and walked in one direction.

"Over here!"

He understood very well that he was just a mortal martial artist, and facing a cultivator who could immobilize him at will, he was essentially at the mercy of the cultivator.

The young monk only asked him to lead the way, explaining that he was looking for a child.

Therefore, he felt it was at least 60% credible.

As long as we can find the young master.

Even if the young master is put in danger... he will protect him with all his might! Even if he dies, as a guard, he must die before his master, rather than be separated from his master and not even know if his master is safe.

When Guard Mo brought Lin Xiao to a stop, they had arrived at the boundary between the dense forest and the mountains.

Of course, the term "boundary" is just a way of saying the boundary between flat land and mountains; in reality, the forest extends all over the entire mountain range.

Guard Mo pointed here and said to Lin Xiao:

"We were passing by here when we decided to rest for a bit before heading into town. I was feeding the horses when the young master said he was going hunting. He ran off before I could even see him. I hurried after him, but I never found him again."

As for his horse and his young master's horse, they had already been led to a secluded place when he discovered that government officials were searching for something in the forest.

Lin Xiao looked around the area but didn't seem to find anything unusual.

He walked a little further ahead.

This is considered the edge of the area, so if you want to go hunting, you'll definitely have to go further in...

Lin Xiao walked another hundred meters or so when suddenly, he seemed to sense a faint aura emanating from somewhere.

It happened in an instant, then vanished just as quickly.

But Lin Xiao felt much more at ease.

It must be here!

Because he was absolutely certain that the aura he had just felt was the life force of a living person!

And it's already been purified!

Since entering the Foundation Establishment, he has become quite proficient in using the second-tier Qi Purification Technique of the Purification Technique, and he can even barely use the third-tier Heart Purification Technique.

His mastery of the Qi Purification Technique made him extremely sensitive to these energies.

Therefore, he instantly determined that the faint wisp of energy he had just sensed was life.