Though the young girl was only twelve, she already had the makings of a beauty.

The plain clothing couldn’t hide it; her face was pale, and she clung tightly to the governor’s daughter’s hand, glancing up at Xu Yang and the others from time to time before quickly lowering her head again.

"Don’t be afraid, Xiaoyue. Mr. Xu is a good man. When I couldn’t cultivate back then, it was Mr. Xu who helped me solve it."

"You can rest assured. Mr. Xu will definitely get you to the capital safely!"

Coming closer, the governor’s daughter squatted down, grasped Dong Yue’s hand, and spoke seriously.

Dong Yue slowly lifted her head, glanced at Xu Yang, then stared at the governor’s daughter and nodded heavily.

"Thank you, sister, for taking care of me for so long."

The governor’s daughter reached out and rubbed Dong Yue’s head, sighing inwardly as a trace of pain flashed in her eyes.

Xu Yang raised his brow slightly; Dong Yue’s reaction surprised him!

Though she seemed a bit afraid, her eyes were especially pure and resolute!

She was young, but likely understood everything perfectly!

So small, having been through so much, yet still so calm and determined—just how strong must her heart be?

"Mr. Xu, please take good care of Xiaoyue. She..." The governor’s daughter led Dong Yue over, looked seriously at Xu Yang, then, because Dong Yue was beside her, swallowed some words before she finished.

But Xu Yang could sense what went unsaid, so he nodded slightly to her and said, "Don’t worry!"

The governor gave a meaningful glance.

Xu Yang instantly understood.

His true identity was unknown to her daughter!

That was for the best!

If it caused a commotion, it would surely stir up waves upon reaching the capital!

"Governor, I’ll take my leave now!"

Xu Yang cupped his hands in salute to the governor, then reached his hand out toward Dong Yue.

Dong Yue was startled, hesitated for a moment, then reached out and grabbed Xu Yang’s hand.

Swish!

The central province governor watched Xu Yang race off, unable to help but let out a breath.

Recalling Zheng Xuan’s parting words, he couldn’t help but smile bitterly: "This kid really doesn’t need any more secret protection from me."

"Father, is Mr. Xu really going alone?" the governor’s daughter couldn’t help but ask.

The governor shot her a strange look, thinking to himself that she surely didn’t know the boy’s true strength.

He knew a bit about what had happened inside the Purple Fire Celestial Prison.

With Xu Yang’s current power, there were few in the martial ranks beneath the True Lord level who could match him!

Not to mention his identity!

Though it wasn’t public knowledge, there were quite a few in the capital with clearance to know!

Now, all eyes were watching, all were curious!

But no matter what, his identity was a taboo for every power!

"Don’t worry, with Mr. Xu, the entire journey will be safe!"

The governor gave a faint smile.

...

Half a day later, clouds thickened, darkness fell, winds surged, and the temperature in heaven and earth dropped sharply!

Xu Yang looked up—heavy rain was imminent!

Suddenly, he glanced into the distance and made out a small village faintly visible.

At the village outskirts, there was a teahouse!

Swish!

Xu Yang descended from the sky with Dong Yue and landed just outside the teahouse.

Inside, three or so Martial Artists sat, all only Innate Realm cultivators.

Xu Yang swept his gaze over them; the shopkeeper greeted him with a face both warm and reverent: "Sir, please have a seat, what do you need?"

"A pot of tea!"

"Alright, sir, just a moment!"

"Let’s sit here."

Xu Yang gestured to a nearby table.

Just as they sat down, wind howled outside and the rain came down in torrents.

On the way, he and Dong Yue hadn’t spoken at all.

Looking at Dong Yue sitting quietly across from him, head down, Xu Yang smiled faintly: "There’s no need to worry—while I’m here, nothing will happen on this journey!"

Dong Yue suddenly looked up, surprise flashing in her eyes!

Xu Yang tilted his head a little, looked toward the outside, and murmured, "You’re very much like me."

"Like you?" Dong Yue finally spoke, her eyes brimming with confusion.

"Our experiences!"

Dong Yue unconsciously clenched her fist.

"I’m an illegitimate child!"

"My mother left as soon as she gave birth to me, and my father..." Xu Yang’s voice paused briefly, his smile self-deprecating, then he went on calmly: "He’s above everyone, and he’s never bothered to lay eyes on me!"

"You can probably imagine what my life has been like." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Dong Yue bit her lip and silently nodded.

"Later, I cultivated a spirit bone, but it got discovered by others."

"You..." Dong Yue shuddered, blurting out anxiously, then froze—unable to find the words she wanted.

Xu Yang turned to her with a smile: "My spirit bone was dug out!"

Gulp!

Dong Yue’s throat rolled as she swallowed hard, her clear eyes churning with emotion, and her face turned even paler.

"Maybe I was lucky and survived through a twist of fate."

Looking back now, Xu Yang felt no waves in his heart; it was as if he was telling a story he’d witnessed, not lived himself.

That carefreeness made Dong Yue ask, unable to hold back, "Do you... still hate them?"

Xu Yang grinned: "Are they even worth it?"

Dong Yue was stunned, but then couldn’t help but smile.

Suddenly, her body trembled and almost collapsed, her face drained of color and twisted in pain.

Xu Yang’s brows furrowed. In a flash, he caught Dong Yue, instantly sensing a surge of fierce, scorching power erupt from within her.

She had no cultivation, yet the aura was at least on par with a Yin Realm Martial Artist!

Thunderfire Dominating Body!

Governor had told him this.

This constitution was extremely domineering—thunder and fire interwoven. Without sufficient cultivation to control it, the sufferer would endure tremendous pain!

Normally, such a constitution shouldn’t appear in a girl.

But Dong Yue had it anyway, so her suffering was even worse than a man’s!

"I know nothing about this Dao. Once she’s at her family’s mansion in the capital, I trust they’ll find her a suitable teacher!"

"It’s unwise to force any technique right now!"

And anyway, on this trip, Gu Jun hadn’t come along.

According to Gu Jun, he was a bit afraid.

Xu Yang, after all, was going to meet the Son of Heaven!

And the capital was swarming with experts!

It wouldn’t be a pleasant feeling!

With a single thought, Xu Yang tapped his finger, striking several points on Dong Yue.

A few breaths later—

The surging, scorching, domineering force within her quickly subsided.

Dong Yue gripped the table tightly, forehead drenched in cold sweat, gasping weakly.

"It’s fine now. I’ve temporarily sealed that power in your body—it should last a month or so."

"Once we reach the capital, your clan will handle it for you!" Xu Yang said solemnly.

"Mm!"

Dong Yue nodded lightly, looked up at Xu Yang, and managed a smile: "Thank you, Mr. Xu!"

Xu Yang smiled warmly, a trace of surprise in his eyes.

At this moment, there was no pain lingering in Dong Yue’s eyes—she was calm and steady!

One could hardly imagine how much suffering it would take for a twelve-year-old girl to become like this!

Xu Yang was about to go back and sit when his steps paused, and he looked outside.

The rain still poured down, but in the instant he looked, the howling wind fell utterly silent!

"Mr. Xu—is it... are they here?" Dong Yue seemed to sense something, turned to look out as well, both hands pressing on the table, pushing herself up.

Xu Yang glanced back at Dong Yue and said, "Your Thunderfire Dominating Body is wild and fierce. Someday you’ll have to fight; by right, you shouldn’t see these things yet!"

"But I think, maybe it’s fine for you to watch. What do you think?"

Their eyes met; Dong Yue suddenly reached out her small hand.

Seeing this, Xu Yang smiled faintly, took Dong Yue’s hand, and together they walked out slowly.