"HYAH!"

"HYAH!"

It was the dead of night, and the morning mist had not yet dispersed.

Four strong horses charged into a ruined temple. Bai Fu did a quick sweep of the temple before turning to Che Yunxiu and shaking her head regretfully.

"Miss, he’s already gone."

"Ah!"

Che Yunxiu’s face filled with panic:

"What do we do now?"

"Don’t panic." Elder Qian had lived for more than half a century, weathering many ups and downs. He quickly regained his composure.

"Even if that man gave Bai Fu some guidance that caused her strength to skyrocket in just two days, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s powerful himself."

"And even if he is powerful, it’s impossible to know how much of that strength he can use while so heavily injured. Besides, there’s no guarantee he would have agreed to protect you, Miss."

"Our priority right now..."

He glanced back over his shoulder and said,

"...is to get back to Jizhou!"

"Elder Qian," Bai Fu began,

"it will take at least five days to get to Jizhou. We could reach Wann City in a single day by riding hard. Why not go to Wann City?"

"Wann City?" Elder Qian shook his head.

"With Master Che gone, it’s debatable whether the Zhao Family would even acknowledge us as relatives. What’s more, our attackers came prepared. The road to Wann City is sure to be filled with ambushes."

"On the other hand,"

"the bandits who attacked the caravan are unlikely to pursue us all the way from Anxi Prefecture to Jizhou. We’ll be safe once we get through these first couple of days."

"Yes." Che Yunxiu’s eyes filled with tears.

"We’ll do as you arrange, Elder Qian."

"Then let’s go!" Elder Qian turned his horse around.

"Our pursuers will be here soon. We can’t waste any time. Let’s get moving."

A total of nine people had escaped the post station. In the end, all but these four had been killed by the pursuing bandits.

If Bai Fu hadn’t fought back with every ounce of her strength, even these few might not have made it this far.

"HYAH!"

"..."

The horses set off, galloping swiftly down the road.

"Miss." Bai Fu’s movements were light and graceful. After the increase in her cultivation, even her horsemanship had improved significantly. She urged her horse closer to ask,

"There’s a main road and a small path ahead. Which one should we take?"

"Main road? Small path?" Che Yunxiu’s eyes were red. She sniffled and turned to ask Elder Qian beside her,

"Elder Qian, what do you think?"

"The small path," Elder Qian said.

"It’s faster, making it harder for anyone to catch up. Besides, after the rain, a small path will better conceal our tracks."

The ground was soft and muddy after the rain. Hoofprints would be obvious, easily identified by anyone with experience.

Only on a wooded path would the tracks be less distinct.

"Then we’ll take the small path."

The trio spurred their horses into the small path under the cover of the lingering morning mist, vanishing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

After what seemed like an eternity,

Elder Qian’s body swayed precariously. When his horse leaped forward, he almost pitched off its back.

"Elder Qian!"

"Manager Qian."

The others quickly reined in their galloping horses.

"I... I can’t go on." Elder Qian’s face was pale, his body trembling slightly. He spoke with a bitter expression,

"I’m old. This old body really can’t take it anymore."

"Miss!"

He looked at Che Yunxiu.

"Don’t worry about me. Have Bai Fu protect you and escape. Once you’re out of Anxi Prefecture, you’ll be safe."

At over sixty years of age, he was long past his prime.

Moreover, even a strong young man would struggle to endure riding hard for hours on end, let alone him.

Elder Qian had been at his limit for a while. The insides of his thighs were a bloody mess, but he had borne the pain in silence so as not to slow them down.

"No!" Che Yunxiu shook her head upon hearing his words.

"We can’t just leave you behind."

"Xiaozhong."

She looked at the only guard who had made it out, saying,

"You and Elder Qian will ride together on one horse. We’ll stick together and travel as fast as we can."

"Yes." Xiaozhong acknowledged the order and helped Elder Qian onto his horse.

"HYAH!"

The four of them set off again, but their pace inevitably slowed. In truth, the others were also exhausted.

"WHOA..."

Suddenly, Bai Fu yanked on her reins.

"Miss, there’s someone ahead."

"Oh!" Che Yunxiu’s body tensed.

"Be careful."

A short distance ahead, they saw a familiar figure skinning a wild rabbit, preparing to set up a spit for roasting.

Although he was just one person and inconspicuous in the desolate forest, he inexplicably gave off a sense of security.

The tension that had gripped them began to ease.

"Young Master Zhu!"

"It’s him!"

A delighted expression appeared on Bai Fu’s face. She leaped from her horse and hurried over.

"You’re here too?"

"I’m heading to Saint Head Mountain, so it’s perfectly reasonable for me to be here." Zhu Ju put down his dagger and looked at the group.

"You, on the other hand, seem to be going the wrong way."

"..."

The group fell silent.

The reminder of her recent tragedy brought tears to Che Yunxiu’s eyes.

"Perfect timing." Zhu Ju had no intention of asking about their ordeal. He waved Bai Fu over.

"You’re a good cook. Help me roast this rabbit."

"Yes." Bai Fu answered instinctively, then glanced at her lady. As she took the rabbit, she said,

"Young Master Zhu, you’re going to Jizhou as well. Could you travel with us? There’s... someone trying to harm my lady."

"Is that so?" Zhu Ju said, his expression knowing.

"Where is Master Che?"

"My condolences."

One look at Che Yunxiu’s face was all the answer he needed. He leaned back against a tree and slowly closed his eyes.

"Parting by life and death is inevitable."

"Young Master Zhu." Elder Qian’s expression shifted as he stepped closer.

"I would like to ask you to escort my lady. As soon as we reach Jizhou, the Che Family will certainly reward you generously."

"For the sake of the kindness my master showed you a few days ago, I hope you will agree."

He first tried to entice with profit, then pressed with a sense of obligation. His attitude and words were filled with such humility and pleading that it would be truly difficult for anyone to refuse.

Unfortunately,

"We are not heading the same way."

Zhu Ju’s expression was indifferent.

"There’s no need for further discussion on this matter."

"I am grateful for Master Che’s kindness, but even if I had not met him, I would have been fine."

"How can you be like this!" Xiaozhong exploded in anger.

"You were covered in wounds and collapsed on the side of the road! It was only because of my master’s kindness that he took you in!"

"Is that so?" Zhu Ju’s voice was slow.

"It seems there’s been some misunderstanding between us. I was indeed covered in wounds, but I truly did not require any help."

"You!" Xiaozhong was furious.

"Forget it."

Elder Qian waved his hand, cutting Xiaozhong off. His tone held a hint of sarcasm.

"Young Master Zhu must be a transcendent expert. It’s only natural that he wouldn’t want to associate with us common folk."

"However, we are exhausted from our journey. I trust you won’t mind if we rest here for a moment, Young Master?"

"As you wish," Zhu Ju said.

With Xiaozhong’s help, Elder Qian slowly sat down. Che Yunxiu, her eyes red, squatted beside the campfire.

"Bai Fu."

Elder Qian sniffed the air and praised,

"Your cooking is getting better and better."

"You praise me too much, Elder Qian." Bai Fu lowered her head.

"It’s just a matter of practice makes perfect. Nothing special."

"Not at all." Elder Qian shook his head.

"You were born with Inner Wisdom. I could see it since you were little. Otherwise, the Master would not have kept you by the Miss’s side."

"Hmm..."

He thought for a moment, then said slowly,

"You’re a pitiful child, without a mother or father since you were young. It was the Master who arranged for you to be cared for and raised."

"Yes." Bai Fu nodded.

"I can never repay the Master’s kindness in my entire life."

"Mm." A satisfied look appeared on Elder Qian’s face.

"You’re a sensible, good child. I am just like you; everything this old man has was given by the Che Family."

"This old man has no children. How about you become my daughter?"

Huh?

Bai Fu froze.

Although Elder Qian was nominally the Che Family’s manager, his status was so high that he was practically one of the family.

Even Che Yunxiu had to be respectful to him.

Having served the Che Family for decades, Elder Qian had amassed a considerable fortune of his own. All of it would be left to his descendants, and since he had none, whoever he adopted as a daughter would naturally be the sole heir.

In the Che Family, becoming Elder Qian’s adopted daughter was something most handmaidens wouldn’t even dare to dream of.

"This..." Bai Fu hesitated.

She was different from the other handmaidens. She had been taught to read and write, so she didn’t place much importance on money.

She didn’t particularly long to acknowledge Elder Qian as her father.

"Bai Fu."

Che Yunxiu nodded at the suggestion.

"I think Elder Qian’s proposal is excellent. If you become his adopted daughter, your husband’s family won’t dare bully you when you marry in the future."

"That’s right!" Xiaozhong chimed in.

"To be chosen by a senior like him is your good fortune."

?

Bai Fu was completely bewildered, unsure of what to do. She instinctively glanced at Zhu Ju, only to see him with his eyes shut tight, ignoring everything.

"Godfather."

Under their persuasion, she kowtowed in a daze and acknowledged him as her godfather.

"Haha..." Elder Qian laughed heartily.

"Good daughter!"

"I’ve lived for more than half my life, and to think I’d gain such an obedient daughter in my old age! I am truly blessed."

He had originally looked down on Bai Fu, but times had changed.

The Bai Fu of today had revealed an astonishing talent for Martial Arts. As long as she made it back alive, her future achievements were bound to be extraordinary.

Perhaps,

she could even become a Body Tempering Martial Artist!

Moreover, Bai Fu had a gentle personality and a kind heart. As her adopted father, he would be able to live out his golden years in peace.

It was a move that killed several birds with one stone.

"My daughter!" Elder Qian’s breathing steadied, and he smiled.

"You’re not young anymore. I say there’s no time like the present. Your father will arrange a match for you today."

"Xiaozhong is an honest and well-behaved young man. Why don’t you marry him? You two can be a loving couple."

Ah!

The color drained from Bai Fu’s face.

Beside them, Xiaozhong also frowned.

Xiaozhong had never thought much of Bai Fu, what with the birthmark on her face. But now that she was Elder Qian’s daughter, things were different.

’If I marry Bai Fu, I’ll get Elder Qian’s inheritance. And with her docile personality, she probably won’t stop me from taking concubines.’

’It’s not a bad deal at all!’

At this thought, a smile crept onto Xiaozhong’s face.

"Wonderful!"

Che Yunxiu clapped her hands and forced a smile.

"This is a double blessing today! Even as we flee for our lives, I’m so happy that you two have found a place to belong."

Matchmaking.

A husband!

Such foreign words.

Looking at the three smiling faces before her, Bai Fu felt nothing but terror in her heart, with no idea how to react.

She was like bait caught in a large net, powerless to struggle, left to suffocate as she dried out.

How could one refuse a match made by one’s parents and arranged by a matchmaker?

"CRACKLE!"

A branch in the campfire popped loudly, snapping Bai Fu back to her senses. She looked across at Zhu Ju.

At some point,

Zhu Ju had opened his eyes. His dark pupils held a depth that seemed to see through everything, yet they were utterly indifferent.

Bai Fu suddenly understood.

No one could be her pillar of support.

Not Elder Qin,

not her Miss...

not anymore!

And this mysterious young master before her had treated her as nothing more than a stranger, a passerby, from start to finish.

The martial arts guidance he had given her was perhaps just repayment for the food, or a momentary whim, not a genuine act of kindness.

"Young Master." Lowering her head, Bai Fu spoke as she adjusted the roasting rabbit.

"I’ve heard some things about Saint Head Peak. One of them is a legendary tale involving an Unparalleled Grandmaster from a hundred years ago."

"Oh?"

Zhu Ju raised an eyebrow.

"Let’s hear it."

"A hundred years ago, the Unparalleled Grandmaster visited Saint Head Peak. It’s said he watched the sea of clouds from the summit for seven days and seven nights before coming down," Bai Fu said.

"After he descended the mountain, he left behind a single sentence and then disappeared. The story goes that he died after returning to the Fu Family."

"He left behind a sentence?" Zhu Ju slowly sat up straight.

"What did it say?"

"Very few people know about this. When it was first spread, it was dismissed as a mere rumor," Bai Fu began.

"I don’t know if it’s true or false either."

"The original saying was: ’The Innate is hopeless, the Great Dao is poison; only by viewing flowers in the fog can one obtain the true law.’"