Xiao Tian looked at Ji Dantong with a bit of amusement: "I can't help you with this matter, just like you said, it's ultimately up to her own choice."

"This matter is really important for my sect!" Ji Dantong's expression was more serious than ever: "Please... can you not help me?!"

"I can't!"

Xiao Tian was unmoved: "I know nothing about your sect, not even its name, let alone the cultivation techniques you practice. I can't help you decide someone else's uncertain future!"

Ji Dantong opened her mouth slightly, but in the end, didn't say anything, instead, she apologized slightly: "I really can't reveal more about the sect, but I can vouch with my character that this isn't a bad thing for anyone!"

"Character vouch?!"

Xiao Tian shook his head with a smile: "Actually, even without my protection, you can still stand up to those who threaten you, right?! You even have the ability to defeat me in battle, or possibly kill me on the spot?"

"With you being like this, forgive me for not trusting you," Xiao Tian continued: "In any case, I can't help you with this issue!"

After finishing speaking, he turned to head back the way he came.

Watching Xiao Tian's departing silhouette, Ji Dantong bit her red lips tightly, her eyes turning red and tears slipping down her face uncontrollably.

No matter her original intentions, she couldn't deny what Xiao Tian had said; she had indeed deceived him.

As Xiao Tian's figure became smaller and more distant, Ji Dantong's tear-blurred vision began to warp...

Recollecting the moments when he held her hand to escape from the Soul-Seeking Bee, when he held her in his arms while fleeing, detoxifying her, applying medicine to her injured ankle, vivid scenes appeared before her eyes.

In a daze, Ji Dantong suddenly realized that the silhouette in front of her paused for a moment, then turned back and started walking towards her.

Hurriedly wiping the tears off her face, she saw clearly that Xiao Tian was really turning back, which instantly brought a delighted smile to her face.

Looking at the tear-stricken face in front of him, Xiao Tian handed her a small bundle wrapped in oil paper.

Ji Dantong froze and then thought of what was inside—the design they had created together and the Proud Snow Evil Shadow Bamboo needed for forging.

Seeing this, Ji Dantong gave a bitter, forced smile: "So, you had already prepared to return it to me?!"

"No!"

Xiao Tian shook his head truthfully: "I originally intended to keep it separate so as not to lose it when needed, but I thought there wouldn't be many opportunities to meet again, so I decided to return it to you!"

"I…"

Ji Dantong really wanted to tell Xiao Tian, to tell him where she was, but her reason and the teachings she had adhered to since childhood kept her from speaking, even when her emotions wanted to.

On the other hand, even telling him where she was wouldn't be good for him, so she decided not to dwell too much on this issue.

With a generous smile, Ji Dantong took the small package Xiao Tian handed her, saying: "Anyway, thank you for this time! Thank you, Hunter!"

Hearing these somewhat familiar words, Xiao Tian smiled and nodded: "You're welcome!"

"Then, goodbye!"

Ji Dantong waved her farewell.

"Goodbye!"

Xiao Tian also waved and then left without hesitation.

...

Ji Dantong stayed in place for a long time, only snapping out of it after Xiao Tian's figure had long disappeared from her view, and then headed in the opposite direction.

But with every step, Ji Dantong felt a pain in her heart, a wrenching pain she had never experienced in her nineteen years of life!

However, this feeling was indeed unpleasant!

Walking aimlessly, Ji Dantong sighed, opened the small package in her hand, and besides the design and the Proud Snow Evil Shadow Bamboo, there was an additional item—a Spirit Jade he carried with him.

Seeing her own Spirit Jade made Ji Dantong unable to stay calm, her eyes turning red again, as this symbolized completely severing the last link between them!

Suppressing the bitterness in her heart, Ji Dantong smiled slightly, thinking... maybe this is for the best!

——

In the evening, Xiao Tian returned to the small shop, carrying bundles taller than himself, with Lin Bingxuan and Melinda.

The plump shopkeeper was taken aback at this sight, the fat on his face twitching, silently relieved that the store's door was build tall enough!

"Xiaoshengzi, where have you been!"

The shopkeeper hastily put down the abacus in his hands, shouted as he walked out from behind the counter: "Hurry up and help carry the customers' stuff!"

Immediately, a tall young man came out from the backyard, quickly helping Xiao Tian put down the things one by one.

When his vision cleared, Xiao Tian was stunned to see the person in front of him, the same expression shared by Melinda.

The two had stayed at this small shop before, but last time the shop assistant wasn't this guy!

"Boss, are all the staff here called Xiaoshengzi?!" Melinda couldn't resist asking out of curiosity.

"Oh! Don't bring that up!"

The chubby shopkeeper showed an angry expression: "The last brat was too much, I fired him, so we hired a new one!"

"As for calling them Xiaoshengzi, it's a tradition from fifty years ago when my grandfather ran the place,"

the shopkeeper explained, "When my father took over, he also called the staff Xiaoshengzi, so when I took over, I continued the tradition!"

Xiao Tian and Melinda exchanged a glance, quickly recalling the former Xiaoshengzi who used to be scolded by the shopkeeper like a grandson; they started to doubt the truth in his words.

But these are personal matters, and as outsiders, they shouldn't comment too much.

When the current Xiaoshengzi brought the last few gift boxes up to the loft, Xiao Tian said: "Bring up a few of your signature dishes and send them to our room."

The shopkeeper, delighted at the prospect of more business, beamed like a chrysanthemum and then his expression changed, shouting upstairs: "Xiaoshengzi, are you deaf? Didn't you hear what the customer said?!"

Just after speaking, there was a sound of someone running hastily upstairs, and at the same time, dust fell instantly, turning the shopkeeper's half-white hair a dusty gray.

Xiao Tian had already moved aside, avoiding a dusty outcome, amazed by this peculiar shopkeeper, as he hadn't intentionally raised his voice when speaking before.

The current Xiaoshengzi was an ordinary person, how could he possibly have heard what he said?!

Before he could think more, a tall figure rushed out from the corner of the staircase, then in his haste, missed a step and tumbled down, startling Lin Bingxuan and Melinda.

Seeing the staff so clumsy, the chubby shopkeeper dashed forward and smacked Xiaoshengzi on the head: "You idiot, you're even worse than the last brat."