*****
Xin Ruyin felt a deep sense of discomfort knowing that Qi Yunxiao had abandoned their agreement to refine weapons for someone else.
A small part of her blamed Qi Yuan—if he hadn't appeared, Qi Yunxiao would never have secluded himself for weapon refinement.
As they walked, Xin Ruyin's clear eyes occasionally glanced at Qi Yuan. When she realized what she was doing, a faint blush rose on her pale cheeks.
Why was she reacting this way toward someone she barely knew?
She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the strange emotions stirring within her.
Qi Yuan, while speaking calmly, remained alert with his spiritual senses on high guard. He noticed Xin Ruyin's sudden blush but chose not to comment.
If asked directly, it might only spark resentment.
A woman's blush was often a sign of shyness, and without any deeper relationship between them, there was no need to pry further.
"Am I already on a pirate ship? Can I still withdraw? I'll even return the spirit stones if you'd like."
Qi Yuan glanced at Xin Ruyin, his tone laced with regret.
Xin Ruyin's heart skipped a beat at his words. Her voice quickened, "With your Foundation Establishment cultivation, the Chen family wouldn't dare act against us. Plus, with my formation spells, even if something happens, we can break through the encirclement. If we return safely, I'll even offer you more spirit stones… along with a set of formation tools as a token of gratitude."
They had already traveled most of the way, and the Chen family's gates were just ahead. How could Qi Yuan back out now?
Qi Yuan chuckled. "I was just teasing you. Since I accepted the payment, I'll see the job through."
"You…" Xin Ruyin's face flushed with anger and amusement. Without another word, she flew ahead to join Xiaomei.
Xiaomei glanced between her mistress and Qi Yuan, silently suppressing her own thoughts.
The group traveled in silence for another half hour.
Suddenly, Qi Yuan's sharp spiritual senses picked up something. He halted midair, his face darkening.
"Stop. There are people ahead, heading toward us… I can't tell if they're friend or foe. Stay on guard."
Xin Ruyin and Xiaomei immediately summoned their magic weapons, tense with anticipation.
The two approaching figures were a middle Foundation Establishment cultivator and a high-level Qi Training cultivator.
"Miss Xin, it's me—Luo Mingfang."
A young man with a tall stature emerged from the distance, his refined demeanor marking him as someone from an elite family.
Beside him stood a middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator, his cold expression briefly flickering at the sight of Qi Yuan's cultivation before returning to calm.
Xin Ruyin's tense posture relaxed slightly—it was someone she recognized.
"So, it's the eldest son of the Luo family. Are you here to see me specifically?"
"I heard you were heading to the Chen family to set up an array. I couldn't bear to see you walking into danger, so I came to stop you. The Chen family is plotting against you—I have reliable information."
Luo Mingfang's expression was serious, his voice filled with concern.
Xin Ruyin's calm face wavered, caught between hesitation and determination.
Luo Mingfang offered Qi Yuan a polite nod—neither humble nor arrogant.
Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow. Among the two, only the middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator was truly qualified to greet him. This young master's confidence was a little too grand.
The sudden appearance of the Luo family made Qi Yuan increasingly suspicious.
Xin Ruyin, it seemed, was quite the sought-after person.
Yet something felt off.
Luo Mingfang's words were passionate, but his calm eyes betrayed no true affection.
Could he truly be concerned for her well-being? Or was there another reason for his insistence?
"Mr. Luo, I appreciate your concern," Xin Ruyin finally said. "But without solid proof, I must keep my promise to the Chen family. Besides, with my formations and the protection of a senior like him, we should be able to handle any unexpected dangers."
As a wandering cultivator, if she backed out of the agreement now, her reputation would be ruined in Jinma City.
Only by reaching the Core Formation stage would she gain the leverage to break free from these entanglements.
Luo Mingfang sighed, disappointment flickering in his eyes.
He reached into his storage bag and tossed out a glowing talisman.
"This is the Luo family's distress signal. If you escape the Chen family's trap, use it. The Luo family will protect your life."
Xin Ruyin's brows furrowed. Accepting this favor meant indebting herself to the Luo family—a burden she did not want.
Yet, having an escape plan might prove invaluable.
After a brief hesitation, she accepted the talisman.
"Thank you, Mr. Luo. I will always remember your kindness."
The group resumed their journey.
As they flew, Qi Yuan whispered, "Who exactly is this young master of the Luo family?"
Xin Ruyin replied, "The Luo family has connections with Wanmiao Temple. Though they lack a Core Formation ancestor, no one dares touch them."
Xiaomei, keeping a sharp eye ahead, suddenly spoke.
"Miss, people from the Chen family are waiting for you up ahead."
Qi Yuan glanced forward.
A beautiful woman at the early Foundation Establishment stage stood in the distance. She smiled warmly as they approached, her manner gentle and welcoming.
"Miss Xin, you've finally arrived. This young Daoist seems promising—may I ask which family he's from?"
Xin Ruyin bowed respectfully.
"Senior Chen, this is a friend of mine. He came to broaden his horizons."
Qi Yuan stepped forward with a courteous smile.
"Zhang Tie, a wandering cultivator. Apologies for the disturbance."
The woman's smile remained warm.
"It is an honor for the Chen family to welcome a guest like Fellow Daoist Zhang. Please, come in and rest."
As they followed her, the tension seemed to ease.
The woman in black was polite, soft-spoken, and hospitable—far from the sinister rumors.
But Qi Yuan's sharp instincts remained on high alert.
Sometimes, the deadliest traps were hidden beneath the warmest smiles.
Xin Ruyin's mind seemed clouded with conflicting thoughts, while Xiaomei's wary gaze never wavered.
The beautiful woman in black simply smiled—calm, composed, and mysterious.
The Chen family's hospitality was flawless… almost too flawless.
(End of this chapter)