---
Qi Yuan held the two girls by their waists, his heart as calm as still water. Through the light curtain, he observed the Chen family's every move.
Seeing that even a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator couldn't detect them, he couldn't help but admire Xin Ruyin's mastery of formations.
For someone still in the low levels of Qi Refinement, her skill was remarkable. If she could resolve the limitations of her Dragon Singing Body and extend her lifespan through cultivation, wouldn't she have the potential to challenge even Nascent Soul cultivators in the coming decades?
At that moment, two Chen family disciples approached, searching the area. One had a scarred face, the other was pockmarked. Wielding magical tools, they cleared a path through the wild terrain.
"What do you think really happened? It all happened so suddenly—the entire Chen family estate was nearly burned to the ground, and so many family members perished in the fire," the pockmarked disciple muttered.
Scarface glanced warily in Chen Honghao's direction and hissed, "Are you trying to get yourself killed? Didn't you see the ancestor is here too? If they hear us gossiping, we'll be kicked out of the Chen family—or worse!"
The pockmarked disciple stretched his neck and whispered, "I was just making conversation..."
Scarface clenched his fists, resisting the urge to beat some sense into him.
Inside the formation, Qi Yuan watched the two Chen family members wander close by. Though he remained composed, he could feel Xiaomei's body growing tense in his arms. She was clearly nervous.
"Miss Xiaomei, relax. Everything will be fine with me here," he whispered reassuringly in her ear. As he leaned in, her delicate fragrance became even more pronounced.
Xiaomei was slightly taller than Xin Ruyin, so she could see Qi Yuan's face right beside hers without even raising her head. If she mustered the courage, she could lean in and kiss him...
But she didn't dare!
Qi Yuan felt her body growing even stiffer. With a sigh, he leaned in closer, whispering softly again.
While keeping an ear on the movements outside, Xin Ruyin also remained alert to the actions of the people beside her—ensuring they didn't make any mistakes that could expose them.
She soon noticed Xiaomei's reactions. At first, she thought nothing of it. But as time passed, Xiaomei's face turned increasingly red, and her bright eyes shimmered with an unmistakable glow.
Xin Ruyin suddenly understood. Her own cheeks burned as she shot a glare at Qi Yuan. At such a critical moment... was he really doing this?
After some effort, Qi Yuan sensed that Xiaomei had finally relaxed. He turned his attention back to the situation outside, only to meet Xin Ruyin's sharp gaze.
Her expression was unreadable, but Qi Yuan couldn't shake the feeling that she was upset. What had he done now?
"Senior, please pay attention to the time and place," Xin Ruyin whispered coldly.
What?
Qi Yuan was confused. He frowned slightly and asked softly, "Miss Xin, what do you mean?"
Xin Ruyin's face turned even redder. She couldn't just blurt it out! This man was the one at fault, yet he was acting innocent. Shameless!
Seeing her glare and then turn away in silence, Qi Yuan was left even more puzzled. When had he offended her?
Meanwhile, Chen Honghao grew more frustrated with each "nothing found" report from his subordinates.
Feeling impatient, he turned to report their progress to his father.
Even the ancestor of the Chen family felt a trace of doubt. The moment he had arrived, he had scoured the area with his spiritual sense—yet he found no trace of them.
Had he miscalculated?
Qi Yuan observed the restless Chen family cultivators. If they continued searching like this, the two women wouldn't be able to hold on much longer. It seemed he needed to create some sort of distraction to draw them away.
Suddenly, a shout came from the east.
"Master, there's movement over here!"
Chen Honghao quickly investigated and exclaimed excitedly, "Father, it looks like three people are escaping underground!"
A cold glint flashed in the Chen family ancestor's eyes. Without hesitation, his figure vanished.
Chen Honghao followed closely behind.
The moment they left, Qi Yuan and the two women emerged from the formation. He wasted no time, grabbing them and flying toward the Tianxing Sect market.
Earlier, he had used three puppets to create a false trail. It wouldn't take long for the Chen ancestor to realize the deception, but by then, they would already be gone.
As expected, not long after, the Chen family returned to the area, furious.
The Chen ancestor's face was dark with rage. He had been fooled. His killing intent surged.
"Search along the road to Jinma City. If we don't find them, wait at Xin Ruyin's residence. I refuse to believe we can't capture them!" he ordered.
Chen Honghao wanted to voice his thoughts, but one look at his father's ice-cold gaze made him swallow his words.
The Chen family had just suffered a devastating loss. Spreading their forces too thin would only weaken them further. It was better to consolidate their power and ride out the crisis.
---
Qi Yuan strolled through the bustling market, flanked by Xin Ruyin and Xiaomei.
He had considered persuading them to go to Yue State, but after some thought, he dismissed the idea.
Right now, Xin Ruyin trusted him—but how much? Was it more than Qi Yunxiao?
If he revealed his intentions too soon, it might backfire, making her wary of him instead.
No. He had to wait for the right moment.
Once her Dragon Roar Body erupted and she was on the brink of death, he would swoop in and "sacrifice" himself to save her.
By then, he would have carved an irreplaceable place in her heart.
"Miss Xin, the Chen family has suffered heavy losses. I expect they will retreat to defend the Jackdaw Mountain area. Once they do, we can safely return to Jinma City. Until then, I must trouble you to stay at the inn for a while," Qi Yuan said as they walked.
Xin Ruyin wore a white veil to conceal her identity. Her voice was soft as she replied, "Senior, I will follow your arrangements."
At this moment, she did trust Qi Yuan. Among the people she relied on, he ranked second—below Qi Yunxiao and Xiaomei.
Xiaomei had been with her since childhood, a maid who knew her better than anyone. She was her most trusted confidante.
Qi Yunxiao had spent years searching for valuable elixirs to cure her hidden illness. She understood his character well and placed great trust in him.
If things continued this way, she might one day marry Qi Yunxiao—not out of love, but to repay his dedication.
She had never felt any romantic attraction toward him, but given her circumstances, she wasn't in a position to be picky.
A man who devoted his entire heart to her was a rare find.
As for Qi Yuan… her feelings toward him were more complicated.
His handsome appearance, high cultivation, and repeated acts of saving her life had left an undeniable impression.
And the forced physical closeness between them during their journey… over time, it had stirred something unexpected.
This feeling made Xin Ruyin feel guilty. She couldn't face it, so she buried it deep inside, refusing to let it surface.
Xiaomei, on the other hand, clearly had feelings for Qi Yuan.
Could she become his concubine?
If Senior only saw her as a mere maid, then there would be no point in even thinking about it.
(End of Chapter)