Chapter 420 - 385: Miss

Chapter 420: Chapter 385: Miss

"Heh." The middle-aged man saw that Nie Yun didn’t want to say more, so he didn’t press the issue. With a chuckle, he began to set up a Defensive Array around the camp.

When camping in the wilderness, one had to set up things like Defensive Arrays. That way, even if they encountered Demon Beasts, the creatures would recognize them as a difficult target and decide not to bother.

"Yi Chang, that kid recovered so quickly. He must have a lot of valuable elixirs and treasures on him. Why don’t we..."

A skinny young man quietly approached the middle-aged man. He glanced at Nie Yun, a murderous glint in his eyes.

Camel Riders who traveled the wilds often operated in a gray area, sometimes resorting to ambushes and robbery. Seeing how quickly Nie Yun was recovering, the skinny young man assumed he had plenty of valuable elixirs that could be plundered.

"Don’t be ridiculous! We’re already in trouble; it’s best not to stir up more. If the young lady finds out, you’ll be in for it!"

The middle-aged man, whose name was Yi Chang, glanced over at the young man not far away. Seeing that Nie Yun wasn’t paying attention and was keeping his head down, he quietly reprimanded his subordinate.

"But... the young lady couldn’t gather everything she needed on this trip. The people who used to be on good terms with the master are all avoiding us like the plague. Forget lending money—they didn’t give us anything and even gave us a lecture. If we don’t figure something out soon, the young lady, she’ll..." The skinny young man clenched his fists.

"Enough. Don’t even think about it. We’re not some crooked faction, nor are we Demons. Committing such unconscionable acts for a bit of profit is absolutely out of the question. Even if the young lady found out later, she would never use anything obtained that way!"

Yi Chang waved his hand dismissively, his tone firm and decisive, leaving no room for argument.

"Alright, then." The skinny youth sighed and shook his head.

’Heh.’

Nie Yun had observed their entire conversation using his Celestial Eye Talent, but he said nothing.

Although his physical body was severely damaged, with his Soul Power alone, he could instantly kill not just this group, but ten times their number. He didn’t see them as a threat at all.

Besides, even if he couldn’t beat them, he could simply hide in the Zihua Cave Mansion without a single worry.

Still, the fact that this man, Yi Chang, could stick to his principles showed his character wasn’t bad, which left Nie Yun with a good impression.

RUSTLE!

Just as Nie Yun’s thoughts were wandering, the curtain on the back of the foremost Camel Beast parted, and a graceful figure emerged.

It was a girl of seventeen or eighteen. Her beauty was on par with Luoqing City’s, but her face was like frost—even colder, it seemed, than Baihua Xiu had been.

’This must be the ’young lady’ they mentioned.’

As soon as the young lady dismounted the Camel Beast, her eyes swept over and fixed on Nie Yun’s face. She stared for a moment, as if trying to discern something.

’Early-Stage Magical Power Realm, Peak of Early-Stage Spirit Level Soul... I didn’t expect this girl to be a genius!’

She couldn’t gauge Nie Yun’s depth, but Nie Yun saw her strength as clear as day.

To reach the Secret Realm at seventeen or eighteen, and for her soul to have reached the Peak of the Early-Stage Spirit Level... even on the Floating Heaven Continent, this girl would absolutely be considered a genius.

"Set up a few more layers for the Defensive Array. This is Suguo’s territory. Although our Yi Family has paid them a good sum every year we’ve traveled through, things are different now. The Yi Family is going through a difficult time, so it’s better to be cautious."

Unable to see anything special about Nie Yun, the young lady turned her head away, no longer paying him any mind as she gave her cold command.

"Yes!"

The group seemed to hold this young lady in high regard. They all nodded without the slightest objection and got busy with their tasks—some setting up the Array, some pitching tents, and others preparing food.

Nie Yun observed quietly. The skinny young man who had just been planning to kill him for his wealth was now looking at the young lady with fiery eyes. It wasn’t infatuation, but a look of worship, admiration, and protectiveness.

’It seems this skinny youth isn’t inherently vicious,’ Nie Yun thought. ’He’s just worried about his young lady and wants to help ease her burdens.’

"Young man, where is your home?"

Once the Array was set, a bonfire was lit. Meat was placed over the flames, releasing a fragrant aroma. As everyone ate, the atmosphere grew more familiar. Yi Chang sat down in front of Nie Yun and asked with a smile.

"I live in the mountains. This is my first time coming out, and I run into something like this. What rotten luck!"

Although Nie Yun was very familiar with the layout of the Floating Heaven Continent, he hadn’t even entered a city yet and didn’t know what region this was, so he had to make something up on the spot.

In the mountains near cities, there were still quite a few villages, even with rampaging Demon Beasts around.

"The mountains? I’ve heard that mountain folk are experts at roasting game. Young man, you’ll have to show us your skills today!" Yi Chang laughed.

"Heh, that’s simple enough!"

In his past life, before he became an Ultimate Venerable, Nie Yun had lived in the mountains for several years. He was no stranger to roasting meat. With a faint smile, he picked up a piece of meat, placed it over the fire, and began to cook.

Roasting meat sounded simple, but it was actually complex. An amateur would burn the outside while the inside was still cold. But Nie Yun’s technique was even and steady. Before long, the tantalizing aroma of meat filled the air, proving him more skilled than even some of the old, well-traveled Camel Riders.

"It smells amazing! Brother Yun, you’re really something! Here, have a drink to go with this excellent meat!" Yi Chang was a straightforward man. When he’d heard Nie Yun say he was from the mountains, asking him to roast meat had been a sort of test. Now, seeing his skillful technique, Yi Chang’s suspicions vanished, replaced by a desire to befriend him. He casually tossed over a wineskin.

"Alright!"

Catching the wineskin, Nie Yun took a swig and let out a satisfied cry.

Nie Yun had never touched a drop of alcohol before. But after his younger brother’s death, he took to drinking while practicing his swordsmanship, and he had since developed a taste for it.

During his three-month round trip to the Ancient City, he had drunk dozens of jars.

Before leaving the Divine Wind Empire, he had even emptied the Imperial Family’s cellars of their finest wine and stored it all in his Storage Dantian.

The wine in the skin was strong and sharp. Although it wasn’t as mellow and fragrant as the wine he’d taken from the Divine Wind Empire’s Imperial Family, there was a special flavor to drinking it while eating roasted meat and talking with a hearty man.

"Refreshing!" Seeing the young man drink without a second thought, unconcerned about his injuries or the possibility of poison, Yi Chang found him more and more agreeable and couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

"By the way, sir, I don’t believe I’ve caught your name..."

After a few more sips of wine, feeling more familiar with him, Nie Yun asked.

"No need to call me ’sir.’ Just call me Brother Yi. I’m Yi Chang, from the Yi Family of Rongtian City!" Yi Chang said with a smile.

"Rongtian City?" Hearing the name, Nie Yun searched his memories but finally shook his head in resignation.

’Though he knew the Floating Heaven Continent in great detail, his knowledge was limited to the Major Sects, mountain ranges, and major cities. He had truly never heard of this Rongtian City.’

It was no wonder. The Floating Heaven Continent was simply too vast. Even a Magical Power Realm powerhouse could fly for a hundred years straight and not find its edge. Cities of all sizes were as numerous as the hairs on an ox, and not even the strongest person could possibly remember them all.

’He had never heard of Rongtian City, but seeing the pride on Yi Chang’s face when he mentioned the Yi Family, it seemed their status in the city was likely quite high.’

"So you’re from the Yi Family of Rongtian City. It’s an honor!" Nie Yun said breezily, then asked, "And that young lady is...?"

"Oh, that’s our young lady, Yi Qing!" After a few rounds of drinks, Yi Chang had loosened up and wasn’t hiding anything.

"Yi Qing? That name sounds so familiar..."

Hearing the name, Nie Yun was taken aback. He seemed to recall a female disciple named Yi Qing from the Linglong Immortal Sect in his past life. She was known as a genius of the Immortal Sect who had reached the Celestial Heart Realm by cultivating the Exquisite Immortal Heart Technique. Her power was immense, though he had never met her in person.

The Linglong Immortal Sect wasn’t one of the Eight Great Sects of the Floating Heaven Continent, but it was not to be underestimated. Back then, he had paid a special visit to their Sect Leader, the Linglong Fairy, to exchange Heart Methods. It was then that he had learned the Misty Immortal Heart Technique. After his rebirth, he had even passed this Heart Method on to his sister and mother.

’The Floating Heaven Continent is just too big; it’s impossible that she’s the same person. If this girl really were that Yi Qing from the Linglong Immortal Sect, then with the power of her Sect alone, absolutely no one would dare to touch her family. But from the sound of it, her family seems to be facing a major crisis!’

These thoughts flashed through Nie Yun’s mind, and he didn’t dwell on them further.

"What, do you think our young lady is beautiful too? Let me tell you, our Miss Yi Qing is the most beautiful girl in all of Rongtian City..."

Seeing the young man stunned by the name Yi Qing, Yi Chang assumed he had taken a fancy to the young lady. He laughed and clapped Nie Yun on the shoulder. "You’re lucky enough just to see her. Don’t go getting any other ideas. Our young lady is a genius. Sooner or later, she’s destined to enter a Major Sect..."

"Yi Chang, drink less. We’re still in Suguo’s territory and not out yet. Oh no, the young lady is looking over. You’re on your own..."

Yi Chang hadn’t even finished speaking when a quiet rebuke came from another middle-aged man. This man had a dignified air about him and was, besides the young lady Yi Qing, the second Secret Realm Powerhouse in the group.

’This man must be the highest-ranking among the Camel Riders besides the young lady, but he doesn’t put on airs. He seems like a good person, too.’

"Uh?"

Hearing the rebuke, Yi Chang immediately shut his mouth. He secretly turned his head and, sure enough, saw the young lady’s icy gaze fixed on him. He couldn’t help but shiver.

"Young lady, I’ll go check if the Array needs reinforcing..."

He shouted awkwardly, then leaped to his feet as if he’d stepped on a snake and scrambled over to the Defensive Array without daring to look back.

’Heh.’ Seeing such a straightforward man reduced to this state by a single glance from the young lady, Nie Yun couldn’t help but smile to himself.

With his sharp eye, he could naturally tell that Yi Chang wasn’t afraid of the young lady but respected her from the bottom of his heart.

"Young man, the wilderness is a chaotic place, and you’re injured. You should drink less. Your wounds will heal faster that way."

Yi Chang’s antics made everyone laugh. As they shared in the amusement, the distance between them lessened. The middle-aged man who had just chided Yi Chang saw Nie Yun still drinking and offered a word of advice.

"Thank you." Nie Yun knew the man meant well and nodded.

’To be honest, the reason he drank was because of his younger brother’s death. Now, whenever he drank, he would remember his brother—remember his brother’s resolve in sacrificing himself to save him—and an unbearable pain would stab at his heart.’

’With such pain in his heart, he couldn’t even taste the sharpness of the alcohol. All that went down his throat was sorrow and longing.’

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