Bai Xiaoxue changed into a plain outfit and covered her face before stepping out of the courtyard.
Seeing Lin Yun sitting at the entrance, she smiled and greeted him, “Director, I’m heading out for a bit.”
Lin Yun glanced at Bai Xiaoxue. At a glance, she was almost unrecognizable, so he nodded and said, “Be careful. Don’t get yourself followed.”
Lately, the girls would occasionally go out, and Lin Yun had gotten used to it. There was some risk, of course, but they weren’t canaries in a cage. They couldn’t stay cooped up in the orphanage forever. They had to face danger eventually if they wanted to truly grow.
“Mhm, I’ll be careful!” Bai Xiaoxue waved cheerfully and skipped out.
Due to the news about the treasure, the central streets of Outrealm City were bustling with activity, packed with people from various sects and wandering cultivators.
Bai Xiaoxue didn’t pay any attention to them. As she walked through the crowd, her mind was focused entirely on Absolute Sword Valley.
“I wonder what it looks like… Can it really help me comprehend sword intent?”
She was full of hope. If she succeeded today, she could return and ask the Director for praise. More importantly, it would bring her one step closer to her revenge.
But Bai Xiaoxue was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t realize she was still walking through a busy street—and ended up bumping into someone.
Snapping back to reality, she immediately bowed and apologized. “I’m so sorry, I was spacing out…”
As she looked up, she froze.
Before her stood a woman in a white dress, wearing a conical hat and a veil beneath it. She carried an ethereal air.
But what caught the eye even more was her incredible figure. Even Bai Xiaoxue herself felt envious—especially that perfect curve up front. No wonder bumping into her felt so soft…
Beside the woman stood three pairs of men and women in white robes. Seeing Bai Xiaoxue bump into their companion, they all frowned.
“Where did this wild girl come from, you—”
One of them was just about to scold her when the woman in white raised her hand to stop him.
Seeing this, the group immediately backed off and respectfully greeted her.
The woman in white crouched down, looked at Bai Xiaoxue, and chuckled gently, “Little sister, are you hurt?”
Her voice was like a divine melody—soft and warm like a spring breeze.
Bai Xiaoxue quickly shook her head and smiled. “Thank you for your concern, big sister. I’m fine!”
“Good, that’s all that matters.” The woman patted her head gently. She had always loved children, and this girl in front of her gave her a strangely familiar feeling.
Suddenly, a street vendor nearby shouted, “Candied hawthorn! Sweet and crunchy candied hawthorn—”
The woman in white stood up and waved at him. “Give me… give me three sticks.”
“Sure, that’ll be three copper coins.”
As the woman raised her hand, a black crystal flew from her sleeve and hovered in front of the vendor, startling him.
“I don’t have silver. Use this.”
The vendor’s eyes lit up. He gratefully received the black crystal and dropped to his knees in excitement. “Thank you! Thank you, my lady!”
That single black crystal was more than enough for him to head home early and treat his wife and daughter to a better meal.
After the vendor left, the woman held out one stick to Bai Xiaoxue and smiled. “This is for you.”
Bai Xiaoxue was momentarily stunned, then pursed her lips and said, “Big sister, I’m already an adult. Candied hawthorn is for kids…”
But as she stared at the stick of candied hawthorn in front of her, she paused.
Three seconds later, Bai Xiaoxue took one in each hand and smiled brightly. “This is delicious. Thank you, big sister!”
“There’s still one more…” the woman said.
“I can’t carry any more. Big sister, you eat it.”
“Well… alright then.” The woman sighed softly, reluctantly accepting the last stick.
“Little sister, you enjoy that. I have some things to take care of, so I’ll be going.”
“Mhm! Goodbye, big sister!”
Bai Xiaoxue suddenly remembered—she had important business to handle. She needed to hurry to Absolute Sword Valley and comprehend sword intent!
How could something so important be delayed by a mere candied hawthorn?
“Mmm… but it’s so tasty…” Bai Xiaoxue mumbled happily as she munched and continued on her way.
Behind her, Lu Xian’er looked at her companions. Her voice turned cold. “Let’s go. Continue tracking that treasure.”
As the young mistress of Joyous Harmony Valley, this was her first time undertaking such a critical mission alone. It was also a test from the sect for all the years of training she’d received.
As for the people accompanying her, none were top-tier experts. They were only here to assist with errands.
Her destination was Outrealm City, and the treasure everyone was after was already within her grasp—she had located the one carrying it.
For Joyous Harmony Valley, that treasure was a must-have.
“Yes!” everyone responded in unison and followed Lu Xian’er. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
As they moved, Lu Xian’er placed the last stick of candied hawthorn into her hat, lifted a corner of her veil, and carefully took a bite.
Before long, they arrived at a remote, abandoned three-story building in the city.
The group thoroughly searched the place from top to bottom before returning to Lu Xian’er and reporting respectfully, “Young Mistress, there are signs of recent activity, but no one’s here now. Looks like they’ve already left.”
Lu Xian’er continued nibbling her candied hawthorn and asked calmly, “What about underground?”
“We checked it all. Nothing.”
Someone frowned. “Could they have escaped? They were here just half an hour ago…”
Lu Xian’er didn’t speak. She took out a golden compass and infused it with spiritual Qi.
In an instant, the compass glowed brightly, and the inscriptions on it spun rapidly until they stopped in a specific pattern.
After a glance, Lu Xian’er shook her head. “No need to search anymore. That person left the city.”
Everyone frowned. “Where outside the city?”
“Based on this direction… near Absolute Sword Valley.”
At that, their spirits lifted.
“Great! Let’s go after them right now!”
With that distance, they could catch up in no time.
But Lu Xian’er put away the compass and looked at them. “Not this time. You stay here in the city and wait for my message.”
“Huh? Why?”
Seeing their confusion, Lu Xian’er gazed into the distance and said, “I have a feeling… this treasure won’t be so easy to obtain. I’ll need to focus entirely on it—I can’t afford to protect you all too.”
They looked at each other, and although disappointed, they understood the difference in strength between themselves and the Young Mistress.
“Alright then, we’ll wait for you at the Yuelai Inn.”
Lu Xian’er nodded lightly. Then, with a step into the air, a radiant blue sword appeared beneath her feet, and she soared into the sky like a streak of light!
Countless people in Outrealm City looked up, stunned by the flash of sword light piercing the heavens.
Even from several kilometers away, they could feel the terrifying sword intent. Clearly, the person riding that sword was far more powerful than the previous Thunder Sword Emperor!
Meanwhile, near where Joyous Harmony Valley’s group had been, a dwarf-like man hiding in a shadowy corner let out a grin.
He pulled out a message talisman and wrote a message on it.
“The fish has taken the bait. Prepare immediately!”