On the quiet street, the firelight still burned as the old Taoist led the girl's hand into the darkness.
The girl turned her head to look at Li Fan, seemingly about to cry but forcefully holding back, having lost her closest kin overnight and now leaving with a stranger.
"Goodbye, Brother Xiao Fan," the girl shouted.
"Qi, take good care of your cultivation," Li Fan said.
"Mm, Qi will be strong," the girl nodded, continuing forward, taking a few steps, then turning back again, "Goodbye, Brother Xiao Fan."
"Goodbye, Qi," Li Fan replied.
A few steps later, the girl turned once more, suddenly bursting into tears, "Goodbye, Brother Xiao Fan."
Li Fan was silent.
"Brother Xiao Fan, will you come to see me?" the girl asked.
"I will," Li Fan said, "for sure."
"Brother Xiao Fan doesn't lie," the girl said.
"I don't lie," Li Fan assured.
The girl wiped her tears with the sleeve of her left hand, taking one last glance at the direction of the firelight, then turning around without looking back, holding the Taoist's hand as her figure gradually faded into the darkness.
"Stupid Taoist, take good care of Qi," Li Fan shouted into the darkness.
"Don't worry," the old Taoist's voice came from the darkness.
"What about the sword you promised me?" Li Fan seemed to remember something and asked.
"I'll give it to you later," the old Taoist's voice came, and then there was silence as the two vanished into the darkness.
"Qi wanted to follow you," Li Hongyi said softly, "she trusts you a lot."
Li Fan naturally could feel it.
"Perhaps besides her father, you are the best person to her," Li Hongyi sighed inwardly. For a girl like Qi, the world would not show her much kindness, she had probably been wandering with her father all along.
Until she met Li Fan, someone willing to protect her.
"What kind of person are you?" Li Hongyi was a bit curious as she looked at Li Fan, beneath the handsome face of the youth lay a fierce and deadly side.
"Someone who has been through hardships," Li Fan said softly; the hellish scenes in his memory, the struggle of the young boy to survive, had become somewhat blurred.
If not for his master and senior sister, he would have long become food for the demons.
Some things, he could deeply empathize with.
Li Hongyi couldn't understand what Li Fan was saying; under her father's protection, she had always been very successful.
"Who is the Old Blind Man?"
"My teacher," Li Fan replied, looking at Li Hongyi with a strange expression, "Miss Li, you seem quite curious about me."
"Really?" Li Hongyi lowered her eyes.
"You're very dangerous," Li Fan chuckled, then rubbed his brow, and Li Hongyi noticed that his handsome face seemed a bit tired, "Are you hurt?"
"I'm just a bit tired, I need some rest."
Tonight had been exhausting, not stopping since the morning, often being in combat mode, and even activating the Sword Seed, which was the most mentally draining.
The Sword Seed is the soul of a Sword Cultivator, nurtured with essence blood and spirit, becoming one with the Sword Cultivator.
"Alright," Li Hongyi nodded, but just then, there was a vibration from the ground, as if someone was coming this way.
"Let's go," Li Fan said, and the two departed from there.
Li Hongyi glanced at Li Fan; having killed Chen Li and his men, now many might want to take his life.
The two tried to find a place to stay at an inn, but due to the demon disaster, many inns had closed early. They searched for some time before finally finding a place that welcomed people from the martial world, a gathering place for Martial Artists and Cultivators.
Li Hongyi and Li Fan entered the inn, asking the attendant, "Do you have any rooms?"
"Yes, how many rooms do you want, guest?" the attendant asked.
Li Fan: "Two rooms."
Li Hongyi: "One room."
They spoke simultaneously.
"Miss Li, isn't this a bit improper?"
Li Fan looked at Li Hongyi's profile, her face covered so no expression could be seen, only her long eyelashes were visible.
"We're people of the martial world, why so reserved," Li Hongyi said. She looked at the attendant, "Just one room."
Li Fan: "..."
"Alright," the attendant laughed. Though her face was covered, Li Hongyi's fiery figure and her eyes and facial contours revealed she was indeed a stunning beauty.
Being attractive surely attracts a girl's affection, such a beautiful woman, and so proactive; tsk...probably not in his lifetime.
Inside the room, Li Hongyi locked the door, removed her face veil, and said softly, "In Lin'an County, I can be easily recognized."
She turned around, noticing Li Fan still watching her, her inner turmoil hidden by a calm exterior.
"Miss Li, isn't it a bit too fast?" Li Fan asked, seeing Li Hongyi lock the door and face him, his expression a bit peculiar.
After all, they had only just met.
Li Hongyi: "???"
She looked at Li Fan and said, "What are you thinking?"
Li Fan: "..."
Not worldly people?
"You go rest, I'll keep watch in case someone comes seeking revenge," Li Hongyi said, sitting on the nearby chair, giving the only bed to Li Fan.
"My apologies, Miss Li," Li Fan said, seeing the cold beauty's warm heart.
"Shut up," Li Hongyi glared at him.
"Oh," Li Fan responded, noting how this strong-willed girl resembled his senior sister.
"Then Miss Li, you should rest well too," Li Fan said, making no courtesy, and sat on the bed.
Li Hongyi sat with her back to him, her mind in turmoil at the thought of sharing a room with a man for the first time, especially like this.
Clearly, she wasn't as nonchalant as she claimed, having never been in close contact with a man before.
But Li Fan looked very tired; if trouble came, it might be hard to handle, and someone outside might be looking for him, making Li Hongyi a bit worried.
Seeing the silence behind her, Li Hongyi calmed her mind and couldn't help but curiously glance back, only to see Li Fan sitting quietly with his eyes closed, cultivating, looking nothing but a harmless young boy.
But how could this guy have such indecent thoughts?
Yet, whenever told to shut up, he seemed to obediently listen.
Does he enjoy being scolded?
Her attention was caught by what was in Li Fan's hand; it was a Demon Core.
Wisps of Demon Energy wafted from the Demon Core and were absorbed into Li Fan's body; he was actually cultivating with a Demon Core, no wonder the monk said Li Fan had Demon Energy on him.
The Demon Core is the essence within a demon cultivator, condensed from Mana, and some cultivators indeed can use it for cultivation, especially Martial Artists, who often lack talent in Qi Refinement, thus seeking external help to temper their bodies.
Qi Cultivators need Demon Cores with corresponding attributes to cultivate; for instance, if cultivating a Fire Attribute Cultivation Technique, a Fire Demon Pill could be used, otherwise not.
But Li Fan seems... undemanding?
Li Fan practiced martial arts, just like her?
Li Hongyi recalled that during Li Fan's fight with the monk from Jingang Temple, he actually used his body to clash, and when he killed demons, he showed an extremely strong physique.
Soon, a surge of strong vital energy emanated from Li Fan, flowing outward, startling Li Hongyi; in Li Fan, she felt a powerful demon energy.
She had only felt that way before when facing a Great Demon.
Additionally, a loud rumbling came from within Li Fan, as if something was rolling and roaring inside him, and eventually, crisp cracking sounds echoed from his body.
The Demon Core in Li Fan's hand was rapidly consumed; at this pace, he could exhaust it by tonight, what a terrifying speed...
Could it be, is Li Fan a demon?
It's rumored that descendants of top-level Great Demons are born able to exist in human form.
"No, he's a Sword Cultivator," Li Hongyi quickly dismissed the thought; if he were a Great Demon's descendant, he should have a demon's talents, how could he plant a Sword Seed?
Li Hongyi couldn't fathom it, feeling somewhat restless.
Could he really be a demon? Certainly not.
She couldn't help but glare at Li Fan, all because this guy was cultivating in her presence, shouldn't such a private affair be more concealed?
Unbeknownst to practicing Li Fan were Li Hongyi's many thoughts; he was enduring the pain, the absorbed Demon Energy rushing crazily toward one point within him, where an unsettling aura lay, seemingly wanting to devour everything.
...
The next morning.
Li Hongyi opened her eyes and suddenly sat up, shocked. She was lying on the bed??
"Miss Li, you're awake," came a voice from beside her. Li Hongyi saw Li Fan sitting in a chair, smiling at her. Her heart raced, she glanced down at herself.
All was well.
Her gaze fell on Li Fan.
Li Fan replied, "Miss Li, we're fellow martial world travelers, you won't mind, right?"
"Of course not," Li Hongyi regained her composure, getting up calmly.
But she couldn't help asking, "Why am I here?"
"After cultivating last night, my body recovered, I saw Miss Li sleeping on the table, so I moved Miss Li to the bed to rest, with no excessive actions, I'm sure Miss Li understands this," Li Fan explained.
Damn, did she sleep so deeply?
"I understand," Li Hongyi remained calm, as if recalling something, she asked, "How did you move me?"
Li Fan paused, somewhat embarrassedly making a princess-carry gesture.
"Just like this." Li Fan said, "Miss Li, we're fellow martial world travelers..."
"Get out!" Li Hongyi interrupted, fiercely glaring at Li Fan.
"Huh?"
"Fine!"
Ah, women!