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Volume 4 Chapter 20 / Chapter 294: Wan’er, Buy a Horse.
Dong~~~ Dong~~~
As the sun rose over the western mountains, the night’s chill faded from Yu Pass City. After returning to their rooms the previous night, Ye Anping and Feng Yudie hadn’t slept at all, wary that Su Wan’er might double back for another surprise attack. When morning arrived, they checked out of the inn, leaving a small compensation for the innkeeper before preparing to leave the city on horseback.
In Yu Pass City, cultivator duels in the streets, like the one the night before, weren’t all that uncommon and rarely caused much of a stir. However…
"I heard three disciples from the Xing Tian Division got completely stripped by the Immortal Thief last night! Brother Zhou saw it with his own eyes—he lives just down that alley."
"No way! Xing Tian Division disciples? Here in Yu Pass?"
"It's true! If you don’t believe me, go ask the innkeeper at the Sand Pavilion Teahouse. He saw it happen—three of them came flying in on their swords—"
…
Ye Anping had just come downstairs from the inn’s second floor when he overheard a group of drinkers chatting about last night’s events. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly—people really did vary greatly in skill and ability.
Zhuang Hu had once been a disciple of the Xing Tian Division too.
Look at Big Brother Zhuang… then look at those three from yesterday…
Sigh—
By this time, Pei Lengxue and Feng Yudie had also changed into simple long dresses and were following behind him.
Hearing people gossip about the incident, Pei Lengxue leaned in and asked,
"Senior Brother, we’re leaving? What about the Immortal Thief? Aren’t we still going to capture her?"
"There will be other chances—it’s fine."
Ye Anping answered casually, ruffling her hair while his mind continued working through his plans.
The unexpected arrival of the Xing Tian Division’s Inner Cabinet disciples had surprised him, but their presence confirmed another fact—the demon clan was already pressing against Yu Pass’s walls.
That meant Su Wan’er wouldn’t linger here for long either. Since she had provoked the Jianmen Sect, returning to the Western Region was no longer an option. Her only choice was to flee toward the Overclear Sect’s territory.
One way or another, he had to capture her before she reached Tian’an, the Overclear Sect’s capital city, and force her into cooperation—otherwise, things would spiral out of control.
As Ye Anping mentally mapped out the Central Region and predicted Su Wan’er’s next moves, figuring out where to set a trap with Feng Yudie and Pei Lengxue, the three of them stepped out of the inn.
Just then, a Foundation Establishment cultivator in tattered robes came running into the inn, shouting,
"Brother Zhou!! Something big has happened!"
His frantic yell drew the attention of everyone on the inn’s first floor, including the drinkers and the innkeeper. Even Ye Anping paused to look back.
The man rushed to a table, panting heavily, and managed to gasp out,
"There’s a beast calamity outside Yu Pass!"
"A beast calamity?"
"I just returned from outside the pass—the desert is swarming with sand-dwelling serpents, jackals, and leopards! It’s like they all gained intelligence overnight, gathering together and moving toward the city. Countless merchant guild caravans have already been devoured by the beasts!"
"How is that possible?"
"It’s the truth! I even saw three Xing Tian Division disciples at the city gate, discussing the situation with the city lord. If this keeps up, something terrible is going to happen in Yu Pass City—"
…
Ye Anping withdrew his gaze upon hearing this and immediately said,
"Junior Sister, get some extra carrots and sugar cubes from the innkeeper for the horses. We need to leave as soon as possible—if we delay any longer, the city will be sealed off."
"Understood, Senior Brother!"
Pei Lengxue nodded in response and turned back toward the inn to buy supplies.
Feng Yudie glanced at the man who had just rushed in, then walked up to Ye Anping and asked,
"Young Master Ye, we’re just leaving like this? Not going to take advantage of the situation?"
"There’s nothing to gain." Ye Anping shot her a glance and said, "The City Lord of Yu Pass is at the early Nascent Soul Realm. He has around fifty Core Formation cultivators under him and only a few hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators. But with just those ten or so eighth-rank demonic beasts attacking, they’re already in serious trouble—let alone the greater demon horde behind them."
"Won’t the Overclear Sect send reinforcements?"
"This place is too far from Tian’an City. The Overclear Sect can’t mobilize forces that quickly. Those three Xing Tian Division disciples from yesterday probably already knew about the demonic beast uprising and were sent here as scouts. As for them ‘helping’ us, that was likely just a whim."
"Oh…"
Ye Anping studied her for a moment before asking, "By the way, where’s Xiaotian?"
Before he even finished speaking, Xiaotian popped out from Feng Yudie’s forehead, grinning and winking at him.
『Anping, did you miss me?』
"No…"
Ye Anping sighed, then stepped into the stirrup, preparing to saddle the sweat-blood horse he had bought with spirit stones.
But just as he was fastening the saddle, a sudden ding-ling-ling sound rang in his mind.
The next moment, Su Wan’er’s voice echoed in his ears:
"Young Master Liang, weren’t we supposed to go drinking together today?"
Ye Anping turned toward the voice. Across the street, Su Wan’er approached with a bright smile, dressed in a yellow gauzy dress, with a conspicuously oversized fake chest pressing against her bodice.
"… …"
Watching her walk over, Ye Anping was momentarily surprised.
He truly hadn’t expected that after everything that happened last night, Su Wan’er would have the audacity to return and seek him out…
But then again, from her perspective, he wasn’t supposed to know she was the "Immortal Thief." So it wasn’t entirely unreasonable for her to approach him again.
After a brief hesitation, Ye Anping responded,
"Miss Su, I’m afraid we’ll have to reschedule our drinks. I heard there’s a beast calamity in the desert, so I plan to leave Yu Pass City immediately to avoid being caught up in it."
"That makes sense."
Su Wan’er walked up to him without hesitation and casually pressed her fake chest against his arm, smiling as she asked,
"Where is Young Master Ye headed?"
"Tian’an City."
"What a coincidence! I’m heading there too. Why don’t we travel together? Wouldn’t it be nice to have some company on the road?"
"Fine…"
Feng Yudie, who had been watching from the side, squinted at the scene, while Xiaotian, perched on her head, did the same.
After a long pause, they both spoke at the same time.
"Young Master Ye, who’s this?"
『Anping, who’s this girl?』
"Hmm?" Su Wan’er feigned surprise and asked, "Aren’t you Liang Xiaoliu? Young Master Ye?"
"Better safe than sorry when traveling. Let’s reintroduce ourselves—Ye Anping." Ye Anping chuckled as he withdrew his arm from between her fake chest and added,
"And one more thing, men and women should keep their distance. Miss Su, please conduct yourself properly."
Su Wan’er narrowed her eyes with a sly smile and glanced at Feng Yudie before teasing,
"Oh my~ Yesterday you were all over me, and today, in front of another girl, you suddenly remember to keep your distance? Are you just putting on a show for the one you actually like?"
Hearing this, Ye Anping immediately understood her intentions.
She probably believed that "the most dangerous place is the safest place," and her second reason for being here… was likely revenge.
Well, this worked out—since she was willing to follow them, Ye Anping wouldn't have to go looking for her.
He glanced at Su Wan’er and said flatly,
"Miss Su, could you take off that pair of fake breasts before you speak? It’s really distracting."
"… …"
Su Wan’er shrank her head slightly, her face full of embarrassment.
"What?"
"Never mind if you don’t get it."
Ye Anping shrugged slightly, tightened the strap on the saddle, and then glanced back toward the inn.
By this time, Pei Lengxue had finished buying horse feed. She walked out carrying a bundle, and when she saw the unfamiliar woman standing next to her senior brother, her gaze lingered on Su Wan’er's chest for a moment.
"Senior Brother, who is she?"
"A young lady I met yesterday, surname Su. She’ll be traveling with us."
"Oh…"
Pei Lengxue gave Su Wan’er a wary look, then walked over to Ye Anping and grabbed his hand. She shot Su Wan’er a warning glare, as if to say: My senior brother likes them small. You’re too big.
"… …"
Ye Anping sighed slightly, then lifted her onto the horse. He followed, jumping on and holding her in his arms before extending a hand toward Feng Yudie.
"Senior Sister Feng, get on. We’re leaving."
"Oh!"
Feng Yudie responded cheerfully, grabbed Ye Anping’s outstretched hand, and with a little effort, swung herself onto the back of the horse. Sitting sideways on the hindquarters, she wrapped her arms around his waist.
With a flick of the reins, Ye Anping urged the sweat-blood horse forward, carrying the three of them toward the eastern gate of the city.
Su Wan’er stood there in shock for a long moment before quickly chasing after them.
"Didn’t you say we were traveling together?"
"Yeah, so keep up."
"You’re on horseback, and I’m supposed to walk?"
"You don’t have your own horse?"
"… …"
Su Wan’er pouted, momentarily at a loss for words. She turned and looked back at the inn before rushing inside, tossing a bag of spirit stones to the innkeeper.
"Innkeeper, I’m buying a horse!"
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