Liu Qingdai took another half step back.
"Miss, could you please untie the ropes? I would be very grateful," Wen Zhixing said quietly. There’s no need to explain; the innocent will clear themselves.
"Wait a moment." Liu Qingdai did not readily believe Wen Zhixing’s words. Instead, she took an object out of her Storage Ring.
It was a round mirror as smooth as jade, with gold stripes inlaid around its edges.
"The Heavenly Eye Mirror. Dad said there are many swindlers outside. This Spiritual Instrument can see through tricks of transformation and also discern a person’s cultivation level," Liu Qingdai murmured to herself.
Then, she channeled Spiritual Qi to activate the Heavenly Eye Mirror.
The mirror’s surface rippled like water, and slowly an eye appeared, opening gradually.
A gentle beam of light shot out, illuminating Wen Zhixing.
Wen Zhixing closed his eyes slightly, feeling a warm sensation all over his body.
The light swept over him back and forth several times.
It really is his true body, and his cultivation is merely at the Qi Movement Realm... After discovering nothing unusual about Wen Zhixing, Liu Qingdai slightly relaxed her guard. This was her first time out, and she was making up for her lack of experience with caution. Since he was a man, he definitely was not a demoness from the Wonderous Palace. With such low cultivation, he posed no threat to her.
"My apologies, Junior Brother." Liu Qingdai loosed the Binding Immortal Rope, her earlobes reddening imperceptibly. She felt somewhat embarrassed; she had indeed captured the wrong person.
"No offense taken, Senior Sister. And thank you for the elixir," Wen Zhixing waved his hand and coughed several times, his face slightly pale, looking as if he was gravely injured.
Sympathy appeared in Liu Qingdai’s eyes. The man before her is so frail, probably from being used as a furnace for a prolonged period. Truly pitiful.
"I don’t yet know your name, Junior Brother," Liu Qingdai asked, her tone much gentler. She did not look down upon these furnaces; the man before her had managed to escape from the Wonderous Palace on his own, which actually earned her admiration.
"My name is Wang Shouzhen," Wen Zhixing said casually.
He would certainly not reveal his real name. The girl before him is likely from the Righteous Sun Sect, and he doesn’t wish to expose himself.
"Wang Shouzhen..." Liu Qingdai nodded upon hearing this. It’s an easy name to remember. ’Diligently uphold one’s truth, and in dealings with people and things, one will then be unburdened.’
Wen Zhixing did not intend to engage further. He stood up unsteadily and took his leave, saying, "Senior Sister, as the green hills remain unchanged and the clear waters flow on, perhaps we shall meet again if fate allows."
This place isn’t too far from the Wonderous Palace, so it’s not very safe.
Upon seeing Wen Zhixing preparing to leave, a flicker crossed Liu Qingdai’s eyes, and she promptly spoke earnestly, "Junior Brother, you are weak. If you need help in the future, you can join our Righteous Sun Sect. The cultivation skills we practice are good for strengthening the foundation and cultivating the source. Oh, by the way, my name is Liu Qingdai."
"Alright, I will remember that." Wen Zhixing was taken aback for a moment and then bowed in thanks.
As he was about to leave, a piercing whistle came from behind.
"Stop! Daring to betray the Wonderous Palace, you’re seeking death!"
Both of them strained their eyes to see and spotted two streaks of light rapidly approaching from the distance, accompanied by continuous harsh shouting.
Wen Zhixing’s brow furrowed. "Have I been discovered? Surely not? Is Si Nanyan reacting this quickly?"
"Are they here for you?" Liu Qingdai also frowned.
"Farewell for now!" Without time to ponder, Wen Zhixing turned and fled.
"Wait!" However, his right hand was suddenly grabbed.
"Wang, don’t panic, I’m here," Liu Qingdai said firmly, pulling him into a nearby shadow.
"Qingdai..." Wen Zhixing attempted to pull his hand back, but Liu Qingdai held on tight.
This "Wang Shouzhen" is in too poor a condition. If I don’t intervene, he’ll definitely be captured by those from the Wonderous Palace. I aspire to become the foremost female sword immortal of the righteous path; how can I stand by and watch this happen?
"Don’t be afraid, I’m here," Liu Qingdai declared with confidence, patting her tender chest. Leave it to me.
"I can manage on my own..."
"Shh, don’t talk!" Liu Qingdai’s delicate fingers pressed against Wen Zhixing’s lips. Still talking at a time ? Do you really want to die?
Meanwhile, she affixed a talisman onto his body, concealing his aura completely.
Wen Zhixing blinked; the fingers of the girl before him seemed unusually supple. He tilted his head slightly backward but said no more.
Just then, a scream erupted from the woods ahead.
"Run! Let’s see how you can run now!" Above one of the streaks of light, someone launched an attack on the person below.
The two exchanged glances, a sudden realization dawning on them. It turned out their pursuers were actually after someone else; it was just a coincidence that the chase passed by their location.
Wen Zhixing frowned slightly; the scream sounded somewhat familiar. It seems I’ve heard it somewhere before.
The screaming figure sped up even more, darting through the trees below, and incredibly, barely managed to escape. Then, by a stroke of pure coincidence, the figure, now a black streak of light, headed straight towards Wen Zhixing and Liu Qingdai, intending to pass right by them.
But in the next moment, the person abruptly stopped. He had actually discovered Wen Zhixing and Liu Qingdai, who were hiding in the shadows.
"Eh, Senior Brother Wen?" The approaching figure’s grave expression relaxed, replaced by a look of surprise and joy.
Oh, my! What a coincidence! Did Senior Brother Wen know I would run in this direction and specifically wait here to meet me? It really has to be Wen Zhixing, he treats me so well!
"..." Wen Zhixing was somewhat dumbfounded. Upon closer inspection, the person before him turned out to be Wang Shouzhen.
The one fleeing just now was Wang Shouzhen?
"Senior Brother Wen, are you injured?" Before Wen Zhixing could speak, Wang Shouzhen reacted, rushed over to support Wen Zhixing’s other hand, and started pulling him forward, exclaiming, "Quick, run! I’ve been spotted!"
"Eh?" Wen Zhixing and Liu Qingdai were caught off guard, but their bodies instinctively started running along.
Wait, don’t we both have talismans on? How did this Wang Shouzhen even spot us?
"Run fast, run fast!" Wang Shouzhen urged again.
"Okay, run fast, run fast!" Liu Qingdai, upon seeing this, mimicked Wang Shouzhen and supported Wen Zhixing’s other arm.
One on each side, they flanked Wen Zhixing and began to run. In an instant, the three of them were running as if flying!
"Damn it! That person has backup!" one of the pursuers yelled.
Liu Qingdai and the others were no ordinary people; their running speed almost surpassed the flight speed of those chasing them.
Liu Qingdai felt a ripple in her heart. This is kind of thrilling. The sensation of being chased was rather novel to her.
"Senior Brother Wen, is this fairy your friend?" Seeing that they might genuinely shake off their pursuers, Wang Shouzhen’s heart lightened, and he cheerfully spoke up.
Senior Brother Wen sure has widespread connections. To have friends to rely on even when out and about. And such a beautiful fairy at that!
"..." Wen Zhixing shot Wang Shouzhen a look. "Junior Brother, let’s focus on running first. We’ll talk later." Please, just don’t talk right now.
"Alright, alright." Wang Shouzhen didn’t understand Wen Zhixing’s look but started to speed up blindly.
"Wait, what did you just call him?" Liu Qingdai, however, had already caught on, asking doubtfully.
What was this "Senior Brother Wen" she had just heard? Senior Brother Wen... Who is that?
"Senior Brother Wen? What’s up?" Wang Shouzhen scratched his head, turned to see Wen Zhixing staring daggers at him, and asked in confusion, "Senior Brother Wen, why are you glaring at me?"
"..." Wen Zhixing felt a headache coming on.
Liu Qingdai’s eyebrows knitted together. She understood now. "Wang Shouzhen" is likely a pseudonym. But their identities as furnaces must be real. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be hunted right now.
"Junior Brother, what’s your name?" Liu Qingdai smiled faintly, not addressing Wen Zhixing but turning to look at Wang Shouzhen instead.
"Oh, my name is Wang Shouzhen," Wang Shouzhen replied cheerfully.
"Wang Shouzhen... what a nice name." Liu Qingdai’s beautiful eyes curved into crescents, her slender white hands gripping Wen Zhixing’s arm slowly tightening.
Dad was right, there really are a lot of liars!