"M-much obliged, Fellow Daoist, for your assistance. I have just formed my Golden Core and was on a mission from my sect to gain worldly experience when I was nearly deceived by the demon. Your, your esteemed name...?"

Chen Xuantian glanced at Shen Su’e, who was bowing and thanking him, then at the dead dog beside him,

"I’m Wu Lian, just a rustic from the countryside with no capability to help. You defeated it with your own skills. No need to thank me."

Shen Su’e curiously observed the two people in front of her.

The young man was dressed in a black robe, thin, and carried a dirty sword bag on his back. His face was smeared with dirt and grime, looking somewhat similar to someone barely past the age of ten. His features were quite ordinary, with tangled hair like it hadn’t been washed for months; he looked like a refugee struggling to survive.

Contrastingly, the girl beside him, though also wrapped in a dirty black robe, appeared intelligent and charming, with delicate features like finely carved jade, resembling a porcelain doll that one couldn’t help but pity.

The two, at a glance, seemed of the same age and similarly dressed, appearing like siblings. However, on closer inspection, their appearances were worlds apart, so different that they clearly didn’t look like they were born of the same mother, leaving Shen Su’e unsure of how to address them.

Chen Xuantian shot a sidelong glance,

"Though I am a Mixed Cultivator, I have heard that Mystic Sect Disciples at the Golden Core Realm venture out in pairs for training, so why are you alone?"

Shen Su’e was embarrassed,

"To tell you the truth, I am... not very gifted. It took me over ten years at the Foundation Establishment stage to reach Core Formation. The juniors of my batch have long returned from their training..."

More than that, someone from your batch has already become the Sword Sect Leader and is about to attain enlightenment.

Chen Xuantian watched as Gugu Gaga rushed over to pick up the gourd that the dog had gnawed on, quickly snatching it away, sniffing it,

"You overestimate yourself. The saying goes, ’A fine horse cannot leap a great distance; a worn horse plods on, succeeding through perseverance.’

"Laying a solid foundation is necessary for building up to breakthroughs. While there may be setbacks, it doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities for remarkable success.

"It’s just a pity that all the Nourishing Essence Pills your elders prepared went into the dog’s mouth."

Shen Su’e thought he was complimenting her and replied embarrassedly,

"It’s... it’s okay. I... I’m not very injured. I... don’t need any elixir pills."

Chen Xuantian noticed she seemed naturally a bit stammering and not very quick-witted, shook his head silently, and tossed her the gourd,

"Forget it. Since we’ve met, it’s fate. I’m heading to Nine Yin Mountain, so I can escort you back to your manor. You can restock on elixir pills and then continue your training."

But Shen Su’e shook her head,

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for your kindness. However, I’m under orders from my sect. I must retrieve a sword in Suiyang and will not return until my mission is complete. I appreciate your kind offer."

Chen Xuantian couldn’t help but cast an eye at her,

"What? You think you can retrieve a sword in Suiyang?"

Faced with Chen Xuantian’s skepticism, Shen Su’e blushed knowing she had indeed looked a bit disheveled fighting the dog, and found herself speechless, unable to respond.

Gugu Gaga became impatient, tugging Chen Xuantian’s hair,

"Let’s go! Sugar-coated hawthorn!"

"Alright, everyone has their aspirations; I wish you the best in retrieving the sword."

Seeing this Shen family’s girl so set on her path even to the point of folly, Chen Xuantian decided he would let her be, for once she was wasted, it would be better to start over. With that, he used Qinggong and swiftly departed, carrying Gugu Gaga on his back.

"Uh, Fellow Daoist."

Yet Shen Su’e hurriedly caught up,

"Are you, Fellow Daoist, heading to Nine Yin Mountain?"

"Why, not allowed?"

"No, no, not at all, but Nine Yin Mountain is to the west. You’re heading the wrong way; this road leads to Suiyang."

Chen Xuantian furrowed his brow, stopped in his tracks, and checked the position of the Sun, counting with his fingers.

"West?"

Shen Su’e nodded, stammering but eager to guide,

"This place is within the Liang State. If you want to go to Nine Yin Mountain, you must first follow the Liang River northward. Once you reach Si Li, proceed along the Chidao westward out of Guanxi, and you will find Nine Yin Mountain."

...Wait, what’s going on?

Even though he had taken an unusual escape route, fleeing for seven days and nights before daring to show up, he should still be around the Capital area, right? How in the world did he end up crossing Si Li and into the Liang State?

Gugu Gaga’s eyes lit up,

"Liang State! Yay! Liang State is where my mom is! Let’s find mom!"

Shen Su’e, finding the girl innocent and adorable, corrected her with a smile,

"You mean your mom is, is from the Liang State, right?"

Gugu Gaga, "No."

Shen Su’e, "?"

For a moment, Chen Xuantian was silent, unable to fathom the situation, also not daring to trust the other’s words completely. After all, this person seemed rather foolish, perhaps incapable of recognizing roads due to inheriting a similar lack of sense of direction.

Nevertheless, the group quickly used Qinggong, reaching the previously mentioned village in no time.

This was the village Gugu Gaga had spotted while being thrown skyward, as Shen Su’e and the dog had described, completely massacred.

The monsters had ’wasted not,’ stripping human flesh to serve as rations for their troops. As far as the eye could see, it was a Corpse Mountain and Blood Sea, with bones and flesh standing like woods, resembling a purgatory on Earth. No wonder Shen Su’e went on a demon-slaying spree upon witnessing such a scene.

Noticing the two girls looking distressed, Chen Xuantian left them waiting outside the town. He pinched the formula, performed his magic, and flew into the city to survey the area briefly.

Then, he summoned a whirlwind of black wind, sending dust and debris flying, sweeping away the blood and gore, burying them in the burial mound.

Yes, burying them. After all, these were mere civilians, and even a Refining Void wouldn’t be troubled by such a task.