Hearing this voice, Li Hengsheng turned his head and a trace of joy appeared on his face: "Junior Sister Lu."
Is there anything more delightful than meeting your favorite girl after leaving seclusion?
Li Hengsheng looked at Lu Qiaoqiao's face, which was delicate but slightly haggard.
"Junior Sister, did you not sleep well these past few days? Why do you look a bit worn out?" Li Hengsheng asked curiously.
"It's nothing. Senior Brother, you don't need to worry. Maybe I've been a bit busy lately. I'll be fine after I get a good sleep back home." Lu Qiaoqiao forced a smile as she spoke.
Li Hengsheng had no doubts, but suddenly noticed that Lu Qiaoqiao was carrying a basket on her back. He asked strangely, "Junior Sister, are you going down the mountain with that basket? I remember you weren't among the brothers going out for supplies this time."
"Yes, I'm not officially part of this trip. I swapped places with someone else," Lu Qiaoqiao replied with a smile. "Lately, I've felt a bit stifled on the mountain and want to go out to relax."
"Hmm, a bit of relaxation sounds good." Li Hengsheng nodded.
"Then, Senior Brother, I'll go to the mountain gate to gather. You should hurry over after you grab your things." After finishing her words, Lu Qiaoqiao walked off with her basket.
Li Hengsheng felt something was off about Lu Qiaoqiao but couldn't pinpoint what it was. He turned around to go to the warehouse to collect his basket.
After collecting it, he headed to the mountain gate to gather with others. The elder from Wanzai Peak would lead them down the mountain to procure supplies.
But as Li Hengsheng came out with his items, he saw someone standing there watching him.
"Xu Yueyue?" Seeing the visitor, Li Hengsheng couldn't help but ask, "Sister, are you here to grab a basket too? I remember you didn't need to go down the mountain today either."
"You're such a blockhead." Xu Yueyue said irritably, "Didn't you notice that Junior Sister Lu is upset?"
"I noticed, but Junior Sister Lu didn't want to talk about it, so I didn't ask." Li Hengsheng shook his head.
"I couldn't stand by and do nothing." Xu Yueyue put her hands on her hips and said, "Li Hengsheng, do you know that a few days ago, people from the Lu family came to take Junior Sister Lu back to the Lu family to be engaged to the second son of the Hai family in Yifeng City?"
Upon hearing this, Li Hengsheng's eyes widened!
An arranged marriage?
Li Hengsheng's heart pounded wildly; Lu Qiaoqiao was going back for an arranged marriage?
"I can tell Junior Sister Lu likes you very much, but due to her family's command, she has no choice but to return." Xu Yueyue said, biting her lip. "If you're a man, express your feelings to Junior Sister Lu and take her away from Minghong State!"
"I believe if you speak up, Junior Sister Lu will definitely be willing to go with you." Xu Yueyue quickly added.
"I..." Li Hengsheng's words got stuck in his throat.
How could he not like Lu Qiaoqiao?
But what right did he have to like her?
In terms of family background, he had nothing, only a father who was not even a proficient artist.
In terms of cultivation talent, his talent was mediocre; he feared that reaching Postnatal Peak would be his limit.
The Innate Realm was only a dream.
If he really took Lu Qiaoqiao away, what could he offer her?
A life of hardship?
"What do you mean what?" Xu Yueyue said irritably.
"How do you know Junior Sister Lu won't be happy marrying the second son of the Hai family?" Li Hengsheng muttered, not daring to look at Xu Yueyue. "The marriage of the Lu and Hai families will only make them stronger and give Junior Sister Lu better resources. What's so bad about that?"
"You...you blockhead!" Xu Yueyue cursed, feeling disappointed.
But Li Hengsheng just kept his head down and headed toward the mountain gate, ignoring Xu Yueyue's continued scolding.
By the time he reached the mountain gate, there were already about twenty disciples waiting there.
The Elder Lin Feng at the forefront glanced at the late-arriving Li Hengsheng but said nothing, only turned around and said, "Alright, let's head down the mountain!"
Many disciples followed behind Elder Lin Feng.
Li Hengsheng walked beside Lu Qiaoqiao for a while, unsure of what to say.
Lu Qiaoqiao glanced at Li Hengsheng, seemingly understanding something.
"Did that little girl Xu Yueyue come to meddle with you?" Lu Qiaoqiao said calmly.
Li Hengsheng just nodded.
"That girl, really." Lu Qiaoqiao smiled, but there was a hint of bitterness mixed in the smile.
"Are you really going back for the arranged marriage?" Li Hengsheng pondered and asked the question with his head down.
"Yes, what else can I do if I don't go back?" Lu Qiaoqiao said blandly. "The family who gave birth to and raised me orders it. As a noble's child, that's our fate. If only I could enter the inner sect, maybe I could cancel the engagement, but now it seems highly unlikely."
"Hmm." Li Hengsheng was at a loss for words, only managing to utter a sound.
He recalled Xu Yueyue's words about running away with Lu Qiaoqiao.
Eloping?
"Why doesn't the Senior Brother take me to elope?" Lu Qiaoqiao suddenly whispered playfully in Li Hengsheng's ear.
Li Hengsheng widened his eyes, staring at Lu Qiaoqiao's smiling face close to him, unsure how to respond.
"Hehe, just kidding, Senior Brother. Look how startled you are." Lu Qiaoqiao covered her mouth, laughing softly.
Li Hengsheng kept his head down, letting out an awkward laugh to cover his inner embarrassment.
After leaving Dao Mountain Ancient Land, they needed about two hours to reach the nearest Buhuo City for procurement.
All the way, both were preoccupied with thoughts. Li Hengsheng was in turmoil, lost in his own thoughts.
Then, as they were passing by the Tufang Bridge, a trace of murderous intent suddenly emerged!
"Danger!" Elder Lin Feng in the lead suddenly turned solemn!
But the next moment, endless rain of flowers flew from ahead, a dense barrage of hidden weapons!
Elder Lin Feng waved his sleeve, inner strength surging out, directly knocking down the array of hidden weapons. However, two of them slipped past, piercing through two disciples from Wanzai Peak!
The two immediately fell.
Everyone was shocked, wondering what happened.
Li Hengsheng and Lu Qiaoqiao's faces also changed dramatically.
To dare ambush the disciples of Dao Mountain Ancient Land in Minghong State, this was unprecedented.
"Who goes there!"
Elder Lin Feng roared, his voice powerful, spreading with intense anger.
As his words dropped, over a dozen figures suddenly emerged from under the Tufang Bridge, cloaked in a sinister aura, each having reached the Postnatal Realm.
"Ghost Cultivators!"
Seeing the intruders, Elder Lin Feng's expression changed, not expecting so many Ghost Cultivators here.
"Kill everyone except that girl." The leading Ghost Cultivator pointed at Lu Qiaoqiao among the crowd.
Even Lu Qiaoqiao was stupefied.
Why her?
The dozen Ghost Cultivators leapt forward. With their Postnatal cultivation, the disciples of Wanzai Peak were like lambs to the slaughter, unable to resist at all.
"Run!" Seeing so many opponents, Elder Lin Feng's first reaction was to flee. Though unafraid of these Ghost Cultivators, he certainly couldn't protect these disciples in a battle involving so many.
Moreover, Elder Lin Feng vaguely felt an even more terrifying presence lurking in the shadows!
Perhaps even an Innate expert!
"Divine Steps!" A soft shout, and Elder Lin Feng's hands wove a pattern, enveloping himself and the disciples in a power, making them feel light.
Their movements seemed to become a hundred times more agile!
Without hesitation, they turned to run.
"Dao Mountain Ancient Land's 'Five Extremes Seal'? It's my first time seeing it." A calm voice arose amid their retreat.
The voice seemed to come from all directions, making it impossible to pinpoint the source.
But before they could run a hundred meters, an object suddenly flew across the sky, a scroll!