Online Game: Me, with Unparalleled Comprehension

I got up and stretched my limbs, which were slightly stiff from sitting cross-legged for a long time, and my joints made a slight cracking sound.

Pushing open the heavy stone door, the sky outside was already bright with daylight.

Fresh air filled the stone chamber, carrying the unique scent of Lingjiu Palace, a blend of stone and the chill of distant snow-capped peaks.

He strolled out and headed towards the main hall.

Before even stepping into the hall, one could hear faint sounds coming from inside.

Upon entering, one sees four sword maids—Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum—directing more than a dozen other maids as they bustle about.

Some of them were carrying heavy stones, some were installing intricate mechanisms in the corners and beams, and some were wiping the ground to remove the bloodstains left from yesterday's fierce battle.

In one corner of the hall, there was a pile of sharpened bamboo and rope, and the air was filled with a faint smell of freshly cut wood.

Upon seeing Wu Feng emerge, Mei Jian immediately stopped what she was doing and approached with her three younger sisters, bowing in unison: "Young Master."

Wu Feng glanced around the slightly messy hall and asked, "What are you all doing?"

Mei Jian maintained a polite calm on his face, but a trace of tension lingered in the depths of his eyes: "Young master, although those bandits have been repelled, it is hard to guarantee that they will not give up their evil intentions and return. Our strength is insufficient, so we can only make some preparations in advance and set up some simple traps just in case."

Wu Feng nodded; these NPCs were indeed quite intelligent. He then asked, "Has the Child Granny not returned yet?"

Upon hearing this, the four women quickly exchanged glances, their eyes subtly flickering.

Mei Jian lowered her eyes, her voice still steady: "Tong Lao is in seclusion, seeking to break through to a higher realm. Her return date... is hard to predict, and it will probably take some time." This statement was no different from yesterday's, showing that they had already discussed and agreed on the story.

After hearing this, Wu Feng did not ask any further questions.

He never expected to get the truth about the Child Granny from them. His question was just a routine formality before leaving, and also an opportunity to observe their reactions.

"In that case, I won't bother you any longer." Wu Feng's tone was flat, revealing no emotion. "Now that this matter is settled, I should take my leave."

Mei Jian seemed to breathe a slight sigh of relief, but still maintained his politeness: "Please take care, young master. The entire Lingjiu Palace will remember your kindness yesterday. We will certainly repay you if the opportunity arises in the future."

"No need." Wu Feng waved his hand, said no more, and turned to walk out of Lingjiu Palace.

The deep blue figure cast a sharp silhouette in the morning light, its steps showing no hesitation.

After his figure disappeared around the bend in the mountain path outside the palace gate, Zhu Jian couldn't help but whisper, "Big sister, this person... just left like that?"

Lan Jian frowned as well: "He came so suddenly, and he left just as abruptly. He killed a few traitors, spent half the night looking at the murals, asked the Old Woman a couple of questions, and then he left? What was he after?"

Mei Jian gazed at the empty palace gates, pondered for a moment, and slowly shook his head: "This man is unfathomable; his thoughts and ideas are beyond our comprehension. But now that he's gone, it might not be a bad thing for Lingjiu Palace. At least, one unknown variable has been eliminated."

She withdrew her gaze and looked at her three younger sisters, her tone turning serious. "The most urgent task is to quickly resolve the affairs within the palace, repair the defenses, and then... we must send more people to secretly search for the whereabouts of the Child Granny. The Child Granny has lost all her powers and is all alone outside; she is in great danger."

Ju Jian nodded: "Eldest sister is right. I will go and arrange for reliable sisters to search for possible hiding places throughout Misty Peak."

"Be careful not to let the news leak out," Mei Jian warned.

The four women whispered a few more words to each other, then dispersed to continue their work.

Once outside the Lingjiu Palace area, Wu Feng slowed down and wandered casually through the mountains and forests near Misty Peak.

The morning mist still lingered in the mountain forest, dewdrops clung to the grass and trees, and birds sang sweetly.

While leisurely performing the "Lingbo Weibu" technique, his figure moved through the forest as if taking a stroll, all the while raising his senses to the extreme, his sharp eyes scanning every spot.

Logically speaking, the Heavenly Child Granny is at her most vulnerable moment, having reverted to her youth and lost all her powers.

If the people from the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands dared to openly attack the mountain, then the Child Granny would never dare to easily return to Lingjiu Palace.

Therefore, the safest place might actually be in these vast mountains.

She knew every blade of grass and tree on Misty Peak like the back of her hand. If she could find a secluded corner to hide in, it would be like finding a needle in a haystack for outsiders to find her.

"Let's try our luck," Wu Feng thought to himself. If he could find the Child Granny and trigger the quest, he would still have a chance to learn more of the Free and Unfettered Sect's unique skills, and might even gain unimaginable benefits.

This is far more valuable than aimlessly wandering the world.

He slowed his pace in a relatively open area with scattered rocks near the mountainside.

With a good view, a steep mountain wall behind it, and several huge rocks in front, it's a good place to hide temporarily and observe the surroundings.

As his gaze swept over the area, Wu Feng's eyes narrowed slightly.

On one of the relatively flat giant rocks, a small figure was sitting prominently.

It was a girl who looked about eight or nine years old, wearing a rather ill-fitting coarse cloth dress, her hair simply tied back, facing away from him, seemingly meditating and regulating her breathing.

Above the girl's head, three scarlet characters were clearly visible in the morning light—【Wu Xingyun】.

Wu Feng's lips curved upwards almost imperceptibly.

He was lucky; he actually ran into one.

After a brief observation, it became clear that the girl's aura was extremely weak, almost indistinguishable from that of an ordinary person, but her serene posture while meditating subtly revealed a maturity beyond her years.

She was clearly so engrossed that she only noticed Wu Feng when he concealed his aura and approached within ten feet.

"You! Who are you?" The little girl Wu Xingyun was shocked and suddenly turned around. Her eyes, which had been closed, suddenly opened. Her eyes were sharp as needles, filled with shock, anger and vigilance, as she stared at Wu Feng who had suddenly appeared.

She inwardly cursed herself; having lost all her power and with her senses greatly diminished, she had allowed someone to approach so silently before she even noticed! If it was an enemy…

Wu Feng took in her reaction, understood what was going on, but remained outwardly calm.

He quickly suppressed the urge to expose the other person's identity immediately and decided to pretend not to know them to see if he could get any information out of them.

If we were to directly confront her, given the old woman's capricious and suspicious nature, it would likely immediately provoke strong defensiveness or even hostility, which would be counterproductive.

He wore a seemingly kind expression, took a few steps towards the rock, and spoke in a gentle tone, "Little girl, it's dangerous for you to be alone in these mountains. Where do you live? Would you like me to take you home?"

He himself felt a little awkward saying that, but playing the role of an ordinary chivalrous knight who intervenes in injustice was a standard opening line.

Wu Xingyun's face was tense, her gaze full of scrutiny.

Her first reaction was to yell at this rude person to get lost, but she swallowed the words back. Now was not the time to be defiant.

Just as she was about to make up an excuse, her gaze was suddenly drawn to the inconspicuous white jade thumb ring on Wu Feng's left thumb.

The texture, the luster, and the familiarity of that thumb ring—there was no doubt that it was the thumb ring of the leader of the Xiaoyao Sect.

"Where...where did you get that ring on your hand?" Wu Xingyun's voice carried a hint of urgency that she herself was unaware of, and her finger unconsciously pointed to Wu Feng's left hand.

Wu Feng raised his left hand to look at the thumb ring, then looked at Wu Xingyun and asked, "A thumb ring? A gift from an old senior. What, you recognize this thumb ring?"

His eyes were fixed on Wu Xingyun's expression.

Wu Xingyun's mind was in turmoil.

The Sect Leader's Ring! Wu Yazi's Sect Leader's Ring! How did it end up in this stranger's hands?

Did he give it to this person? What is this person's relationship with Wuyazi?

Countless questions flooded her mind, making her almost blurt out the question about Wu Yazi's whereabouts.

But her remaining rationality and the vigilance cultivated from years of being in dangerous situations forced her to suppress her impulse.

No, the situation is unclear right now, and I have no power left. I absolutely cannot reveal my identity, let alone my relationship with Wuyazi.