Stone Fairy!

In the rain, Xie Ning and Dao Zhen remained silent for a long time.

The two of them shimmered with a faint light. The rain fell on them, but instead of soaking their clothes, it gathered into tiny droplets on the surface of their fabric and rolled off one by one.

at last,

The clouds on the horizon parted, revealing a patch of evening glow.

The sunset was as brilliant as fire, a deep, vibrant red that spread out in layers.

For a moment, I couldn't tell whether it was dusk or sunrise.

Xie Ning raised his head, looked at the sunset, and exhaled a long breath. The breath condensed into a cloud of white mist in the twilight, and then quickly dissipated.

She turned her head and looked at Daozhen.

Are you still going to Yunmei City?

After this incident, she realized that the white-robed Taoist in front of her was definitely much more powerful than herself.

She had initially been prejudiced, and since she couldn't sense any spiritual energy flowing through him, she assumed he was just an ordinary person.

Looking back now, it wasn't that the other party lacked cultivation, but rather that their cultivation was so high that she couldn't perceive it.

Daozhen thought for a moment and nodded slightly: "Of course I will go."

"Fine." Xie Ning turned her head away, not looking at him, her tone carrying a hint of reproach.

"Since you saved me, I'll let bygones be bygones for the fact that you lied to me and said I was just an ordinary person."

Daozhen smiled slightly and didn't say anything more.

Xie Ning waited a moment, but received no explanation from him, and the little bit of awkwardness in her heart had nowhere to go. She slung the spear over her shoulder and walked forward without looking back.

"I'm not waiting for you this time."

After saying that, Xie Ning took a step forward, each step faster than the last, her red dress fluttering in the twilight.

Dao Zhen was about to catch up when suddenly he stopped in his tracks.

A glimmer of light appeared on that charred elm stump.

The light was tiny, flickering faintly in the twilight, almost easily missed if one didn't look closely. It slowly rose from a crack in the charred bark, floated in the air for a moment, and then flew towards Daozhen.

That spark of light landed in Daozhen's palm, and with a gentle touch, it transformed into an elm seed.

The elm seed was entirely emerald green, with a faint golden sheen around its edges, and lay quietly in Daozhen's palm.

Daozhen glanced down at it, then put it into his sleeve.

"Hello!"

"You're really not coming along?!"

In the distance, Xie Ning's voice came. She had walked quite a distance and was standing on a ridge in a field, looking back. The setting sun shone on her, casting a long shadow.

"They're here."

Daozhen stepped forward and followed.

Knowing that Dao Zhen possessed cultivation, Xie Ning no longer stopped and started walking as he had before.

She strode quickly and long, carrying a long spear on her shoulder, the red tassel on the spear tip fluttering in the evening breeze.

Daozhen followed behind her, his steps unhurried, his white robes as white as snow. The two figures, one after the other, gradually blended into the sunset glow on the horizon.

The two continued their journey without stopping.

Xie Ning was fast on her feet. She had practiced martial arts since childhood and had her own cultivation. When she was traveling at full speed, she was as fast as the wind and ordinary people could not catch up with her.

She had been thinking about whether to slow down a bit, since the person behind her, although highly skilled, might not be good at walking.

When Xie Ning turned around, she saw Dao Zhen following her unhurriedly, about three steps behind. His robes didn't sway at all, and his face was as calm as still water. He didn't even breathe in the slightest.

Xie Ning withdrew his gaze, stopped thinking about it, and focused on his journey.

Night fell.

The moon rises, a full moon that is not yet full, its clear light spilling across the earth. A cool night breeze blows from the open fields.

The two remained silent the entire way.

When the moon was high in the sky, a city appeared in the distance.

Looking into the distance, the city stretched across the land ahead. Moonlight fell on the dark city walls, giving them a cold, bluish glow. The marks of swords and axes could be faintly seen on the walls, traces left by war, though most of them had been blurred by wind and rain.

The city wall was about four or five zhang high, with a corner tower at intervals. Lights were lit in the corner towers, and dim yellow light shone through the arrow slits.

The city gates were wide open, and two rows of armored soldiers stood at the entrance, their armor gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

Although it was night, the city was still brightly lit, with pedestrians and merchants coming and going, making it very lively.

"arrive."

Xie Ning stopped, glanced at Dao Zhen, and was about to step into the city again.

suddenly,

Xie Ning frowned and suddenly looked up at the night sky.

Daozhen followed the gaze.

In the night sky, a tiny paper crane flew towards Xie Ning.

The paper crane circled once above Xie Ning's head, then gently landed in her palm, folded its wings, and remained still.

Xie Ning held the paper crane in his palm, closed his eyes, and a glimmer of inspiration entered his mind.

A moment later, her expression changed drastically as she realized why no one had come when she released the paper crane.

"What's wrong?" Daozhen asked.

"Something happened at home, I have to go back quickly." Xie Ning frowned deeply, put the paper crane into his pocket, and without thinking too much, glanced at Dao Zhen and said in a very fast voice.

"Come with me first, and I'll arrange accommodation for you once we arrive."

Before she finished speaking, she had already darted away.

This time, she was even faster than before. Her red dress became a blur in the moonlight. With a light touch of her toes on the ground, she leaped several feet away and sped towards the city gate.

Xie Ning took out a black token from his pocket. The guards bowed respectfully upon seeing it and dared not stop him.

The two figures passed through the city gate one after the other.

Xie Ning was clearly very familiar with the roads of Yunmei City. He made his way through the winding alleys, choosing the less crowded ones, and walked quickly and hurriedly.

Daozhen followed behind her.

Before long, Xie Ning stopped in front of a mansion.

The mansion gate was tall and wide, with copper nails embedded in the two vermilion doors, which gleamed darkly in the moonlight.

Two stone lions crouch at the entrance, one on the left and one on the right, their manes clearly defined, their eyes wide open, majestic and lifelike.

Above the gate hangs a plaque with two large, bold characters: Xie Mansion.

At this moment, the door was half-closed, and a dim light shone from inside.

An elderly man dressed in brocade robes was standing at the door, pacing back and forth, looking nervous.

He was about fifty or sixty years old, with gray hair and a thin face, but his eyes were very bright. He was looking towards the door from time to time, as if he was waiting for someone.

He saw Xie Ning's figure appear at the alley entrance, and his eyes lit up immediately. He rushed over to greet her.

"Miss, you're finally back!" The old man's voice was filled with obvious relief as he bowed to Xie Ning.

Xie Ning continued walking towards the mansion, asking, "Uncle Yao, how is my father?"

Yao An followed Xie Ning closely, walking quickly as he answered, "Thanks to the efforts of several retainers in the manor, the patriarch's injuries have been temporarily stabilized."

Xie Ning paused slightly, then quickened her pace again.

Yao An then noticed that there was another person following behind Xie Ning.

He looked up and saw a young man following Xie Ning at a leisurely pace.

He wore a simple, unadorned white Taoist robe, pristine and untouched by dust, which shimmered faintly in the moonlight. His face was handsome, his eyes serene, and he exuded an indescribable spirituality.

Yao An had worked as the steward of the Xie family for decades, welcoming and seeing off countless people. He had met many Taoist disciples and high-ranking members of various sects, some arrogant, some aloof, and some feigning approachability, but all of them still retained a certain worldliness.

But the one in front of me is different.

He couldn't quite put his finger on what was different, but he felt that just by having that person stand there, people would involuntarily quiet down and even lower their voices.

"Miss, who is this...?" Yao An asked cautiously, lowering her voice.

Xie Ning then remembered that Dao Zhen was still following behind him.

She stopped, glanced back at Daozhen, thought for a moment, and said, "This is one of the demons I encountered this time... um..."

She paused, seemingly considering her words.

"Fellow Daoist."

Upon hearing this, Yao An immediately understood the situation.

To be able to exorcise demons alongside his young lady, he must be a capable person. He immediately bowed respectfully to Daozhen and said, "Young master, please come in."

Daozhen returned the greeting.

Xie Ning had already stepped into the mansion gate, asking Yao An as he walked, "Where is my father now?"

"In the main house in the backyard, several of the ancestral tablets are present."

Xie Ning nodded, her steps unwavering. After a few steps, she suddenly stopped, turned to look at Daozhen, thought for a moment, and said to Yao An, "Uncle Yao, please find a good guest room and take my friend there to rest."

"I can go alone."

Xie Ning then looked at Dao Zhen: "Go and rest first, I'll come find you again tomorrow morning."

After saying that, without waiting for Daozhen's reply, he jogged towards the depths of the mansion.

Yao An watched Xie Ning leave, then turned around and took another look at Dao Zhen.

"Young master, please follow me."

Yao An stepped aside to lead the way, taking Dao Zhen through the front yard and walking eastward along a path paved with bluestone.

The corridors twist and turn, and lanterns hang high, illuminating the courtyard brightly.

After passing through several courtyards, there were artificial hills and waterside pavilions, green bamboo and banana trees. Although it was night and not very clear, one could still feel the elegance and grandeur of the mansion.

Before long, Yao An stopped in front of a secluded villa.

The courtyard is not large, but it is decorated with great care.

Several clumps of bamboo grow at the entrance of the courtyard, their shadows swaying gently in the moonlight, amidst white walls and black tiles.

Looking in that direction,

In the courtyard, there is a small artificial hill with a stream flowing down from it, which flows into a pond at the foot of the hill. Several koi carp live in the pond, and occasionally they turn over in the moonlight, splashing up a small water droplet.

There is also an old locust tree in the courtyard, with lush branches and leaves, its canopy casting a dense shade. Under the tree is a set of stone table and benches.

Yao An pushed open the courtyard gate, stepped aside to let Dao Zhen go in first, then followed him in, walked to the front of the main house, pushed open the door, and lit the lamps one by one.

"Young master, please rest here for now." After lighting all the lamps, Yao An stepped back to the door and said respectfully, "Hot water and food will be brought over later."

"If you need anything, young master, just pull the bell by the door and someone will come to serve you."

Daozhen nodded slightly and returned the greeting: "Thank you, sir."

Yao An quickly waved his hand: "Young master, you are too kind. I am honored. Please rest well, young master. I will take my leave now."

After saying this, Yao An left and gently closed the door behind him.

The footsteps faded into the distance, and the courtyard fell silent.

At this moment, the moon had already set in the west, its clear light shining like water, casting a silvery-white glow on the artificial hill and bamboo leaves in the courtyard.

Daozhen stood in the courtyard, his gaze piercing through the night, looking into the depths of the mansion.

He sensed several powerful auras in that direction.

"No wonder she looks so wealthy; she's the city lord's daughter."