"Alright, alright," Master Mo quickly nodded and called out to the girl resting under the tree, "Baili Xiao, come over here. Someone's looking for you."
The girl appeared a bit timid. She glanced at the boy beside her, and under his encouraging gaze, she slowly stepped forward.
"Baili Xiao... So your surname is Baili. Sister, you still can't forget that man," Xiao Yuexuan murmured softly.
"She looks so much like her," she said, observing the girl before her. Concerned, she asked, "Is your mother named Xiao Qingya?"
"Are you Aunt Yuexuan?" Baili Xiao pondered for a moment before asking in realization.
"You know me? Did your mother mention me before she passed?" Xiao Yuexuan eagerly nodded, her voice filled with emotion.
"Before she died, my mother often spoke of you. She said she missed you dearly," Baili Xiao nodded gently.
"Your mother and I lost our parents when we were young and relied on each other. But back then, I was determined to pursue martial arts and aspired to join the True Martial Sacred Ground.
So, I stubbornly left Sunshine Village and lost contact with her," Xiao Yuexuan's eyes welled up as she looked at the girl's coarse cloth attire. Resolutely, she said, "Now, as the Sixth Grand Elder of the True Martial Sacred Ground, I can protect you. Would you be willing to come with me to the sect?"
Baili Xiao hesitated, her gaze shifting to the boy beside her, eyes filled with inner conflict.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and agree," Master Mo urged anxiously.
These youngsters are still naive and don't understand what the True Martial Sacred Ground represents.
But he knew—this was a golden opportunity!
The True Martial Sacred Ground is the undisputed overlord of the far western lands, ruling over vast territories. Even on the Primordial Heartlands, it's one of the top powers.
Moreover, the woman's status within the sect seemed significant.
"It's okay, Xiao'er," Chu Yang's face was pale, but he forced a smile and encouraged her, "Once you're at the True Martial Sacred Ground, train hard. When I have the chance, I'll come find you."
"Brother Chu Yang, you must come find me," the girl's voice quivered, almost pleading.
"Don't worry, I will," the boy's voice was firm, exuding an undeniable determination.
Baili Xiao nodded vigorously, then turned to Xiao Yuexuan and said, "Aunt, I'm willing to go with you."
"Good," Xiao Yuexuan smiled with satisfaction. She looked at the boy with interest and asked, "Your name is Chu Yang?"
"Yes, senior," Chu Yang nodded, somewhat uneasy.
"Take this bottle of elixirs," Xiao Yuexuan retrieved a small bottle from her storage ring and handed it to Chu Yang.
Inside were three crystal-clear pills, looking exceptionally refined.
"What does this mean, senior?" Chu Yang didn't accept the elixirs immediately but frowned and asked.
He felt uneasy about this gesture. Was it charity?
"Don't overthink it. I'm not belittling you or looking down on you—just stating a fact," Xiao Yuexuan said softly. "Xiao'er will leave Sunshine Village with me to join the True Martial Sacred Ground. That's a world beyond your imagination. To be blunt, you two will no longer belong to the same world. I can see she has feelings for you. If you wish to find her at the sect in the future, you'll need some capabilities. These elixirs can cleanse your body and serve as a token from me as an elder. If you achieve something and come to the sect to find her, I won't oppose it."
Hearing her words, Chu Yang fell silent.
He knew her words were sugar-coated, meant to spare his pride.
In the end, she still looked down on him, thinking he wouldn't be worthy of Xiao'er in the future.
At that moment, Chu Yang wanted to shout, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west. Don't underestimate a young man!"
But he remained silent.
He had no right to shout that. He wasn't the protagonist of this world; he had no mentor, no cheat codes.
He was just an orphan from a small, ordinary village.
If he shouted those words, people wouldn't admire him—they'd find him immature, even laughable.
"Chu Yang, just take them," Baili Xiao urged gently.
She knew Chu Yang had been frail since childhood. Perhaps these elixirs could transform him.
"Alright," Chu Yang finally looked up, forced a smile at the girl, and slowly accepted the elixirs.
Xiao Yuexuan smiled with satisfaction. She didn't see much potential in the boy.
She did this to leave a good impression on Baili Xiao. After all, they had never met before, and this sudden encounter might feel awkward.
As for Chu Yang, she didn't care. Once Baili Xiao joined the True Martial Sacred Ground, and experienced that vast world, met more outstanding young talents, she'd realize her current attachments were meaningless.
Outstanding people always gravitate toward each other. People strive upward. Xiao Yuexuan firmly believed, "People change."
She glanced at Master Mo, waved her right hand, and a pile of elixirs and books appeared on the ground.
"These cultivation techniques, martial arts manuals, and elixirs are my tokens of gratitude to Sunshine Village," Xiao Yuexuan said calmly.
"Thank you, thank you!" Master Mo exclaimed excitedly.
Looking at the pile of elixirs, he was thrilled. Currently at the ninth stage of the Spirit Meridian Realm, he knew he had hope of advancing to the Meridian Forging Realm.
Though he hadn't examined the elixirs yet, Master Mo understood that someone of her status wouldn't offer ordinary items.
Xiao Yuexuan grabbed Baili Xiao's arm, soared into the sky, and gracefully flew toward the True Martial Sacred Ground.
"Chu Yang, I'll wait for you!" the girl's shout echoed in the air.
Chu Yang felt an emptiness inside, as if something precious had been lost.
He stared blankly at the girl's departing figure, memories of her smiling face flooding his mind.
Rain began to fall from the sky. Chu Yang looked up at the suddenly overcast sky and trudged home.
That dilapidated wooden hut leaked from all corners whenever it rained.
He sat dazed on the bed, lost in thought.
"Throughout the ages, I alone am invincible!" a hoarse voice suddenly echoed in his ears.
"Who's there? Who's speaking?" Chu Yang was startled, quickly looking around the room.