Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 1436: Chapter 741: No Obligation

He harbored suspicion in his heart but did not show it on his face, merely speaking indifferently.

“Taking money to solve people’s woes. Since Miss Xie has paid me, I, of course, will ensure your safety.”

Xie He listened on the side, gritting his teeth, and couldn’t help but interrupt.

“Miss, our Xie Family is also of some renown in Great Wilderness City, why must we…”

“Oh, isn’t this the great Miss Xie?”

A sharp female voice suddenly interrupted Xie He’s words.

Everyone turned their heads, only to see a woman wearing a pink gauze dress, with heavy makeup, leading more than ten Martial Artists over.

She held a round fan half-covering her face, her eyes full of mockery.

“I heard all your servants ran away last night? Truly pitiful, not even having someone to command.”

Xie Qingxuan’s face turned cold.

“Liu Qingyun, was it you causing mischief in the dark?”

“Ah, such words wrong a person.”

Liu Qingyun widened her eyes in feigned surprise.

“Do you have evidence? Without evidence, you shouldn’t speak recklessly.”

Xie He glared angrily, his hand already on the sword hilt.

“Little wench of the Liu family, you…”

“Qingyun, how can you speak to Miss Xie like this?”

A lazy male voice came.

The crowd automatically parted, revealing a young man in luxurious attire walking over slowly.

He had a handsome face, yet carried a hint of malevolence, with a gemstone-adorned Longsword hanging from his waist.

Liu Qingyun immediately changed her expression, leaning tenderly closer.

“Young Master Meng, I was only concerned about Sister Xie…”

Meng Xiao wrapped an arm around Liu Qingyun’s slender waist, but his gaze greedily swept over Xie Qingxuan.

“Miss Xie, I heard you plan to enter the Spirit Flame Mountain Range? That place is perilous, why not join me for a drink, and I’ll send some men to escort you into the mountains?”

Liu Qingyun’s face slightly changed.

“Young Master Meng, she…”

“Shut up.”

Meng Xiao glared at her coldly, and Liu Qingyun immediately fell silent, like a cicada in winter.

Xie Qingxuan looked icy.

“Many thanks for your kind offer, Young Master Meng, but I have made prior arrangements with this Young Master Gu.”

Only then did Meng Xiao notice Gu Sheng standing aside, and after sizing him up, sneered contemptuously.

“Him? With cultivation only in the Early Stage of the Xuanwu Realm, he dares to take on this task?”

He waved his hand, and more than a dozen Martial Artists behind him released their auras, all experts beyond the Third Level of the Xuanwu Realm.

“See?”

Meng Xiao boasted proudly.

“Any one of my subordinates can wander freely through the Spirit Flame Mountain Range. Miss Xie, opportunities like these are rare indeed.”

Xie Qingxuan didn’t even glance at those Martial Artists, speaking calmly.

“Your subordinates are indeed talented, Young Master Meng, but I, Xie Qingxuan, am not one to break my word.”

She turned to Gu Sheng.

“Young Master Gu, shall we set off?”

Gu Sheng watched the scene with interest, ignoring Meng Xiao’s provocative gaze, merely nodding lightly.

“Please.”

An hour later, on the outskirts of the Spirit Flame Mountain Range.

The group of over twenty moved, stepping on thick fallen leaves, the air filled with a strange smell of sulfur mixed with plant scent.

Xie Qingxuan walked in the middle, her white dress standing out starkly against the dark red mountain rocks.

Her right hand rested on the hilt of a Longsword at her waist, her knuckles turning slightly white from exertion.

“Miss Xie, the scenery of the Spirit Flame Mountain Range is indeed quite unique.”

Liu Qingyun caught up from behind, walking alongside Xie Qingxuan.

She wore a bright yellow outfit, a gold hairpin in her hair glistening in the sunlight.

“I heard your grandfather needs the Spirit Flame Immortal Grass for his illness? Coincidentally, my father has been having chest tightness too.”

Xie Qingxuan’s eye twitched, her voice cold as ice.

“Liu Qingyun, if you must follow, fine, but if you keep being sarcastic, don’t blame me for being unkind.”

“Oh my, such a temper.”

Liu Qingyun covered her mouth with a light laugh, her gaze drifting towards Meng Xiao at the front of the group.

“Young Master Meng, judge this for me, I accompany Miss Xie in good faith to find herbs, how did I become the villain?”

Meng Xiao turned back, a playful smile on his handsome face.

“Why should two beauties become angry? In these wild mountains, it’s better to remain harmonious.”

The Jade Pendant at his waist gently swayed with his steps, exquisitely engraved with the character “Meng.”

Xie Qingxuan snorted coldly, quickening her pace to the front of the group.

Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Gu Sheng—the mysterious young man who joined halfway, still silent and reticent, his face obscured under a black cloak.

“Young Master Gu.”

Xie Qingxuan spoke through sound transmission.

“The Liu family and my Xie Family have been rivals in Huang City for years. How my quest for herbs was leaked, I do not know. That Meng Xiao, on the surface passing by, is in fact colluding with Liu Qingyun and even bribed all my servants.”

Gu Sheng’s pace did not falter, only nodding slightly.

“Only Xie He is trustworthy.”

Xie Qingxuan continued.

“His grandfather died blocking a sword for my grandfather, and his father was raised by the Xie Family. The Meng Family is not small in influence and may cause you trouble…”

“The Meng Family?”

Gu Sheng finally spoke, his voice directly ringing in Xie Qingxuan’s mind.

“Not qualified.”

Xie Qingxuan was taken aback.

This response was too arrogant, yet the young man’s calm tone inexplicably reassured her.

As she was about to inquire more, a faint tremor came from the ground.

Gu Sheng stopped abruptly. The entire group halted as well, everyone looking at him in confusion.

“There’s danger.”

Gu Sheng spoke calmly.

“Ha!”

Meng Xiao strode over, the Jade Pendant at his waist jingling.

“Even my Guard Captain at the Seventh Level of the Xuanwu Realm didn’t notice anything unusual, and you, a kid just at the Early Stage of the Xuanwu Realm, are pretending to be some kind of prophet?”

The Guard Captain, a middle-aged, heavyset man, clasped his fists and spoke.

“Young Master, I indeed detected nothing…”

“Shut up!”

Meng Xiao interrupted harshly, then turned to Gu Sheng with a mocking expression.

“Some people are so desperate for Miss Xie’s attention that their means are too clumsy.”

Gu Sheng couldn’t be bothered to respond, only saying to Xie Qingxuan.

“Stand within ten feet of me, and you’ll be safe.”

He raised his voice to the others.