Ao Song let out a disappointed 'oh', while Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun exchanged a secret glance. Others might not know, but they were aware that the enigmatic master was none other than Jing Shuang. They had met her; she was clearly a woman younger than Gao Zhou, so why had she turned into an old man?

Bai Ruozhu didn't know why Gao Zhou lied, but she guessed that Jing Shuang might be Ao Song's missing aunt. Gao Zhou probably suspected this too but didn't want to expose Jing Shuang.

The journey went smoothly, and soon they entered Danliang Country. The group finally found a large inn to rest. Shortly after, Gao Zhou rushed into the room to find Jiang Yichun and Bai Ruozhu.

"Don't talk too much with Ao Song," Gao Zhou emerged with a serious look.

"Is Senior Jingshuang her aunt?" Jiang Yichun's tone soured at the mention of Jing Shuang, as he disliked the woman who seemed to want his mother's position.

Gao Zhou appeared helpless, "How would I know! Jingshuang said her master is a reclusive high sage and wouldn't permit her to show her face. She doesn't like others knowing about her, but I've found her magic techniques resemble Ao Song's, so I suspect she's hiding something. But since she doesn't want to go back, we shouldn't blabber, after all, she has helped you twice."

At the mention of this, Jiang Yichun looked a bit embarrassed, "Got it, we won't say much."

Bai Ruozhu also nodded; she didn't know Jing Shuang anyway, so it wasn't considered keeping secrets from Ao Song.

In the evening, Bai Ruozhu's family entered the space; Little Dengdeng joyfully ran to play in the hot spring. Bai Ruozhu meticulously checked and found the hot spring water indeed clean, confirming that although the hot spring pool was small, it had automatic purification capabilities.

"A few days ago, the trees in the forest bloomed, now they should bear fruit. I'll go see," Bai Ruozhu said.

Little Dengdeng had already taken off his shoes, dipping his feet into the hot spring, and immediately jumped up saying, "I want to go, I want to go!"

With no choice, Bai Ruozhu crouched down to help him put on his shoes, and the family of three went to the small forest.

Indeed, some flowers on the trees had withered, yielding tiny fruits which seemed not yet ripe.

"Mom, why are the fruit colors different? Does the taste differ too?" Little Dengdeng licked his lips, evidently inheriting his mother's foodie genes.

"Uh, Mom doesn't know either; let's wait until they ripen, and then I'll observe," Bai Ruozhu said.

Jiang Yichun's gaze didn't linger on those vividly colored fruits but on the nearby tree bearing black fruits.

"Achun, what's wrong?" Bai Ruozhu noted his odd behavior.

Jiang Yichun shook his head, "I don't know why but it seems familiar, yet I can't recall what fruit it is."

He pondered for a while but ended up shaking his head; since he couldn't remember, Bai Ruozhu didn't press further.

Early next morning, the group resumed their journey, quickly passing Jinshui City and advancing further.

Soon, the sound of fighting came from the road ahead, Jiang Yichun promptly halted the group.

"Everyone rest here for now, I'll send someone to check it out," Jiang Yichun said.

Sent out was Jing Lei, who hurriedly returned and informed Jiang Yichun and Bai Ruozhu, "Ao Qi is fighting with a middle-aged man, and there's a woman trying to stop them. But it seems the middle-aged man is going for the kill."

"What?" Bai Ruozhu quickly tasked Nanny Zhang to watch over the child, "I'm going to check it out."

Jiang Yichun hurriedly followed; he knew Bai Ruozhu was so agitated, fearing the woman with Ao Qi might be Tu Ying.

Gao Zhou, seeing their urgency, instructed the team to rest while he followed them. Ao Song, seeing the commotion, eagerly joined in.

"Tu Ying!" Bai Ruozhu recognized the woman as Tu Ying even before reaching them. She used light skills to rush forward, gripped Tu Ying's hands, and looked her up and down.

The person had grown thin and dark, losing the vibrant spirit of the past but gaining a touch of maturity and steadiness.

A closer inspection revealed a deep scar on her neck, indicating a cutting wound from swords.

The scar being on the neck and so deep suggested how dangerous the situation had been.

Bai Ruozhu didn't have time to be distressed as Tu Ying quickly said, "Ruozhu, let's catch up later, first stop my master and Ao Qi. It pains me if either gets hurt."

It turned out the middle-aged man fighting Ao Qi was actually Tu Ying's master, the one who gave her the Seven-color Ganoderma?

"Stop!" Jiang Yichun shouted upon hearing this, rushing in to stop Tu Ying's master.

Tu Ying's master was evidently highly skilled; Ao Qi brought his subordinates barely holding him off, though Ao Qi himself was not fighting desperately, while the master was all out to take Ao Qi's life.

As Jiang Yichun intervened, Tu Ying's master grew even more agitated, shouting, "You're all trying to steal my disciple, I'll fight you all!"

Saying this, he amped up his inner strength and attacked Jiang Yichun.

Tu Ying cried anxiously, "Master, I miss my parents and brother; I want to go home for a visit, don't do this please?"

Unfortunately, Kong Hefeng ignored her words, looking ready to fight to the death.

Bai Ruozhu frowned; Tu Ying's master hadn't even greyed yet, why had he become a stubborn old man? This wasn't the way to resolve things.

With this in mind, she'd lost patience; she had a myriad of questions for Tu Ying.

"Achun, fall back!" She called out, using light skills to dash into the fray, scattering drug powder directly.

This method poisons faster, and is more effective; soon, many were collapsing softly to the ground.

Kong Hefeng also used his sword to stabilize himself, saying weakly, "Demon woman, what poison have you used on me?"

"It's not a potent poison, just something to quiet you down," Bai Ruozhu replied defiantly.

Ao Qi sat in meditation, smiling wryly, "Ruozhu, I didn't want to fight him either, but you shouldn't have knocked me down too?"

"I couldn't help it; this attack is indiscriminate, and you were entangled. Enough chatter, first sort out the matter. Once things are clear, and you stop fighting, I'll antidote you," Bai Ruozhu folded her arms and stepped beside Tu Ying.

"Ying'er, are you truly intending to conspire with outsiders against me? After saving your life, this is how you repay me?" Kong Hefeng stared at Tu Ying.

Bai Ruozhu sneered; 'Ying'er', sounded as if calling a baby, surely Tu Ying's parents didn't use such cringey terms?

Not wanting to put Tu Ying in a difficult spot, she said first, "When did you see Tu Ying partnering with me? I was the one who poisoned, you can seek me for account later; stop dragging others. I've understood you're Tu Ying's master and have saved her life, as her friend, I should thank you."

Kong Hefeng snorted coldly, "No need!"

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