"It is indeed a Dragon Spirit Flower. I never expected to find such a treasure in this spirit-energy-barren place," Li Xuan remarked, his usual calm demeanor giving way to a hint of excitement after a thorough inspection.
Even on the vast Cangmang Continent, the Dragon Spirit Flower was considered a rare and precious Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure. Its effects included providing pure spirit energy to its consumer and promoting blood circulation and muscle relaxation. The areas where it grew were often impacted by its presence, absorbing ambient spirit energy. Unlike other such treasures, the Dragon Spirit Flower was not guarded by fierce beasts. It concealed itself by diverting spirit energy to surrounding vegetation. Without Li Xuan's exceptionally strong divine soul, he would not have recognized it at first glance.
"This trek has certainly gotten off to a good start," Li Xuan chuckled. He then channeled his spiritual power, enveloping the Dragon Spirit Flower and its roots. With a gentle tug, he uprooted it. After carefully storing the flower, Li Xuan turned back towards their campsite.
"Uncle Li Xuan, you're back!" Ivan's voice chimed as Li Xuan returned, her face breaking into a smile. Su Qing, who was by the campfire, also turned her gaze toward him.
"I've scouted around; this place seems safe enough. You two can use the larger tent, and I'll take this one. It's getting late, so get some rest after eating," Li Xuan said with a nod. He then slipped into his tent. With the Dragon Spirit Flower secured, Li Xuan, if alone, would have consumed and refined it immediately. However, the process was lengthy, and to avoid Su Qing and Ivan's discovery, he had to wait until the dead of night.
"Sister Su Qing, don't you think Uncle Li Xuan is a bit distant?" Ivan asked, her gaze following Li Xuan after he entered his tent.
"Now that you mention it, he does seem a bit aloof," Su Qing agreed with a slight nod. She then glanced at Li Xuan's tent, a thoughtful glint in her eyes.
Inside the tent, Li Xuan overheard their conversation and shook his head with a wry smile. After a brief period of feigned sleep, Ivan and Su Qing also ceased their chatter and retreated into their own tent. Sensing this, Li Xuan slowly opened his eyes. He formed a series of hand seals, and a faint spiritual barrier materialized around them. Having done this, Li Xuan let out a sigh and closed his eyes once more.
Time slipped by. At 11 PM, Li Xuan's eyelids slowly fluttered open. After a brief scan, he sensed that both Su Qing and Ivan were fast asleep. Li Xuan couldn't help but feel a touch of amusement. Ivan and Su Qing's guard was alarmingly low. Not only were they traveling with him, a man, but they were also in the wilderness, where a certain degree of vigilance was expected. Yet, he detected them sleeping deeply and without any apparent concern.
"They are indeed inexperienced. Fortunately, they met me," Li Xuan mused with a shake of his head. With a thought, he conjured the Dragon Spirit Flower. He gave it a gentle shake, and the dirt clinging to it fell away. Then, he popped it into his mouth and swallowed it whole, without any chewing. In the next instant, Li Xuan rapidly formed hand seals. A faint spiritual light emanated from his body, and his aura began to surge.
The next morning, as the sky began to lighten, Li Xuan's aura gradually stabilized. He flicked away a residue of black impurities and then unzipped his tent to emerge. He watched the sliver of a crescent sun appearing on the horizon and took a deep breath before starting to pack.
"Uncle Li Xuan, you're up so early?" Perhaps woken by Li Xuan's packing, Ivan and Su Qing emerged from their tent as he was finishing. Seeing that Li Xuan had already packed up, Ivan spoke first. Su Qing remained silent but her gaze toward Li Xuan held a new measure of respect.
"There's a small stream about a hundred meters ahead. You two can go wash up. I'll handle the packing here," Li Xuan said, pointing forward.
"Thank you, Uncle Li Xuan! Sister Su Qing, let's go wash up!" Ivan exclaimed happily, smiling at Li Xuan. She then took Su Qing's hand, grabbed their toiletries, and headed in the direction Li Xuan had indicated.
"Let's get moving. If you get tired, just say the word," Li Xuan said after everything was packed ten minutes later. He glanced back at Ivan and Su Qing, who had returned, and paused for a moment before speaking. He recalled that they had only started their journey in the afternoon yesterday. While the two women's bodies might hold up, today they would be traveling all day, and Li Xuan wasn't sure if they could manage. He had noticed their physical condition was better than that of average women, but not quite at the level of athletes.
"Okay," Ivan and Su Qing replied in unison, nodding. After ensuring the campfire was completely extinguished, Li Xuan and his companions resumed their journey northward.
...
"Have you found out where that young man, Li Xuan, went?" At Baoxiu Garden, within the Zhuo manor, Zhuo Xian placed his wine cup down, his expression grim as he questioned the man in the suit who had just returned.
"Reporting to Young Master Zhuo, it seems that Li Xuan went to Phoenix Mountain. However, on my way back, I received the latest intelligence. That Li Xuan checked into the Haitian Grand Hotel in Chuan City. His subsequent whereabouts are currently unknown," the man in the suit replied.
"To Chuan City? Is that good-for-nothing traveling for leisure?" Zhuo Xian stood up upon hearing the report.
"Looking at his route, it's highly probable," the man in the suit nodded.
Zhuo Xian scoffed, "That good-for-nothing knows how to enjoy himself. Li Wan'er won't even grant me a meeting, yet he's off traveling. Fine. That waste will return eventually. Once he does, contact the people over there to eliminate him."
"Yes, Young Master Zhuo," the man in the suit replied, his pupils contracting slightly, though his expression remained unchanged. It was clear this was not the first time he had received such an order.
South City, already the farthest city within the Chuan region. South City bordered Cangcheng City, leading many residents of Cangcheng to seek livelihoods or leisure in South City. One day, a jeep approached, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Master Shi, thank you," the car door opened, and three figures stepped out. These three were Li Xuan, Ivan, and Su Qing. Li Xuan had originally planned to cross the Dongxian Mountain range to enter Cangcheng City, but after ten days of travel, Su Qing accidentally fell into a trap set by hunters, a trap that even Li Xuan hadn't detected. Fortunately, due to age, the bamboo strips within the pit had rotted. Though Su Qing sustained injuries and sprained her ankle, it was not life-threatening. Reluctantly, Li Xuan had to abandon some of his luggage, carry Su Qing on his back, and head towards the national highway. After a long wait, they finally found a vehicle heading to South City.
"It's nothing, nothing. We're all Chinese, and it's common to encounter difficulties when traveling. Well, I have other errands to run, and it's in the opposite direction of the hospital, so I won't be able to see you three off," Master Shi said with a simple, honest smile, shaking his head. Then, under Li Xuan's and his companions' watchful eyes, he started the car and quickly merged into the traffic.
"Let's go. Although I've reset your bone, those scars on your body still need to be treated at a hospital." Li Xuan had a good impression of Master Shi. Upon hearing that the three wanted to go to Lhasa in Cangcheng, he readily agreed to give them a ride. Moreover, each time Ivan offered payment, Master Shi had refused.
"Mhm," Su Qing nodded. While other injuries were manageable, she had several scrapes on her face. If not treated at a hospital, they would likely leave scars, which was unacceptable for any woman. Li Xuan noticed Su Qing's concern and said, "Don't worry, there won't be any scars. Let's go."