"Little brother, what's your name?" Jun Fei'er asked kindly.
"Xiao Qi," Ze Fang replied slowly after swallowing the food in his mouth.
"Where is your home?"
Ze Fang glanced at her, squinted, and smiled, "My home is wherever my father is."
Clever for his age! Jun Fei'er couldn't help but think. Indeed, how could the son of a shrewd father be lacking?
"Then where did your mother go?"
Ze Fang frowned slightly, feeling very puzzled. Why were these people so interested in who his mother was? No, they were interested in who the woman beside Xiao Qin was!
"Pretty sister, do you like my father?"
Jun Fei'er laughed heartily, "What, can't I like your father?"
"There are many sisters who like my father, you'll have to queue up," Ze Fang said in a childishly mature tone. "My father already has three beautiful sisters by his side, and who knows how many more outside."
Hou Liu's eyes widened as he looked at Ze Fang. Little master, is it really good to ruin your father's reputation like this?
Jun Fei'er hadn't expected Ze Fang to say such things, but after a moment, she realized this kid was guarding against her.
"Don't worry, I'm not interested in being your mother, I just want to take a disciple," Jun Fei'er leaned closer to Ze Fang. "Ask your father to be my disciple, and I'll help you drive away the women around him, how about that?"
"You'll have to ask my father about that."
When Xiao Man returned with Hou Wu, Ze Fang and the others had just finished eating. Seeing Hou Wu return, Hou Liu quickly got up to meet him.
"Brother, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Luckily, the boss arrived in time, otherwise I would have drowned," Hou Wu grumbled. "Those scoundrels, how dare they throw me into the river!"
Jun Fei'er stood up, "Are you alright?"
"Thank you, fairy, for looking after these two," Xiao Man said, thanking her repeatedly.
"It's just a small effort," Jun Fei'er cautioned with some concern. "Xiao Qin, killing people in the street will surely attract the attention of the forces in this city, especially the forces behind those you killed. They probably won't let you go easily."
"Thank you, fairy, for the reminder," Xiao Man smiled gently. "Fairy, do you still invite me to the Hundred Herbs Hall knowing that I've caused such big trouble now?"
Jun Fei'er immediately understood why Xiao Man hadn't immediately responded to her previous invitation. She said, "Although the Hundred Herbs Hall is mainly focused on refining medicine, we are not weak. As long as you are willing, our doors are always open to you."
"Thank you, fairy."
"You can bring the child with you," Jun Fei'er looked at Ze Fang, who was clinging to Xiao Man's side, and said softly. "It must be hard for you to raise a child alone, and he should also have a stable environment to learn and grow, not always be wandering with you."
"The fairy is truly kind-hearted."
Jun Fei'er immediately handed Xiao Man three identification tokens. Since Xiao Man had agreed, she wanted to strike while the iron was hot. "These are the Hundred Herbs Hall's tokens. I've already engraved your name on them. If there are others you want to bring to the Hundred Herbs Hall, you can bring them together, but I only have three spots. I wonder if that's enough?"
"It's enough. Thank you for your kindness, fairy."
"I'll be waiting for the day you call me master," Jun Fei'er said with a smile and turned to leave.
The Hou brothers looked at Xiao Man with envy. So many people wanted to become Jun Fei'er's disciple. Jun Fei'er, as one of the most outstanding alchemists in the Hundred Herbs Hall, had never taken a disciple until now. Yet, she had given Xiao Man three spots, showing her favoritism.
"Congratulations, Boss Xiao."
Xiao Man put away the tokens and took out several bottles of pills, handing them to the Hou brothers. "Here are some pills to help you with your cultivation. You two should also settle down and cultivate properly, and stop having those crooked thoughts. Also, this bottle is for healing. Keep it with you just in case."
Xiao Man paused for a moment, then continued, "For safety, you should go to the Roland Mountains and hide for a while. Wait until... after the people from the Seven Great Sects leave, then come back."
"Boss Xiao, we have now reached Qi Condensation stage seven. We can participate in the assessment of the Seven Great Sects with Qi Condensation stage seven..."
"Listen to me, go to the Roland Mountains, cultivate well, and don't participate in this assessment."
The two brothers looked at each other and finally decided to obey Xiao Man's orders. Xiao Man sent them out of the city and watched them enter the Roland Mountains before heading towards Wuji City.
Halfway there, he was stopped by an old man with white hair. "Little friend, please wait a moment."
Xiao Man stopped and looked at the old man speaking to him. She clearly felt that Ze Fang in her arms instantly stiffened, burying his head in Xiao Man's arms as if trying to hide himself.
"Senior, what are your orders?"
The old man stared at Xiao Man for a long time, a gleam flashing in his eyes. Then, his gaze fell on Ze Fang, and he smiled, "I have a connection with this little friend."
Xiao Man was suspicious but showed no outward reaction. "Meeting is fate."
"Little friend is right, meeting is fate. For the sake of our connection, let me give you a gift," the old man extended his hand, signaling Xiao Man to extend hers.
Xiao Man hesitated for a moment and extended her hand.
The old man tapped Xiao Man's palm. A golden light seemed to shoot into Xiao Man's palm. Xiao Man withdrew her hand but found nothing in her palm, feeling a little confused.
"Senior..." Just as she was about to ask, she looked up and the old man was gone. In the blink of an eye, the old man had vanished. "There are so many strange people these days."
Not far away, the old man watched Xiao Man walk into Wuji City holding Ze Fang, his smile growing brighter.
"Let's go, we're going back."
"Sect Leader, didn't you say you came to find Ze Fang? Ze Fang hasn't been found yet, why are we going back?"
"No need to look. He'll be fine," the old man said with a smile. "Wu Yan, what did you say the child's name was?"
"Xiao Qin?"
"His name is Xiao Qin?" The old man nodded incessantly. "He's a good child."
Wu Yan was a little confused. A good child? That kid is ruthless and changes his mind faster than flipping a book! And it was this kid who abducted Ze Fang, and Ze Fang is still nowhere to be seen.
"Sect Leader, aren't we looking for the young master anymore?"
"No more," the old man said with a smile. "Gu Yu, you stay behind and serve Xiao Qin. When Ze Fang returns, come back with Ze Fang."
"Sect Leader, you mean the young master will come back to find Xiao Qin?"
The old man smiled without answering. When he had calculated that Ze Fang's life was in danger and then received news of Ze Fang's disappearance, he had panicked. After all, Ze Fang was the hope of the sect. But when he saw Xiao Man, he understood.
The old man stopped and turned to look at Wuji City. Just then, Ze Fang looked in his direction through Xiao Man's shoulder. The old man smiled with great affection, and then the group disappeared.