Lu Qing's face was filled with surprise. Did that mean Xiao Man had inadvertently taken the real Shen Nong Ding, while the one with the restriction was fake, a trap?
"Sect Leader, I don't understand what you're saying."
"The Shen Nong Ding over there is just a trap, meant to ensnare those who covet it!" the Sect Leader said, his heart filled with anxiety. "What are we going to do? If word gets out that the Shen Nong Ding is missing, Bai Yao Hall will be in big trouble."
"Has anyone outside seen what the Shen Nong Ding looks like?" Lu Qing asked softly. No one knew what the Shen Nong Ding looked like, so how could anyone know it was gone?
"Uncle-Master, this matter is of utmost importance. When you were here, did you really not see anyone else?"
"No!"
As Xiao Man and Nan Gong Yu left the vicinity of Bai Yao Hall, the sound of bells rang out from within. Though only three chimes, it was enough to alert the entire sect.
"They've discovered it?"
Xiao Man glanced back at Bai Yao Hall and nodded slowly. "This time, it was an accident. Even I didn't expect the real Shen Nong Ding to be hidden in ruins, and the one ostentatiously displayed outside was actually a trap."
"How do you know the cauldron in the ruins is the Shen Nong Ding?" Nan Gong Yu asked, confused.
Xiao Man rubbed her nose, contemplating how to tell Nan Gong Yu about Old Qin. "The spirit of the Tong Tian Pagoda told me."
"You know how to use the Tong Tian Pagoda?" Nan Gong Yu was quite curious. Something coveted by the Cang Xuan Continent must be extremely valuable.
"Mm, close your eyes."
Nan Gong Yu obediently closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he was inside the Tong Tian Pagoda.
Nan Gong Yu scanned his surroundings. "Where is this...?"
"The Tong Tian Pagoda is a space that can hold living people," Xiao Man explained. "It's a shame my cultivation is too low; I can only bring in a little bit at a time. Even now, the Tong Tian Pagoda is still very empty."
"A'Man, you've already done very well," Nan Gong Yu reassured her. "A space that can hold living people is a divine artifact that defies heaven. You absolutely must not let anyone outside know you possess such a spatial artifact as the Tong Tian Pagoda."
"This brat is quite sensible," Old Qin suddenly appeared, startling Nan Gong Yu, who immediately threw a punch, only to hit nothing.
"Who are you?"
Old Qin floated over to Xiao Man. "Girl, this kid doesn't know the meaning of respecting elders. He actually attacked me."
Nan Gong Yu looked to Xiao Man for an explanation.
"Ancestor of the Qin family, Qin Fang," Xiao Man introduced. "You can call him Old Qin. Old Qin, this is Nan Gong Yu."
"Oh, so *this* is the Nan Gong Yu you call out in your dreams?" Old Qin asked, as if discovering a new continent, his face filled with astonishment.
Xiao Man's face flushed. "Ancestor, if you keep spouting nonsense, I'll get angry!"
"Where am I spouting nonsense? The last time you were injured, delirious, and feverish, you were calling out Nan Gong Yu's name. And a few days ago, you called out Wen..."
Xiao Man covered Old Qin's mouth, interrupting whatever he was about to say. "Ancestor, do you not want me to find the spirit medicine for you anymore?"
Old Qin's eyes darted around. "Fine, fine, I won't say anything more. I won't say anything. Is that alright?"
"Let us talk alone," Xiao Man shooed Old Qin away and led Nan Gong Yu into a room, boiling water to make tea.
Nan Gong Yu sat by the table. "What Feng Mo Ran said cannot be trusted. Don't take it to heart."
Xiao Man understood that Nan Gong Yu was referring to her causing Wen Mo Han's death. Her gaze darkened. This time, Feng Mo Ran had spoken the truth, because Wen Mo Han had indeed died because of her. This was also why she had never noticed any problems with his health.
"This time, he's telling the truth."
"A'Man, Feng Mo Ran is a man full of lies..."
"I found this out from ancient texts," Xiao Man said as she brewed tea. "Mo Han was indeed killed by me."
Nan Gong Yu looked at Xiao Man, his brow furrowing. "You never intended to harm him, nor did you actively harm him. You had no idea about this."
"If you hadn't been poisoned so severely back then, you might have died by my hand too." Xiao Man pushed the brewed tea towards Nan Gong Yu. "When I learned the truth, I felt a sense of relief. I was somewhat glad you were alright."
Nan Gong Yu held Xiao Man's hand. "I'm lucky. Even if I hadn't been poisoned, you couldn't have killed me."
"Don't talk nonsense," Xiao Man chided. "I don't want anyone else to..."
"A'Man, this is not your fault," Nan Gong Yu interrupted her. "I believe that neither I nor Wen Mo Han would blame you. Moreover, this was all Feng Mo Ran's scheme, and Feng Mo Ran is dead now."
"Yes, he's dead," Xiao Man said slowly. "It's a shame he was just a pawn. The forces behind him have yet to be identified. However, to be able to cure his poison and allow him to reach the Nascent Soul stage so quickly, even if he was outwardly strong but inwardly weak, he was still a Nascent Soul. I suspect the forces behind him are very powerful." Sudanss.com
"So what?" Nan Gong Yu asked calmly. "Are you afraid?"
"No."
"Then it's fine. You're not afraid, and I'm not afraid. Haven't we been through enough? There are many people more powerful than us, but in the end, we always won. Nan Gong Yu picked up his teacup and took a slow sip. "We just lack time. Given enough time, we too will become one of the top powerhouses on the Cang Xuan Continent."
Xiao Man couldn't help but smile. "What are your plans next?"
"I'm going to Nine Yang City," Nan Gong Yu explained. "There's news of Yan Yu Qing in Nine Yang City."
"Yu Qing..." Xiao Man's face lit up with joy. "It's good to have news of him. Mo Mo should also have news. If nothing unexpected happens, he should be in Feng Ling City, so I also plan to go to Feng Ling City."
"Are we going to find Mo Mo together first, and then go look for Yan Yu Qing?" Nan Gong Yu inquired. They had only just reunited, and he didn't want to be separated from Xiao Man. But if they acted together, finding the other people wouldn't be so easy.
"No, we'll act separately," Xiao Man said decisively. "You go find Yan Yu Qing first, and then we'll meet in Feng Ling City."
"You're not going to Feng Ling City for now?"
"Not for now. I need to complete something first," Xiao Man said unhurriedly. "But before that, I need to go to the Trial Ground again. The trials in the Trial Ground are an opportunity to interact with the disciples of noble families and sects. Perhaps I can find clues about my mother."
"You still have no clues about your mother?"
"No," Xiao Man said calmly. "However, I now have a target. If nothing unexpected happens, my mother should be there."