"Shall we head out, young master?"
An old man who appeared to be in his 50s asked Xiao. Upon hearing the old man's words, Xiao smiled wryly and turned to his sister, Xuanyin, who nodded in agreement. He then looked at Yun Yurou, who stood beside him. She also nodded, indicating her readiness.
"We are all set to leave, Elder Fan," Xiao replied to Elder Fan. Hearing Xiao's response, the old man bowed and waved his sleeve, summoning a well-decorated chariot. With a clap of his hands, a bird's screech echoed, and a massive bird with sharp talons and a beak appeared. It had a blue body and crimson eyes, its intelligent gaze fixed upon them.
"A red-eyed crimson falcon, impressive," Xiao remarked. Elder Fan smiled upon hearing Xiao's comment.
"Thank you, young master. She is one of my prized beasts," Elder Fan replied. Xiao didn't respond, knowing that the red-eyed crimson falcon was indeed a rare find. Although its strength was not extraordinary, its incredible speed more than compensated for it. Traveling with such a beast ensured both speed and safety. Turning to the two girls by his side, Xiao spoke.
"Let's go."
With that, all three of them began walking towards the luxurious chariot. Upon entering, Xiao noticed that the interior was more spacious than it appeared from the outside. It was elegantly decorated with beautiful materials, and a calming scent permeated the air. There was enough seating for ten people, and the chariot even had a well-designed area for Qi cultivation and meditation.
"A Fizorain candle for a calm mind, an inner formation to gather Qi, and an isolation formation, not to mention the space expansion and luxurious design. Mother must have spent a fortune on it," Xiao remarked aloud, shaking his head inwardly. Meanwhile, Yun Yurou appeared dazed and awed as she observed the chariot's interior. Xuanyin, on the other hand, took in the surroundings before her eyes naturally turned toward Xiao.
"Well, at least the trip won't be difficult," Xiao murmured as he entered the chariot and sat down. Xuanyin quickly joined him, sitting by his side and resting her head on his shoulder as she closed her eyes, relishing in the warmth of his body. Xiao's body naturally emitted heat, which always warmed Xuanyin when she sat beside him.
Observing Xuanyin sitting by Xiao's side, Yun Yurou broke out of her daze and moved forward to sit beside him as well. She too leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Sensing another presence, Xuanyin opened her eyes and glanced at Yun Yurou for a moment, her eyes flashing as she noticed how Yun Yurou was sitting.
However, she didn't say anything and returned to her previous position. Meanwhile, Xiao had no idea what to do with both girls sitting by his side. The trip he had planned was supposed to be for himself, but no matter what he said, Xuanyin refused to leave his side. She even used the excuse of not being able to tolerate the cold if he left her alone. When Xuanyin looked at him with those pitiful eyes, he couldn't resist and allowed her to accompany him. He couldn't bear to see his sister suffer.
As for Yun Yurou, when she learned about his travel plans, she insisted on joining. Xiao wanted to stop her, but his mother had asked him to take her along. Xiao had a strong suspicion that his mother and Yun Yurou had made some sort of agreement. In the end, he had no choice but to bring her along if he wanted to go out.
Thus, he ended up with a team of three. Fortunately, Elder Fan was one of his mother's trusted aides. Not only was he strong, being in the Mortal Core Realm, but he was also a skilled beast master. His mother had taken thorough measures to ensure their safety.
In the end, Xiao found himself caught between the two girls, even though there was plenty of space for ten people. Speaking of girls, Xiao could tell that his previous attempts to discourage Yun Yurou's feelings for him had been in vain. She still harbored affection for him, and he sensed that her feelings were intensifying, which puzzled him greatly.
The reason he had dismissed her feelings wasn't just because she was young; it was also because he believed her emotions couldn't be true love but rather infatuation. Xiao had always been there for her during difficult times, making him a pillar of support. He was merely a reliable figure in her life.
Xiao wasn't a love expert, but he understood that true closeness could only be achieved through genuine openness. He couldn't help but notice a certain desperation in Yun Yurou. For now, he could only observe and see how things unfolded. Xiao was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Elder Fan speak.
"Young master, shall we head out?"
"Sure," Xiao replied. As soon as he finished speaking, he felt a jolt, and the next moment, everything vanished. Right now, he felt like he was on the ground even though he was floating high in the sky. It was the effect of a powerful formation that distorted spatial waves and perception.
'I really need to start learning about the world of spirit masters,' Xiao mused. His knowledge was limited to cultivation, while he had only rudimentary knowledge of spirit energy, soul energy, and the mental realm. Given his current circumstances, it would be beneficial to focus on these other powers. However, with his familial responsibilities, finding a trustworthy master was not easy. There is also the fact that he can't start with his spirit world practice till he lands that thing.
'One thing at a time, I guess,' Xiao concluded. With those words, he leaned back in his chair while the two girls kept their heads on his shoulder. Xuanyin's presence didn't bother him, but Yun Yurou's situation posed a problem. He wanted to push her away, but his mother had instructed him to treat her well. Xiao couldn't help but wonder what kind of discussion had taken place between his mother and Yun Yurou.