After the demon foxes were killed, the servants of the Hu family scattered and fled, leaving the place empty. These people were all recently recruited by the demon foxes, and they didn't have any sense of belonging to the Hu family.
The vast Hu family was now only left with Miss Hu, who was bedridden due to illness. Out of the more than one hundred and thirty people in the Hu family, she was the only one who survived, fortunately sparing her own life.
Perhaps it was because she was still of some use to the demon foxes; otherwise, she would have been thrown into the cellar long ago for the man-eating demon foxes to feast upon.
Fang Zhou had no choice but to take Miss Hu, who had survived this catastrophe, back to the Wang family. He entrusted her to Wang Fulai, a longtime friend of the Hu family. As for whether Wang Fulai would take the opportunity to seize the Hu family's property, that was no longer Fang Zhou's concern; it would depend on Miss Hu's own luck.
After returning to the Wang family, Wang Fulai was shocked to hear about the events at the Hu Mansion. However, she didn't immediately send people to take over the Hu Mansion. Instead, she planned to wait for Miss Hu to wake up and inquire about the situation before making any decisions.
Regardless of whether Wang Fulai's statement was sincere or just for show, it made her appear in a good light.
After spending two more days with the Wang family, Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou prepared to depart.
The master and apprentice had originally planned to just freeload meals and drinks in Qingde City while helping the Wang family with some minor troubles. They didn't expect to spend several days here.
However, the gains were significant, and Fang Zhou's combat experience had greatly improved.
Outside the gates of Qingde City, nearly the entire Wang family gathered to bid farewell to Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou. Even Miss Hu, who had just regained consciousness, came in a carriage to bid farewell to her lifesavers.
After exchanging a few simple words, Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou mounted their horses, which were a gift from the Wang family, and left.
Watching the master and apprentice slowly fade into the distance on the main road, Wang Fulai couldn't help but sigh softly.
She very much wanted to establish a good relationship with this master and apprentice pair and to keep in touch with them. However, she was clear that this was just a wishful thinking, as the status of both parties was fundamentally unequal.
Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou both appeared very approachable and easy to talk to, but Wang Fulai regarded this master and apprentice as exceptional.
She had met many cultivators. Not to mention those from afar, there were quite a few cultivators in the Demon-suppressing department within Qingde City, and Wang Fulai had dealt with them often.
Although these cultivators weren't all arrogant, their attitudes were also high and mighty. Their politeness was just superficial, looking down on ordinary people.
Although every women found it relatively easy to cultivate in this world, very few actually embarked on the path of cultivation. It required one-in-ten-thousand talent to start the journey.
Once someone became a cultivator, they would naturally distinguish themselves from ordinary people. The mild ones might just think that the status of ordinary people and cultivators are different, while the extreme ones might even feel that they are no longer the same kind of beings.
Among the cultivators, it was indeed rare to find individuals as amiable as Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou.
As Wang Fulai was contemplating, from within the carriage beside her, a curtain was quietly lifted, and a pair of big eyes stared fixedly at the master and apprentice pair as they moved further and further away.
A quiet determination was made.
...
After leaving Qingde City, Fang Zhou saw Ling Xiaoyue place her hand on the horse's head, with her eyes slightly closed.
Curious, Fang Zhou asked, "What are you doing?"
Ling Xiaoyue answered without opening her eyes, "I'm enhancing the Qi and blood of Crescent Moon, improving its stamina."
Fang Zhou was puzzled. "But didn't your Crescent Moon die already?"
Not only had it died, but its corpse had also fetched a high price. Now its remains might have ended up in the stomachs of people led by Wang Fulai. This thought made Fang Zhou feel pity.
"Yes, but the one you're referring to is the fifth generation of Crescent Moon," Ling Xiaoyue said, opening her eyes and smiling. "The one I have now is the sixth generation. Come on, say hello to your senior brother."
With that, she gently patted the horse's head, and the horse whinnied happily towards Fang Zhou.
Fang Zhou was greatly surprised. The horse they were riding was given by Wang Fulai and was clearly a very ordinary horse. So how did her horse suddenly become so spirited?
Moreover, it seemed exceptionally majestic now, with strong steps and bright eyes.
After giving it some thought, Fang Zhou realized the truth. No wonder Ling Xiaoyue wasn't sad when her precious horse died in the Wang family's possession—she could create such horses herself, and she even made a high profit selling it when it died; a win-win situation.
Fang Zhou didn't know whether to praise her business acumen or lament the wasteful use of such a formidable ability.
But this ability was one he was extremely envious of.
"Can you do the same for my horse too?" Fang Zhou asked Ling Xiaoyue. If she could craft such magical horses, why not take advantage of it?
Ling Xiaoyue smiled and raised two fingers at Fang Zhou, mimicking a money gesture.
Fang Zhou had expected this reaction and already had his countermeasure planned. He shrugged. "I have no money, and when this horse breaks down, it will be your money that we use to buy a new one."
As expected, Ling Xiaoyue's face slightly changed, but she still wanted to haggle. "The money for a new horse will be charged to your account."
Fang Zhou looked up at the sky and sighed. "It doesn't matter. Spending money is spending money, no matter whose it is. Money vanishes so quickly, ah, it's painful to even think about it."
The words 'spending money' seemed to be Ling Xiaoyue's nemesis. As Fang Zhou kept emphasizing it, her face grew darker and darker, as if someone was robbing her.
Finally, she couldn't bear it any longer.
"Shut up!" she exclaimed. "I work so hard to make money, and all you think about is spending it! You're such a wastrel! Come over here!"
Fang Zhou's lips curled into a triumphant smile, his face reflecting the satisfaction of a well-executed plan.
They switched horses, and Ling Xiaoyue worked her magic on Fang Zhou's horse, imbuing it with stamina and energy, turning it into a steed with incredible stamina and vitality.
Fang Zhou affectionately named his horse Five Five. Since Ling Xiaoyue's horse was the sixth generation Crescent Moon, this name sounded perfectly matched with hers.
"By the way, you were talking about making money," Fang Zhou suddenly remembered something very important, a matter he had neglected until Ling Xiaoyue's words reminded him.
"The money you made in Qingde City, I have a share too, right?" Fang Zhou said to Ling Xiaoyue.
"What are you talking about?" Ling Xiaoyue turned around incredulously. "That money is for maintaining our sect and is also mine. Are you thinking of taking your master's money? Are you rebelling?"
Fang Zhou complained, "I helped fight the demons too! I should have a share, considering my efforts!"
"Without me, you would have been turned to dust by those witches from the Xuan Ji Sect. And now you dare to ask me for money? That's ridiculous."
"But that's a separate matter," Fang Zhou persisted. "Besides, didn't I already give you my apprentice gift? You can't refuse to give me even a hundred taels after I made such a big sacrifice, right?"
Their quarrel over whether or not money should be given continued as they traveled, and their voices rose louder and louder.
Ling Xiaoyue kept coming up with excuses, but Fang Zhou stuck to his main point: he wanted the money.
Eventually, Ling Xiaoyue couldn't stand it anymore and spurred her horse into a gallop, shouting, "Dream on! Even if I die poor, or fall off a cliff, I will never give you a single penny."
Fang Zhou's eyes widened, and he hurriedly chased after her, his voice desperate and pleading. "Stop! Give me back the money that belongs to me!"
...
Jingnan State, Southwest, Eight Thousand Demon Mountains.
In the dense forest that obscured the sky and sun, a dog demon lay in a pool of blood, its eyes filled with resentment.
Battered and bruised, Xiao Yan stood nearby, supporting herself against a tree trunk to keep from falling.
"You're pushing yourself too hard; your body won't be able to take this," a female voice suddenly sounded, seemingly coming from the ancient ring that Xiao Yan wore on her finger.
Xiao Yan shook her head and replied, "I'm fine, I can still hold on."
Her delicate face showed a resolute expression, her eyes burning like flames.
Three more years, just three more years.
In three years' time, I will personally go to the Xuan Ji Sect and reclaim everything we lost.
Wait for me, Fang Zhou!!