Originally, Zhang San thought that someone like Wang Ziteng, a scion of a great family and a genius who cultivated the "Primordial Extreme Technique," must certainly have Protectors guarding him in secret.
Following Wang Ziteng would be extremely safe.
But then he thought, Protectors guard their own family's young master; would they care about your life or death!?
So, it was then that Zhang San raised his objections.
Indeed, when it came down to it, it still had to be Xu.
"Senior Xu, thank you so much. If it hadn't been for you leading the team, we wouldn't have known what to do,"
Zhang San's tone was full of respect, which was extremely pleasing for Xu to hear.
Xu was indeed a good-natured person, but that didn't mean good-natured people didn't enjoy being praised.
Wang Ziteng, who was standing nearby, snorted coldly.
With a cold face, he said, "What do you mean you wouldn't know what to do? With a map and horses, I could lead just as well. It's just Officer Bai who, knowing this is my first time here, feels uneasy about me."
In his heart, Zhang San sneered: You don't know shit!
"Senior Xu, don't take it to heart, little Wang doesn't know any better."
Hearing the term "little Wang," Wang Ziteng was very displeased and glared at Zhang San.
"What? Have you forgotten how you used to call me 'brother' before? A real man should stand by his words!"
With that one sentence, Zhang San snuffed out Wang Ziteng's fire.
Wang Ziteng also regretted it, thinking why on earth did I, someone who doesn't even know how to Refine Qi, want to put on airs with an outsider!
Now look, we're about the same age, and yet I have to call him brother!
Though Wang Ziteng was young and hot-blooded, his youthful pride also made him someone who dared to act and take responsibility.
"Yes, yes, yes! I'll call you brother, but when danger comes, Brother San, if you don't step in front of me, don't blame me for looking down on you!"
Zhang San sneered coldly.
"The Primordial Qi Realm expects someone who hasn't even started Refining Qi to stand in front, who are you planning to look down on?"
"I... I..."
Wang Ziteng always believed that strength was all that one needed to traverse the world.
Today, he realized that being articulate is also vital!
Seeing Zhang San and Wang Ziteng bicker back and forth, Xu thought to himself, they've just met for such a short time and are already so comfortable with one another.
Being young is great!
The best part about the Town Martial Office is how it cultivates genuine friendships.
"We need to reach the final rendezvous point before 23 p.m. tonight. Youngsters, make sure to keep up with this old man; don't get left behind!
As he spoke, Xu cast the Swift Wind Technique beneath the horses of the four riders.
After all, Xu and Wei had a close friendship, and naturally, Xu had learned a bit of Technique from Wei.
With the Swift Wind Technique cast, Zhang San felt like the horse beneath him was not running on the ground but flying on the wind.
All he could hear was the whooshing of wind past his ears.
However, just as the group of four was galloping down the path under the moonlit night,
suddenly, Zhang San noticed in the center of the path ahead, a fiery red fox had just passed by, but there was also a snow-white fox that seemed to be injured on its leg, barely making it to the middle of the path.
At that moment, the horses were rushing forward and would soon collide.
"Careful—"
Whoosh—
Following Zhang San's loud shout, all four immediately pulled back on their horses' reins.
Zhang San looked at the snow-white little fox in the middle of the path ahead, trembling with fear, and immediately dismounted from his horse.
"I almost stepped on you, didn't scare you, did I?"
Though it was just a little animal, it was quite cute.
Zhang San extended his hand and stroked the little fox's head.
If he hadn't been in any danger himself, he would have really liked to keep such a little fox by his side.
Unfortunately, Zhang San realized that there might be great dangers lurking around him.
Right now, the most important thing was to survive and increase his strength; everything else was unimportant.
"That's a Snow Fox Demon about to undergo Transformation; be careful not to get bitten."
As Xu, still on his horse, warned him, he kept a close watch on the fiery red fox by the roadside.
Although Xu's tone was calm, one hand was already on the long sword at his waist, frightening the fiery red fox so much that it didn't dare to move rashly.
And Wang Ziteng, looking at the fox on the ground, didn't find it cute at all.
Originally, Wang Ziteng thought Zhang San had spotted Demon Cult Followers ambushing them and was thrilled, even preparing himself for a major fight. But in the end... this?
At that moment, the snow-white little fox also noticed an old Taoist, with an air of immortality about him. His Qi was already slowly locking onto her and her older cousin, ready to strike at any time.
Cultivator!?
The little fox knew that in the Great Sui, cultivators only refrained from striking at demons in two situations.
The first one was when the demon's cultivation was too weak, and killing it wouldn't make much money; it was better to keep it alive for now.
The second, they couldn't beat it!
But the Qi emanating from the old Taoist made her feel a strong masculine energy, as if he could turn into countless thunderbolts at any moment and blast her and her cousin to smithereens.
It seemed that today she might be skinned to make boots.
Just then, the handsome young man who had dismounted to check on her, picked her up in his arms.
The snow-white little fox couldn't help but think of her old father's repeated warnings that humans were cruel and men were particularly despicable, which made her turn even paler with fear.
Though the little fox's face was already white.
Yet, Zhang San not only moved the little fox to the side of the road but also took out a white cloth and bandaged the wounds on her leg.
The snow-white little fox looked at the young man's face in front of her, handsome and dashing, standing tall and elegant as if surrounded by the graceful air of a jade tree in the breeze.
A gentle smile touched his lips, warm as the spring breeze brushing against the face, as inviting as the warm sun of early spring.
"Little thing, be more careful when you walk next time. It's only because I'm from the Town Martial Office that you're lucky. If you'd met someone from the Town Demon Office, it wouldn't have been the same. Go on, get going."
Having said that, Zhang San mounted his horse and left the place with Xu and the others.
Under the bright moonlight, although it was the sight of four horses galloping away that should have caught the eye, to the little fox, there was only the back of that handsome young man.
And the fiery red fox on the other side of the path immediately came over, complaining, "Are these humans mad? You were halfway gone, and he just had to bring you back!"
As if she hadn't heard her older cousin's words, the little Snow Fox continued to gaze affectionately in the direction of the young man's retreating figure.
After a long while, she slowly uttered a sentence.
"Cousin, I think I might... be in love."
"Love is a term used by humans; we call it being in heat!"[Note 3]
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[Note 3]Explanation of terms
The term "love," though frequently used in the modern era, is not a foreign term.
The earliest occurrence of this word I can find is from the Song Dynasty.
Song · Liu Fu's "High Discussion of Qing Seclusion, After Collection · Record of Little Lotus": "Before his departure, Little Lotus cried and said, 'I have obligations and cannot follow you. I harbor deep affection and love, but can only feel resentment.'"