Leaving the Qingyang County, Xu Ming took Shen Shengsheng and headed toward Tianxuan Sect.
Since time was still relatively abundant—having left the imperial capital less than half a year ago and with over a year remaining before he needed to return to Wudu to participate in the selection for the Rootless Secret Realm—Xu Ming wasn't in too much of a hurry.
After reaching Tianxuan Sect, his priority was to figure out the consequences of Qingwan losing her Dao Lotus and whether there was any way to remedy it.
"Have you heard the news?"
"Heard what?"
"About Baiwa City, that border city in Qingyang County."
"Baiwa City? What about it?"
"Baiwa City is now nothing but an open plain. The entire city, along with the mountains spanning dozens of miles around it, has vanished without a trace. It's like the city never existed at all."
"Huh? How did that happen?"
"I heard it turned into a secret realm, merging into a scroll painting. Now, immortals from various sects are fighting over it."
"And who ended up with it?"
"Our kingdom's prince consort—Xu Ming!"
"The prince consort? Is he really that powerful?"
"Exactly! I've heard the same. But apparently, his methods weren't entirely honorable."
"Not honorable? How so?"
"Well, from what I heard, the son of the Tianxuan Sect Master had formed an alliance to fight against a demon from Baiwa City. In the end, our prince consort swooped in and took advantage of the situation."
"That's what I heard too. They say he worked with a few others, set up an array, and then claimed the scroll."
"Is that what happened? I heard a different story—that those people tried to besiege the prince consort, and only after he secured the Baiwa Secret Realm did he release them."
"I also heard the prince consort tricked Fairy Qin. She was the one who originally obtained the scroll, but he managed to deceive her and take it away."
"Fairy Qin? Which Fairy Qin?"
"Who else could it be? It's Qin Qingwan from the Qin Family Manor, currently training at Tianxuan Sect."
"The prince consort doesn't seem like the type to do such things."
"Who knows?"
In a corner of a bustling tavern, diners chattered animatedly.
Seated at one of the tables were a young man and a little girl. The girl wore a straw hat, its wide brim concealing the pair of small horns on her head.
She eyed the sumptuous dishes laid out on the table and reached out to grab a large drumstick with her bare hands.
But just as her small hand was about to touch the drumstick, the young man tapped her palm lightly with a pair of chopsticks.
"Ow!" The little girl withdrew her hand and looked up at him with wide, aggrieved eyes.
The young man gestured to the chopsticks placed on the bowl in front of her.
"Okay…" The little girl reluctantly picked up the chopsticks, struggling clumsily to grasp the chicken leg with them. After several failed attempts, she grew frustrated and looked like she was about to pound the table in anger.
Finally, she came up with an idea. She stabbed the drumstick with one chopstick, plopped it into her bowl, and began munching on it with gusto.
Xu Ming watched Shen Shengsheng's antics, letting out a soft sigh but refrained from stopping her.
Compared to before, Shen Shengsheng had made some progress. Over the past few days, Xu Ming had been teaching her how to talk, read, and use chopsticks. Many things required his patient guidance.
Though she learned slowly, there were always small signs of improvement.
Xu Ming wanted Shen Shengsheng to understand that she wasn't just a magical beast but a living, breathing human being. Perhaps the customs and way of life of the human race could gradually tame the beastly instincts ingrained in her bloodline.
Xu Ming picked up his bowl and chopsticks and began eating. The discussions nearby naturally reached his ears.
News about the Baiwa Secret Realm had gradually spread, and Xu Ming had offended many people during the events there. Though he had released them from the secret realm, he had left them to face the Black God Sect afterward.
Whether Xu Ming had done it intentionally or not, many of them harbored resentment. These cultivators, seeking to save face and vent their frustration, painted Xu Ming as a "schemer" in their retellings.
However, not everyone from the secret realm was dishonest. Some spoke the truth about what had transpired.
Moreover, Wu Kingdom wouldn't allow its prince consort's reputation to deteriorate too much, so they naturally worked to control public opinion.
As a result, the events at Baiwa City had given rise to mixed narratives. Opinions about Xu Ming were divided—some praising him, others condemning him.
Xu Ming, however, paid no mind to it.
Once they'd finished eating, Xu Ming took Shen Shengsheng and left the small town. Just five hundred more miles ahead lay the territory of Tianxuan Sect.
As they left the town, Shen Shengsheng tugged lightly at Xu Ming's sleeve, looking up at him with her wide, blinking eyes.
"I know. It's fine. Don't worry," Xu Ming said with a nod, pretending not to notice anything amiss as he continued walking forward.
When they reached the wilderness, Xu Ming suddenly vanished.
"Where did he go?"
"How did we lose him?"
A group of cultivators stood where Xu Ming had disappeared, looking around in frustration.
"What business do you all have with me?" Xu Ming's voice suddenly came from behind them.
Startled, the group turned around hastily.
"Since you've noticed us, there's no point hiding it. Hand over the Baiwa scroll, and I'll spare your life," said the leader of the group.
"I suggest you reconsider," Xu Ming said calmly. "Cultivation isn't easy. Don't throw your lives away."
"Ha!" The leader sneered, waving his hand. "Kill him!"
Xu Ming sighed and shook his head. "Including you lot, I've killed about a hundred people in the past few days."
As he spoke, he stepped forward.
In less than three breaths, the five cultivators were dead, each killed with a single punch. Their bodies exploded into clouds of blood mist, leaving no trace behind.
When a cultivator dies, the mark on their storage bag disappears. Xu Ming collected the silver coins and spirit stones from their storage bags, placing them into his own small Qiankun Bag.
This task was usually handled by Shen Shengsheng.
Every time it came to looting, Shen Shengsheng was incredibly enthusiastic.
She carried Xu Ming's Qiankun Bag, tirelessly picking up everything from the ground—even the smallest copper coin—without missing a thing.
She now understood that a single copper coin could buy a steamed bun!
"How long are you planning to keep watching? Haven't you seen enough? If you're done, come out," Xu Ming called out as Shen Shengsheng was happily looting.
"Hehehe."
A soft, pleasant laugh echoed through the forest as a barefooted woman in a black dress stepped out from among the trees.