"Immortal Master, someone is here to see you."
Xu Ming, who was meditating with his eyes closed in the village chief's courtyard, heard the voice of the Shijia Village Chief.
Slowly opening his eyes, Xu Ming asked, "Who's looking for me?"
The village chief replied, "It's a chubby man, shorter than you by a head. He calls himself Yuan Yu."
"..." Xu Ming hadn't expected Yuan Yu to arrive so quickly.
"He's a friend of mine. Let him in," Xu Ming said.
"Understood, Immortal Master." The village chief nodded and quickly went out to bring in the plump man.
"Yuan Yu greets the Master," a round, middle-aged man respectfully bowed as soon as he saw Xu Ming in the courtyard.
"There's no need to be so formal," Xu Ming said as he stood and helped Yuan Yu to his feet.
He sized up this chubby middle-aged man.
So this was Yuan Yu's human form. It was... pretty much what Xu Ming had imagined. Considering Yuan Yu's original form was already quite plump, this appearance wasn't too surprising.
"Village Chief, I'd like some time to talk privately with my friend," Xu Ming said.
The village chief immediately understood. "Of course, Immortal Master. Call me if you need anything."
He left and carefully shut the courtyard door behind him.
"Come, have a seat," Xu Ming gestured to the spot beside him.
Yuan Yu hesitated. "It's fine, Master. I'll stand."
Xu Ming chuckled. "There's no need to be so reserved. While I may be the lord of the Baiwa Secret Realm, I'm still just a small cultivator. You don't need to fear me. Just treat me as a friend."
Yuan Yu looked a bit awkward but didn't want to upset Xu Ming. Reluctantly, he sat down beside him, though only a small part of his large frame touched the stone stool.
Xu Ming poured Yuan Yu a cup of tea, and Yuan Yu quickly stood again to take it with both hands.
Xu Ming didn't say much more. He figured Yuan Yu would understand his personality with time.
"Near Shijia Village, there's a Yellow Sand River. In that river lives a wicked flood dragon. A few days ago, I arrived in Shijia Village and stayed one night at the home of a woman named Luo Sanniang..." Xu Ming got straight to the point, explaining the situation in Shijia Village.
When he was done, he asked, "What do you think? Are you confident we can kill that flood dragon?"
Yuan Yu grinned. "Confidence? Of course! Especially since the flood dragon has just entered the Golden Core realm. Even if I were to face it alone, I'd be able to skin it and pull its tendons."
"Good." Xu Ming nodded. "I'm just worried it might have some reinforcements, which could complicate things."
Standing up, Xu Ming brushed off his clothes. "Let's go. I'll take you to the clearing near Shijia Village. Familiarize yourself with the terrain. Tonight, we'll set up the formation. Once it's done, aside from the flood dragon's heart blood, you can take whatever you want."
"Thank you, Master!" Yuan Yu bowed deeply again.
Xu Ming led Yuan Yu to the clearing. Yuan Yu measured the area with his steps and used a tree branch to mark the ground, seemingly sketching out a formation.
By evening, Xu Ming and Yuan Yu were eating dinner at the village chief's house.
The village chief didn't ask too many questions about Xu Ming's friend. In his heart, he felt more at ease. With an extra helper, they'd have a better chance of killing the flood dragon.
Yuan Yu couldn't help but notice the little girl sitting by Xu Ming's side.
The child, Shen Shengsheng, had dragon-like eyes that exuded an invisible pressure.
Curious as he was, Yuan Yu decided not to ask.
The little girl seemed to trust the Master deeply, and Xu Ming clearly cared for her as well.
That night, Xu Ming and Yuan Yu headed to the clearing. Yuan Yu was busy setting up the formation, while Xu Ming watched closely, intending to learn something from the process.
Most cultivators had a few secondary professions, like formation masters, alchemists, puppet masters, beast tamers, and so on. These trades often branched out from their primary cultivation techniques.
Xu Ming didn't plan to master every secondary profession. If he could achieve some proficiency in formations and alchemy, that would be enough.
Yuan Yu, understanding Xu Ming's intentions, explained the process as he worked. Even though he doubted the Master could fully grasp it right away, there was no harm in gaining some basic understanding.
After two nights of effort, the clearing where the temple fair would take place was layered with formations. Xu Ming had laid down a "Fearful Heart Array," while Yuan Yu added a "Dragon-Trapping Array," a "Heart-Rending Array," and a "Dragon-Slaying Array." To top it off, Yuan Yu set up a "Concealment Array" to ensure the formations would remain undetected until it was too late for their target.
Xu Ming looked up at the sky. Now, all that was left was to wait for the temple fair to begin.
That night, Xu Ming stayed up, sitting in the courtyard and repeatedly simulating the events that might unfold the next day.
"Brother Xu, have some water," came a soft, childlike voice beside him.
Xu Ming turned to see the little girl's clear, innocent eyes looking up at him.
This was Luo Sanniang's daughter, Luo Xiaoman.
Though the girl was a bit dark-skinned and her face dotted with freckles, unlike Shen Shengsheng's porcelain-like beauty, she had large, bright eyes full of life, giving her an innate charm.
"Thank you," Xu Ming said, taking the bowl and drinking the water in one gulp.
"Why aren't you asleep yet?" Xu Ming asked with a gentle smile, ruffling Luo Xiaoman's hair.
"Can't sleep." Luo Xiaoman sat on a stone stool beside him, her legs pressed together, hands neatly placed on her lap, looking every bit the obedient child.
"So young and already having trouble sleeping, huh?" Xu Ming chuckled. "When you grow up and have even more worries, how will you handle that?"
Hearing this, Luo Xiaoman lowered her head.
"What's wrong?" Xu Ming asked.
"Brother Xu, do I even have the chance to grow up?" Luo Xiaoman looked up, her large, lively eyes blinking at him.
Xu Ming frowned slightly. "Hmm? Why would you say that?"
Luo Xiaoman hesitated before softly asking, "Brother Xu, am I going to be eaten tomorrow?"
Her bright, flickering eyes momentarily dimmed Xu Ming's expression.
"You won't," Xu Ming said with a smile, placing his large hand gently on her head.
"Tomorrow, all you need to do is sit quietly. If you get tired, take a nap. When you wake up, everything will be over. After that, you'll live a safe and healthy life, grow up to be a fine young woman, marry someone you love, raise a family, and live a peaceful, happy life."
"Really?" Luo Xiaoman's eyes lit up with hope.
"Really," Xu Ming said, tapping her nose lightly with his finger. "If I say it's true, then it is."