Xue Yueliang's sighed and focused her attention on helping Hei Yu recover. Her palm was placed on his back, and her crimson spiritual Qi poured into his body, healing any cracks that formed into his body. The remnant lightning energy was harder to expel than she had thought because Hei Yu could not absorb it, and it continued to damage his body.

"Use the blood lightning." Yao Ming suddenly said, so she carefully tried to control the bolt of lightning to the tip of her fingers, trying to attract it away from his body. To her surprise, the lightning in her body acted as a magnet toward the remaining lightning, causing it all to be absorbed into her body. The energy was reckless and damaged her weak meridians, so her face paled further, startling Lei Jian.

"Are you okay," he worriedly asked. He had been guarding her when he noticed her fluctuations weaken again. "Between me and Hei Yu, he's more useful now." She smiled. The current her was injured and could not participate in battles. Injuring herself for some protection was worth it.

"I can help guard you while you're injured. Don't harm yourself!" He exclaimed, but Xue Yueliang remained unmoved, "We never know what could happen."

"Just use her pills," her master said, leading her to retort, "And how can I trust you when you don't trust me."

"I need you more than you need me. Why would I harm you." "Jianjian, do you think I should take a pill given to me by the princess?"

Lei Jian was startled by her question and replied, "The princess is someone of noble character. I think it's okay to trust her." He, however, hesitated in his response as the reason she was in her current predicament was due to him. He still felt apologetic.

"Okay," she smiled, retrieving the jade bottle. Like last time, the three pills lay there quietly, releasing a powerful medicinal fragrance, uplifting her soul.

"Do you trust him over me?" Her master grumbled, but her response was a pleasant surprise to him, "You said his fate was better than mine and the princess's combined. He should be able to overcome whatever she's scheming. Since he now feels responsible, he'll naturally help me when the time comes."

"What a good disciple!" He exclaimed, happy with her methods.

Xue Yueliang gulped down the pill and felt it dissolve in her body, turning into streams of comforting Qi that healed her meridians. Soothing the pain that haunted her for the past few days. Unknown to the duo was that Yao Niang had, in fact, not left far; only when she saw Xue Yueliang swallow the pill did she smile, reentering the city. She still had things to do about the Flower Festival.

I hope that we meet again soon. She left as a parting thought. Xue Yueliang, who felt her injuries stabilise, got up, not wanting to spend more time focussing on her condition.

"Shall we go?" She asked.

"Shouldn't you spend more time healing?" He worried.

"There's no need for us to be in a hurry. My injuries will naturally heal." She smiled, leading the way.

Seeing that she would not change her mind, he helplessly smiled, asking, "How are things going with you and the princess?" Xue Yueliang's expression changed as her body stiffened, "I definitely left an impression." She replied, feeling that she really needed to improve her people skills.

"As long as she doesn't hate you, you still stand a chance." He comforted.

"Didn't that demon lord still get the princess even when she hated him to the bone? Maybe that's the route I should go."

"Don't joke around like that. You can not afford to offend an entire kingdom."

"Not currently, but one day I might. Of course, if that day came, it would be easier to destroy the kingdom, but she did not say her thoughts out loud. "Brother Lei, from now on, if a suspicious person asks for help, let's refuse." She did not wish to repeat the tragedy she had just experienced; that happening once was more than enough for her. "Let's do as you say." He said, his voice barely above a whisper. He was the one who said they had no reason to refuse, and it was he who needed to be saved in the end.

That entire incident just worked to remind him of his short-sightedness. Feeling his embarrassment, she comforted him, "It's not a bad thing to be a good person. You just have to set your boundaries and not lose yourself." She felt that something was slightly wrong with her words as being a good person naturally meant you were good but felt her advice worked, regardless. Even for her, the most important thing was for her to not lose herself.

"You're right," Lei Jian smiled, "Where are we going?"

Xue Yueliang looked at him doubtfully, "Isn't it obvious that we're going to the Misty Mountains?" They had not planned for much when they first began travelling, but they had definitely wanted to go to this forest.

Could it be that his confidence is still shaken? She felt that was the most likely cause, as even if it was her, she would be shocked if such a thing were to happen. "You still need more beast flames, and I need to improve my power. I don't want to be another lost soul in the Ocean of Lost Souls."

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The name of that region was not just for flair. The only reason that region existed, although it was much weaker than the neighbouring kingdoms, was because of its natural properties. Everyone who died there's soul would not reincarnate; instead, their soul would be absorbed into a natural formation there, turning into a vicious spectre. This made it so that only those who did not care for reincarnation would stay there, and the fog of yin Qi pervaded the atmosphere at all times.

"Do you have to go there?" Lei Jian asked. Though he was ready to cut relations with her before, seeing her bloody visage and anger as she protected him moved his heart. He did not wish for her to go to such an awful place.

"There are things worse than being unable to reincarnate," Xue Yueliang smiled. "And even if I died, I would not be allowed to reincarnate; so what does being a vicious spectre account for?"

"There's no need to be so pessimistic," he argued, "You could always change."

"If you continue to nag like that, people would think you are my mother," She laughed.

"I don't feel like walking; let's use your flying sword." She said, changing the subject.

Lei Jian agreed to her request, and the duo flew to their destination on his sword. They both rode his sword as Xue Yueliang was still injured, and the greatsword was large enough for the both of them to ride. They flew during the day, rested the nights and quickly made their way to the Misty Mountains. This travel took them about a month before they finally reached their destination. They, however, did not enter the forest right away, opting to stay in the capital of the Misty Province, Misty City.

"It seems like this entire province relies on the mountains." Xue Yueliang commented.

They stood in a long line outside of the city, and from the looks of it, it would take them at least three hours until they reach the very front of the line. They could not even rely on their superior cultivation base as a few people were at the Foundation Establishment Realm. The attractiveness of exploring these mountains seemed greater than getting her master's inheritance.

"That's not it, foolish girl," a dissatisfied voice sounded in her mind, "Just how many people in this backward kingdom are qualified to be my inheritors?"

Noticing that many of the people who stood in this queue were much older than her, and many had greying hair, she presumed her master's words held some truth.

"What else do you expect the province to rely on?" A man in front of the duo questioned. "The mountains are abundant with spiritual herbs, magical beasts and natural treasures. This province is considered the capital of commerce in the Qinxia Kingdom and the mercenary capital."

"We're just new here." Lei Jian politely replied, not wanting to start trouble.

"Welcome to the province. I'm Fu Qian." He was an ordinary-looking man, and his only distinguishing feature was his beady eyes, staring at Xue Yueliang's face.

"I'm Lei Jian, and she's Xue Yueliang," Lei Jian introduced them, but Xue Yueliang did not bother paying him any attention. "Does the Young Lady not talk?" He asked, his gaze oddly fixated on her. At this moment, his average looks were incomparably ugly in their eyes due to his perverted gaze. Lei Jian placed himself between them, replying, "She does not feel comfortable talking to strangers. I hope you understand."

"If that's the case, why doesn't she say it herself?" He tutted, frustrating the two of them. Just as Lei Jian was contemplating whether to attack or not, he felt a sudden movement from behind him. Before Fu Qian could even blink, he felt a long black blade on him, making a small cut on his neck.

"With your weak cultivation base, I suggest you keep your eyes to yourself." She said coldly. She hated the way his eyes roamed her body, acting like she was something that belonged to him. It did not help that he had only broken through the Foundation Establishment Realm, making her feel more insulted.

She also found herself in a dilemma, if she showcased her cultivation base, she would find herself in the spotlight, but if it was hidden, she would be looked down upon by fools.

"Y-you can't kill me at Misty City!" Fu Qian screamed.

"We're not in the city yet, but don't worry, you're not worth killing." She sheathed her blade and walked away from his side, and after regaining his composure, he swapped positions with someone else.

It was a young woman with short, brown hair reaching her ears, a lean physique and a bright bearing. She wore a simple brown tunic that reached up to her knees, leaving the rest of her legs exposed, which caused her to stand out from the crowd. She had a wooden longbow strapped on her back and calluses on her hand, marking her as an archer.

"Young Sister, you did really well chasing that fool away." She complimented, "I wish more sisters dared to draw the sword so quickly."

Xue Yueliang did not reply and just coldly stared at her, she did not feel the need to entertain her.

The woman, seemingly unoffended, outstretched her hand, "My name is Li Hua," she smiled simply. Her pure intentions almost dazzled her.

She hesitated before remembering she was supposed to improve her people skills. "I'm Xue Yueliang," she greeted, shaking her hand, "Is Young Lady Li Hua not from here?" She felt her be strange and a bit too friendly, as she did not even bother with formalities and went straight to calling her sister. "What, Young Lady, you can just call me Sister Hua, and no, I'm from the neighbouring Xiuqi Kingdom. I came here for the Misty Mountains."

The stereotype of being a country of simpletons quietly fortified in Xue Yueliang's mind as she smiled at her, "My friend here is travelling to the Xiuqi Kingdom."

"Really?" She asked, her eyes twinkling.

"Yes, I'm going there to study sword arts and forging." Lei Jian politely answered, maintaining a proper distance from her.

"Then you would need someone to introduce you." She said, one of her arms naturally slipping under his and the other onto Xue Yueliang.

"Although the Qinxia Kingdom is great, they specialise in mystical arts and formations, but the Xiuqi Kingdom is filled with genuine warriors. When it comes to using various weaponry, not many kingdoms can say they are our match. Our differences can be compared by seeing the weapon of choice by the talented royals. The Qinxia Kingdom's princess' weapon is a fan, while my Xiuqi Kingdom's prince, Shi Ling, uses a halberd. And when it comes to forging, we can even compare it to some of those lower ranked empires. Even our king is a Sky level weapon forger..."

Li Hua went on for a while longer, boasting about her kingdom for a third of their wait time. Lei Jian and Xue Yueliang bitterly smiled and formed a barrier around the three of them. Although there was nothing wrong with Li Hua's words, it was never a good idea to go to someone else's home just to praise yours.

Xue Yueliang enjoyed this scene but suddenly noticed a cold killing intent directed toward her; it was none other than Fu Qian. Seeing them having a good time after humiliating him angered him. Although he did not know what they were talking about, he felt they were mocking him. She jokingly made a cut-throat gesture at him, then turned her attention to the duo happily conversing, occasionally participating in their conversation.