As Feng Zhiming spoke those final words, he sent a mental transmission to Anissa, instructing her to kill the man secretly. Without hesitation, Anissa focused her divine sense, dispersing the man’s consciousness and effectively ending his life.

“It seems he had too many internal injuries,” Feng Zhiming lamented aloud, feigning sorrow in front of the old man and the little girl.

“I wonder who this Dao Lord Fury is and why he’s so concerned with an old man and this little girl,” he added, his voice tinged with curiosity.

“Indeed, I guess we’ll never know,” Anissa chimed in, playing along with the act despite her subpar acting skills. She was relieved that, so far, her lack of experience in deception hadn’t been noticed.

The old man and the little girl exchanged glances before the girl, Zhuge Yue, spoke up.

“My name is Zhuge Yue, and I am the sixth child of the Zhuge Clan.”

Both Feng Zhiming and Anissa put on their most surprised expressions, though Anissa’s attempt at acting was far from convincing. Feng Zhiming was surprised her facade hadn’t been seen through already.

“Tonight, you should pray for better acting ability from the Forgotten One,” Feng Zhiming sent a mental transmission to her, his tone teasing.

Anissa gripped her sword a bit more tightly than usual as she sheathed it, trying to suppress her irritation.

“They actually dared to attack the Zhuge Clan. This Dao Lord Fury must be courting de—” Feng Zhiming began, but the old man cut him off abruptly.

“Please, sir cultivator, let’s not discuss these matters in public,” the old man urged, his voice low and cautious.

At the end of the alley, a crowd had started to gather, curious about the commotion.

“Well said. Please, lead the way, follow quietly, my disciple,” Anissa replied, her tone authoritative.

Feng Zhiming had sent her a mental transmission suggesting she reply in such a way, to further establish her role as his master. However, the last part was purely her own addition.

Feng Zhiming cupped his hands and bowed respectfully. “As you order, Master.”

Anissa then turned her attention to the old man, using her abilities to heal his wounds. For someone at her level, mending flesh wounds was as easy as breathing. Zhuge Yue watched in amazement as the old man’s injuries rapidly closed, her admiration for Anissa growing with every passing second.

As the four of them began walking toward the Zhuge Clan estate, Feng Zhiming decided to strike up a conversation.

“So, what was a little girl like you doing all the way out here?” he asked, his tone gentle but probing.

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Zhuge Yue glanced at him for a moment before looking away without answering, her silence speaking volumes.

Feng Zhiming clenched his hands behind his back, trying to maintain an amicable expression despite the rejection. Anissa, noticing his discomfort, couldn’t help but smile slightly.

“Children don’t take kindly to strange men asking them questions,” she sent him a mental transmission, her tone light with amusement.

Feng Zhiming was pleased that Anissa was starting to engage with him more openly, rather than just responding when spoken to. He wasn’t seeking loyalty born of gratitude—he needed loyalty built on trust.

Just as he was about to try conversing again, Zhuge Yue moved away from his side and walked over to Anissa.

“Great cultivator, you are so powerful. I couldn’t even see you attack those men, it was amazing,” Zhuge Yue said, looking up at Anissa with wide, admiring eyes.

Anissa looked down at the little girl. Zhuge Yue’s black hair was styled in twin tails, and she wore a loose cloak that made her look exceptionally adorable. For a brief moment, an image of Anissa’s own younger sister overlapped with Zhuge Yue’s, causing her to hesitate before responding.

“It is not that I’m powerful; those men were just weak,” Anissa replied, her tone modest.

Zhuge Yue’s admiration only deepened. “This big sister is so wise! I’ve never seen a female master as powerful as you. Of course, there’s the Matriarch of the Heavenly Divine Demon Sect, I’ve met her once or twice, but I’ve never seen her fight before.”

Within the Zhuge Clan, Zhuge Yue had been the only girl among her six siblings. Her older brothers often kept her away from things like swords, telling her that women should only engage in womanly pursuits. But today, she had witnessed a true female master in action. If she had a big sister, she would want her to be just like this great cultivator.

“Can I see your sword, please, big sister? Please?” Zhuge Yue asked, her eyes wide with excitement.

Anissa hesitated. Normally, she would never unsheathe her sword outside of combat, but looking at the eager face of this little girl, who reminded her so much of someone she loved dearly, she found herself unable to refuse.

She handed the sword to Zhuge Yue, who was ecstatic as she inspected it, carefully checking the grip, the sharpness, and even swinging it around lightly.

The old man, walking ahead with Feng Zhiming, could only hold his tongue. He was under strict orders from the clan head to keep the young miss away from sharp objects, but how could he speak now that the great cultivator had willingly given her the sword?

“So, old timer, mind telling me what a child of the Zhuge Clan was doing all the way out here?” Feng Zhiming asked, though he already knew the answer. It was more about making natural conversation to build trust.

“Actually, it’s a little embarrassing,” the old man replied with a sheepish smile. “The young miss often likes to sneak out and come here to enjoy some cake from this restaurant. And since this old bag of bones is merely a servant, she forces me to come along.”

Feng Zhiming nodded, continuing to walk in silence for a moment. This encounter hadn’t been part of his original plan, but the opportunity to ingratiate himself with the Zhuge Clan was an unexpected boon. All it had taken was a chance meeting and a casual conversation, and now they were being led into the Zhuge Clan as heroes.

He chuckled to himself. Fate had a way of turning the smallest actions into significant opportunities.

“Don’t cut yourself,” Anissa said softly, a hint of concern in her voice as she watched Zhuge Yue swing the sword that was obviously too large for her.

“My siblings always told me if I swung a sword, I’d become big and ugly,” Zhuge Yue said, swinging the sword with a grin, “but big sister is so pretty, they must have been lying! I’m going to complain to Father.”

Her eyes lit up with determination. “Big sister, if you need anything, just tell me, and I’ll make sure my father makes it happen, or my name isn’t Zhuge Yue!” she declared, still holding the sword as if she had been the one to slay the men earlier.

Feng Zhiming smirked to himself, thinking, Isn’t this a little too easy?