Fang Han took only a brief glance before averting his gaze and continuing on his journey. He had known Liu Ying since childhood and was well aware of her personality. Beneath her stunning exterior lay a heart as cold and unfeeling as stone. To Fang Han, Liu Ying's beauty was captivating but could never compare to the innocence and kindness of Ah Sha.

Liu Ying noticed Fang Han as well. A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes but quickly faded back to calm. Ever since Fang Han lost his cultivation, their destinies became as divergent as heaven and earth, with no chance for their paths to cross again.

“Hmm?” The man beside Liu Ying caught the change in her expression. “You know him?” he asked.

“Not very well.” Liu Ying gently shook her head, unwilling to discuss Fang Han further. “But it's surprising that you, Seventh Prince, with your esteemed status, would visit this tiny Tianwu City.”

“Ahem...” The Seventh Prince let out a few light coughs. “Though Tianwu City is small, the Wilderness Forest is vast and filled with numerous spiritual herbs and treasures. Elder Xue happened to come here to seek herbs... I just tagged along for the excitement.”

“Elder Xue? Could it be the renowned Xue Divine Doctor?” Liu Ying could no longer remain calm. The Xue Divine Doctor was highly skilled and virtuous, renowned across the Da Qi Dynasty.

“Indeed.” The Seventh Prince coughed again, his face pale and sickly. “It is him.”

His gaze turned towards the Wilderness Forest, silently hoping that Elder Xue could cure the cold poison in his body.

As night fell, Fang Han continued forward, carefully sensing the changes within his body. Although his cultivation was now only at the fourth level of Qi Condensation, the newly formed meridians seemed to grant him purer and more concentrated spiritual power, making his strikes far more powerful than those of cultivators at the same level.

“Roar!” A sudden roar broke the silence as a demon wolf appeared before him, its eyes filled with bloodlust and aggression. Fang Han paused but felt no fear facing this first-tier beast.

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“Ah!” Ah Sha woke up, crying out in worry. “Young Master, be careful!”

“Don't worry!” Fang Han responded solemnly, raising his long sword to meet the demon wolf's attack. A glimmer of light flashed across the blade as the wolf fell silently, split in two.

Fang Han lifted his sword, its blade full of nicks and chips. He pondered for a moment. This sword was not just a clue to his lineage but also a treasured possession. Just now, he felt his spiritual power resonate with the sword, hinting at the secrets of the Great Yan Sword Technique.

“You're amazing, Young Master!” Ah Sha exclaimed with surprise.

Fang Han gently patted her head and smiled warmly. “Are you hungry? Let me… hm?” Just as he was about to deal with the wolf’s corpse, he sensed something.

“Come out!” he shouted coldly.

“Tsk tsk tsk.” A mocking voice echoed. “It seems the pill I gave you helped your injuries quite a bit. I wonder how you intend to thank me?”

The fat shopkeeper from the medicine shop stepped out of the shadows.

“You?” Ah Sha recognized him and seemed genuinely happy. “Young Master, he's a good person. He gave me that pill…”

Despite having been deceived, her innocent nature made her truly believe others had helped her, and she eagerly recounted the events from earlier.

“Is that so.” Fang Han's eyes narrowed. “Even tricking Ah Sha; it seems you really are scum!”

“Heh.” The fat shopkeeper showed no concern. “Considering your deeds, you have no right to call me scum. I didn't expect you, even with your ruined cultivation, to still have a beast core on you. Hand it over, and I might consider letting you live.”

Fury burned in Fang Han's eyes. “You want the beast core? Then come and take it!”

Fang Han's adoptive father, Gu Tian, and maid Ah Sha were the only family he had, and they were his reverse scale.

“Courting death?” The fat shopkeeper sneered and charged at Fang Han with incredible speed.

“I'll oblige you!” Fang Han responded, pushing his spiritual power to its limit.

As the two crossed paths, the shopkeeper fell, and exhaustion set in for Fang Han. He quickly collected the demon wolf’s beast core and searched the shopkeeper’s belongings before carrying Ah Sha deeper into the Wilderness Forest.

The night was deep, and it had been some time since Fang Han left. The shopkeeper's corpse soon attracted vultures, but suddenly, the vultures scattered in fear as a group of dozens rapidly approached.

“Commander Gu!” one of them examined the corpse and looked back. “The wound is smooth, identical to how Qian Fu and the others died!”

"It’s him!” Commander Gu's gaze turned towards the Wilderness Forest. “He must be hiding in there. Pursue him!”

Despite the vast and perilous Wilderness Forest, its countless precious resources attracted many rogue cultivators willing to take risks.

In a secluded area of the dense forest, Fang Han had killed a demon beast and occupied its lair. He carefully laid Ah Sha down.

“Young Master.” Ah Sha winced in pain. “It hurts so much…”

“Silly girl.” Fang Han smiled with a mix of amusement and pain. “Wait a moment, I'll treat your wounds... hm?” His expression suddenly tightened.

“Young Master, what's wrong?” Ah Sha asked.

“Someone is talking!”

“I... I didn’t hear anything.”

“There’s definitely someone!” Fang Han's hearing was far superior to ordinary people’s, and he focused intently.

“It sounds like... they’re swearing!”

“Damn it!” He realized where the voice was coming from, his face turning grim. The swearing voice was coming from inside his mind!