"So where should we go?" Toh Gen asked Huang Lu as they walked. Elder Yi had decided to return to the sect after the exchange. Huang Lu had quickly found a shirt to cover up his muscles, because he couldn't stand the staring from the two ladies. Was this how it felt to be eye-raped? Because he would never ever do it again.

"I promised to visit the Immortal Flames Sect, and also the Wild Blood Sect. I think I should visit these two places first." Huang Lu said, he walked ahead. He wasn't sure he liked these three people following him.

Toh Gen nodded in agreement. "Ah, I've certainly never been there. That would be interesting!"

"I've never heard of those two sects." Xue Xinling said plainly, annoyed that Huang Lu now chose to cover up his beautifully muscular body. "I don't think they are worth your time at all, Huang Lu."

Huang Lu twitched at how easy and comfortable Xinling said his name. As if she've known him for years. Zhan Yuanfang nodded in agreement. "We should just visit the Starry Nights."

Toh Gen frowned at the two ladies. "I believe we should listen to Huang Lu, this is his travel party, after all."

Xue Xinling and Zhan Yuanfang both got the hint immediately. "Ah, certainly, certainly. It was just my suggestion, but if Master Huang would want to visit these lesser sects, we would certainly still go with you."

Huang Lu didn't know what to say with that low key insult, but then the royal bloodline suddenly dispensed heavenly wisdom. He couldn't even self-censor and the words already rolled off his tongue. "The struggles of the ants, and the struggles of the elephant are different, but they are still struggles and one is not better than the other."

Both ladies eyes widened, and Zhan Yuanfang nodded. "Very wise, Master Huang!"

Toh Gen tapped Huang Lu on the shoulder. "Thanks for accepting them, brother. It's all on you, now."

Huang Lu frowned as he understood what Toh Gen meant. "Fuck you."

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"Do the two of you know each other for long?" Xue Xinling asked, curious.

"No." Huang Lu answered.

"Yes." Toh Gen lied simultaneously. "I mean, no."

Huang Lu decided to immediately clear the air. "We met after he challenged me to a spar, and he wanted to travel with me. So I agreed. We met just this afternoon."

It was already getting late. The sky was getting dark.

Xue Xinling and Zhan Yuanfang said. "May we have a spar, too?"

Huang Lu internally frowned. Were cultivators all battle crazy fucks? Of course they are! Why did one even acquire power if not to spar and fight?

"Not today."

"Then when?"

"Tomorrow. After a nap. It's already dark, and we need sleep."

"Actually, Huang Lu made a good point. Where will we stay?" Xue Xinling said as she looked at Yuanfang. They both seemed clueless despite their declaration to join Huang Lu and Toh Gen on their travels.

Huang Lu frowned, as he checked his thankfully safe pouch of coins and money. "Why don't you three return to the sect today?"

"No." Toh Gen said. "I'm not going back to where Elder Yi is. I had enough of his plans."

Zhan Yuanfang seemed to agree with the assessment. "I agree with Brother Toh. The sect's not the best place for us. Let us find somewhere to stay in the city."

Huang Lu wasn't going to be paying for these three. "You'll have to pay for your own lodging."

"Oh certainly." Toh Gen said before the two ladies could object. "We wouldn't dare encroach on your generosity! It's already too much of us, to ask you to accept us in your travels."

Huang Lu had to give it to Toh Gen. He clearly had some experience handling arrogant young ladies. Xue Xinling kept her mouth shut. "My money is all back in the sect..."

Zhan Yuanfang frowned and checked her own purse. "I have a bit with me, but I won't last more than a week."

Toh Gen smiled. "This is why we bring all our cash with us at all times. Don't you two have spatial pouches?"

"We do... but we didn't see the need to." Yuanfang and Toh Gen were both of the Eastern Wind Sect so they know each other in passing.

Huang Lu frowned. "Then you two need to work and earn some money."

"Work?!" Xue Xinling protested. Huang Lu wondered whether that was enough to scare her.

"That's what I do. I hunt spirit beasts, escort merchant groups and so on." Huang Lu said frankly. "I guess for someone so high up in the clouds, you wouldn't know what it's like to work."

Xue Xinling's face blushed, and Toh Gen answered for her. "But I'm sure a lady as talented as Lady Xue can do whatever task she is assigned. Work should be easy for a cultivator at the peak of the 2nd realm. How about I loan you the money for the next two week's stay, but I'll take a cut of your work's proceeds."

The two ladies nodded.

Huang Lu frowned. Why was Toh Gen trying to keep the group together? Isn't it better if the two of them left?