Ding Sheng couldn’t help but silently admire her. From appearance alone, this girl was indeed stunningly beautiful. However, her expression was cold and aloof, like an unyielding iceberg. Even a mere side profile exuded a chilling aura, making her seem unapproachable and making Ding Sheng feel somewhat uncomfortable. This girl was probably the cousin that the handsome youth referred to as Li Yilin. Beside her were two attendants in light armor, each with a similarly cold and piercing demeanor.

After glancing around, Ding Sheng noticed the horses they rode—sleek and black as ink, towering over two meters tall, with powerful, sinewy limbs like beasts. They were known as Mo Yun Lion Beasts, rumored to have demonic bloodlines and capable of traveling five thousand li during the day and one thousand five hundred li at night. Majestic creatures, each worth a fortune. The armor the group wore was crafted from beast hide, exceptionally valuable and lightweight, surpassing steel armor in quality. Clearly, they were of significant status, hailing from a prominent faction.

Not wanting to cause any trouble, Ding Sheng moved away, avoiding contact with such a group.

Chen Wu, a Lingshi, quickly set up a simple tent. Nearby, several burly Ling Shi began cooking by the Sword Washing Pool, filling the air with noise. After a while, another disturbance occurred.

From the mountain path, the thunderous sound of hooves grew louder, surpassing even that of the handsome youth’s group. Moments later, dust filled the sky as another formidable group of riders emerged from the woods, charging forward. This new squad, clad in all-white armor and riding white horses, looked like a whirlwind of snow, arriving by the pool in no time.

Leading them was another youth, strong and broad-shouldered, with a square face, large ears, and sharp, blade-like brows. He radiated an impressive aura, clad in white armor with a white cape, his black hair flowing wildly in the wind, eyes blazing, and a sword hanging from his waist, exuding a valiant and unyielding presence.

The sturdy, fierce youth reined in his horse and, scanning the crowd by the pool, his eyes lit up when he spotted the girl in white. Laughing loudly at the handsome youth, he taunted, “Well, well, looks like the cowardly ones from Xiyang Town got here first. Li Cunyang, when we ran into those fierce beasts in the wild yesterday, you ran faster than a rabbit!”

The handsome youth, Li Cunyang, scoffed, “As for me, I don’t have time to waste fighting beasts when I’m rushing to the Sword Sect. But you, Xiao Chengmo, Young Lord of Qingyang Town, just had to fight those beasts head-on. I see you’re short six guards—probably lost in battle, huh? Heh, putting your own thrill above the lives of your guards. Such stupidity—I, Li Cunyang, would never be that reckless!”

“You…” Xiao Chengmo’s eyes flared with anger.

It seemed these two groups had met before but weren’t on good terms, likely due to a previous conflict. Judging by their words, they were likely from distant towns where humans gathered and were here specifically to join the Sword Sect as disciples. The guards accompanying each side were mainly Lingshi at the Lingti stage, and the two boys and the girl seemed capable, likely at a level close to Lingti themselves.

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The groups seemed to have become rivals. Xiao Chengmo laughed coldly, ordering his guards to set up their own tents by the pool, a short distance from the other group. While direct conflict hadn’t broken out, verbal provocations were frequent.

Ding Sheng had no interest in getting involved with them. Sitting alone by the Sword Washing Pool, he laid his rusty sword across his knees and concentrated on cultivating, drawing spiritual energy through his body to nourish and strengthen it.

The strikingly beautiful Li Yicun, accompanied by her two female Lingshi-attendant maids, seemed fastidious, coming to the pool to draw water and wash herself before changing into a fresh, form-fitting white Lingshi robe. She rolled up her pant legs, dipping her bare feet in the pool and playing in the water. Her fair, delicate feet, polished nails in a vivid crimson hue, and slender, pale legs were mesmerizing, stirring hearts and drawing furtive glances from both groups of Ling Shi, including Li Cunyang and Xiao Chengmo.

Only Ding Sheng, seated far away with his eyes closed in deep concentration, seemed entirely unaffected. Though dressed plainly, he exuded a detached, otherworldly aura, appearing calm and ethereal.

Li Yicun soon noticed Ding Sheng as well. Of course, the proud “young swan” merely cast him a fleeting glance before her lips curled into a condescending smirk. In her eyes, he was just another unremarkable, poor boy putting on airs to gain her attention—something she found childish and laughable. She certainly wouldn’t lower herself to notice a poor young man with no future.

As time passed, the midday sun grew intense. Oddly enough, a strange shadow began appearing on the distant path from the forest, slowly drawing nearer. A frail figure, swaying as if about to collapse, yet moving steadily toward the pool.

As he got closer, the figure revealed itself to be a thin, roughly fourteen-year-old boy. His coarse clothes were torn and tattered, exposing skin scratched and bruised by thorns. His hair, wild and unkempt, looked like tangled straw, and his skinny arms and legs, dark from exposure, were marked with tiny scars. He carried a bamboo basket on his back, covered by a ragged cloth, and stumbled with bare feet across the scorching stones, step by agonizing step, as if he bore the weight of a mountain. Only the pair of eyes visible beneath his messy hair shone like stars in the dark night, strangely captivating and sorrowful.

“Water… water…” he murmured. The sight of the Sword Washing Pool seemed to revive him as he quickened his pace, staggering forward. Reaching the edge, he gently set down the basket and tried to kneel to cup the water in his hands, but stumbled, landing in the shallow water. He lay there, gulping down the cool water, utterly exhausted.

Li Cunyang and Xiao Chengmo’s argument was interrupted by the sudden commotion. Everyone looked over at the frail boy lying at the pool’s edge, helpless yet desperately drinking. Li Cunyang frowned, muttering, “Where did this wild boy come from? What an eyesore.” Xiao Chengmo sneered, “He’s probably a stray from some desolate village. Surviving here is luck enough.” The two exchanged disdainful glances, showing no hint of sympathy.

Li Yilin, on the other hand, merely glanced coldly in his direction before resuming her conversation with her maid, showing no interest in him. However, watching the boy’s pitiful state stirred a bit of pity in Ding Sheng. Rising to his feet, he approached the pool, sidestepping the hostile gazes of Li Cunyang and Xiao Chengmo, and knelt beside the boy, offering a small porcelain bottle. “Drink this; it will help ease your exhaustion,” he said softly.

The boy looked up slightly, his starry eyes locking onto Ding Sheng’s gaze, as if sensing his kindness.

Without saying another word, Ding Sheng simply watched the boy, silently offering encouragement. After a moment’s hesitation, the boy took the bottle, trembling slightly as he drank a few sips. His face regained a slight flush of color, and he gave Ding Sheng a small nod of gratitude before kneeling once more at the pool’s edge, drinking carefully, as though the pool water were his lifeline. Ding Sheng returned to his place quietly, knowing that this boy likely carried a story far beyond appearances.