You've only been cultivating for a few years, and you're already talking about cultivating

But Qi Fei is different.

Qi Fei was unpretentious and didn't act like a celestial master. He ate dry rations and slept on the same communal bed with them, and even told them stories at night.

He saved the person but refused to accept a single penny more than his share of the money.

He opened his mouth, but it took him a long time to say something: "Don't worry, I will explain to them that I won't publicize it for you."

He glanced back at the men still fast asleep in the camp: "We can't cause trouble for such a low-key immortal master like you."

Qi Fei thought for a moment and nodded: "Then I'll have to trouble you."

As they spoke, the first rays of dawn broke on the horizon.

The camp became lively; horses snorted, some people sat up, and others grumbled about how quickly dawn had broken. Manager Zhou, disregarding everything else, shouted to everyone.

The men rubbed their sleepy eyes and got up. When they saw Qi Fei standing there unharmed, their eyes widened in surprise.

"Brother Qi... Brother Qi? You're back?"

"Where are the two monsters?"

"What exactly happened last night?"

A barrage of questions rained down on him, and Manager Zhou's face hardened. He said in a deep voice, "Shut up, all of you!"

He scanned the room, his gaze sweeping across everyone's faces: "No one is allowed to utter a word about tonight's events. Keep it to yourselves, understand?"

There are rules in the caravan, and once the manager has spoken, no one dares to ask another question.

The men were full of curiosity, their eyes darting back and forth on Qi Fei, but they could only swallow their questions.

Perhaps many years later, they will be slapping their thighs and bragging to others at a dinner table.

Back in the day, I traveled all over the country and personally met a celestial master. That celestial master even shared dry rations with us and told us stories.

In the crowd, only one person remained silent.

The mysterious man, who had been following the caravan without ever showing his face, was now quietly watching Qi Fei through the gaps in his hat.

His gaze was deep and unfathomable, revealing no emotion.

After daybreak, the caravan packed up and continued on its journey.

They bypassed the blocked section of the main road, traveled along mountain paths for a day, and returned to the other end of the blocked road the next day. The road had reopened, and the group continued south.

After that night, Qi Fei's treatment in the caravan was noticeably different.

Manager Zhou was very polite to him. Whenever they encountered any local specialties in the villages and markets along the way, he would always buy a portion and deliver it to Qi Fei.

Qi Fei couldn't refuse, so he accepted the gift and, in return, continued to tell them stories every night.

The stories were varied and fascinating, captivating the caravan members.

Someone asked, "Brother Qi, does the Jade Emperor really have twenty sons? Does he really govern the Milky Way?"

Qi Fei nodded solemnly: "It's true, it's all true."

Someone else asked, "Then...did his son, He Lusi, really betray his father?"

"Really, really."

"Why is that? Does he want to be the Jade Emperor too?"

"Maybe."

"What about the Great Devourer? Aren't the Tyranids particularly delicious?"

Qi Fei said earnestly, "Tylen is really delicious, crunchy and tastes like chicken."

Some people joked, "And what about the mysterious bulldozer operator? Does he really say 'Yes, yes'?"

Qi Fei nodded to the man: "Yes, yes."

Everyone burst into laughter, and the camp was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

Only the mysterious man in the straw hat remained seated in the farthest corner, silent and out of place amidst the hustle and bustle.

Another month or so passed.

Heading south, the weather gradually warmed up. While it was still quite cold in the mornings and evenings in Tianlan City, it became rather hot here under the sun.

On this day, the caravan arrived at the banks of a large river.

The river was wide and the current was gentle, but not a single ferry could be seen.

Manager Zhou was already used to it and said to Qi Fei, "This is the Ruyin River, the territory of the Water Goddess."

"To cross the river, you must first send a gift to her. If the gift is appropriate, she will send someone across by boat; if the gift is inappropriate..."

He didn't elaborate, but his meaning was clear.

Qi Fei nodded and followed him to the ancestral hall by the river.

The ancestral hall was small, and inside was a clay statue of a woman, her features indistinct, yet exuding an indescribable charm. Steward Zhou skillfully laid out the offerings, burned incense, prayed, and respectfully kowtowed three times.

After waiting for a long time, there was still no movement from inside the ancestral hall.

Manager Zhou's face grew paler and paler, so he added another gift and kowtowed once more.

Still no movement.

Suddenly, a gust of cold wind blew by, and the clay female statue seemed to come alive. Her two icy gazes shot out from the holes in the clay, staring straight at Steward Zhou.

"roll!"

A sharp shout rang out in the ancestral hall.

Manager Zhou was shoved out the door with great force, falling flat on his back. Offerings were scattered all over the ground, the incense burner was overturned, and the wisps of smoke dissipated.

He struggled to his feet, his face ashen, his lips trembling for a long time, unable to utter a single word.

The caravan members swarmed around him, bombarding him with questions: "Manager Zhou! Are you alright?" "What did the Water Goddess say?" "Can we still cross the river?"

They could ask questions, but no one dared to step into the ancestral hall.

Manager Zhou waved his hand, plopped down on the ground, and stared at the gloomy ancestral hall with a helpless expression.

The people in the caravan started talking all at once.

Someone said that the last time a caravan passed through this area, they didn't give any gifts, and as a result, their boat capsized in the middle of the river, and all the people on board perished.

Some say the Water Goddess is extremely vengeful; if you don't present the right gift, she can hold a grudge for three years. Others say the riverbed is full of sunken ships, all of which offended the Water Goddess.

Qi Fei stood outside the crowd, his gaze fixed on the ancestral hall.

When that force was pushed out just now, he felt a strange power, which seemed to be "magic power"!

It is real "magical power" and not Zhu Yixin's fake magical power.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, his eyes gleaming, and his "Shadow Detection" quietly activated.

The ancestral hall looked different to him; the clay female statue was shrouded in a faint, indescribable light, cold and deep.

Just then, a voice rang out.

"Manager Zhou, I can help you."

Everyone turned around in unison.

It turned out to be the mysterious person who had never spoken a word the whole way and always wore a straw hat.

The woman stood at the edge of the crowd, her slender figure standing out starkly against the ruggedness of the caravan. At that moment, she slowly raised her hand and removed her straw hat.

Beneath the straw hat was a face with brows and eyes as white as frost.

Her skin was as white as snow, her lips were pale, and her eyes were clear and bright, like the surface of water reflecting the moonlight.

Standing there, she exuded a cold and aloof aura, as if she were separated from the world by something.

The caravan members were stunned. They had been traveling together for dozens of days, and none of them had ever seen her face.

Some guessed she was a disfigured woman, some guessed she was a widow fleeing from war, and others guessed she was mute. They never imagined that such a face would be hidden beneath the straw hat.

She ignored those gazes and simply looked at Qi Fei quietly.

"But I need his help."

The "he" she was referring to was Qi Fei.

All eyes of the caravan members turned to Qi Fei.