The Northern Song Dynasty returned south, seeking the truth of the Dao.

Upon hearing the sound, Ao Shuang rushed forward, helped Wang Huanzhen up, and held his hand, asking with concern, "How are you? How are you feeling? Is anything bothering you?"

"Brother!!" Wang Zhenhuan suddenly hugged Ao Shuang and burst into tears, catching Ao Shuang off guard. She patted Wang Zhenhuan's back and asked in confusion, "Why are you crying?"

"I wanted to protect you, brother, but I never expected the Huai River to be so turbulent. Our next meeting is in this netherworld," Wang Zhenhuan said sadly.

"Haha, you little brat, what nonsense are you talking about? Look up and see where you are? Do you and I have any shadows? Can you even make fire in the underworld?" Ao Shuang laughed heartily upon hearing Wang Zhenhuan's words.

He shoved him aside and pointed around at him. Wang Zhenhuan stood up, wiped his eyes, and looked around. Then the sorrow on his face disappeared, and he looked at Ao Shuang with surprise.

"Brother? So we made it out alive? Did you rescue me? I only remember the barrier shattering and the river overflowing. I was knocked unconscious by the river."

"Come here, I have something to ask you." Ao Shuang waved to him. Wang Zhen looked at him in confusion, then sat down next to him again, waiting for him to ask his question.

"I'm asking you, do you know a woman with blue-level cultivation? She's the one who rescued us. She brought us here and then left," Ao Shuang said.

"A woman? What does she look like? Have you seen her, brother?" Upon hearing Ao Shuang's words, Wang Zhenhuan subconsciously stood up and asked. The first person he thought of was the one he longed for day and night.

But then again, it's only been a few months since Lin Qingyan was taken away by Daoist Luo Puzi. Even if she cultivates quickly, it's unlikely she'll break through to the Blue Qi realm. Unless she has some extraordinary encounter.

Although he knew it was impossible, Wang Zhen still held a sliver of hope. When he was with Ao Shuang, he was somewhat better off because he had to think about various things.

But longing is like a wildfire; once it starts, it spreads rapidly. Thinking back, he remembered Lin Qingyan's appearance, but he hadn't heard her voice in a very, very long time.

"I just woke up recently and only saw a silhouette. The woman was wearing a white Taoist robe, less than six feet tall, petite and delicate, with fragrant hair flowing down her shoulders," Ao Shuang said, gesturing as she spoke.

Upon hearing Ao Shuang's words, Wang Zhenhuan was immediately overjoyed. All of her descriptions were remarkably similar to Lin Qingyan's. Could it be that she had really come to find him? But why was she unwilling to meet him?

"Oh, right, when that woman started the fire, I observed the hand gestures she used, and they were undoubtedly from the Shangqing lineage." Ao Shuang paused for a moment after saying this. What he didn't know was that at this moment, Wang Zhenhuan's heart was surging like a tsunami.

The Shangqing lineage? Isn't Gezao Mountain part of the Shangqing? Could it really be Lin Qingyan coming to find him? Wang Huanzhen became more and more excited as he thought about it, wishing he could meet her immediately, but then Ao Shuang's words shattered his illusions.

Ao Shuang said in a somewhat uncertain tone, almost as if talking to herself, "I feel that the woman's aura is a bit strange, um... how should I put it?"

If I'm not mistaken, her aura is somewhat similar to mine; she seems... to be an anomaly?

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhenhuan felt a chill run down his spine. He stepped forward, unwilling to give up, and asked, "Brother, are you sure? After a mutant transforms, isn't it no different from a human?"

"Who told you that? Transformation only allows you to become human, but the aura of an alien cannot be concealed. Transformation is merely a process of completing the seven orifices. Only when an alien has all seven orifices can it cultivate," Ao Shuang explained, shaking her head.

"Brother, do you mean that even after a creature transforms into human form, it cannot conceal its aura? Wouldn't someone with profound cultivation be able to see through its true form at a glance?" Wang Zhenhuan asked, frowning.

"Seeing through the true form is a bit of an exaggeration; it only allows one to discern the aura of something different. To see through the true form, only spells like the Golden Eye of Truth could possibly reveal it," Ao Shuang explained.

"So, according to what you've said, brother, is that woman truly a supernatural being in human form?" Wang Zhenhuan sat on the ground, looking at the flickering flames, and asked as if to himself.

"That should be correct. Only the Shangqing lineage teaches without discrimination and accepts non-humans as disciples. It matches the finger techniques she uses. Do you know this woman?" Ao Shuang nodded firmly and then asked Wang Huanzhen.

"An anomaly? Or one of the Shangqing lineage? When I traveled south, I did encounter a few anomalies, but none matched your description, brother. Could that woman be looking for you, brother?"

Wang Zhen thought about it carefully for a moment. The only one who fit the criteria of being an outcast and being from the Shangqing realm was Lady Field Mouse. However, Lady Field Mouse was short and plump, which did not match Ao Shuang's description.

After much deliberation, he was certain he had never seen the woman in white before. Hearing Wang Zhenhuan's question, Ao Shuang shook her head and said, "If I knew her, I wouldn't be asking you."

"That's strange. Why would this woman save us? And where did she come from when we were in an underground cave? The earth was turning upside down and the cave passage collapsed," Wang Zhen said, puzzled.

"Well, there's only one possibility: they followed us in. We just didn't notice them," Ao Shuang continued, echoing Wang Zhenhuan's words.

"Hiss—this woman has been following us the whole time? Brother, did you notice anyone following us?" Wang Zhenhuan gasped. If this woman had any evil intentions and attacked them, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"No, if she had discovered it earlier, she would have reminded you long ago. Why would she wait until now to ask you? Don't be afraid. Since she saved us, it means she has no intention of harming us."

"Besides, neither of us noticed her at the time. If she wanted to make a move, she could have done so back at the mountain gate. The only treasure in that cave is in the mountain gate." Ao Shuang comforted him.

Wang Zhenhuan agreed. Since they hadn't found the woman, she should have acted long ago if she wanted to; there was no need to wait until now. Besides, she saved them, which meant she was a friend, not an enemy.

However, she hurriedly left before Wang Zhenhuan and Ao Shuang woke up. This suggests that the woman did not want to reveal her identity, or perhaps she did not want to meet the two of them. Why would she do this?

There's only one possibility: she doesn't know Wang Zhenhuan or Ao Shuang, which is why she doesn't want to meet them. In other words, the woman saved the two not out of kindness, but by chance.

She didn't intentionally try to befriend him, which is why she stepped in to help. There's only one possibility for her saving him: she was asked to do so by someone else!