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

If it was entrusted to someone, then to whom was it entrusted? And who was it being protected?

Wang Huanzhen's first thought was Ao Shuang. Because Ao Shuang's identity was special; although his true form was a tortoise, he had the blood of a dragon, and he had also unintentionally...

She revealed that she had lived in the Dragon Palace when she was young. Therefore, this woman is very likely someone entrusted by Ao Shuang's parents to protect her.

"Brother, I can tell you come from an extraordinary background. Could this woman be someone your family arranged for you to protect you?" Wang Zhenhuan asked Ao Shuang.

"Absolutely impossible. My true form is a tortoise, not a dragon. Besides, I've been an orphan for a long time. Otherwise, I wouldn't be living alone on this Huai River now," Ao Shuang said firmly.

Moreover, Wang Zhen noticed a hint of anger in his eyes when he spoke of the dragon race. Clearly, his relationship with the dragons was not good. And although he was a tortoise, he was the head of a dragon.

Although he was unwilling to admit it, it was a fact that he had dragon blood in his body. However, Wang Zhenhuan wisely refrained from pressing the matter further, instead warming his hands by the fire while continuing to ponder.

Since this woman wasn't there to protect Ao Shuang, she must be there to protect him. So the question arises: who entrusted this woman to help him?

Recalling what Ao Shuang had said earlier—that the hand gestures this woman used belonged to the Shangqing lineage—Wang Zhenhuan recognized only two people from the Shangqing lineage: Daoist Luo Puzi and Lin Qingyan.

As the Celestial Master of Gezao Mountain, even if Master Luo Puzi were to arrange a protector, it's unlikely he would be an unorthodox female Daoist. Although the Shangqing lineage teaches without discrimination, judging from Master Luo Puzi's attitude towards Lady Field Mouse at the time...

It's not hard to see that while he doesn't reject those who are different, that's about it. Therefore, the identity of this female Daoist is self-evident. She was definitely entrusted by Lin Qingyan to specifically protect him.

Thinking of this, Wang Zhenhuan felt a warmth in his heart. This was the first time he had heard news about Lin Qingyan since they parted ways. Although all of this was merely Wang Zhenhuan's conjecture.

But just thinking about it warmed his heart. From the initial excitement and passion, to the sadness and pain of heading south, to the final joys and sorrows, Wang Zhenhuan had never let go of it in his heart.

For him, the name Lin Qingyan was like a secret hidden deep in his heart. He pondered it but couldn't speak of it, remembered it but couldn't forget it, longed for it but couldn't see it, and could only hope for a reunion. The word "love" is beyond the comprehension of time.

If emotions can be controlled, what use is a heart? Since this female Taoist was entrusted by Lin Qingyan, she must be someone Lin Qingyan knows. She and Taoist Master Luo Puzi had only been back on the mountain for a few months.

It's entirely possible to know a senior sister with blue-level cultivation. However, it's highly unlikely that she would disregard her own cultivation and come down the mountain to protect Wang Zhenhuan.

Therefore, this female Daoist must not be from Gezao Mountain. In other words, she is not cultivating in the mountains. If that's the case, then she must be an old acquaintance of Lin Qingyan, and their relationship must be quite close.

Otherwise, she would never have agreed to such a thankless task. Before going to Gezao Mountain, Lin Qingyan was the only person she knew who possessed cultivation and was also of an unusual nature.

Wang Zhenhuan could only think of one person: the fox spirit who had previously lived with him in the mountains where the dilapidated Taoist temple was located! It was she who dug the grave when Wang Zhenhuan buried Lin Qingyan's parents.

Furthermore, according to Lin Qingyan, the reason she missed the Jurchens' southward advance was because she was not at home at the time, but rather on business in the south. Now it seems she must have gone south to seek a master.

According to Ao Shuang, this female Daoist possesses the cultivation level of Blue Qi. Given that she herself already possesses spiritual energy, and considering that Wang Huanzhen has been traveling south for almost half a year, it's entirely possible for her to have this level of cultivation.

"I know who this Kun Dao is! Come to think of it, we're old acquaintances who've never met before," Wang Zhenhuan said to Ao Shuang with delight.

After hearing his words, Ao Shuang looked at him with suspicion and said, "If you are an old acquaintance, why do you say you have never met? We were able to escape from the cave this time entirely thanks to this woman's help. We should thank her in person."

"I've only heard of this person before, but I've never met him. If I'm not mistaken, this person should be a friend of an old acquaintance. Your earlier perception was correct, brother."

"Her true form must be a fox," Wang Zhenhuan explained to Ao Shuang.

"So that's how it is. No wonder I felt something was off. It turns out this person's true form is a land-based creature. I misunderstood, brother." Ao Shuang suddenly realized.

"I would naturally like to thank her in person, after all, she saved my life. But she had already run away before we woke up, which means she doesn't want to see us. What should we do?" Wang Huanzhen sighed.

"Don't think about it anymore. Since she was entrusted with this task, it's unlikely to be just this once. You'll definitely meet her again in the future, and you can thank her then." Ao Shuang patted his shoulder.

"That's all I can do. But the debt of gratitude for saving my life is immense, and I have nothing to offer. How can I possibly thank her?" Wang Zhen thought for a moment and said with some frustration.

"Have you forgotten what you obtained from the cave? Since that woman followed us all the way, she must have seen what we got from the cave. But she didn't show any greed."

On the contrary, he is loyal to the entrustment of an old friend. Although this person is an anomaly, he possesses both virtue and integrity, and should be a person worth getting to know deeply.” Ao Shuang looked at Wang Huanzhen and said earnestly.

Upon hearing Ao Shuang's words, Wang Zhenhuan suddenly seemed to remember something and hurriedly rummaged through his pockets. After a while, he took out the bamboo slip and opened it to look at it. Fortunately, the words on the bamboo slip were all engraved.

Although soaked in water, the writing hadn't disappeared. He examined the bamboo slips, hesitatingly asking, "Brother, which should I give, the Zhou Tian Secret Manual or the Five Thunder Orthodox Method, and how much should I give?"

"Although the Five Thunder Orthodox Method is the orthodox method of Taoism, it is difficult to enter. And since that female Taoist's original form is an anomaly, her cultivation is twice as difficult and half as effective. It would be more practical to give her this Zhou Tian Secret Manual."

"Besides, she only has the cultivation level of Blue Qi now, so giving her too much wouldn't be of much use. I think it's enough to give her spells below the level of a god, what do you think?" Ao Shuang analyzed.

Wang Huanzhen listened to Ao Shuang's words and found them very reasonable. So he nodded in agreement, and the two spent the night together. The next day, just as dawn was breaking, they got up to prepare to return to Xiayi.

Last night, Xiayi suffered a disaster, and the inn where Wang Huanzhen was resting was right next to the Huai River. He was worried about the innkeeper, so he ran very fast on his way back. In just half an hour, he and Ao Shuang returned to Xiayi Town.

Sure enough, when he returned, he found that the inn had indeed fallen into a deep pit. The area had been cordoned off by government officials, and a middle-aged Taoist priest in a purple robe...

Standing in the center of the soldiers, he gazed at the roof of the Sanqing Hall, which appeared and disappeared in the deep pit, seemingly lost in thought...