In the world of cultivation, one grinds for proficiency and longevity.

"It's just a few words, it won't take long," Chen Changqing said, too lazy to explain.

Yu Nianqiu pretended not to understand, as if she wasn't going to suffer any loss from the rumors that she and Chen Changqing had an ambiguous relationship. This made Wang Feng and Li Erniu even more convinced that there was some indescribable relationship between the two.

……

Of the four, Wang Feng's prospects in the secular world are worrying, because he has been rejected by the sect, and those who originally supported him have long since withdrawn their investment.

In addition, the Great Lu Dynasty stipulated that cultivators could not interfere in politics, so his situation was not good.

Therefore, in the days that followed, he did his best to be a good host and entertain the three of them.

Three days later, Yu Nianqiu had to carry out a mission and was the first to leave.

Five days later, Chen Changqing and Li Erniu also took their leave.

Before this, Li Erniu had already returned to his secular hometown and severed all ties with his family.

He was the eleventh child in his family. His parents did not blame him for marrying into the family; on the contrary, they praised him highly.

After all, when Li Erniu returned home this time, he not only built a new house for his family, but also gave his parents more money than they could ever spend in their lifetime.

As for Chen Changqing, he not only gave an explanation to his family, but also earned favors from two disciples of the sect, making it a profitable trip.

The only thing Chen Changqing regretted was that he hadn't been able to handle Fang Qingxue's matter to a satisfactory degree, and a small knot remained in his heart.

On the way, Wang Feng insisted on seeing him off for thirty miles. As he turned to leave, Chen Changqing looked at the lonely figure of this once-powerful young marquis and became even more determined to pursue his path of cultivation.

"Brother Chen, why don't you marry and have children with the Zhou family? Is it because your heart is with you, fellow Daoist?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Then why does she address me and Wang Feng as 'fellow Daoists,' but only call you 'Big Brother'?"

"Well... I'm not quite sure either."

Regardless of what others think, Chen Changqing himself is indeed clear-headed. He still doesn't understand Fang Qingxue in the secular world, so how could he have a second woman in his heart?

On the main road, the two rode their horses at full speed, heading straight for the Zhou family.

We were just one day away from arriving at Cuiya Mountain Villa.

"Wait a moment."

Upon reaching a canyon, Chen Changqing pulled on the reins and stopped his horse.

"Is there a problem, Brother Chen?"

Li Erniu missed his wife and children and longed to return home.

"This canyon is long and narrow; if there is an ambush, it's like a bird in a cage—there's no way to escape."

Chen Changqing remembered that four years ago, when the Zhou family head led them through this place, they were cautious and carefully observed, only to find that the other party had not set up an ambush here.

"You mean someone is lying in ambush on us?"

Li Erniu was unaware that Chen Changqing had killed the ugly woman from the Ye family, but upon hearing the word "ambush," he still showed fear on his face.

Four years ago, the Ye family ambushed the Zhou family, resulting in the deaths of seven Immortal Seedlings, leaving him with indelible memories.

"We don't know, but we must be on guard."

"Hehe, Brother Chen and I are thinking the same thing."

So the two turned their horses around and took a side road.

……

"Look at that man! Doesn't he look like the kid who poisoned Elder Wolf Fang Bee Queen four years ago?"

"That's right, it's him! We're going to get rich... Oh no! They've turned back! Quickly, send word to the elder!"

"No, there's no time! We need to notify the senior brothers outside first!"

The few people hiding in the canyon were just lackeys sent by the Ye family's higher-ups to keep an eye on the Zhou family cultivators after the ugly woman's death. Their cultivation level was no more than the fourth level of Qi Refining, but they carried talismans for concealment and communication.

They didn't think the two men were capable of killing the ugly woman, but unexpectedly they recognized Chen Changqing, who had been wanted by his family.

"We're confident we can take down this mere early-stage Qi Refining cultivator!" one of them said, his eyes gleaming with greed.

"Second brother, don't be impulsive! Their mounts are extraordinary; don't alert them. Let's wait for our senior brothers to arrive!"

The Ye family cultivators, who were hiding, had no mounts and were unwilling to take risks for personal gain, which was actually more disadvantageous for Chen Changqing and his companion.

……

"Brother Chen, why is my right eyelid twitching so badly?"

Chen Changqing was equally uneasy. "Let's hurry!"

Before long, the sound of rapid hoofbeats suddenly came from ahead.

"Brother Chen, how about we go through the canyon?"

Li Erniu was trembling with fear, seeing enemies everywhere.

"If the people coming are targeting us, the canyon area is even more dangerous!"

Chen Changqing offered this analysis.

In an instant, figures appeared ahead. They were two cultivators from the Ye family, both at the fifth level of Qi Refining.

Behind them, three Ye family cultivators also hurried over, but all of them were at the early stage of Qi Refining.

It's obvious who is stronger and who is weaker.

"There really was an ambush! Brother Chen, which way should we break out?"

Li Erniu kept turning back, clearly wanting to repeat his old mistakes.

"There's a trap ahead!"

Chen Changqing made a quick decision and took out the poisoned steel ball.

call out!call out!

The two cultivators quickly activated their magical artifacts for protection.

Unexpectedly, the horse beneath him suddenly convulsed and died on the spot.

"You wretched brat! I'll make you wish you were dead later!"

Two Ye family cultivators blocked the road ahead.

Chen Changqing had anticipated this, and fired seven or eight steel balls in quick succession.

Immediately afterwards, he and Li Erniu drove their horses into a fierce charge.

He wouldn't be foolish enough to engage in close combat when his opponents outnumbered him and were more powerful.

"Senior brother, stop them quickly! The elder is on his way!" The three chasing behind shouted anxiously.

However, Chen Changqing's master-level spiritual energy flick was incredibly powerful, not only knocking away the attacking magic swords of the two Ye family cultivators, but also shattering their spiritual energy shields one after another.

One of them was hit in the shoulder, and his entire arm turned as black as ink.

"Even our senior brother fell, thank goodness we weren't riding horses."

The three people behind him trembled, especially the one who had been shouting that he was going to make a move.

"Um?"

Chen Changqing turned to look and saw that the man who had been hit by his hidden weapon was not only unharmed but was also slowly expelling the poison. He frowned slightly, thinking to himself, "This poison doesn't seem to be very harmful to a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator?"

Suddenly, a powerful aura of late-stage Qi Refining emerged from behind him and appeared before everyone in an instant.

An elderly man with gray hair and a sinister face stared intently at the two fleeing figures like an eagle.

"Fourth Elder! The Fourth Elder is here!"

The Ye family cultivators at the scene cheered, believing that Chen Changqing and his companion were doomed. After all, the two sides were only two hundred meters apart, and the Fourth Elder was riding a spirit deer, whose speed far exceeded that of Chen Changqing's steed.

"A bunch of useless trash! Even two young brats require my personal intervention!"

The Fourth Elder raised his arm, pointed in a direction, and coldly shouted, "Chase!"

"My goodness! Thank goodness I didn't take that same path!"

Li Erniu looked back and felt a wave of fear. But seeing the spirit deer approaching at a speed visible to the naked eye, he was terrified and regretted not eating more of it.

He gently stroked the horse's back and spoke almost pleadingly, "Horse, horse, run faster, when we get back you'll eat meat, and I'll eat grass."

"Erniu, hold on tight! Clench your arms!"

"Brother Chen, what do you mean? At a life-or-death situation, you're still in the mood for jokes?"