Chapter 13: I, Li Xianer, keep my word

On a forest path outside the city, a fast horse galloped by.

On its back, Shi Xiangwen held the reins, while Li Xingruo clung tightly to his Taoist robe from behind.

“Stinking Taoist, thinking you’d ride while I run? No way!”

With no one else around in the wilderness, Li Xingruo shouted freely, her mouth never stopping since they started.

“Why’re you riding so fast? Don’t you know these bumpy mountain roads hurt?”

“Hey, stinking Taoist, are you listening?”

“Is this even the way to Fancheng? You directionless idiot, did you take a wrong turn?”

After enduring her hundred-odd complaints, Shi Xiangwen’s ears ached.

He warned in a low voice:

“Miss Xianer, if you don’t quiet down, I’ll have to seal your mute acupoint.”

“Tch!”

Knowing he’d actually do it, Li Xingruo ceased her high-pitched assault on his ears.

But sitting behind him, staring at his back, staying silent felt suffocating.

So, she asked softly:

“Why avoid the main road? This path’s so rough.”

“You’ll see when we get there,” Shi Xiangwen replied, his voice betraying a slight inhale.

Noticing this, Li Xingruo smirked inwardly.

Her relentless chatter tactic worked—this stinking Taoist was definitely annoyed.

Serves him right!

Who told you to hog the horse and make me run?

If I hadn’t trained my physical skills, I’d have been left behind by this jerk.

Glancing at the increasingly rugged mountain path, she spoke again:

“Oh! I get it—you’re going to Chunding Mountain to check the spirit vein eruption, right?”

Shi Xiangwen didn’t answer, tacitly confirming her guess.

“Going into a spirit vein during an eruption? That’s dangerous! Let’s be clear—you go in alone. I’m not risking it with you.”

“Hey… stinking Taoist, did you hear me?”

“Why aren’t you… mmph! Mmm!”

Li Xingruo’s persistent buzzing, as expected, yielded results.

And, as she’d provoked, she got what she asked for—Shi Xiangwen sealed her mute acupoint.

“Mmm! Mmm! Mmmph!”

Amid her muffled whimpers, they soon reached their destination—

A crevice halfway up Chunding Mountain.

Dismounting with Li Xingruo, Shi Xiangwen pulled her to the edge and pointed at the bottomless fissure:

“This must be where the spirit vein eruption broke through. From here, we can reach its depths.”

“Mmmph!”

Li Xingruo shook her head vigorously, her muffled sounds conveying her refusal.

Shi Xiangwen smiled. “Miss Xianer, you have to come. The mountains are full of wild beasts, maybe even enlightened demons. Leaving you out here is too dangerous.”

“Mmmph! Mmm!”

She gestured, flexing her arm to show she could handle beasts with her physical skills alone.

“Oh, I see,” Shi Xiangwen said, his smile widening. “Miss Xianer means you’re strong enough to help me in the spirit vein. Let’s go then.”

“Mmm! Mmmph!”

Furious at his deliberate misinterpretation, Li Xingruo cursed inwardly: A righteous Huangji Sect producing a sneaky, despicable Taoist like you!

She really didn’t want to go in.

The spirit vein had just erupted—who knew if it’d surge again?

With her spiritual power sealed, if they hit an energy torrent, could she rely on this jerk’s conscience to protect her?

Sadly, Shi Xiangwen couldn’t hear her thoughts.

Despite her protests, he grabbed her wrist, and they jumped into the crevice.

The whooshing sound of their rapid descent quieted her temporarily. She gripped his wrist, clinging to his back like an octopus.

“Miss Xianer, I won’t drop you. No need to hold so tight,” Shi Xiangwen said, feeling the soft pressure against his back as they landed. “You can let go now.”

“Mmmph!”

Li Xingruo hopped off, stood in front of him, and pointed at her throat. “Mmm! Mmmph!”

“Alright, alright,” Shi Xiangwen nodded. “But first, promise not to curse me once I unseal your mute acupoint.”

He tapped her throat.

“Hmph, stinking Taoist, unseal my spiritual power too! The spirit vein’s energy is unstable—it’s too dangerous!” she demanded instantly.

“Then you’d just run,” Shi Xiangwen tilted his head. “Do you take me for a fool?”

“I swear I won’t run. Unseal it!”

Li Xingruo promised earnestly. “Your cultivation’s way higher than mine. I wouldn’t dare try anything under your nose, right?”

“You’ll keep your word?” Shi Xiangwen eyed her suspiciously.

She nodded vigorously. “I always mean what I say. If I break my promise, let me, Li Xianer, be your servant, at your disposal! Good enough?”

Shi Xiangwen hesitated, then said, “Fine, I’ll trust you this once, Miss Xianer. Don’t disappoint me.”

“Don’t worry, I never lie,” she said, patting her chest.

Shi Xiangwen nodded, formed a hand seal, and touched her lightly.

Instantly, Li Xingruo felt a weight lift as her spiritual power surged freely.

Testing her cultivation, she confirmed the seal was gone.

Taking a deep breath, she stretched her arms. “See? I didn’t run.”

“That’s for the best.”

Shi Xiangwen pointed deeper into the vein. “The source of the energy imbalance should be that way. Let’s check it out.”

“You’re stronger—lead the way,” Li Xingruo said, gesturing. “After you.”

“Alright.” Shi Xiangwen didn’t refuse and headed deeper.

Following quietly, Li Xingruo observed the vein’s environment, scheming:

This stinking Taoist unsealed me, but he won’t trust me easily. He’s likely got a backup plan. If I run now, he’ll probably catch me.

Should I ambush him and take him out?

Burn the body, scatter the ashes—even the Huangji Sect wouldn’t find him… No, too risky. His cultivation’s much higher; I’d likely fail.

Better play it safe. Wait till we reach the eruption’s source, when he’s distracted, then make my move.