At nighttime, lanterns hang from the houses on both sides of the street, and moonlight spills down, creating a tranquil atmosphere.
On the streets of Lin'an County, Li Fan rides a white horse, occasionally passing by someone. There are martial artists riding horses, monks walking under the night sky chanting Buddha's name, and Taoists wearing bagua robes carrying long swords on their backs.
The nighttime in Lin'an City has a mysterious and dangerous air.
"Hey." A voice comes from behind. Li Fan turns around and sees Huang Yan catching up, smiling sweetly, "Not going to wait for me?"
Li Fan looks at Huang Yan with some surprise. Her senior brother's body is not yet cold, and she can still smile so happily? Indeed, even cultivators shouldn't be too attached.
Of course, he didn't have much sympathy for Liu Xu anyway.
"Thank you for stepping in at the inn earlier, Young Hero Li Fan." Huang Yan smiles brightly; her smile is sweet and charming. She was referring to the punch Li Fan used to repel the Cat Demon.
"You're welcome." Li Fan responds with a smile.
"Do you practice martial arts?" Huang Yan looks at Li Fan with curiosity. That punch could send the Cat Demon flying, yet there was no perception of qi, which is pure martial strength, indicating a strong physique.
"Body refinement and marrow cleansing?" Huang Yan continues to ask with a smile, "You can't be a Grandmaster, right? I've never seen such a young Grandmaster."
The first realm of a Martial Artist is Body Refinement, divided into Copper Skin, Iron Bones, and Marrow Cleansing. The second realm is the Grandmaster Realm.
"Although martial artists are not as good as Qi Cultivators, I heard from my father that with a chance, those who practice martial arts can break through barriers to cultivate to high realms, and the strength of their Martial Spirit is not weaker than Qi Cultivators."
Seeing that Li Fan still doesn't answer, Huang Yan pouts.
"Hey, aren't you being rude?" Huang Yan feigns a bit of anger.
"We've just met, and we're not that familiar, are we?" Li Fan replies.
"Talk more, and we'll get to know each other." Huang Yan laughs and says, "Where are you going now? Together?"
"That's not really a good idea," Li Fan mutters.
"It's okay," Huang Yan says.
"I'm going to sleep," Li Fan looks back at Huang Yan.
Huang Yan blinks, looking at Li Fan's handsome face, blushes, and shyly says, "Isn't that a bit too fast?"
Li Fan: "..."
"It's hard to find an inn now, how about we go to the Chen family? They are holding a Demon Slaying Summit and should have a place to stay," Huang Yan suggests.
"Demon Slaying Summit?" Li Fan mumbles to himself. His senior sister asked him to come down the mountain to slay demons, but didn't mention attending any Demon Slaying Summit.
However, since it's a Demon Slaying Summit, it should be about killing demons, right?
Since it's about killing demons, naturally there would be Demon Cores.
"Yes." Huang Yan nods and says, "This time, the Chen family held the Demon Slaying Summit, attracting not only cultivators from Lin'an County, but I heard many sects from Chuzhou will also come to Lin'an City to attend. The one who slew the Cat Demon earlier was the Chen family's Young Master, Chen Luoyun."
"Huh?" Li Fan blinks. Chen Luoyun killed the Cat Demon?
Then who am I??
"Did you see the phenomena just now? That's an Innate Dharma Form, which connects heaven and earth, producing heavenly phenomena, and slays demons from a distance with a sword, truly a genius among geniuses," Huang Yan seems excited.
Innate Dharma Form??
Genius among geniuses?
Li Fan didn't even know he was so exceptional!
How come it's different from what his senior and junior told him?
He recalled the earnest teachings from his master and senior brothers.
Xiao Fan, you have mediocre talent, and your senior brothers and senior sisters are so outstanding, so you must cultivate diligently and not let them get too far ahead.
Little junior brother, diligence can make up for clumsiness. As long as you cultivate hard, even if your talent is not enough, you can catch up with your senior brothers.
Could it be that he's met someone who appreciates him?
Thinking of this, Li Fan felt moved and looked at Huang Yan more kindly.
"Hmm?" Huang Yan saw Li Fan looking at her strangely, blinked, and then smiled.
"Shall we go together?" Li Fan asked.
"Sure." Huang Yan's smile became even brighter, and she said softly, looking at Li Fan on the white horse, "Can I get up there?"
"If you don't mind..." As soon as Li Fan finished speaking, Huang Yan leaped onto the horse's back and sat behind him.
Feeling the softness behind him, Li Fan blinked.
The girls at the foot of the mountain are really friendly!
...
The Chen family in Lin'an County is a branch of the Chuzhou Family's Chen family.
The Da Li Dynasty places supreme power in the emperor, but some influential families and powerful sects also control cultivation resources, and the Chen family belongs to the Chuzhou Family.
Demon chaos in Lin'an City, the Chen family in Lin'an County utilized their influence to hold the Demon Slaying Summit, inviting heroes from all sides to slay demons, and even many sects were invited.
Li Fan and Huang Yan arrived at the Chen family, and the two smoothly entered the Chen Residence.
The Chen Residence covers dozens of acres, with pavilions, terraces, small bridges, and flowing water.
Inside the residence, there's an artificial lake, and many rooms were built by the lakeside to accommodate guests from all over.
"Do you two want one room or two?" The steward looked at Li Fan and Huang Yan and smiled. He saw them arriving on horseback, hence the question.
Huang Yan looked at Li Fan with a sly smile, seemingly letting him decide.
"Two rooms," Li Fan said.
"But we agreed to be together?" Huang Yan said with a sweet smile.
Li Fan looked into her eyes and said, "Miss Huang, cultivators should not be misled by beauty."
"Are you complimenting me?" Huang Yan asked.
Li Fan shook his head.
Huang Yan paused, quickly realizing, and began to giggle looking at his handsome face.
So, is he the beauty?
"You two can rest first, I will take my leave now." The steward took his leave.
"Shall we take a walk by the lake?" Huang Yan looked towards the lakeshore and said, "It's quite lively there."
Li Fan followed her gaze and saw many people and travelers chatting and drinking by the lake, with a very lively atmosphere. In one place, many people were gathered around.
The two walked over and saw a crowd gathered around a Taoist, wearing a shabby robe, clothes ragged, hair half gray and half white, a bit messy, seemingly doing divination.
"Divination?" Huang Yan laughed, being a cultivator herself, naturally disbelieving in such street skills.
"The hexagram is out." The Taoist frowned, looking at the tortoise shell hexagram on the ground.
"How is it?" The crowd jeered.
"I see that you all will likely face a blood-related disaster," the Sloppy Taoist spoke.
"Pfft..."
"Old man, your street scams are outdated."
"I think the Chen family is too lenient, letting anyone in," people around said, one after another.
The Chen family held the Demon Slaying Summit, drawing a large crowd, resulting in a mixed bag of attendees.
"Whether you believe it or not, the silver will not be refunded." The Taoist placed his hand inside his robe, securing the silver, ignoring the crowd's curses.
"Consider it a reward," the people around said.
The Taoist looked up and saw Li Fan and Huang Yan standing there, his eyes squinting into slits, focusing on Li Fan.
"Young man, do you want your fortune told?" The old Taoist, staring at Li Fan, spoke up.
Li Fan shook his head, embarrassed by his lack of money.
"No fortunetelling fee," the Taoist seemed to have guessed Li Fan's thought.
That's not bad!
Li Fan asked, "How will you do it?"
"Give me your hand," the old Taoist said.
Li Fan squatted down and saw the old Taoist extend his hand, placing it on Li Fan's palm.
After a moment, he extended his other hand.
"Not bad, not bad!" The old Taoist pinched Li Fan's palm.
???
Li Fan withdrew his hand, wondering if this old man had some peculiar hobby?
"Hehe." The old Taoist smiled at Li Fan.
Li Fan: "..."
"How's the hexagram?" Li Fan asked.
"You will face a calamity soon," the old man responded with a smile.
Li Fan was indifferent.
Seeing Li Fan's disbelief, the old man continued, "Not just you, all close to you will face a calamity."
"If I ask how to resolve it, would there be a fortunetelling fee?" Li Fan asked with a smile.
"It can't be resolved, it's up to you." The old man shook his head with a smile.
"Fearmongering?" Li Fan smiled, unfazed. Could the old man scam him?
"Old Taoist, can you read a fortune for me too?" Huang Yan asked beside him.
The Taoist looked up and glanced at her, "You have little wisdom, but no great intelligence."
"Old Taoist, you haven't even read it?" Huang Yan said.
"I travel the jianghu, knowing just by looking at the face," the old Taoist said.
Huang Yan: "..."