On the mountain path leaving Ascension Immortal Mansion, there are a total of nine hundred and ninety-nine steps. Traditionally, disciples wishing to join must step by step ascend these nine hundred and ninety-nine steps. Once they gain enough knowledge at Ascension Immortal Mansion and can perform Sword Flight, the stairs will naturally be no problem.
But Wen Ran's sword is broken.
She had only walked about twenty steps before slowing down significantly, finally just sitting down.
From behind came a boy's voice, "Why did you stop walking?"
"I'm tired." Wen Ran was blowing against the wind on the cliff, propping her chin with both hands, staring at the mist drifting before her, with a face full of displeasure.
"Ranran, walking down the steps one by one will naturally tire you out."
This voice came from above.
Wen Ran lifted her eyes and saw the person standing on the sword, his eyes bent in a smile. She excitedly stood up, "Where did your sword come from?"
"Your father said it wouldn't do to be without a sword, so he found one for me to use temporarily. What, didn't he tell you?" His black eyes were filled with laughter, displaying youthful mischievousness to the fullest.
After descending many layers of steps, Wen Ran forced herself to take a deep breath several times to suppress the urge to pick up stones and throw them at him.
In the wind, Shen Wu, wearing fluttering white garments, now with a demeanor unrelated to coolness, lazily half-closed his eyes, arms crossed, casually said: "If you beg me, maybe I'll consider taking you along for the ride."
Wen Ran is not a person without pride, she turned her body and uttered a "hmph."
But the boy standing on the sword flew again to her front, "Really not planning to beg me?"
Wen Ran turned her body again.
He again came before her, "So full of backbone?"
Wen Ran pouted and turned her back.
This time she did not hear his mischievous questioning, her heart was unsettled, wondering if he really left her behind and departed, when suddenly she felt a touch atop her head.
Wen Ran instinctively raised her head, meeting a pair of smiling eyes very close by.
He reached out to straighten the hairpin in her hair, with her reflection in his lowered eyes, the two were so close they could feel each other's breath.
Seeing her staring at him without moving, Shen Wu curled his lips. He spoke exuberantly yet narcissistically like an ordinary teenager, "What, did you realize you fell in love with me?"
Her response was a punch to his face by Wen Ran.
In Fengyue City, because it's near Hidden Abyss Valley, this town is far more prosperous than several neighboring towns, and the streets are filled with merchants' calls while passing are wanderers or Immortal Cultivators.
However, a pair of walking man and woman on the street often attracted a few extra glances from passersby. Judging by their demeanor and style, they should be cultivators. The girl in green naturally looked charming while the tall man in white had an unknown appearance and age, as he wore a white reed hat on his head.
It was also peculiar, even if one wanted to wear a reed hat to cover their face, it should be the woman doing it, why did it turn to the opposite for this pair? The woman appeared openly, while the man was shy.
Walking along the way, Wen Ran had long grown accustomed to the probing glances from nearby passersby, so she chose to ignore those gazes and picked up a candy figure from a stall by the roadside, saying to the person beside her, "Pay up."
Shen Wu didn't reach for his wallet. Instead, he reminded her, "Since entering the city, you've already eaten a bowl of noodles, a bowl of wontons, a portion of fried dough sticks, and two sticks of candied hawthorn."
The candy vendor looked at Wen Ran's belly with a curious gaze.
Wen Ran felt a rare moment of embarrassment. She had not eaten these small delicacies for a long time, hence she indulged a bit more.
Regardless in the Mortal World or the Immortal Cultivation World, having no money means being unable to move an inch. Yet, Old Man Wen handed all the money to Shen Wu for management. If she wanted to buy something, she had to pinch money from Shen Wu.
Wen Ran glanced at Shen Wu, then at the butterfly-shaped candy figure in her hand. Reluctantly, she let go.
Shen Wu muttered, "You really eat more than the magical beasts in the Forbidden Land."
He pulled out two copper coins, handing them to the vendor, who promptly grinned.
Wen Ran pretended not to hear Shen Wu's comment, taking a bite of the "butterfly's" wing, savoring the sweet taste, which truly brought satisfaction.
The vendor, seeing Wen Ran's beautiful appearance, asked, "Are you two not from Fengyue City?"
Wen Ran shook her head, "We are from out of town."
The vendor kindly reminded, "Recently, there have been frequent occurrences of young men and women disappearing in Fengyue City. People from Hidden Abyss Valley have come to investigate several times, yet have found no results. Seeing you two as dignified individuals, it's wise to be cautious."
Wen Ran glanced at the people on the street. No wonder she felt something was off when entering this city, because along the way, few ordinary young men and women could be seen. Instead, many dressed in yellow attire roamed the streets like patrols.
Judging by their garments, they should be disciples of Hidden Abyss Valley.
Hidden Abyss Valley is incredibly wealthy; even the most ordinary disciples wear plenty of gold, silver, and jade as ornaments, which envy others at just a glance.
Again, the vendor said, "Earlier, even some cultivators wanted to find those causing trouble behind the scenes, but they all went missing. According to people from Hidden Abyss Valley...it seems there might be a Great Demon hiding in Fengyue City, many people are now afraid to step out."
Wen Ran curiously asked, "You look quite young yourself, aren't you afraid of being captured by that Great Demon?"
"Miss, you don't know, the missing young men and women aren't just young, but also handsome or beautiful. People like me with such looks are too safe." The vendor optimistically chuckled, being honest and straightforward.
Wen Ran nodded at his words, "Thank you for informing us about these things, we'll be careful. Senior Brother, how do you see this..."
Turning her head, the person beside her was already gone. Wen Ran's voice paused. She looked around and only saw the figure of the boy in reed hat at the bun vendor's stall.
The bun vendor was thrilled, "Sir, did you say you want to buy all my buns?"
"Yes." Shen Wu nodded aristocratically, generously paying with a piece of silver.
The old man naturally could not find the words for objection; he promptly packaged the buns in paper wraps, enough to fill several bundles.
Each time he finished wrapping a pack of buns, the white-clothed man would pick up the pack, and it would disappear from his hands instantly. The vendor was aware that Immortal Cultivators possessed certain magical abilities, so he didn't find it strange, only swiftly packaging, as though fearing the young man would change his mind.