“Are you really going with me?”

“Yes!”

“It’s very dangerous.”

“Staying here is even more dangerous!”

In a hidden cave beside Dripping Emerald Cliff, Xu Taiping was roasting a wild boar he had hunted, while discussing with Duan Xiaoyu.

“What about your injury?”

After sprinkling a thin layer of salt on the meat, Xu Taiping looked up at Duan Xiaoyu across the campfire.

At this moment, Duan Xiaoyu was sitting by the campfire with her knees hugged, staring intently at the roasting boar, her throat occasionally moving.

“Injury?”

She seemed so absorbed that when Xu Taiping asked her, she didn’t respond immediately, just looked up at him with a blank expression.

“It looks like it’s almost healed.”

Seeing her reaction, Xu Taiping murmured thoughtfully.

“Oh, my injury? It’s almost healed.”

Duan Xiaoyu finally responded.

She rolled up her sleeve and waved her fair arm in front of Xu Taiping.

The once ghastly wound on her arm had already started to scab over, some even fully healed.

“How did it heal so fast?”

Xu Taiping was a bit surprised.

In his experience, cultivators’ injuries healed faster due to True Qi, but Duan Xiaoyu’s wounds were severe and shouldn’t have healed in less than three to five days.

“The quick healing is because I accidentally ate a spiritual herb when I was little. Since then, no matter how badly I’m hurt, a good night’s sleep or a delicious meal can heal me!”

When she mentioned “delicious meal,” she emphasized it, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Xu Taiping.

Hearing this, Xu Taiping suddenly understood.

He thought to himself that this girl indeed had her own fortuity.

But on second thought, it made sense. The young cultivators who entered the Immortal Gourd Cave all had something special about them.

“This piece is a bit fatty. Can you eat it?”

Xu Taiping cut a large piece of meat from the roast boar, placed it on a plate he took from his gourd, sprinkled some spices, and handed it to Duan Xiaoyu with a pair of chopsticks.

“I can eat it!”

Duan Xiaoyu nodded vigorously, delighted.

After today’s life-and-death struggle, she had completely let her guard down in front of Xu Taiping, devouring the food without any concern for ladylike manners.

“I thought… I was going to die at Murong Song’s hands today… I never expected… to eat such delicious roast boar.”

As she ate, Duan Xiaoyu began to sob.

“If you’re so scared, maybe you shouldn’t come with me.”

Xu Taiping continued to eat as he tried to persuade her.

“No.”

Duan Xiaoyu immediately stopped sobbing, her attitude resolute.

“I’m not lying or joking. If you come with me, you might really lose your life.”

Xu Taiping became serious.

“Is it really that serious?”

Duan Xiaoyu asked solemnly.

“Yes, we might encounter demonic cultivators.”

Xu Taiping thought for a moment and decided to reveal some information.

Hearing the words “demonic cultivators,” a trace of fear appeared in Duan Xiaoyu’s eyes.

But soon, she shook her head firmly and said, “I still think it’s safer to be with you!”

Seeing Xu Taiping still reluctant to take her, Duan Xiaoyu put down her meat and looked at him seriously, “Brother Taiping, I won’t be a burden. I might even be able to help you.”

Hearing this, Xu Taiping hesitated.

Because he indeed needed a helper for the upcoming trip to the Ice Crystal Cave.

According to the method described by Oriole, the formation eye in the Ice Crystal Cave was much more complicated to open than the other two. Once interrupted, it couldn’t be restarted, so he needed someone to keep watch at the cave entrance and hold off any demonic cultivators if necessary.

“If you die in the Ice Crystal Cave, don’t blame me.”

Xu Taiping suddenly looked up at Duan Xiaoyu.

Hearing this, Duan Xiaoyu knew Xu Taiping had agreed, and she nodded happily.

“I won’t!”

“Then come with me later.”

Xu Taiping nodded.

He had warned her, so if anything happened, it wouldn’t be his fault.

“Can I finish eating first?”

Duan Xiaoyu thought they were leaving immediately and got nervous looking at the half-eaten roast boar.

“You can finish the whole boar if you want.” Xu Taiping chuckled.

…

At the foot of Ice Crystal Mountain.

“Qingyu, we’ve been here for a day or two, and that kid still hasn’t shown up. Are you sure your information is correct?”

On a large branch at the top of a giant cedar, a black-faced youth with a fierce look in his eyes glanced discontentedly at Qingyu standing on another cedar, transmitting his voice through a secret method.

“Ironface, are you doubting our master?”

Qingyu glared back at the black-faced youth.

Hearing this, Ironface fell silent, the fierceness in his eyes dissipating.

“If it’s the master’s order, why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Ironface transmitted his voice, still dissatisfied.

“Because with me here, we don’t need you.”

Qingyu transmitted back without turning his head.

Hearing this, Ironface was instantly enraged.

But as soon as his demonic energy surged, an invisible pressure crushed it back into his body.

“One more word, and I’ll destroy you completely.”

Qingyu turned and gave Ironface a cold look.

That one look made Ironface feel like he had fallen into an ice cave, not daring to utter another word.

After scolding Ironface, Qingyu turned his gaze back to the southern side of Ice Crystal Mountain.

His earlier rage was because he sensed someone’s presence in that direction.

Sure enough.

Soon, he saw a tall, thin youth heading towards the entrance of the Ice Crystal Cave at the foot of the mountain.