Thump, thump!
The sound of footsteps was particularly loud on the deserted street. There were not many pedestrians, only one or two people walking occasionally.
After walking through several streets, Li Xian saw no movement on his status panel.
Those monsters weren't stupid either. With several monsters dead recently, they were probably scared into hiding.
Li Xian walked to the city gate, looked at the sky, and decided not to go outside the city. After all, monsters were more rampant at night, and powerful ones would occasionally appear. If he were unlucky enough to encounter one stronger than himself, how could he possibly resist?
Although he was already in the early stage of the Eighth-grade Core Condensation Realm, Li Xian did not think he was invincible and could wander the world freely. In this era, being cautious meant living longer.
Li Xian turned around and returned to the Tang family's side courtyard.
Qing'er brought dinner and asked, "Young Master, are you going to see Miss later?"
"Do you think I should go?" Li Xian asked back.
Qing'er was slightly taken aback. "This servant doesn't know. This servant thinks you should go, lest Miss be left alone in the empty room."
"Alright, I'll go then," Li Xian said.
After dinner, Li Xian rested a little, considered it for a while, and then came to Tang Shiying's room and knocked on the door.
"Come in!" Tang Shiying's voice came, seeming to tremble slightly.
Li Xian pushed the door open, and a familiar faint fragrance filled the room. This fragrance was not that of makeup but the unique scent of a woman, intoxicating like pure wine.
Li Xian looked at Tang Shiying. Her features were as beautiful as a painting, her eyes held the clarity of autumn water, her skin was delicate as congealed fat, and she was sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing a light purple nightgown, as if she had been waiting for Li Xian for a long time.
Li Xian glanced at the corner of the room. The bamboo mat placed there was still there, so he naturally walked over, picked up the mat, and spread it on the floor.
Li Xian lay down on the mat and said, "I'll sleep here tonight, okay?"
Tang Shiying did not respond. After a while, she flicked a copper coin from her hand, extinguishing the candle. Then, a faint sound was heard as she lay down on the bed, seemingly falling asleep quickly.
Listening to the even, faint breathing, Li Xian soon drifted off to sleep as well.
In the early morning, the chirping of birds outside woke Li Xian abruptly. He turned his head to glance at the bed, then quietly got up, pushed the door open halfway, slipped out, and closed it gently.
Li Xian stretched and walked towards the side courtyard. At this hour, the servants had not yet woken up, and he did not encounter anyone along the way.
Soon, he returned to the side courtyard. Li Xian took out his iron sword and began to practice. He wielded the Lǐ Family Swordplay, flowing like clouds and water, at extreme speed. The power of the Core Condensation Realm was far superior to the Spirit Gathering Realm in both speed and strength.
After practicing several times, Li Xian tried the Flowing Light Sword Technique, wanting to grasp its essence. He tried five or six times and felt somewhat familiar with it, but he didn't know how long it would take to master it.
Qing'er brought breakfast and looked at Li Xian with a hint of complaint. "Young Master, why did you sleep on the floor last night? Miss is a little unhappy."
Li Xian wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I haven't adapted yet. Once I adapt, I'll naturally sleep in the bed."
Qing'er said, "Young Master, Miss is giving you a chance. You should seize it. If she drives you back here again, it won't be good for you to be alone."
"Alright. I know, you don't need to worry," Li Xian said.
After breakfast, Li Xian thought about last night. It was true that he hadn't adapted yet. Having just transmigrated, he was accustomed to sleeping alone. Suddenly having someone by his side, even though she was his nominal wife, felt unnatural.
Moreover, the original owner's memories also seemed to be influencing him, making him a bit petulant and seeking revenge for being denied sharing the bed before.
But as a man, this was something he should indeed take the initiative on.
After a while, Li Xian left with his iron sword. To learn the Flowing Light Sword Technique as quickly as possible, he still needed to slay demons and monsters to gain Vital Energy.
This time, Li Xian headed straight for the outskirts of the city. Although there might be demons and monsters within the city, they were hidden too deeply to be found easily. Outside the city, demons and monsters were more unrestrained, especially in the uninhabited deep mountains and ravines, which were their paradise.
After leaving the city gate, Li Xian headed north. After walking about ten miles, a desolate mountain village appeared before his eyes, utterly devoid of human presence.
Li Xian walked into the mountain village. This village was extremely dilapidated, with broken walls everywhere and overgrown weeds, resembling a mass grave.
A crow cawed mournfully in the distance, making the village seem to be shrouded in a bizarre atmosphere.
Li Xian looked around. Just as he was about to move forward, he heard the sound of footsteps, and two young men in black clothes appeared on his right.
Li Xian became vigilant, his hand resting on his iron sword, and he stared at the two young men.
"What are you doing here? Hurry up and leave, it's dangerous here," one of the lean young men said with a slight frown.
"Why is it dangerous here?" Li Xian asked.
He sensed a strange atmosphere in the village, as if there were hidden monsters. If his strength was sufficient to slay them, he did not want to leave. But if the monsters' strength surpassed his own, he would leave immediately and escape as far as possible.
"There's a monster at the Peak Spirit Gathering Realm here, its strength is equivalent to a master of the Core Condensation Realm. Our Monster Extermination Sect has already surrounded it and is preparing to kill it."
"Monster Extermination Sect?" Li Xian had never heard of such a sect before. "Can I join you in encircling and eliminating the monster?"
A monster at the Peak Spirit Gathering Realm would yield at least 5000 cards of Vital Energy upon death. Li Xian did not want to give up.
"You?" The lean young man sized Li Xian up. "What is your Cultivation/Level?"
"Late Spirit Gathering Realm," Li Xian replied.
"You can indeed help a bit. Alright, you can help intercept. My name is Lu Qiuyang, and this is my junior brother, Duan Feiyu. Ahead, one of our senior brothers from the Monster Extermination Sect is leading five of us to exterminate this demon."
He was somewhat surprised. Li Xian looked only eighteen or nineteen years old, yet he was already in the Late Spirit Gathering Realm. No wonder he dared to come here alone; he must have come to such a place for training.
Li Xian nodded. Such a grand setup indicated that the Monster Extermination Sect was not a small force.
"Let's go over there. That monster might be about to make its move," Lu Qiuyang said.
"What kind of monster is it?" Li Xian asked.
"It's a Tiger Demon, very ferocious. The people of this mountain village were likely devoured by this Tiger Demon, and then the Tiger Demon took up residence here, occupying this place," Duan Feiyu said.
Lu Qiuyang and Duan Feiyu walked on either side of Li Xian, sandwiching him in the middle, with a subtle sense of wariness. Li Xian didn't mind, pretending not to notice.
They soon arrived in front of a spacious courtyard, but this courtyard was already abandoned, with broken walls and in ruins.
Lu Qiuyang said in a low voice, "That Tiger Demon is in this residence. It usually doesn't come out during the day but emerges at night. My senior brothers and the others have surrounded this residence, and they might make a move soon."
"You stay here and guard with Junior Brother Duan, I'll go over there to take a look."
"Okay." Li Xian had no objections. This Junior Brother Duan was here to keep an eye on him.
After all, they had only just met, and it was understandable that they didn't trust him. It was the same for Li Xian; despite his calm demeanor, he was also being watchful.
In this era, caution was paramount. If any accident occurred, it could lead to irreversible consequences.
Lu Qiuyang walked to the other side and soon disappeared.
Li Xian and Duan Feiyu stood under a wall, waiting for the Tiger Demon to appear.
"Roar!" At that moment, a tiger's roar, like thunder, came from the depths of the abandoned residence, shaking the wall and causing dirt to clatter down.