Bonfires were lit amidst the twilight in the campsite at the foot of the mountain. Pine branches popped and sparked, their crackle mingling with the fragrance of wild chicken soup that drifted into the forest. As Ye Fan followed the four maidens through the waist-high wormwood, Su Qingxue gently hooked her fingertip into the corner of his sleeve—a little habit uniquely her own, like a cat that had stolen some cream, making sure her prey was still by her side.
"Let's settle here." Lin Zhaoyue's sword tip lifted a clump of thorny bushes, and the Qingfeng Sword cleaved the branches with a low hum, revealing a flat, dark green boulder. As she turned, the silver hairpin in her hair swayed, catching the very last trace of sunset glow on the horizon. "Jianming says the spiritual Qi here is undisturbed, which makes it ideal for quiet cultivation."
Chǔ Hóngzhuāng set her bamboo basket down on the ground, and a dozen or so Silver Gu instantly darted out with a rustle, weaving a translucent web of insects all around. "The Poison-Mist Gu will guard the east, and the Bone-Corroding Gu will keep an eye on the water source. If any blind creature dares to approach..." She tilted her head and smiled, the coral pendant in her hair swaying along with the movement. "I'll treat them to a bit of my 'welcome gift'."
Chapter 269