Within the projection screen, Lee Tao noticed Chang Xiu was coming toward the forest with a few other people.

‘Luckily I had Xiao Chu marked Chang Xiu before. Otherwise, we would still be in the dark.’ Lee Tao thought.

Originally, he had thought Chang Xiu was nothing much, but some haughty girl from a wealthy family.

However, who would have thought there would be so much news and rumors circulating around her.

“Deng Lijuan, do you know the background of Chang Xiu?” Lee Tao asked while she was busy dissecting the Fire Lizards.

“I don’t really know for sure, but from the customer’s words back then, Chang Xiu seemed to come from a wealthy family in the Qingzhou Kingdom.” Deng Lijuan replied.

“Qingzhou Kingdom?”

“Un, it’s at the west side of the Tianyun Kingdom and also seemed to be the closest kingdom to the Sierra Desert that Master wished to go to.”

Lee Tao nodded his head.

At this point, the coincidence of this information seemed way too convenient for some reason in Lee Tao’s mind.

Like what are the chances for him to meet someone whose origin is from the area where he needed to go through?

“Hopefully, that Chang Xiu doesn’t do something stupid. Otherwise, this world would have one less kingdom to reside in.” Lee Tao mumbled.

Sometime later, Deng Lijuan finished cooking the Fire Lizard soup.

“Master, here’s your portion.” Deng Lijuan said as she extended a bowl to him.

“It’s fine, you can drink them all. They are more beneficial toward you than it is for me.”

“But Master, having a healthy diet is a must. Also, I want to say thank you for letting me follow you…”

Lee Tao raised an eyebrow.

“Wait a minute? Are you trying to repay me with just soup alone?” Lee Tao asked in a dumbfounded tone.

Deng Lijuan twitched her mouth.

Was he always this calculative? 

“N-No, Master… I just wanted you to test out my cooking skills and eat something.” Deng Lijuan said awkwardly. 

“Are you sure about that?”

“I’m 100% sure Master. You should really learn to trust someone sometimes.”

“Trust someone huh?” Lee Tao chuckled softly before grabbing the bowl from Deng Lijuan.

After drinking the soup, Lee Tao was surprised by Deng Lijuan’s culinary skills.

“Soup is creamy and has a rich texture in it.” Lee Tao commented.

“I’m glad you enjoy it, Master.” Deng Lijuan smiled. “What about you, Xiao Chu?”

Xiao Chu nodded her head.

“Haa, this is even better than Lee Tao.” Xiao Chu breathed out slightly as she showed a blissful expression.

Meanwhile, Lee Tao sneered coldly at her remark.

Better than my cooking?

Lee Tao was sure she was simply saying that because he would rarely cook, while Deng Lijuan would most likely continue to cook for her. 

After all, it was thanks to her insistence that Deng Lijuan got to stay with them.

Thus, Deng Lijuan would feel or have an obligation to satisfy Xiao Chu’s request as long as it’s not overboard. 

“Another serving please,” Xiao Chu said happily.

Sometime later, once everyone filled their stomach to the brim, Lee Tao narrowed his eyes as he glanced at Deng Lijuan.

“Ready for your next training session, Deng Lijuan?” Lee Tao asked.

“A-Already?” 

“Of course, time doesn’t wait for people. Now get up and prepare for a fight against a real cultivator now.”

“Who are we fighting?”

Lee Tao smirked as he pointed at the West Direction.

“Chang Xiu had brought along some people toward our location. Though I’m not too sure whether they are friendly or not, so it’s best to always have a fighting mindset against strangers.” Lee Tao said. 

Deng Lijuan nodded her head.

“I understand, Master.”

After that, Deng Lijuan finished cleaning up their supplies as they prepared to meet them head-on.

Although they could easily hide and run from them, Lee Tao doesn’t want to do that.

Running like a coward was not something in Lee Tao’s dictionary.

“Alright, let’s see what they want from us.” 

Sometime later, they walked toward an open area and stood in place.

From their position, they could hear multiple footsteps and wind currents emitting in the West direction.

‘Sever the fear… sever the fear.’ Deng Lijuan thought as she cut off the fear in her heart and mind.

Lee Tao curled his lip slightly up when he noticed Deng Lijuan was already trying to sever her emotion, bring out her maximum potential.

‘It’s good that she knows the basic 101 for a cultivator.’ Lee Tao thought.

After a bit more waiting, Chang Xiu appeared in front of Lee Tao with two other older-looking people.

“We meet again, fellow cultivator.” Chang Xiu said as she cupped her fist.

“Likewise, didn’t expect you to be back so soon.” Lee Tao chuckled softly.

“What a rude person you are?”

“What sect are you from, and why did you steal the loot of our Xinghui Sect?”

Lee Tao snickered coldly when he heard the two elders speaking.

“Oh please, how old are you two?” Lee Tao asked sarcastically. 

“So old yet so naive and stupid. What the hell did you mean by stealing your loot? All loot belongs to those who have the capability of receiving it.”

“This damn brat. Watch how I’ll teach you a lesson.” One of the elders from Chang Xiu said as he tried to launch an attack.

However, before he could make a move, Chang Xiu extended her hand out and stopped him from acting rashly.

“Stop it, Elder Yeung. This person in front of us is not as simple as it seems.” Chang Xiu sent a mental transmission to warn him.

Elder Yeung pondered over Chang Xiu’s warning as he nodded his head.

Meanwhile, Lee Tao yawned slightly as he patted Deng Lijuan’s shoulder.

“Feeling any fear?” He asked.

“No, Master.” Deng Lijuan replied.

“Good, then let’s begin,” Lee Tao smiled as he glanced at Chang Xiu.

“Chang Xiu, right? I shall give you a chance to get a part of the loot.. Fight Deng Lijuan and win.”