Chapter 1742: Xiao Juanyuns Request
After Ling Feng's battle with Luo Hanzhou, the martial practitioners who stepped onto the stage to spar were naturally far below Ling Feng's level. Not long after Long Aotian left, Xiao Juanyun announced the end of the tea gathering. The martial practitioners from the various factions dispersed and returned to their respective camps.
Ling Feng, however, was asked to stay behind.
As for Luo Hanzhou, he had already made it clear that he intended to remain at Ling Feng's side. Instead of returning to the Beihan Region camp, he stayed together with Ling Feng.
Given the strength Luo Hanzhou had displayed, he was naturally qualified to cooperate with Xiao Juanyun as well.
Once everyone else had left, Xiao Juanyun finally took out a map and said solemnly, "Brother Ling, Brother Luo, this is a topographical map of the Great Desolation Ruins. The locations of various mechanisms and formations are also marked in detail. It should help reduce quite a few dangers."
"Oh?"
Ling Feng accepted the map and gave it a brief glance before smiling faintly.
"Brother Xiao, this gift is no small one."
There was no doubt that this map had been painstakingly compiled by generations of experts from the Solitary Moon Heavenly Palace at considerable cost.
Perhaps Ling Feng himself would not be overly concerned about hidden formations and traps, but reducing unnecessary trouble was never a bad thing. More importantly, this map would be invaluable to the other martial practitioners from the Dongling Region.
After all, he could not possibly stay by their side at every moment.
"Other factions in the Xijian Region may possess similar maps. However, I can guarantee that this one is the most complete and the most detailed."
Xiao Juanyun looked at Ling Feng as he spoke with absolute confidence.
"One does not accept rewards without merit. Brother Xiao, perhaps you should explain how exactly you wish to cooperate."
Ling Feng spoke calmly.
Luo Hanzhou also put away his own copy of the map and said indifferently, "Once we enter the Great Desolation Ruins, I will do my best to avoid conflicts with the disciples of the Solitary Moon Heavenly Palace."
Xiao Juanyun chuckled.
"When it comes to opportunities, everyone relies on their own abilities. If Brother Luo is willing to show mercy to my fellow disciples, that would naturally be welcome."
After a pause, he continued.
"However, that is not what I mean. What I hope is that the two of you can do me a favor."
"What favor?"
Ling Feng and Luo Hanzhou asked in unison.
"Retrieve a sword."
Xiao Juanyun smiled bitterly before explaining slowly,
"A senior member of my Xiao Family died in the Great Desolation Ruins due to an accident. His sword was lost there as well. If either of you manages to reach the deepest part of the ruins and happens to find that sword, I ask that you return it to me. I will be deeply grateful."
"My Xiao Family possesses at least some influence within the Xijian Region. Whoever recovers that sword for us will receive not only my gratitude. On behalf of the Xiao Family, I can also promise one additional request."
"Very well. I'll keep an eye out for it."
Luo Hanzhou nodded slightly.
It was merely a small favor.
"If I happen to find it, I will naturally return it to its rightful owner."
Ling Feng pursed his lips.
The fact that Xiao Juanyun cared more about recovering the sword than obtaining opportunities within the Great Desolation Ruins demonstrated just how precious the weapon was to the Xiao Family.
Perhaps it even contained one of the family's inheritances.
If fate allowed him to obtain it, he would certainly return it to its owner. That did not mean he could not study it a little first.
After discussing the details of their cooperation, Ling Feng chatted with Xiao Juanyun for a while longer before leaving the pavilion and preparing to return to the Dongling Region encampment.
What left Ling Feng somewhat speechless was that Luo Hanzhou followed behind him like a tail. No matter how he tried to shake him off, the man simply refused to leave.
In the end, Ling Feng could only let him follow.
It seemed that only when the secret realm within Sunset Ancient City closed and everyone returned to their respective regions would he finally be rid of this fellow.
After all, once they left Sunset Ancient City, the world was vast. Even if Luo Hanzhou knew he was from the Dongling Region, by the time he found him, who knew how many years would have passed.
Just as they stepped out of the pavilion, two figures hurried toward them.
Ling Feng focused his gaze and immediately recognized them as disciples of the Dragon Sword Heavenly Manor. They stared at him with a mixture of apprehension and arrogance.
The disciple on the left grinned broadly.
"Ling Feng, we've been waiting for you for quite a while. You're quite the busy man. What happened? Did you forget about the companions who came here with you?"
"Hm?"
Ling Feng's eyelids twitched.
Only then did he remember that Yue Huaqing and Murong Bai had remained outside the pavilion because they lacked invitation cards.
Could it be...
A sense of foreboding instantly rose in his heart.
Ling Feng's gaze sharpened, and overwhelming killing intent burst from his eyes.
What a Dragon Sword Heavenly Manor.
What a Dragon Family.
They truly thought he was easy prey.
Sensing the terrifying killing intent emanating from Ling Feng, the two Dragon Sword Heavenly Manor disciples shuddered violently.
The disciple delivering the message stammered,
"Y... you better not do anything reckless! If you don't want your friends to die, then come with us obediently!"
At that moment, a figure shot out from the pavilion.
A streak of sword light descended from the sky.
With a sharp clang, a longsword plunged directly into the ground at the messenger's feet.
The earth within several zhang instantly shattered inch by inch.
The power behind that strike was terrifying.
The one who had acted was none other than Xiao Juanyun.
Inside the pavilion, everyone had fought using only swordsmanship. Now, however, sword essence had been unleashed, making the attack vastly more powerful.
"It seems Long Aotian truly has no regard for me whatsoever."
Xiao Juanyun's star-like eyes burned with anger.
He had personally warned Long Aotian before. Yet the man still dared to seize Ling Feng's companions.
"Senior Brother Xiao... you've misunderstood."
The disciple locked onto by the sword qi trembled so hard his legs nearly gave out.
"Senior Brother Long only wanted to... to invite Young Hero Ling Feng to participate in a martial exchange."
"Senior Brother Long said your tea gathering was too restrictive. The fights weren't satisfying enough..."
Xiao Juanyun snorted coldly and was about to speak again when Ling Feng interrupted him.
"I appreciate your concern, Brother Xiao."
Ling Feng's gaze turned icy as he stared at the two Dragon Sword Heavenly Manor disciples.
"Since Long Aotian wishes to fight me, he could have invited me openly. If he wants to die, how could I possibly refuse him?"
Then he fixed his eyes on the two disciples and said coldly,
"Lead the way."
The two disciples glanced nervously toward Xiao Juanyun.
Xiao Juanyun made a grasping motion and retrieved his sword before looking toward Ling Feng.
"Very well."
"If that's your decision, then I'll accompany you. Coincidentally, I would also like to witness Brother Ling's true strength."
...
Meanwhile, after Long Aotian stormed away from Xiao Juanyun's tea gathering in a fury, he happened to run into Yue Huaqing and Murong Bai.
The moment he saw these two martial practitioners from the Dongling Region, his anger surged uncontrollably.
After some thought, Long Aotian came up with a vicious scheme.
Xiao Juanyun had only protected Ling Feng.
He had never forbidden him from targeting the others from the Dongling Region.
If he captured Ling Feng's companions, he could force Ling Feng to take action.
Then, under the guise of a friendly martial exchange, he would be able to kill Ling Feng openly and legitimately.
Thus, everything would proceed according to plan.