At this moment, the convoy was still traversing the Ten Thousand Snake Gorge. Fearing to stir its denizens, every carriage was shrouded under heavy cloth, while the mouths of the black-horned bulls pulling them were bound shut. Step by cautious step, they slipped into the gorge in eerie silence.
Along both sides of the convoy, the Han Clan guards had already drawn their weapons, their other hands clutching pouches of pale-white powder, which they sprinkled unceasingly upon the rocky path.
More than fifteen tense minutes passed… and then, unexpectedly, they emerged from the gorge unscathed—never once encountering the dreaded Xia Mang, the demon snake.
"Ha ha! We're truly blessed—escaping without meeting that lecherous bastard! The Young Miss is safe!"
As soon as they cleared the gorge, the guards erupted in laughter, voices echoing like thunderclaps. The sound carried not just relief but the shattering of the oppressive tension that had gripped their hearts.
Han Xue cast a glance back at the gorge's shadowed maw, a flicker of relief in her eyes. Yet that relief faded as her gaze sharpened—there, on both sides of the gorge, several serpents had emerged from the crevices, yet none dared to advance.
In their midst stood a figure with the head of a serpent and the body of a man, limbs cloaked in dense black-green scales. Xia Mang. His form appeared disheveled, as if he had only just endured a brutal thrashing.
Strangely, what she sensed from him was not regret at having missed his prey—but relief. It was as though both he and his serpents were glad the convoy had passed unharmed.
This baffling sight made Han Xue's brows crease. She knew the strength of her guards better than anyone… and none among them possessed the might to make the demon snake feel fear.
'Except for one…'
Her eyes drifted toward the carriage where Xiao Hua rested in silence. A moment later, she shook her head and gave a soft, self-mocking laugh. Her charming voice rang out with a crisp command to resume their journey, snapping the others back to their duties.
Yet even as she returned to her carriage, a faint unease lingered in her heart—an unsettling notion that the reason Xia Mang had been beaten so miserably… might somehow be tied to him.
"She is quite sharp, isn't she…" Yu Ru Meng spoke with a faint smile, having emerged from Xiao Hua's body, her gaze lingering on Han Xue.
"Probably just one of those instincts women are born with… a truly terrifying ability," Xiao Hua replied with a wry smile. His eyes drifted toward the gorge, recalling how, two hours earlier, he had warned Xia Mang—and even given him quite a beating—to ensure the convoy could pass safely without anyone daring to interfere.
"Anyway," he added lightly, "we can relax now. The rest of the journey should be uneventful. We might as well enjoy this rare moment of peace."
"Are you sure about that? Something tells me another problem will arise before we reach the city."
Yu Ru Meng turned her eyes on him with an amused smile. "It's just… one of those terrifying woman's instincts."
Xiao Hua gave her a sidelong glance, then closed his eyes, not taking her words to heart. After all, the trouble that will occur had already been dealt with by his own hand in the past so there's no chance for anyone to cause problem for this convoy.
With that thought, he allowed himself to relax, leaning back to enjoy the calm and quiet—something that was all too rare for him.
…
The convoy followed the main road south, steadily making their way toward Tian Bei City.
Since everyone knew that Xiao Hua was still gravely injured, few dared disturb him. Only Han Chong would occasionally check in, unwilling to risk the absurd scenario of leaving the gorge so quietly only to discover that Xiao Yan had suddenly died midway.
After some time, the carriage's steady bumping gradually slowed. Sensing the change, Xiao Hua opened his eyes and glanced at the dimming sky. The convoy was clearly preparing to set up camp once again. Traveling through the desert at night was too dangerous—and far too inefficient—so very few ever attempted it.
Xiao Hua pulled open the carriage curtain and stepped down once it came to a halt. Knowing Han Xue's strict nature, he had no wish to invite another of her sharp-tongued reprimands. He could fully understand the guards' wariness—her stern voice had a way of cutting straight to the bone.
Upon descending, Xiao Hua picked up several tent poles and made his way toward the spot Han Chong's group had chosen for the camp. Yet with each few steps he took, a faint, serene fragrance would drift past his nose, halting his steps.
He instinctively paused and lifted his gaze—only to see Han Xue standing ahead. He offered her a faint smile and a small nod.
Han Xue stood gracefully upon a cluster of rock fragments, her figure outlined against the waning light. Her clear eyes quietly studied the young man before her. The black robe he wore was simple, yet of fine quality, and his features were striking—sharp and refined, carrying a charm that could easily ensnare the hearts of women. Even she found her gaze lingering on him longer than she intended.
Though his attire was unadorned, it seemed to enhance his presence rather than diminish it. From his appearance and bearings, one would sooner take him for a young master of some prominent clan than a common wanderer.
Yet what startled her most were his eyes. Those deep, obsidian pupils held neither the unease nor fleeting admiration she was accustomed to. Instead, they carried only a quiet smile and profound calm—like the still surface of an unfathomable lake, where even the wind dared not stir a ripple.
"Miss Han Xue, is there something you need?"
When Han Xue's clear, beautiful eyes remained fixed on him, Xiao Hua finally found it difficult to endure the silent scrutiny. He let out a soft chuckle as he broke the silence.
Han Xue's slender brows twitched ever so slightly at his words. Without uttering a reply, she slowly reached out and took hold of his arm under the stunned gazes of the nearby guards. A strand of her Dou Qi quietly flowed from her palm, slipping into Xiao Hua's body to probe his condition.
Xiao Hua's expression remained calm and unmoved as he felt the foreign Dou Qi enter his meridians. With a single thought, the Dou Qi within his body dispersed, merging seamlessly into his blood vessels and circulating in silence.
Her Dou Qi traveled one full round through his body before, finding nothing of note, it could only return along the same route, flowing back into Han Xue's hand. Only then did she withdraw her touch.
A faint trace of disappointment flickered within her eyes. It seemed her momentary suspicion had truly been baseless. The only thing she had confirmed was the severe internal injuries wracking his body…
"It's nothing," Han Xue said softly, shaking her head. Her gaze drifted to the tent poles resting on his shoulder, and her voice grew a touch gentler. "Your internal injuries are quite serious. There's no need for you to do such work—let the others handle it."
"Ke ke, there's no need. Though I'm injured, I'm hardly a useless person."
Xiao Hua let out a hearty laugh. Shaking his head, he shifted the tent poles more firmly onto his shoulder and stepped past Han Xue, heading toward Han Chong's group without hesitation.
Han Xue could only let out a faint, self-mocking smile as she turned her gaze toward his retreating figure. That lean, somewhat slender back somehow felt unyielding, as though it would never bend.
She chided herself inwardly. To think she had harbored such an unrealistic suspicion… Judging by his appearance, his age should be close to hers. Even if he were an exceptional genius, it would be difficult for someone at his age to frighten an elite Dou Huang into submission with just a few words.
"Unless… he truly is the Mansion Master of the Moonlit Chaos Mansion. But a legendary figure like that would have no reason to mingle with people like us…"
Her voice faded to a whisper, and she shook her head, dismissing the thought as nothing more than her own overcautious imagination.
"If that's the case… then what exactly caused Xia Mang to react like that…?"
…
The desert night was cold and desolate, a thin veil of silver moonlight draping the endless sands where the horizon could not be seen, even from the highest ground.
Within the camp, silence reigned. Only the occasional crackle of the campfire broke the stillness, while a handful of sentries paced quietly along the perimeter, their watchful presence guarding the slumbering convoy.
Xiao Hua sat cross-legged within the simple tent, his breathing steady as faint threads of energy rose from the surroundings, drawn toward him like moths to a flame. They poured into his body with each measured breath, merging seamlessly into his flesh, blood, and bones.
"Finally… I've returned to my peak."
He stretched his arms and rolled his shoulders, loosening the lingering stiffness in his joints. The familiar sensation of power coursed once more through his veins and muscles, like a long-lost river surging back to life.
"Even so… concealing my eyes was a wise move, Sister Yu Ru Meng," he murmured, recalling how Han Xue's gaze had swept over him earlier, searching for clues to his identity.
"When I look at you," Yu Ru Meng replied calmly, "the first thing I see is your eyes. It's not your striking features or that heaven-bestowed face of yours—it's those heterochromatic eyes. They could capture souls if one stared too long. So, I merely altered your features slightly, enough to make you seem like the young master of some wealthy family rather than an extraordinary figure."
Xiao Hua nodded, silently agreeing with her assessment. Even he had to admit—among all his features, his eyes stood out the most: crimson on the left, cyan on the right.
There were many handsome men across the Dou Qi Continent… yet how many bore such eyes? It was this very contrast that marked him apart, ensuring that wherever he stood, he could never simply blend into the crowd.
"Anyway, it should be a peaceful journey from here on… I might as well enjoy this while it lasts." Xiao Hua murmured, stretching lazily before lying flat on the carriage's wooden floor.
Watching him, Yu Ru Meng could only shake her head in quiet amusement. If anyone saw him now, they would never imagine this carefree youth to be the high and lofty Mansion Master—only a young man savoring a rare moment of tranquility.
"Though," she mused inwardly, "I doubt this peace will last for long…"
…
The road after Ten Thousand Snake Gorge proved to be remarkably smooth. In the following days, they encountered a few minor disturbances, but none slowed the convoy's pace. Step by step, Tian Bei City drew closer.
Now that Xiao Hua had fully recovered his strength, he spent most of his time idling about, occasionally lending a hand to assist the convoy. He could have departed already, yet the words Yu Ru Meng had spoken lingered in his mind like a faint echo.
So, he chose to remain—at least until he confirmed that no major danger would befall this convoy or the Han Clan.
With his current cultivation, standing at half-step Dou Di, even most Dou Sheng experts would struggle to discern his true strength if he chose to conceal it. Han Xue certainly had no chance of piercing that veil.
Yet, despite his confidence in his disguise, Xiao Hua gradually noticed a subtle change in Han Xue's demeanor toward him during their journey.
After she had instructed Han Chong, not a single person dared to ask Xiao Hua to perform any manual work. He could only smile wryly at such unspoken courtesy.
"Sister Yu Ru Meng… as a woman, are a woman's instincts truly this terrifying?" Xiao Hua asked quietly within his spiritual sea.
He was certain he had left no traces, and yet Han Xue seemed to sense something. From time to time, a fleeting doubt would flicker within her eyes as she watched him, her thoughts hidden beneath that calm gaze.
"Perhaps…" Yu Ru Meng replied softly, though even her tone carried a hint of uncertainty, "she merely believes you are a young master from some wealthy clan… and that there is a hidden expert silently protecting you."
From the way Han Xue occasionally watched him—with faint doubt glimmering in her eyes, her thoughts seemingly wandering into deep contemplation—Xiao Hua could tell that she did not suspect his identity as a young master to be false.
Even now, she seemed to sense that Xiao Hua was merely feigning weakness, pretending that his strength had yet to fully recover.
Her keen perception left Xiao Hua truly stumped.
What puzzled Xiao Hua further was how Han Xue would often appear before him whenever she had spare time, casually striking up conversations that—while seemingly idle—were subtly aimed at prying into his background and identity.
Naturally, with the experience Xiao Hua had accumulated over the years, he would not be caught off guard by such probing. His replies remained calm, serious, and deliberately vague, leaving her with nothing concrete to grasp. Each time she walked away empty-handed, her expression hovered somewhere between quiet frustration and thoughtful puzzlement, as though she had struck nothing but a soft wall of cotton.
Xiao Hua could only sigh inwardly at the sight. He had no choice but to maintain his distance from this sensitive woman, fearing that if she drew too close, she might truly uncover something.
Throughout the journey, Han Xue's gaze remained probing, her demeanor uncertain.
On the fifth day, as they made camp, a messenger bird bearing the Han Clan's emblem streaked through the twilight from the direction of Tian Bei City.
Han Xue took the message from a guard's hand and quietly unfurled it.
Her elegant eyes flickered as her beautiful face grew frost-cold. For an instant, fury flashed within her gaze like a blade of ice.
The once-lively camp gradually fell silent at the sight of her expression. One by one, everyone rose to their feet, their eyes focused on her.
"Young Lady, what has happened?" Han Chong asked in a low, steady voice.
"It is a letter from within the Han Clan," Han Xue said coldly, her fingers tightening slightly around the message. "It states that the Hong Clan is planning to attack our clan soon… They warn me to be on guard."
"Hong Clan? Dammit, those bastards again."
Waves of curses immediately rose around the camp when the name was spoken.
"What are they scheming this time?" Han Chong asked with a deep frown.
Han Xue's long lashes quivered faintly. She spoke in a flat tone, "That old fellow from the Hong Clan wants Elder Sister and me to marry Hong Chen together. But that is only a veil… his true aim is to devour our Han Clan and become the sole overlord of Tian Bei City."
A heavy gloom descended upon the group. Faces darkened, their eyes burning with restrained fury.
"Dammit… Do they truly think our Han Clan can be toyed with at their whim? To dare propose such a vile thing!" Han Chong spat, his voice trembling with anger.
Yet Han Xue's expression remained as cold as frost, untouched by his rage. Her gaze shifted slightly—pausing for an instant on the young man sitting by the fire.
Xiao Hua sat quietly, head lowered as he idly stirred the flames, seemingly deaf to their conversation. Seeing this, Han Xue's brows furrowed, and she turned away, her voice cold and composed.
"We'll be entering Tian Bei City's territory tomorrow. Everyone must stay sharp."
"Understood!"
Their unified reply rang through the camp.
Han Xue gave a slight nod, then let out a soft, dismissive snort at some unseen thought before turning and vanishing into her tent.
Only after her figure disappeared did the others drift back to the fireside. The wavering light painted their faces in shades of gloom and worry. It was clear—the Hong Clan posed an even greater threat than that demon snake Xia Mang.
"Anything you'd like to add, little brother?"
Yu Ru Meng's voice drifted through Xiao Hua's spiritual sea, playful and teasing, as a faint smile curled across her tone.
"How could this be…?" Xiao Hua muttered, covering his face with one hand. Though he hid it well, disbelief still rippled through his heart.
He had never imagined the Hong Clan would dare trouble the Han Clan. After all, he had killed Lei Zun-zhe, the Wind-Lightning Pavilion's Pavilion Head, their strongest backer into an ordinary force. There should have been no reason for anyone to still dare stir up storms…
"Brother Han Chong, is the Hong Clan truly that strong?"
After a long silence, Xiao Hua finally spoke, his gaze drifting toward the distant flames as he decided to ask Han Chong more about the Wind-Lightning Pavilion and the Hong Clan.
"If we speak frankly… the Hong Clan is indeed the strongest clan within Tian Bei City," Han Chong said with a sigh, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "Even our Han Clan falls slightly beneath them. Their advantage lies mainly in their deep ties with the Wind-Lightning Pavilion. The most outstanding figure of their generation, Hong Chen, was taken in by the Pavilion and is highly regarded within it."
"But… didn't the Wind-Lightning Pavilion's strength and status decline after that incident with the Mansion Master of Moonlit Chaos Mansion?" Xiao Hua asked, his brows knitting as a faint frown surfaced.
Han Chong gave a bitter laugh. "True, the Pavilion Leader was slain by the Mansion Master… but that doesn't mean their foundation has crumbled. Recently, there was news that Fei Tian, the Leader of the Wind-Lightning Northern Pavilion, has broken through to the Dou Zun class and stabilized their situation."
"That fellow? He actually reached Dou Zun?" Xiao Hua was taken aback. He understood well how difficult it was to step into Dou Zun, so Fei Tian's breakthrough could only mean he had encountered something extraordinary.
"I heard he encountered a fortuitous chance that allowed him to reach the Dou Zun class. However…" Han Chong's tone dimmed. "There's a strange rumor that before he advanced, he slaughtered countless innocents. They say he rose far too quickly… but no one has been able to confirm it."
"Then… why don't they show themselves openly?" Xiao Hua asked, one brow raised.
"Simple," Han Chong replied with a light shrug. "After the enmity they earned from the Moonlit Chaos Mansion, would they dare flaunt their strength and draw attention to themselves? They keep their actions subdued, achieving things quietly… afraid of provoking the behemoth that is the Moonlit Chaos Mansion."
He paused, letting out a dispirited sigh before continuing,
"Even so, the Hong Clan has used that great tree as their backing to rapidly expand their reputation and influence in just a few short years. The Wind-Lightning Pavilion may act quietly now, but they are still a top-tier faction in the northern region of the Central Plains. Compared to them… our Han Clan is far too lacking."
"So what if it is the Wind Lightning Pavilion? That fallen pavilion still dares to act arrogantly after losing their Pavilion Head to the Mansion Master of Moonlit Chaos Mansion. I want to see if they truly dare to stir trouble in the open!" A young guard shot to his feet, indignation burning on his face.
"That's right." Another young guard by the fire rose as well, his expression seething with fury. "If that Hong Clan really dares to make a move, this old me will cut down a few of them before I fall—even if I cannot win."
Han Chong merely glanced at their anger, taking it lightly. He patted Xiao Hua's shoulder and said in a low voice, "Brother Xiao Hua, it seems the Han Clan may soon be caught in turbulent waters. When we reach Tian Bei City, I'll have Young Miss give you some coin. It would be best for you to part ways and avoid being drawn into this."
Xiao Hua only smiled faintly, offering no clear answer.
"Enough. Everyone should rest early. Double the guards tonight, and stay sharp tomorrow. Once we return to the clan, we should be safe." Han Chong sighed as he stood, waving his hand before striding away—leaving the others to mutter curses into the flames with hearts still ablaze with anger.
While Han Chong bore the weight of worry and duty, Xiao Hua sat quietly, his eyes deep with thought. A faint smile curved his lips.
"He advanced so abruptly… and there's even a rumor of him bathing in blood to do so." Xiao Hua's eyes glimmered with a cold light. "I wonder if the Hun Clan or the Hall of Souls had a hand in his rise."
Whether or not they were involved, it was still worth investigating. Besides, this matter concerned Han Yue and Han Xue—the former had once been his and Sister Li Mei's temporary pupil, while the latter was the young lady whose convoy he had shamelessly joined just to enjoy a few peaceful days.
No matter what, he could not stay uninvolved. He would not allow Han Yue and Han Xue to be forced into marriage with someone they did not choose.
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