It was a beautiful day, when under the heavens, something curious was happening.

Flying at high speed over the jungle was a large wooden plank. On it, an old man dressed in gold sat cross-legged at the front, and behind him was a beautiful young couple.

These were obviously Bao Wuji, Aotian, and Rihai, respectively.

As for the wooden plank, it was a simple giant tree that Bao Wuji had cut down and shaped with his energy, used as a temporary flying boat, under Rihai’s odd gaze.

For a Nascent Soul cultivator like Bao Wuji, carrying the weight of Aotian, Rihai, and a large wooden plank was not much different from flying alone, so there was no strain in doing it.

Seeing the strange look Rihai gave the wooden plank, which she tried to hide, made Aotian feel amused.

Scooting closer to her, he leaned toward her ear to speak.

Rihai looked at him curiously from the corner of her eye.

“Don’t feel weird. This is Ancestor Bao Wuji from the Bao family. They’re a family associated with our sect’s Treasure Pavilion. But that family has a certain… peculiarity,” Aotian said, and Rihai was surprised, turning her face to him and ending up face-to-face with Aotian.

Aotian smiled at seeing her face so close and gave her a quick peck on the lips.

Rihai widened her eyes and pulled back, then looked at Bao Wuji with a flushed face, only to see him still facing forward, flying the boat as if nothing had happened.

She then turned her gaze back to Aotian and glared at him.

Aotian smiled, amused, knowing why she was angry. With Bao Wuji’s cultivation, he had certainly noticed everything that happened behind him, which made her feel embarrassed and upset.

“Don’t worry, old Bao won’t be spying on us,” Aotian whispered with a grin.

She looked at him suspiciously and didn’t believe him, but didn’t insist either. She would scold Aotian later when they were alone.

“Don’t you want to know the peculiarity of that family? They are–” Aotian winked mischievously at her and began whispering again, but Rihai’s white hand quickly covered his mouth and her eyes signaled for him to be cautious, concerned.

She was telling him to watch his mouth, as there was a powerful cultivator beside them, and Aotian was about to speak about that very cultivator’s family.

Aotian blinked both eyes innocently at her, and Rihai was left helpless by his lack of care.

He then gently held her hands that covered his mouth and removed them, revealing a sincere and gentle smile.

But before he could speak, a third voice interrupted him.

“Little girl, you don’t need to be afraid that we of the Infinite Dao Sect will harm you…”

Bao Wuji’s voice rang out, startling Rihai and making her look back, where the old ancestor still sat, facing forward, without turning to them.

“Well, not the elders, ancestors, or the sect leader at least,” Aotian added from the side, lying back carelessly on the wooden plank, with his hands behind his head and one leg over the other.

“Well, yes…” Old Bao Wuji replied, continuing, “Although the disciples go through a simple process to prove their morality, they’re still very new to the sect, and their mindsets can change with experience.”

Rihai was surprised at how confidently they spoke about the upper echelon of their sect. She had never seen any sect where a member claimed to fully trust its leadership.

“That’s true, Rihai. The sect is in a mobile training state, so we only recently started adding disciples. So while I vouch for the elders, I can’t do the same for the disciples,” Aotian said, making Rihai look at him, surprised by his words and by the sect’s state.

Aotian was, in fact, preparing her mindset for how to deal with the sect’s people. Of course, just because he said it didn’t mean she would trust his avatars unconditionally, but at least she would have a better contrast to distinguish between their behavior and that of the sect’s disciples.

“Well, the brat is right, but the sect recently added a new elder. Her name is Jian Huiyin, and she seems like a good addition, but she’s still on probation, so you two, don’t trust blindly,” Bao Wuji turned his head for the first time and warned solemnly.

Rihai was once again surprised by Bao Wuji’s words and his resolute, kind, and honest expression.

‘This… he seems like a good person. He gives me a similar feeling to Aotian, nothing like typical cultivators, full of selfishness or emotional detachment, but rather kind and spontaneous, without deceit or hidden agendas in every word… maybe Aotian is like that because of the environment he was born in… it seems like a happy childhood.’ she thought, slightly moved, and her heart couldn’t help but feel a little more at ease about following Aotian to this so-called Infinite Dao Sect.

“Okay, old man, we’re not fools. Thanks for the warning,” Aotian apparently didn’t mind the warning and closed his eyes after thanking him.

“Thank you for the advice, Ancestor Bao!” Rihai stood up and bowed slightly in thanks.

Bao Wuji raised his hand, and with a gust of wind, Rihai’s body was lifted up.

“No need to thank me for such small things. Look, girl, if this brat chose you, it’s because he saw something wonderful in you, and all of us in the Infinite Dao Sect trust the boy’s judgment. Whatever you want or need, just ask us, your elders, and we will help with the utmost sincerity. Even if we must risk our lives to do so.” He spoke seriously, staring at her.

Rihai was startled by such extreme words and couldn’t help but look at Aotian, who had his eyes closed and said nothing.

‘Who are you… truly, Aotian, to inspire such loyalty and words from a powerful cultivator?’ she wondered, confused and curious.

She then looked back at Elder Bao Wuji, ready to thank him.

But Bao Wuji waved his hand, dismissing the thanks, and turned to face forward again.

“Don’t thank me again. Just keep what I said in your heart. And get ready, we’re about to arrive.” he said, looking down, where a massive city appeared, as if a giant hand were holding it in its palm, with the five fingers forming mountains.

Aotian immediately opened his eyes, sat up, and looked down with excitement.

’90 days of walking, running, and resting done by my main body and Rihai were covered in just a few hours at a normal speed for a Nascent Soul cultivator. That’s amazing! But either way, the fact is, we’re back…’

‘… Blue Cloud City.’

After looking down and seeing the city intact, Aotian turned to Rihai.

“Should we land here first, or go to that forest and deal with the Red Tiger issue first?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Rihai, when questioned, couldn’t help but look confused and uncertainly at him, then turned her gaze to Ancestor Bao.

But what met her was Bao Wuji’s curious stare.

Aotian couldn’t help but roll his eyes at her.

“Just say it. The old man there is going to help us, so just speak your mind.” he said, slightly exasperated with Rihai’s caution, scratching his head in a helpless gesture.

Not that he didn’t understand her — he even thought her behavior was very reasonable and correct. The problem was that he knew she was wasting time with this caution, because technically, it was directed at himself.

Rihai saw how unconcerned Aotian was and couldn’t help but relax a little and be bolder.

“Well… my opinion is that our two targets, both the red tiger and the city lord along with our other enemies, should be in or around the Red Tiger Forest right now. I think it’d be better to start there.” she said, logically presenting her opinion.

“Alright, let’s go there then. Old man, it’s that way.” He nodded, as Rihai’s analysis matched his own, and pointed ahead, indicating the direction.

Of course, he didn’t need to point the direction to himself, but he had to keep up the act. That’s when he remembered something else.

“Right, I almost forgot. Old man, now that Rihai has joined our sect, give her all the spells of our level that she can use. Her element is fire. And also give the disciple equipment for her and for me.” Aotian suddenly said, making Rihai look at him curiously.

In truth, Aotian had already planned to pass on the spells and techniques he had synthesized to Rihai. But many things had happened, and he ended up without the time or opportunity to do it, as he focused on finding techniques and evolving the sect in search of a way to guarantee both his and Rihai’s safety against the Red Tiger threat.

The Refiner-Tier techniques wouldn’t be of much help against the Red Tiger anyway, so he ended up forgetting.

But now that he had resolved all of that, and Bao Wuji was here, he remembered — and couldn’t help but blame himself now that he thought about it.

‘I should have paid more attention. If Rihai gets stronger, even if it’s not useful against the Red Tiger, maybe a bit more power could ensure her survival in the face of danger.’ he thought, reproaching himself for his foolishness.

‘Aotian, pay more attention from now on. It’s the life of the woman you love — don’t lose it, you idiot. Pay attention! Think everything through! Don’t be arrogant and think you can carry everything, you won’t always be by her side!’ he scolded himself mentally and gave himself a strong and very serious warning.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep