“She really went too far. With her cultivation of a sixth-rank King Realm, she actually attacked you, a third-rank True Essence Realm Cultivator. This is completely without a bottom line. You rest here; I will fight her. The Heavenly Fragrance Valley area isn't hers, after all,” Zilan said to Qin Chu. She wasn't someone with a good temper either. She was doing fine in Heavenly Fragrance Valley; when Qian Lingwu came, she just demanded territory? She had retreated earlier because she didn't want Qin Chu to be affected, and furthermore, fighting with Qin Chu by her side made it somewhat difficult to fully exert herself.
“Be careful!” Qin Chu reminded her, looking at Zilan.
Zilan smiled at Qin Chu and then left. Qian Lingwu wanted control of the Heavenly Fragrance Valley area, but she would not give it up, because the Spiritual Qi within Heavenly Fragrance Valley was relatively rich, making it suitable for Cultivation!
Because his own level was not high enough, and Qian Lingwu wanted to capture him, Qin Chu couldn't go to watch the battle. He could only sit and Cultivate in place, waiting for Zilan's return.
Half a day later, Zilan returned, with some bloodstains on her left shoulder.
“You're injured?” Qin Chu stood up and asked with concern.
“It's nothing. She's not feeling well either. She has already retreated. I came to pick you up; let's go back,” Zilan said to Qin Chu.
After hearing Zilan's words, Qin Chu understood. Zilan must have had the upper hand in the battle. Qian Lingwu couldn't defeat Zilan and then retreated. After repelling Qian Lingwu, Zilan came out to pick him up.
Qin Chu took out some Medicinal Pills for healing and gave them to Zilan. Then, led by Zilan, he returned to Heavenly Fragrance Valley, and the people of the four great Sects knew nothing of all this.
The battle zone between Zilan and Qian Lingwu was in the inner area of Heavenly Fragrance Valley. Because it was quite far from the outside, the people of the four great Sects did not discover it. They were all paying attention to the people of the other three great Sects.
Zilan taking Qin Chu into the inner Heavenly Fragrance Valley was not discovered because she took a path through a sealed, empty area between the Blood Blade Sect and the Wolf King Palace, two of the four great Sects.
Once inside Heavenly Fragrance Valley, Qin Chu told Zilan how the people of the Qian Dynasty had gotten in.
Upon hearing the news, Zilan told Qin Chu to wait, and she entered the underground tunnel.
Half an hour later, Zilan returned, “It’s resolved. I killed two of them, collapsed the tunnel entrance, and blocked it.”
Qin Chu smiled. Zilan spoke to him very gently, but when she acted, she was indeed very domineering.
“There’s still a circle of people watching outside; they attach great importance to this place,” Zilan said to Qin Chu.
After surveying the Heavenly Fragrance Valley area, Qin Chu spoke of its importance. He told Zilan that the current situation was one where the four great Sects were mutually restraining each other, and no one could enter. The Qian Dynasty, which was excluded by the four great Sects, had dug a long underground tunnel, hoping to sneak in unobserved, but they encountered Zilan.
“Heavenly Fragrance Grass… so the rich energy here is due to the Heavenly Fragrance Grass. Do you want some? If you do, collect some. The situation is so chaotic, and that woman from the Qian Dynasty might not give up. Who knows when she’ll attack again?” Zilan said, looking at Qin Chu.
“You have a point. No matter what the situation is next, let's get some benefits first,” Qin Chu said.
Qin Chu then began to search for Heavenly Fragrance Grass, and after collecting it, he put it into his Storage Ring.
Zilan accompanied Qin Chu, asking him about various things. She had just come out of the Ancient King's Ruins, so she wasn't very clear about external matters.
“This area is very chaotic!” Zilan said to Qin Chu after listening to his narration.
“Yes, but you can't stay in the Ancient King's Ruins forever either. You could stay in the Ancient King's Ruins before, but now that you've changed, you need to integrate into human society, learn from human civilization and strengths, and then improve yourself,” Qin Chu said after putting a Heavenly Fragrance Grass into his Storage Ring.
“You know?” Zilan asked, looking at Qin Chu, her eyes full of surprise.
“Yes! I know. The Violent Ape in the Ancient King's Ruins was your subordinate, wasn't it? It should have been guarding you at the time, but we killed it. I'm very sorry about that,” Qin Chu said.
“At that time, it was a critical moment for my breakthrough. When you saw me, I was at my weakest. You wanted to kill me then, and I had no power to fight back. It was you who gave me Medicinal Pills, and only then did I recover,” Zilan said to Qin Chu.
Qin Chu smiled. At that time, he just felt that someone was injured and wanted to lend a helping hand.
“You didn't know before, but now that you do, aren't you repulsed?” Zilan asked, looking at Qin Chu.
Qin Chu shook his head, “There's nothing to be repulsed by. Humans are my own Race, but there are many who want to kill me; although you are not of my Race, didn't you help me at a crucial moment?”
Zilan nodded. She hadn't mentioned it before, partly because she didn't think it was necessary, and partly because she thought Qin Chu would be repulsed, as the Human Race generally harbored animosity towards Yao Beasts.
After Qin Chu collected some Heavenly Fragrance Grass, night fell, and Qin Chu and Zilan turned back. Zilan said that the place where she had been resting was a cave.
On the way, Qin Chu saw a wild antelope and made a move, but after rushing a short distance, he stopped. He wanted to hunt it for dinner, but he thought that since Zilan was a transformed Yao Beast, she might be repulsed by such things.
“No need to overthink it. Whether it's the Human Race or Yao Beasts, it's all about the strong preying on the weak. I don't mind such things,” Zilan guessed what Qin Chu was thinking when she saw him stop.
Qin Chu smiled. He found Zilan to be very smart, directly guessing what was on his mind.
Back in Zilan's resting cave, Qin Chu took out a meditation cushion and began to sit in meditation. Although there were many things to do, he dared not delay his Cultivation.
In the following days, Qin Chu continued to collect Heavenly Fragrance Grass, with Zilan accompanying him. Who knew if Qian Lingwu would come? If Qian Lingwu attacked, Qin Chu wouldn't even have a chance to run.
“Zilan, you don't have to mind me. I don't think that Qian Lingwu will come for now, as she probably doesn't have much confidence. As far as I know, in this area, she was the only sixth-rank Cultivator before. She can't defeat you by herself, so she shouldn't easily make a move,” Qin Chu said to Zilan.
“It's nothing. I don't have much to do either, so I'll just accompany you to gather herbs. Do you have any plans for what to do next?” Zilan said to Qin Chu.
Qin Chu shook his head, “Let's Cultivate first! I have a lot of troubles. Qian Lingwu won't let me go, and the Blood Blade Sect and Wolf King Palace also want to kill me. Without strength, I really lack confidence.”
“If you don't lack resources, then Cultivate in this valley. I also need to familiarize myself with my own situation,” Zilan said to Qin Chu.
“Alright. If that Qian Lingwu comes, we'll retreat,” Qin Chu said.
Qian Lingwu, leaving in her carriage, had a face full of cold frost. She was very angry, not only because a sixth-rank Cultivator had appeared from nowhere but also because Qin Chu had gotten away.
Thinking of Qin Chu, Qian Lingwu became even angrier. She felt that she had changed her attitude towards Qin Chu and had been very good to him, yet Qin Chu had actually climbed behind her enemy. She felt that Qin Chu was too despicable.