After running for a while, Xiao Mumu stopped and gasped for breath: "Xuxu, you're too heavy, you need to lose weight, I can't run anymore!"

Zhang Xu scratched her head awkwardly: "Then let's take a break!"

The two were in a pile of jagged rocks, scattered haphazardly to one side. The high temperature had baked the rocks until they gleamed, and when Zhang Xu sat down on one, she was so burned that she jumped up.

"The filthy thing in the forest you're talking about, is it a drought demon?"

Little Mumu shook its head: "I don't know what it is. It's been in the woods since April. As soon as it arrived, it stopped raining, and the surrounding rivers dried up. If I don't leave soon, I'll melt away."

"Why didn't you walk by yourself? Were you waiting for me on purpose?"

"I don't know who I'll be waiting for. It's too dangerous outside the woods. I don't dare go out alone."

"But why don't you cultivate?"

Zhang Xu took a sip of water and said calmly, "I don't want to." She was just an outsider; she just wanted to finish her mission and go home as soon as possible. She didn't want to stay in this virtual world for even a second longer.

"But you are very talented. Don't human cultivators all value talent?"

Zhang Xu grinned: "I don't care."

Xiao Mumu was puzzled, but the next moment she quickly darted into Zhang Xu's sleeve, and Zhang Xu hurriedly held up her sleeve with her hand.

Two people walked over from a distance. When they saw the person standing against the rock in front of them, one of them rubbed her eyes and after a long while, she lifted the hem of her skirt and ran over.

Zhang Xu was knocked off balance by the person who rushed at her, and her back ached from the rubbing of the stone behind her.

"That's great, it's you, Xuxu, you're still alive."

The newcomer's voice, choked with sobs, enveloped her tightly. Zhang Xu, worried that Xiao Mumu inside her sleeve might be crushed, could only free one hand to pat Rong Yue's shoulder: "Princess, I'm alright. I'm still here."

Rong Yue's eyes were red, and tears streamed down her face: "I thought you were gone too, Father and Mother..."

This incident was a huge blow to Rong Yue. In an instant, everything she loved and was loyal to was gone. In the midst of her despair, she discovered that the maid who had been with her since childhood was still alive. The joy and sorrow she felt at that moment were indescribable.

"Thank goodness, thank goodness, you're still here."

Zhang Xu: "Princess, you must be strong. The people of the capital are waiting for you to help them!"

Rong Yue nodded, holding back her tears: "You're right, I'm just too happy. I thought I was all alone, I didn't expect you to still be alive."

Yan Chenghuan stood aside with his hands behind his back, watching the deep affection between the master and servant. He could smell a familiar scent in the air, but after careful observation, he found nothing.

The maid had changed her clothes, wearing a simple cotton and linen outfit, her hair down and tied in a high ponytail. She was completely different from the Xuxu she knew. This new soul was quite interesting! Seeing Zhang Xu looking at Yan Chenghuan, Rong Yue quickly said, "Xuxu, don't blame him."

Zhang Xu smiled and said, "No one has an obligation to be a good person, Princess, you're overthinking it."

"We need to deliver the Imperial Preceptor's token to Jade Green Mountain. Xuxu, do you want to come with us?"

"The matter in the capital is very likely caused by a demon. I was originally going to ask the people of Yuqingshan for help."

“Such a big matter is probably not something a minor demon can handle. The disciples of Yu Qingshan might not be able to resolve it,” Yan Chenghuan said.

"We'll have to go to the site to find out the specifics."

A sound came from afar, and Zhang Xu looked up and saw a group of people flying towards their location in a V-shape.

Seeing flying on a sword for the first time outside of television was quite shocking for Zhang Xu. To put it simply, it didn't have the ethereal beauty shown on TV. From the perspective of someone on the ground, it really looked like a flock of birds flying over.

This is the first meeting between the male protagonist and the second male lead in the original work. At their first meeting, the male protagonist realized that this seemingly nonchalant young man might become his most formidable opponent.