After absorbing the memories, Shi Lan rubbed her throbbing head and sighed.
Although the original owner traveled hundreds of miles alone, she was young at the time, and most of the people she met pitied her and helped her in some way, which made her always see the good side of human nature.
Without experiencing the devastation of darkness, how can one know that some people cannot be judged solely by appearances?
Xu Jiao had been separated from her for ten years. Even if she was nice to her when they were young, it was because she needed to rely on the original owner to survive in the martial arts school. Now that Xu Jiao had grown up and was doing very well, why should she think that the other party would still treat her the same way as before?
Now, the original owner is just an ordinary sect disciple. Even with the love of her master and senior brothers, the resources she holds are only enough for her own cultivation and are of no help to others.
Xu Jiao's life is stable and peaceful. The fact that she was able to come to Qingmen and be received by Wu Ming, an elder, shows that she has been doing well over the years.
I really don't know how the original owner could have so naively assumed that Xu Jiao would waste ten years not on improving her own strength, but instead on tracking down the murderer, simply to avenge her childhood friend.
Did she not consider why, out of so many people at the martial arts school, only Xu Jiao survived?
A woman's voice could be faintly heard outside the door. Shi Lan listened carefully and realized that Xu Jiao was instructing the inn's staff to bring up food.
After a series of hurried footsteps, Xu Jiao knocked on the door. "Little Sister Shi, eat something before you go to sleep."
Shi Lan gave a mumbled reply and opened the door.
Xu Jiao placed a few steamed buns and a dish of pickles on the table and said with a friendly smile, "It's still a bit far from the town. Let's make do here tonight. Ghost Fire is also injured. He can't run far in one night."
Shi Lan blinked, her face full of trust and reliance, "I'll listen to Sister Xu."
Xu Jiao smiled slightly, concealing the smugness in her eyes, and said softly, "After you eat, go to bed early. We'll set off as soon as it's light."
Shi Lan took a bite of the steamed bun and nodded.
Seeing that she was eating with her head down, Xu Jiao didn't say anything more, closed the door, and left.
The faint footsteps outside the door grew fainter and fainter, and Shi Lan chewed more and more slowly. When she heard a soft door closing again not far away, Shi Lan spat out the steamed bun in her mouth.
Worried that there might still be food residue in her mouth, she poured some more water and rinsed her mouth several times. Only after confirming that there was definitely nothing left did she stop.
When the original owner came down the mountain, she was at the fourth level of the Condensation Realm. Although she was injured, it was impossible for her to fall to the Gathering Realm in such a short time. The only explanation is that she was poisoned, and this poison was colorless and odorless, making it impossible for anyone to guard against.
The person who poisoned her intended to weaken her, not kill her. Such behavior is not the act of a mortal enemy. The only person who could do this is Xu Jiao, who was always by her side, showing concern and care, and who ultimately stabbed the original owner in the back.
The night was dark, and through the window lattice, the ground shimmered with a silvery-white glow.
Standing in the middle of the room, Shi Lan, following the original owner's memories, began practicing the Buddha's Nine Revolutions Body Refining Technique, a skill that only direct disciples could learn.
This martial art has bizarre movements and tricky angles. Shi Lan only made one move before being overwhelmed by a sudden, excruciating pain that seemed to burst from the cracks in her bones, bringing tears to her eyes. However, her body seemed to have become accustomed to this level of pain, and she continued her movements methodically. Strands of invisible energy flowed through her body, nourishing the tendons, meridians, skin, and flesh beneath her skin.
An hour later, after completing the twenty-four moves and circulating the airflow several times, Shi Lan's clothes were soaking wet, as if she had just been pulled out of the water.
Shi Lan took out a set of clothes from her bundle, tidied herself up, loosened her hair and styled it into a man's bun, and finally pressed her still aching chest. After feeling that her injuries had eased a lot, she turned to look out the window.
The night was now as black as ink, and the moon, which had hung high in the sky, was wearily hiding behind the clouds. The courtyard of the inn was very quiet, with only the faint chirping of insects coming from the grass not far away.
Shi Lan quietly opened the door. The creaking of the wooden planks next door, along with a few rapid, low breaths and a woman's soft, unbearable moans, could be faintly heard.
Shi Lan raised the corner of her mouth, tiptoed, and like a nimble raccoon, quietly passed the door of the next room, jumped down the stairs, and turned to the small door next to the kitchen.
A moment later, a petite and delicate figure leaped a few times and silently disappeared into the vast night.
Two hours later, Shi Lan arrived at the town gate, panting.
Half an hour later, the tightly closed door slowly opened, and Shi Lan, with her head down, followed a group of vegetable farmers and vendors inside.
It was still early, and only a few shops on the street were open. Shi Lan squeezed into a small eatery bustling with people, ordered a bowl of hot porridge with two large meat buns, and enjoyed a delicious meal. Then she turned into a shop selling cosmetics and bought a bunch of bottles and jars. After hiding in a side alley, she rubbed and polished her face. When she came out, the gentle and elegant girl had become a tall and handsome young man.
On a bright, early summer morning, a handsome young man squinted his crescent-shaped eyes, watching the shy and timid young women and wives walking around him. He then grinned.
As the crowds on the street gradually increased, Shi Lan found a teahouse, ordered a pot of tea, and sat by the window with some roasted beans to chew on.
Just after lunchtime, Shi Lan was leisurely listening to the storyteller recount the deeds of the Evil Martial Venerable Zhang Rulin in breaking through the void with great cadence. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced down and saw a man and a woman hurrying by, looking around nervously.
Shi Lan squinted, enjoying the sight of the two men with pale lips and dark circles under their eyes from anxiety.
After searching around and finding no one they were looking for, the two dejectedly hung their heads and turned away.
Shi Lan tossed down a few copper coins, shook off the crumbs from her clothes, and quietly got up and followed.
Xiaoping Town is not large. Two hours later, Xu Jiao and Zhao Chao had searched through all the streets and inns, big and small.
Shi Lan followed leisurely at a distance behind the two.
Xu Jiao was only at the ninth level of the Gathering Cycle, while Zhao Chao was slightly better at the second level of the Condensing True Realm, but they were still two levels lower than Shi Lan. Therefore, neither of them noticed that there was someone following closely behind them two zhang away.
As the sky gradually turned a rosy hue, Xu Jiao, her face extremely pale, followed Zhao Chao into a nearby inn, seemingly without knowing what he had said.
After Shi Lan and the other staff led the two upstairs, they also went in and specifically asked for a guest room next to theirs.
As night fell, the inn gradually returned to tranquility from its hustle and bustle. Shi Lan pushed open the tightly closed window and easily slipped over the railing to sneak to the window next door.
At this moment, the room was silent, and in the dim candlelight, Xu Jiao's figure was reflected on the window.
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