I have a high-risk profession in the cultivation world.

Su Chengdian nodded. He had just woken up and knew nothing about this place, so it was naturally better to have a reliable companion.

Seeing this, Lin Muyan took out a brush from her storage ring and handed it to Su Chengdian. This was the brush she usually used for practicing calligraphy and painting, and it already carried her scent.

"Here, take this. Let's exchange our breaths. If anything happens in the future, we can use the paper crane to let you know."

Su Chengdian took it and put it into his storage bag. He paused for a moment before taking out another jade pendant and handing it to Lin Muyan. His expression was somewhat suspicious and shy: "Fellow Daoist Lin—ah, no, Lin, Muyan, here, this is mine."

Lin Muyan took the jade pendant from her own hand, and Su Chengdian lowered his eyes, not daring to look at her.

He usually only keeps his sword by his side and doesn't carry any ornaments. Besides, even if he did, they were almost destroyed in the battle a few days ago. Where would he find items that have been tainted by his aura?

After thinking about it, the only thing that came to mind was the jade pendant I had worn since childhood.

It was a gift from his mother, and he always wore it close to his chest. Only a few days ago, during a competition, did he take it off and put it in his storage bag, fearing it might break.

Su Chengdian felt somewhat embarrassed. Who would exchange whispered messages with someone? They'd give a personal item. Especially since the other party was a girl he'd only met once.

Such dissolute behavior is no different from that of lecherous men.

Su Chengdian secretly resolved that this matter must not be known to Fellow Daoist Lin. He would find another reason to get the jade pendant back when they parted.

Lin Muyan was unaware of Su Chengdian's complex thoughts. She took the jade pendant and casually put it into her storage ring.

It was just a bit surprising that Su Chengdian was quite wealthy, as he could casually give someone a jade pendant of such high quality that it contained spiritual energy and could nourish people.

After discussing the matter of telepathy, the two fell silent again, exchanging bewildered glances.

Su Chengdian wanted to change his clothes and take a shower.

After all, there was a stream right in front of him, and it would be a shame not to take advantage of it. Besides, given his current state, simply applying a cleansing spell wouldn't be enough to get him truly clean.

but……

Fellow Daoist Lin sat not far from him, staring at him without blinking.

Su Chengdian glanced at her, then at her again, and tentatively began to speak: "Fellow Daoist Lin, I... I would like to wash myself here briefly. Would you be so kind as to excuse me?"

Lin Muyan then realized why Su Chengdian kept looking at her with strange eyes; she had thought there was something dirty on her face.

"I won't be disrespectful to you if I go over there, don't worry~" Lin Muyan found it a bit funny. This grown man was being so hesitant and awkward. "Also, call me by my name. Is my name really that bad?"

Su Chengdian nodded, then quickly shook his head.

Lin Muyan was both amused and exasperated. She sat down behind a tree and ignored the strange person.

Watching Lin Muyan's figure disappear, Su Chengdian walked to the stream. He carefully checked the water for any danger, and once he was sure, he took off his clothes and quickly entered the water, submerging himself underwater with only his head showing.

The dried blood on the skin and hair stained the clear riverbed red, and several wounds, soaked in water, reopened and turned slightly white.

Su Chengdian didn't have time to think much. He hurriedly waded through the water several times before getting ashore. He used his spiritual energy to dry himself, hastily bandaged his wounds, changed his clothes, and raised his voice:

"I'm fine now, please keep watch for me."

He still wasn't used to calling her by her name, so he simply took a shortcut and stopped using that form of address.

Lin Muyan emerged from behind the tree, looking with some envy at Su Chengdian, who had suddenly become refreshed as if he had been conjured up from nowhere.

She also wanted to take a shower; she hadn't bathed for several days and felt she was going to smell bad.

Without hesitation, Lin Muyan walked towards the water's edge: "It's alright, it's your turn to keep watch for me."

Su Chengdian's eyes widened. What did Fellow Daoist Lin mean by this? He had just washed in that water, and Fellow Daoist Lin wanted to go too...

Yes, it was his fault. He should have asked Fellow Daoist Lin if she wanted to take a bath first; it wasn't right for the girl to bathe after him.

Su Chengdian nodded, walked to the tree where Lin Muyan had been sitting, and sat down there as well.

They then realized that this distance was indeed quite close for two cultivators with keen hearing and eyesight.

He could clearly hear the sound of Lin Daoyou's clothes rubbing together and splashing water after entering the water.

Even though he couldn't see anything, Su Chengdian kept his eyes tightly closed and even tried to use his spiritual power to cover his ears and block out the sound, but he was afraid that something might happen.

I could only try to distract myself and think about what I should say to avoid an awkward silence.

Even though Su Chengdian is undoubtedly the most lively among the four disciples, he becomes tongue-tied when interacting with girls.

Su's father had seen this in Su Chengdian since he was a child, and more than once, embracing his beautiful wife, he looked at her with disappointment and said:

"How will you ever find a wife looking like this? A boy should be like his old man—sweet-talking, perceptive, and know how to please a girl!"

"Only then could I have found you such a beautiful, kind-hearted, virtuous, and capable mother~"

Usually, towards the end, Su's father would take the opportunity to steal a kiss, causing Su's mother to blush.

Xiao Su Chengdian didn't think much of it at the time, but now he feels that his father's skill is truly rare.

He doesn't know how to chat with girls.

However, things didn't get to that point. Lin Muyan's demeanor was so composed that Su Chengdian, after thinking for a long time, felt like a younger brother when he saw that righteous face, and all his words were useless.

"I'm all done showering! You just woke up, do you want to rest a little longer?"

"No need," Su Chengdian shook his head.

"How about we walk along the riverbank?"

“Okay.” Su Chengdian nodded.

"Leave now?"

"Mm." He nodded again.

"..."

……

"Brother Shenmu, look!" Yan Jian'an walked through a thicket of thorns and turned back in surprise.

This secret realm also prohibits air travel. After traveling for several days, Chu Chenmu was hearing such a tone for the first time. He hurriedly followed and, upon seeing the scene before him, slightly widened his eyes to meet Yan Jian'an's gaze.

This is... a road?

A narrow path, about ten feet wide, meanders into the distance. The ground is flat and free of weeds, revealing the ground that has been trampled hard.

There's a path in this secret realm? How is that possible? Where would a path come from if there's no one around?!

After pondering for a long time, Yan Jian'an came to a conclusion: "Brother Shen Mu, this secret realm is probably the most difficult to form—"

Chu Chenmu looked at Yan Jian'an with innocent phoenix eyes, and then heard him say, "Mirage Sea Illusion."

Chu Chenmu: ?

??°??°??

Sorry, I've never heard of it.

So his eyes looked even more innocent.

Yan Jian'an had been waiting for Chu Chenmu to suddenly realize something so he could praise him and show off his intelligence. However, he never expected that Chu Chenmu, a dignified elder of a sect, had never even heard of the Mirage Sea Illusion.

Thinking back to when I was a child, I was even less diligent in my studies than he was!