He'd rather run than be turned into a cannon fodder for the broken engagement.

As the morning sun shone on the mountain gate square of the Refining Peak, two groups of people met unexpectedly. A luxurious sedan chair, made of gold and jade, came from the east and was slowly carried to the ground by six servants at the late stage of Qi Refining, followed by several guards.

However, what came from the west was a luxurious and exquisite two-story painted boat, with five servants at the late stage of Qi Refining standing on each of the left and right decks.

This display of force startled the disciples guarding the mountain, and all the passing disciples stopped to observe.

As Leng Feng stepped down from the sedan chair, he noticed the Murong family's insignia on the painted boat across the way. His eyebrows twitched, and he knew immediately who was inside.

Sure enough, the person in the purple-gold robe who emerged from the painted boat the next moment was none other than Murong Qin.

Leng Feng raised his hand in a nobleman's salute, his expression a perfect blend of surprise and delight: "I didn't expect Brother Murong to be here too."

"Haha, that's right. I didn't expect Brother Leng to be here as well." Murong Qin returned the greeting and began to play along with him. "I heard that Miss Leng has been studying under a master in the Immortal Sect for several years. She happened to be in the east this time, so she came to visit her. I suppose Brother Leng is also here to visit your sister?"

"Yes, my sister hasn't been home for several years, so my father sent me to come and see her. In that case, let's go up the mountain together."

Leng Feng glanced at one of his attendants, who understood and immediately stepped forward to bow to the mountain-guarding disciple and explain his purpose.

A short while later, the disciples guarding the mountain sent a message to the Respectful Affairs Hall, while simultaneously clearing the way and extending their hands to signal them to pass.

The two families were to form a marriage alliance. Leng Feng and Murong Qin exchanged a smile and stepped into the mountain gate together.

"Who is this?"

"I don't know, it's so impressive..."

Once no one was in sight, the disciples dared to whisper among themselves. Fu Xun slowly emerged from behind the huge artificial hill by the roadside, looked at the mountain gate, and his eyes darkened. It seemed that the Leng family had indeed abandoned the Fu family and was going to form a marriage alliance with the Murong family.

Narrowing his eyes slightly, Fu Xun walked up to the disciple guarding the mountain, politely cupped his hands, and asked, "May I ask what has happened these past two days? Why have we received a visitor?"

The disciple guarding the mountain was stunned when he saw Fu Xun, then recognized him and exclaimed in surprise, immediately bowing and saying, "It's actually Senior Brother Yin Xun!"

The disciples guarding the mountain are only outer sect members on duty and have not yet reached the Foundation Establishment stage. In any case, all outer sect disciples, regardless of age or cultivation level, must address inner sect disciples as senior brothers or sisters.

Upon hearing Fu Xun's question, he immediately became enthusiastic and ingratiating, answering all questions without reservation: "Reporting to Senior Brother, they sent their visiting cards yesterday and are going to visit Elder Jiang today, and also to pay a visit to a personal disciple, whom I heard is the eldest daughter of their family... but I don't know exactly which senior sister it is..."

"I see, thank you for informing me, Junior Brother. Do you know if Senior Brother Leng Huan has emerged from seclusion?"

Yesterday, Fu Xun sent a message to Leng Huan, but received no response. He assumed she hadn't emerged from seclusion yet, but just now he saw Leng Feng and Murong Qin, and something seemed off.

"Ah, Senior Brother Leng came out of seclusion a month ago. I even saw him yesterday afternoon. He asked me for directions to the Mission Hall..."

Mission Hall?

She emerged from seclusion a month ago, and suddenly received a mission yesterday? Fu Xun's mind raced, and he thought it over from beginning to end. Then he was shocked. He hurriedly thanked the disciples guarding the mountain and turned to rush to the mission hall on the main peak.

-

In the main hall of the Refining Peak, sunlight shone on the golden-green glazed tiles, making the carved beams and painted rafters look magnificent.

Inside the hall, Jiang Ruoyu sat in the main seat, looking at the young people sitting on either side below her, feeling somewhat inexplicable.

Yesterday, I received a message specifically asking to visit him and his closed-door disciple, who was named Leng Huanxue. He only knew that his disciple was named Leng Huan.

Jiang Ruoyu was known for his bad temper and was about to tell the person to refuse him. However, the person who delivered the invitation said that Leng Huanxue had changed her name to Leng Huan and had become his disciple under the pretense of visiting her cousin's teacher. Only then did he agree to receive the guest.

The atmosphere on the field was quiet for a moment. Leng Feng stood up, cupped his hands, and asked respectfully, "Senior, may I ask if my cousin Leng Huanxue may come and meet me? She has been away from home for a long time, and my father misses her very much."

Jiang Ruoyu coughed. "Alright, our Immortal Sect never asks about the background of its disciples. As long as they are not evil or heretical, and have passed the trials, they are qualified to become disciples. Since you are relatives, I will send someone to summon her. Please wait a moment."

After saying that, Jiang Ruoyu indeed called a handyman disciple to fetch someone, implying that he didn't mind Leng Huan concealing his identity.

He is now very satisfied with his little apprentice Leng Huan. He is quick to learn, has a good personality, and is well-behaved and sensible. Jiang Ruoyu is very pleased and increasingly feels that he has a special connection with this disciple.

So he praised Leng Huan to Leng Feng and Leng Huan: "Since she is a girl, she must be the only woman who passed the Heavenly Ladder back then. Her character must be very strong. She is a good seedling for cultivation! She successfully established her foundation in just two months after entering the sect, and after three years of seclusion, she reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment... What's wrong with you two?"

Seeing the strange expressions on Leng Feng and Murong Qin's faces, Jiang Ruoyu asked in confusion.

"Haha, I never expected that my cousin, who was so pampered at home and couldn't endure hardship, would have such good fortune after going out to gain experience. I'm very happy." Leng Feng's suspicious expression disappeared. Was this still Leng Huanxue? It seemed that deliberately revealing her identity to make Jiang Ruoyu expel her from the sect was no longer an option.

Murong Qin smiled and said, "Miss Leng's good fortune must be inseparable from your guidance, senior. To be honest, I intend to ask for your hand in marriage, so that the Leng family and the Murong family can form a bond of kinship..."

Jiang Ruoyu didn't like hearing this. He was immediately furious. His disciple hadn't even graduated yet and someone was already eyeing him! Most importantly, he didn't think much of this kid either. His talent was mediocre, his cultivation was too low, and he wasn't a good person either.

"Hmph!" Jiang Ruoyu ignored Murong Qin. In his opinion, Murong Qin was not as good as the neighbor named Yin Xun, who was first-rate in talent and, moreover, almost missed going to Sword Peak because of Leng Huan. He was a loyal and righteous person.

Although Jiang Ruoyu was a clueless nitpicker, Leng Huan was still his apprentice, so naturally he would choose the best one.

Seeing that Jiang Ruoyu made no attempt to hide her expression, Murong Qin's face stiffened. Even though he was the young master of the city lord's mansion, he could only obediently watch people's expressions here. He couldn't help but curse inwardly, "Old geezer!"

The atmosphere was a little awkward. Leng Feng was about to smooth things over when the servant who had gone to fetch someone returned. The servant hurried into the hall, bowed, and said:

"Reporting to the elder, Senior Brother Leng is not in the Immortal Sect. According to the servants around him, he left the sect last night! As for where he went, no one knows for the time being."

? !

Leng Feng and Murong Qin were so shocked that they stood up immediately: "What did you say?"

"..." Even Jiang Ruoyu was surprised. This disciple just left like that? She was even planning to have her memorize the weapon-refining material catalog.

Everyone knew that Leng Huan's departure at this time was definitely intentional.

"Come here, see the guests off!"

Because of the arrival of these two young men, the junior apprentice hurriedly left the sect. Jiang Ruoyu couldn't help but feel a little unwelcoming towards them and directly served them tea to see them off.

Leng Feng and his companion had no choice but to hurriedly take their leave.

Watching them leave, Jiang Ruoyu pondered for a moment. She had given her disciple enough things, and thinking it would be good for Leng Huan to go out and gain experience, Jiang Ruoyu put her hands behind her back and returned to her elder's hall to lie down and bask in the sun…

-

The mission hall was bustling with people coming and going. A tall, upright figure stood in front of the counter, revealing a sharp profile, quietly listening to the disciple behind the counter answer.

“Senior Brother Yin Xun, Senior Brother Leng did come yesterday, but I didn’t handle it. Please let me find the record.” After saying this, the disciple on duty hurriedly searched the book. After a while, he looked up and said, “Found it. Senior Brother Leng accepted the mission to Dongdu yesterday.”

Dongdu? That's quite far.

Fu Xun's calm brows twitched slightly, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. He looked at the disciple behind the counter and said, "Hmm, could you please check if there are any missions to Dongdu? I want to accept one."

"Alright, wait a moment." The disciple looked for a while and then hesitated, saying, "Senior brother, there are no more trains to Dongdu, only Zhongdu, which is even further away."

"also may."

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a nimble figure in black robes descended the mountain and, upon reaching the main peak gate, abruptly flew away on a sword.