"Senior Brother Qin, are there really so many masters in the outside world?"

Miss Tang's face showed hesitation. Even though Qin Fang couldn't see clearly, he could tell that she was furrowing her brows and her eyes revealed deep confusion and worry.

The Tang Sect had been isolated from the world for a very long time. Apart from occasional contact with other ancient martial sects that chose to remain hidden, they were almost completely ignorant of everything in the external world.

Such seclusion preserved the inheritance of the Tang Sect, but at the same time, it lost a lot—such as the drive that competition brings, as well as the arrogance and pride that came with thinking oneself above all others.

Living within the Tang Sect, one would occasionally think about the outside world. But at such times, fellow sect members would often arrogantly mock how insignificant and vulnerable the outsiders were, even belittling many so-called sects as worthless.

Miss Tang grew up in this environment, influenced by such attitudes, and thus she too believed that what her fellow disciples said must be the truth...

Deep in the mountains, people's hearts were relatively simple. Apart from practicing martial arts and studying the unique skills passed down by the Tang Sect, they didn't have as many complicated thoughts as those in the outside world.

Perhaps because they thought the outside world could not compare to the Tang Sect, these people almost never considered leaving the mountains. Thus, as time passed, the Tang Sect became more closed off and gradually faded from public view.

"That's not the case. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth has almost completely dissipated outside. Although the living conditions and technology have improved countless times over what we have in the mountains, the path of martial arts cultivation is fraught with difficulty..." Qin Fang did not intend to deceive Miss Tang. Thinking of Master Cai Pingyuan, who had wasted his life and ultimately failed to take that next step, and many other naturally talented masters who were firmly stuck at the grandmaster level, unable to advance further, he knew how difficult cultivation was in the outside world.

"It's just that I rarely resort to violence, and even many of my friends do not know martial arts..."

As for being virtually unknown, Qin Fang simply explained it away lightly.

"Oh, I see..." Hearing this explanation, Miss Tang felt somewhat reassured.

If people in the outside world could cultivate faster than those in the Tang Sect, then the Sect's seclusion and hidden lifestyle might not be correct. In that case, she would have to suggest that the Tang Sect reintegrate into the world to keep up with the pace of the Martial World.

Now that Qin Fang had put it that way, she felt somewhat more at ease, at least believing that the outside world was indeed as her fellow disciples described—not suitable for cultivation. Perhaps the Tang Sect's heritage being passed on this way wasn't a mistake after all.

"Miss Tang, I heard that the Tang Sect has hidden itself for hundreds of years and has almost vanished from the Martial World. Why are you..."

Qin Fang too was surprised. Recalling what Master Geda once said, his grandson had entered the Tang Sect and not returned for over a decade. People from the Tang Sect rarely appeared, seemingly completely vanishing from the public eye.

Qin Fang had simply taken a trip up the mountain, yet he had run into her by chance, and they had even exchanged blows. How could he not feel that his luck was extraordinarily good?

"I happened to be out on some business, and after it's finished, I must return. We, the disciples of the Tang Sect, are not allowed to stay outside for too long without the Sect's permission!"

Miss Tang did not hide anything and immediately gave a brief explanation, "When I was out, I incidentally found some traces of this Black Witch Doctor. Such evil demons must be eradicated by us, the people of Tang Sect. That's how I ended up following the trail to this cave, and I didn't expect..."

At this point, Miss Tang felt somewhat embarrassed. The lighting was poor at the time, and she did not take a closer look, thus hitting Qin Fang without distinction.

It was only because Qin Fang was strong enough that he was able to save his own life. If it had been an ordinary villager from the mountains, they might have already fallen under her sword.

Miss Tang wouldn't hesitate in eliminating demons and devils, but if she mistakenly killed innocent people, she would likely suffer torment from her conscience.

Fortunately, it hadn't come to that, and it seemed her luck had been very good indeed.

"So it is... Looks like we wouldn't have met had we not fought!"

Now Qin Fang understood what had happened—it seemed like he had walked straight into the line of fire.

The Tang Sect had been hidden in the mountains for hundreds of years, while the people of Miao Jiang had lived here for even longer. To say there was no contact at all was not possible.

The Black Witch Doctor is a taboo in Miao Jiang, forbidden many years ago. It was probably because the disciples of the Tang Sect had suffered a lot at their hands during the era when the Black Witch Doctors were rampant, which led to such hatred and revulsion from the Tang Sect, treating them as if they were demons.

However, the Tang Sect wasn't wrong in their judgment. Qin Fang wasn't sure about other Black Witch Doctors, but Mulun was definitely an unforgivable executioner. The number of lives lost under his hand was simply too many, harboring sin points to the degree of ten thousand... Merely thinking about it sent shivers down his spine.

"Miss Tang, now that the matter here is resolved and it's getting late, I am preparing to descend the mountain. What about you?"

Having been busy for so long, it was indeed getting late. Qin Fang planned to hurry and descend while the sun was still high in the sky; otherwise, he would have to spend the night in the depths of the mountains.

During the day, he could discern the directions, but if night fell, not to mention that fierce beasts might come out to roam, he might not even be able to find the path down the mountain.

"I was also planning to go down the mountain. How about we go together?"

Tang Xin looked at Qin Fang, gave it a slight thought, and then extended the very gracious invitation.

"Uh... You're going down the mountain too?"

Qin Fang was stunned; he had thought that Tang Xin would return to the Tang Sect but didn't expect she would also be descending the mountain. He couldn't help but be slightly taken aback.

"I still have things to handle down the mountain and won't return to the Tang Sect just yet..."

Tang Xin smiled in her eyes, then coyly replied. Clearly, the business she had was down the mountain, not in the mountains... At least, killing Mulun wasn't her original intention, it was just a chance encounter.

"Then I would follow your lead, please..."

Qin Fang naturally had no reason to refuse and immediately gestured with his hand, very gentlemanly.

Unfortunately, Tang Xin had always been within the Tang Sect and did not understand the meaning of Qin Fang's gesture. She was just standing there, seemingly unsure of what to do.

But ultimately, it seemed like she bit the bullet and actually extended her delicate, pale hand to grasp Qin Fang's offered palm...

"Ga!!"

Qin Fang was instantly dumbfounded. What was happening? Why did this young lady take the initiative to hold my hand?

He was very puzzled in his heart, but when he thought about Tang Xin's background, Qin Fang began to understand a bit – the gesture meant "ladies first," originating from the Western Regions and not a native custom of the Dragon Country.

Tang Xin had hesitated for a long time, apparently pondering over the meaning of this gesture, but she had misunderstood it, and it turned into this.

Although Qin Fang was surprised, feeling that slippery, soft touch of skin, he actually felt the urge not to let go.

It wasn't that Qin Fang had suddenly become lascivious, but mainly because the True Qi of the two people – one firm and one soft – naturally mingled without intentional cultivation, which turned out to be the most effective.

When their hands clasped together, their True Qi automatically fused, nourishing even more True Qi within their bodies...

"This..."

Not only was Qin Fang stunned, but Tang Xin also wore a face of surprise, looking at Qin Fang incredulously. She clearly had not expected things to turn out this way.

The automatic fusion of True Qi was unheard of for both Qin Fang and Tang Xin and had never occurred before...

"Could this be fate?"

Tang Xin, not worldly-wise and never having interacted with the people outside, still harbored a young girl's daydreams. When such a miraculous event happened, her little head suddenly became filled with various thoughts.

Qin Fang, however, didn't think like her. He was more surprised by Tang Xin's cultivation of Inner Strength, which seemed to be the same as the mental method he practiced, originally from Fang Dacheng but perfected by the System...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you're welcome to cast your recommendation votes and monthly votes at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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