Chapter 228: Camping Out

It was a common occurrence to seize every opportunity to improve one's strength before the Outer Sect selection began.

As it stood, the only people who posed an overt threat to him were Ji Bofeng, Yu Liang, Xie Lei, and Sun Mingqi.

Ji Bofeng, in particular, was at the third level of the Tongtian Realm and posed the greatest threat.

"If you run into Sun Mingqi, you should be careful…"

Hu Rui smiled and said, "Because word has it that he is related to Deacon Sun, the one you injured."

Xiao Fan was stunned, then nodded.

The group had unknowingly been traveling for three hours, during which Qiao Rong had remained silent behind everyone else.

Xiao Fan had been walking at the very front alongside Hu Rui, with Nangong Lingxuan by his side.

As the sky began to darken, Hu Rui stopped.

Xiao Fan, Nangong Lingxuan, and the others all stopped as well.

"Let's camp here for today; there's no rush to keep moving."

The group had no objections and began to stop, prepare camp, and rest within the dense forest.

Seeing this, Xiao Fan felt a bit emotional; this was what a team leader was supposed to be.

When he first started acting with Senior Brother Yang Qi, Senior Brother Ren Hao, and the others, they would ask him about everything… He didn't understand anything, which left him feeling quite helpless.

Later, when he teamed up with Qiao Rong, they would just rest when they were tired, nothing like this.

Xiao Fan suddenly realized that having someone in charge actually felt quite nice.

The group stopped and lit a campfire in the dense forest.

Under normal circumstances, starting a fire in such a situation was very dangerous.

If it were just Xiao Fan, he wouldn't have done this, and average Cultivators wouldn't feel that the temperature difference between day and night had any effect on them.

But Hu Rui and the others were different; they were all women and particularly cared about such things.

Especially with a grown man like Xiao Fan present.

Without some light… they didn't feel quite at ease.

The sun set, the full moon hung high, casting down scattered glimmers of light.

The bright light emitted by the campfire illuminated the surroundings very clearly.

Xiao Fan had already eaten a simple meal, consisting of dried meat left in his Storage Pouch.

"I wonder if Xiaojin has starved to death yet… I wonder how many more days it can hold out…"

Xiao Fan stared blankly at the full moon in the sky.

He felt he was too irresponsible; he had left the Jixian Sect in such a rush, and upon returning, he had immediately rushed into the Secret Realm without a moment's pause.

Altogether, he hadn't been back to his Immortal Cave for ten days.

"Forget it, Xiaojin is a Yao Beast; it's very resistant to hunger."

Xiao Fan let out a breath; as for starving to death, he was obviously just joking to himself.

A normal beast could hold out for seven days without eating, let alone Xiaojin.

He just felt a bit guilty toward Xiaojin.

Coming with him to the Jixian Sect, the greatest danger Xiaojin faced was probably being starved to death by Xiao Fan.

Hu Rui and the others had also eaten; the supplies they had prepared were very rich and comprehensive.

Fruits, dried meat, and dry rations—they had everything, giving Xiao Fan a more intuitive understanding of what women were like.

Even Nangong Lingxuan was the same; what she had prepared in her Storage Pouch was quite substantial.

Qiao Rong ate quite casually, only slightly better than Xiao Fan.

Xiao Fan remained dazed while all the female Disciples sat around the campfire, chatting and laughing.

It was as if they had come camping.

Because of this, Xiao Fan sighed even more; it was good to have someone powerful to rely on.

If Hu Rui weren't there, he believed these women definitely wouldn't be as relaxed as they were now.

While Xiao Fan was staring blankly at the sky.

Nangong Lingxuan walked over. She was currently wearing the blue robe of an Outer Sect Disciple, yet it still showed off her perfect figure to the fullest.

Coupled with her appearance, it would not be an exaggeration to describe her as having a beauty that could topple cities.

She walked to Xiao Fan's side and sat down directly.

Xiao Fan glanced at her but didn't pay much mind.

Come to think of it, their relationship should be quite close by now.

They had previously carried out a mission together, traveling to Xiluo City.

And that time, when facing Zhao Chunyang who had transformed into a "human-demon," Nangong Lingxuan had even stepped in to save him.

In truth, this was the biggest reason Xiao Fan had agreed to act with them, because Nangong Lingxuan was there.

"Lecher, how did you lose that arm of yours?" Nangong Lingxuan asked coldly.

Xiao Fan sat up and said helplessly, "It was cut off by my younger brother."

"Your younger brother?"

Nangong Lingxuan clearly didn't know about Xiao Tian, so she asked, "Why did he cut you?"

Xiao Fan curled his lip; if anyone else had asked him, he certainly wouldn't have answered.

But facing Nangong Lingxuan, Xiao Fan didn't know why, but he felt an urge to confide in her.

It was as if he wanted to express the secrets in his heart to her.

"Because of a grudge…"

Xiao Fan slowly recounted the history between him and Xiao Tian, from when he suffered endless humiliation in the Xiao Family as a child…

Being called "trash" by his own younger brother…

To Xiao Tian joining the Piaomiao Immortal Palace, beating him half to death, sending him to the Long Family to be a matrilocal son-in-law, and arranging a marriage with Long Miaoyin…

Of course, Xiao Fan certainly didn't mention anything about the star chart.

During this time, Nangong Lingxuan's expression changed again and again…

Especially when she heard that Xiao Fan had gotten married, a trace of disappointment flashed in her eyes, though she herself didn't even notice it.

And when she heard that Long Miaoyin had a birthmark on her face and usually covered it with a veil.

Her thoughts became complicated, and she even felt that this woman was very pitiful.

And finally, when she heard that Xiao Fan had rushed away from the Jixian Sect a while ago because of Xiao Tian's threats.

A nameless fire rose in her heart…

These emotions swayed in her heart, and she didn't even realize it herself; in a short amount of time, her emotions had changed again and again.

At this moment, she finally confirmed that Xiao Fan was indeed not the Lecher she had called him!

"It seems I wronged you in the past."